Google plans to use artificial intelligence in more ways to make using search safer. In the coming weeks, it will roll out some updates for its AI model, MUM. The upgrades should help it detect a wider variety of personal crisis searches about sexual assault, substance abuse, domestic violence and suicide.

The company says people search for information about these topics in a broad range of ways. By employing MUM's machine learning capabilities, Google says it can better understand the intent behind queries to recognize when someone is in need. As such, it'll be able to provide them with more actionable, reliable information at the appropriate time.

With the help of local partners, the company plans to use the AI to improve how it handles personal crisis searches in other countries in the coming months, since MUM can translate knowledge between 75 languages. Google says it will harness the model in other ways, including to improve spam protections and enhance safety measures in countries where it doesn't have much training data.

Other companies have been making use of multimodal AI systems similar to MUM. Meta, for instance, said it has been using AI to tackle hate speech and misinformation across its platforms in recent years. Its AI models can also obtain knowledge by analyzing videos and use that information in new products. Meanwhile, China's Wu Dao seems to be the Swiss army knife of AI models. It can write essays, poems and couplets in traditional Chinese, analyze images to generate alt text, create almost-photorealistic images from written descriptions and much more.

In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting HOME to 741741 (US), 686868 (Canada), or 85258 (UK). Wikipedia maintains a list of crisis lines for people outside of those countries.

WhatsApp is looking to make it easier for people to send and listen to voice messages with a swathe of new features, albeit fairly basic ones. Users will be able to pause and resume while recording a message and listen back to it before sending.

You’ll soon have the option of listening to messages outside of chats so you can multitask. If you pause during playback, WhatApp will remember where you left off when you return to the chat. A waveform visualization could help you follow recordings as well. Finally, you’ll be able to speed up playback on regular and forwarded messages by 1.5x or 2x.

These aren’t the most groundbreaking features, but they could bolster the voice message experience on WhatsApp. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says that, on average, folks send 7 billion of these messages every day. The new features, which are rolling out now, may make them more accessible for WhatsApp users.

Meta

FedEx plans to test a different method of moving goods between depots starting next year, which could speed up the delivery process. The company has teamed up with Elroy Air, which is developing a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) cargo drone, to transport packages between sorting centers via autonomous flights.

Elroy Air unveiled the Chaparral C1 drone in January. The company claims the hybrid-electric system has a range of up to 300 miles and can carry a load of up to 500 pounds in its cargo pod (so FedEx would need a lot of them if it wants to eventually replace planes). The drone has 12 electric motors and 12 propellers.

FedEx noted in a press release that the Chaparral C1 doesn't need specific infrastructure like an airport or dedicated charging station. It added that adopting the aircraft lines up with its goal of making operations carbon neutral by 2040.

Elroy Air

The companies have been collaborating for over two years and they're working on securing certifications to use the Chaparral C1 commercially. All going well, the plan is to start test flights in 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Autonomous cargo flights could enable FedEx to move packages between sorting centers more efficiently than by on-the-ground transportation. The Chaparral C1 is in a pre-production phase (the cruise speed is unknown as yet). If it works as promised, FedEx would be able to fly cargo by drone from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City.

Setting up an iPhone to automatically install the latest version of iOS doesn't mean you'll get the update right away. Apple typically takes a few weeks to roll out auto-updates to everyone. Craig Federighi, who oversees iOS in his role as senior vice president of software engineering, shed some light on why that's the case.

As spotted by MacRumors, redditor u/Kechoopix wrote to Federighi to ask how iOS auto-updates work. Federighi responded and revealed that Apple gradually rolls out "new iOS updates by first making them available for those that explicitly seek them out in Settings, and then 1-4 weeks later (after we've received feedback on the update) ramp up to rolling out devices with auto-update enabled."

