Techmeme
January 3, 2025, 3:50 PM

Top News

Jason Koebler / 404 Media:
After outrage, Meta says newly viral AI profiles on Facebook and Instagram were created in 2023 in “an early experiment”, and it is deleting the profiles  —  Earlier this week, Meta executive Connor Hayes told the Financial Times that the company is going to roll out AI character profiles …
Carly Page / TechCrunch:
The US sanctions Beijing-based cybersecurity company Integrity Technology over its alleged links to China-backed hacking group Flax Typhoon  —  The U.S. government has sanctioned a Beijing-based cybersecurity company over its alleged links to a China government-backed hacking group, tracked as Flax Typhoon.
Victoria Song / The Verge:
Apple and Strava partner to feature Strava athletes in Apple Fitness+ programming, add more detailed Fitness+ workout summaries in the Strava app, and more  —  Apple Fitness Plus is getting a fresh makeover in the Strava app.  The two companies just announced they're collaborating to revamp …
Bloomberg:
Sources: Getty Images is exploring a merger with rival Shutterstock; deliberations are ongoing and Getty could decide not to pursue a deal  —  - Getty weighing how to structure combo with stock-photo rival … Getty has been weighing how to structure a combination that would bring together …
The Verge:
Elon Musk fanboy Adrian Dittmann's alleged 4Chan posts and X activity suggest he might be Musk's fake online persona; source: the viral 4Chan screenshot is fake  —  A screenshot that seems to suggest billionaire Elon Musk is cosplaying superfan “Adrian Dittmann” — showing X account permissions beyond …
Jordan Novet / CNBC:
Microsoft says it expects to spend $80B in FY 2025 on the construction of data centers that can handle AI workloads, with 50%+ of the spending in the US  —  Microsoft expects to spend $80 billion in fiscal 2025 on the construction of data centers that can handle artificial intelligence workloads, the company said in a Friday blog post.
Ryan Christoffel / 9to5Mac:
Apple Intelligence, with features like Genmoji and Image Playground in iOS 18.2, requires 7GB of storage, compared to 4GB in iOS 18.1  —  Apple Intelligence arrived on compatible iPhones, iPads, and Macs via a staggered rollout.  There were new features launched in both iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2.
Dave Lee / Bloomberg:
Meta required a public statesman like Nick Clegg after the Cambridge Analytica scandal, but now turns to the in-house Republican Joel Kaplan to appease Trump  —  The former UK politician was a public statesman when Meta required one.  A different approach will be called for under Trump.
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority:
Google fixes a days-old issue wherein Nest Hub and Nest Audio devices stopped responding to basic commands, like about the weather and the time, for many users  —  Update: Google says the issue is being investigated but should be resolved for most users.  —  TL;DR
Molly White / Citation Needed:
An in-depth look at Elon Musk's criticisms of Wikipedia, as he joins a growing chorus of right-wing voices attacking information sources outside their control  —  The world's richest man has joined a growing chorus of right-wing voices attacking Wikipedia as part of an intensifying campaign against free and open access information.

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