Author Archives: 43075

31 January 2023
2 Comments
Business, Devices

What is the next step for improvement of our online connection?

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A man on a small red sofa talking with a TV screen with a floating face inside

In 2019, the whole world changed and was forced to move everything online, as we were heading to 2021, recovering from difficult months of lockdowns, people have felt the urge to go out and to meet others in person, while those others could prefer to stay at home. It was difficult to make some to go, for instance to the offices, so the solution was found – hybrid mode. It was considered to the helping hand and solution for people to be connected but staying at their comfortable space.

Now, we are at the beginning of 2023, and the new issue has been identified, the lack of feeling of being connected, some people can turn off their cameras, others can simply not answer. Logitech – a Swiss company that is concentrated on developing innovation products in the tech industry, recently they have announced a Telepresence Video Booth, which was called ‘Project Ghost’.

Life-size, eye-to-eye conversations are ensured by new mechanism of using a mirror to project the video chat. ‘Project Ghost’ – is a separated Video Booth, that assure people’s have ability to connect all over the world being secure and private during the call.

This novelty is a great step towards acquainting people closer to one another even for those that are not able to meet in person, it allows to have direct eye contact, which is impossible when it comes to Zoom, Skype or other similar platforms.

Sure, such inventions have drawbacks, in this case, the size and price. It is not possible to install a lot of such Video Booth even in big offices, as they require a lot of space. By putting them too close, we are taking some part of the privacy of the conversations, which was actually, one of the main advantages of the ‘Project Ghost’. What is more, the price can possible be not as huge as several hundred thousand, but more if instead of the mirror the glasses-free 3D part was used, which is taking some part of the quality of the video series.

So, there is a battle between practicality and neediness, connection, or convenience. The only thing left is to observe the changes, as we will eventually come to some better ways of connection rather than Zoom calls.

To read more about the ‘Project Ghost’: https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/31/23577918/logitech-steelcase-project-ghost-video-chat-booth-starline

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30 January 2023
4 Comments
AI

Universities and AI or how the educational system is going to adapt to new technologies?

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Use this cutting-edge AI text generator to write stories, poems, news articles, and more - The Verge

In the previous articles a lot of important topics were brought up, particularly about AI and how we have to change legislations or how corporations have to change their structures to be able to co-exist with new technologies.

However, one vital thing has not been discussed yet – educational system. Not that long time ago in schools in the New York city, the use of the bots that could generate essays, articles etc., was banned. Should the same be implemented in the other educational places, especially at the universities?

On one hand, such bots as ChatGPT are the source of unlimited, quickly produced essays that can be used and presented as personal work. What is more, it is highly difficult to detect plagiarism in such bots, as the AI inside them can be aimed to rewrite the texts available on the Internet with using as much synonyms as possible. This is one of the concerns of professors at the universities in the US.

Nonetheless, on the other hand, those texts can be produced with a low quality, for instance mistakes, or sentence structures that barely make sense. This is an asset, as some students can use bots as a source for their research, that would take much less time, or, simply speaking, as an inspiration. For instance, extremely famous program ‘Grammarly’, that helps you to correct the mistakes or try to simplify or make your writing more academic, is also a bot, should it also be banned?

We cannot fully ban something, especially when it comes to the new technologies as they spread and become a part of our life’s. An interesting point was brought up on the Internet that we should develop a broader policy when it comes to the use of AI for educational purposes. Which would make a lot of sense, as far as this is approved by the professor, students can use different bots to enhance their papers.

At the same time, we come to the other problem, we need better tools to detect plagiarism or, what is more important, to detect texts/papers that have been fully made by the AI. This is a one more challenge for the IT industry, as, nowadays it is impossible to identify bot-written assignments, sure, if they have been done in a good way. 

To read more about plagiarism concerns: https://www.wired.com/story/chatgpt-college-university-plagiarism/

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29 January 2023
8 Comments
Apps, Business

Internet, law, and the freedom of speech

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What the Left Keeps Getting Wrong About Free Speech

Through all the times big corporations like Twitter, Google were immune to the lawsuits against them regarding the content posted on each of their platforms. However, current legal cases are about to change this.

