Free Republic

We’ve all watched the way paying for things has changed over the years. First it was coins, then cards, then phones and smartwatches. But now, it looks like the next big step is… you. Literally. Your face, your fingerprint, even your eyes could soon be all you need to pay for your next coffee, your weekly food shop, or even your pharmacy run. It might sound futuristic, but this is already in the works here in Spain. Banks and big-name retailers are gearing up for pilot programmes as soon as 2026, and if all goes well, we’ll be seeing biometric...

If you've ever wanted to roam around the forests as a cryptozoological hominid, now you can. "Catch and eat fish, insects, and other creatures," the game synopsis states. "Forage the forest for mushrooms, berries, and more. Build shelters to store your items in to get through the harsh winters. Earn extra points by breaking branches and scaring the wildlife." The game has its share of obstacles too, from Bigfoot hunters who try to take pictures of you to adverse weather conditions.

FreeVoice @FreeVoiceOG Reality Based. American citizens first. I only reply to DM's from the Nigerian Lottery.

Sam's Club stores is axing all self-checkouts from its 600 stores — in favor of controversial new technology. The Walmart-owned warehouse chain, often seen as Costco's biggest rival, is rolling out AI-powered 'Scan & Go' tech that lets shoppers skip the line and walk straight out the door once they're done shopping. The move is controversial because it uses a network of cameras and sensors to track shoppers and their carts. In addition, the checkout-free experience requires all customers to use a smartphone and download the store’s app. This could pose a challenge to older shoppers who may struggle with...

A visitor trail about witch trials in the 16th and 17th centuries is being brought to life by augmented reality. The Tendring Witch Heritage Trail is set in Harwich, Manningtree, St Osyth and Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex. Visitors can use an app to watch re-enactments and animations about particular individuals from the area. Organisers said the trail would offer a fascinating insight into the trials, which saw 74 people executed for witchcraft in the county between 1560 and 1680.

"The robots are running very well, very stable ... I feel I'm witnessing the evolution of robots and AI,” said one spectator.Twenty-one humanoid robots joined thousands of runners at the Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing on Saturday (Apr 19), the first time these machines have raced alongside humans over a 21km course. The robots from Chinese manufacturers such as DroidUP and Noetix Robotics came in all shapes and sizes, some shorter than 120cm, others as tall as 1.8m. One company boasted that its robot looked almost human, with feminine features and the ability to wink and smile. Some firms tested their...

Twenty-one humanoid robots joined thousands of runners at the Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing on Saturday, the first time these machines have raced alongside humans over a 21-km (13-mile) course. The robots from Chinese manufacturers such as DroidUP and Noetix Robotics came in all shapes and sizes, some shorter than 120 cm (3.9 ft), others as tall as 1.8 m (5.9 ft). One company boasted that its robot looked almost human, with feminine features and the ability to wink and smile. Some firms tested their robots for weeks before the race. Beijing officials have described the event as more akin to...

A whistleblower has alleged that DOGE systems linked to Elon Musk’s Starlink network were used by Russian IP addresses to access US government databases, raising fresh concerns over national security and infrastructure exposure.

Joe Rogan recently revealed he has decided to make a huge change to his lifestyle by giving up alcohol - a move which follows in the footsteps of Donald Trump. The president has famously steered clear of booze after witnessing first-hand dangers of alcohol through his brother Fred Jr. who battled with addiction issues. Rogan appears to have found his own reasons to join Trump as a teetotaler, admitting on a recent episode of his popular podcast The Joe Rogan Experience that he quit drinking month ago due to concerns around its impact on his health. The UFC host and...

People on social media are outraged over a video reportedly taken at the scene of a fatal mass shooting at Florida State University in Tallahassee, on Thursday, April 17. But it's not just over the alleged shooter, identified by Tallahassee police as 20-year-old FSU student Phoenix Ikner. It's over video that was seemingly shot by someone walking past a wounded, bleeding woman lying face down on the grass. Rather than stopping to help or even running away from an active shooter, as what sounds like two shots are fired in the background, the person walks by while sipping from a...

