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    Tech winners and losers of 2024: The year in true innovation and total product flops

    June Wan/ZDNETThe year 2024 delivered all the drama technology fans could want: AI dominance, chip wars, smart devices that were anything but, and a social media implosion that’s already a case study in corporate mismanagement. From monumental wins to jaw-dropping failures, here’s the definitive breakdown of the year’s tech highs and lows.Also: The best Black Friday deals live nowLosers1. X (formerly Twitter): A masterclass in self-destructionElon Musk spent 2024 doubling down on the chaos that turned X into a punchline. Advertisers fled after baffling policy shifts, verified checkmarks became meaningless, and users abandoned ship for Bluesky and Mastodon in droves. Engagement plummeted, and what was once a cultural institution became a meme of its former self. Musk might still call it “the town square,” but in 2024, X was more like the local landfill.Also: I tried replacing Twitter with Bluesky, Threads, and Mastodon: Here’s what I found2. Amazon: Innovation takes a coffee breakAmazon’s five-day return-to-office mandate alienated employees, sparked accusations of “quiet firing,” and triggered a mass exodus of talent. Workers who couldn’t — or wouldn’t — move closer to offices were forced out, and with them went years of expertise and innovation. This was the HR equivalent of smashing a robot with a sledgehammer for a company obsessed with efficiency. Quiet quitting? More like loud mismanagement.Also: 82% of leaders plan to increase flexible work options in the next two years More

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    I tested 9 AI content detectors – and these 2 correctly identified AI text every time

    diyun Zhu/Getty Images When I first examined whether it’s possible to fight back against AI-generated plagiarism, and how that might work, it was January 2023, just a few months into the world’s exploding awareness of generative AI.  This is an updated version of that original January 2023 article. When I first tested GPT detectors, I […] More

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    Tech winners and losers of 2024: For every triumph, a turkey

    peepo/Getty Images The year 2024 delivered all the drama technology fans could want: AI dominance, chip wars, smart devices that were anything but, and a social media implosion that’s already a case study in corporate mismanagement. From monumental wins to jaw-dropping failures, here’s the definitive breakdown of the year’s tech highs and lows. Also: The […] More

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    LastPass adds passkey support for free and premium users (and now get up to 50% off plans for Black Friday)

    LastPass What’s the deal? LastPass are having a once-a-year sale for Black Friday where there’s up to 50% off all plans<!–>. Passwords are so last century, and passkeys are the future. Passkeys replace the traditional strings of random – or not-so-random -characters with a more secure method of authentication.  A passkey consists of a public […] More

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    Why you should power off your phone once a week – according to the NSA

    Moor Studio/Getty Images Your pricey smartphone can be hit by many security threats, from phishing to malware to spyware. All it takes is one successful attack to clobber your phone, compromise your data, and even steal your identity. So, how do you protect yourself? In a Mobile Device Best Practices report, the National Security Agency (NSA) offers tips to thwart […] More

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    This new wireless carrier promises ultra-secure mobile phone service

    Cape Cyberattacks that target mobile devices and services can impact anyone, but the risk is especially great against politicians, journalists, activists, and public figures. Now a relatively new mobile carrier promises extra special protection against mobile threats. Cape, a Washington, D.C.-based mobile provider promotes its service as built with privacy and security at its core. […] More