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DOGE uploaded live copy of Social Security database to ‘vulnerable’ cloud server, says whistleblower

A top Social Security Administration official turned whistleblower says members of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) uploaded hundreds of millions of Social Security records to a vulnerable cloud server, putting the personal information of most Americans at risk of compromise. Charles Borges, the Social Security Administration’s chief data officer, said in a newly released whistleblower complaint published Tuesday that other top agency officials signed off on

Gemini Nano Banana improves image editing consistency and control at scale for enterprises – but is not perfect

Want smarter insights in your inbox? Sign up for our weekly newsletters to get only what matters to enterprise AI, data, and security leaders. Subscribe Now Google released Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, a new model that many beta users knew as nanobanana, which gives enterprises more choice for creative projects. It enables them to change the look of images they need quickly and with more control than what previous models offered. The model will be integrated into the Gemini app. The model, built o

Google Translate's latest feature is its take on Duolingo

Considering its popularity, Google Translate sure hasn't received much attention lately. However, that just changed with a big update. The latest app introduces AI-powered live translation along with new language learning tools that might give Duolingo a run for it's money. Google said it heard from users that the toughest skill to master was conversation — ie, learning to listen and speak with confidence. To that end, it's piloting a new language practice feature (on iOS or Android) targeted t

Google can translate your voice in real time now - try it free

Getty Images/NurPhoto/Contributor Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Google Translate now has a real-time translation feature. The app also offers a Duolingo-like language learning experience. Users in select countries can access both features for free in the Google Translate app. Google Translate has been a go-to source for people's translating needs for nearly two decades. While AI has been powering the tool since its inception, generative AI's ad

The Leverage Paradox in AI

In 1930, the economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that automation and other expressions of technological progress would lead to a 15-hour workweek by the early 21st century. In his essay Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren, he wrote: The economic problem may be solved, or be at least within sight of solution, within a hundred years. … Thus for the first time since his creation man will be faced with his real, his permanent problem — how to use his freedom from pressing economic car

Spotify Introduces In-App Messaging for Sharing Music Recommendations With Your Friends

The subscribers spoke, and Spotify listened. This week, the 19-year-old Swedish music streaming service will begin rolling out Messages within the Spotify app for subscribers to share recommendations about music, podcasts and audiobooks. Messages will be available to Free and Premium members 16 and older on mobile devices in certain markets. Spotify says it will "continue building and refining the experience for more Spotify users around the globe in the months ahead." The company stressed th

Google improves Gemini AI image editing with “nano banana” model

Something unusual happened in the world of AI image editing recently. A new model, known as "nano banana," started making the rounds with impressive abilities that landed it at the top of the LMArena leaderboard. Now, Google has revealed that nano banana is an innovation from Google DeepMind, and it's being rolled out to the Gemini app today. AI image editing allows you to modify images with a prompt rather than mucking around in Photoshop. Google first provided editing capabilities in Gemini e

Google is building a Duolingo rival into the Translate app

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Google is putting AI-powered language learning tools into its Translate app. The new feature, rolling out now in beta, can create customized language lessons based on your skill level and your purpose for picking up a new language, such as vacationing in another

Google Translate takes on Duolingo with new language learning tools

Google is rolling out a new AI-powered experimental feature in Google Translate designed to help people practice and learn a new language, the company announced on Tuesday. Translate is also gaining new live capabilities to make it easier to communicate in real time with a person speaking a different language. The new language practice feature is designed for both beginners starting to learn conversational skills and advanced speakers looking to brush up on their vocabulary, the company says. T

Gemini expands image editing for enterprises: Consistency, collaboration, and control at scale

Want smarter insights in your inbox? Sign up for our weekly newsletters to get only what matters to enterprise AI, data, and security leaders. Subscribe Now Google’s highly speculated new image model, which many beta users know as nanobanana, has finally been released as Gemini 2.5 Flash Image and will be integrated into the Gemini app. The new model would give enterprises more choice for creative projects and enable them to change the look of images they need quickly. The model, built on top

