Technology

Remember when Facebook first offered to pay “media partners” to create video content for its news feed? A lot sure has changed since then... and that was only six months ago. In a development that’s elicited anger among journalists and various content providers, the world’s largest social media company appears to be testing a new content-distribution model that would move it away from an organic, free-for-all to a pay-to-play environment. Predictably, news of the tests prompted howls of rage from the media establishment, which depends on Facebook's referral traffic for survival.

Last week we offered the ultimate beginner's guide to WTF Blockchain is. However, for those with even shorter attention spans - squirrel - WIRED magazine has managed to explain why there is such fervor surrounding the blockchains in under two minutes.

While Apple's troubles with the iPhone 8 (which is being outsold by the iPhone 7) have been duly discussed in recent days and largely ignored by Wall Street, whose hopes remain pinned on the iPhone X, the latest update from DigiTimes is even more concering, as it suggests that general demand for the entire Apple product suite may be lower than expected. According to Digitimes, iPhone assembler Foxconn has reportedly started shipping iPhone X units, however the first batches smaller than expected.

Cashiers at fast food restaurants aren’t the only workers who should fear being imminently replaced by kiosks and artificial intelligence. Advances in machine-learning software could soon render many high-paying Wall Street jobs obsolete – jobs that will no doubt quickly disappear as electronic trading in equities and foreign exchange markets squeezes trading revenue, forcing banks to seek cost savings elsewhere.

If you happen to see a driverless car trundling down Fifth Avenue, don’t panic.   

Compounding the misery that Elon Musk is likely feeling right now, General Motors has scored yet another victory in its quest to build the first commercially viable self-driving car.  New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday granted GM’s Cruise Automation division permission to begin testing fully autonomous vehicles on New York City roads – meaning GM will become the first automaker to begin testing autonomous cars in the northeast.