The rise of AI tools forces schools to reconsider what counts as cheating
High school and college educators say that student use of artificial intelligence has become so widespread that they need to rethink how to assign and assess students. Many teachers have shifted all writing to the classroom. Some are returning to pen and paper exams to avoid cheating. As the new school year gets underway, educators say it's clear that AI is transforming how students learn and study and how teachers teach. But it is also creating new confusion over what constitutes cheating. Students say they often turn to AI with good intentions for things like brainstorming or editing help but sometimes it's hard to know where to draw the line.
OpenAI reaches new agreement with Microsoft to change its corporate structure
OpenAI has reached a new tentative agreement with Microsoft and said its nonprofit, which technically controls its business, will now be given a $100 billion equity stake in its for-profit corporation. The maker of ChatGPT said it had reached a new nonbinding agreement with Microsoft "for the next phase of our partnership." The announcements on Thursday include few details about these new arrangements. OpenAI's proposed changes to its corporate structure have drawn the scrutiny of regulators, competitors and advocates concerned about the impacts of artificial intelligence.
Graphic video of Kirk shooting was everywhere online, showing how media gatekeeper role has changed
Traditional news outlets were careful in their coverage of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination to not show graphic images of the event. But if people wanted to see graphic evidence of what happened to him, it was easily available online -- and millions of people quickly sought it out. It showed how media's gatekeeper role had changed so markedly in the era of social media. Gory images -- from different angles, with different perspectives -- were up on X, Facebook, YouTube, even Truth Social, illustrating the difficulty of policing disturbing images in an era where nearly everybody carries a camera.
FTC launces inquiry into AI chatbots acting as companions and their effects on children
The Federal Trade Commission has launched an inquiry into several social media and artificial intelligence companies about the potential harms to children and teenagers who use their AI chatbots as companions. The FTC said Thursday it has sent letters to Google parent Alphabet Inc., Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms Inc., Snap Inc., Character Technologies Inc., OpenAI and xAI. The FTC said it wants to understand what steps, if any, companies have taken to evaluate the safety of their chatbots when acting as companions and to limit the products' use by and potential negative effects on children and teens.
How AI is helping some small-scale farmers weather a changing climate
MULANJE, Malawi (AP) -- Some small-scale farmers in the southern African country of Malawi are using an AI chatbot for advice to help them improve their methods and become more resilient to climate change. The chatbot is designed by the non-profit Opportunity International and is being used by around 180,000 rural households. The project is also backed by the Malawi government. Artificial intelligence has the potential to boost productivity in African agriculture, which is lagging behind. But there are many challenges. In Malawi, most small-scale farmers don't have smartphones so they need a "farmer support agent" to visit their village regularly with a phone so they can ask the AI app their questions.
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Microsoft resolves European Union probe into Teams
LONDON (AP) -- European Union regulators have accepted Microsoft's proposed changes to its Teams app to resolve an antitrust investigation. The European Commission announced on Friday that Microsoft's commitments to unbundle Teams from its Office software suite are enough to address competition concerns. These commitments are legally binding for up to 10 years, allowing Microsoft to avoid a hefty fine. The investigation began after a complaint by Slack Technologies, accusing Microsoft of tying Teams to its Office suite. Microsoft will offer Office packages without Teams at a discount and make it easier for rival software to work with Teams.
Albania's prime minister appoints an AI-generated 'minister' to tackle corruption
TIRANA, Albania (AP) -- Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama says his new Cabinet will include an artificial intelligence "minister" in charge of fighting corruption. The AI, named Diella, will oversee public funding projects and combat corruption in public tenders. Diella was launched earlier this year as a virtual assistant on the government's public service platform. Corruption has been a persistent issue in Albania since 1990. Rama's Socialist Party won a fourth consecutive term in May. It aims to deliver EU membership for Albania in five years, but the opposition Democratic Party remains skeptical.
Now summer's over, here's what to do with all those photos on your camera roll
LONDON (AP) -- The end of summer means many of us have a phone full of vacation photos. While some highlights make it to social media, many pictures get forgotten. With smartphones offering large storage, it's easy to take too many photos and hard to sort them later. To manage this, start by picking favorites and starring them. Delete unnecessary images like duplicates or receipts. Photo cleanup apps can help speed up this process. Organize photos into albums by theme or trip. Consider printing your best shots for a physical album or wall art. Services like Google and Shutterfly offer photobook options.
Apple's iPhone 17 line-up includes a new ultra-thin model and $100 price hike for Pro model
CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) -- Apple has rolled out its next generation of iPhones that includes a new ultra-thin model and a slight price hike for one of its high-end models, while the company feels the squeeze of a global trade war. The iPhone 17 line-up includes a new slimmed-down model that will adopt the "Air" name that Apple already uses for its sleekest iPads and Mac computers. The new iPhones are the first to be released since President Donald Trump returned to the White House and unleashed a barrage of tariffs, in what his administration says is an attempt to bring overseas manufacturing back to the U.S. -- a crusade that has thrust Cook into the hot seat.
Silicon Valley enabled brutal mass detention and surveillance in China, internal documents show
BEIJING (AP) -- An AP investigation reveals that U.S. technology companies to a large degree designed and built China's surveillance state, playing a far greater role in enabling human rights abuses than previously known. Firms including IBM, Dell, and Cisco sold billions in technology to Chinese police and government agencies, despite repeated warnings that such tools were being used to quash dissent, persecute religious sects and target minorities. Critically, American surveillance technologies allowed a brutal mass detention campaign in the far west region of Xinjiang. Most of the companies told AP they comply with U.S. and Chinese laws and regulations.