In some good news as Threads continues to grow and get more users, Meta has announced they will be adding more moderation to user-generated content. Engadget.com reports that  Threads is going to “match fact-check ratings from Facebook or Instagram to Threads.” Currently, fact-checkers can’t rate content on Threads, so instead when something gets flagged as being false on Instagram or Facebook, a fact-checker’s ratings will also roll over onto the app. The fact checking should be live early next year.  Meta said third-party fact-checking partners will flag and review the content that circulates on Threads. The app’s users will be given the choice to increase, lower or maintain the default level of “demotions on fact-checked content” in personal feeds. Meta says if a user decides to see less sensitive content on Instagram, those settings will roll over into their Threads view.

A new security feature has shown up in the latest beta of Apple’s iOS, version 17.3. According to macrumors.com, it’s ’Stolen Device Protection,’ and it will add another layer of protection for people who have their phone stolen, and the thief also has the passcode. Bad guys can just eye people in public places, and can watch for you to enter your passcode, then grab the phone and they have…as a lot of people feel…your ‘entire digital life.’ With Stolen Device Protection, either Face ID or Touch ID will be required for additional actions, like looking at passwords or passkeys stored in iCloud Keychain…or for actions like applying for a new Apple Card, turning off Lost Mode, erasing content or settings, or using payment methods stored in Safari. The feature will kick in when you are in a location you don’t normally visit…a slight hassle, but nice to protect your info. When iOS 17.3 is released to the public, Apple says it will share additional info on how to use Stolen Device Protection to secure your devices. 

If people are always mangling your name when they meet you or chat on the phone or over video, Google has added a feature that should help. It’s a new part of Google Workspace apps…including Google Docs and Gmail. On your profile card next to your name is a circle with an arrow in it. When they click on that, it will play back a recording of your name being pronounced. Zdnet.com says the feature is on by default. Some other workplace apps, like Microsoft’s LinkedIn and also Slack already have a pronunciation feature. Nice to have, since clobbering a person’s name right out of the box makes a lousy first impression.

Meta has added some AI tech to its Ray-Ban glasses to assist you with what you are looking at. Cnet.com reports that this might include ingredients on a package for example. You can look at the package and ask about an ingredient…like caffeine in tea, and the AI will tell you if it has it and how much. It is somewhat less than instant at this point…the glasses take a picture of the item then it is a few more seconds before you get an answer from the AI about your query. Be aware that at this point the AI can…as they say…hallucinate. In other words, it makes some stuff up! This is an ongoing problem with all generative AI that developers say will be solved…at some point, anyway. 

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.