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Report: Female-sounding voice assistants fuel gender bias

May22
by on May 22, 2019 at 1:50 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider


AI-powered voice assistants from Google, Amazon, Apple, and others could be perpetuating harmful gender biases, according to a recent UN report. The report, titled “I’d blush if I could” — Siri’s response to provocative queries or flirtatious statements — says the female helpers are often depicted as “obliging and eager to please,” which reinforces the idea that women are “subservient.” Worse, it states, is the way in which they give “deflecting, lacklustre, or apologetic responses” to abuse or criticism. Because the speech of most voice assistants is female, it sends a signal that women are… docile helpers, available at the touch…

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Microsoft’s Windows 10 May 2019 Update is now out, new ‘Light’ theme included

May22
by on May 22, 2019 at 1:11 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider


Keeping to its promise of semiannual updates, Microsoft today announced it’s made the next big version of Windows 10 available. The simply-named Windows 10 May 2019 update isn’t as packed with features as its predecessors, but there are still a few things to note. In particular, it includes a new ‘Light’ theme; dark mode haters rejoice. The Light theme was first announced back in November, but it was only available to members of the Windows Insider Program – essentially beta testers. While Windows 10’s default theme largely includes light and white elements, major components like the Task Bar and Start…

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This teacher earns six figures teaching Dungeons & Dragons classes online

May21
by on May 21, 2019 at 10:59 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, gaming, Insider


Most people play games like Dungeons & Dragons to get away from their problems. But Megan Hardy isn’t most people. She used it to solve hers. When her husband was laid off in 2016, she signed up to teach D&D classes on Outschool, an online learning platform for kids up to age 18. Hardy told TNW “I was just trying to think of some way to make ends meet. I thought maybe a handful of kids would be interested.” She was wrong in the best possible way. Hardy’s classes were an instant hit and proved incredibly popular with both children…

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You can build your own Lightsaber and Droid at Disney’s new Star Wars attractions

May21
by on May 21, 2019 at 9:17 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, distract


Disney’s finally lifting the veil on its Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction set to debut at Disneyland on May 31. And while we were all expecting a glut of rides and properly attired characters roaming about, its the souvenirs that have us most excited. Who goes to Disneyland just to buy overpriced souvenirs aimed at drooling tourists? Normally that sentence would have answered the question it asked. But the opportunity to relive the best part of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – designing and building your own Lightsaber – and/or step into Anakin Skywalker’s shoes by building your…

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