Consumer & Gadgets news

Consumer & Gadgets

AI can't do your Christmas shopping just yet—but next year might be different

I'm a computer scientist and a bad Christmas shopper. Over the weekend, I wondered whether AI systems might be able to help me out.

Consumer & Gadgets

The federal government wants you to adopt 'end-to-end encryption' methods. Here's why you should adopt them

After revealing that it was the target of a sweeping hacking campaign, the federal government issued a public service announcement this week urging the public to use "end-to-end encryption" in order to better secure its digital ...

Consumer & Gadgets

Christmas in the metaverse: Why the festive season is moving into virtual worlds

The metaverse is the next frontier in digital evolution and consists of digital spaces where people socialize, play, learn and spend money.

Consumer & Gadgets

AI's human-like traits: Are we blurring the line between man and machine?

Attributing human traits to machines is nothing new, but with the rise of generative artificial intelligence, anthropomorphism is taking on a new dimension. This trend raises crucial philosophical and ethical issues, while ...

Consumer & Gadgets

New tool makes micro:bit programming portable for young learners

A new coding tool will help make it easier for children to portably program a popular educational micro-computer on the fly. Researchers from Lancaster University's School of Computing and Communications working in partnership ...

Consumer & Gadgets

PlayStation: Fun facts to know as Sony's console turns 30

Since 1994, PlayStation's five consoles have changed video game history. From the development of the controller to scuffles at stores to Saddam Hussein's military, here are five interesting things to know: