From voice clones to digital avatars, artificial intelligence (AI) is providing new methods for digitally preserving loved ones. However, this technology also raises significant concerns about data privacy, consent, and its potential impact on how we mourn. Diego Felix Dos Santos never thought he’d hear his late father’s voice again, but AI made it possible. “The tone of the voice is pretty perfect,” he says. “It feels like, almost, he’s here.” After his 39-year-old father’s sudden death last year, Dos Santos traveled to Brazil to be with his family. It wasn’t until he returned to his home in Edinburgh, Scotland,…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Top US officials announced on Monday that the United States and China have reached a framework agreement to transfer control of the short-video app TikTok to US-owned entities. President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer made the announcement after a meeting between senior US and Chinese officials in Madrid but did not disclose the commercial terms of the agreement. Bessent informed reporters that further details would be determined during the call between Trump and Xi on Friday. On Monday, Trump stated that…
On Tuesday, Australia called on social media platforms to use “minimally invasive” methods, including artificial intelligence (AI) and behavioral data, to verify the age of users. This is part of the country’s pioneering effort to enforce a worldwide-first ban on social media for those under the age of 16, which begins in December. Governments and technology firms around the globe are closely monitoring Australia’s initiative to become the first nation to block social media use for people younger than 16. Australia’s internet watchdog, the eSafety Commissioner, issued guidance for companies, recommending they use “the most minimally invasive techniques available” to…
A new Japanese political party announced on Tuesday that it will install an artificial intelligence (AI) as its new leader. This decision came after its founder resigned following a poor performance in recent elections. The Path to Rebirth party, launched in January by Shinji Ishimaru, the former mayor of a small city in western Japan, operates without a formal policy platform, allowing its members to set their own agendas. Ishimaru, who unexpectedly secured second place in the 2024 Tokyo gubernatorial election through a successful online campaign, left the party after it failed to win any seats in this year’s upper…
On Tuesday, Sweden’s prosecution authority announced that the personal data of 1.5 million people had been leaked online after a cyberattack on an IT systems provider. Swedish media reported that numerous town and city councils, as well as private companies, were affected by the breach. The number of individuals targeted represents nearly 15% of Sweden’s total population of 10.6 million. In a statement, the prosecution authority confirmed that the attack against systems provider Miljodata occurred over the weekend of August 23-24. “The data stolen in connection with the attack on the system supplier has now been leaked. This concerns data…
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced that a deal had been reached between the US and China to allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States. Three sources with knowledge of the matter stated that the agreement is similar to a deal previously discussed this year. The agreement necessitates the transfer of TikTok’s American assets from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to new US owners, potentially bringing an end to a saga that has lasted for nearly a year. This deal for the popular social media app, which boasts 170 million US users, represents a significant breakthrough in the…
On Wednesday, Meta Platforms introduced its inaugural consumer-ready smart glasses featuring a built-in display, a move designed to build on the success of its popular Ray-Ban line, which has become an early consumer favorite in the age of artificial intelligence. During Meta’s Connect event, CEO Mark Zuckerberg showcased the Meta Ray-Ban Display and a new wristband controller. He was met with applause, despite encountering some minor technical issues during the demonstration. Having achieved success with its smart glasses, Zuckerberg presented them as the ideal medium for humans to access the “superintelligence” promised by AI. “Glasses are the perfect form factor…
Federal Secretary for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Zarrar Hasham, informed an NA panel that the repair work for the damaged undersea internet cables located off the coast of Yemen could take a period of four to five weeks. In response to a query during the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology, he clarified that multiple cables near the Yemeni coast had been cut, as reported by The News. He stated to the NA committee, “Numerous submarine cables near the coast of Yemen have been severed, and two of the cables serving Pakistan have been affected; the restoration of these…
Health officials in Lahore have confirmed the city’s first case of Mpox in a 48-year-old man, a development that is particularly concerning because the patient has no recent history of foreign travel. Dr. Faryaad Hussain, the Medical Superintendent of Lahore General Hospital (LGH), stated that the man was admitted three days ago with symptoms that led doctors to suspect Mpox. Due to his medical history of a liver transplant in 2021, which compromised his immunity, he was especially vulnerable to the virus. “We had sent his samples to the Institute of Public Health (IPH) Lahore for screening, and today the…
On the second day of his state visit to the UK, U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a significant technology partnership, with Trump hailing the “unbreakable bond” between the two nations. After a day of royal pageantry with King Charles III at Windsor Castle, Trump flew to Starmer’s Chequers residence for talks on critical issues, including the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. During the signing ceremony, which was attended by numerous U.S. tech CEOs, Starmer noted that he and Trump were “leaders who genuinely like each other” and described the deal as “the biggest investment…
