Information technology and global automation pose new challenges in controlling social relations, especially through criminal law. This new phenomenon may constitute an unacceptably intrusive interference in computer games where a person gains an advantage in order to obtain some advantage, such as winning a game round or accumulating an excessive number of resources, which falls under the definition of the word “cheat.” However, the use of this concept within the framework of many countries’ criminal law may be problematic due to the limited definition of the term “Fraud” that simply does not concern the use of cheats in games.
Showing off my Photoshop skills
Luckily, there is an existing case of a country which criminal code has been adjusted to cover the modern variation of fraud. The Republic of Korea, which is arguably the heart of the online gaming and esports industries, has proclaimed that using “malware” to cheat at games is illegal and punishable by law. As a consequence, South Korea passed a law in 2020 to promote integrity in video games. For speculative activities involving game items, this law imposes a penalty of up to 5 years in jail or a maximum fine of 50 million Korean Won.
It should also be noted that this new legal practice is sporadic and not widely used today. This does not guarantee that other courts will also apply this practice, especially in the nearest future, considering how bureaucratic this process can be in some countries. But it’s also possible that new rules will be put in place that will ultimately make using malware in games illegal, which might result in it getting its own stipulation in the law.
Several NFT platforms are able to provide exclusive playlists that only token holders are able to access thanks to a new feature that streaming service Spotify is currently testing. Members of the Fluf, Moonbirds, Kingship, and Overlord NFT communities can use the tool, which supports the MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Rainbow, Ledger Live, and Zerion wallets. Only several regions currently offer this feature exclusively to Android users. However, it’s anticipated to be accessible everywhere shortly.
Numerous decentralized music streaming services already operate, such as the streaming service Audius, which pays members with its own tokens for using the platform. According to the Overlord 3 web site, Creepz NFT Kingship, the project’s owner, put together a playlist titled “Invasion” that includes many viral artists such as Snoop Dogg, Queen, etc.
Another Universal Music Group-owned NFT platform made its own playlist for the Spotify feature. It is intended that playlist will be updated frequently and that the songs will be more closely related to the NFT collections of the participating platforms.
However, it seems like the general sense of this feature is missing. Other than justifying the purchase for NFT holders, there is no distinct reason for this feature to exist. Exclusive playlist may be suitable as a benefit of some community’s memebership but definitely go against the initial purpose of NFTs, which, as I recall, are more art-related. And this feature is for sure not going to lure people into buying more NFTs. I won’t be surprised if it turns out that Spotify weren’t the ones initiating the idea and just accepting a paycheck from those web3 NFT companies, as there are no visible reasons for Spotify to doing this unless they are launching one of their own.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that NFT integration has previously been tested by Spotify. Some artists, including Steve Aoki and The Wombats, were allowed to advertise their NFT ventures on own artist cards launching in May 2022.
Now you do not need to be Arnold Schwartznegger to become the mighty Terminator! Researchers from the colleges of Linköping, Lund, and Gothenburg have created an innovative gel that enables the creation of electrodes in living things without the need for implants.
Leeches used as medicine and zebrafish were the research animals for the experiment. Electrodes are then injected into the fish’s brain, heart, and flukes, as well as all around a significant amount of neural tissue, after the gel has been injected.
The challenge of inserting pre-made chips into biological tissue is one of the issues that developers of various kinds of brain implants face. The use of biological elements and the direct growth of an electrode grid within cells are an alternative method and the ability to create human-machine hybrids will likely result from this. Researchers were able to create electrodes that are accepted by brain tissue and the immune system through making specific modifications to the chemical composition of the material.
Magnus Berggren, one of the authours, explains that the new invention allows you to actually grow electronics. And, most importantly, the organism itself is unaffected from this. Authors emphasize that humans have been working on creating devices that resemble biology for many years and we are now letting biology mold technology for us.
And it definitely seems like it, as we might enter a next level of mankind’s evolution, now beginning to integrate complicated circuitry directly into bodies. One of the possible use cases for it may be brain’s capabilities extension. Even though neurotech has been appearing in the media more often, especially with the help of Elon Musk’s Neurolink, we don’t see this topic getting as viral as its possible impact on the mankind.
Personally, it would be interesting to see if neurotech could be potentially combined with, for example, AR, connecting it directly to retina without the need to wear a headset. However, most likely, building integrated circuits in the human body will have a big effect on how neurological disorders are treated in the future.
YouTube launches video dubbing feature in different languages. YouTube’s multilingual voiceover technology will be built in, but creators will have to work with third-party voiceover providers. However, there is no information about particular ones that will be available.
