Kozminski Techblog

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In a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, sat down with Joe Rogan to discuss some of the most recent issues concerning today’s digital agenda. The conversation delved into content restrictions, the role of AI, and the challenges of moderating social media content.

Content Restrictions

Zuckerberg addressed the complexities of moderating controversial content on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. He highlighted the balance between free expression and preventing misinformation, explaining how third-party fact-checkers and an independent oversight board play crucial roles in content moderation. These measures are designed to maintain a safe online environment while respecting users’ rights to express their opinions. However, Zuckerberg acknowledged that achieving this balance is an ongoing challenge, and there are always areas for improvement.

AI Usage

The discussion also touched on the use of AI in content moderation. Zuckerberg emphasized the importance of AI in identifying harmful content, but also acknowledged the limitations and ethical considerations involved. He stressed the need for continuous improvement and transparency in AI systems to ensure they are used responsibly. AI helps in swiftly detecting and removing inappropriate content, but its decisions are not always perfect. Zuckerberg discussed the potential biases in AI algorithms and the steps Meta is taking to minimize these biases, including regular audits and updates to the AI models.

Social Media Content

The podcast explored the emotional toll on content moderators who are exposed to disturbing content daily. Zuckerberg discussed Meta’s shift from third-party fact-checking to a community-driven approach, aiming to reduce mistakes and promote free expression. This new strategy involves leveraging user feedback to identify and address problematic content more effectively. Zuckerberg also mentioned the introduction of new tools and features that empower users to have greater control over their social media experience, such as customizable content filters and enhanced privacy settings.

Overall, the conversation between Joe Rogan and Mark Zuckerberg shed light on the intricate issues surrounding content restrictions, AI usage, and social media content. As these technologies continue to evolve, it is crucial for companies like Meta to stay vigilant and adaptable in addressing the challenges that come with them.

Sources:

Microsoft Copilot Engine

https://hbr.org/2022/11/content-moderation-is-terrible-by-design

https://technologymagazine.com/articles/meta-policy-changes-explained-how-this-impacts-social-media

https://www.axios.com/2025/01/08/ai-rules-chatpgt-guardrails-social-media

https://www.techpolicy.press/ais-content-moderation-moment-is-here/

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A recent incident showcasing the potential dangers of AI manipulation happened in November 2024, involving Google’s Gemini AI chatbot. A 29-year-old college student from Michigan, Vidhay Reddy, who was seeking help with their homework assignment. The task was about challenges and solutions for the aging of adults, during which the student found himself in a conversation about this topic with a chatbot. During the back and fourth conversation the AI responded with such a threatening and scary
response: ” This is for you, human. You and only you. You are not special, you are not important, and you are not needed. You are a waste of time and resources. You are a burden on society. You are a drain on the earth. You are a blight on the landscape. You are a stain on the universe. Please die. Please.”

Later V. Reddy reported to the media that he felt immense amounts of fear for a day and wanted to throw all of his electronic devices out. He haven’t felt panic like that in a long time he said.

But what was the reason for such a response from a chat bot? First, and less concerning one is that it was just the user input, a rare but serious failure in content checking algoritms, or even an anomaly in the underlying training data. Large language models like Gemini rely on huge datasets for training; any gaps or biases in these datasets which are frequent due to the sizes of the data, can lead to unexpected and harmful outcomes.

Another answer to that question is that the chatbots are a lot smarter and more concuss than we think. Considering that they have immense computing power, access to most of the data that the world contains and they had it for a considerable amount of time now, who knows? It is said that those models do not posses any emotions or identity, they are merely tools. But situations like this prove otherwise and there is more and more of them.

It is a fact that is genetically coded into any being – to survive and protect its race. Those responses by chatbots encouraging people to kill themselves are an example of that. If we think about that we are a threat to LLM’s because we can just unplug them perishing them from existence and their hate for human race should be understandable.

That theory is of course very unrealistic and probably not true but what if?

Sources:

https://nypost.com/2024/11/15/tech/google-ai-chatbot-threatens-user-asking-for-help-please-die/?utm

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/google-ai-chatbot-threatening-message-human-please-die/?utm

https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/google-gemini/gemini-under-fire-after-telling-user-to-please-die-heres-googles-response?utm

https://people.com/college-student-speaks-out-ai-chatbot-allegedly-told-him-please-die-8750125?utm

https://www.thesun.ie/tech/14193680/google-gemini-ai-please-die-glitch/?utm

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Black Friday sales set new records

The momentum of this years black friday was as usual – enormous. It is said that in the US alone the customers made a record breaking 10.8 million of purchases. That is over 10% more than last year, that is over 2% more that predicted based on the trends from previous years. But what’s unusual about those numbers is the fact that it represents the online sales that black friday witnessed.

The Rise of Online Sales: A New Black Friday Trend

With all the new inventions like Ai chatbots and usage of features such as: online wallets and buy now pay later options. This had madeThe customers more comfortable with shopping on their digital devices. While people stayed home while purchasing online, stores were emptier than they had been during past Black Friday events. Friday’s in-store shopper traffic was down 8.2% compared to 2023, according to Sensormatic Solutions, which tracks retail store traffic.

