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Users who filed compensation claims in the Apple "batterygate" controversy are now receiving payments from the tech giant. Apple had agreed to a settlement of up to $500 million to resolve a lawsuit related to the issue, and reports from Mac Rumors indicate that some users have seen payments, such as $92.17 (approximately ₹ 7,600), deposited into their accounts.

<h2>Background: What's&nbsp;the 'batterygate'&nbsp;saga?</h2>

The "batterygate" saga unfolded in 2017 when a developer in the United States revealed that certain iOS 10 updates were causing slowdowns in earlier iPhone models like the iPhone 6S and iPhone 7.

Users alleged that this intentional slowing down misled them into thinking their phones were aging rapidly, pushing them to replace or install new batteries.

Apple had initially not disclosed the reason for the slowdown, claiming it was to prevent abrupt shutdowns when the battery hit a particular threshold.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/apple-aims-to-boost-manufacturing-and-invest-40-billion-in-india-report-639391">Also read |&nbsp;Apple aims to boost manufacturing and invest $40 billion in India: Report</a>

Numerous class-action lawsuits were filed, accusing Apple of prompting premature phone updates rather than merely offering affordable battery replacements.

In 2018, Apple issued an apology for the lack of transparency and reduced the price of iPhone battery replacements to $29.

Apple explained that its engineers promptly addressed the issues, attributing them to consumption spikes, temperature fluctuations, and other factors.

However, in 2020, while denying wrongdoing, Apple settled the nationwide case to avoid the costs and burdens of prolonged litigation.

Also watch |&nbsp;Job market to surge by 8.3% in 2024 | World Business News

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The settlement, as reported by Reuters, encompasses US&nbsp;owners of iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, or SE that ran iOS 10.2.1 or later. It also includes users of iPhone 7 and 7 Plus that ran iOS 11.2 or later before December 21, 2017. The deadline for submitting a claim for compensation was in October 2020.

(With inputs from agencies)

Users who filed compensation claims in the Apple "batterygate" controversy are now receiving payments from the tech giant. Apple had agreed to a settlement of up to $500 million to resolve a lawsuit related to the issue, and reports from Mac Rumors indicate that some users have seen payments, such as $92.

Users who filed compensation claims in the Apple "batterygate" controversy are now receiving payments from the tech giant. Apple had agreed to a settlement of up to $500 million to resolve a lawsuit related to the issue, and reports from Mac Rumors indicate that some users have seen payments, such as $92.17 (approximately ₹ 7,600), deposited into their accounts. Background: What's the 'batterygate' saga? The "batterygate" saga unfolded in 2017 when a developer in the United States revealed that certain iOS 10 updates were causing slowdowns in earlier iPhone models like the iPhone 6S and iPhone 7. Users alleged that this intentional slowing down misled them into thinking their phones were aging rapidly, pushing them to replace or install new batteries. Apple had initially not disclosed the reason for the slowdown, claiming it was to prevent abrupt shutdowns when the battery hit a particular threshold. Also read | Apple aims to boost manufacturing and invest $40 billion in India: Report Numerous class-action lawsuits were filed, accusing Apple of prompting premature phone updates rather than merely offering affordable battery replacements. In 2018, Apple issued an apology for the lack of transparency and reduced the price of iPhone battery replacements to $29. Apple explained that its engineers promptly addressed the issues, attributing them to consumption spikes, temperature fluctuations, and other factors. However, in 2020, while denying wrongdoing, Apple settled the nationwide case to avoid the costs and burdens of prolonged litigation. Also watch | Job market to surge by 8.3% in 2024 | World Business News The settlement, as reported by Reuters, encompasses US owners of iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, or SE that ran iOS 10.2.1 or later. It also includes users of iPhone 7 and 7 Plus that ran iOS 11.2 or later before December 21, 2017. The deadline for submitting a claim for compensation was in October 2020. (With inputs from agencies)

Apple begins disbursing ‘batterygate’ settlement payments to US iPhone users: Report

CES 2024: The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is an annual event that serves as a global stage for innovation and breakthrough technologies in the consumer electronics industry. This year, the world's largest tech companies come together in Las Vegas for CES 2024. Thousands of small and large companies will display their latest products, which include laptops, TVs, electric cars, and experimental technology, from January 9 to January 12.&nbsp;

CES provides a platform for companies, both established giants and emerging startups, to unveil their newest products and technologies. It is crucial to emphasise that the general public cannot access CES. As per the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), CES is marked as a "trade-only event," meaning that only individuals who are associated with the consumer technology industry and are 18 years of age or older are permitted entry.

There's a lot of excitement surrounding CES 2024, where a lot of companies are expected to present their AI innovations and manufacturers will likely incorporate AI into the everyday products we use.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-develop-worlds-first-graphene-semiconductor-in-revolutionary-computing-breakthrough-677184">Scientists develop world’s first graphene semiconductor in revolutionary computing breakthrough</a>

<h2>CES 2024: Date &amp; Venue</h2>

CES 2024 will kick off from Las Vegas on Tuesday, January 9 and run through Friday, January 12, 2024. 
 
The event will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada Convention Centre, the Venetian Expo and the Aria Resort &amp; Casino.

<h2>CES 2024: What to expect?</h2>

With a number of noteworthy trends and product categories to watch, this year's CES is promising to be very interesting. Before the official show opens on January 7 and 8, press members are given a preview of upcoming announcements and innovations.

CES 2024 promises to be an incredible event with groundbreaking advances in artificial intelligence, smart cars, high-speed laptops, portable gaming devices and AI-driven home technology. Leading tech companies including Samsung, Google, LG, Amazon, Asus, HP, Nvidia, AMD, Intel and even big automakers like BMW will be present, ready to unveil their newest creations.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

CES 2024: The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is an annual event that serves as a global stage for innovation and breakthrough technologies in the consumer electronics industry.

CES 2024: The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is an annual event that serves as a global stage for innovation and breakthrough technologies in the consumer electronics industry. This year, the world's largest tech companies come together in Las Vegas for CES 2024. Thousands of small and large companies will display their latest products, which include laptops, TVs, electric cars, and experimental technology, from January 9 to January 12. CES provides a platform for companies, both established giants and emerging startups, to unveil their newest products and technologies. It is crucial to emphasise that the general public cannot access CES. As per the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), CES is marked as a "trade-only event," meaning that only individuals who are associated with the consumer technology industry and are 18 years of age or older are permitted entry. There's a lot of excitement surrounding CES 2024, where a lot of companies are expected to present their AI innovations and manufacturers will likely incorporate AI into the everyday products we use. Also read| Scientists develop world’s first graphene semiconductor in revolutionary computing breakthrough CES 2024: Date & Venue CES 2024 will kick off from Las Vegas on Tuesday, January 9 and run through Friday, January 12, 2024. The event will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada Convention Centre, the Venetian Expo and the Aria Resort & Casino. CES 2024: What to expect? With a number of noteworthy trends and product categories to watch, this year's CES is promising to be very interesting. Before the official show opens on January 7 and 8, press members are given a preview of upcoming announcements and innovations. CES 2024 promises to be an incredible event with groundbreaking advances in artificial intelligence, smart cars, high-speed laptops, portable gaming devices and AI-driven home technology. Leading tech companies including Samsung, Google, LG, Amazon, Asus, HP, Nvidia, AMD, Intel and even big automakers like BMW will be present, ready to unveil their newest creations. (With inputs from agencies)

Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024: Date, time and all you need to know

Elon Musk-led Tesla is recalling more than 1.6 million electric vehicles in China, the country's market regulator said on Friday (January 5). The recall has been initiated just days after the US electric carmaker was surpassed in sales by its Chinese competitor BYD.

The reacall has been sparked by problems with Tesla's assisted driving functions and door-locking systems. The issue will be addressed by over-the-air (OTA) updates to the car software.

"Starting from now, a total of 1,610,105 imported Model S, Model X, and Model 3, and domestic Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles with production dates between August 26, 2014 and December 20, 2023 will be recalled," the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said in an online statement.

"For vehicles within the scope of this recall, when the automatic assisted steering function is turned on, the driver may misuse the level two combined assisted driving function, increasing the risk of vehicle collision and posing a safety hazard," the SAMR said further.

China is an important market for Tesla which sells as well as manufactures large number of its cars. Tesla's manufacturing plant is located in Shanghai.

Watch | Mega-Cap giants Meta, Nvidia, &amp; Tesla smash records in 2023

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The latest recall also includes 7,538 imported Tesla models made between October 26, 2022 and November 16, 2023 after it was found that there was "a problem with the door unlock logic controls".

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/elon-musks-tesla-to-set-up-first-indian-manufacturing-plant-in-gujarat-674748">Elon Musk's Tesla to set up first Indian manufacturing plant in Gujarat: Report</a>

This is not Tesla's first recall in China. In the year 2022, it recalled more than 100,000 cars because of a defect in rear motor inverter.

Also Read | <a href="http://qad.wionews.com/india-news/india-tesla-car-spotted-in-bengaluru-traffic-creates-buzz-on-social-media-675590">India: Tesla car spotted in Bengaluru traffic, creates buzz on social media</a>

Last month, Tesla also recalled more than two million cars in the US and Canada over risks found associated with its autopilot feature.

China, the biggest air polluter&nbsp;in the world, has been supporting electric car sales, including hybrid&nbsp;vehicles. The government has offered many subsidies to manufacturers with an aim to have majority of cars in the country running on clean energy by the year 2035

(With inputs from agencies)

 
&nbsp;

Elon Musk-led Tesla is recalling more than 1.6 million electric vehicles in China, the country's market regulator said on Friday (January 5). The recall has been initiated just days after the US electric carmaker was surpassed in sales by its Chinese competitor BYD.

Elon Musk-led Tesla is recalling more than 1.6 million electric vehicles in China, the country's market regulator said on Friday (January 5). The recall has been initiated just days after the US electric carmaker was surpassed in sales by its Chinese competitor BYD. The reacall has been sparked by problems with Tesla's assisted driving functions and door-locking systems. The issue will be addressed by over-the-air (OTA) updates to the car software. "Starting from now, a total of 1,610,105 imported Model S, Model X, and Model 3, and domestic Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles with production dates between August 26, 2014 and December 20, 2023 will be recalled," the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said in an online statement. "For vehicles within the scope of this recall, when the automatic assisted steering function is turned on, the driver may misuse the level two combined assisted driving function, increasing the risk of vehicle collision and posing a safety hazard," the SAMR said further. China is an important market for Tesla which sells as well as manufactures large number of its cars. Tesla's manufacturing plant is located in Shanghai. Watch | Mega-Cap giants Meta, Nvidia, & Tesla smash records in 2023 × The latest recall also includes 7,538 imported Tesla models made between October 26, 2022 and November 16, 2023 after it was found that there was "a problem with the door unlock logic controls". Also Read | Elon Musk's Tesla to set up first Indian manufacturing plant in Gujarat: Report This is not Tesla's first recall in China. In the year 2022, it recalled more than 100,000 cars because of a defect in rear motor inverter. Also Read | India: Tesla car spotted in Bengaluru traffic, creates buzz on social media Last month, Tesla also recalled more than two million cars in the US and Canada over risks found associated with its autopilot feature. China, the biggest air polluter in the world, has been supporting electric car sales, including hybrid vehicles. The government has offered many subsidies to manufacturers with an aim to have majority of cars in the country running on clean energy by the year 2035 (With inputs from agencies)

Another Tesla recall: EV maker to recall million plus cars in China over software problem

Infosys co-founder and former CEO Narayana Murthy expressed regret over his decision in the 1980s to not let his wife Sudha Murty join Infosys by stating that family members should not join enterprises launched by a fellow family member.

Murthy said that he has changed his position now.

"I was wrong. Now I don’t believe in this. I think what I was doing those days was wrong. I was wrongly idealistic and in some ways, I think, I was influenced a lot by the environment of those days," Murthy told CNBC-TV18.

Also watch |&nbsp;Akshata Murty loses $61 million in a day after Infosys stocks tumble

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In 2023, Murthy's candid remark that the youth of the nation should work at least 70 hours a week to boost the country's cumulative work productivity, had caused spirited debate in and beyond the internet.&nbsp;

Murthy also explained why he believes that working&nbsp;70 hours a week is right.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/it-billionaire-narayana-murthy-suggests-70-hour-work-week-for-indian-youth-and-internet-has-this-to-say-651689">IT billionaire Narayana Murthy suggests 70-hour work week for Indian youth, and internet has this to say</a>

Murthy told CNBC-TV18, "I rationalised it this way. If anybody has performed much better than me in their own field, not necessarily in my field, I would respect, I would call them, and I would say, where do you think I was wrong in saying this? But I didn't find it. A lot of my Western friends, a lot of NRIs, and a lot of good people in India called me, and without exception, they were all very happy. They all said whether it is 70 or 60, that's not the issue."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/a-70-hours-work-week-is-nonsense-but-lets-not-mock-the-idea-of-hard-work-652639">A 70-hour work week is nonsense but let's not mock the idea of hard work</a>

Further emphasising&nbsp;on the issue he&nbsp;said, "The issue is that we have to work hard in this country because the poor farmer works very hard. You know, the poor factory worker works very hard. So, therefore, those of us who received education at a huge discount, thanks to the subsidy from the government for all this education. In my case, I got a scholarship, right from the university. So we owe it to the less fortunate citizens of India to work extremely hard."

(With inputs from agencies)

Infosys co-founder and former CEO Narayana Murthy expressed regret over his decision in the 1980s to not let his wife Sudha Murty join Infosys by stating that family members should not join enterprises launched by a fellow family member.

