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

A new tool predicts when users will reject a new technology

There is something paradoxical about our relationship with technology. We have very high expectations that new technology will solve the greatest challenges of our time. At the same time, we are quite often skeptical about ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Big tech on a quest for ideal AI device

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has enlisted the legendary designer behind the iPhone to create an irresistible gadget for using generative artificial intelligence (AI).

Consumer & Gadgets

AI-generated podcasts open new doors to make science accessible

The first study to use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to generate podcasts about research published in scientific papers has shown the results were so good that half of the papers' authors thought the podcasters ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Nintendo's Switch 2 scores record early sales

The Switch 2 has smashed records to become the fastest-selling console ever after gamers snapped up 3.5 million units in its first four days, Nintendo said Wednesday.

Consumer & Gadgets

Apple unveils iOS 26 and a new 'liquid glass' design

After stumbling out of the starting gate in Big Tech's pivotal race to capitalize on artificial intelligence, Apple tried to regain its footing Monday during an annual developers conference that focused mostly on incremental ...