NASA’S PARKER PROBE DIVES CLOSE TO SUN FOR SECOND TIME

Mon 24 March 2025: NASA’s Parker Solar Probe made its second closest approach to the Sun, coming within 6.1 million kilometers and reaching speeds of 692,000 km/h (430,000 mph) while collecting data. On March 22, during its 23rd close pass, the probe completed its second closest approach to the Sun. During this pass, Parker reached 6.1 million km […]

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HOLLYWOOD STARS PUSH U.S. TO SHIELD COPYRIGHTS FROM AI EXPLOITATION

Mon 24 March 2025: Over 420 Hollywood actors, directors, and industry professionals have signed an open letter urging the US government to uphold copyright protections against using artificial intelligence in creative works, CBS News reported Monday. Led by actress Natasha Lyonne and signed by figures including Bette Midler, Aubrey Plaza, Mark Ruffalo, and Cate Blanchett, […]

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TESLA GRANTED PERMISSION FOR ROBOTAXI OPERATIONS IN CALIFORNIA

Sun 23 March 2025: Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has received the long-awaited passenger transport license from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), allowing the company to begin robotaxi operations in the state. However, Tesla still needs to obtain an additional permit to operate its driverless cars fully autonomously. Under the current license, Tesla’s autonomous vehicles can only be […]

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NO ONE HAS A COMPELLING PRODUCT STORY FOR AI, EXCEPT FOR THOSE USING IT FOR WRONG REASONS

Sat 22 March 2025: When OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November 2022, it rapidly became one of the world’s most visited websites and, upon its eventual release in the app store, the most downloaded app. Since then, nearly every company has been racing to integrate Generative AI into their products—whether as standalone applications, embedded features, or even standalone […]

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VAPING HITS ALARMING LEVELS AMONG SOUTH AFRICAN TEENS – NEW STUDY OF FEE-PAYING SCHOOLS

Sat 22 March 2025: It’s become common to see kids, some in their school uniforms, puffing on a vape. The World Health Organization points to the enticing flavours and targeted marketing to young people as the key reasons behind this trend. In the US, e-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among middle and high school students […]

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WHO OWNS DIGITAL DATA ABOUT YOU? SOUTH AFRICAN LEGAL SCHOLAR WEIGHS UP PROPERTY AND PRIVACY RIGHTS

Sat 22 March 2025: In the digital economy, data is more than just information – it is an asset with immense economic and strategic value. Yet, despite its significance, a fundamental legal question remains unresolved: Can data be owned? While privacy laws worldwide focus on protecting individuals’ rights over their personal data, they often sidestep […]

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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS RESHAPING ORGANIZED CRIME, EUROPOL WARNS

Thu 20 March 2025: Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping organized crime by automating and expanding criminal activities while helping conceal the moves from law enforcement, Europol warned Tuesday in its Serious and Organized Crime Threat Assessment report. “The same qualities that make AI revolutionary — accessibility, adaptability and sophistication — also make it a powerful tool for criminal networks,” said […]

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GOOGLE SETTLES RACIAL BIAS SUIT FOR $28M, DENIES ANY WRONGDOING

Wed 19 March 2025:   Google has agreed to pay $28 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging racial bias in pay and career opportunities, the BBC reported Wednesday. Filed in 2021 by former employee Ana Cantu, the lawsuit claimed that Hispanic, Latino, Native American, and other minority workers were placed in lower-paying positions than their […]

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YOUTUBE AT 20: HOW IT TRANSFORMED VIEWING IN EIGHT STEPS

Wed 19 March 2025: The world’s biggest video sharing platform, YouTube, has just turned 20. It was started inauspiciously in February 2005 by former PayPal employees Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim – with a 19-second video of Karim exploring San Diego Zoo. That year, YouTube’s disruption of the media timeline was minimal enough for there to be no […]

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