That approach makes sense. If there are critical bugs in an iOS update, Apple may be able to patch them before it's installed on all devices with auto-update switched on. Slowing the rollout of an update until Apple is more certain that version of iOS isn't breaking iPhones is a smart approach (and could help it keep the lid on any negative fallout). A gradual rollout also lessens the strain on Apple's servers.

However, it may not be the best approach if an iOS version includes a fix for a zero-day vulnerability. In that case, Apple could opt to push out auto-updates more quickly and address other issues later.

Google may be set to integrate Bluetooth tracker detection into Android. With devices like Tile trackers and Apple AirTags becoming more popular, there have been instances of bad actors planting one on someone else and using it to follow their movements.

Apple released the AirTag last April and since then, it has rolled out several more ways to detect them. It has updated the device to play a sound within 24 hours of being separated from its owner, while an iPhone will notify a user if it detects an unwanted AirTag. In December, Apple released an Android app that can scan for AirTags. Tile this month updated its iOS and Android apps with a similar feature.

However, there are some issues with current detection methods on Android. Users would both need to be aware of the fact that Bluetooth trackers can be misused and have apps that can detect them installed on their device. The Apple and Tile apps also require users to scan for trackers manually, a process that can take around 10 minutes.

According to 9to5Google, the Android team has started work on a tracker detection feature in Play services. The most recent APK code includes references to Tile trackers and "ATag" (probably AirTags) and hints that Android users may be able to ring detected devices.

The feature is said to be in early development and it'll likely be some time before Google releases it publicly (if at all). Having automatic detection built into the OS, or even a manual scanner with a warning to all users about the potential for stalking, would surely help protect users from being tracked. Hopefully, we'll learn more about Google's tracker detection plans at I/O in May.

TikTok users will soon have even more ways to make their videos stand out from the crowd. The service has announced the TikTok Library, which will grant creators access to more entertainment-based content. You'll be able to find GIFs, clips from your favorite TV shows, memes and other content, which you can slot into your TikToks.

Although there are already ways to insert GIFs from Giphy into TikTok videos, it should be easier to do that once you have access to the library. Until now, Giphy GIFs have been available as Stickers and via the Green Screen effect. At the outset, the TikTok Library will also include Giphy Clips, which are essentially GIFs with audio. The initial collection will feature reaction clips, quotes, famous faces and "iconic moments," which may or may not include certain award show incidents.

TikTok will start testing the Library in some markets on Android today and on iOS next week. It plans to expand the tool to more people in the coming weeks.

Once the feature is available, you'll be able to access it by tapping the new Library icon on the sidebar. After you find something you want to add to your video, you can trim it to a specific length and then keep building your TikTok from the shoot page.

TikTok

After months (if not years) of speculation, Sony has officially announced its revamped game subscription service as it looks to take on Microsoft's all-conquering Game Pass. The company is keeping the PlayStation Plus branding as it combines PS Plus and PlayStation Now into a three-tier service, but don't expect Sony to add new PS4 or PS5 games on their release day.

Developing...

8BitDo's Pro 2 was already great value at its regular price of $50, but now the controller has dropped to an all-time low on Amazon. It's on sale for $42.50, which is 15 percent off the usual price.

As with the excellent SN30 Pro+, the Pro 2 is compatible with Nintendo Switch, Windows, macOS, Android and Raspberry Pi. This time around, the controller has two back buttons. Like all of the other inputs, those buttons on the handles (where your ring finger or pinky might rest naturally) are fully customizable through a Windows, Mac, Android and iOS app. The controller has a profile configuration switcher as well, so you can swap between three input configurations without having to fire up the app.

It's a little disappointing that the controller isn't compatible with iOS devices, PlayStation or Xbox. For those who game on pretty much every other major platform, though, the 8BitDo Pro 2 is well worth checking out, particularly if you pick up a cheap smartphone clip so you can more easily play cloud gaming titles just about anywhere.

Razer

Elsewhere as part of Amazon's gaming accessory sale, you can save on Razer's wired Wolverine V2 Chroma controller. It also dropped to an all-time low. At $127.50, the white variant is slightly cheaper than the black model ($130). The controller usually costs $150.

