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VOA科学技术2024--Top Technology Stories of 2024

时间：2025-01-22 07:54:06

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Throughout 2024, we saw further development of artificial intelligence (AI) systems and new legal action brought against technology companies. Here is a look back at some of the biggest tech stories we covered in 2024.

AI continues to expand

During the year, companies continued developing and deploying1 new AI tools.

Among these were a new set of AI offerings announced by American software company Microsoft. Officials explained the new tools included "personal agents" designed to help users complete business activities with little or no human involvement.

Microsoft says it designed the agents to expand on so-called chatbots - AI tools that work by themselves to produce human-level writing or discussions. The company said it expects a full release of the agents sometime in 2025.

In September, technology company Apple announced it was launching several new iPhones equipped with special chips to support AI operations. Apple chief Tim Cook said the new models had been "designed for Apple Intelligence from the ground up."

We reported in October about an effort by researchers to use AI to improve existing weather prediction models. One system works by combining past weather predictions with modern methods to provide the most complete picture of weather and climate data.

More warnings AI's possible dangers

In California, three legislative2 measures were enacted3 to ban the use of AI tools to create false images and videos during election campaigns. One main goal was to fight deepfakes. These are pieces of video or audio created to make it appear that people in it are saying or doing things they never said or did. Deepfakes were used in several world election campaigns in 2024.

In May, an international gathering4 of major AI developers and top government officials in Seoul agreed on measures that aim to ensure that AI systems are safely built and deployed5. Attendees from 16 different technology companies signed a promise to develop AI technology in ways that limit possible public harms.

US legal moves against tech companies

About one year ago, an American jury found that Google's app store operates as an illegal monopoly. Then in August 2024, a federal judge ruled that Google had violated trade laws by operating its search engine as a monopoly. The ruling accused Google of paying smartphone makers6 to ensure that its search engine was set as the default system on new devices.

As part of the case, the U.S. government proposed in November a series of measures to limit Google from anti-competition business activities. Google criticized the court's ruling as an example of government overreach. U.S. officials have long warned that TikTok presents national security concerns.

Earlier this month, video sharing service TikTok asked a U.S. appeals court to block a law requiring its Chinese parent, ByteDance, to divest7 itself of TikTok or face a U.S. ban. The request came after the same court had upheld a law forcing ByteDance to sell TikTok by January 19 or face the ban. Lawyers for ByteDance and TikTok are seeking to have the U.S. Supreme8 Court rule on the case.

Self-driving tech

In May, U.S.-based Aurora9 Innovation said it was preparing to launch a series of driverless trucks to transport goods on a major public highway. Company officials said it planned to begin the service in Texas, with 20 tractor-trailers transporting goods between Dallas and Houston. The company hopes to expand the service to thousands of tractor-trailers within three to four years.

Flying taxis

In October, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it had issued final rules for operating air taxis. It also set training and approval requirements for pilots. The FAA said air taxis belong to a kind of aircraft known as Advanced Air Mobility10 (AAM) flyers. They generally operate on their own on electrical power, with vertical11 take-off and landing abilities.

FAA Administrator12 Mike Whitaker said such aircraft represent "the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years." He added that the new rules are meant to mark the beginning of possible widespread AAM operations across the U.S. in the future.

I'm Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English.

___________________________________________

Words in This Story

chip - n. a very small slice of silicon13 containing electronic circuits (as for a computer)

monopoly - n. complete control of the entire supply of goods or of a service in a certain area or market

default - adj. what exists or usually happens if no changes are made

divest - v. to sell something, especially a business or part of a business

vertical - adj. pointing straight up from a surface

category - n. a group of people of things of a similar kind


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 deploying 79c9e662a7f3c3d49ecc43f559de9424     
（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的现在分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用
参考例句：
  • Provides support for developing and deploying distributed, component-based applications. 为开发和部署基于组件的分布式应用程序提供支持。
  • Advertisement, publishing, repair, and install-on-demand are all available when deploying your application. 在部署应用程序时提供公布、发布、修复和即需即装功能。
2 legislative K9hzG     
n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的
参考例句：
  • Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
  • Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。
3 enacted b0a10ad8fca50ba4217bccb35bc0f2a1     
制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
  • Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
4 gathering ChmxZ     
n.集会，聚会，聚集
参考例句：
  • He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
  • He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。
5 deployed 4ceaf19fb3d0a70e329fcd3777bb05ea     
（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用
参考例句：
  • Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
  • The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。
6 makers 22a4efff03ac42c1785d09a48313d352     
n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）
参考例句：
  • The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
  • The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 divest 9kKzx     
v.脱去，剥除
参考例句：
  • I cannot divest myself of the idea.我无法消除那个念头。
  • He attempted to divest himself of all responsibilities for the decision.他力图摆脱掉作出该项决定的一切责任。
8 supreme PHqzc     
adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的
参考例句：
  • It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
  • He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
9 aurora aV9zX     
n.极光
参考例句：
  • The aurora is one of nature's most awesome spectacles.极光是自然界最可畏的奇观之一。
  • Over the polar regions we should see aurora.在极地高空,我们会看到极光。
10 mobility H6rzu     
n.可动性，变动性，情感不定
参考例句：
  • The difference in regional house prices acts as an obstacle to mobility of labour.不同地区房价的差异阻碍了劳动力的流动。
  • Mobility is very important in guerrilla warfare.机动性在游击战中至关重要。
11 vertical ZiywU     
adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置
参考例句：
  • The northern side of the mountain is almost vertical.这座山的北坡几乎是垂直的。
  • Vertical air motions are not measured by this system.垂直气流的运动不用这种系统来测量。
12 administrator SJeyZ     
n.经营管理者，行政官员
参考例句：
  • The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
  • He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。
13 silicon dykwJ     
n.硅(旧名矽)
参考例句：
  • This company pioneered the use of silicon chip.这家公司开创了使用硅片的方法。
  • A chip is a piece of silicon about the size of a postage stamp.芯片就是一枚邮票大小的硅片。

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