Infosys co-founder and former CEO Narayana Murthy expressed regret over his decision in the 1980s to not let his wife Sudha Murty join Infosys by stating that family members should not join enterprises launched by a fellow family member. Murthy said that he has changed his position now. "I was wrong. Now I don’t believe in this. I think what I was doing those days was wrong. I was wrongly idealistic and in some ways, I think, I was influenced a lot by the environment of those days," Murthy told CNBC-TV18. Also watch | Akshata Murty loses $61 million in a day after Infosys stocks tumble × In 2023, Murthy's candid remark that the youth of the nation should work at least 70 hours a week to boost the country's cumulative work productivity, had caused spirited debate in and beyond the internet. Murthy also explained why he believes that working 70 hours a week is right. Also read | IT billionaire Narayana Murthy suggests 70-hour work week for Indian youth, and internet has this to say Murthy told CNBC-TV18, "I rationalised it this way. If anybody has performed much better than me in their own field, not necessarily in my field, I would respect, I would call them, and I would say, where do you think I was wrong in saying this? But I didn't find it. A lot of my Western friends, a lot of NRIs, and a lot of good people in India called me, and without exception, they were all very happy. They all said whether it is 70 or 60, that's not the issue." Also read | A 70-hour work week is nonsense but let's not mock the idea of hard work Further emphasising on the issue he said, "The issue is that we have to work hard in this country because the poor farmer works very hard. You know, the poor factory worker works very hard. So, therefore, those of us who received education at a huge discount, thanks to the subsidy from the government for all this education. In my case, I got a scholarship, right from the university. So we owe it to the less fortunate citizens of India to work extremely hard." (With inputs from agencies)

Narayana Murthy says he was 'wrongly idealistic' to not allow wife Sudha Murty work at Infosys

Elon Musk and his aerospace company SpaceX are regularly in news for their Starlink constellation of satellites, literally thousands of which are in orbit around the Earth right now. But January 2, 2024 marked the start of a new chapter for the company as it launched its first satellites that will facilitate 'Direct-to-cell' capability. Read on to know more.

The first six satellites facilitating this capability were launched on at 10:44 pm EST on January 2. The satellites have been deployed, and&nbsp;when they gradually become fully operational over the years 2024-2025, they will act as 'cell-phone towers in the sky' which will be a major step towards Starlink's plan to make connectivity available 'wherever you see the sky'.

Cell phones with LTE capability will be able to make use of the Direct to Cell technology. A signal directly from a satellite would mean that chances of you getting a network 'everywhere' increase considerably.

Watch | Gravitas | Space wars: China's counter to Musk's Starlink

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On its website, Starlink has said that its satellites have an advanced eNodeB modem which enable it to be a cellphone tower in space.

“This launch will include the first six Starlink satellites with Direct to Cell capabilities that will enable mobile network operators around the world to provide seamless global access to texting, calling, and browsing wherever you may be on land, lakes, or coastal waters." said Starlink before the launch of the satellites.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isro-to-tie-up-with-elon-musks-spacex-to-launch-satellite-676290">ISRO to tie up with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to launch satellite</a>

It has been reported in media that the satellites will begin providing text function this year and that voice, data an IOT services will be made available from 2025.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/after-elon-musks-takeover-x-has-lost-71-per-cent-of-its-value-report-676194">After Elon Musk’s takeover, X has lost 71 per cent of its value: Report</a>

The biggest benefit of Direct to Cell technology is that it will help provide connectivity in rural, underdeveloped and hard to reach areas where establishing a traditional communications network is challenging due to factors like geography etc. For example, if a village or a settlement high up a mountain isn't able to access even the basic communication tools, space-based internet and phone service will allow the people there to gain connectivity.

(With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk and his aerospace company SpaceX are regularly in news for their Starlink constellation of satellites, literally thousands of which are in orbit around the Earth right now.

Elon Musk and his aerospace company SpaceX are regularly in news for their Starlink constellation of satellites, literally thousands of which are in orbit around the Earth right now. But January 2, 2024 marked the start of a new chapter for the company as it launched its first satellites that will facilitate 'Direct-to-cell' capability. Read on to know more. The first six satellites facilitating this capability were launched on at 10:44 pm EST on January 2. The satellites have been deployed, and when they gradually become fully operational over the years 2024-2025, they will act as 'cell-phone towers in the sky' which will be a major step towards Starlink's plan to make connectivity available 'wherever you see the sky'. Cell phones with LTE capability will be able to make use of the Direct to Cell technology. A signal directly from a satellite would mean that chances of you getting a network 'everywhere' increase considerably. Watch | Gravitas | Space wars: China's counter to Musk's Starlink × On its website, Starlink has said that its satellites have an advanced eNodeB modem which enable it to be a cellphone tower in space. “This launch will include the first six Starlink satellites with Direct to Cell capabilities that will enable mobile network operators around the world to provide seamless global access to texting, calling, and browsing wherever you may be on land, lakes, or coastal waters." said Starlink before the launch of the satellites. Also Read | ISRO to tie up with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to launch satellite It has been reported in media that the satellites will begin providing text function this year and that voice, data an IOT services will be made available from 2025. Also Read | After Elon Musk’s takeover, X has lost 71 per cent of its value: Report The biggest benefit of Direct to Cell technology is that it will help provide connectivity in rural, underdeveloped and hard to reach areas where establishing a traditional communications network is challenging due to factors like geography etc. For example, if a village or a settlement high up a mountain isn't able to access even the basic communication tools, space-based internet and phone service will allow the people there to gain connectivity. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk's SpaceX launches Direct-to-Cell satellites. Know more

Microsoft on Thursday (Jan&nbsp;4) announced first major change to Windows keyboard in last three decades as it said that a new AI button, linked to Microsoft Copilot, will be added in laptops and other devices that will roll out in near future. The button will be called the Copilot key and will be placed to the right of the space bar. When pressed, it will activate the Copilot service which Microsoft released recently.

The AI service will help people in variety of tasks like summarising information in a document, answering your queries which you would ask a search engine, recommending music and much more.

"We believe it will empower people to participate in the AI transformation more easily," Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's executive vice president and consumer chief marketing officer, wrote in a blog post published Thursday. "The new key will invoke the Copilot in Windows experience to make it seamless to engage Copilot in your day to day."&nbsp;

Watch | The New York times takes legal action against OpenAI &amp; Microsoft

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Microsoft has been gung-ho about artificial intelligence. It is a major backer of OpenAI, the tech firm behind the blockbuster ChatGPT chatbot which started the AI fascination of the masses in the first place.

Addition of a dedicated AI key is likely to be seen as Microsoft's greater commitment in moving towards the tech.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-solve-mystery-of-how-diamonds-erupt-from-earths-surface-heres-what-they-found-676568">Scientists solve mystery of how diamonds erupt from Earth's surface. Here's what they found</a>

The tech giant has also incorporated generative AI in some of its products. Windows 11 and Microsoft's search engine Bing already have this aspect.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spacex-fired-employees-for-criticising-musk-calling-him-distraction-and-embarrassment-676510">SpaceX fired employees for criticising Musk as 'distraction and embarrassment', US labour agency</a>

The Copilot button is expected to be present in first wave of upcoming Windows 11 laptops and PCs of companies Microsoft has partnered with. Microsoft has hinted that February and following months will see greater release of devices with the Copilot button.

"This [new button] will not only simplify people's computing experience but also amplify it, making 2024 the year of the AI PC," Mehdi wrote.

(With inputs from agencies)

Microsoft on Thursday (Jan 4) announced first major change to Windows keyboard in last three decades as it said that a new AI button, linked to Microsoft Copilot, will be added in laptops and other devices that will roll out in near future.

Microsoft on Thursday (Jan 4) announced first major change to Windows keyboard in last three decades as it said that a new AI button, linked to Microsoft Copilot, will be added in laptops and other devices that will roll out in near future. The button will be called the Copilot key and will be placed to the right of the space bar. When pressed, it will activate the Copilot service which Microsoft released recently. The AI service will help people in variety of tasks like summarising information in a document, answering your queries which you would ask a search engine, recommending music and much more. "We believe it will empower people to participate in the AI transformation more easily," Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's executive vice president and consumer chief marketing officer, wrote in a blog post published Thursday. "The new key will invoke the Copilot in Windows experience to make it seamless to engage Copilot in your day to day." Watch | The New York times takes legal action against OpenAI & Microsoft × Microsoft has been gung-ho about artificial intelligence. It is a major backer of OpenAI, the tech firm behind the blockbuster ChatGPT chatbot which started the AI fascination of the masses in the first place. Addition of a dedicated AI key is likely to be seen as Microsoft's greater commitment in moving towards the tech. Also Read | Scientists solve mystery of how diamonds erupt from Earth's surface. Here's what they found The tech giant has also incorporated generative AI in some of its products. Windows 11 and Microsoft's search engine Bing already have this aspect. Also Read | SpaceX fired employees for criticising Musk as 'distraction and embarrassment', US labour agency The Copilot button is expected to be present in first wave of upcoming Windows 11 laptops and PCs of companies Microsoft has partnered with. Microsoft has hinted that February and following months will see greater release of devices with the Copilot button. "This [new button] will not only simplify people's computing experience but also amplify it, making 2024 the year of the AI PC," Mehdi wrote. (With inputs from agencies)

Microsoft to add Copilot AI button to Windows keyboards in first such move in decades

Elon Musk's X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday failed in its bid to block a California state law that makes it mandatory for social media companies to publicly disclose how they moderate content on their platforms.

In September, Musk's microblogging platform sued California seeking to undo the content moderation law, however, a judge dismissed the request.

<h2>The law and X's argument against it</h2>

California's content moderation law requires social media companies with a sizeable gross annual revenue to issue semi-annual reports describing their content moderation practices. It also requires them to provide data on the number of objectionable posts moderated and how they were addressed.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-surge-in-pet-surgeries-to-resemble-mickey-mouse-ears-raises-alarms-674446">Concerns mount as China witnesses surge in pet surgeries to mimic 'Mickey Mouse ears'</a>

However, the social media website argues that the California law infringes upon its free speech rights under the US Constitution's First Amendment and California's state constitution.

<h2>The Judge's ruling</h2>

In the eight-page decision, US District Judge William Shubb dismissed X's request and said: "While the reporting requirement does appear to place a substantial compliance burden on social media companies, it does not appear that the requirement is unjustified or unduly burdensome within the context of First Amendment law."

Shubb, as per Reuters, also held the "terms of service" requirement as integral and said that their presence could be a major deciding factor for users.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/microsofts-steve-ballmer-to-be-paid-usd-1-billion-in-2024-for-doing-nothing-674491">Microsoft's Steve Ballmer to be paid USD 1 billion in 2024 for 'doing nothing': Report</a>

The "terms of service requirement" mandates a social media company to post the contact information users can use to ask questions about terms of service. A description of the process users must follow to flag content; and a list of potential actions the platform may take against objectionable content or the user posting it.&nbsp;

Following the start of the ongoing war in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas, social media platforms, including X were flooded with fake images and misleading information.

Since Elon Musk's takeover of the social media giant in October 2022, X has been under fire for its moderation rules. Many major advertisers have even paused their advertisements on the platform due to this.&nbsp;

Elon Musk's X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday failed in its bid to block a California state law that makes it mandatory for social media companies to publicly disclose how they moderate content on their platforms.

Elon Musk's X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday failed in its bid to block a California state law that makes it mandatory for social media companies to publicly disclose how they moderate content on their platforms. In September, Musk's microblogging platform sued California seeking to undo the content moderation law, however, a judge dismissed the request. The law and X's argument against it California's content moderation law requires social media companies with a sizeable gross annual revenue to issue semi-annual reports describing their content moderation practices. It also requires them to provide data on the number of objectionable posts moderated and how they were addressed. Also read | Concerns mount as China witnesses surge in pet surgeries to mimic 'Mickey Mouse ears' However, the social media website argues that the California law infringes upon its free speech rights under the US Constitution's First Amendment and California's state constitution. The Judge's ruling In the eight-page decision, US District Judge William Shubb dismissed X's request and said: "While the reporting requirement does appear to place a substantial compliance burden on social media companies, it does not appear that the requirement is unjustified or unduly burdensome within the context of First Amendment law." Shubb, as per Reuters, also held the "terms of service" requirement as integral and said that their presence could be a major deciding factor for users. Also read | Microsoft's Steve Ballmer to be paid USD 1 billion in 2024 for 'doing nothing': Report The "terms of service requirement" mandates a social media company to post the contact information users can use to ask questions about terms of service. A description of the process users must follow to flag content; and a list of potential actions the platform may take against objectionable content or the user posting it. Following the start of the ongoing war in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas, social media platforms, including X were flooded with fake images and misleading information. Since Elon Musk's takeover of the social media giant in October 2022, X has been under fire for its moderation rules. Many major advertisers have even paused their advertisements on the platform due to this.

Elon Musk's X fails in its bid to block California's content moderation law

The sales ban on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 has been lifted for now, days after the ban was enforced due to a patent dispute. The development comes after a US federal appeals court ordered a halt on the import and sales ban for the two wearable Apple products.

"The motion for an interim stay is granted to the extent that the Remedial Orders are temporarily stayed and the government is directed not to enforce the Remedial Orders until further notice while the court considers the motion for a stay pending appeal," read an order by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in the case titled Apple Inc. Vs International Trade Commission.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/biden-administration-allows-apple-watch-import-ban-in-us-following-tribunal-ruling-673768">Biden administration allows Apple Watch import ban in US following tribunal ruling</a>

Apple stopped selling the Series 9 and Ultra 2 from its online stores on December 21 and pulled the watches from its physical retail locations on December 24.

