Technology

FCC funds for low-income internet access run dry; broadband infrastructure still shoddy
Funds have dried up for a program run by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that helped get more than 23 million households online for free or at a low cost. That includes nearly 245,000 — or one in nine — Minnesota homes, according to the Biden administration.
Broadband subsidies for rural Americans are ending, putting telehealth at risk
Myrna Broncho relies on broadband for medical care after a bad injury on her ranch. She's among millions facing a jump in costs or lost connections if the Affordable Connectivity Program expires.
‘All eyes on Rafah’ is the Internet’s most viral AI image. Two artists are claiming credit
Two Malaysians separated by 900 miles are both taking credit for a synthetic image of Gaza that became the most viral ever AI-generated photo, underscoring the complexities of authorship and ownership in an online landscape increasingly overrun with content created by artificial intelligence.
Should families and schools restrict smartphones?
Are smartphones and social media making kids distracted and anxious? MPR News correspondent and guest host Catharine Richert talks with lawmakers, parents and students about when kids should get a smartphone and why some schools are restricting them.
Fishing with wolves: New exhibit explores what the predators eat in summer
Wolves in northern Minnesota usually hunt deer and beaver. But in summer months, they also eat berries and fish. A new exhibit at the International Wolf Center in Ely explores how the animals survive during the summer months.
What will AI mean for art, artists and musicians?
MPR News guest host Chris Farrell and his guests on what the rise of artificial intelligence means for artists, musicians, actors and writers. 
AI-generated spam is starting to fill social media. Here's why
A Jesus made of vegetables, bizarre log cabins, products that don't exist. AI-generated images are creating new forms of clickbait and causing some users to doubt what's real.