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More and more journalists say “Good Bye!” to social media [Libération]
Can you be a journalist and have a Twitter account? For many reporters the answer is “NO”. While many use social media as a source of information, as soon as they express an opinion, they face violence, insults and even harassment from users who don’t tolerate a different point of view. Last August, Reporter Without Borders published a report revealing that online bullying targeting journalists is one of the biggest threats against freedom of press. It is time for policymakers to arbitrate or find the right balance between “freedom of expression” and “freedom of press”.
When AI will feed us for real [Bloomberg]
Bowery is a New York based start-up backed by leading Silicon Valley investors and specialised in… agriculture (aka Bowery Farming). It believes its operations are 100-plus times more productive per square foot than traditional farms thanks to automation, space-saving, vertically stacked crops and a year-round growing season. A proprietary software is at the core of its business model: it makes important decisions for the plants to grow. So, it looks like AI can really impact on farmers’ tasks and that Agricultural Innovation will soon feed us.
Spotify steps up efforts to collaborate with artists [TechCrunch]
It’s never too late to patch things up. Often accused of not remunerating musicians fairly, Spotify is launching Co.Lab event series, to teach emerging artists the ins and outs of the modern music industry. The workshops will educate artists on things like touring, merchandising and revenue streams. Co.Lab is the latest signal that Spotify is eager to better cooperate with musicians, a few weeks only after launching an initiative that lets independent artists upload music directly. The events will take place in New York and Los Angeles. And Europe? Maybe someday, if NY and LA do well.
Should I watch or should I run now? [The Guardian]
Britons have made a clear choice between screens and sports shoes. According to a recent survey, the average UK adult spends 624 hours a year watching on-demand TV. That’s certainly good for the business of content creators, producers and distributors, for ISPs and devices manufacturers. But 624 hours a year is also eight times more than the time Britons spend exercising. Food for thought, should screen time allow.
In case you haven’t had enough
Impact investing in digital health services: treat with caution [Financial Times]
Watch this tiny robot crawl through a wet stomach [TechCrunch]
Love in the time of AI: meet the people falling for scripted robots [The Guardian]
#TechAways is brought to you by Cambre’s Technology Practice led by Victoria Main and featuring Fernando Anton, François Barry, Zachery Bishop, Lauren Clark, Nicolas Gyss, Anne-Claude Martin and Simos Piperidis.
Questions, comments or ideas to zbishop@cambre-associates.com.