Senator Ted Cruz of Texas is attempting to rally support for a bill that would reveal to Americans if their household devices are spying on them. Mr Cruz took to the Senate floor on Tuesday to rally support for the Informing Consumers about the Smart Devices Act — warning that as more and more Americans bring smart devices into their homes, the result could be a loss of privacy. “In Texas, we’ve become very aware of that cost,” Mr Cruz said. “The past few years, smart thermostats have allowed electric companies to control the temperature in your own home from afar in the name of conserving energy. Furthermore, a lot of Americans don’t realize or expect that the growing number of smart household devices and appliances, have cameras on them, and microphones that can surreptitiously record families and transmit data.” Mr Cruz says his bill would require technology manufacturers to clearly disclose whether their appliances have listening devices, cameras, or any other spying technologies. The bill would not apply to cell phones, laptops, or other devices “that a consumer would reasonably expect to include a camera or microphone.” Mr Cruz first introduced the proposal back in January with Sen Maria Cantwell of Washington, a Democrat. Sen Raphael Warnock of Georgia also joined the bill as a co-sponsor in late March, shortly after it was marked up by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation committee. According to Mr Cruz’s testimony, the bill passed the Commerce Committee by a voice vote but has not yet been taken up by the full Senate. At its core, Mr Cruz said, the bill is designed as a consumer protection measure to let Americans know what they’re bringing into their home — a right that he feels takes precedent over concerns about government overreach. “Now, I’m sympathetic to the argument that there are too many mandates from government and that many of the mandates are unnecessary, burdensome, and costly,” Mr Cruz said. “But requiring a manufacturer to tell you if they’re spying on you does not fall into that category. And I have to say in assessing the minimal burden, the disclosure burden, against the harm, I fall down on the side of individual liberty. I fall down on the side of privacy.” Privacy is, in many ways, one of the defining issues of the internet age — particularly at a time when the buying and selling of people’s personal data is a multi-billion dollar industry that is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. “I don’t think the American people want their air fryer spying on them,” Mr Cruz said. “And at a minimum, they have a right to know if their air fryer is spying on them.” Read More Ted Cruz accuses new Barbie movie of ‘pushing Chinese propaganda’

Microsoft has hired OpenAI co-founder and former chief executive Sam Altman just days after he was ousted from his company. Mr Altman was fired on Friday, less than a year after launching the hugely successful AI chatbot ChatGPT, with OpenAI’s board saying it “no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI”. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was reportedly “furious” about being blindsided by Mr Altman’s firing, despite the tech giant being a key investor of the artificial intelligence firm. On Monday, Mr Nadella announced that both Mr Altman and fellow OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman would be joining his company. “We’re extremely excited to share the news that Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, together with colleagues, will be joining Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team,” Mr Nadella wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “We look forward to moving quickly to provide them with the resources needed for their success.” Mr Altman replied to the post: “The mission continues.” Mr Altman had previously posted a picture of himself wearing an OpenAI guest pass over the weekend, together with the caption: “First and last time I ever wear one of these.” Mr Nadella followed up his original post on X with further details about what Mr Altman’s new role might be within the company. “I’m super excited to have you join as CEO of this new group, Sam, setting a new pace for innovation,” he wrote. “We’ve learned a lot over the years about how to give founders and innovators space to build independent identities and cultures within Microsoft, including GitHub, Mojang Studios, and LinkedIn, and I’m looking forward to having you do the same.” Read More OpenAI in talks to bring Sam Altman back days after CEO ouster, reports say OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman ousted as CEO ChatGPT Plus stops signups after major update ChatGPT creator mocks Elon Musk in brutal tweet ChatGPT goes offline ChatGPT update allows anyone to make their own personalised AI assistant

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Network infrastructure and 5G-technology provider Nokia has signed a new long-term patent license agreement with Apple to replace the current deal between the two companies that is set to expire at the end of the year

The upcoming major iPhone update could change how its lock screen works, according to a new report. iOS 17, which will be revealed during Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in early June, is rumoured to bring a whole host of changes to the iPhone, including journaling apps and additions for the Health. While that WWDC event is likely to focus on Apple’s rumoured new headset, there is expected to be plenty of upgrades for other platforms too. One of those upgrades is the new feature that will change the iPhone’s lock screen so that it works more like an “ambient” display, according to a new report. That would mean that it would provide extra information – such as weather reports, calendar updates and more – when it was left on. As such, it could take on the job of an alarm clock or kitchen display, and then move back into being an iPhone or iPad when it was taken on the move. The mode will switch on when the phone or tablet is placed down in landscape mode, according to a new report from Bloomberg. It would allow the devices to compete with other smart displays from Amazon and Google, which both offer screens that are intended to be used in the kitchen or bedroom and are operated through their virtual assistants. Apple has not made one of those screens, though it has often been rumoured to be working on. Its only smart home equipment has focused on audio, in the form of the HomePod and HomePod Mini. Now Apple could replicate the functionality without requiring people to buy a whole new display. Apple already offers something similar in its watches, which have a devoted “nightstand mode” when they placed on their side for charging. When that happens, they show a more ambient time that allows them to be used as an alarm clock by the bed, for instance. And Apple has recently made a number of changes to the home and lock screens with a view to making them more actively useful. Last year, with iOS 16, it added widgets to that lock screen, for instance. The iPhone 14 Pro, released last year, also includes an always-on display that would presumably mean they could show that ambient mode without too much battery drain. Read More Apple lays bare danger of losing your health data Apple is making a ‘mixed reality’ headset. Here’s what that future might look like Montana TikTok ban ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘impossible to enforce’ Apple and Samsung use AI to make phones more accessible for disabled people Apple releases its first transparent product in years New iPhone feature can recreate your voice perfectly after just 15 minutes

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