Roku says its ads aren’t meant to be ‘interruptive’ after controversial test

image via theverge.com
image via theverge.com

Rost didn’t say as much directly, but it’s apparent that Roku was keenly aware of the bubbling up of complaints. “Advertisers want to be part of a good experience. They don’t want to be interruptive,” he told me. “We’re always testing. We listen to consumer feedback, we do all of our own A/B testing on the platform. We’re constantly tweaking and trying to figure out what’s going to be helpful for the user experience.”

https://www.theverge.com/tech/654389/roku-2025-event-ads-interview

Adobe and Figma tools are getting ChatGPT’s upgraded image generation model

image via theverge.com
image via theverge.com

Adobe’s leading ecosystem of creative tools including its Firefly and Express apps will provide access to OpenAI’s image generation capabilities, giving creators the choice and flexibility to experiment with different aesthetic styles – something business professionals, consumers and creators all value when generating new creative ideas. Figma is leveraging the latest model to bring advanced image generation and editing capabilities across its platform. Rolling out starting today, users can use ‘gpt-image-1’ in Figma Design to generate and edit images from simple prompt – adjusting styles, adding or removing objects, expanding backgrounds, and more. This new integration lets designers rapidly explore ideas and iterate visually, all in Figma.

https://www.theverge.com/news/654561/openai-chatgpt-image-generation-model-adobe-figma

FTC sues Uber over difficulty of canceling subscriptions, “false” claims

image via arstechnica.com
image via arstechnica.com

The US Federal Trade Commission has sued ride-hailing app Uber, saying it made “false or misleading” claims about its subscription service, in the latest sign that Donald Trump’s administration is embracing an aggressive stance against Big Tech groups. “Americans are tired of getting signed up for unwanted subscriptions that seem impossible to cancel,” said FTC chair Andrew Ferguson. “Uber not only deceived consumers about their subscriptions, but also made it unreasonably difficult for customers to cancel.”

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/04/ftc-sues-uber-over-difficulty-of-canceling-subscriptions-false-claims/

Why Being Polite to ChatGPT Is Costing OpenAI Millions and Wasting Electricity

image c/o pcmag.com
image c/o pcmag.com

Polite exchanges are costing the AI company a fortune, CEO Sam Altman revealed in an exchange on X. "I wonder how much money OpenAI has lost in electricity costs from people saying 'please' and 'thank you' to their models," writes user @tomieinlove. "Tens of millions of dollars well spent—you never know," Altman responded.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/why-being-polite-to-chatgpt-is-costing-openai-millions-and-wasting-electricity

How AI is reshaping wildlife conservation — for better or worse

image via theverge.com
image via theverge.com

To rescue species from the brink of extinction, first you have to know what you have, and how many – which is often easier said than done, especially in fields with a lot to count. Scientists estimate less than 20 percent of insect species on Earth have been identified. After AI reviewed just a week’s worth of camera trap footage in Panama, researchers say they found over 300 species previously unknown to science.

https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/653322/ai-wildlife-conservation

Google Guilty of ‘Willfully Anticompetitive Acts’ in Display-Ads Business, Court Finds

image c/o pcmag.com
image c/o pcmag.com

“Plaintiffs have proven that Google has willfully engaged in a series of anticompetitive acts to acquire and maintain monopoly power in the publisher ad server and ad exchange markets for open-web display advertising,” Judge Leonie Brinkema concluded in a 115-page ruling (PDF) for the Alexandria division of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-guilty-of-willfully-anticompetitive-acts-in-display-ads-business

Android phones will soon reboot if they’re locked for a few days

image c/o the verge
image c/o the verge

Android is launching a new security feature that will force devices to reboot themselves if you haven’t unlocked them for a while, making it harder for other people to access the data inside. The feature included in the latest Google Play services update says that Android phones will automatically restart “if locked for 3 consecutive days,” requiring users to enter their passcode the next time they want to open the device.

https://www.theverge.com/news/648757/google-android-update-automatic-reboot-phone-locked