Technology
AI and loneliness drive demand for robot pets
Internet searches for "AI pet" have also increased since the end of 2022, according to Google Trends.
Italy in talks over NZ$2.75b SpaceX security services deal - report
The report said the deal involves SpaceX supplying Italy with a full range of encryption for telephone and internet services used by the government.
Warning from doctor caught in deepfake deception
A professor who was impersonated to sell a bogus diabetes treatment is urging the public to look out for scams.
Facebook, Instagram delete 'AI friends' after backlash
Meta has promptly deleted several of its own AI-generated accounts after human users began engaging with them and posting about the bots' sloppy imagery and tendency to go off the rails.
Lithium-ion battery fires double in four years
Fire and Emergency are warning people to beware of products with lithium batteries purchased over the holiday period.
MAGA opponents of Elon Musk claim he stripped them of their X badges
The billionaire is being accused of using his social media platform to retaliate against those who disagree with his support of a visa programme.
The night the world was going to end - and didn't
A beacon of hope and grape juice in a bunker were featured as, 25 years ago, RNZ nervously ticked over from 1999 to 2000.
Trump asks Supreme Court to pause law that could ban TikTok
President-elect Donald Trump has urged the US Supreme Court to pause implementation of a law that would ban popular social media app TikTok or force its sale.
How to switch off completely when you're on holiday
Switching off phones or laptops when on holidays can help us get more out of our free time and relationships.
ANZ customers impacted by online banking outage
ANZ Bank has confirmed it has fixed an outage to its online banking services that has caused disruption for thousands of customers for four hours, a day out from Christmas...
Facebook inflicted 'lifelong trauma' on content moderators
The job is leaving "almost everyone" who does it with post-traumatic stress disorder, a campaigner says.
Tower of troubles for TikTok as controversies and regulations mount
TikTok's breakneck rise from a niche video-sharing app to a global social media behemoth has drawn intense scrutiny.
Albania bans TikTok for a year after killing of teenager
The ban is part of a broader plan to make schools safer in the European country.
How to make your tech devices' batteries last longer
Why can't my battery phone's battery last when driving between towns? There could be several ways your battery is being drained without you realising how.
Ukraine collects vast war data trove to train AI models
As the future of warfare pivots towards artificial intelligence, Ukraine collects millions of hours of footage from drones to train AI models to make decisions on the battlefield.
Users of hacked crypto firm get millions back
Cryptopia account holders have received $400 million worth of cryptocurrency from liquidators, more than four years after the firm was hacked and put in liquidation.
Patient care may have been impacted in Crowdstrike outage, report shows
The Health NZ incident report, obtained under the Official Information Act, shows clinicians may have been prevented from making timely patient care decisions during the Crowdstrike outage. Audio
New Jersey drones: a spiral of information
Members of the public have reported thousands of drone sightings in the last month. Officials haven't been able to confirm what they are, and the lack of concrete answers has led to an explosion of… Audio
Air New Zealand enables Apple Find My feature for lost luggage
Air NZ travellers who place an AirTag or other Apple device in their bag can now use the app to share its location with customer services.
One NZ begins rollout of long-awaited satellite text services
But it is available to selected custormers first with eligible phones.