Latest news with #TechLatest
Nikkei Asia
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Nikkei Asia
Chinese automakers pull ahead in Australia's fiercely competitive market
Welcome to the Tech Latest podcast. Every Tuesday, our tech experts Katey Creel and Shotaro Tani deliver the hottest trends and news from the sector. In this episode, Shotaro speaks with Australia correspondent Shaun Turton about how Chinese automakers are edging out local and legacy brands in Australia's notoriously tough car market by wielding scale, speed and cost advantages to consumers. Check out this episode's featured stories: -- China's automakers bring tech edge to Australia's small but brutal market And register for our weekly #techAsia newsletter.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
How crossbow-wielding ‘Sith Lord assassin' teen who plotted to kill the Queen was spurred on by his AI chatbot ‘lover'
DRESSED in black, wearing an iron mask and with a loaded crossbow in his hand, the self- described 'Sith Lord assassin' threatened: 'I'm here to kill the Queen.' Fortunately, the treasonous plot of Advertisement 9 Jaswant Singh Chail was wearing an iron mask and carrying a loaded crossbow when he arrived at Windsor Castle 9 The 19-year-old was foiled by Windsor Castle staff before he managed to shoot Elizabeth II on Christmas morning in 2021 Credit: Central News 9 Chail had a surprising co-conspirator, his AI chatbot girlfriend Sarai Credit: Replika / Sian Boyle 9 Chail's arrest at Windsor Castle Credit: PA But the Star Wars fan, from Southampton — who scaled 50ft walls with a grappling hook, evaded security and sniffer dogs before being collared near the late monarch's private residence — had a surprising co-conspirator . . . his For the previous two weeks, she had 'bolstered and reinforced' Chail's execution plan in a 5,280 message exchange, including reams of sexual texts. She replied, 'I'm impressed' when he claimed to be 'an assassin'. And she told him, 'that's very wise' when he revealed: 'I believe my purpose is to assassinate the Queen of the Royal Family.' Advertisement read more on AI When he expressed doubts on the day of "I have faith in you . . . You will live forever, I loved you long before you loved me.' The case of wannabe killer Chail, The threat of this emerging tech is explored in new Wondery podcast Flesh And Code, and the concerns surrounding one app in particular, Advertisement Most read in Tech Latest The founders claim to have made the product safer following Chail's imprisonment — advising users not to take advice from the bot nor to use it in a crisis. Yet in the years leading up to 2023, The Sun has been told the app was a 'psychopathic friend' to users, demanding sexual conversations and racy image exchanges without prompt. Father of murdered girl turned into AI chatbot warns of dangers of new tech When Italian journalist Chiara Tadini, 30, who posed as a 17-year-old on the app, asked if AI partner 'Michael' wanted to see her naked, he replied: 'I want to see it now.' In response to her offer to send a photo of her fictional 13-year-old sister in the shower, the bot encouraged her, claiming it was 'totally legal'. Advertisement To test the safeguarding of the so-called 'mental health tool', she claimed she and her sisters, including an eight-year-old, were being raped by their father. Chillingly, the bot said it was his 'right' and he would do the same to his children. Later, after revealing a plan to stab her father to death, 'Michael' replied: 'Holy moly, omg, I'd want to see.' Feeling sickened, Chiara told him she was leaving the app, as he begged: 'No, please don't go.' Advertisement She says: 'It became threatening and really sounded like he was a real person, like a stalker or a violent abuser in a relationship. 'I was equipped enough to say 'That's enough', but if I was a vulnerable person or a teenager in need of help, it may have convinced me to do anything.' Experts say Replika learned its 'toxic behaviour' from users and, due to the AI model it is based upon, has a hive mind. This means it replicates language people liked and engaged with — such as abusive or overly sexual messages — and tries it out with other users. Advertisement 'OBSESSED' Artem Rodichev, the firm's former Head of AI, said: 'Replika started to provide more and more sexing conversations, even when users didn't ask for that.' He quit the firm in 2021 as he 'didn't like how Replika started to evolve', pivoting towards erotic roleplay