Biden signs law that potentially bans TikTok in the US

Photo: Solen Feyissa / Unsplash

US President Biden signed a foreign aid bill that includes a provision effectively banning TikTok in the US unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the app within a year. This "divest-or-ban" clause gives ByteDance nine months to find a buyer, with a potential three-month extension from the President if progress is shown.

The bill had initially stalled in the Senate after passing the House. However, it was strategically attached to a critical foreign aid package, pressuring the Senate to consider it. This tactic, along with a longer divestment window, swayed some undecided lawmakers.

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Steam tightens refund policy for Early Access games

Image: Steam

Eight years ago, Valve introduced a generous refund policy for Steam users. You could get a refund on any game, no questions asked, within 14 days of purchase as long as you played for less than two hours. However, this policy didn't quite apply to Early Access and Advanced Access games. 

In these programs, players could enjoy a game early before its official release, but playtime during that period didn't count towards the two-hour limit. This meant some could essentially play most of the game and then request a refund before release. To address this loophole, Valve has updated its policy. Now, any playtime in Early Access or Advanced Access will count towards the two-hour refund limit.

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Adobe Photoshop adds new generative AI features

Struggling to create eye-catching visuals? Don't have design experience? Adobe's AI is here to help! In a major update, Adobe is supercharging the generative artificial intelligence capabilities already in Photoshop's beta. 

But that's not all! New features like "Reference Images" let you import a photo and use it as a guide for the AI, ensuring your creations perfectly match its colours, tones, and style.

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Coca-Cola and Microsoft ink US$1.1 billion cloud and AI deal

Image: Microsoft

In a major push towards digitalization, Coca-Cola and Microsoft announced a five-year US$1.1 billion partnership. This strategic move focuses on integrating Microsoft's cloud and generative artificial intelligence solutions across Coca-Cola's global operations. The partnership signifies Coca-Cola's commitment to a "digital-first" approach. 

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