Here is today’s top trending news from the world of technology and AI.
1)
Meta is dropping third-party fact-checkers from Facebook and Instagram
Meta has announced a significant shift in its content moderation strategy by discontinuing its third-party fact-checking program on Facebook and Instagram. It will now instead opted for a user-driven system called ‘Community Notes,’ which is what X (formerly Twitter) has been following since many years. The third-party fact checking program has been operating since 2016. The company now claims that this approach led to excessive censorship of legitimate content, as too many posts were flagged as misleading. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg commented that this transition will help in promoting what he called ‘free expression.’
2)
Getty Images and Shutterstock to combine in $3.7 billion deal
Getty Images and Shutterstock have officially announced a merger valued at approximately $3.7 billion, described by many as a “merger of equals.” This unlikely collaboration has been seen as a response to growing competition from AI-driven image generation technologies. Upon completion, Getty Images shareholders will own about 54.7% of the combined entity, while Shutterstock shareholders will hold approximately 45.3%. Craig Peters, the current CEO of Getty Images, will lead the new company, which will continue to operate under the Getty Images name and trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GETY.
3)
Nvidia unveils Digits, a $3,000 personal AI supercomputer
Nvidia has unveiled its latest innovation, Project Digits, a personal AI supercomputer priced at $3,000, set to launch in May 2025. This compact device is designed for researchers, data scientists, and students, enabling them to run large AI models directly from their desktops. Project Digits promises powerful performance. It is powered by the GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, delivering up to 1 petaflop of AI performance. It can handle models with up to 200 billion parameters, making it capable of running advanced AI applications that previously required extensive cloud infrastructure.
4)
Sam Altman faces sexual abuse allegations from his sister
Sam Altman’s sister, Ann Altman, has filed a lawsuit against him, accusing that OpenAI’s co-founder sexually abused her for nearly a decade. The lawsuit claimed that the abuse began when Ann was just three years old and Sam was twelve. According to the allegations, the incidents transpired multiple times each week, escalating in severity over time. The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $75,000 and a jury trial. In response to these serious allegations, Sam Altman has publicly denied the claims, stating that they are “entirely unfounded. He and his mother and brother have issued a joint statement, describing the allegations as “profoundly damaging” and attributed them to mental health challenges that Ann has faced.
