SXSW2021
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The internet has become a tool for authoritarian repression
While the internet revolution may have empowered activists, it has also handed new tools to despots for stamping out dissent through digital surveillance, disinformation and internet access to their people.
'United States vs. Reality Winner' is sympathetic, but not essential
'United States vs. Reality Winner' is sympathetic whisteblower documentary that could go a lot deeper.
PAWS anti-poaching AI predicts where illegal hunters will show up next
AI and machine learning systems are poised to drastically improve wildlife rangers’ effectiveness by helping them not only track where poachers have been but also predict where they are most likely to turn up.
Legal questions linger as governments and companies keep pushing into space
The Perseverance rover’s landing on Mars is still fresh in people’s memories, privately-owned companies are ferrying people and supplies into orbit, and NASA continues to work on “the most powerful rocket” it has ever built. But as world governments and private enterprises continue to eye the skies for opportunities, a SXSW panel called “Who on Earth should govern Space” makes clear that the world’s laws dealing with space aren’t evolving as fast as the technology that gets us there.
Hulu’s WeWork documentary depicts the rise and fall of a cult
Hulu's WeWork documentary takes a look at the dramatic rise and fall of a company, but it can't get a handle on the enigma at the heart of its story.
Podcast: Samsung's A-series event and Google's sleep-tracking display
This week, we discuss Samsung's cringeworthy Unpacked event, Google's intriguing but possibly creepy sleep-tracking smart display and PC hardware news.
For Virgin Hyperloop, trust is its most valuable commodity
Virgin Hyperloop turned up at South by Southwest to talk the future of its passenger experience. And how to get people to trust its ability to safely get you from place to place.
A Windows update nearly destroyed hand-drawn fantasy epic 'The Spine of Night'
Seven years of custom-built rotoscoping software almost went up in smoke.
Facebook’s Oversight Board will weigh in on rules for politicians
As Facebook’s “Supreme Court” gets ready to rule on whether Donald Trump’s suspension should be permanent, the board will also tackle some of the thornier policy issues about how Facebook handles the accounts of elected officials.
The Lucid Air EV will be the first car equipped with Dolby Atmos
When the Lucid Air arrives in 2022, some models will be equipped with immersive Dolby Atmos sound -- the first time it will be available in a car.
HBO Max will show off its streaming library with an interactive SXSW experience
HBO Max Orbit will find clips that match your facial movements and voice.
Polestar's latest EV concept is an adorable three-wheeled cargo sled
Re:Move is a three-wheeled electric sled that could eventually
This robot artist stops to consider its brushstrokes like a real person
What sets this AI apart from some of the other artistically-inclined ones we’ve seen in the past is that it doesn’t generate the paintings it creates at random.