2024年顶尖科技故事
📖 逐句对照翻译
Throughout 2024, we saw further development of artificial intelligence (AI) systems and new legal action brought against technology companies.
2024年，我们见证了人工智能（AI）系统的进一步发展，以及针对科技公司提起的新法律诉讼。
Here is a look back at some of the biggest tech stories we covered in 2024.
以下是我们对2024年报道过的一些重大科技新闻的回顾。
AI continues to expand
人工智能持续扩张
During the year, companies continued developing and deploying new AI tools.
在这一年里，公司持续开发和部署新的AI工具。
Among these were a new set of AI offerings announced by American software company Microsoft.
其中包括美国软件公司微软宣布的一系列新的人工智能产品。
Officials explained the new tools included “personal agents” designed to help users complete business activities with little or no human involvement.
官员们解释说，新工具包括旨在帮助用户完成商业活动的“个人代理”，这些活动几乎或完全不需要人工参与。
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.
微软表示，他们设计这些代理是为了扩展所谓的聊天机器人——即能够自主运作，生成接近人类水平的文字或对话的人工智能工具。
The company said it expects a full release of the agents sometime in 2025.
该公司表示，预计这些代理将在2025年的某个时候全面发布。
In September, technology company Apple announced it was launching several new iPhones equipped with special chips to support AI operations.
9月，科技公司苹果宣布推出几款新iPhone，配备支持人工智能操作的专用芯片。
Apple chief Tim Cook said the new models had been “designed for Apple Intelligence from the ground up.”
苹果首席执行官蒂姆·库克表示，新款手机“从设计之初就是为了苹果智能”。
We reported in October about an effort by researchers to use AI to improve existing weather prediction models.
我们十月份报道了研究人员利用人工智能改进现有天气预测模型的努力。
One system works by combining past weather predictions with modern methods to provide the most complete picture of weather and climate data.
一个系统通过将过去的气象预测与现代方法相结合，提供了最全面的天气和气候数据图景。
More warnings AI’s possible dangers
更多关于人工智能潜在危险的警告
In California, three legislative measures were enacted to ban the use of AI tools to create false images and videos during election campaigns.
在加利福尼亚州，已实施三项立法措施，旨在禁止在竞选活动中使用人工智能工具制造虚假图像和视频。
One main goal was to fight deepfakes.
一个主要目标是打击深度伪造。
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.
这些是经过制作的视频或音频片段，旨在让人看起来像是在说或做他们从未说过或做过的事情。
Deepfakes were used in several world election campaigns in 2024.
深度伪造技术在2024年多个国家的选举活动中被使用。
In May, an international gathering of major AI developers and top government officials in Seoul agreed on measures that aim to ensure that AI systems are safely built and deployed.
5月，主要人工智能开发商和高级政府官员在首尔举行国际会议，就旨在确保人工智能系统安全构建和部署的措施达成一致。
Attendees from 16 different technology companies signed a promise to develop AI technology in ways that limit possible public harms.
来自16家不同科技公司的与会者签署了一项承诺，将以限制潜在公共危害的方式开发人工智能技术。
US legal moves against tech companies
美国针对科技公司的法律行动
About one year ago, an American jury found that Google’s app store operates as an illegal monopoly.
大约一年前，一个美国陪审团认定谷歌的应用商店构成了非法垄断。
Then in August 2024, a federal judge ruled that Google had violated trade laws by operating its search engine as a monopoly.
然后在2024年8月，一位联邦法官裁定谷歌将其搜索引擎作为垄断企业运营，违反了贸易法。
The ruling accused Google of paying smartphone makers to ensure that its search engine was set as the default system on new devices.
该裁决指控谷歌向智能手机制造商付费，以确保其搜索引擎在新设备上被设为默认系统。
As part of the case, the U.S. government proposed in November a series of measures to limit Google from anti-competition business activities.
作为该案的一部分，美国政府于11月提出了一系列措施，以限制谷歌从事反竞争商业活动。
Google criticized the court’s ruling as an example of government overreach.
谷歌批评法院的裁决是政府过度干预的一个例子。
U.S. officials have long warned that TikTok presents national security concerns.
美国官员长期以来一直警告称，TikTok构成了国家安全担忧。
Earlier this month, video sharing service TikTok asked a U.S. appeals court to block a law requiring its Chinese parent, ByteDance, to divest itself of TikTok or face a U.S. ban.
本月早些时候，视频分享服务TikTok请求美国上诉法院阻止一项法律，该法律要求其中国母公司字节跳动剥离TikTok，否则将在美国面临禁令。
The request came after the same court had upheld a law forcing ByteDance to sell TikTok by January 19 or face the ban.
这一请求是在同一法院维持了一项法律之后提出的，该法律要求字节跳动在1月19日前出售TikTok，否则将面临禁令。
Lawyers for ByteDance and TikTok are seeking to have the U.S. Supreme Court rule on the case.
字节跳动和TikTok的律师正寻求让美国最高法院对此案作出裁决。
Self-driving tech
自动驾驶技术
In May, U.S.-based Aurora Innovation said it was preparing to launch a series of driverless trucks to transport goods on a major public highway.
5月，总部位于美国的Aurora Innovation公司表示，正准备推出一系列无人驾驶卡车，在一条主要公共高速公路上运输货物。
Company officials said it planned to begin the service in Texas, with 20 tractor-trailers transporting goods between Dallas and Houston.
公司官员表示，计划在德克萨斯州启动这项服务，初期将投入20辆牵引挂车在达拉斯和休斯顿之间运输货物。
The company hopes to expand the service to thousands of tractor-trailers within three to four years.
该公司希望在3到4年内将这项服务扩展到数千辆牵引挂车。
Flying taxis
飞行出租车
In October, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it had issued final rules for operating air taxis.
10月，美国联邦航空管理局宣布已发布运营空中出租车的最终规则。
It also set training and approval requirements for pilots.
它还规定了飞行员的培训和审批要求。
The FAA said air taxis belong to a kind of aircraft known as Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) flyers.
美国联邦航空管理局表示，空中出租车属于一种被称为“先进空中移动”（AAM）飞行器的航空器。
They generally operate on their own on electrical power, with vertical take-off and landing abilities.
它们通常依靠电力自行运行，具备垂直起降能力。
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said such aircraft represent “the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years.”
美国联邦航空管理局局长迈克·惠特克表示，这类飞机代表着“近80年来首个新的飞机类别”。
He added that the new rules are meant to mark the beginning of possible widespread AAM operations across the U.S. in the future.
他补充说，新规旨在标志着未来美国可能广泛开展先进空中交通运营的开端。
I’m Bryan Lynn.
我是布莱恩·林恩。
Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English.
布莱恩·林恩为VOA英语学习频道撰写了这篇故事。