<h2>Why the repeal of ban is temporary?</h2>

The repeal of ban on these Apple products is temporary after Apple requested that the ban should be lifted until US customs determine if changes made to Apple Watch are enough to avoid the patent dispute.&nbsp;

The US customs is likely to issue its decision on January 12, The Verge reported.

<h2>What does it mean?</h2>

Apple is now allowed to sell the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 until January 10. It means that Apple can continue selling its two latest Apple Watch models during the ongoing holiday season.

<h2>About Apple Watch ban&nbsp;</h2>

Apple was banned from selling and importing both watches due to a patent dispute with the medical device maker Masimo.&nbsp;

The US International Trade Commission found that Apple had infringed Masimo patents. The body enforced a sales ban as a result.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;What's next after the US Apple Watch import ban?

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The third-party retailers were allowed to continue selling through their existing Apple Watch stock. However, Apple on its own was prohibited from selling its own or bringing new watches into the country.

(With inputs from agencies)

The sales ban on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 has been lifted for now, days after the ban was enforced due to a patent dispute. The development comes after a US federal appeals court ordered a halt on the import and sales ban for the two wearable Apple products.

The sales ban on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 has been lifted for now, days after the ban was enforced due to a patent dispute. The development comes after a US federal appeals court ordered a halt on the import and sales ban for the two wearable Apple products. "The motion for an interim stay is granted to the extent that the Remedial Orders are temporarily stayed and the government is directed not to enforce the Remedial Orders until further notice while the court considers the motion for a stay pending appeal," read an order by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in the case titled Apple Inc. Vs International Trade Commission. Also read | Biden administration allows Apple Watch import ban in US following tribunal ruling Apple stopped selling the Series 9 and Ultra 2 from its online stores on December 21 and pulled the watches from its physical retail locations on December 24. Why the repeal of ban is temporary? The repeal of ban on these Apple products is temporary after Apple requested that the ban should be lifted until US customs determine if changes made to Apple Watch are enough to avoid the patent dispute. The US customs is likely to issue its decision on January 12, The Verge reported. What does it mean? Apple is now allowed to sell the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 until January 10. It means that Apple can continue selling its two latest Apple Watch models during the ongoing holiday season. About Apple Watch ban Apple was banned from selling and importing both watches due to a patent dispute with the medical device maker Masimo. The US International Trade Commission found that Apple had infringed Masimo patents. The body enforced a sales ban as a result. Also watch | What's next after the US Apple Watch import ban? × The third-party retailers were allowed to continue selling through their existing Apple Watch stock. However, Apple on its own was prohibited from selling its own or bringing new watches into the country. (With inputs from agencies)

Apple Watch ban paused in major holiday-season relief for tech giant

President Joe Biden administration in the US has refused to reverse a government tribunal's decision to impose ban on Apple Watches. Reuters reported that US Trade Representative Katherine Tai decided not to veto import ban on Apple's Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches. The order of import ban has been passed by US International Trade Commission (ITC) following a complaint from Massimo, a medical monitoring tech company. The company has accused Apple of stealing its pulse oximetry technology and hiring away its employees.

ITC's order on import ban has gone into effect on Tuesday (Dec 26). Apple has decided to appeal the ban in US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington. The tech giant had previously made a request to ITC to pause the ban during the appeal process. The request has been rejected.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/chinas-ban-on-apples-iphone-accelerates-670281">China's ban on Apple's iPhone accelerates</a>

After ITC's decision, Apple has paused selling Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the US. However, the watches were on sale on platforms of other retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy as of Tuesday.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-samsung-india-now-issues-security-warning-for-users-of-apple-iphone-other-products-670225">After Samsung, India now issues security warnings for users of iPhone, other Apple products</a>

The order does not affect the smartwatches which are already sold. It also does not apply to the sale of Apple Watch SE, which is a less expensive model.

<h2>'Manoeuvre to clear path'</h2>

Apple claims that Masimo's legal action is just a "manoeuvre to clear a path" so that the company can introduce its own smartwatch to compete with Apple.

Apple has also sued Masimo for patent infringement in federal court in Delaware.

In the US, a presidential administration has not reversed ITC's ruling since the year 2013. At the time, administration led by president Barack Obama overturned import ban on Apple iPhones during the tech giant's patent dispute with Samsung.

Watch | Report: Apple talking to publishers to develop gen AI systems

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In February this year Biden administration declined to veto import ban on Apple Watches in a separate case. This patent infringement case was brought by medical technology company AliveCor.

Apple's wearables form a sizeable chunk of the company's revenue. As per figures release previously by Apple, the wearables accounted for USD 8.28 billion in revenue in third quarter of 2023 alone.

(With inputs from agencies)

President Joe Biden administration in the US has refused to reverse a government tribunal's decision to impose ban on Apple Watches. Reuters reported that US Trade Representative Katherine Tai decided not to veto import ban on Apple's Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches.

President Joe Biden administration in the US has refused to reverse a government tribunal's decision to impose ban on Apple Watches. Reuters reported that US Trade Representative Katherine Tai decided not to veto import ban on Apple's Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches. The order of import ban has been passed by US International Trade Commission (ITC) following a complaint from Massimo, a medical monitoring tech company. The company has accused Apple of stealing its pulse oximetry technology and hiring away its employees. ITC's order on import ban has gone into effect on Tuesday (Dec 26). Apple has decided to appeal the ban in US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington. The tech giant had previously made a request to ITC to pause the ban during the appeal process. The request has been rejected. Also Read | China's ban on Apple's iPhone accelerates After ITC's decision, Apple has paused selling Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the US. However, the watches were on sale on platforms of other retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy as of Tuesday. Also Read | After Samsung, India now issues security warnings for users of iPhone, other Apple products The order does not affect the smartwatches which are already sold. It also does not apply to the sale of Apple Watch SE, which is a less expensive model. 'Manoeuvre to clear path' Apple claims that Masimo's legal action is just a "manoeuvre to clear a path" so that the company can introduce its own smartwatch to compete with Apple. Apple has also sued Masimo for patent infringement in federal court in Delaware. In the US, a presidential administration has not reversed ITC's ruling since the year 2013. At the time, administration led by president Barack Obama overturned import ban on Apple iPhones during the tech giant's patent dispute with Samsung. Watch | Report: Apple talking to publishers to develop gen AI systems × In February this year Biden administration declined to veto import ban on Apple Watches in a separate case. This patent infringement case was brought by medical technology company AliveCor. Apple's wearables form a sizeable chunk of the company's revenue. As per figures release previously by Apple, the wearables accounted for USD 8.28 billion in revenue in third quarter of 2023 alone. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden administration allows Apple Watch import ban in US following tribunal ruling

The year 2023 stands at the crossroads in the progression and influence of deepfake technology. Once only in the hands of a handful of tech wizards, today, deepfake has become a tool of exploitation for many. Not only has it reshaped public discourse but has also instigated confusion, hurt sentiments, maligned and tarnished people, led to frauds, and challenged the very essence of truth in the digital era. Most strikingly, even the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not spared by deepfake. The songs 'sung by him' are a viral rage on social media.

Deepfake technology poses a serious threat to democracy, global harmony, personal privacy, and the overall functioning of the world.

"Deepfakes, along with shallow fakes, causing replicated images and audio, pose significant risks on both social and financial dimensions. It's crucial to note that while AI-generated deepfakes are the primary focus, manually manipulated shallow fakes are equally important to detect and mitigate risks. Additionally, audio fakes are becoming equally risky, especially those used for fraudulent bank transactions,"&nbsp;Dr Srinivas Padmanabhuni, Cofounder and CTO at AIEnsured, an AI validation and compliance company, told WION.&nbsp;

The use of affordable AI tools has led to a sharp increase in deepfake videos, rising more than fivefold (550 percent) since 2019, as reported in <a href="https://www.homesecurityheroes.com/state-of-deepfakes/">the 2023 State of Deepfakes</a>.

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Data source: Home security heroes: 2023 state of deepfakes&nbsp;

An alarming 98 per cent of all deepfake videos contain explicit content, with 99 per cent of them targeting women. This troubling trend has been evident in various incidents throughout the year.

The Bollywood film industry found itself entangled in deepfake controversies, notably featuring actress Rashmika Mandanna, whose visage was seamlessly blended with that of an&nbsp;influencer. Parallel incidents involving actresses Alia Bhatt, Kajol, Aishwarya Rai, and Katrina Kaif raised alarms regarding the violation of privacy.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-explained-what-are-deepfakes-and-how-to-spot-them-655753">Also read |&nbsp;Explained | What are deepfakes and how to spot them?</a>

Deepfake assaults transcended mere entertainment and privacy qualms to exert an impact on geopolitical dynamics.

In November, Russian entities disseminated a deepfake portraying Ukraine's top general, Zaluzhny Valery Fedorovich, denouncing President Vladimir Zelenskyy and advocating for a coup in Kyiv. Another disconcerting episode involved a doctored video of Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing an all-out war against Ukraine, broadcasted on Russian television, exacerbating geopolitical tensions.

Deepfakes are changing the political story game, influencing events such as the presidential elections in Argentina and assembly elections in India. In the Israel-Hamas conflict, a high-tech deepfake video featuring Jordanian Queen Rania Al Abdullah supporting Israel is again an example of how deepfakes can be used as a potent tool in shaping perceptions during regional conflicts.

Also watch |&nbsp;Indian Celebs vs Deepfakes

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In the realm of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sounded a note of caution, advocating for a global framework regulating artificial intelligence, with the Indian government devising legislation to address the deepfake predicament.

"The government should take steps to formulate laws of strict nature on detection and work towards strict penalties and strict time-bound actions to remove such content or block it. Alongside the regulations, they should invest in a massive evangelisation campaign to raise awareness of these fakes. Free distribution by the government of detection software would be a great help," Dr&nbsp;Padmanabhuni noted.

The year 2023 stands at the crossroads in the progression and influence of deepfake technology. Once only in the hands of a handful of tech wizards, today, deepfake has become a tool of exploitation for many.

The year 2023 stands at the crossroads in the progression and influence of deepfake technology. Once only in the hands of a handful of tech wizards, today, deepfake has become a tool of exploitation for many. Not only has it reshaped public discourse but has also instigated confusion, hurt sentiments, maligned and tarnished people, led to frauds, and challenged the very essence of truth in the digital era. Most strikingly, even the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not spared by deepfake. The songs 'sung by him' are a viral rage on social media. Deepfake technology poses a serious threat to democracy, global harmony, personal privacy, and the overall functioning of the world. "Deepfakes, along with shallow fakes, causing replicated images and audio, pose significant risks on both social and financial dimensions. It's crucial to note that while AI-generated deepfakes are the primary focus, manually manipulated shallow fakes are equally important to detect and mitigate risks. Additionally, audio fakes are becoming equally risky, especially those used for fraudulent bank transactions," Dr Srinivas Padmanabhuni, Cofounder and CTO at AIEnsured, an AI validation and compliance company, told WION. The use of affordable AI tools has led to a sharp increase in deepfake videos, rising more than fivefold (550 percent) since 2019, as reported in the 2023 State of Deepfakes. Data source: Home security heroes: 2023 state of deepfakes An alarming 98 per cent of all deepfake videos contain explicit content, with 99 per cent of them targeting women. This troubling trend has been evident in various incidents throughout the year. The Bollywood film industry found itself entangled in deepfake controversies, notably featuring actress Rashmika Mandanna, whose visage was seamlessly blended with that of an influencer. Parallel incidents involving actresses Alia Bhatt, Kajol, Aishwarya Rai, and Katrina Kaif raised alarms regarding the violation of privacy. Also read | Explained | What are deepfakes and how to spot them? Deepfake assaults transcended mere entertainment and privacy qualms to exert an impact on geopolitical dynamics. In November, Russian entities disseminated a deepfake portraying Ukraine's top general, Zaluzhny Valery Fedorovich, denouncing President Vladimir Zelenskyy and advocating for a coup in Kyiv. Another disconcerting episode involved a doctored video of Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing an all-out war against Ukraine, broadcasted on Russian television, exacerbating geopolitical tensions. Deepfakes are changing the political story game, influencing events such as the presidential elections in Argentina and assembly elections in India. In the Israel-Hamas conflict, a high-tech deepfake video featuring Jordanian Queen Rania Al Abdullah supporting Israel is again an example of how deepfakes can be used as a potent tool in shaping perceptions during regional conflicts. Also watch | Indian Celebs vs Deepfakes In the realm of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sounded a note of caution, advocating for a global framework regulating artificial intelligence, with the Indian government devising legislation to address the deepfake predicament. "The government should take steps to formulate laws of strict nature on detection and work towards strict penalties and strict time-bound actions to remove such content or block it. Alongside the regulations, they should invest in a massive evangelisation campaign to raise awareness of these fakes. Free distribution by the government of detection software would be a great help," Dr Padmanabhuni noted.

Data Lab | Deepfake onslaught in 2023: The year nobody could dodge the fake, including PM Modi

An 18-year-old hacker in the United Kingdom (UK), who leaked 90 clips of the yet-to-be-released Grand Theft Auto VI, was handed an indefinite hospital order on Thursday (Dec 21).

