Blue sky thinking! Google co-founder Sergey Brin builds world’s largest aircraft for $150M: Disaster relief blimp will be zero emissions alternative to airplanes Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s company could build a massive airship Reports suggest it will measure 656ft and cost the billionaire $150 million Brin initially wanted to build an ‘air yacht’ but is now … Read more
Google is the lasted tech company to expand into the health market with a new Nest Hub assistant that monitors sleep. The seven-inch smart screen is packed with sleep-sensing technology that collects data while sitting at the owner’s bedside. The feature, which Google intends to offer for free through at least this year, relies on … Read more
Facebook has made multi-million-dollar deals with Australia’s two biggest commercial media companies to pay for using their content on its site. The social media platform has signed and three-year deal with Rupert Murdoch‘s News Corp and a letter of intent with Nine Entertainment. It comes after a world-first new law forcing Google and Facebook to … Read more
Google Maps has launched a map editing tool for desktop that lets users add new or missing roads to the landscape. This feature, which is rolling out over the coming months in more than 80 countries will let users add missing roads by drawing lines, rename roads, realign or delete incorrect roads and report if a road … Read more
Amazon’s Echo and other smart speakers like the Google Home could be used to monitor the rhythm of a person’s heart. Academics created an AI-powered device which monitors regular, and irregular, heartbeats using the same tools found in smart speakers. The prototype, which was built in a lab but could be incorporated into speakers in … Read more
An anxious, middle-class mother notices a mysterious rash on her young son and, as one does, immediately turns to Dr Google. She comes across a medical website that tells her it’s a classic sign of a serious genetic condition – there’s a risk of seizures and sudden death. In a panic, she rushes him to … Read more
San Francisco-based Ample announced a new battery charging technology that refuels electric vehicles from any automaker in just 10 minutes – three times faster than traditional systems. Using Modular Battery system, AI-powered robots remove the depleted battery and replace it with a fully charged unit – Ample says its batteries are like Lego-blocks that can … Read more
New Zealand looks to bring in Australian-style media deals with Google and Facebook that would see tech giants pay for news content Kris Faafoi, New Zealand’s broadcast minister, met with Google and Facebook He told tech giants to strike deals with media companies or face regulation Faafoi said companies could face laws similar to those … Read more
‘Google GP’ is fuelling fake child illness: Number of parents pretending their children are unwell after searching symptoms online is on the rise, experts warn Experts said Google fuelling increase in parents fabricating illnesses in children Royal College of Paediatrics launched guidance about fabricated illness (FII) Cases arise when parents believe their child has an … Read more
Biden administration drops Trump’s objections to a ‘global digital tax’ on US tech giants, paving the way for a deal by summer Treasury Secretary Yellen told G20 on Friday that a global tax can go forward Plan would set a global minimum corporate tax rate and rules for multinationals Trump’s objections would have let Google, … Read more