L.A. Times Tech Blog

A federal judge dealt a blow to Meta just days before a blockbuster trial where the company is accused of developing products that are addictive to children.

Netflix said it has closed Hollywood-based Night School and plans to close Helsinki, Finland-based Moonloot.

Brin has been pouring money into Building a Better California, a group that's backing two measures that could nullify a proposed billionaire tax.

Next month, a new label intended for AI music personas, will appear on Spotify. The Swedish streaming platform will label AI-generated music and remove the tracks from users' personal recommendations.

Scott Wiener's congressional campaign launched a chatbot parodying rival Connie Chan, sparking a rebuke from Pelosi and illustrating the minefield politicians navigate when using AI.

The Los Angeles Police department announced its intention to install the low-frequency Rumbler siren into 20 black-and-white vehicles before a larger expansion. The Rumbler interacts with a standard police siren and amplifies that sound through its speakers.

Attorneys for Meta and other companies have argued that because social media addiction has not been formally recognized by the medical community, they cannot be held liable when sued over it. But the standard for a diagnosis is changing, and judges have been skeptical of those arguments.

The new penalty is in addition to the $375 million Meta was ordered to pay in March. The company plans to appeal.

In January, Riot Games revamped its morale-hurting return-to-office rules to allow more flexibility. The result? Attendance and productivity have risen.

What will happen to the world if artificial intelligence bots break free from our control and act independently?

Stripe and Advent International reportedly made a bid to take over the payments company for $60.50 per share, valuing the company at roughly $53 billion.