X, the Elon Musk-owned social network previously known as Twitter, has added a new image generator to its Grok assistant. Just like the first image generator X added to Grok in October, this one, called Aurora, appears to have few restrictions. Staffers at xAI, Musk’s AI startup, which develops Grok and many of X’s AI-powered features, announced Aurora in posts on X early Saturday. But the posts didn’t reveal whether xAI trained Aurora itself, built on top of an existing image generator, or, as was the case with xAI’s first image generator, Flux, collaborated with a third party. Accessible through…
Author: Olsi
Age assurance, an umbrella term that refers to technologies for verifying, estimating, or inferring an internet user’s age, is being thrust into the global spotlight thanks to a blanket ban on social media use for people under 16 in Australia. The law, which is expected to come into force in Australia in November 2025, will require social media platforms to take “reasonable steps” to ensure they verify users’ age and prevent minors from accessing their services. The legislation was passed before key details were defined — such as the definition of “reasonable steps.” Australia will try out age-assurance technologies next…
Eset is known as a light, efficient antivirus solution that has minimal impact on performance. Speed is important, but to be the best, antivirus software must also vigorously safeguard your computer from cybersecurity threats. Recommended Videos I reviewed Eset Premium to find out if it offers robust malware protection, an easy-to-use interface, and responsive customer service. I also checked out the subscription options to find out if there’s enough value for the money. Specs Eset PremiumPlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidDevices1+ (Essential, Premium), 5+ (Ultimate)SupportChat, Email, PhoneFree version?No Tiers and pricing Eset offers three subscription tiers with options to add more…
While all eyes have deservingly been on Astro Bot and its spectacular platforming thrills in 2024, it’s easy to forget that a lot of lesser-known platformers have been quietly killing it this year. From completely unexpected sequels to 30-year-old games that you’ve probably never heard of to top-tier VR adventures and nostalgic fishing journeys that nearly live up to the games that inspired them, it’s been a heck of a year for one of gaming’s most popular genres. As we reflect on the best games of 2024 throughout this month, we wanted to take a moment to highlight some lesser-known…
Comedies are fun to watch any time of the year. Through the month of December as you prep for the holidays, you might be looking for a respite from the constant stream of holiday movies. Thankfully, there are lots of funny movies that have absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. If you’re not sure where to start, we’re here to help with three comedies on Amazon Prime Video you need to watch in December before they’re gone. Tropic Thunder (2008) It’s easy to forget that not only is Tropic Thunder downright hilarious, it also earned Robert Downey Jr. an Oscar…
Paytm has agreed to sell its stake in Japanese payments firm PayPay to SoftBank for $279.2 million, as the Indian firm sheds non-core assets following a bruising regulatory clampdown earlier this year. The sale of Paytm’s stake in PayPay, which it received through acquisition rights six years ago, follows months of restructuring at the Indian firm that saw the company sell its entertainment ticketing unit to Zomato for $246 million in August. PayPay, controlled by SoftBank and Yahoo Japan parent Z Holdings, is a leading payments app in Japan. The stake sale will boost Paytm’s cash reserves to $1.46 billion…
Best Toys for Kids in 2024: Hottest Holiday Gift Ideas for All Ages If you’re looking for the most sought-after toys of 2024, you’ve come to the right place. the best toys for kids, but they’ve been play-tested too, so you know they’re kid-approved. Power Saber While lightsabers are (still) a thing of fantasy, a new toy comes close to replicating the real thing without costing a fortune. The $50 Power Saber not only lights up, but it extends on its own, giving the effect of firing up a real lightsaber to battle against a Sith Lord. The sound effects…
TurboTax is rolling out new features for its online tax-filing software ahead of the 2025 tax season, including improvements to its generative AI and a new tracking tool you can use when handing off your taxes to an expert. Owned by Intuit, TurboTax has been CNET’s top pick for online tax filing two years in a row, winning an Editors’ Choice award in 2024. Its intuitive interface and helpful guidance make it easy to file your taxes fast — and these new features could speed up the process for more filers. While we haven’t tested either options yet — stay…
X users no longer need to pay for X Premium to use the service’s AI chatbot, Grok. Instead, X is allowing users 10 free prompts every 2 hours. This was reported by The Verge, citing X users who noticed the update. X first began trialing a free version of Grok in certain countries like New Zealand, The Tech Spot reported last month. Users can also generate 10 images for free every 2 hours. However, they are restricted to analyzing 3 images per day, according to an X post. Anything more requires subscribing. This gives Grok a freemium model similar to…
Keeping your kids out of shopping apps on your phone could save you money and a headache. Apple released iOS 18.1 in October, more than a month after the company released iOS 18 to the general public. iOS 18.1 brought a few new features to iPhones, like call recording. Apple introduced two new features in iOS 18 that made it easy to secure your apps on your iPhone. These features can be especially helpful for parents with young children. According to CBS, a 5-year-old bought over $3,000 worth of items from Amazon using her mother’s phone last year. The mother was able…