An 18-year-old hacker in the United Kingdom (UK), who leaked 90 clips of the yet-to-be-released Grand Theft Auto VI, was handed an indefinite hospital order on Thursday (Dec 21). According to a statement by City of London Police, "18-year-old Arion Kurtaj of Oxfordshire was given a restricted hospital order for an unlimited period under sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and section 5 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1964." "He was handed the order at the same court after a jury found that he had acted to commit numerous computer misuse, fraud, and blackmail offences," the statement added. The police also urged parents to be aware of their children's internet usage. As per the hospital order, Kurtaj would have an 18-month supervision requirement, a six-month rehabilitation requirement, and a three-month intensive supervision and surveillance requirement. Kurtaj carried out hacks while in police protection A report by The Guardian on Thursday said that Kurtaj was on bail for hacking Nvidia and BT/EE and also in police protection at a hotel when he continued his hacking and breached Rockstar Games, the company that makes GTA. The report said that despite having his laptop confiscated, the 18-year-old carried out his hacks using an Amazon Firestick, his hotel television, and a mobile phone. After breaking into Rockstar Games' Slack messaging channel, he said, "If Rockstar does not contact me on Telegram within 24 hours I will start releasing the source code.” Kurtaj was a part of the Lapsus$ hacking group, and he posted the GTA VI clips and source code on a forum. The court's verdict On Thursday, a Southwark crown court heard that Kurtaj would remain at a secure hospital for life unless doctors deemed him no longer a danger. The court heard that Kurtaj had been violent while in custody, with reports of injury or property damage. Doctors deemed him unfit to stand trial due to his acute autism. The jury was asked to determine whether or not the 18-year-old committed the alleged acts, not if he did so with criminal intent, The Guardian further reported. (With inputs from agencies)

British hacker responsible for GTA VI leaks handed indefinite hospital order

Microsoft on Thursday (Dec 21), shelved "mixed reality" from from Windows. The feature, unrolled through a Windows 10 update in the year 2017 allowed users to tap into augmented and virtual reality technologies with the help of a mixed reality portal app and compatible VR headsets.

The tech giant uses the term mixed reality to refer to software that blends both augmented and virtual reality. There is however, slight difference between the two.

Augmented reality overlays text, sounds, graphics and video on real-world images that users see. Virtual reality provides an immersive experience to users in an artificial world by creating computer-generated experiences.

"Windows mixed reality is deprecated and will be removed in a future release of Windows," Microsoft said.

Last year, Business Insider reported that Microsoft junked plans for HoloLens 3. The move by the tech giant was seen to spell the end of augmented reality headsets in that form.

Previously, when Microsoft was seen to be taking interest in augmented and virtual reality space, companies like Acer, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, HP, and Samsung, began making their mixed reality headsets compatible with Microsoft's platform.

However, Microsoft later began to downsize its virtual reality division. Last year, HoloLens head Alex Kipman left the company after allegations of sexual misconduct were levelled against him. Later on, Microsoft cut 10,000 jobs. This had an effect on the company's mixed reality projects including AltspaceVR app which is now discontinued.

Microsoft does not appear to have pulled the plug on mixed reality completely as the company continues to work on other applications of VR like Microsoft Mesh app. The app will soon let co-workers in a company meet each other in a virtual space without the need of a headset.

In addition to this, Microsoft has also started allowing Quest users access to Office apps and Xbox Cloud Gaming platform.

(With inputs from agencies)

Microsoft on Thursday (Dec 21), shelved "mixed reality" from from Windows. The feature, unrolled through a Windows 10 update in the year 2017 allowed users to tap into augmented and virtual reality technologies with the help of a mixed reality portal app and compatible VR headsets.

Microsoft on Thursday (Dec 21), shelved "mixed reality" from from Windows. The feature, unrolled through a Windows 10 update in the year 2017 allowed users to tap into augmented and virtual reality technologies with the help of a mixed reality portal app and compatible VR headsets. The tech giant uses the term mixed reality to refer to software that blends both augmented and virtual reality. There is however, slight difference between the two. Augmented reality overlays text, sounds, graphics and video on real-world images that users see. Virtual reality provides an immersive experience to users in an artificial world by creating computer-generated experiences. "Windows mixed reality is deprecated and will be removed in a future release of Windows," Microsoft said. Last year, Business Insider reported that Microsoft junked plans for HoloLens 3. The move by the tech giant was seen to spell the end of augmented reality headsets in that form. Previously, when Microsoft was seen to be taking interest in augmented and virtual reality space, companies like Acer, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, HP, and Samsung, began making their mixed reality headsets compatible with Microsoft's platform. However, Microsoft later began to downsize its virtual reality division. Last year, HoloLens head Alex Kipman left the company after allegations of sexual misconduct were levelled against him. Later on, Microsoft cut 10,000 jobs. This had an effect on the company's mixed reality projects including AltspaceVR app which is now discontinued. Microsoft does not appear to have pulled the plug on mixed reality completely as the company continues to work on other applications of VR like Microsoft Mesh app. The app will soon let co-workers in a company meet each other in a virtual space without the need of a headset. In addition to this, Microsoft has also started allowing Quest users access to Office apps and Xbox Cloud Gaming platform. (With inputs from agencies)

Microsoft junks 'mixed reality' feature from Windows

The United Kingdom is spending millions to develop technology that will lead to bidirectional charging of electric vehicles which in turn, would make them a power source in themselves. The step is being taken to help the country achieve its climate goals.

UK's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 20) that the government has awarded 4.8 million pounds (USD 6.1 million) to four projects that'll work towards developing V2X (vehicle-to-everything) systems.

These four projects are located in London, Chelmsford, Gateshead, and Leatherhead.

The vehicle-to-everything technology will allow owners of electric vehicles to charge them when electricity costs are low according to dynamic pricing and use the energy stored in these vehicles to run home appliances when prices are higher.

Watch | UK: PM Rishi Sunak's 7th by-election since July, to take place in Wellingborough

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In other words, bidirectional charging will allow electric vehicles, which usually take energy from the grid, to also release energy back into the grid. In an extrapolated scenario, by letting vehicle owners use energy from their vehicles for household appliances, the electrical grid saves up on fossil fuel power stations when electricity demand is high.

The funding from the government has come at a time when it is facing mounting calls from the industry to find a solution to the country's energy grid limitations.

It is expected that demand for electricity in the UK will double by 2035 as road transport and domestic heating get&nbsp;increasingly electrified. To meet the increasing electricity demand, networks will have to be upgraded and the generation of electricity boosted further.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-begins-testing-of-hormone-free-male-birth-control-pill-with-16-participants-671874">UK begins testing of hormone-free male birth control pill with 16 participants</a> 
&nbsp; 
Support to develop bidirectional charging technology is expected to help the UK in achieving net-zero emissions by the year 2050. The country is also aiming to end the sale of all new non-zero emission vehicles by the year 2035.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/strong-opioids-which-are-300-times-stronger-than-heroin-infesting-uk-cities-top-cop-671748">Strong opioids which are 300 times stronger than heroin infesting UK cities: Top cop</a>

There is a greater push on the global level to take decisive steps to limit climate change, the ill effects of which have already begun to be evident.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United Kingdom is spending millions to develop technology that will lead to bidirectional charging of electric vehicles which in turn, would make them a power source in themselves.

The United Kingdom is spending millions to develop technology that will lead to bidirectional charging of electric vehicles which in turn, would make them a power source in themselves. The step is being taken to help the country achieve its climate goals. UK's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 20) that the government has awarded 4.8 million pounds (USD 6.1 million) to four projects that'll work towards developing V2X (vehicle-to-everything) systems. These four projects are located in London, Chelmsford, Gateshead, and Leatherhead. The vehicle-to-everything technology will allow owners of electric vehicles to charge them when electricity costs are low according to dynamic pricing and use the energy stored in these vehicles to run home appliances when prices are higher. Watch | UK: PM Rishi Sunak's 7th by-election since July, to take place in Wellingborough × In other words, bidirectional charging will allow electric vehicles, which usually take energy from the grid, to also release energy back into the grid. In an extrapolated scenario, by letting vehicle owners use energy from their vehicles for household appliances, the electrical grid saves up on fossil fuel power stations when electricity demand is high. The funding from the government has come at a time when it is facing mounting calls from the industry to find a solution to the country's energy grid limitations. It is expected that demand for electricity in the UK will double by 2035 as road transport and domestic heating get increasingly electrified. To meet the increasing electricity demand, networks will have to be upgraded and the generation of electricity boosted further. Also Read | UK begins testing of hormone-free male birth control pill with 16 participants Support to develop bidirectional charging technology is expected to help the UK in achieving net-zero emissions by the year 2050. The country is also aiming to end the sale of all new non-zero emission vehicles by the year 2035. Also Read | Strong opioids which are 300 times stronger than heroin infesting UK cities: Top cop There is a greater push on the global level to take decisive steps to limit climate change, the ill effects of which have already begun to be evident. (With inputs from agencies)

UK to fund bidirectional charging tech that'll make EVs a source of power

Artificial Intelligence-based image generators are very popular across the internet. Throughout 2023, AI-generated images went viral, entertaining people. However, in a startling revelation, a study by the Stanford Internet Observatory uncovered&nbsp;thousands of child sexual abuse images hidden inside a depository used to train these AI generators.&nbsp;

The discovery was made among the dataset of the LAION AI database. Researchers reportedly found over 3,200 images of suspected child sexual abuse hidden within the AI database, and more than 1,000 images were confirmed as child sexual abuse material.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/european-research-flags-ai-chatbots-for-providing-false-answers-particularly-on-elections-670063">European research flags AI chatbots for providing false answers, particularly on elections</a>

The analysis was done in collaboration with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection and other anti-abuse charities.&nbsp;

"We find that having possession of a LAION‐5B dataset populated even in late 2023 implies the possession of thousands of illegal images," said the researchers.&nbsp;

<h2>Which AI image generators used this database?</h2>

As per The Guardian, the database was used to train&nbsp;leading AI image-makers like Stable Diffusion.&nbsp;

The report states that many text-to-image generators are in some way derived from the LAION database. However, it goes on to say that exactly which ones use&nbsp;it isn't always clear.

Popular Artificial Intelligence maker OpenAI — behind DALL-E and ChatGPT, denied the use of LAION and said that it had fine-tuned its models to refuse any requests that may involve sexual content involving minors.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/alphabet-says-will-restrict-election-related-queries-on-bard-and-ai-based-search-671759">Alphabet says will restrict election-related queries on Bard and AI-based search</a>

Imagen, a text-to-image model built by Tech giant Google, was built using LAION dataset, however, the company decided against making it public in 2022. This was because an audit of the dataset "uncovered a wide range of inappropriate content, including pornographic imagery, racist slurs, and harmful social stereotypes," reports the publication.&nbsp;

<h2>LAION's response</h2>

LAION, or Large-scale Artificial Intelligence Open Network, a non-profit, swiftly responded by temporarily removing its datasets, emphasising it&nbsp;"has a zero-tolerance policy for illegal content."&nbsp;

It said that "in an abundance of caution, we have taken down the LAION datasets to ensure they are safe before republishing them."&nbsp;

The more than 3,200 images make up merely a fraction of the 5.8 billion images contained in the dataset. However, as per the Stanford researchers, their presence probably influences AI generators' ability to generate harmful outputs.&nbsp;

Such images, they say, facilitate the creation of realistic, explicit imagery, and enable the transformation of social media photos of clothed teens into nudes. In recent days, the latter has been a cause of concern among schools and law enforcement globally.

The Stanford Internet Observatory has advocated for drastic measures, urging those using LAION-5B datasets (containing over 5 billion image-text pairs) to delete or cleanse the material. Additionally, they suggest making older versions, like Stable Diffusion, less accessible, especially if used to generate abusive images without adequate safeguards.

(With inputs from agencies)

Artificial Intelligence-based image generators are very popular across the internet. Throughout 2023, AI-generated images went viral, entertaining people. However, in a startling revelation, a study by the Stanford Internet Observatory uncovered thousands of child sexual abuse images hidden inside a depository used to train these AI generators.

Artificial Intelligence-based image generators are very popular across the internet. Throughout 2023, AI-generated images went viral, entertaining people. However, in a startling revelation, a study by the Stanford Internet Observatory uncovered thousands of child sexual abuse images hidden inside a depository used to train these AI generators. The discovery was made among the dataset of the LAION AI database. Researchers reportedly found over 3,200 images of suspected child sexual abuse hidden within the AI database, and more than 1,000 images were confirmed as child sexual abuse material. Also read | European research flags AI chatbots for providing false answers, particularly on elections The analysis was done in collaboration with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection and other anti-abuse charities. "We find that having possession of a LAION‐5B dataset populated even in late 2023 implies the possession of thousands of illegal images," said the researchers. Which AI image generators used this database? As per The Guardian, the database was used to train leading AI image-makers like Stable Diffusion. The report states that many text-to-image generators are in some way derived from the LAION database. However, it goes on to say that exactly which ones use it isn't always clear. Popular Artificial Intelligence maker OpenAI — behind DALL-E and ChatGPT, denied the use of LAION and said that it had fine-tuned its models to refuse any requests that may involve sexual content involving minors. Also read | Alphabet says will restrict election-related queries on Bard and AI-based search Imagen, a text-to-image model built by Tech giant Google, was built using LAION dataset, however, the company decided against making it public in 2022. This was because an audit of the dataset "uncovered a wide range of inappropriate content, including pornographic imagery, racist slurs, and harmful social stereotypes," reports the publication. LAION's response LAION, or Large-scale Artificial Intelligence Open Network, a non-profit, swiftly responded by temporarily removing its datasets, emphasising it "has a zero-tolerance policy for illegal content." It said that "in an abundance of caution, we have taken down the LAION datasets to ensure they are safe before republishing them." The more than 3,200 images make up merely a fraction of the 5.8 billion images contained in the dataset. However, as per the Stanford researchers, their presence probably influences AI generators' ability to generate harmful outputs. Such images, they say, facilitate the creation of realistic, explicit imagery, and enable the transformation of social media photos of clothed teens into nudes. In recent days, the latter has been a cause of concern among schools and law enforcement globally. The Stanford Internet Observatory has advocated for drastic measures, urging those using LAION-5B datasets (containing over 5 billion image-text pairs) to delete or cleanse the material. Additionally, they suggest making older versions, like Stable Diffusion, less accessible, especially if used to generate abusive images without adequate safeguards. (With inputs from agencies)

Database behind AI-image generators found hiding a dark secret: Child sexual abuse content

Twitter, or X, was facing technical issues in India as the platform stopped refreshing on both web and mobile versions. The social media platform owned by Elon Musk got going after an outage that lasted about an hour.