There are always battles between Republicans and Democrats, between right and left about the censorship on the Internet. Nowadays, the regulations of blocking content are not really understandable for a lot of people. Some unharmful posts can be deleted, while disturbing pictures still remain in place. So, the debates about how to make the Internet field not a paradise, but not hell at the same time, are on the stage.

This summer is considered to be decisive for the companies in the US, thus, in the European Union. The aim of the justices is to review all the existing cases and come with the legislations and systems that would prevent people from posting/seeing disturbing content, while still having a freedom of speech.

One of the most recent lawsuits was made against Twitter. Several antisemitic posts were noticed on the platform, that were indented to attack Jewish people and deny the Holocaust. Those posts breaking the law of Germany (from where they were posted) as well as breaking terms and conditions of Twitter. The users of the platform have expressed their feeling of being betrayed by the company after it was bought by Elon Mask.

Why was this post not deleted if it was violating terms and conditions of the platform?

The answer is rather easy. After Elon Mask’s purchase of Twitter, it was announced that the company is going to loosen rules and will stop banning so much of the content. The Campaign Against Antisemitism that was a close partner to the company said that the ‘laws’ of the firm started to fall apart after the shift of the ownership to the billionaire.

So, now we are approaching one of the biggest and most interesting changes when it comes to the censorship not only on platforms mentioned above, but also all over the Internet. A lot of people think that we should still leave space for the freedom of speech, as we want to build strong democracy, however this can threaten people life’s and feeling of safeness on the Internet. 

While on the other side, we have the fact that banning ‘inappropriate’ content, can actually be difficult to implement, as there are no strict limitations of what is good or bad. Additionally, that would threaten one of the fundamental rights – the freedom of speech.

To read more about the thought on the topic: https://www.ft.com/content/131c1c6f-7adc-4217-b251-6e7e18570581

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22 January 2023
1 Comment
AI

AI vs Artists, the war of the century or a helping machine?

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Artificial intelligence art - Wikipedia

When the Artificial Intelligence emerged as a novelty, the discussion of it replacing humans spheres that require creativity led to the same answer: ‘It is impossible’. However, now, after several decades we face the first ever trial in the UK between artists’ company and AI generating tool.

How does AI work in terms of art?

Artificial Intelligence is not just simply generating unique picture, but it [AI] is usually trained to examine images, concepts, etc., to produce new ones. The problem lays in the fact that it goes through not only open sources, but also archives of images stock markets.

According to the current UK legal system, this is violation of the copyright law. However, as we are going to new era, old legislations have to be reframed to go with the times.

However, we can look at AI in art from the other point of view. It can be perceived as a helping hand for artists. As it was mentioned before, Artificial Intelligence creates images based on collective information from other pictures. This is the new way of creation of unique ideas and inspiration for artists.

Nonetheless, returning to the lawsuit of the three artists against companies possessing AI tools. As it was said by the lawyers that represent artists: ‘Such products create an existential threat for creators and graphic designers.’ This happens as AI uses artists and their work as a database, later on, the products are monetized and become competitive with the creators’ work.

The case is the first precedent of lawsuit against AI and intellectual property right. It [the case] will probably push not only the UK, but the European Union to change their laws. Previously, there was an idea of loosening IP law. However, it has faced a lot of criticism, especially, from the Association of Photographers. The representative commented that this will have ‘harmful, everlasting and unintended consequences for human creators.’

If to this about this thoroughly, there two ways of possible solution. First is that the laws will be loosened in order to let companies that own AI tools producing their content. The other way, is that this will be never ending story of lawsuits and court trials between representatives of human creativity and AI developers as in the democratic world the way of art (AI is considered to be so), cannot be just forbidden or discriminated.

