Italian Watchdog Bans ChatGPT and Threatens €20m Fine

Italy is saying "ciao" to ChatGPT, the wildly popular chatbot app that's been helping users generate human-like text since November.

The Italian privacy watchdog put the breaks on the app, citing concerns that OpenAI, the app's provider, was violating EU data protection regulations. ChatGPT was collecting personal data on Italian users without a legal basis and didn't have any systems in place to verify users' ages.

OpenAI is contesting the ban, but if they don't come up with a response within 20 days, they could be hit with a fine of €20m or 4% of their global annual turnover.

Elon Musk's Neuralink: the risks of connecting your brain to a supercomputer

Elon Musk's Neuralink, which is developing a brain-computer interface called "The Link," is facing multiple challenges. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has cited "dozens of deficiencies" with the device's stability, the potential for its electrodes to damage the brain, and issues with battery and charging systems. The FDA has also designated The Link a Class III device, which means a potential unreasonable risk of illness or injury.

Neuralink has already failed one application for human testing, and two US government agencies have launched separate investigations into allegations of animal abuse and mismanagement of biohazardous materials. Despite the potential for scrutiny, Musk has made bold claims about The Link's capabilities. The company believes it could restore sight to the blind and connect users to "superintelligent AI."

Meanwhile, Synchron, a similar neurotechnology company designing an electrode array, was awarded an IDE in July 2021 and recently announced it will begin human trials.

Lemon8: The app with a mysterious owner that's got everyone talking - except ByteDance, apparently

As TikTok faces increasing political scrutiny, a new app from the same Chinese company, ByteDance Ltd., is gaining popularity in the US. The Lemon8 app, which combines elements of Instagram and Pinterest, allows users to create longer blog-like posts about fashion, fitness, travel, cooking, and other topics.

The app has more similarities to Instagram and Pinterest than TikTok. Its downloads have skyrocketed in the US, making it the top lifestyle app downloaded by iPhone users. However, Lemon8’s ties to ByteDance may expose it to the same scrutiny TikTok faces. It remains unclear who owns the app, but it’s reported that it’s overseen by Alex Zhu, the senior VP of product and strategy at ByteDance, and former CEO of TikTok.

The app has been launched in multiple territories, including Singapore and Indonesia, and topped five million monthly active users worldwide last year. Only time will tell if Lemon8 will sustain its newfound popularity in the US.

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