The Wolverine V2 Chroma is compatible with Xbox consoles and PC. It's a worthy alternative to Microsoft's Elite Wireless Series 2 controller.

It has six more buttons than a standard Xbox controller and they're all remappable. Those could be useful for swiftly building structures in Fortnite (once that becomes a thing again) or executing rapid combos. There's also full RGB support via Razer's Xbox controller app, swappable thumbsticks and a hair-trigger mode that could give you an advantage over your rivals.

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The long-awaited current-gen versions of Apex Legends are almost here. Respawn Entertainment will release native PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the battle royale when the Warriors Collection event goes live today.

All three consoles will support 4K output and full 60Hz gameplay as well as HDR. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions are getting higher-resolution shadow maps and larger level-of-detail distances (so you can see objects from further away).

Some features players might have been expecting at the outset will arrive in future patches. Those include support for 120Hz gameplay, adaptive triggers and haptic feedback on PS5, as well as audio and visual improvements.

Not having 120 fps capabilities at the jump will be disappointing for many, given the fast pace of Apex Legends matches and the fact the developers have long been discussing that feature as one of their goals for the current-gen versions. Still, after the native PS5 and Xbox Series X/S editions land, it should be somewhat easier for developers to roll out updates across all platforms, so hopefully it won't be long before 120 fps support is added.

Thanks to Microsoft's Smart Delivery tech, the Xbox Series X/S versions of Apex Legends should automatically download if you have the Xbox One edition installed. PS5 players will need to download their console's version manually from the options menu on the Apex Legends game page or from the PSN store if they don't have the PS4 edition on their system.

Beyond the current-gen versions, there's a lot more for Apex Legends players to check out later today. The 9v9 Control mode, which proved popular when it debuted earlier this year, is back until April 12th. The Caustic Treatment area of King's Canyon is getting some changes so it can act as a Control battleground.

There's a new map called Drop-Off for the 3v3 Arena team deathmatch mode. A collection of 24 limited-time cosmetics will be available during the Warriors Collection event, including skins. Collect them all and you'll unlock a new sword Heirloom item for Crypto.

Respawn Entertainment/EA

Samsung's latest Smart Monitor, which we first got a look at during CES, is now available to pre-order. The Smart Monitor M8 has support for streaming services including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV, as well as cloud gaming platforms. You won't necessarily need to connect to external speakers, since two built-in 5W speakers and a tweeter will deliver 2.2-channel audio.

The display comes with a magnetic, detachable SlimFit Cam that you can use for video calls. The full-HD webcam has face tracking and auto zoom functions, so it can follow you as you move around and automatically focus on your face. There's a far-field microphone as well, which will come in handy if you want to bark instructions at Alexa or Bixby from across the room.

What's more, the M8 has an integrated SmartThings hub, which will allow you to control compatible smart home devices. You can connect wirelessly to a Windows PC or Mac and mirror your smartphone screen to the display as well. There's also the option to browse the web, edit documents and work on projects without connecting to a computer, in part thanks to built-in Microsoft 365 support.

Samsung

The M8 is 11.4mm thick, which Samsung says is around a quarter of the depth of previous displays. The 32-inch display has a UHD resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 and HDR 10+ compatibility. It has an aspect ratio of 16:9 and a contrast ratio of 3,000:1. There's support for 1.07 billion colors, which covers 99 percent of the sRGB spectrum.

The refresh rate tops out at 60 Hz, which may not cut it for some folks, while the response time is 4ms. On the connectivity front, the display has a one micro HDMI port and two USB-C ports, along with WiFi 5, AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth 4.2 support. It comes with a height-adjustable stand for which you won't have to pay an extra $400.

The Smart Monitor M8 starts at $700 for the white model. The spring green, sunset pink and daylight blue models will cost you a little extra at $730.