Throughout 2024, we have seen the development of artificial intelligence (AI) systems and new lawsuits against technology companies. Here’s a look back at some of the biggest tech news we covered in 2024.
AI continues to develop
Over the year, companies continued to develop and deploy new AI tools.
Among these was a new set of AI offerings announced by US software company Microsoft. Civil servants explain the new tools included “personal agents” designed to help users carry out their business activities with little or no human involvement.
Microsoft says it designed the agents to develop so-called chatbots – AI tools that work on their own to produce human-level writing or discussion. The company said it expects a full release of agents sometime in 2025.
In September, technology company Apple announcement he launched several new iPhones equipped with chips to support AI operations. Apple boss Tim Cook said the new models were “designed from the ground up for Apple Intelligence.”
We reported in October on efforts by researchers to use AI to improve existing weather forecasting models. One system works by combining past weather forecasts with modern methods to provide the most complete picture of weather and climate data.
More warnings about possible dangers of AI
In California, three legislative measures were promulgated ban the use of AI tools to create false images and videos during election campaigns. One of the main goals was to combat deepfakes. These are pieces of video or audio created to make it appear that the people in them are saying or doing things that they never said or did. Deepfakes have been used in several global election campaigns in 2024.
In May, an international gathering of leading AI developers and top government officials in Seoul agreed on measures to ensure that AI systems are built and deployed securely. Participants from 16 different technology companies signed a pledge to develop AI technology in ways that limit potential public harm.
US legal measures against technology companies
About a year ago, an American jury find that Google’s app store operates as an illegal monopoly. Then, in August 2024, a federal judge ruled that Google had violated trade laws by operating its search engine as a search engine. monopoly. The ruling accused Google of paying smartphone makers to ensure its search engine was defined as the best performing search engine. default system on new devices.
As part of this case, the US government proposed a series of measures in November aimed at limiting Google’s anti-competitive business activities. Google criticized the court’s decision as an example of government overreach. U.S. officials have long warned that TikTok presents national security concerns.
Earlier this month, video sharing service TikTok request a US appeals court to block a law requiring its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to strip himself from TikTok or face a US ban. The request comes after the same court upheld a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok by January 19 or face a ban. Lawyers for ByteDance and TikTok are seeking to have the U.S. Supreme Court rule on the matter.
Autonomous driving technology
In May, the American company Aurora Innovation said it was preparing to launch a series of driverless trucks to transport goods on a major public road. Company officials said they plan to start service in Texas, with 20 tractor-trailers hauling cargo between Dallas and Houston. The company hopes to expand the service to thousands of tractor-trailers within three to four years.
Flying taxis
In October, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announcement it had issued definitive rules for the operation of air taxis. It also set training and approval requirements for pilots. The FAA said air taxis belong to a type of aircraft known as Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) flyers. They generally operate alone on electrical energy, with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said the planes represent “the first new category of planes in almost 80 years. He added that the new rules are intended to mark the start of possible widespread AAM operations across the United States in the future.
My name is Bryan Lynn.
Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English.
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Words in this story
chip –n. a very small slice of silicon containing electronic circuits (like a computer)
monopoly –n. complete control of the entire supply of goods or service in a given area or market
default – adj. what usually exists or happens if no changes are made
strip – v. sell something, especially a business or part of a business
vertical – adj. pointing upwards from a surface
category –n. a group of people with similar things