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Artificial intelligence (AI) technology company Ariel AI has been acquired by Snap. Ariel AI had been concentrating on a type of AI called computer vision, which is used to develop augmented reality (AR) functionalities, CNBC reported.Ariel AI had landed $1.1 million in investments before the Snap deal, CNBC reported, citing Crunchbase.Snap told the outlet that the AR startup’s workforce became part of its computer vision personnel in London at the end of last year. Ariel AI’s engineers have been put to work making the Snapchat camera "smarter" and enhancing AR experiences for Snapchat users.Ariel AI was established in the U.K. in 2018 by ex-Facebook and ex-Google research scientists, including CTO George Papandreou and CEO Iasonas Kokkinos.An online video demonstrates how the firm’s technology can render a 3D model representing a live individual, which can be used to test the fit of clothing in addition to gaming purposes, according to the report.Companies such as Facebook and TikTok have been competing to build out intricate AR experiences and special effects.The news comes as virtual reality (VR) and AR are beginning to make larger gains in the retail world. For example, commerce operators like Timberland and Macy’s are demonstrating how to leverage VR-equipped…

Launched only 10 years ago on July 8, 2011, Snapchat has grown to over 46 million users worldwide. From middle schoolers to influencers, Snapchat is part of life now. And of course, anyone can see why. It provided an easy and effective way to communicate, while also stimulating the visual part of the brain. Photos can be sent at the click of a button, and there is limited accountability since they are deleted seconds after opening. While there is more than one problem with Snapchat’s methods in general, there is one in particular that often goes unnoticed: filters. Now, the term “filters” is used very loosely, since that is what everyone calls all the fun options on Snapchat’s photo setting. To be more specific, however, filters are technically only the frames and artwork that can be added to the snaps (hearts, color tint, etc.). What actually is the problem here is called “lenses.” Lenses are often just referred to as filters but are in fact very different. Lenses are augmented reality, changing your face shape, eyes, hair color, or adding ears and the like. Lenses may seem fun at first. They change your voice, make your mouth super big and…

An Oklahoma man who was charged by the Justice Department earlier this month over a Snapchat video purportedly showing him sitting at Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiBiden attends first church service as president in DC, stops at local bagel shop More hands needed on the nuclear football Sunday shows preview: All eyes on Biden administration to tackle coronavirus MORE's (D-Calif.) desk with his feet up was released Monday on $10,000 bond.Andrew Craig Ericson, 23, was released Monday after spending the weekend in jail, The Oklahoman reported. He faces three counts in Washington, D.C. federal court including unlawful entry into a restricted building, violent entry, and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.Ericson was one of the first people charged over the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, that resulted in five deaths, including that of a Capitol Police officer.  The riot, which occurred during Congress's joint session to certify the 2020 election results, has been deemed an insurrection. It also led to the second impeachment of former President TrumpDonald TrumpMore than two-thirds of Americans approve of Biden's coronavirus response: poll Sarah Huckabee Sanders to run for governor Mexico's president tests positive for COVID-19 MORE for inciting the violence in part due to his refusal…

ErinBoogie January 24, 2021 News Two and a half weeks after the riot at the U.S. Capitol, the Justice Department is still handing out new charges to rioters. According to CNN, two more men have been arrested and charged for their roles in the insurrection. Kevin Strong, who works for the Federal Aviation Administration, was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building without lawful authority, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. He was arrested on Friday. Strong was reported to the FBI, who already had opened an investigation on him, by a colleague at the FAA. His home was searched on January 16, and two guns owned by Strong’s uncle and multiple digital devices were seized. Investigators also found QAnon items while searching the home.  Andrew Ericson, 23, was charged with two misdemeanor charges of unlawful entry on restricted buildings or grounds and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. According to prosecutors, he live-streamed himself entering the Capitol and Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office on Snapchat. He was also arrested on Friday. The FBI was contacted by someone who had a previous professional relationship with Ericson and saw his live-stream on Snapchat. Check Also

Most secondary school students have been asked to send sexually explicity pictures of themselves through text, email or applications such as Snapchat, and almost one-third have received sexually explicit images when they didn't want to.The findings come from new research involving a survey of more than 800 teenagers here, with the authors warning that 'sexting' can have "devastating effects", especially for those receiving unsolicited images.The study, entitled 'It's not just sexy pics: An investigation into sexting behaviour and behavioural problems in adolescents', was carried out by researchers at the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre in Dublin City University and used data gathered from a sample of 848 students aged 15–18 from schools around the country.To the question 'Have you been asked to send naked pictures of yourself (a sext) through text, email or applications like Snapchat?' 44.4% of all the teenagers surveyed said they have "frequently" been asked, versus 43.5% overall who have never been asked and the balance of 12.1% who have been asked once.Those "frequently" asked for such images included 29.3% of all females sampled and 15.2% of males surveyed.The students surveyed were less likely to send images — 76.2% said they had never sent such an…