Users on X, formerly known as Twitter, were unable to view posts on the social media site with a message that said "Welcome to X!"

Users encountered loading issues on X Pro, formerly TweetDeck, with a message that said "Waiting for posts", news agency Reuters reported.

<h2>How big was the X outage?</h2>

Over 77,000 US users faced issues at the peak of the outage, according to Downdetector data.&nbsp;

Users in Canada, Britain, France, India and other countries reported issues with accessing both X and X Pro.

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X, formerly known as Twitter, crashes with timelines disappearing. Mass outages are reported in major Indian cities according to the downdector. <a href="https://t.co/AmKolHWhpu">https://t.co/AmKolHWhpu</a> <a href="https://t.co/HtiwZXbOeR">pic.twitter.com/HtiwZXbOeR</a>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1737715946549371246?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The cause of the outage is not yet known.

The social media platform faced upheaval and uncertainty following Musk's $44 billion acquisition over a year ago, leading to layoffs.

Numerous&nbsp;engineers responsible for fixing and preventing service outages were fired.

Users took to rival Meta's app, Threads, to discuss the outage, citing difficulties in accessing posts, replies and profiles on X.

(With inputs from agencies)

Twitter, or X, was facing technical issues in India as the platform stopped refreshing on both web and mobile versions. The social media platform owned by Elon Musk got going after an outage that lasted about an hour.

Twitter, or X, was facing technical issues in India as the platform stopped refreshing on both web and mobile versions. The social media platform owned by Elon Musk got going after an outage that lasted about an hour. Users on X, formerly known as Twitter, were unable to view posts on the social media site with a message that said "Welcome to X!" Users encountered loading issues on X Pro, formerly TweetDeck, with a message that said "Waiting for posts", news agency Reuters reported. How big was the X outage? Over 77,000 US users faced issues at the peak of the outage, according to Downdetector data. Users in Canada, Britain, France, India and other countries reported issues with accessing both X and X Pro. X, formerly known as Twitter, crashes with timelines disappearing. Mass outages are reported in major Indian cities according to the downdector. https://t.co/AmKolHWhpu pic.twitter.com/HtiwZXbOeR — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 21, 2023 × The cause of the outage is not yet known. The social media platform faced upheaval and uncertainty following Musk's $44 billion acquisition over a year ago, leading to layoffs. Numerous engineers responsible for fixing and preventing service outages were fired. Users took to rival Meta's app, Threads, to discuss the outage, citing difficulties in accessing posts, replies and profiles on X. (With inputs from agencies)

X gets going after global outage that blanked out user timelines

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, said on Tuesday (Dec 19) it would restrict some types of queries related to elections which can be answered by its chatbot Bard and also the generative search. The company has said that the restrictions will come into effect in early 2024.

Some major elections are going to take place next year. Other than US Presidential Election 2024, the year would also see India, the world's largest democracy, choose who will be its prime minister. In addition to this, elections are to be held in South Africa as well.

Alphabet has said that it will "work with an increased focus on the role artificial intelligence (AI) might play".

There already is a global concern about role social media plays to sway opinion of voters during elections. The US has even repeatedly lashed out at Russia and China saying there were attempts from within these countries to influence last two elections.

The arrival of artificial intelligence (AI) tools has further complicated things just as it has fundamentally affected the direction the tech industry would be headed towards.

Watch | Google agrees to $700 mn settlement

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Last year, OpenAI released its blockbuster AI chatbot ChatGPT which made other tech giants hastily launch their own AI products. The ability of these generative tools to create convincing content has raised fears of their misuse, especially in context of elections.

<h2>What are other tech giants doing as election year approaches?</h2>

Facebook owner Meta has said in November that it was barring political campaigns and advertisers in other regulated industries from making use of its generative AI advertising tools.

The tech giant has also said that advertisers will have to disclose information in case they use AI to create or modify advertisements on its platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-to-cough-700mn-as-part-of-antitrust-settlement-week-after-defeat-against-epic-games-671324">Google to cough up $700mn as part of Play Store antitrust settlement, week after defeat against Epic Games</a>

Another major social media platform X (formerly Twitter) said in August this year that candidates in US election and political &nbsp;parties will not be able to post political ads on the platform. The Elon Musk-owned platform also said that it will expand its safety and elections team.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-googles-legal-defeat-against-epic-why-2024-could-be-worst-year-for-us-tech-giant-668904">Explained | Google’s legal defeat against Epic: Why 2024 could be worst year for US tech giant</a>

X, when it was Twitter, had previously banned all political ads in 2019.

AI has been topic of debate in regulatory circles across the world too. Governments are attempting to regulate AI to prevent its misuse and spread of misinformation.

(With inputs from agencies)

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, said on Tuesday (Dec 19) it would restrict some types of queries related to elections which can be answered by its chatbot Bard and also the generative search.

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, said on Tuesday (Dec 19) it would restrict some types of queries related to elections which can be answered by its chatbot Bard and also the generative search. The company has said that the restrictions will come into effect in early 2024. Some major elections are going to take place next year. Other than US Presidential Election 2024, the year would also see India, the world's largest democracy, choose who will be its prime minister. In addition to this, elections are to be held in South Africa as well. Alphabet has said that it will "work with an increased focus on the role artificial intelligence (AI) might play". There already is a global concern about role social media plays to sway opinion of voters during elections. The US has even repeatedly lashed out at Russia and China saying there were attempts from within these countries to influence last two elections. The arrival of artificial intelligence (AI) tools has further complicated things just as it has fundamentally affected the direction the tech industry would be headed towards. Watch | Google agrees to $700 mn settlement × Last year, OpenAI released its blockbuster AI chatbot ChatGPT which made other tech giants hastily launch their own AI products. The ability of these generative tools to create convincing content has raised fears of their misuse, especially in context of elections. What are other tech giants doing as election year approaches? Facebook owner Meta has said in November that it was barring political campaigns and advertisers in other regulated industries from making use of its generative AI advertising tools. The tech giant has also said that advertisers will have to disclose information in case they use AI to create or modify advertisements on its platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Also Read | Google to cough up $700mn as part of Play Store antitrust settlement, week after defeat against Epic Games Another major social media platform X (formerly Twitter) said in August this year that candidates in US election and political parties will not be able to post political ads on the platform. The Elon Musk-owned platform also said that it will expand its safety and elections team. Explained | Google’s legal defeat against Epic: Why 2024 could be worst year for US tech giant X, when it was Twitter, had previously banned all political ads in 2019. AI has been topic of debate in regulatory circles across the world too. Governments are attempting to regulate AI to prevent its misuse and spread of misinformation. (With inputs from agencies)

Alphabet says will restrict election-related queries on Bard and AI-based search

A Japanese space startup has unveiled a rocket that uses liquid methane derived from cow dung.

This is for the first time that liquid biomethane (LBM) has been tested as a rocket fuel, which could pave the way for a green alternative.

Japanese startup, Interstellar Technologies, conducted a 10-second “static fire test” of its Cosmos engine for the ‘Zero rocket’ at the Hokkaido Spaceport.&nbsp;

It also released a video of the test, demonstrating the viability of the fuel, which is clean as well as readily available in abundance.

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Here's a short footage of IST's first static fire test using Liquid Biomethane🚀 <a href="https://t.co/695ld0kGmo">pic.twitter.com/695ld0kGmo</a>
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In a statement released on December 7, the startup said that the rocket was developed through research and developmental efforts by people from Tokyo University and JAXA Space Innovation.

“The number of components has been reduced to one-tenth of conventional engines, fundamentally lowering the manufacturing costs of a rocket engine, estimated to constitute half of the overall expenses," Interstellar stated.

Watch:&nbsp;China gets its forces space combat-ready

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As per the company's release, the ongoing series of static fire tests is poised to enhance the progress in developing and manufacturing a 130kN-class operational model.

The Japanese startup has ambitious plans for the future, which aims to use this innovative rocket engine to launch satellites into low-Earth orbit.

Experts have long shed light on the environmental impact of rocket launches, especially those powered by oxygen and kerosene fuel.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/amateur-trackers-claim-china-has-deployed-6-mysterious-unidentified-objects-in-earth-orbit-671239">Also read:&nbsp;Chinese space plane deployed 6 mysterious `wingmen` in Earth`s orbit: Reports</a>

These launches have been linked to the emission of black soot into the upper atmosphere, where the particles can linger for years.

This contributes to global warming big time, while also posing a threat to the fragile ozone layer.

It must be noted that the concept of harnessing methane derived from cow dung as a fuel source is not new but farmers around the world already use it to heat their homes.

However, it is for the first time that the fuel is being considered for powering a space rocket, showcasing the versatility of cow dung as a sustainable resource.

The successful test of the Zero rocket engine indeed heralds a new era in space exploration, which could even pave the way for economic space tourism in the future.

(With inputs from agencies)

A Japanese space startup has unveiled a rocket that uses liquid methane derived from cow dung. This is for the first time that liquid biomethane (LBM) has been tested as a rocket fuel, which could pave the way for a green alternative.

A Japanese space startup has unveiled a rocket that uses liquid methane derived from cow dung. This is for the first time that liquid biomethane (LBM) has been tested as a rocket fuel, which could pave the way for a green alternative. Japanese startup, Interstellar Technologies, conducted a 10-second “static fire test” of its Cosmos engine for the ‘Zero rocket’ at the Hokkaido Spaceport. It also released a video of the test, demonstrating the viability of the fuel, which is clean as well as readily available in abundance. ／ Breaking news from the test stand🔥 ＼ Here's a short footage of IST's first static fire test using Liquid Biomethane🚀 pic.twitter.com/695ld0kGmo — Interstellar Technologies (@istellartech_en) December 7, 2023 × In a statement released on December 7, the startup said that the rocket was developed through research and developmental efforts by people from Tokyo University and JAXA Space Innovation. “The number of components has been reduced to one-tenth of conventional engines, fundamentally lowering the manufacturing costs of a rocket engine, estimated to constitute half of the overall expenses," Interstellar stated. Watch: China gets its forces space combat-ready × As per the company's release, the ongoing series of static fire tests is poised to enhance the progress in developing and manufacturing a 130kN-class operational model. The Japanese startup has ambitious plans for the future, which aims to use this innovative rocket engine to launch satellites into low-Earth orbit. Experts have long shed light on the environmental impact of rocket launches, especially those powered by oxygen and kerosene fuel. Also read: Chinese space plane deployed 6 mysterious `wingmen` in Earth`s orbit: Reports These launches have been linked to the emission of black soot into the upper atmosphere, where the particles can linger for years. This contributes to global warming big time, while also posing a threat to the fragile ozone layer. It must be noted that the concept of harnessing methane derived from cow dung as a fuel source is not new but farmers around the world already use it to heat their homes. However, it is for the first time that the fuel is being considered for powering a space rocket, showcasing the versatility of cow dung as a sustainable resource. The successful test of the Zero rocket engine indeed heralds a new era in space exploration, which could even pave the way for economic space tourism in the future. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Japanese space startup conducts groundbreaking test of cow dung-powered rocket

Researchers in Australia are building the world's first brain-scale computer which will go online next year. According to a report by NewScientist last Tuesday (Dec 12), the supercomputer called DeepSouth is being built by the International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems (ICNS) in Sydney in partnership with Intel and Dell.

Researchers in Australia are building the world's first brain-scale computer which will go online next year. According to a report by NewScientist last Tuesday (Dec 12), the supercomputer called DeepSouth is being built by the International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems (ICNS) in Sydney in partnership with Intel and Dell. The supercomputer would be built at the Western Sydney University. Unlike normal computers, DeepSouth's hardware chips are designed to implement spiking neural networks, which model the way synapses process information in the brain, the report said. The report added that neuromorphic computers (similar to DeepSouth) have been built earlier but DeepSouth would be the largest yet. This supercomputer would be capable of 228 trillion synaptic operations per second which is on par with an estimated number of synaptic operations in a human brain. How will DeepSouth be helpful? Speaking to NewScientist, ICNS member and project lead Andre van Schaik said that while DeepSouth won't be more powerful than any existing supercomputer, it would help advance the understanding of neuromorphic computing and biological brains. "We need this ability to better learn how brains work and how they do what they do so well," Schaik said. Also read: AI can become hackers' new tool by simply manipulating prompts to computers Meanwhile, Ralph Etienne-Cummings from John Hopkins University (who is not part of the project), told the publication that DeepSouth would advance the study of science more quickly as researchers would be able to repeatedly test models of the brain. "If you are trying to understand the brain this will be the hardware to do it on," he said, adding, that two types of researchers would be interested in this- those studying neuroscience or those wanting to prototype new engineering solutions in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Etienne-Cummings also said that the upcoming supercomputer could pave the way for much higher energy efficiency in computing. What are the key benefits of this supercomputer? According to a statement released by Western Sydney University, DeepSouth would facilitate super-fast, large-scale parallel processing using far less power. The supercomputer would be scalable allowing for the addition of more hardware to create a larger system or scaling down for smaller portable or more cost-effective applications. Another crucial benefit of DeepSouth would be in AI. "By mimicking the brain, we will be able to create more efficient ways of undertaking AI processes than our current models," the statement said.