The latest Gemini app update fixes the AI images that didn’t look quite like you

Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR Google has upgraded the image editing model in the Gemini app. The image editor is now better at maintaining a person’s likeness from one image to the next. You can now change a person’s outfit and location, blend multiple photos together to create a new image, make subsequent edits, and apply the style of one image to an object in another. Back in April, Google rolled out the ability to edit your AI images natively in the Gemini app. Although it’s nice

Gemini image generation is adding more editing tools

Google's Gemini is getting new features for editing images with AI. The latest image editing model is the work of the DeepMind artificial intelligence team, and these updates will be available starting today in the Gemini app. Google noted that all images either generated or edited in Gemini will be visibly and digitally watermarked to designate them as created with artificial intelligence. The first aspect of the new editing model offers consistency across different versions of an image. It's

Top-rated mystery 'nano-banana' AI model rolls out to Gemini, as Google DeepMind claims responsibility

Getty Images/gleitfrosch Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways A mystery 'nano banana' image editing model recently climbed up the LMArena charts. Google DeepMind was secretly behind the model, which is now publicly available. Users can get started for free today in the Gemini app. Every now and then, the LMArena will have a mystery model with a fun name shoot up to the top of the leaderboard. Shall I remind you of OpenAI's Project Strawberry? More r

Spotify's new DM feature lets you chat with friends in-app now - here's how

Spotify Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Spotify is adding a new in-app messaging feature. Conversations are one-to-one with people you know. The feature is available for users 16 and older. Spotify is getting a little more social. Since you're already talking with your friends about songs, audiobooks, and podcasts, the music streaming app is adding a new feature that lets you send private messages to other users within the Spotify app. The featu

Gemini 2.5 Flash Image

We use extensive filtering and data labeling to minimize harmful content in datasets and reduce the likelihood of harmful outputs. We also conduct red teaming and evaluations on content safety, including child safety, and representation. Image generation in Gemini has all our latest privacy and safety features. This includes SynthID, our tool that embeds an invisible digital watermark directly into an image, allowing it to be identified as AI generated.

Google's New AI Image Model 'Bananas' Is Here: How to Edit Your Photos With Gemini

Google wants you to ditch Photoshop for Gemini. A new generative AI model, Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, upgrades Gemini's ability to edit your photos natively in the Gemini app. It's available now for all Gemini users, free and paying, and is rolling out in preview this week in the Gemini API and Google AI Studio and Vertex AI. A recent preview version of the new model on LMArena sparked interest from Gemini fans, even though the model only ranked seventh as of Monday, behind leaders like OpenAI's i

Google Gemini’s AI image model gets a ‘bananas’ upgrade

Google is upgrading its Gemini chatbot with a new AI image model that gives users finer control over editing photos, a step meant to catch up with OpenAI’s popular image tools and draw users from ChatGPT. The update, called Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, rolls out starting Tuesday to all users in the Gemini app, as well as to developers via the Gemini API, Google AI Studio, and Vertex AI platforms. Gemini’s new AI image model is designed to make more precise edits to images — based on natural languag

Waiting for Spotify Hi-Fi? Spotify built Messages instead, because of course they did

TL;DR Spotify is rolling out a new Messages feature that allows users to chat and share content within the app. The feature is available for free and premium users aged 16 and older in select markets. Users can have one-on-one conversations, share Spotify content, and react with text and emojis. Spotify announced its “HiFi” lossless tier in February 2021. While there have been recent signs of progress, the feature still hasn’t launched. If you’ve been holding your breath for Spotify’s lossles

Spotify introduces an in-app messaging feature

My first thought when I heard Spotify had launched a messaging service was, "Why?" But, after looking into it a bit more, I'm intrigued at the idea of sharing recommendations within the app. So, what is Spotify's new Messages feature? Basically, like Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms, Spotify is creating a way for you to share content and thoughts from within its app. You can send playlists, songs and podcasts without having to use a link on another platform. You can see the M

Your Google Discover feed could soon be more customizable (APK teardown)

Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google is evaluating new options to make the Discover feed easier to customize. It is testing a new language selection option that lets you select multiple languages. The language selection tool is unlikely to limit the number of languages you can choose for content on the Discover feed. So far, Google has restricted language choices for the Discover feed to itself. However, an imminent change could soon provide you with more control over the content you

Do I not like Ruby anymore? (2024)