To read about one interesting precedent of AI and creators confrontation:  https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/02/technology/ai-artificial-intelligence-artists.html

To read more about limitations and opportunities of AI in art: https://mindmatters.ai/2022/08/ai-vs-artists-heres-what-dall-e-2-just-cant-do/

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13 January 2023
6 Comments
AI, Devices

New step forward to fight agains breasts cancer using AI

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At least once in a year or two years every woman is recommended to go through mammography test. Such testings are important to spot the cancer on early stages. However, outside of being crucial, it is also expensive. This problem is faced by low-/middle-income countries, while the amount of woman that have or, as a result, die from cancer is gradually increasing over last years.

In India, where half of the woman with this disease die, new way of spotting breast cancer was found. A small and portable camera which works basing on AI and consisting thermal in it.

Researcher Builds Non-Invasive Device To Detect Breast Cancer

The test is taking around 10 minutes and the only thing woman should do is to remove the top. One of the main advantages of this test is that no one is touching you, especially considering that this fact was stopping some people from the mammography test. 

The test works in the way of producing detailed heatmap of the breasts, and if it spots patterns typical for cancer, the woman is required to undertake further tests 

There is the hope that this invention will make tests more accessible in the place where mammography is considered intrusive or is less accessible.

60,000 women were already tested using this technology, the inventor of the ‘machine’ claims that the camera is 90% accurate in detecting abnormalities. 

However, what is the Western countries’ opinion on this Indian invention? 

Doctors from US and Europe still doubt this invention and think that thermal tests are not reliable, so you cannot use this, when it comes to the point that the result can threaten patient’s life. 

What is more, the US Food and Drug Administration stated that mammography is and will be the best screening method. On controversy to this, the other statement of US FDA is that they hope, these specific tests will reach people, that cannot afford or avoid undertaking regular ones. 

However, that is a great start for such an important development of 21st century. Breast cancer is one of the biggest problems when it comes to causes of womens’ death. 

Here you can read more about AI related test that help doctors to fight with breasts cancer by detecting it on early stages: https://www.cureus.com/articles/106594-artificial-intelligence-in-breast-cancer-screening-and-diagnosis

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8 January 2023
1 Comment
Business, Devices, Security

DMA or how Apple can lose its power on a digital market

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EU Parliament's key committee adopts Digital Markets Act – EURACTIV.com

In 2023, European Union will be facing big changes. One of those is a new legislation proposed by European Commission back in 2020, which would change the flow of competition on the digital market. DMA or Digital Market Act was signed in late 2022 and is aimed to create fairer competition and containment of the possible domination on the market with tech giants.

This regulation is especially interesting when it comes to Apple Inc.

The company has been facing criticisms all the time through their existence. It was usually related to the gadgets itself, operating systems, as well as the criticism from app developers.

The last one, is the crucial when it comes to the discussion about DMA. App developers are dissatisfied with the fact that Apple controls everything when it comes to downloading apps and third-party softwares’. In addition, the company has set 30% fee for them, which gradually decreases and threatens revenues.

In terms of the implementation of DMA, it was the biggest change of the governing laws’ in more than 2 decades, and it creates a huge threat for Apple’s control of its closed and secure operating system (IOS).

The DMA not only requires opening up the possibility to download app from different external sources, but also to allow the developers to install third-party payment systems. Nowadays, if the app provides its customers with so-called IAP (in-app purchase), Apple takes 15-30% as the commission, and as it was said by chief execute of the company Tim Cook, such system does not suit in terms of DMA, however, coming up with a new idea would create a mess.

It is more interesting to consider what will Apple do, what they will have to create and/or change to fit the regulation.

The company is widely known as lawyers seekers, so it is expected that they will not only challenge DMA by trying to interpret what seeping laws entails, but also through direct confrontation between the European Commission and Apple over the implementation of the rules.

What else can Apple do?

Firstly, apps that provide banking or pick-up services, that currently does now pay any fees can be forced to do this, as well as the c0mpany can cut their inside fees to become even attractive to the developers. 

This move would lead big companies that left Apple Store, for instance, Spotify, to come back, not offering their current way of paying for the subscription via the website. As this can result to high traffic without any significant impact on the revenue.

This is going to be spectacular to see how companies will be changing aiming to fit in the new legislations, as those are considered to be huge changes not only for European Union as a whole, but also the companies that would like to compete even with such tech giants as Apple.

