Meta AI Users Are Inadvertently Sharing Their Private Chats With the World

meta-ai-users-are-inadvertently-sharing-their-private-chats-with-the-world

Amanda Silberling, writing at TechCrunch:

When you ask the AI a question, you have the option of hitting a
share button, which then directs you to a screen showing a preview
of the post, which you can then publish. But some users appear
blissfully unaware that they are sharing these text conversations,
audio clips, and images publicly with the world.

When I woke up this morning, I did not expect to hear an audio
recording of a man in a Southern accent asking, “Hey, Meta, why do
some farts stink more than other farts?”

Flatulence-related inquiries are the least of Meta’s
problems. On the Meta AI app, I have seen people ask for
help with tax evasion, if their family members would be arrested
for their proximity to white-collar crimes, or how to write a
character reference letter for an employee facing legal troubles,
with that person’s first and last name included. Others, like
security expert Rachel Tobac, found examples of people’s
home addresses and sensitive court details, among other private
information.

Katie Notopoulos, writing at Business Insider (paywalled, alas):

I found Meta AI’s Discover feed depressing in a particular way — not just because some of the questions themselves were depressing.

 » Read More

New report about Apple's 10 main challenges ignores two main factors

new-report-about-apple's-10-main-challenges-ignores-two-main-factors

A new report breaks down issues from Apple Intelligence to tariffs, and says the problems are insurmountable. Why the report ignores the solutions Apple has always used effectively, we have no idea.

Apple Park — image credit: Apple
Apple most certainly faces problems with Trump’s tariffs and how they change at whim-speed, it definitely has foes including the European Commission, and at least some unhappy developers. A new report from Bloomberg claims that the company is currently facing ten major issues, and that there are no clear steps the company can take to address them.

We’re not going to delve into them too far, as we’ve already covered them ad infinitum. So has mainstream media, social networks, and that old lady that hangs out near that coffee shop down the street from you. What we will do, though, is give you a bullet list of what the report details.

Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums  » Read More

Hate iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design? Here's How to Tone It Down

hate-ios-26's-liquid-glass-design?-here's-how-to-tone-it-down

iOS 26 features a whole new design material that Apple calls Liquid Glass, with a focus on transparency that lets the content on your display shine through the controls. If you’re not a fan of the look, or are having trouble with readability, there is a step that you can take to make things more opaque without entirely losing out on the new look.


Apple has multiple Accessibility options that are designed to customize iOS for different visual needs, and one of these options is Reduce Transparency. Toggling on Reduce Transparency adds a darker background to translucent areas like the Control Center, app icons, and app folders, improving contrast.


You can turn on Reduce Transparency by opening up the Settings app, going to Accessibility, selecting Display and Text Size, and tapping on the Reduce Transparency toggle. If you want to be able to turn the setting on and off quickly, you can add it to your Accessibility Shortcuts to get to it from the Control center interface.


Activating Reduce Transparency does not remove all translucency from the iPhone’s interface, but it does give everything more of an opaque look.  » Read More

New 'F1' trailer brings roaring engines and a pounding soundtrack to life with haptic feedback

new-'f1'-trailer-brings-roaring-engines-and-a-pounding-soundtrack-to-life-with-haptic-feedback

Apple TV+ has released a new trailer for the “F1” Brad Pitt movie, which uses haptics to make iPhones shake as cars zoom by.

Apple’s haptic trailer for “F1”
“F1” could actually be the last big-budget Apple TV+ cinema release, as it follows a series of flops. Those failures have been partly put down to Apple’s lack of marketing — and that’s not a criticism that can be made anymore.

From regular trailers and promo ads, through an unusual high-profile plugging during the WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple has been pushing “F1” — and now it’s gone further.

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An Eve of WWDC Spitball Theory on the Rumored New ‘Games’ App

an-eve-of-wwdc-spitball-theory-on-the-rumored-new-‘games’-app

Filipe Espósito, in a scoop for 9to5Mac all the way back in October:

9to5Mac has learned details about the new project from reliable
sources familiar with the matter. The new app combines
functionality from the App Store and Game Center in one place. The
gaming app is not expected to replace Game Center. In fact, it
will integrate with the user’s Game Center profile.

According to our sources, the app will have multiple tabs,
including a “Play Now” tab, a tab for the user’s games, friends,
and more. In Play Now, users will find editorial content and game
suggestions. The app will also show things like challenges,
leaderboards, and achievements. Games from both the App Store and
Apple Arcade will be featured in the new store.

Even before Mark Gurman corroborated this report last week, I’ve had a spitball theory about what it might mean. Perhaps this about more than having one app (Games) for finding and installing games, and another (App Store) for finding and installing apps. It could signal that Apple is poised to establish different policies for apps and games. Like, what if games still use the longstanding 70/30 commission split (with small business developers getting 85/15),

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Here's When Apple's Student Offer With Free Gift Cards Begins This Year

here's-when-apple's-student-offer-with-free-gift-cards-begins-this-year

The start date for Apple’s annual Back to School promotion has been leaked.


In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman said that Apple is planning to launch the promotion in the U.S. on Tuesday, June 17 this year. He has accurately revealed the starting date of the promotion for the past three consecutive years.

The promotion will likely launch in the U.S. and Canada at first, followed by select countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia a few weeks later. The offer will likely be available until mid-September, with the exact end date varying by country.

Apple will once again be offering students and qualifying educational staff a complimentary gift card with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad, according to Gurman. Last year, the gift card values in the U.S. ranged between $100 and $150.

The free gift card is provided in addition to Apple’s standard year-round educational discounts, with eligible students and educational staff already able to receive up to 10% off of a new Mac, iPad, Studio Display, Pro Display XDR, and AppleCare+ plans.

The gift card can be used towards purchases of Apple products and accessories,  » Read More

Bill Atkinson, pioneering early Apple engineer, dies at 74

bill-atkinson,-pioneering-early-apple-engineer,-dies-at-74

The engineer behind much of the Mac’s early graphical user interfaces, QuickDraw, MacPaint, Hypercard and much more, William D. “Bill” Atkinson, died on June 5 of complications from pancreatic cancer.

Steve Jobs and Bill Atkinson (right) worked closely to help bring the Macintosh to life. Image credit – Apple
His family posting the news on a FaceBook post, saying that he passed away at home in Portola Valley, surrounded by family. Atkinson is survived by his wife, two daughters, stepson, stepdaughter, two brothers, four sisters, and his dog, Poppy, according to a message the family posted on FaceBook.

Atkinson, who built a post-Apple career as a noted nature photographer, worked at Apple from 1978 to 1990. Among his lasting contributions to Apple’s computers were the invention of the menubar, the selection lasso, the “marching ants” item selection animation, and the discovery of a midpoint circle algorithm that enabled the rapid drawing of circles on-screen.

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