Do I not like Ruby anymore? 2024/05/28 I recently started working at a Python shop. The reasons behind this choice of employment are very much unrelated to the technology stack. Python is not my favorite programming language. In fact, allow me to drop the euphemism and express my pure, unadulterated thoughts about it: I never liked Python, I see it as a huge red flag and I think the world would be a better place if we all decided to finally move on from it. With that out of the way, let’s talk

Dangerous Advice for Software Engineers

I’m a big fan of “sharp tools”. These are tools that are powerful enough to be hugely helpful or harmful, depending on how they’re used. Most forms of direct production access are in this category: like ssh or kubectl, or a read-write prod SQL console. It’s also possible to give “dangerous advice”. Dangerous advice is dangerous because (like sharp tools) it takes competence and judgment to use well. Giving the wrong person dangerous advice is like giving the wrong person production SQL access -

Spotify is adding DMs

Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Spotify is introducing a direct messaging feature that allows users to share music, podcast, and audiobook recommendations with each other without leaving the app. Messages is rolling out in “select markets” this week, according to Spotify’s press release, and will be available on mobile devices for Free and Premium users aged 16 years and older. The messaging feature can be accessed by tapping the share ic

Spotify launches a messaging feature in a bid to become more social

Spotify is introducing a way for you to chat with your friends in a bid to become a more social content consumption app. Users have shared Spotify links for music and podcasts with others outside the platform for years. With this feature, Spotify wants users to do more within the app while also keeping the history of shared content, so users don’t have to search for a song. Messages are only one-on-one, and you can only start a chat with someone with whom you have previously shared content. Th

How to stop AI agents going rogue

How to stop AI agents going rogue 1 hour ago Share Save Sean McManus Technology Reporter Share Save Getty Images Anthropic tested a range of leading AI models for potential risky behaviour Disturbing results emerged earlier this year, when AI developer Anthropic tested leading AI models to see if they engaged in risky behaviour when using sensitive information. Anthropic's own AI, Claude, was among those tested. When given access to an email account it discovered that a company executive was

New AI attack hides data-theft prompts in downscaled images

Researchers have developed a novel attack that steals user data by injecting malicious prompts in images processed by AI systems before delivering them to a large language model. The method relies on full-resolution images that carry instructions invisible to the human eye but become apparent when the image quality is lowered through resampling algorithms. Developed by Trail of Bits researchers Kikimora Morozova and Suha Sabi Hussain, the attack builds upon a theory presented in a 2020 USENIX

Flamingoes Can Slow Down Aging—But Only If They Embrace This Lifestyle

Despite the uniform appearance of pink flamingo flocks, individuals live very different lifestyles. In the Camargue region of France, some stay put for their entire lives while others migrate along the Mediterranean coast. Now, scientists believe these two groups differ in how they age, too. New research published Monday, August 25, in the journal PNAS found that migratory flamingoes, who leave the Camargue annually to spend the winter in Italy, Spain, or North Africa, age slower than non-migra

NotebookLM’s Video Overviews go global with support for over 80 languages

Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR Video Overviews for NotebookLM now support over 80 languages. Audio Overviews are now longer and more engaging. Only about a month after Google introduced Video Overviews to NotebookLM, the feature is already getting an update. That update will make Video Overviews more accessible to a larger number of users. The Audio Overviews feature is also getting an update. Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority? Set us as a preferred source in Google S

You should update your iPhone, iPad, and Mac ASAP to fix this dangerous security flaw

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Apple has patched a serious security flaw on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Patch fixes a flaw that could allow an attacker to install spyware. The flaw has been exploited in the wild against targeted individuals. I know you're probably tired of constantly updating your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to fix one issue or another. But there's yet another update that you'll definitely want to install. And h

I took this camera on 5 trips, and it is now my must-have travel essential

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET The Insta360 X5 is my favorite travel camera. I love it for its versatility, ease of use, and user-friendly app. It is more expensive than its predecessor but offers better video quality, replaceable lenses, improved battery backup, and more. I started using this 360-degree action camera in May, and within three months, it has earned a permanent spot in my travel backpack. And it is now on sale for Labor Day. Review: Insta360 X5 The Insta360 Labor Day sale brings a $30 di