Consumer & Gadgets news

Consumer & Gadgets

Report reveals over 40% of people are limiting AI use, as popularity starts to wane

People are increasingly choosing to limit or reject the use of AI tools, according to a new report published by the Digital Futures Institute at King's College London and Responsible AI UK.

Consumer & Gadgets

Almost half of Australian adults have used generative AI

Almost half of Australian adults have used generative artificial intelligence (GAI), with most users reporting it improves how they do their jobs or study, according to new research by the Australian National University (ANU) ...

Consumer & Gadgets

New VR game tracks player emotions in hopes of fostering empathy for marginalized communities

You're in a dance club bathed in a neon-purple glow, surrounded by ghostly silhouettes that sway to the music. A stranger at the bar greets you with a flirty wave: "Hey, you look so cute!" Sparks fly. It's all part of a virtual ...

Consumer & Gadgets

ABC will trial using AI for journalism. What are the risks and benefits?

Earlier today, the ABC flagged a shift in its position on generative artificial intelligence (AI) use in its news production. Despite previous caution, a recent deal with U.S. tech company Anthropic has opened the door for ...

Consumer & Gadgets

AI as a listening ear: Helpful or risky?

More and more people are turning to AI when they feel stressed or worried. Researchers at Leiden University studied how and why people use chatbots for emotional support. Their conclusion: AI meets a real need, but also raises ...

Consumer & Gadgets

AI-powered social media can subtly manipulate opinion at scale

AI tools used to generate, edit or contextualize social media posts can introduce hidden biases that spread through online networks and shape public opinion, according to new research from the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) ...

Internet

Digital barriers make visitors of Dutch websites stumble

Despite European legislation, many commercial websites still fall short when it comes to meeting the WCAG accessibility standard, Dante Göbbels has found. Göbbels investigated the barriers website visitors encounter, including ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Sony discontinues Japan sales of robot puppy 'aibo'

Sony is halting sales of its robotic puppy "aibo" in Japan, the company said, eight years after the latest model of its interactive android pet became an instant hit.

Consumer & Gadgets

Tracking what consumers think before they buy

Manufacturers have traditionally relied on sales figures to understand where they stand with consumers, but by the time those numbers arrive, consumers' buying decisions have already been made. A study co-authored by UC Riverside ...

Consumer & Gadgets

What skin temperature reveals about human comfort

New research has shown that the skin temperature on specific areas of the body is a strong indicator for how hot, cold or comfortable people feel. These findings could inform the design of wearable technology and smarter, ...

Consumer & Gadgets

AI tech breathes life into virtual companion animals

Researchers at UNIST have developed an innovative AI technology capable of reconstructing highly detailed three-dimensional (3D) models of companion animals from a single photograph, enabling realistic animations. This breakthrough ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Time-lapse video made easy: The camera's in your pocket

When you think of "time-lapse video," what usually springs to mind is a camera fixed on a tripod taking image after image at predetermined intervals. But what if you could do the same thing by taking out your phone and snapping ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Study finds big crowds hurt live-stream engagement

Most content platforms thrive on user engagement, but a professor at the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School has discovered that too much of it can be harmful.

Consumer & Gadgets

How AI is revolutionizing travel planning

Not long ago, planning a trip meant juggling guidebooks and hours of searching the web for the best restaurants and must-see sights. Now, travelers are turning to artificial intelligence tools to do the heavy lifting.