Once the video is uploaded, viewers can select their preferred audio track from the same menu where they can currently adjust other options such as subtitles or audio quality. The content creator must indicate which other language they want to support.
YouTube has tested the feature with a small group of video contributors and the feature has been used in more than 3,500 videos in 40 languages. As of last month, more than 15% of viewers watched videos in their native language. In January alone, the volume of these views exceeded 2 million hours.
The well-known blogger Mr. Beast has previously worked to promote his material translated into other languages. He did this by making separate channels for dubbed videos. Some of these channels are incredibly popular, giving an opportunity to expand your audience and find new ways to make money. By displaying videos to a multilingual audience, the new feature is expected to make it simpler for a variety of creators to increase monetization income. This will be profitable for both the platform and the creators.
Multilingual channels of MrBeast
The function is currently only enabled for long videos, but it is being tested in shorts.
Content creators will be informed when the new function in Creator Studio is available. The function will initially be made available to only several thousand as a part of testing. When more authors will be able to use this choice on a regular basis is currently unknown.
It will be fascinating to observe how this feature spreads throughout YouTube and especially how it will be integrated into YouTube Shorts. However, it is not yet reported how dubbing will be used in the short videos. Presumably, with the development of YouTube’s embedded dubbing, we should expect AI-generated subtitles to be added later.
The idea of using psychedelic drugs (such as LSD or psilocybin) in therapy dates back to ancient times. However, for long time, personal or medical usage of psychodelics has been banned. In recent years, however, psychedelic medicine has returned as a promising field of research in the treatment of various mental illnesses such as addictions, anxiety, PTSD or depression.
Clinical studies have demonstrated the great therapeutic potential of psychedelics. These types of drugs have the power to dramatically change humans perception and awareness, resulting in experiences that may be terapeutic. Studies have shown that psilocybin-assisted therapy can result in quick and long-lasting improvements in the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Usage of psychedelics during the Covid-19 pandemic
The use of psychedelic medication to treat trauma and burnout in healthcare workers is one promising area of application. Healthcare personnel was under a great deal of stress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in significant levels of burnout and mental health problems. The epidemic has caused massive trauma for many healthcare workers, and conventional therapy approaches have not been enough to meet their requirements.
Yet, studies have shown that trauma and burnout in medical personnel may be successfully treated using psychedelic-assisted therapy. One dose of psilocybin was linked to significantly lower levels of burnout and depression symptoms in healthcare professionals, according to a recent study. Psychedelics can be therapeutic in nature, and many medical professionals have reported having remarkable and life-changing experiences while using them.
Are Psychedelics a Cure for Civilization Diseases?
Psychedelic medicines have potential, but it’s important to understand that they don’t treat all mental diseases. Surely, there are regulatory obstacles that must be cleared before psychedelics can be widely used in medical practice because now usage of these drugs even for medicinal purposes is still quite controversial.
The research does demonstrate how powerful the usage of psychedelic medication is in treating a range of mental health conditions even those that have historically resisted treatment. As this field of study develops, psychedelic-assisted treatment may enter a new phase with the potential to completely change the way mental health services are provided.
Bonus fun fact
According to Terence McKenna, a famous etnobotanist, the usage of psilocybin mushrooms may have had a substantial impact on the development of human consciousness. This idea is known as the “Stoned Ape Hypothesis.” The point of this hypotesis is that early hominids’ consumption of psilocybin mushrooms change their brains chemistry, which contributed to the development of language, culture, and improved mental skills.
The Mercedes E-class has been a golden standard of medium-level business sedans for a long-time inheriting innovation from its more superior ancestor Mercedes S-class and the newest model is not an exception. After introducing major changes in infotainment at W223 S-class in 2021, the new tech is announced to be in the 2024 E-class model.
An updated E-Class model for 2024 has been revealed by Mercedes-Benz. Owners will receive a massive touchscreen with built-in TikTok and Zoom applications as well as optional selfie cameras.
A sizable center touchscreen and a second screen for the passenger are combined in the super screen. Previous models of the infotainment system used a variety of functions, but the MBUX system is built on a central frame. According to Mercedes, the new software-focused design enables flexible updates and much faster data transfers.
Icons for control panels have been streamlined and styled to look like smartphone menus. Both Spatial Audio (multidimensional sound) and Dolby Atmos technologies are supported by the built-in speakers. When performing music, you can create adaptive lighting ambiance. If the Mercedes Level 3 Drive Pilot (their own automated lane maintenance technology, similar to the Tesla’s autopilot) is engaged, the video streaming is available on the main screen. TikTok, Zoom, Cisco Webex and other apps are supported. The Zync portal, which offers more than 30 various streaming services, will be able to be operated by the infotainment system.