Australian researchers building world's first human brain-scale computer. It will go online next year

More Chinese agencies and state-backed companies across the country have asked their staff to not bring&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;iPhones and other foreign devices to work, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

For over a decade, China has been seeking to reduce reliance on foreign technologies, asking state-affiliated firms such as banks to switch to local software and promoting domestic semiconductor chip manufacturing.

Multiple state firms and government departments across at least eight provinces have instructed employees in the past month or two to start carrying local brands, the Bloomberg News report said.

Apple&nbsp;did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for a comment.

In December, smaller firms and agencies in lower-tier cities from provinces including Zhejiang, Shandong, Liaoning and central Hebei, which houses the world's largest iPhone factory, issued their own verbal directives, the Bloomberg News report said.

Reuters reported in September that staff in at least three ministries and government bodies were told not to use iPhones at work.

Apple's shares were marginally down at $196.50 in extended trading.

More Chinese agencies and state-backed companies across the country have asked their staff to not bring Apple iPhones and other foreign devices to work, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

More Chinese agencies and state-backed companies across the country have asked their staff to not bring Apple iPhones and other foreign devices to work, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. For over a decade, China has been seeking to reduce reliance on foreign technologies, asking state-affiliated firms such as banks to switch to local software and promoting domestic semiconductor chip manufacturing. Multiple state firms and government departments across at least eight provinces have instructed employees in the past month or two to start carrying local brands, the Bloomberg News report said. Apple did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for a comment. In December, smaller firms and agencies in lower-tier cities from provinces including Zhejiang, Shandong, Liaoning and central Hebei, which houses the world's largest iPhone factory, issued their own verbal directives, the Bloomberg News report said. Reuters reported in September that staff in at least three ministries and government bodies were told not to use iPhones at work. Apple's shares were marginally down at $196.50 in extended trading.

China's ban on Apple's iPhone accelerates

The Indian government released security warnings which specifically targeted the users of Samsung Galaxy phones. 
 
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) released a security advisory which highlighted the multiple vulnerabilities that have been impacting millions of Samsung Galaxy mobile phones, which include both older and newer models. 
 
The security alert, which was issued on December 13, categorised the concern as high-risk and emphasised the urgency of updating the operating system or firmware in the existing Samsung mobile phones. 
 
"Multiple vulnerabilities have been reported in Samsung products that could allow an attacker to bypass implemented security restrictions, access sensitive information, and execute arbitrary code on the targeted system," said CERT, in its vulnerability note. 
 
The note&nbsp;emphasised the issues which might affect Samsung mobile phones that have been using Android versions 11 and above.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/truly-mobile-50-metre-high-cellular-tower-gets-stolen-665172">Truly 'mobile': 50-metre high cellular tower gets stolen</a>

“These vulnerabilities exist due to improper access control flaw in Knox Custom Manager Service and Smart Manager CN component, integer overflow vulnerability in face preprocessing library; improper authorisation verification vulnerability in AR emoji, improper exception management vulnerability in Knox Guard, various out of bounds write vulnerabilities in bootloader, HDCP in HAL, libIfaaCa and libsavsac.so components, improper size check vulnerability in softsimd, improper input validation vulnerability in Smart-Clip and implicit intent hijacking vulnerability in contacts,” read the statement.

<h2>How are these vulnerabilities affecting Samsung mobiles?</h2>

These vulnerabilities have become weak spots in the security walls of the device. If these openings are found by a cyber attacker, they can steal phone's secret code (SIM PIN), peek into private AR Emoji files, change the clock on the castle gate (Knox Guard lock), control the phone like a puppet (execute arbitrary code), steal important information (sensitive information), shout loud commands to phone (broadcast with elevated privilege), snoop around phone's files (access arbitrary files) and take over the whole phone (compromise the targeted system).

Watch:&nbsp;How intelligence in technology is reshaping our lives

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Samsung Mobile, meanwhile, announced that they are rolling out a maintenance release under its December 2023 security update. 
 
“Samsung Mobile is releasing a maintenance release for major flagship models as part of the monthly Security Maintenance Release (SMR) process. This SMR package includes patches from Google and Samsung,” the smartphone company said, on its website. 
 
Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy phone users have been asked to promptly update the operating system (OS) and firmware of their device and if they fail to do so, their mobile phones can be vulnerable to potential threats from hackers.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Indian government released security warnings which specifically targeted the users of Samsung Galaxy phones. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) released a security advisory which highlighted the multiple vulnerabilities that have been impacting millions of Samsung Galaxy mobile phones, which include both older and newer models.

The Indian government released security warnings which specifically targeted the users of Samsung Galaxy phones. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) released a security advisory which highlighted the multiple vulnerabilities that have been impacting millions of Samsung Galaxy mobile phones, which include both older and newer models. The security alert, which was issued on December 13, categorised the concern as high-risk and emphasised the urgency of updating the operating system or firmware in the existing Samsung mobile phones. "Multiple vulnerabilities have been reported in Samsung products that could allow an attacker to bypass implemented security restrictions, access sensitive information, and execute arbitrary code on the targeted system," said CERT, in its vulnerability note. The note emphasised the issues which might affect Samsung mobile phones that have been using Android versions 11 and above. Also read: Truly 'mobile': 50-metre high cellular tower gets stolen “These vulnerabilities exist due to improper access control flaw in Knox Custom Manager Service and Smart Manager CN component, integer overflow vulnerability in face preprocessing library; improper authorisation verification vulnerability in AR emoji, improper exception management vulnerability in Knox Guard, various out of bounds write vulnerabilities in bootloader, HDCP in HAL, libIfaaCa and libsavsac.so components, improper size check vulnerability in softsimd, improper input validation vulnerability in Smart-Clip and implicit intent hijacking vulnerability in contacts,” read the statement. How are these vulnerabilities affecting Samsung mobiles? These vulnerabilities have become weak spots in the security walls of the device. If these openings are found by a cyber attacker, they can steal phone's secret code (SIM PIN), peek into private AR Emoji files, change the clock on the castle gate (Knox Guard lock), control the phone like a puppet (execute arbitrary code), steal important information (sensitive information), shout loud commands to phone (broadcast with elevated privilege), snoop around phone's files (access arbitrary files) and take over the whole phone (compromise the targeted system). Watch: How intelligence in technology is reshaping our lives Samsung Mobile, meanwhile, announced that they are rolling out a maintenance release under its December 2023 security update. “Samsung Mobile is releasing a maintenance release for major flagship models as part of the monthly Security Maintenance Release (SMR) process. This SMR package includes patches from Google and Samsung,” the smartphone company said, on its website. Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy phone users have been asked to promptly update the operating system (OS) and firmware of their device and if they fail to do so, their mobile phones can be vulnerable to potential threats from hackers. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian govt issues security warnings for Samsung mobiles. Here's all you need to know

Researchers from the GrapheneX-UTS Human-centric Artificial Intelligence Centre at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have come up with a unique concept as they have developed an AI-equipped cap (or helmet) that can apparently read thoughts. The revolutionary AI system is capable of translating silent thoughts into text by using electroencephalography (EEG). &nbsp;

The system, termed as DeWave, isn't perfect, but its capability of roughly translating internal thought processes into text&nbsp;is remarkable.&nbsp;

The researchers stated that the system has an accuracy of around 40 per cent. Meanwhile, more recent data, being peer-reviewed, reveals an enhanced accuracy of more than 60 per cent. Hence, further improvement is expected.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/which-social-media-platforms-are-popular-among-teens-in-us-and-which-are-not-survey-669446">US teens actively using several social media platforms despite concerns, finds survey</a>&nbsp;

The research was led by professor Chin-Teng Lin, first author Yiqun Duan, and PhD candidate Jinzhou Zhou, and the findings can be significant for those who can't speak due to stroke or paralysis.&nbsp;

DeWave consists of two major components - an EEG-reading cap and a large language model (LLM).&nbsp;

Participants of the study read passages of text while wearing a cap that recorded electrical brain activity through their scalp. These EEG recordings were then converted into text using the AI model.&nbsp;

As quoted by NewsScitist, Chin-Teng Lin at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), said that the technology is non-invasive. He claimed that it is relatively inexpensive and easily transportable.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/chinese-mourners-use-ai-to-digitally-resurrect-the-dead-669686">Chinese mourners use AI to digitally resurrect the dead</a>&nbsp;

The study was presented at the NeurIPS conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, where participants read the sentences aloud, despite the fact that the DeWave system doesn't use spoken words. However, the participants read the sentences silently in the team's latest research.&nbsp;

According to team member Charles Zhou at UTS, the DeWave system was trained by looking at a large number of examples. They studied brain signals and how they match up with certain texts.&nbsp;

As quoted, Zhou said, "For instance, when you think about saying 'hello', your brain sends out certain signals." He said that the AI system learns how these signals "relate to the word 'hello' by seeing many examples of these signals for different words or sentences".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Researchers from the GrapheneX-UTS Human-centric Artificial Intelligence Centre at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have come up with a unique concept as they have developed an AI-equipped cap (or helmet) that can apparently read thoughts.

Researchers from the GrapheneX-UTS Human-centric Artificial Intelligence Centre at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have come up with a unique concept as they have developed an AI-equipped cap (or helmet) that can apparently read thoughts. The revolutionary AI system is capable of translating silent thoughts into text by using electroencephalography (EEG). The system, termed as DeWave, isn't perfect, but its capability of roughly translating internal thought processes into text is remarkable. The researchers stated that the system has an accuracy of around 40 per cent. Meanwhile, more recent data, being peer-reviewed, reveals an enhanced accuracy of more than 60 per cent. Hence, further improvement is expected. Also read: US teens actively using several social media platforms despite concerns, finds survey The research was led by professor Chin-Teng Lin, first author Yiqun Duan, and PhD candidate Jinzhou Zhou, and the findings can be significant for those who can't speak due to stroke or paralysis. DeWave consists of two major components - an EEG-reading cap and a large language model (LLM). Participants of the study read passages of text while wearing a cap that recorded electrical brain activity through their scalp. These EEG recordings were then converted into text using the AI model. As quoted by NewsScitist, Chin-Teng Lin at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), said that the technology is non-invasive. He claimed that it is relatively inexpensive and easily transportable. Also read: Chinese mourners use AI to digitally resurrect the dead The study was presented at the NeurIPS conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, where participants read the sentences aloud, despite the fact that the DeWave system doesn't use spoken words. However, the participants read the sentences silently in the team's latest research. According to team member Charles Zhou at UTS, the DeWave system was trained by looking at a large number of examples. They studied brain signals and how they match up with certain texts. As quoted, Zhou said, "For instance, when you think about saying 'hello', your brain sends out certain signals." He said that the AI system learns how these signals "relate to the word 'hello' by seeing many examples of these signals for different words or sentences". (With inputs from agencies)

Mind reader: This revolutionary AI system can translate silent thoughts into text

Amid the surge in popularity of AI chatbots, European non-profits AI Forensics and AlgorithmWatch has&nbsp;warned that the technology gives inaccurate answers to one of every three questions.

Research conducted by the European non-profit organisation&nbsp;found that AI chatbots gave false answers to basic questions, particularly while providing information related to elections.

<h2>Inaccuracies galore</h2>

The study focused on Microsoft’s Bing AI chatbot, now known as Microsoft Copilot, revealing that it provided inaccurate answers to one in three basic questions about candidates, polls, scandals, and voting in recent election cycles in Germany and Switzerland.&nbsp;

Similar inaccuracies were observed for questions about the 2024 US elections.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explained-beginning-of-an-end-human-activity-on-moon-shows-sign-of-lunar-anthropocene-669613">Explained | Humans are on the Moon and it might be the beginning of the end for our satellite</a>

Sharing their findings with The Washington Post, researchers stressed that these findings don't assert that Bing's misinformation influenced election outcomes. However, they said it does highlight concerns that AI chatbots could potentially contribute to confusion and misinformation around future elections.&nbsp;

Especially, as tech giants like Microsoft integrate chatbots into various products, including internet search, concerns rise about their impact on public access to reliable and transparent information.

"As generative AI becomes more widespread, this could affect one of the cornerstones of democracy: the access to reliable and transparent public information," says the researchers, as quoted by The Washington Post.

<h2>Is big tech doing anything about this?</h2>

Despite efforts by companies like Microsoft, OpenAI, and Google to enhance reliability by allowing chatbots to search the web and cite sources, issues persist.&nbsp;

Bing, even after providing sources, frequently gave answers that deviated from the information in the cited links, as per Salvatore Romano, head of research for AI Forensics.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/jeff-bezos-says-space-colonisation-ultimately-means-to-preserve-the-planet-669969">Bezos wants humans to colonise the solar system, while Musk has his sight set on Mars</a>

The study focused on Bing because it was among the first to include sources and is widely integrated into services available in Europe.&nbsp;

Preliminary testing on OpenAI’s GPT-4 revealed similar inaccuracies. Notably, errors in Bing's answers were more common in languages other than English, raising concerns about the performance of US-based AI tools globally.