A panel of experts gathered in Washington D.C. last week to discuss how their creative industries are coping with technological disruption cited AI as the latest challenge in a decades-long struggle to maintain sustainable careers in the digital era. The panel was part of "The Story Starts With Us," a day-long forum that addressed the threat generative AI poses to copyright law and the creative industries. It was co-hosted by the Association of American Publishers and the Copyright Alliance. The panel was moderated by Alex Reisner, a freelance journalist and contributing writer for The Atlantic who has written extensively about...

Key Points JPMorgan Chase this week began suing more customers it has accused of stealing funds from the nation’s largest bank in last year’s so-called “infinite money glitch.” The bank is now going after customers who allegedly stole amounts below $75,000, which means it is filing complaints in state courts, instead of the federal venues it chose last year. The bank has also sent letters to more than 1,000 customers demanding they repay funds since October. ****************************************************************** JPMorgan Chase this week began suing more customers it has accused of stealing funds from the nation’s largest bank in last year’s so-called...

Betsy Arakawa, the wife of actor Gene Hackman, searched the internet for information about flu and Covid symptoms and breathing techniques in the days before she died, police records have revealed. Arakawa asked Google questions including whether Covid could cause dizziness or nosebleeds, according to files released by the Santa Fe Sheriff and reported by the Associated Press, and New York Times. The 65-year-old pianist died of hantavirus, which can cause flu-like symptoms and develop into a life-threatening lung condition. Authorities believe she died around 12 February, and her husband, 95, who had Alzheimer's disease, died on 18 February. Their...

SACRAMENTO, California — A progressive Democratic lawmaker is seeking a simple but jarring remedy of last resort for California’s college students navigating the state’s housing crisis: Let them sleep in their cars. While roughly half a dozen state legislative proposals this year seek to fund student or faculty housing or loosen building regulations, the benefits would come far too late for current students struggling to stay afloat. With one in four California community college students experiencing homelessness in the past year, Democrats — who have a supermajority in the statehouse — face increasing pressure to deliver on affordability issues. Assemblymember...

Microsoft has begun the rollout of an AI-powered tool which takes snapshots of users' screens every few seconds. The Copilot+ Recall feature is available in preview mode to some people with Microsoft's AI PCs and laptops. It is the relaunch of a feature which was dubbed a "privacy nightmare" when it was first announced last year. Microsoft paused the rollout in 2024, and after trialling the tech with a small number of users, it has begun expanding access to those signed up to its Windows Insider software testing programme. ... Microsoft says Recall will be rolled out worldwide, but those...

Three hours since a new article was published. Is this thing on?

The Chinese EV giant delivered 1 million+ cars in Q1 and continues to pull ahead on some pretty huge metrics.In its preliminary earnings for the first quarter on Tuesday, electric automaker BYD revealed that net income could jump as much as 119% in the first 3 months of the year to 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion), after delivering more than 1 million EVs across Q1 — up almost 60% on the same period last year. Easy rideWhile Trump’s tariffs have been a major bump in the road for other automakers, BYD — which had no plans to sell cars in...

Microsoft released security updates for Windows 11 and other company products earlier this week. If you have installed the security update on a Windows 11 PC, you may have noticed something peculiar after the mandatory restart. After opening the root of drive C in File Explorer, you may have stumbled upon the inetpub folder, a newly created folder. The creation date and time of the folder aligns with the installation of the update. When you open it, you will notice that it is empty. Update: Microsoft says here that the folder is created intentionally and that it should not be...

Small, everyday purchases like a meal from DoorDash are now able to be financed through eat now, pay later options — a practice that some experts deem "predatory." "You've got to have enough sense to not follow the urge to finance a taco, okay? You have got to be an adult," career coach Ken Coleman told "The Big Money Show," Wednesday. "This is predatory, and it's going to get a lot of people in deep trouble." Financial wellness experts are continuously sounding the alarm to cash-strapped consumers, warning them of the devastating impact this financial strategy could have on their...

People upload a picture of themselves to a tool like ChatGPT, along with written prompts that explain how they want the final picture to look. These instructions are really important. They tell the AI tool everything it is meant to generate, from the items a person wants to appear with to the kind of packaging they should be in - which includes mimicking the box and font of popular toys like Barbie. Many online will then personalise it further with their name, job and clothing choices. Though it does not always work, and many have also shared some of the...