The new model employs a number of safety steps to avoid driver distraction caused by the passenger display (Only when a human is detected by the sensors in the passenger seat is the touch feature turned on). On the main screen and at top of the driver’s dashboard, there are selfie cameras and video cameras mounted to track interior activity. Moreover, the driver’s eye motions are monitored by the cameras, which also records how frequently and how long the driver gazes at the passenger’s screen. Dual control technology will also be available to dim or completely obscure the driver’s view of the passenger device.
The AI helper no longer needs to be activated by saying “Hey Mercedes”. The new Just Speak feature allows drivers to issue orders verbally. In the event that the temperature falls below a predetermined level, car owners can turn on the heated seats and modify the internal lighting. By remembering the driver’s routines, AI will eventually be able to automatically generate commands for routine activities. 5G connectivity is also going to be available for users enriching the experience.
I think that everybody knows OpenAI, but did you know that this AI research facility is working to make their most known and useful language model, ChatGPT, more trustworthy and equitable? As with any machine learning system, ChatGPT is not immune to biases or safety issues that may be brought on by the training set and system design.
OpenAI is implementing several different strategies to enhance ChatGPT’s security and fairness to allay these worries. One significant project is the creation of a safety module that can recognize potentially dangerous or delicate content in generated responses. ChatGPT will be able to warn potentially harmful responses before they have been generated thanks to this safety module, which will be added to the model’s training procedure.
To lessen potential biases in the results of ChatGPT, OpenAI is also attempting to diversify its training data. This entails building datasets with a wider variety of viewpoints and experiences as well as applying strategies like alternative data preprocessing to produce a more varied training dataset.
The improvement of transparency surrounding the model’s training and performance is a critical component of OpenAI’s efforts to make ChatGPT safer and less biased. The data and methodology used to train ChatGPT and how it performs various tasks are described in-depth in technical studies published by OpenAI. By sharing this knowledge, OpenAI intends to help researchers and the general public gain a better understanding of ChatGPT’s potential and limits.
Finally, OpenAI is looking into how to include moral issues in the development and application of ChatGPT. This involves creating policies for the appropriate usage of ChatGPT in various applications as well as collaborating with a variety of stakeholders to comprehend the potential consequences of the model’s findings.
Overall, OpenAI’s efforts to improve ChatGPT’s fairness and safety are a major step toward creating more reliable and trustworthy AI systems. The dedication of OpenAI to transparency, diversity, and ethics is promising for the future of AI research and development, even though there is still more to be done to address potential biases and safety concerns.
Over the past few years, we have been constantly hearing about artificial intelligence. “AI won the art contest”, “AI predicts cancer”, “AI defended a diploma” and many other news headlines, the veracity of which has always been relative. But over the past few months we were able to meet AI “face to face”. ChatGPT. We can’t say ChatGPT changed the rules of the game, but it was the flare gun that started the “race”. And I guess now it is time for companies to present their “cars”. And our today’s hero is Google Bard.
After successful launch of ChaGPT and presentation of Bing update (my blog from 17.02.2023) it was vital for the company to respond to competitors. And Google did it. Bard is an experimental conversational AI service, powered by LaMDA (Illustration 1). LaMDA is a Language Model for Dialogue Applications based on Transformer (a neural network architecture that Google Research invented and open-sourced in 2017), as well as GPT-3.
Nevertheless, Bard is still on the test stage. It was mentioned on the presentation that now Bard is available only for the group of testers, but in a few weeks it will be opened for all users.
In conclusion, AI is the future. And after the OpenAI and Microsoft presentation of their products based on GPT, the game was started. Apparently in the near future we will see many projects of different companies based on AI technologies. I believe that the market is going to change due to this competition, and I will watch the development of events with great interests.
Our cars are getting smarter from generation to generation, however, unfortunately, this also applies to thieves who intend to steal them. Hackers have already found vulnerabilities in electric vehicles, and their attacks can have serious consequences. As electric vehicles become more sophisticated and connected to the Internet, it is expected that the risk of hacking and cyber attacks will only increase.
One of the main problems with electric vehicles is that they are equipped with numerous sensors and controllers connected to the Internet, which makes them vulnerable to cyber attacks. Hackers could potentially gain remote access to these systems and manipulate them in a way that could cause serious harm, such as disabling brakes or changing steering. In some cases, hackers could even take control of the entire car, putting the driver and passengers at risk.
Another problem is that hackers can attack charging stations for electric vehicles. These stations are also connected to the Internet and often use wireless connectivity to connect to electric vehicles. Hackers can potentially gain access to these systems and manipulate them.
