Yum Brands announced on Wednesday, July 31, that it is expanding its AI-voiced drive-thru experiment to hundreds of Taco Bells by the end of 2024. The company said that it will decrease wait times for customers and improve order accuracy, citing two years of research involved in the implementation of the technology. Yum Brands said…

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) accused TikTok of gathering Americans’ data on sensitive content and censored topics. The department said TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, had TikTok gather information about users’ views on social issues — including gun control, abortion and religion. In a document filed Friday, July 26, the DOJ said an internal web…

Toxic metals were found in 14 different tampon brands, according to a new study published in the scientific journal “Environment International.” Researchers found evidence of arsenic, lead, mercury, nickel and others in both organic and non-organic tampons, which the body could absorb if tampons are used during menstruation. The study did not name the tampon…

A Pennsylvania middle school is drawing national attention over students’ First Amendment right to freedom of speech. Middle school students in Chester County set up nearly two dozen fake TikTok accounts to impersonate teachers. The New York Times, which first reported on the accounts, said a group of eighth graders in the Great Valley School…

The future of TikTok remains uncertain in the United States after President Joe Biden signed a law in April that forces the app’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform by the beginning of 2025. However, one billionaire wants to make a bid on the social media app. Frank McCourt said that he’s doing it…

Instagram is recommending sexual videos to kids as young as 13, according to a new Wall Street Journal study released Thursday, June 20. The Journal created new accounts and set the ages to 13 years old to see what kind of content would be recommended.  Researchers said right off the bat, the accounts were recommended…

Philip Morris International temporarily stopped online sales of Zyn nicotine pouches in the U.S. on Monday, June 17, in response to a legal challenge from the attorney general for the District of Columbia. The halt is part of an investigation into the company’s possible violation of the district’s ban on flavored tobacco products. “Zyn is…

You will no longer be able to use artificial intelligence to order your Big Mac — at least for now. McDonald’s announced it is ending its AI drive-thru test run at more than 100 of its restaurants.  “While there have been successes to date, we feel there is an opportunity to explore voice ordering solutions more broadly,”…

President Joe Biden takes executive action to protect hundreds of thousands of undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens. And from wildfires to tropical storms to extreme heat, much of the country is under alert for severe weather. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Biden administration announces protection for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens…

In the U.S., consumers can find an array of eye-watering spicy foods, including popular Korean ramen brand Samyang. However, these fiery instant noodles have not been well received by health officials abroad. On June 11, Denmark issued a recall for these products due to extremely high spice levels, which the government says could lead to…