AI chatbots are sparking romance (with the chatbot, that is)

AI chatbots are sparking romance (with the chatbot, that is)

A few months ago, Derek Carrier started seeing someone and became infatuated. He experienced a “ton” of romantic feelings but he also knew it was an illusion. That’s because his girlfriend was generated by artificial intelligence. Carrier wasn’t looking to develop a relationship with something that wasn’t real, nor did he want to become the … Read more

Germany’s Scholz wants European allies to up defense spending – POLITICO

Germany’s Scholz wants European allies to up defense spending – POLITICO

He said Germany, often criticized in the past for not spending enough on defense, would meet NATO’s target of spending 2 percent of GDP on the military through “the 2020s, 2030s and beyond.” Germany is, by far, Ukraine’s leading supporter in terms of military aid in Europe, according to data compiled by the Kiel Institute. … Read more

How to book some fine-feathered outdoor time and help science this weekend

How to book some fine-feathered outdoor time and help science this weekend

The 27th annual Great Backyard Bird Count started Friday morning, and throughout the weekend, bird enthusiasts across Canada will be looking to help biologists track bird movements this winter. While the effort put in by any individual can be minimal, as little as 15 minutes, the overall contribution of the event to science is huge, … Read more

Looking for a soulmate? It’s a trap, researchers say

Looking for a soulmate? It’s a trap, researchers say

Yuan Thompson and her husband have been together since 2008, and while at first she believed they could be soulmates — they had that initial spark, anyway — she says it was dedication and tough work that made them a lasting couple. “We definitely enjoyed each other when we first met. We had a super-fun summer, so we decided … Read more

The Oura Ring showed me how months of stress destroyed my sleep

The Oura Ring showed me how months of stress destroyed my sleep

Oura Ring Andy Boxall / Digital Trends The second half of my 2023 was genuinely awful, and my Oura Ring showed exactly the impact it had on my sleep and body. While the smart ring could never do anything about it, understanding how what I was experiencing was affecting me was fascinating, terrifying, and oddly … Read more

UK inflation lower than expected – POLITICO

UK inflation lower than expected – POLITICO

Consumer prices in the United Kingdom stood at 4 percent in January, unchanged from December and defying expectations of a renewed pick-up, data released by the Office for National Statistics showed Wednesday. Analysts polled by Reuters ahead of the release had projected inflation to accelerate to 4.2 percent at the start of the year. Core … Read more

Forget the Red Wall. These are the UK election battlegrounds to watch – POLITICO

Forget the Red Wall. These are the UK election battlegrounds to watch – POLITICO

The fall of the “red wall” to triumphant Tories became the dominant story of the 2019 election. But this time around, things are very different: most seats simply don’t exist in their previous form following a review of constituency boundaries, and Labour looks likely to make gains across the board. POLITICO looked at the most … Read more

Give innovators the boost they need: fairness and transparency

Give innovators the boost they need: fairness and transparency

How often have we heard about the importance of innovation for companies in Europe to stay competitive? Well, now we have a chance to make a real difference to help European industry develop new, innovative smart and sustainable products and services. What is at stake is the little-known but hugely important issue of licensing of … Read more

Global data traffic hit 59 exabytes in 2023, equivalent to over 46 cr smartphones

Global data traffic hit 59 exabytes in 2023, equivalent to over 46 cr smartphones

New Delhi: Global data traffic in 2023 reached 59 exabytes, a remarkable 23 per cent increase from the 48 exabytes recorded in 2022, a report said on Friday. In simpler terms, 59 exabytes represent the storage capacity of a staggering 460,625,000 smartphones, each equipped with 128 gigabytes of storage space. The data traffic reached approximately … Read more

New NASA climate satellite will keep eye on plankton, clouds. Here’s why

New NASA climate satellite will keep eye on plankton, clouds. Here’s why

NASA’s newest climate satellite rocketed into orbit Thursday to survey the world’s oceans and atmosphere in never-before-seen detail. SpaceX launched the Pace satellite on its $948-million US mission before dawn from Cape Canaveral, Fla., with the Falcon rocket heading south over the Atlantic Ocean to achieve a rare polar orbit. The satellite will spend at … Read more