GoKawiil
Tech News
LG issued a statement rebutting claims that its smart TVs spy on users, asserting that wake-word audio is processed locally and only converted to text if a wake word is detected. The company said Automatic Content Recognition, voice recognition, and interest-based advertising are optional and disabled by default, and that speech data isn't stored or transmitted once the TV goes offline.
A grieving son used his father's letters, journals and audio recordings to train an AI chatbot that mimics his father's voice and personality. The project lets him have simulated conversations with a digital recreation of his deceased parent, raising broader questions about how AI could reshape mourning and memory.
LG issued a statement responding to findings from Gamers Nexus, Level1Techs and independent researchers that its smart TVs log and upload user data, including ambient audio. LG says its TVs don't continuously record or transmit conversations, that wake-word detection happens locally, and that features like Automatic Content Recognition and voice recognition are optional and off by default.
OpenAI has opened API access to GPT-Live-1, a voice model that can listen and speak simultaneously and hand off complex reasoning or tool use to text models like GPT-6 Astra. The model, already used in ChatGPT, lets developers customize tone and pacing, handle background noise, and support full-duplex phone-based voice agents. Early testing by language-learning company Speak found it cut conversational interruptions by nearly 80% compared with older turn-based voice systems.
The NTSB detailed early findings from the cockpit voice and flight data recorders recovered after 21 Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-33A cargo plane, overran the runway at Miami International Airport on Sept. 6. The recorders captured over two hours of audio and 54 hours of flight data, with a timeline showing the crew configuring flaps and gear for landing while one pilot repeatedly warned about excessive approach speed.
Listen Labs, a voice-AI market research startup, had signed a term sheet for a $125 million Series C led by Menlo Ventures at a $1.5 billion valuation, but walked away before closing. Sources say the reversal stems from ongoing acquisition talks with Salesforce, reportedly worth around $2 billion, though no deal has been finalized.
LG pushed back after GamersNexus published a video alleging that its G5 TVs could be hacked via a man-in-the-middle attack to capture ambient audio and viewing data, even with the microphone switch off. LG stated its TVs only process voice data when the remote's voice button is pressed or a wake word is spoken, and that unrecognized audio is never sent to its servers.
After 17 years without built-in voice communication for full teams, Riot Games is rolling out team-wide voice chat in League of Legends starting with Patch 26.20. The feature launches first in North America and Oceania, with other regions like Korea, Brazil and Latin America potentially following depending on how the rollout goes. Players need an Honor level of 3 or higher to speak, though anyone can listen, and Riot is also introducing customizable 'voice skins' along with improved noise cancellation and connection stability.
A GamersNexus investigation into LG smart TVs found system logs storing sensitive spoken data, including credit card numbers and Social Security numbers, captured during voice search queries. The same testing also suggested the TVs could access webcam and microphone functions while appearing off or disconnected from the network, and that a compromised TV could scan the local network to discover other connected devices.
Startup Voicebox, led by CEO Karan Gupta, lets customers give feedback by speaking into their phones after scanning a QR code or tapping an NFC chip, with voice automatically transcribed and analyzed for sentiment on a company dashboard. The company has partnered with airport terminals and was used at a Lena Dunham book event, where attendees left spoken reactions instead of typed reviews.
A startup founded by former Nothing employees showcased the Relay Q, a small handheld AI microphone, at IFA Berlin. The device lets users dictate text or issue voice commands quietly by holding down its tip, double-click to send messages, and can detach into a wearable pin that clips to clothing via magnet.
TikTok is expanding its comment section beyond text, letting users reply with voice clips, photo carousels, and polls. The update aims to make comment threads more interactive and expressive, treating them as a richer space for engagement rather than a simple text feed.