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• OpenAI releases faster model to power ChatGPT

  "We're very, very excited to bring GPT-4o to all of our free users out there," Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati said at the highly anticipated launch event in San Francisco.

  

• Sony names two executives to lead PlayStation

  Industry observers noted that it was not usual practice to split the leadership of a Sony division.

  

• Booking.com to face tough new EU tech rules

  The former Twitter has filed a rebuttal arguing that "despite meeting the thresholds, X does not qualify as a important gateway between businesses and consumers," said the European Commission, whose probe should wrap up within five months. Booking.com, whose parent company Booking Holdings is headquartered in the United States, now has six months to prepare for compliance with the landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA).

  

• Attacking birth control pills, US influencers push misinformation

  US wellness influencers on platforms like TikTok and Instagram are spreading misinformation about birth control pills, making false claims about infertility and low libido. This misinformation can lead to unintended pregnancies, especially as reproductive rights become a central issue in the US. Many of these influencers lack medical expertise but profit from selling alternative health products and services. They overemphasize the side effects of birth control pills, with some even calling them "toxic" or linking them to infertility and altered sexual behavior.

  

• UK regulator demands tech firms shield children from harmful content

  "In line with new online safety laws, our proposed codes firmly place the responsibility for keeping children safer on tech firms," said Ofcom chief executive Melanie Dawes.

  

• iPad 'Crush' ad causes uproar amid AI anxiety

  An ad for the new iPad Pro caused an uproar Wednesday for showing an industrial-sized hydraulic press crushing objects linked to human creativity -- such as a record player and trumpet -- into a sleek tablet. "I'm not sure 'wanton destruction of all the good and beautiful things in this world' was really the vibe you were trying for," wrote X user Judd Baroff on X. The ad links to viral TikTok videos of industrial presses and other machines that are watched by millions on the platform.

  

• EU queries X over cut to content moderation resources

  The EU on Wednesday told digital platform X to explain a cut to content moderation resources, amid concerns over disinformation ahead of European elections in June. The European Commission said it wanted more information about X's "content moderation activities and resources" after a transparency report in April showed it has cut its team of content moderators by "almost 20 percent" since an October 2023 report.

  

• Global car giants seek tech allies in China EV market

  Struggling foreign automakers in China are looking for help from local tech giants to try to stay competitive in the world's biggest electric car market, where shiny smart screens, assisted driving and sophisticated map technology are in high demand. One major reason why foreign automakers are seeking partnerships with local tech firms is to benefit from their innovation, which Chinese automaking executives have attributed to the cutthroat competition in the industry.

  

• Samsung to buy French medical AI firm Sonio

  The deal is subject to regulatory approvals including from France. Once it is concluded, Sonio will remain headquartered in France.

  

• Volkswagen profits fall in 'slow start to year'

  Volkswagen reported Tuesday a more than 20% fall in first-quarter profits as sales slipped but stuck to its 2024 targets, insisting new models will provide a boost. Volkswagen also hopes that plans to cut costs and boost its squeezed profit margins will bear fruit later in 2024.

  

• Nepalis fight TikTok ban in court, or ignore it entirely

  When Nepal suddenly announced a ban on TikTok last year, lawyer Sunil Rajan Singh was determined to fight what he said was a government effort to hide its wrongdoings. Others like Singh are determined to fight. The hugely popular video-sharing platform has faced restrictions in several countries for allegedly breaking data rules and for its supposed harmful impact on youth.