AT&T Outage & Biometrics

AT&T Outage

This week AT&T experienced a widespread network outage affecting customers across the United States on Thursday morning, leaving them unable to make calls, send texts, or access the internet. According to CCN, the outage lasted for approximately 11 hours, with service fully restored by 3 pm ET. AT&T later stated that an internal error during network expansion, not a cyberattack, was the likely cause. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) confirmed an investigation into the incident. Although Verizon and T-Mobile customers reported some outages, they were less widespread. Now, AT&T is taking steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.

NYC Sues Over Social Media

According to CNN, New York City is suing social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube, alleging that their designs exploit young users' mental health, leading to an increase in issues such as depression and suicide ideation among young people. The city claims that this imposes a significant burden on mental health services provided by cities, school districts, and public hospitals. The lawsuit seeks $100 million in damages annually to cover related health programs and services. New York City Mayor Eric Adams compared the action to efforts against tobacco and guns. Social media companies, including Meta, Snap, TikTok, and Google, have defended their platforms, emphasizing safety tools and features. The city has also released a social media action plan to address the issue and hold companies accountable.

AI Bionic Arm

With new groundbreaking technologies in AI, some are experimenting with putting AI technology into aiding those with disabilities. According to BBC, Atom Limbs' groundbreaking bionic arm, incorporates AI, advanced sensors, and machine learning for enhanced prosthetic functionality. The non-invasive arm offers a full range of human motion and haptic feedback, attaching to the user's residual limb without surgery. Despite the innovative technology, cost concerns are noted, with Atom Limbs aiming for a $20,000 price point, considered reasonable in the industry. The device is still in early development, with data collection underway for regulatory filings before widespread use.