Technology

The Bessemer City Council has approved the rezoning of a wooded area for the development of a $14.5 billion hyperscale data center, despite public opposition and dissent from two council members. Concerns have been raised regarding the project's substantial water consumption, potential environmental impact, and the developer's lack of transparency.

Disney and YouTube TV have finalized a multi-year agreement to restore Disney content on the streaming platform, concluding a two-week blackout that coincided with a historic election night.

Thousands gathered at AfroTech 2025 in Houston, where Black professionals, entrepreneurs, and students convened to explore the future of technology, artificial intelligence, and innovation. The conference served as a vital platform for networking and collaboration, offering attendees the chance to navigate the evolving job market and uncover new opportunities.

Google has discontinued its Women Techmakers program, a move that has left members shocked and disheartened as the tech giant erased years of content and videos produced by the community. The program's oversight has been transferred to Technovation, an external organization, signaling Google's shift away from direct involvement in diversity initiatives.

Amazon Web Services, a dominant force in global cloud computing, faced an outage that disrupted numerous businesses and services, underscoring the internet's dependency on a single provider and the risk of widespread impacts.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) suffered a multi-hour outage on Monday, causing widespread disruption to thousands of services globally and underscoring the inherent vulnerabilities within the internet's infrastructure.

OpenAI has announced a suspension of its AI video tool Sora's feature allowing users to generate videos of Martin Luther King Jr., following criticism over disrespectful portrayals. This decision comes after appeals from Dr. Bernice A. King and the AI Ethics Council, highlighting concerns about ethical use of AI technology.

US District Judge Karin Immergut has ruled to extend the temporary restraining order that prevents the deployment of National Guard troops to Portland, maintaining the suspension of President Trump's federalization initiative amid ongoing legal disputes.

As LinkedIn becomes a vital tool for job seekers, experts caution about privacy risks, including identity theft and employment scams. Users are advised to enhance their security by adjusting privacy settings and limiting connections to known contacts.

OpenAI is significantly broadening its AI capabilities through ChatGPT, channeling substantial investments into data centers and infrastructure to rival tech behemoths such as Google and Meta. Concurrently, the company is partnering with former Apple design chief Jony Ive to develop a novel AI hardware product.