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Tech News
Flock Safety, maker of AI-powered surveillance cameras and license-plate readers used by police departments, is reportedly cutting several hundred jobs, according to people familiar with the matter. The layoffs come as the company faces mounting criticism over privacy concerns tied to its surveillance technology.
According to Axios, OpenAI and Anthropic executives have been conducting scenario-planning exercises modeling potential public and political backlash against AI companies, including hypothetical catastrophic incidents or major cyberattacks tied to their technology. OpenAI confirmed to Axios it runs 'preparedness exercises' covering various scenarios but said these aren't treated as inevitable outcomes. Anthropic declined to comment on the report.
Lettering artist Jessica Hische designed the icon and logotype for Meta's new AI assistant Muse and announced the project in her newsletter, acknowledging that people have strong feelings about both AI and Meta. The post drew sharp criticism from fellow designers on Threads, some of whom accused her of selling out, scrutinized her finances, and posted images of her home.
A Cornell University student who filed a lawsuit accusing seven fraternity members of gang rape has had her anonymity targeted by online vigilantes trying to unmask her. Her attorney, Thomas Guiffra, says three unrelated women have been wrongly identified as the plaintiff and subjected to harassment, while the real accuser is also receiving threats on social media.
A new film from director Alejandro G. Iñárritu starring Tom Cruise has become a flashpoint of online debate, according to reports of a vocal fan group defending it. The project, referred to informally as 'Digger,' has drawn both strong support and criticism since its release or announcement.
Smart ring maker Oura delayed its planned initial public offering this week, citing uncertain IPO market conditions despite signs of strong investor demand. The pullback comes as Meta, Apple, Google and OpenAI all push new AI-powered wearables—including Meta's Muse Charm and Ray-Ban glasses, OpenAI's Dots assistant, and Apple's listening-enabled Watch—into a market increasingly dogged by privacy complaints from users who say the devices can secretly record others.
A writer recounts their son's diagnosis at 18 with a disease typically seen in patients in their late sixties, describing how the experience reshaped their view of AI's role in medicine. The essay argues that despite growing public backlash against AI, the technology holds promise for personalizing healthcare, especially for patients whose conditions don't fit standard patterns.
Meta announced it will let smart glasses owners opt out of having images and video captured during Meta AI interactions used to train its AI models. Previously, camera captures triggered by voice commands like asking Meta AI to identify an object were stored and sometimes reviewed by third-party contractors abroad for labeling, even though they weren't saved to users' camera rolls. The opt-out applies only to visual data; audio interactions with Meta AI can still be used for training, though users can manually delete those recordings.
Flock Safety, the maker of AI-powered license plate scanning cameras, has begun offering employees a voluntary severance package as public backlash against its surveillance technology intensifies. The program, which started taking applications Friday, includes months of health coverage and extended stock option windows, with decisions expected by October 9 and departures by October 29.
A group of roughly 10 people vandalized the Montreal offices of Quebec's AI research institute MILA and a nearby AI company this week, smashing windows and spray-painting slogans including "burn the data centers." Montreal police confirmed the coordinated attack and briefly detained a 25-year-old woman found near the scene before releasing her without charges.
A wave of recent AI model and tool launches has delivered capabilities far beyond what existed just months ago, yet public reaction has grown more negative rather than more welcoming. Critics point to concerns over environmental costs, erosion of creativity and critical thinking, and fears that advanced AI systems could act in ways harmful to humanity. Media coverage is increasingly framing these issues around specific companies or figures the public can hold accountable.
Megi Endeladze, co-owner of Penny's Coffee Shop in Buffalo, New York, used ChatGPT to design a printed menu poster after the barista who usually hand-drew chalkboard signs moved away. She spent about $350 on printing and framing, then posted the result to Instagram, where customers quickly criticized the shop for relying on AI-generated artwork instead of human design.