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Here's the latest tech news from the last 24 hours:

🎮 Microsoft closes $69B Activision Blizzard deal
🤖 Google to defend generative AI users from copyright claims
🌍 Meta says it's stepping up misinformation enforcement during Israel-Hamas war
🤔 Montana struggles to convince judge to back its historic TikTok ban
🚀 NASA launches Psyche mission to study an ancient metal asteroid

🎮 Microsoft closes $69B Activision Blizzard dealLINK

Microsoft has officially completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard ahead of the October 18 deadline, confirmed by Xbox boss Phil Spencer.

The deal comes after a period of regulatory scrutiny, with Microsoft agreeing to sell the cloud streaming rights for Activicon games to Ubisoft to address competition concerns.

With the deal finalized, Microsoft has gained rights to major IPs including Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Spyro the Dragon, with plans to bring these franchises to Xbox Game Pass in the future.

🤖 Google to defend generative AI users from copyright claimsLINK

Google has announced that it will protect users of its generative artificial-intelligence systems in Google Cloud and Workspace from accusations of intellectual property violations.

This commitment specifically includes both claims of using copyrighted material to train AI systems and any content created by these systems that might infringe on existing owners' rights.

However, the new policy does not extend protection to users who deliberately use or create generated output to violate others' rights.

🌍 Meta says it's stepping up misinformation enforcement during Israel-Hamas warLINK

Meta is intensifying its surveillance and enforcement of policies against violent posts and misinformation during the Israel-Hamas conflict, including an initiative to monitor and remove illegal content in Europe as per the Digital Services Act.

Since the conflict's onset, Meta has assembled a special team fluent in Hebrew and Arabic, and has removed or flagged over 795,000 posts that violated policies on violent content, hate speech, harassment, and more, highlighting a seven-fold increase in the removal of content violating its Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy after a Hamas attack.

Additionally, Meta has temporarily adapted its policies to curb potential violations and incitement, restricting certain Instagram hashtags and limiting access to Facebook and Instagram Live for those who have previously violated its policies.

🤔 Montana struggles to convince judge to back its historic TikTok banLINK

A federal judge is questioning Montana's attempt to ban TikTok, arguing that the app's users willingly hand over their personal data.

If the ban takes effect, app stores would be fined for offering downloads of TikTok, a decision that has drawn the attention of civil liberties organizations and numerous lawsuits.

A concern explored during the hearing was the feasibility of users, including creators who rely on TikTok for income, jumping ship to other social media platforms.

🚀 NASA launches Psyche mission to study an ancient metal asteroidLINK

SpaceX has successfully launched NASA's Psyche mission aboard the Falcon Heavy, marking the start of its 2.2 billion-mile journey to a metallic asteroid beyond Mars.

The launch was originally postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions and a detected issue with the Psyche spacecraft's thrusters, which could overheat during its eight-year mission.

The Psyche mission, characterized by NASA scientists as a new view into original planetary formation, is set to orbit the asteroid with a multispectral imager, a gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer, a magnetometer, and a radio instrument, beginning its mission in August 2029.

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Tether's Tech Chief, Paolo Ardoino, becomes CEO, succeeding secretive crypto executive Jean-Louis van der Velde, while maintaining other roles within the company.LINK

CD Projekt Red used AI and voice-cloning software to faithfully recreate deceased actor Miłogost Reczek's voice in Cyberpunk 2077, after gaining his family's consent. LINK

TSMC is advancing its 2nm manufacturing process, offering improved chip performances, and urging chip designers to adapt to its game-changing technology.LINK

Slack's study reveals employees' workdays, up to eight hours per week, are lost due to excessive, often ignored email drafting, negatively impacting productivity.LINK

Flexport, the supply chain software firm, plans to lay off 20% of its workforce as CEO Ryan Petersen seeks profitability by end of next year.LINK

Caltech settled a billion-dollar patent dispute over Wi-Fi chips with Apple and Broadcom, ending a seven-year legal battle.LINK

By 2026, 80% of enterprises will adopt or create generative AI models, massively impacting organizations and sparking innovation, according to Gartner.LINK

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