The past year marked the rise of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence (AI ) tools .
過去一年，ChatGPT和其他人工智慧（AI）工具迅速崛起。
But here is a look back at some of the other noteworthy technology stories we covered in 2023 .
不過，下面我們來回顧2023年報導過的其他一些值得關注的科技新聞。
Both Apple and Google faced lawsuits accusing them of carrying out unfair business methods linked to their app stores .
蘋果和谷歌都遭到起訴，被指控在其應用程式商店方面採取了不公平的商業手段。
The cases might cost the companies billions of dollars and change the way similar app stores do business .
這些案件可能讓兩家公司損失數十億美元，並改變類似應用程式商店的經營方式。
A decision in the Google case was reached earlier this month when an American jury found Google's app store operates as an illegal monopoly .
本月初，谷歌案有了結果：美國一個陪審團認定谷歌的應用程式商店屬於非法壟斷。
The case was brought by video game company Epic Games .
該案是由電子遊戲公司Epic Games提起的。
One of the main questions in the case was whether Google had the right to require app developers to use Google's app store's payment systems .
該案的主要問題之一是，谷歌是否有權要求應用程式開發者使用谷歌應用程式商店的支付系統。
The jury ruled Google's monopoly covered both its app selling system and payment processing within the app .
陪審團裁定，谷歌的壟斷既包括其應用程式銷售系統，也包括應用程式內的支付處理。
Google condemned the decision and appealed the ruling .
谷歌譴責這一裁決，並提出了上訴。
Epic brought a similar lawsuit against iPhone maker Apple that was decided in April .
Epic也對iPhone製造商蘋果提起了類似的訴訟，該案已於4月判決。
In that case , a judge in California mostly sided with Apple .
在那起案件中，加州一名法官基本上站在了蘋果一邊。
But the judge did order Apple to permit developers to add their own links to process payments within iPhone apps .
但法官確實命令蘋果允許開發者在iPhone應用程式內加入自己的付款連結。
The worldwide demand for electric vehicle (EV ) batteries continues to grow .
全球對電動車（EV）電池的需求持續成長。
But supplies of the materials used to make them are limited .
但製造電池所需材料的供應有限。
Currently , China controls most mining and processing of a group of 17 metals known as rare earths .
目前，中國控制著被稱為稀土的17種金屬的大部分開採和加工。
One of the main materials used to produce the batteries is lithium , a light metal substance .
生產電池的主要材料之一是鋰，一種輕金屬。
Other necessary materials include the metallic elements cobalt , manganese and nickel .
其他必需材料還包括鈷、錳和鎳等金屬元素。
Even though some of the minerals are mined in nations outside China , Chinese companies still hold ownership over the operations .
儘管其中一些礦物在中國以外的國家開採，但這些開採業務仍歸中國公司所有。
In February , U.S . President Joe Biden announced federal assistance programs to help companies mine and process lithium and other rare metals .
2月，美國總統喬·拜登宣布了聯邦援助計畫，幫助企業開採和加工鋰及其他稀有金屬。
Similar efforts were announced in other countries , including Britain and Germany .
英國和德國等其他國家也宣布了類似的措施。
In addition , major automakers said they were seeking new EV engine designs that are less dependent on rare earth minerals .
此外，各大汽車製造商表示，他們正在尋求對稀土礦物依賴較少的新型電動車馬達設計。
EV market leader Tesla said it plans to remove rare earths from its next-generation EVs .
電動車市場領頭羊特斯拉表示，計畫在下一代電動車中不再使用稀土。
Other automakers said they are in the process of researching or developing EV motors that use little or no rare earth minerals .
其他汽車製造商表示，他們正在研究或開發很少使用或完全不用稀土礦物的電動車馬達。
These include General Motors , Jaguar Land Rover , and BMW .
其中包括通用汽車、捷豹路虎和BMW。
We covered several developments involving robotic systems .
我們還報導了與機器人系統有關的幾項進展。
A team of American researchers announced it had built a human-like robot that can play soccer at a high level .
一個美國研究團隊宣布，他們製造出了一款能高水準踢足球的人形機器人。
The robot , named ARTEMIS , is one of only a few humanoid robots that can run .
這款名為ARTEMIS的機器人是為數不多能夠奔跑的人形機器人之一。
It also can walk and jump on different kinds of surfaces without losing its balance .
它還能在各種地面上行走和跳躍而不失去平衡。
The robot also can kick a ball and remain standing even when kicked or hit , the team said .
團隊表示，這款機器人還能踢球，即使被踢或被撞也能保持站立。
In Germany , many companies – large and small – turned to robots to fill jobs as the country faced a severe labor shortage .
在德國，由於面臨嚴重的勞動力短缺，許多大大小小的公司都轉而用機器人來填補職缺。
Experts say increasing robotic operations are a sign that robots have become easier to use , with no special skills required .
專家表示，機器人作業的增加顯示機器人已經變得更容易使用，不需要特殊技能。
Police said the victim was an employee of a company that deploys industrial robots to businesses .
警方說，受害者是一家為企業部署工業機器人的公司的員工。
NASA even tested a snake-like explorer designed to search for signs of life in hard-to-reach places .
美國太空總署甚至測試了一款蛇形探測器，用於在難以到達的地方尋找生命跡象。
The American space agency said the robot is equipped to move in ways that traditional explorer vehicles , called rovers , cannot .
美國太空總署表示，這款機器人能以傳統探測車（也就是「漫遊車」）做不到的方式移動。
In the future , NASA plans to send the robot to space to search for signs of life in an underground ocean on Saturn's moon Enceladus .
未來，美國太空總署計畫把這款機器人送入太空，在土星衛星土衛二的地下海洋中尋找生命跡象。