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J Studios/Getty Images Meta-owned Instagram has been making significant changes to how the social media site operates and recommends content, especially focusing on original content in Instagram recommendations and creating a safer online environment for teens.  Also: Bluesky hits 20 million users and counting – watch it keep growing here Today, in a blog post, Instagram announced another major change to its algorithms — a “fresh start.” According to the post, the site has been…

Get a Babbel lifetime language subscription at a big discount right now.  StackSocial Learning a new language can be daunting. But right now, you can buy a lifetime subscription to Babbel Language Learning from Stack Social that lets you choose from 14 languages and access more than 10,000 hours of online language education for $150 — that’s 74% off.  Not everyone has the time or resources to study a brand-new language. Babbel keeps you organized with…

Yaroslav Kushta/Getty Images Digital transformation is so last year. CEOs and their boardroom colleagues have heard about the potential power of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI), and they want their CIOs to deliver a new type of data-led change program: AI transformation. Gabriela Vogel, a senior director analyst in the Executive Leadership of Digital Business (ELDB) practice at tech analyst Gartner, told ZDNET that her firm’s 2024 CEO Survey suggests many bosses are responding to the…

Alexander Sikov/Getty Images Scholar Gary Marcus has become a kind of Poet Laureate on the shortcomings of artificial intelligence (AI), chronicling in numerous books and articles how the technology often comes up short and is less impressive than the average individual believes.  When, five years ago, Marcus wrote about the technical shortcomings of AI, in Rebooting AI, with co-author Ernest Davis, his critique was still somewhat theoretical, pointing to potential dangers of the technology.  Also: For a…

Zen Rial/Getty Images Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and other assistants have the potential to improve teachers’ workloads, especially when it comes to lesson planning, grading, and personalized learning materials. However, knowing best practices is crucial to get the most out of the tech — and this new free AI course is meant to teach just that.   Also: The best free AI courses in 2024 (and whether AI certificates are worth it) On Wednesday, OpenAI…

Westend61/Getty Images Previously, I discussed how Google’s decision to merge ChromeOS and Android marks a critical moment for the company. While this merger is a positive step forward, it raises an important question: Can Android truly evolve into a desktop-class operating system for touchscreen laptops? Google faces challenges and opportunities as it reimagines Android for larger devices and productivity-focused workflows. Android compatibility is already integrated into most Arm and x86 Chromebooks. However, the quality of…

Daniel Megias/Getty Images For some Android users, battery life can be a constant problem, especially when working with a non-flagship device (where batteries tend to be smaller and less capable of making it through the day) or with apps that aren’t optimized for battery life.  You’ve seen this plot play out in many films or TV series. A character is in a very tough situation and has to make a life-saving phone call… only to…

traffic_analyzer/Getty Images Meta-owned Instagram has been making significant changes to how the social media site operates and recommends content, especially focusing on original content in Instagram recommendations and creating a safer online environment for teens.  Also: Bluesky hits 20 million users and counting – watch it keep growing here Today, in a blog post, Instagram announced another major change to its algorithms — a “fresh start.” According to the post, the site has been testing…

MicroStockHub/Getty Images The gender gap in artificial intelligence (AI) use appears to be closing — and fast.  On Tuesday, the Deloitte Center for Technology, Media and Telecommunications released new predictions around gender-based AI adoption that suggest women’s use of generative AI will “equal or exceed that of men” by the end of next year in the US and within the next two years in Europe. Also: Microsoft makes it easier for users to create AI agents in Copilot Studio…

If there’s one mobile trend in the past decade that I’ll proudly stand by, it’s the fact that cheap phones are getting good. Really good. In today’s market, buying a phone that costs a fraction of the latest flagship iPhone or Samsung Galaxy doesn’t mean settling for a noticeably inferior experience. Instead, manufacturers have begun to bring core features such as wireless charging, 5G, and high-performance processors downmarket, making the more accessible tier of handsets…