To read more about DMA: https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/11/02/eus-digital-markets-act-comes-into-force-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-mean-for-big-tech

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22 December 2022
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Devices

Self-service from Apple

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‘We need to have more open ‘right to repair’ when it comes to Apple products’

Immediate mobile and smartphone repair

Not long time ago, supporters of the movement ‘right to repair’ became openly irritated with the fact that Apple strictly controls the repairment procedures over their gadgets. As a response to this pressure, in November 2021, Apple announced launching this service for users that would like to try and fix devices on their own.

This novelty was not perfect at the beginning, the guidelines were not clear and detailed enough as well as some repairments were just destroying various features of the iPhone, for instance, replacing the display on an iPhone 13 was disabling Face ID, later on, this was fixed by the company. Moreover, not long time after this, Apple allowed its users to install different browsers and email apps from those that were set as the default ones. All those chages made Apple products even more user friendly.

What is more, the company not only allowed its customers to use their guidelines and videos to repair gadgets, but also, they started selling all possible details needed for the repairment as well as tools, directly to the customers.

However, only in December 2022, it was announced that Apple expanding their self-repair service over UK along with other seven European countries. This was made after the pressure from the members of the movement mentioned above.

Is everything as good as it seems to be?

The answer is no. Once the repairment is not provided by Apple, and it goes wrong, the warranty becomes invalid.

Along with this Apple has received tons of complains about the difficultness of the repairments, which became the disaster.

Which conclusion can be made out of this?

We should allow people to do what they are good at. The person who works, for example in finance and has small knowledge, not talking about deep one, in technologies or repairment works, should allow professional do their job, and vice versa. Such attempts of totally unskilled people to save money on repairments and bring them even more spending even to the point of buy a new gadgets

To read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63866869

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18 December 2022
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Devices

End of airplane mode era?

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Ah, the peace of airplane mode. It's too good to use on flights alone | Health & wellbeing | The Guardian

‘Enable innovative services for people’, – was said by Thierry Brenton, EU Commissioner for the Internal Market as a response for a new ideas of implementation 5G services onboard of planes inside the European Union (EU).

The ban of use of electronic devices and, especially, mobile data and services was appertaining to the possibility of interference of devices used by passengers with the equipment used on planes, especially modern fly-by-wire planes, that are using electronic signals to control flight systems, not physical aspect of connect wires. 

Outside of such possible disruption, the other reason of forbidding usage of electronic devises onboard is the fact that they can turn into projectiles in the cabin while the plane going through turbulence.

However, in late November, the EU announced that it is possible to provide 5G technology for passengers onboard, together with safe use of electronic devices without restrictions. What is more, the deadline for the introduction and actual availability of the network was set and it is June 30, 2023.

How is it going to work and is it going to influence safety onboard?

5G is the latest standard to be used. The technology provided in the cabins will not be through the wi-fi function, but the mobile data. This is going to work in following way, aircrafts will be using unique network equipment called ‘picocell’, which uses satellite to connect the regular mobile network which is located on the ground to the network on the plane.

In term of safety, the 5G frequencies are higher with 5GHz than those used by the planes – 4.2 to 4.4 Ghz, which makes the risk of any kind of interference is very small.

Calls, video streaming, downloading videos, films, and more other things in less than several minutes. However, we should not expect this 5G feature to be free, especially for those who does not have EU provider, or the one that is used by the passenger simply does not cover foreign countries.

This is the future coming towards us, no more airplane more, no more phone-free travel, this is opportunity to stay connected and freer even flying several kilometers from the ground.

To read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63786591

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12 December 2022
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Apps, Security

Fraudsters vs New Technologies

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Taiwan’s citizens and tourists are the main victims of calls and messages from fraudsters. The fact that Taiwan is a small island makes it better place as a base for fraudsters’ gangs and overall, as a rehearsal for organized crimes. What is more, Taiwan is the leading country in the field of technology and, especially, within the cybersecurity movements. This means that the scammers have better base for developing their skills and improving software and hardware they use.