The researchers discovered factual errors in responses to questions asked in German 37 per cent of the time, compared to a 20 per cent error rate for the same questions in English.&nbsp;

<h2>What's the solution?</h2>

While Microsoft is working to address these issues ahead of the 2024 US elections, the researchers emphasise the need for users to verify information obtained from chatbots.&nbsp;

"The problem is systemic, and they do not have very good tools to fix it," said Romano.

Frank Shaw, Microsoft’s head of communications, said: "We are continuing to address issues and prepare our tools to perform to our expectations for the 2024 elections."

"As we continue to make progress, we encourage people to use Copilot with their best judgment when viewing results. This includes verifying source materials and checking web links to learn more."

However, the impact of these AI chatbots on democracy, if any, is unclear. These AI chatbots all carry disclaimers, noting that they can make mistakes and encouraging users to double-check the answers.

(With inputs from agencies)

Amid the surge in popularity of AI chatbots, European non-profits AI Forensics and AlgorithmWatch has warned that the technology gives inaccurate answers to one of every three questions.

Amid the surge in popularity of AI chatbots, European non-profits AI Forensics and AlgorithmWatch has warned that the technology gives inaccurate answers to one of every three questions. Research conducted by the European non-profit organisation found that AI chatbots gave false answers to basic questions, particularly while providing information related to elections. Inaccuracies galore The study focused on Microsoft’s Bing AI chatbot, now known as Microsoft Copilot, revealing that it provided inaccurate answers to one in three basic questions about candidates, polls, scandals, and voting in recent election cycles in Germany and Switzerland. Similar inaccuracies were observed for questions about the 2024 US elections. Also read | Explained | Humans are on the Moon and it might be the beginning of the end for our satellite Sharing their findings with The Washington Post, researchers stressed that these findings don't assert that Bing's misinformation influenced election outcomes. However, they said it does highlight concerns that AI chatbots could potentially contribute to confusion and misinformation around future elections. Especially, as tech giants like Microsoft integrate chatbots into various products, including internet search, concerns rise about their impact on public access to reliable and transparent information. "As generative AI becomes more widespread, this could affect one of the cornerstones of democracy: the access to reliable and transparent public information," says the researchers, as quoted by The Washington Post. Is big tech doing anything about this? Despite efforts by companies like Microsoft, OpenAI, and Google to enhance reliability by allowing chatbots to search the web and cite sources, issues persist. Bing, even after providing sources, frequently gave answers that deviated from the information in the cited links, as per Salvatore Romano, head of research for AI Forensics. Also read | Bezos wants humans to colonise the solar system, while Musk has his sight set on Mars The study focused on Bing because it was among the first to include sources and is widely integrated into services available in Europe. Preliminary testing on OpenAI’s GPT-4 revealed similar inaccuracies. Notably, errors in Bing's answers were more common in languages other than English, raising concerns about the performance of US-based AI tools globally. The researchers discovered factual errors in responses to questions asked in German 37 per cent of the time, compared to a 20 per cent error rate for the same questions in English. What's the solution? While Microsoft is working to address these issues ahead of the 2024 US elections, the researchers emphasise the need for users to verify information obtained from chatbots. "The problem is systemic, and they do not have very good tools to fix it," said Romano. Frank Shaw, Microsoft’s head of communications, said: "We are continuing to address issues and prepare our tools to perform to our expectations for the 2024 elections." "As we continue to make progress, we encourage people to use Copilot with their best judgment when viewing results. This includes verifying source materials and checking web links to learn more." However, the impact of these AI chatbots on democracy, if any, is unclear. These AI chatbots all carry disclaimers, noting that they can make mistakes and encouraging users to double-check the answers. (With inputs from agencies)

European research flags AI chatbots for providing false answers, particularly on elections

US&nbsp;auto safety regulators said on Tuesday they have begun the process that will eventually force carmakers to adopt new technology to prevent intoxicated drivers from starting vehicles.

In 2021, Congress directed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to mandate a passive technology to try to avert more than 10,000 road deaths annually. The law requires a new technology safety standard by November 2024 if the technology is ready.

There are a number of potential technologies under development that would prevent impaired people from starting a vehicle, including breath- or touch-based sensors to detect alcohol. Another potential option is using cameras to monitor eye movements to try to determine if drivers are intoxicated.

Still, NHTSA must be assured the technology works before it can require it, and then give automakers at least three years to implement it once it finalizes rules.

"We are trying to see can we get it done, does the technology exist in a way that is going to work every time," Acting NHTSA Administrator Ann Carlson said, adding that public acceptance of the technology would depend on its accuracy.

Carlson said there were close to 1 billion separate daily&nbsp;driving&nbsp;journeys in the United States.

"If it's 99.9% accurate, you could have a million false positives," Carlson said. "Those false positives could be somebody trying to get to the hospital for an emergency."

The NHTSA on Tuesday published an "advance notice of proposed rulemaking" to begin the process of gathering information on how such technology could be developed and required.

Its regulatory notice details the research and technological advancements needed to finalize regulations and options for potential rules, citing "Blood alcohol content detection, impairment-detection (driver monitoring), or a combination."

Mothers Against Drunk&nbsp;Driving&nbsp;President Tess Rowland said the group was "very pleased" with NHTSA's launch.

"We understand we still have a mountain to climb," Rowland said. "Victims and survivors are not going to let this die."

In 2021, 13,384 people died in alcohol-impaired&nbsp;driving&nbsp;traffic deaths, the most recent statistics available reveals.

Separately, Carlson will tell a US&nbsp;House of Representatives committee on Wednesday that US&nbsp;traffic deaths fell 4.5% in the first nine months of the year after sharply rising during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"While we are optimistic that we're finally seeing a reversal of the record-high fatalities seen during the pandemic, this is not a cause for celebration," Carlson's written testimony says.

US auto safety regulators said on Tuesday they have begun the process that will eventually force carmakers to adopt new technology to prevent intoxicated drivers from starting vehicles.

US auto safety regulators said on Tuesday they have begun the process that will eventually force carmakers to adopt new technology to prevent intoxicated drivers from starting vehicles. In 2021, Congress directed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to mandate a passive technology to try to avert more than 10,000 road deaths annually. The law requires a new technology safety standard by November 2024 if the technology is ready. There are a number of potential technologies under development that would prevent impaired people from starting a vehicle, including breath- or touch-based sensors to detect alcohol. Another potential option is using cameras to monitor eye movements to try to determine if drivers are intoxicated. Still, NHTSA must be assured the technology works before it can require it, and then give automakers at least three years to implement it once it finalizes rules. "We are trying to see can we get it done, does the technology exist in a way that is going to work every time," Acting NHTSA Administrator Ann Carlson said, adding that public acceptance of the technology would depend on its accuracy. Carlson said there were close to 1 billion separate daily driving journeys in the United States. "If it's 99.9% accurate, you could have a million false positives," Carlson said. "Those false positives could be somebody trying to get to the hospital for an emergency." The NHTSA on Tuesday published an "advance notice of proposed rulemaking" to begin the process of gathering information on how such technology could be developed and required. Its regulatory notice details the research and technological advancements needed to finalize regulations and options for potential rules, citing "Blood alcohol content detection, impairment-detection (driver monitoring), or a combination." Mothers Against Drunk Driving President Tess Rowland said the group was "very pleased" with NHTSA's launch. "We understand we still have a mountain to climb," Rowland said. "Victims and survivors are not going to let this die." In 2021, 13,384 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths, the most recent statistics available reveals. Separately, Carlson will tell a US House of Representatives committee on Wednesday that US traffic deaths fell 4.5% in the first nine months of the year after sharply rising during the COVID-19 pandemic. "While we are optimistic that we're finally seeing a reversal of the record-high fatalities seen during the pandemic, this is not a cause for celebration," Carlson's written testimony says.

US agency takes first step to mandate anti-drunk driving technology

The latest Pew Research Center survey of US teens revealed that they continued to use social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc, despite rising concerns about social media's impact on youth.&nbsp;

The teens have been using these social media platforms at high rates, with some describing their social media use as "almost constant".&nbsp;

The survey revealed that YouTube continues to dominate as roughly nine-in-ten teens have said that they use the video-streaming platform.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-first-ai-powered-campaign-caller-ashley-deployed-ahead-of-2024-elections-in-us-669250">World’s first AI-powered campaign caller ‘Ashley’ deployed ahead of 2024 elections in US</a>&nbsp;

YouTube became the most widely used platform measured in the survey, which was conducted between September 26 to October 23, 2023.&nbsp;

The survey included 1,453 teens between 13 to 17 years of age. It covered social media, internet use and device ownership among teens.&nbsp;

The survey also found that TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram remain popular among teens. TikTok (63%), Snapchat (60%), and Instagram (59%) are all popular among youths aged 13 to 17. These proportions are almost seven in ten for older youths aged 15 to 17.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/meta-flouted-copyrights-to-train-its-ai-llama-despite-warning-from-lawyers-claims-lawsuit-669148">Meta flouted copyrights to train its AI 'Llama' despite warning from lawyers, claims lawsuit by authors</a>

When it comes to Facebook, it's not that popular as the survey found that teens are less likely to be using Facebook and Twitter (recently renamed X) than they were a decade ago.&nbsp;

There was a time when Facebook dominated the social media landscape among America's youth. However, the percentage has dropped from 71% in 2014-2015 to 33% today. In July 2023, X has also seen that its users have dropped during the past decade.&nbsp;

<h2>Social media sites underfire&nbsp;</h2>

Experts have raised concerns over social media's impact on the young generation as questions have been raised over the algorithmic techniques that platforms use to draw in and retain younger users.&nbsp;

In the US, a coalition of 33 states in October sued Meta Platforms for contributing to the youth mental health crisis.&nbsp;

They alleged that the company knowingly and deliberately designed features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. Meta has denied the charges.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The latest Pew Research Center survey of US teens revealed that they continued to use social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc, despite rising concerns about social media's impact on youth.

The latest Pew Research Center survey of US teens revealed that they continued to use social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc, despite rising concerns about social media's impact on youth. The teens have been using these social media platforms at high rates, with some describing their social media use as "almost constant". The survey revealed that YouTube continues to dominate as roughly nine-in-ten teens have said that they use the video-streaming platform. Also read: World’s first AI-powered campaign caller ‘Ashley’ deployed ahead of 2024 elections in US YouTube became the most widely used platform measured in the survey, which was conducted between September 26 to October 23, 2023. The survey included 1,453 teens between 13 to 17 years of age. It covered social media, internet use and device ownership among teens. The survey also found that TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram remain popular among teens. TikTok (63%), Snapchat (60%), and Instagram (59%) are all popular among youths aged 13 to 17. These proportions are almost seven in ten for older youths aged 15 to 17. Also read: Meta flouted copyrights to train its AI 'Llama' despite warning from lawyers, claims lawsuit by authors When it comes to Facebook, it's not that popular as the survey found that teens are less likely to be using Facebook and Twitter (recently renamed X) than they were a decade ago. There was a time when Facebook dominated the social media landscape among America's youth. However, the percentage has dropped from 71% in 2014-2015 to 33% today. In July 2023, X has also seen that its users have dropped during the past decade. Social media sites underfire Experts have raised concerns over social media's impact on the young generation as questions have been raised over the algorithmic techniques that platforms use to draw in and retain younger users. In the US, a coalition of 33 states in October sued Meta Platforms for contributing to the youth mental health crisis. They alleged that the company knowingly and deliberately designed features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. Meta has denied the charges. (With inputs from agencies)

US teens actively using several social media platforms despite concerns, finds survey

At a quiet cemetery in eastern China, bereaved father Seakoo Wu pulls out his phone, places it on a gravestone and plays a recording of his son.

They are words that the late student never spoke, but brought into being with artificial intelligence.

"I know you're in great pain every day because of me, and feel guilty and helpless," intones Xuanmo in a slightly robotic voice.

"Even though I can't be by your side ever again, my soul is still in this world, accompanying you through life."

Stricken by grief, Wu and his wife have joined a growing number of Chinese people turning to AI technology to create lifelike avatars of their departed.

WATCH |&nbsp;Chinese mourners use AI to make digital versions of the deceased

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinese-mourners-use-ai-to-make-digital-versions-of-the-deceased-669627/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Ultimately Wu wants to build a fully realistic replica that behaves just like his dead son but dwells in virtual reality.

"Once we synchronise reality and the metaverse, I'll have my son with me again," Wu said.

"I can train him... so that when he sees me, he knows I'm his father."

Some Chinese firms claim to have created thousands of "digital people" from as little as 30 seconds of audiovisual material of the deceased.

Experts say they can offer much-needed comfort for people devastated by the loss of loved ones.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/ai-dominates-conversations-in-2023-named-word-of-the-year-by-collins-dictionary-653747">Artificial Intelligence dominates conversations in 2023, named 'Word of the Year' by Collins Dictionary</a>

But they also evoke an unsettling theme from the British sci-fi series "Black Mirror" in which people rely on advanced AI for bereavement support.

<h2>- 'Needs are growing' -&nbsp;</h2>

Wu and his wife were devastated when Xuanmo, their only child, died of a sudden stroke last year at the age of 22 while attending Exeter University in Britain.

The accounting and finance student, keen sportsman and posthumous organ donor "had such a rich and varied life", said Wu.

"He always carried in him this desire to help people and a sense of right and wrong," he told AFP.

Following a boom in deep learning technologies like ChatGPT in China, Wu began researching ways to resurrect him.

He gathered photos, videos and audio recordings of his son, and spent thousands of dollars hiring AI firms that cloned Xuanmo's face and voice.

