Here are the top trending news from the world of technology. News that I feel every tech enthusiast should keep a tab on.
1)
There is bad news for Xbox Users
In what could come as unpleasant news for Xbox users, Xbox has started blocking the access to unauthorized Xbox controllers and accessories on its consoles. Several gamers have claimed that when they connected their third-party controllers to Xbox, they got the error message that ‘the connected accessory is not authorized.’ However, it is worth noting that the third-party controllers coming under ‘Designed for Xbox’ hardware partner program will not be affected by the latest decision. Microsoft may take 2-3 weeks for implementing this move. This decision may have been prompted by the fact that Microsoft wants to curb the sale of low-quality and unauthorized controllers in the market.
2)
New M3 chips are coming in 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros.
Apple on Monday announced that it is updating its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBooks with new M3 processor chips. This would make them more efficient and powerful than previous generations. Apart from this, they will also boost several other enhanced features. This includes new space black color option, brighter mini-LED display, more efficient fans and a long-lasting battery. Additionally, they will also come with new webcam with improved low-light performance. The new MacBook Pros start at $1,599 for the 14-inch model and $2,199 for the 16-inch model. They are available to order now and will ship in early November.
3)
Facebook & Instagram to roll out ad Free Plan in Europe
Meta has confirmed that it will be launching ad free plan for Facebook and Instagram users in Europe by end of November. This is the first time that Meta is launching an ad free plan anywhere in the world. The company said that the plans will cost between €9.99 and €12.99 per month, depending on the European country. The company has further added that it won’t be using the subscribers’ data for advertising purposes. Meta’s decision to launch an ad free plan is in response to stricter data privacy regulations in Europe. However, it is still not clear whether the Facebook and Instagram’s ad free plan will be able to gain popularity among the European users.
4)
X won’t pay certain Creators (Here’s why)
Elon Musk has announced that X, formerly known as Twitter, will no longer pay creators for tweets that are fact-checked by the platform’s Community Notes feature. This move seems to have been implemented to prevent users from spreading misinformation and reward accuracy over sensationalism. It remains to be seen how this change will impact X and its creators. However, it is clear that Musk is serious about addressing the issue of fake news and misinformation on its platform. For all those who are not aware If a tweet is corrected by Community Notes, it is labeled as “disputed” and users are able to see the correction.
5)
US President Issues Executive Order for AI safety
American President Joe Biden has just issued an executive order that layouts several safety rules for AI models and projects. Probably the most important safety rule is that all companies involved in creating AI models will have to notify the U.S. federal government and share the results of all the safety tests before officially launching their products and services into the market. These safety regulations have been issued at a time when G7 countries are all set to come out with their own code of conduct for companies working on AI projects. The ongoing revolution of generative AI has triggered a global debate over how to safeguard the world against potential risk associated with AI.