Engadget News + Next

-OpenAI has "indefinitely" abandoned plans to release an a erotic chatbot for adults following concerns from employees and investors, the company confirmed to The Financial Times.

-Spotify is testing a new tool to help real artists exercise more control over their profiles. The platform's Artist Profile Protection feature lets musicians review releases before they go live and become associated with their profiles. This should prevent AI slop from creeping in.

-A jury in Los Angeles has found that Meta and YouTube were negligent in a closely-watched trial over social media addiction. The companies were ordered to pay $6 million in damages to the woman who said she was harmed by their addictive features as a child.
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The company has been in a legal tussle with rivals Oura.
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-Baltimore began a municipal lawsuit against xAI, arguing that Elon Musk's businesses violated the city's Consumer Protection Ordinance.

-Starting Thursday, X will update its revenue-sharing incentives to give more weight to engagement from a user’s home region.

-Sony Honda Mobility, the automotive venture from two of Japan’s most storied companies, has axed its EV project.
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The London-based company has plans to expand to five major cities in the US in the next three years.
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-The Federal Communications Commission has released a notice today designating any consumer routers manufactured outside the US as a security risk.

-This potential ad revenue from Apple's Map App could seriously bolster Apple's services business, which currently generates $100 billion a year for the company. This division accounts for around 25 percent of annual revenue but faces challenges in both the short-term and long-term

-The drone delivery startup has been rapidly expanding to metro areas across the US, but is now targeting the tech-friendly Silicon Valley region.
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