The results so far are rudimentary, but he has also set up a work team to create a database containing vast amounts of information on his son.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-first-ai-powered-campaign-caller-ashley-deployed-ahead-of-2024-elections-in-us-669250">World’s first AI-powered campaign caller ‘Ashley’ deployed ahead of 2024 elections in US</a>

Wu hopes to feed it into powerful algorithms to create an avatar capable of copying his son's thinking and speech patterns with extreme precision.

Several companies specialising in so-called "ghost bots" have emerged in the United States in recent years.

But the industry is booming in China, according to Zhang Zewei, the founder of the AI firm Super Brain and a former collaborator with Wu.

"On AI technology, China is in the highest class worldwide," said Zhang from a workspace in the eastern city of Jingjiang.

"And there are so many people in China, many with emotional needs, which gives us an advantage when it comes to market demand."

Super Brain charges between 10,000 and 20,000 yuan ($1,400-$2,800) to create a basic avatar within about 20 days, said Zhang.

They range from those who have died to living parents unable to spend time with their children and -- controversially -- a heartbroken woman's ex-boyfriend.

Clients can even hold video calls with a staff member whose face and voice are digitally overlaid with those of the person they have lost.

"The significance for... the whole world is huge," Zhang said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-to-ban-use-of-ai-biometric-surveillance-by-police-without-judicial-authorisation-report-668888">EU to ban use of AI biometric surveillance by police without judicial authorisation: Report</a> 
 
"A digital version of someone (can) exist forever, even after their body has been lost."

<h2>- 'New humanism' -&nbsp;</h2>

Sima Huapeng, who founded Nanjing-based Silicon Intelligence, said the technology would "bring about a new kind of humanism".

He likened it to portraiture and photography, which helped people commemorate the dead in revolutionary ways.

Tal Morse, a visiting research fellow at the Centre for Death and Society at Britain's University of Bath, said ghost bots may offer comfort.

But he cautioned that more research was needed to understand their psychological and ethical implications.

"A key question here is... how 'loyal' are the ghost bots to the personality they were designed to mimic," Morse told AFP.

"What happens if they do things that will 'contaminate' the memory of the person they are supposed to represent?"

Another quandary arises from the inability of dead people to consent, experts said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/chinese-scientists-let-ai-control-satellite-it-takes-closer-look-at-india-japanese-regions-582686">Chinese scientists let AI control satellite, it takes ‘closer look’ at specific spots in India, Japan</a>

While permission was probably unnecessary to mimic speech or behaviour, it might be needed to "do certain other things with that simulacrum", said Nate Sharadin, a philosopher at the University of Hong Kong specialising in AI and its social effects.

For Super Brain's Zhang, all new technology is "a double-edged sword".&nbsp;

"As long as we're helping those who need it, I see no problem".

He doesn't work with those for whom it could have negative impacts, he said, citing a woman who had attempted suicide after her daughter's death.

Bereaved father Wu said Xuanmo "probably would have been willing" to be digitally revived.

"One day, son, we will all reunite in the metaverse," he said as his wife dissolved into tears before his grave.

"The technology is getting better every day... it's just a matter of time."

At a quiet cemetery in eastern China, bereaved father Seakoo Wu pulls out his phone, places it on a gravestone and plays a recording of his son. They are words that the late student never spoke, but brought into being with artificial intelligence.

At a quiet cemetery in eastern China, bereaved father Seakoo Wu pulls out his phone, places it on a gravestone and plays a recording of his son. They are words that the late student never spoke, but brought into being with artificial intelligence. "I know you're in great pain every day because of me, and feel guilty and helpless," intones Xuanmo in a slightly robotic voice. "Even though I can't be by your side ever again, my soul is still in this world, accompanying you through life." Stricken by grief, Wu and his wife have joined a growing number of Chinese people turning to AI technology to create lifelike avatars of their departed. WATCH | Chinese mourners use AI to make digital versions of the deceased Ultimately Wu wants to build a fully realistic replica that behaves just like his dead son but dwells in virtual reality. "Once we synchronise reality and the metaverse, I'll have my son with me again," Wu said. "I can train him... so that when he sees me, he knows I'm his father." Some Chinese firms claim to have created thousands of "digital people" from as little as 30 seconds of audiovisual material of the deceased. Experts say they can offer much-needed comfort for people devastated by the loss of loved ones. ALSO READ | Artificial Intelligence dominates conversations in 2023, named 'Word of the Year' by Collins Dictionary But they also evoke an unsettling theme from the British sci-fi series "Black Mirror" in which people rely on advanced AI for bereavement support. - 'Needs are growing' - Wu and his wife were devastated when Xuanmo, their only child, died of a sudden stroke last year at the age of 22 while attending Exeter University in Britain. The accounting and finance student, keen sportsman and posthumous organ donor "had such a rich and varied life", said Wu. "He always carried in him this desire to help people and a sense of right and wrong," he told AFP. Following a boom in deep learning technologies like ChatGPT in China, Wu began researching ways to resurrect him. He gathered photos, videos and audio recordings of his son, and spent thousands of dollars hiring AI firms that cloned Xuanmo's face and voice. The results so far are rudimentary, but he has also set up a work team to create a database containing vast amounts of information on his son. ALSO READ | World’s first AI-powered campaign caller ‘Ashley’ deployed ahead of 2024 elections in US Wu hopes to feed it into powerful algorithms to create an avatar capable of copying his son's thinking and speech patterns with extreme precision. Several companies specialising in so-called "ghost bots" have emerged in the United States in recent years. But the industry is booming in China, according to Zhang Zewei, the founder of the AI firm Super Brain and a former collaborator with Wu. "On AI technology, China is in the highest class worldwide," said Zhang from a workspace in the eastern city of Jingjiang. "And there are so many people in China, many with emotional needs, which gives us an advantage when it comes to market demand." Super Brain charges between 10,000 and 20,000 yuan ($1,400-$2,800) to create a basic avatar within about 20 days, said Zhang. They range from those who have died to living parents unable to spend time with their children and -- controversially -- a heartbroken woman's ex-boyfriend. Clients can even hold video calls with a staff member whose face and voice are digitally overlaid with those of the person they have lost. "The significance for... the whole world is huge," Zhang said. ALSO READ | EU to ban use of AI biometric surveillance by police without judicial authorisation: Report "A digital version of someone (can) exist forever, even after their body has been lost." - 'New humanism' - Sima Huapeng, who founded Nanjing-based Silicon Intelligence, said the technology would "bring about a new kind of humanism". He likened it to portraiture and photography, which helped people commemorate the dead in revolutionary ways. Tal Morse, a visiting research fellow at the Centre for Death and Society at Britain's University of Bath, said ghost bots may offer comfort. But he cautioned that more research was needed to understand their psychological and ethical implications. "A key question here is... how 'loyal' are the ghost bots to the personality they were designed to mimic," Morse told AFP. "What happens if they do things that will 'contaminate' the memory of the person they are supposed to represent?" Another quandary arises from the inability of dead people to consent, experts said. ALSO READ | Chinese scientists let AI control satellite, it takes ‘closer look’ at specific spots in India, Japan While permission was probably unnecessary to mimic speech or behaviour, it might be needed to "do certain other things with that simulacrum", said Nate Sharadin, a philosopher at the University of Hong Kong specialising in AI and its social effects. For Super Brain's Zhang, all new technology is "a double-edged sword". "As long as we're helping those who need it, I see no problem". He doesn't work with those for whom it could have negative impacts, he said, citing a woman who had attempted suicide after her daughter's death. Bereaved father Wu said Xuanmo "probably would have been willing" to be digitally revived. "One day, son, we will all reunite in the metaverse," he said as his wife dissolved into tears before his grave. "The technology is getting better every day... it's just a matter of time."

Chinese mourners use AI to digitally resurrect the dead

Meta Platforms used thousands of pirated books to train its AI models, alleges a new copyright lawsuit filed on Monday (Dec 11) night.&nbsp;

The tech giant reportedly did this despite warnings from their lawyers about the legal peril of doing so. The lawsuit as per Reuters was initially brought this summer.

<h2>Skipping permissions</h2>

Monday's filing consolidates two separate lawsuits brought against Facebook and Instagram by comedian Sarah Silverman, Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Chabon and other prominent authors. They allege that Meta has used their works to train its artificial intelligence language model, Llama, without permission.

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Previously, their claims also said that the AI model's output also violates their copyrights. However, in November, US District Judge Vince Chhabri criticised the claim that the text generated by Llama copies or resembles the author's work. Dismissing the claim, Chhabri allowed the authors to amend most of their claims.&nbsp;

As evidence, the authors have submitted Discord chat logs of a Meta-affiliated researcher, who can be seen discussing the procurement of the dataset. This, as per the news agency, can be a potentially significant piece of evidence that could prove that Meta knew that its use of the books may not be protected by US copyright law.

<h2>What is there in the chat logs?</h2>

In the chat logs, as quoted in the complaint, researcher Tim Dettmers, a doctoral student at the University of Washington, describes his back-and-forth with Meta's legal department. In it, he talks about whether the use of book files as training data would be "legally OK".

"At Facebook, there are a lot of people interested in working with (T)he (P)ile, including myself, but in its current form, we are unable to use it for legal reasons," Dettmers wrote in 2021.&nbsp;

Here, The Pile refers to an open-source language modelling data set Meta has acknowledged it was using to train its first version of Llama.

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According to the complaint, a month before this, Dettmers wrote that Meta lawyers told him "the data cannot be used or models cannot be published if they are trained on that data."

Here, the researcher refrains from describing the specific concerns voiced by lawyers, however, his counterpart makes mention of "books with active copyrights," and says they are the biggest likely source of worry. They also say that training on the data should "fall under fair use."

As per the US Copyright Office, the fair use doctrine allows for the use of "limited portions of a work including quotes, for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, and scholarly reports".

<h2>Llama</h2>

Llama is Meta's large language model (LLM). The tech giant released its first version in February 2023. At the time, it published a list of datasets used to train the language model. The list included "the Books3 section of ThePile," which, as per the complaint quoting the person who assembled the dataset, contains 196,640 books.

A second version, dubbed Llama 2 was made available for commercial use this summer. It is free for use for companies with monthly active users of less than 700 million.

<h2>AI and copyrights</h2>

As Artificial Intelligence drives a craze, artists across art forms have come forward alleging unlawful use of their content. In 2023, big tech companies were met with a slew of lawsuits that accuse them of ripping-off copyright protected works. IF successful, these lawsuits would not only generate significant compensation for the content creators, but also drive up the cost of building the data dependent models, somewhat dampening the generative AI craze.

 
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Meta Platforms used thousands of pirated books to train its AI models, alleges a new copyright lawsuit filed on Monday (Dec 11) night. The tech giant reportedly did this despite warnings from their lawyers about the legal peril of doing so.

Meta Platforms used thousands of pirated books to train its AI models, alleges a new copyright lawsuit filed on Monday (Dec 11) night. The tech giant reportedly did this despite warnings from their lawyers about the legal peril of doing so. The lawsuit as per Reuters was initially brought this summer. Skipping permissions Monday's filing consolidates two separate lawsuits brought against Facebook and Instagram by comedian Sarah Silverman, Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Chabon and other prominent authors. They allege that Meta has used their works to train its artificial intelligence language model, Llama, without permission. Also read | Epic Games' 'epic' win: Jury finds Google guilty of monopolistic practices in antitrust trial Previously, their claims also said that the AI model's output also violates their copyrights. However, in November, US District Judge Vince Chhabri criticised the claim that the text generated by Llama copies or resembles the author's work. Dismissing the claim, Chhabri allowed the authors to amend most of their claims. As evidence, the authors have submitted Discord chat logs of a Meta-affiliated researcher, who can be seen discussing the procurement of the dataset. This, as per the news agency, can be a potentially significant piece of evidence that could prove that Meta knew that its use of the books may not be protected by US copyright law. What is there in the chat logs? In the chat logs, as quoted in the complaint, researcher Tim Dettmers, a doctoral student at the University of Washington, describes his back-and-forth with Meta's legal department. In it, he talks about whether the use of book files as training data would be "legally OK". "At Facebook, there are a lot of people interested in working with (T)he (P)ile, including myself, but in its current form, we are unable to use it for legal reasons," Dettmers wrote in 2021. Here, The Pile refers to an open-source language modelling data set Meta has acknowledged it was using to train its first version of Llama. Also read | EU to ban use of AI biometric surveillance by police without judicial authorisation: Report According to the complaint, a month before this, Dettmers wrote that Meta lawyers told him "the data cannot be used or models cannot be published if they are trained on that data." Here, the researcher refrains from describing the specific concerns voiced by lawyers, however, his counterpart makes mention of "books with active copyrights," and says they are the biggest likely source of worry. They also say that training on the data should "fall under fair use." As per the US Copyright Office, the fair use doctrine allows for the use of "limited portions of a work including quotes, for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, and scholarly reports". Llama Llama is Meta's large language model (LLM). The tech giant released its first version in February 2023. At the time, it published a list of datasets used to train the language model. The list included "the Books3 section of ThePile," which, as per the complaint quoting the person who assembled the dataset, contains 196,640 books. A second version, dubbed Llama 2 was made available for commercial use this summer. It is free for use for companies with monthly active users of less than 700 million. AI and copyrights As Artificial Intelligence drives a craze, artists across art forms have come forward alleging unlawful use of their content. In 2023, big tech companies were met with a slew of lawsuits that accuse them of ripping-off copyright protected works. IF successful, these lawsuits would not only generate significant compensation for the content creators, but also drive up the cost of building the data dependent models, somewhat dampening the generative AI craze.

Meta flouted copyrights to train its AI 'Llama' despite warning from lawyers, claims lawsuit by authors

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