DOJ files to seize $225 million in crypto from scammers

The Department of Justice reported yesterday that it filed a civil complaint to seize roughly $225.3 million in cryptocurrency linked to crypto investment scams. In a press release, the DOJ said it traced and targeted accounts that were “part of a sophisticated blockchain-based money laundering network” dispersing funds taken from more than 400 suspected victims…

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Inside Microsoft’s complicated relationship with OpenAI

Beyond the selfies between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and the friendly conversations between the pair on stage, all is not well with Microsoft’s $13 billion AI investment. Over the past year, multiple reports have painted a picture of a Microsoft and OpenAI relationship that is straining under pressure. As OpenAI…

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YouTube is plugging Veo 3 AI videos directly into Shorts

YouTube is bringing its Veo 3 AI video generation model, which my colleague Allison Johnson recently called “a slop monger’s dream,” to YouTube Shorts later this summer, according to a Cannes Lions keynote from YouTube CEO Neal Mohan. Shorts creators can already take advantage of the previous-generation Veo 2 model to generate backgrounds with Dream…

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Futureproof

AI tools are flooding the culture ecosystem — and no corner of the arts space is immune. In this series, we’re looking at the ways artists are embracing AI, pushing back on it, or trying their best to find an equilibrium with a new technology that’s both sweeping and destabilizing. We talk to perfumers questioning…

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Some Animal Crossing Lego sets are cheaper than ever

I don’t know about you, but I’ve gotten back into Animal Crossing: New Horizons in a pretty big way since the Switch 2 arrived. I’ve started a new island (the game loads faster and runs better on that console), and I’ve been doing house chores to the relaxing music. The natural progression of my invigorated…

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Google tests real-time AI voice chats in Search

Tapping the sparkle button beneath the search bar will open Search Live. Google is building Search Live into AI Mode, allowing you to have a back-and-forth voice conversation with the company’s AI chatbot right from its search engine. The test, which is rolling out now to Labs users in the US, currently doesn’t support camera-sharing,…

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