The biggest increase of fraudsters’ work was noticed during the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic, when people where the most exposed to the stress and at the same time using their gadgets almost all the time. According to Whoscall’s report the growth of scam calls was with an alarming 488 precents. During 12 month period almost 14 million mobile phishing attacks were observed

Whocall is one of the most popular spam blocking apps, owned by Gogolook. It is used not only in Taiwan, but also across East Asia, moreover during their work with CIB’s (Taiwan Criminal Investigation Bureau) more than 52.3 million scam messages and 13.1 million scam calls were blocked in Taiwan alone.

Whoscall-The best caller ID App

Moreover, more than 1.6 billion of phone numbers were blocked by the artificial intelligence used in the Whocall systems.

As we can see that is the huge problem that can be spread not only through Asia, but all over the world, that is why it is important to stop fraudsters on such small ground comparing to the worldwide scale.

However, is it possible to completely win the war against fraud, especially such widely spread and massive one? The answer will not be positive or promising, it is – no. The more ways to fight against this are discovered by cyber police or companies like Gogolook, the more inventive fraudsters become. 

This is the battle that will be continuing for a long time until current technologies will modify to the level when it becomes possible to overtake the innovations of fraudsters.

To read more about the front-line battle between Taiwan and fraud: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63075729

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5 December 2022
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Business

‘Fake it, till you make it’ – end of Elizabeth Holmes saga.

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Elizabeth Holmes Appeals Theranos Fraud Conviction, Prison Term - Bloomberg

In 2013 the whole world was astonished by the revolutionary idea of 30-year-old entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes, which would have started a new era of blood testings.

‘Edison’ – the machine of the future: compact, cheap, and paramount, with no more need for intravenous blood tests. It would allow the prevention of earnest diseases like cancer with a diminutive drop of vital fluid. Those promises were made by Elizabeth Holmes to investors that subsequently poured a fortune into Theranos (the company founded by her in 2003). Initial funding was raised by using family connections, accounted around $6 million.

In mid-2014 and the beginning of 2015, the net worth of the company was gradually raising, and reached the point of approximately $9 Billion, with Rupert Murdoch holding the biggest amount of shares worth $125 million.

The amount of money invested helped Elizabeth with vast success, by storming Silicon Valley with Theranos, she became the first female self-made billionaire in the USA with a net worth of $4.5 million.

What could have gone wrong?

WSJ investigative journalist John Carreyrou on Recode Decode: transcript - Vox

In 2015 John Carreyrou, a journalist from Wall Street Journal, started his investigation after a tip-off from a skeptical pathologist. Not long time after this, all popular newspapers were full of controversial headlines.

The revolutionary idea was extraordinary fraud! The results of tests taken by the machine were misleading and in most cases not correct. Theranos’ invention simply did not exist.

‘It was not just business or corporate fraud, it is the one that had big implications for public health”,- John Carreyrou said.

After the investigation started in 2015, within a year Elizabeth Holmes was disclosed as a fake. By the end of 2018, the company felt apart.

In July 2018, she was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and ten counts of wire fraud. She was facing a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250 000.

However, the trial was not as smooth as it was expected, firstly it was delayed because of the pandemic of COVID-19, and this allowed Elizabeth Holmes to continue her game. In March 2021, the prosecutor received unexpected news that the defendant is 5-month pregnant. This led to even bigger delays.

“Being a new mother can only help get her sympathy from jurors,” – said Danny Cevallos, NBC News legal analyst.

However, the jury convicted E. Holmes of the investor wire fraud conspiracy count and three counts of actual fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud investors, with the wire transfer of approximately $140 million. Only on November 19, 2022, Elizabeth Holmes’ trial was finally settled, and as a result of it she was plead guilty and was sentenced to 11 years and 3 months in a prison.

This puts a bold period at the end of the Elizabeth Holmes saga and shows society, the danger of Silicon Valley culture that allows fraudsters to have an influential and leading voice.

To read more about the lates update of the court process:

https://www.ft.com/content/3ab080c9-c13d-40b3-a697-9c58fd9e218c

To read more about the trial itself:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/theranos-founder-elizabeth-holmes-found-guilty-investor-fraud

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