Gemini's new AI agent is about as good as Google's demo
The Verge AI22h agoNew ToolGoogle's new 24/7 AI agent, Gemini Spark, can take on tasks for users and continue working on them. After receiving access last week, The Verge's reviewer found that Spark can perform surprisingly well, roughly matching Google's demo. The remaining question is whether that capability justifies the financial cost and potential privacy tradeoffs.
Tech companies desperately want to film you doing chores
The Verge AI4d agoEthicsThe Verge reports that AI training startup Shift is offering to clean New Yorkers’ homes for free, with plans to expand to cities including London. The catch is that Shift wants footage of people doing chores and cleaning at home. The story highlights how tech companies are seeking real-world household data for AI and robotics training, raising questions about privacy and consent in domestic spaces.
Startup offers free home cleaning if it can record it all for robot training
Ars Technica AI4d agoBusinessAI training startup Shift is offering free home cleanings while workers wear head-mounted cameras that record household chores. The footage is intended to become training data for domestic robots and related AI systems. The model highlights rising demand for real-world robotics data, while raising privacy questions about recording inside homes.
This AI startup will clean your home for free to train future robots
The Verge AI4d agoBusinessAI training startup Shift is offering to clean homes for free, with a significant condition: it records cleaners at work. The footage captures tasks like scrubbing, vacuuming, dusting, tidying, and washing. Shift says the material will be used to train future robots, raising clear questions about data collection inside private homes.
Is Your Data in Taiwan? Cross-Border Transfer Risks in Asia-Pacific Data Deployment
INSIDE 硬塞 AI4d agoCommentaryUsing the Grab acquisition debate as context, the article says offshore data storage is now normal for digital services. The real issue is not whether data stays in Taiwan, but whether the storage jurisdiction has strong legal protections, oversight, and remedies. Singapore is presented as a case worth examining for Asia-Pacific data deployment and cross-border transfer risk assessment.
I Tried Amazon’s Bee Wearable and Am Both Intrigued and Slightly Creeped Out
TechCrunch AI9d agoHardwareTechCrunch reviewed Amazon's new "Bee" AI wearable, highlighting its potential for seamless ambient computing. While the device offers impressive convenience by constantly listening and assisting, it also triggers significant privacy concerns. Like previous AI pins and pendants, Bee forces users to balance the benefits of an always-on assistant against the anxiety of constant surveillance.
FTC Fines Cox Media Group $1M Over Fake AI "Active Listening" Ad Claims
Simon Willison's Weblog11d agoRegulationThe FTC has settled with Cox Media Group and two other firms for $1 million over deceptive "Active Listening" marketing claims. Although the companies pitched that they used AI to listen to real-time conversations via smart devices, the FTC revealed they actually just resold marked-up email lists. The FTC also clarified that burying voice-data consent in standard Terms of Service is legally inadequate.