Recently, a security expert discovered a way that allows two attackers to unlock, start and drive away a Tesla Model Y electric car in a matter of seconds.
Hackers specializing in hacking Tesla electric vehicles have identified a vulnerability that allows them to hack NFC relays. However, not everything is so simple: in order to hack the system, thieves need to work in pairs and get close to the NFC chip or smartphone. Josep Pi Rodriguez of the Seattle-based computer security firm IOActive found that attackers could use Tesla’s key technology called NFC (Near field Communication) to gain control of a vehicle, designed to give car owners the ability to access them by touching an NFC card to the middle rack. Rodriguez found that if one thief approaches a critically small distance to the driver when he gets out of the car, for example, to a store or bar, and the other is standing by the car, it will be possible to open the door and start the car.
Here’s how it works: a thief standing at the car uses a special device to convince the car to send a “call” to the driver’s NFC card, but then transmits this call via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to a mobile phone belonging to a second thief, who is watching the driver at this time. The second thief keeps this phone near the driver’s pocket or bag where the NFC card is stored, and when this NFC card responds, its signal is transmitted to the thief standing by the car via a mobile phone.
Tesla previously required drivers using an NFC card (not a keychain) to unlock their cars to place the card between the front seats in order to turn on the transmission. But after a recent software update, this requirement has been lifted. Tesla also offers the option of using a PIN code, which means that car owners must enter a four-digit code before starting the car, however, a fairly small number of owners activate it. In the end, even if this additional protection prevents thieves from leaving by car, they will still be able to use the hacking method described above to open the doors and steal any valuables inside the cabin.
To solve these problems, automakers and cybersecurity experts are working to develop stricter security measures for electric vehicles. This includes the introduction of more advanced encryption technologies, the development of secure firmware and software, as well as regular updates and patching of systems to eliminate any vulnerabilities found.
Electric car owners can also take measures to protect their cars from cyber attacks. This includes regularly updating software and firmware, using strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and not using public Wi-Fi networks when accessing the Internet from their cars.
Thus, as electric vehicles become more popular and widely used, the risk of cyber attacks and hacking is expected to increase.
This is a serious problem that could have serious consequences for electric vehicle owners, automakers and the general public. It is important that automakers and cybersecurity experts work together to develop stricter security measures for electric vehicles, as well as educate owners on the steps they can take to protect their cars from cyber attacks.
In my previous blogs I wrote about platform FRAGMENT.COM that launched option of buying and selling TELEGRAM @usernames (blog from 2022/11/29) and anonymous phone numbers (blog from 2022/12/17). I recommend you to read them, because in this blog I will use some thoughts, findings and information from them. In this blog I want to make a kind of conclusion and discuss some predictions for the future of TONcoin (Illustration 1) and its ecosystem.
Pavel Durov (founder, CEO at Telegram, founder, ex-CEO of VKontakte) was the creator of the original concept of TON. And now he actively supports TON and creates platforms as FRAGMENT.COM based on it. Also, he supports in on Twitter (Illustration 3).
Illustration 3. Pavel Durov’s tweet dated 30.11.2022.
And also Pavel Durov announces plans to create more and more decentralised projects such as wallets and exchanges. He argues that blockchain industry has gone form the original concept of freedom and decentralisation, and now, after the latests events in the industry it is time for developers to “back to their roots” (Illustration 4).
Illustration 4. Pavel Durov’s tweet dated 30.11.2022.
Nevertheless, these are just a words, although the words of a very influential person. But what protects in TON ecosystem are already exist? There is a huge list of them on the TON website, but I want to mention the most important of them and verified by the TON team (marked with the blue checkmark on the website).
Wallets (Illustration 5).
Illustration 5. List of verified wallets from TON webpage.
Fragment (Illustration 8) is a free platform which facilitates the transaction of collectibles between users. It supports direct, secure and anonymous sales as well as public auctions where everyone can participate over a period of time. To provide this service transparently, Fragment takes full advantage of TON, a blockchain technology initially developed by Telegram.
Getgems (Illustration 9) is an NFT marketplace built on The Open Network blockchain. To start using the website, all you need to do is connect your wallet — and that’s it. You’ll have all of the marketplace’s functionalities at your fingertips — buying, selling, minting, and transferring single NFTs or entire collections. If you’re more of an observer, there’s plenty of NFT beauty on the marketplace to admire!
In conclusion, The Open Network seem to develop and supported by people and companies. For me, it is an intersection phenomenon of creating of an entire ecosystem based on one blockchain. I like the idea of decentralisation and I will be very interested to see the development of this project in the future.