The Justice Department has unveiled new criminal charges against two alleged Capitol rioters.Kevin Strong of California was charged with three crimes related to the attack, including knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building without lawful authority, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. He confessed to breaching the Capitol in an interview with investigators and was arrested on Friday, according to the Justice Department. Strong told law enforcement he hadn't done any damage or attacked law enforcement, according to the affidavit.Strong works for the Federal Aviation Administration and is a follower of the QAnon conspiracy movement, according to court documents. A day after the insurrection, an employee in the FAA's internal investigation branch contacted the FBI and reported Strong to law enforcement.Prosecutors say a tipster told the FBI that Strong has been "stockpiling items and telling others to get ready for martial law." Based on that report, the FBI opened an investigation into Strong on December 30, according to the affidavit. The FBI says it searched Strong's home on January 16 and seized two guns owned by Strong's uncle and multiple digital devices, and that investigators found QAnon items during a search of his home.Andrew Ericson of…

Snapchat may be all about ephemeral messaging, but users are still able to save and unsave messages at will. This is only possible in the app’s chat window, where users can share everything from text to photos, video, and voice messages. Still, there could come a time where it’s best to unsave a Snapchat message. Here’s how to do it.How to unsave Snapchat messagesTo unsave a Snapchat message, first open the chat window, then single-tap the message you want to unsave. Alternatively, you can long-press on the saved text, photo, or video, then choose the option to “Unsave in Chat.”The basic save mechanic works both ways: You can single-tap a message to either save or unsave it. However, this only works for messages that you’ve saved yourself. If the message was saved by the recipient, you can’t unsave it. To get it to disappear, you’ll have to delete it. This can be done by long-pressing on the message and then choosing the delete option.Saving and unsaving messages in Snapchat does not notify the other user. However, the message won’t disappear, and the recipient will see a grey background indicating that it has been saved. Long-pressing the message will also reveal…

MUSKOGEE, Okla. — A Muskogee man is arrested in connection to the attack on the U.S. Capitol that left 5 dead. According to a warrant, 23-year-old Andrew Craig Ericson is facing two charges-- one for unlawful entry on restricted buildings or grounds and one for violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. A federal judge allowed arrest warrants to be approved Jan. 6. Ericson was in custody at the Muskogee County Jail on Jan. 8 Oklahoma Northern District U.S. Attorney Trent Shores contacted the FBI Jan. 8 after getting Snapchat photographs showing Ericson in the Capitol during the breach by supporters of President Trump, according to an affidavit. The document also says Shores told the FBI that he believed Ericson lived in Muskogee but does not clarify how. Authorities say they believe Ericson used his personal cellphone to take pictures and livestream as he walked into the entrance of the capitol. They were able to find a photo of Ericson taking a selfie in a mirror and another of him sitting in a chair in a U.S. House of Representative’s conference room. The FBI confirmed the him in the Snapchat pictures by using his driver’s license photograph. A witness…

Oklahoma man faces charges in connection with Capitol riot The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Friday released these images purportedly of Muskogee man Andrew Ericson, who faces charges in federal court related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6.  Courtesy From Staff Reports A federal judge on Friday approved an arrest warrant for a Muskogee man on two charges connected to the deadly attack at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month after he reportedly live-streamed himself breaking into the building, taking a beer from a refrigerator and entering the U.S. House speaker's conference room.Andrew Craig Ericson, 23, faces a complaint alleging one count each of unlawful entry on restricted buildings or grounds and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds on Jan. 6. U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui authorized the warrant at the request of an FBI special agent just before 4 p.m. Wednesday.Ericson was in custody at the Muskogee County jail Friday evening.An affidavit filed in Muskogee federal court states Tulsa-based U.S. Attorney Trent Shores contacted the FBI Jan. 8 after receiving Snapchat photographs showing Ericson was in the Capitol building when supporters of then-President Donald Trump breached the doors in…

Darious Dontae Smith-Decatur He has been appointed an attorney. Posted: Jan 18, 2021 6:14 PM Updated: Jan 18, 2021 6:15 PM Posted By: Stephen Gallien A Florence man faces charges after his arrest for using Snapchat to entice an 11-year-old child into a sex act. Court records show 26-year-old Darious Dontae Smith-Decatur was booked into the Lauderdale County jail with bond set at $50,000. Smith is charged with electronic solicitation of a child for trying to convince the 11-year-old girl to sneak out of her house to meet him for a sex act. Court records show Smith-Decatur sent four explicit pictures of himself to the child on Dec. 30. A warrant was issued Jan. 13. Smith’s court date has not yet been set. He has been appointed an attorney.