HeyWhatsNew: The International Space Station Is Coming Down, and Google Translate Is Adding More Than 100 Languages
Welcome to HeyWhatsNew, where we bring you the latest headlines and breaking news from around the globe. Here’s what went down in the week beginning 24/06/2024.
Indonesia Faces a $8 Million Cyberattack
A big cyber attack hit Indonesia’s main data center over the weekend, causing problems for government services. Airports, ferries, and passport checks were the most affected. About 200 government agencies were impacted across the country.
The attackers, likely linked to the LockBit ransomware gang, demanded $8 million according to CPO Magazine. The government didn’t pay, but services are slowly coming back, though there have been delays for travelers.
Uber Is Introducing a Cash Back Benefit for Drivers
Uber's One Less Car challenge, in partnership with the UK-based Behavioural Insights Team, encourages people to use their cars less. They're offering $1,000 to some people who agree to stop using their cars for up to five weeks.
This program is for car owners in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Miami, San Francisco, Toronto, and Vancouver. To join the program, PCMag reports that you need to be 18 or older, have a valid driver's license and bank card, use your car at least three times a week, and be willing to share your experience.
The International Space Station Is Going out of Orbit
The International Space Station, launched in 1998, will need to be taken out of orbit by 2030. NASA has given SpaceX an $843 million contract to build the vehicle for this task. This contract shows NASA’s trust in SpaceX to advance space exploration.
Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator for space operations, says the space station is still a model for science, exploration, and international cooperation in space.
Google Translate Is Adding 110 New Languages
In 2022, Google added 24 new languages to Translate using Zero-Shot Machine Translation, where the system can translate without seeing examples. Now, CNET reports that Google Translate is adding 110 new languages, its biggest expansion yet, thanks to AI advancements.
New languages include Afar, Cantonese, and Tamazight (Amazigh). Google says these languages are spoken by over 614 million people, about 8% of the world’s population.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Get an Improvement of Video Recording Abilities
The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses can now record videos up to three minutes long, thanks to the new version 6.0 software update. Previously, you could only record videos for up to one minute.
These smart glasses, equipped with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and five microphones, let you capture 1080p videos hands-free and by voice command. Now, with the longer recording time, you can shoot extended scenes for sharing on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Attorney General Tim Griffin Is Taking TEMU to Court for Alleged Deceptive Trade Practices
Fox Business news reports that Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin is suing the Chinese fast fashion retailer Temu, accusing the company of using deceptive tactics that harm consumers. He claims the company’s app contains spyware and malware that collect more than just consumer data.
A Temu spokesperson expressed surprise and disappointment over the lawsuit, accusing the attorney general of filing it without independent investigation. The spokesperson stated that the allegations are based on misinformation from a short-seller and are unfounded, and that the company will strongly defend itself.
Apple Will Be Working with Other Companies to Improve AI
According to an article on PYMNTS, Apple has reportedly been in talks with Meta about partnering on artificial intelligence (AI). The report mentioned that Meta and other companies developing generative AI products are looking to leverage Apple’s extensive distribution network. Apple has expressed its intention to collaborate with partners like OpenAI for more complex AI tasks.
Additionally, sources indicate that Apple has also engaged in discussions with AI startups Anthropic and Perplexity to integrate their generative AI into Apple Intelligence. PYMNTS has reached out to both companies for comment but has not yet received a response.
That’s all for today’s top stories on HeyWhatsNew. Stay tuned for more updates and in-depth coverage on the issues that matter most to you.
