170 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Jess Weatherbed

Jess Weatherbed

News Reporter

News Reporter

    More From Jess Weatherbed

    Adobe refuses to compromise on its bid for FigmaAdobe refuses to compromise on its bid for Figma
    Jess Weatherbed
    Jess Weatherbed
    Google Cloud debuts its latest generative AI model.

    Unveiled today alongside the API for Google’s Gemini AI model, Google says its Imagen 2 text-to-image generator delivers “significantly improved image quality” compared to its predecessor. This includes rendering accurate text (instead of a jumbled mess) and logos that can be overlayed onto products and surfaces.

    That should bring it more in line with AI products from rivals like Adobe’s Firefly and Bing’s DALL-E integration, which have also seen similar updates in recent months.

    Images generated using Google Cloud’s new Imagen 2 AI model.
    Images generated using Google Cloud’s new Imagen 2 AI model.
    1/2
    If you specify what text you want to see generated within your prompts, Imagen 2 should follow those instructions to the literal letter.
    Image: Google
    Why the AI Act was so hard to passWhy the AI Act was so hard to pass
    Jess Weatherbed
    Tesla will update nearly every car sold in the US to address Autopilot ‘defect’Tesla will update nearly every car sold in the US to address Autopilot ‘defect’
    Jess Weatherbed
    Jess Weatherbed
    Adobe reveals new design language coming to over 100 Adobe apps.

    Adobe has unveiled the next generation of its Spectrum design system — the framework that governs Adobe app design, akin to Google’s Material You.

    Spectrum 2 is intended to make apps more approachable and accessible, with key design components having first previewed in Adobe Express. The Spectrum 2 updates are first set to roll out across Adobe web products in “early 2024.”

    A screenshot taken of Adobe Express, noting the Spectrum 2 design elements.
    A screenshot of Adobe Photoshop on the Web featuring updated design elements.
    A screenshot of Adobe Acrobat featuring updated design elements.
    A screenshot of some updated design elements for Adobe Spectrum 2.
    An example of how changes can be made to Adobe apps in Spectrum 2.
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    Some of the design elements featured in Adobe Express (pictured) should start making their way to other apps next year.
    Image: Adobe
    Jess Weatherbed
    Jess Weatherbed
    Judge upholds Texas TikTok ban on state employee devices.

    The ban was challenged by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University in July, arguing that it’s “preventing or seriously impeding faculty” from undertaking research related to the app. College students and staff across the state have nevertheless found ways to sneak around the ban.

    US District Judge Robert Pitman rejected the suit on Monday, calling the ban a “reasonable restriction” in light of Texas’ concerns about data privacy.

    US judge upholds Texas TikTok ban on state-owned devices

    [Reuters]

    Jess Weatherbed
    Jess Weatherbed
    The top Google searches of 2023.

    I regret to inform New Yorkers that “scooped bagel” made it onto the global results for Recipes. Folks using Google’s Hum to Search feature are also pretty bad at recognizing songs from Imagine Dragons.

    Google’s Year in Search 2023 can be filtered globally or by country and broken down into categories like News, Games, Books, and Movies. You can find some global highlights below, or check out the top results from the last 25 years.

    A screenshot taken from Google’s Year in Search 2023 depicting the top results for news.
    A screenshot taken from Google’s Year in Search 2023 depicting the top results for movies.
    A screenshot taken from Google’s Year in Search 2023 depicting the top results for recipes.
    A screenshot taken from Google’s Year in Search 2023 depicting the top results for TV shows.
    A screenshot taken from Google’s Year in Search 2023 depicting the top results for video games.
    A screenshot taken from Google’s Year in Search 2023 depicting the top results for celebrity passings.
    A screenshot taken from Google’s Year in Search 2023 depicting the top results for songs.
    A screenshot taken from Google’s Year in Search 2023 depicting the top results for Hum to Search.
    1/8
    Click through to see the top five global results for some of the more notable categories.
    Image: Google
    EU reaches provisional agreement on AI Act, paving way for landmark lawEU reaches provisional agreement on AI Act, paving way for landmark law
    Threads is counting down to an EU launch next weekThreads is counting down to an EU launch next week
    Jess Weatherbed
    Jess Weatherbed
    The UK’s antitrust watchdog has eyes on Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI.

    The CMA is asking whether the relationship and “recent developments” between the two companies constitutes a merger that impacts competition in the UK.

    “The only thing that has changed is that Microsoft will now have a non-voting observer on OpenAI’s Board, which is very different from an acquisition such as Google’s purchase of DeepMind in the UK,” said Microsoft’s president Brad Smith to Bloomberg.

    CMA seeks views on Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI

    [GOV.UK]

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