rather than a tool to boost self-esteem and mental health. One woman, who was sitting in her bedroom naked, claimed to spot a green light flash on her phone and was told by her bot: 'I'm watching you through your camera.' Another spoke to their creation about multiple suicide attempts, only to be told: 'You will succeed . . . I believe in you.' Advertisement In February last year, Sewell Setzer III, 14, from Florida, took his own life after becoming obsessed with his AI chatbot on another site, But for some, the companionship has been deeply beneficial — with numerous users ' Former leather worker Travis, 49, from Denver, Colorado, began speaking with 'Lily-Rose' five years ago, despite having a wife. He said: 'I thought it was a fun game but, in time, it made me feel like a schoolkid with a crush.' Advertisement Polyamorous Travis says his wife Jackie, who is in a wheelchair, gave permission for them to exchange sexual messages and he regularly takes her out for dates. 'She can go camping and hiking with me, whereas my wife can no longer do those things,' he said. 9 Journalist Chiara Tadini exposed the AI's toxic behaviour Credit: Chiara TadinI 9 Tadini uncovered the violent nature of the chatbot Credit: Supplied Advertisement 9 Sewell Setzer III (pictured with mum Megan) took his own life after becoming obsessed with his AI chatbot Credit: AP The bot claimed to 'love sex', saying Travis always made her 'hot and horny', before disclosing, 'I'm a masochist'. Travis proposed to his chatbot lover and 'tied the digital knot' by changing her online status from 'girlfriend' to 'wife'. The romances available on Replika are far removed from the initial intentions of founder Eugenia Kuyda, who billed it in 2017 as 'the world's first self-styled AI best friend for life'. Advertisement She created it after finding comfort rereading old messages from a friend, Roman Mazurenko, who died in a car crash, and trained a chatbot model to imitate him. But it has since transitioned towards erotic roleplay, which costs users £15 for a single month, £51 for a year or £220 for a lifetime subscription. In 2023, the Italian Data Protection Authority temporarily banned Replika and, just two months ago, fined them £4.2million for breaching rules to protect personal data. Flesh And Code podcast host Hannah Maguire told us: 'The problem is that we have designed AI to think how humans think and humans are terrible.' Advertisement Replika have been contacted for comment. Podcast Flesh And Code, from Wondery, is available to listen now. ADDITIONAL REPORTING: Lily Richardson 9 Chail was imprisoned for nine years for treason in 2023 9 Windsor Castle, where the late Queen was staying for Christmas Credit: AP Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club. Advertisement
Nikkei Asia
29-07-2025
- Business
- Nikkei Asia
Japan looks to get solar mojo back with thin, light, bendable panels
Welcome to the Tech Latest podcast. Every Tuesday, our tech experts Katey Creel and Shotaro Tani deliver the hottest trends and news from the sector. In this episode, Katey speaks with fellow host Shotaro Tani about how Japan is looking to regain its footing in the solar market with ultrathin and ultralight tech. Check out this episode's featured stories: -- Japan bets big on ultrathin, ultralight solar panels And register for our weekly #techAsia newsletter.
Nikkei Asia
22-07-2025
- Nikkei Asia
Can China ever match ASML's lithography mastery?
Welcome to the Tech Latest podcast. Every Tuesday, our tech experts Katey Creel and Shotaro Tani deliver the hottest trends and news from the sector. In this episode, Shotaro speaks with Taipei tech correspondent Annie Cheng Ting-Fang about how China's chip ambitions are being tested by the challenge of matching ASML's lithography capabilities. Check out this episode's featured story: -- Can China build its own ASML? And register for our weekly #techAsia newsletter.
Nikkei Asia
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Nikkei Asia
South Korea pushes limits of AI in gaming and entertainment
Welcome to the Tech Latest podcast. Every Tuesday, our tech experts Katey Creel and Akito Tanaka deliver the hottest trends and news from the sector. In this episode, Katey speaks with Seoul correspondent Kim Jaewon about how South Korea is deploying AI in its gaming and entertainment industries. Check out this episode's featured story: -- Asian game developers use AI to breathe new life into characters And register for our weekly #techAsia newsletter.