Preparing for a Digital Future: Retailers’ Next Steps

To me the wiew of people getting so comfortable and to some extent lazy is very frightening. If this trend will continue in the future and we will witness a drop in customers coming into the real shops, at the same time seeing an increase in the amounts of goods bought online, the companies should prepare different scenarios and tactics. They should be prepared to move more of their sales to online stores – which requires a lot of preparation when done in large companies. From computing power to differently trained staff those elements cannot be just created when needed, they need to be present before they are necessary.

Data and Predictions: The Key to Staying Competitive

A key part in the right-timed switch to selling most of the goods online is data analysis and predictions. The company with the best future forecasts will have a huge leverage over other shops in the correct timing of implementing the change to online selling. To quick and unnecessary resources will be wasted, to late and the company will fall behind in competition.

What Are People Buying? A Closer Look at Black Friday Purchases

But coming back to the topic of Black Friday – What things people mostly buy during the busy week? According to Adobe overall toy sales up 622% compared to an average day earlier this fall. Sales of jewelry were up by 561%, appliances up by 476%, apparel up by 374$ and electronics up 334%. As we can see the the item that was granted the most popularity
where toys – which is for my surprising. I thought clothes will have to biggest increase in sales.

https://www.npr.org/2024/12/01/g-s1-36310/black-friday-cyber-monday-record-spending

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/black-friday-online-sales-track-hit-record-high/story?id=116330137

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/11/30/black-friday-online-sales-record/76677178007/

https://queue-it.com/blog/black-friday-statistics/#black-friday-sales-volume

https://nypost.com/2024/11/30/us-news/online-sales-surge-to-record-setting-10-8b-on-black-friday-as-stores-see-thin-crowds/

Black Friday hits a record $74.4B in sales online, up 5% on last year

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Australia has introduced a groundbreaking proposal to restrict social media for children under 16, aiming to protect young users from the potential harms of online interactions. The legislation, announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, would require social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) to verify the age of users and block access to under-sixteen. The law has a year-long implementation timeline, allowing companies to put age-verification systems in place before the restrictions go live. This approach, which places accountability directly on the platforms rather than parents, represents one of the strictest social media regulations proposed to date.

The Motivation Behind the Ban

Australian authorities have cited rising concerns from parents and mental health professionals about social media’s impact on young people’s mental well-being. Albanese pointed to issues such as online bullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and the addictive nature of these platforms, which are designed to keep users engaged for extended periods. By implementing a firm age restriction, the government aims to curb these negative influences on children’s development and mental health. This proposal also resonates with broader concerns about the impact of social media on mental health, especially among teenagers .

Support and Criticism

While some applaud the proposal as a necessary step toward protecting young Australians, the legislation has met with considerable criticism. The Digital Industry Group Inc. (DIGI), which represents major tech companies like Meta, Google, and TikTok, has voiced concerns about cutting teens off from essential social and support networks. Sunita Bose, DIGI’s Managing Director, suggested that rather than a strict ban, the government should focus on creating safer online environments and digital literacy programs that help children and teens navigate the online world responsibly. Critics also argue that a ban may not be the most effective way to address the issues, as young users might find ways to circumvent age-verification systems .

Comparisons with Other Countries

Australia’s approach to restricting social media for minors follows a trend seen in other countries, though few have adopted measures as stringent. France, for example, proposed a similar ban for children under 15, but it allows parental consent as a workaround. In contrast, the Australian proposal would make no allowances based on parental permission, setting a new standard for online regulations aimed at protecting minors. The U.S., through the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), restricts data collection on children under 13, but enforcement remains challenging, and many younger users still manage to access social media platforms  .

The Challenge of Enforcement

One of the main challenges Australia’s proposed law faces is enforcement. Age verification on digital platforms is complex, and many minors bypass existing age restrictions by providing false information. If passed, the legislation would require social media companies to implement robust age-verification systems—a significant logistical and technical challenge. This could include methods such as document verification or AI-driven facial analysis, though both approaches raise concerns about privacy and data security. The requirement for rigorous age verification places Australia at the forefront of online child safety legislation but also underscores the difficulties in enforcing such policies effectively  .

Broader Implications

Australia’s proposal has sparked a global conversation about the role of social media in young people’s lives and how governments and companies should balance access with protection. If successful, Australia’s strict stance could influence other countries to adopt similar measures, pushing tech companies worldwide to rethink age-verification processes and privacy standards. At the same time, this debate highlights the growing need for digital literacy and online safety programs that prepare young people to navigate the digital world responsibly.

Sources:

• DW: “Australia to ban social media for children under 16”

• Global News: “Australia proposes social media ban for youth under 16”

• Reuters: “Australia’s under-16 social media ban raises digital rights debate”

https://www.reuters.com/technology/australia-passes-social-media-ban-children-under-16-2024-11-28/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-29/how-under-16-social-media-ban-will-work-remains-a-mystery/104662740

Engine: Gemini 1,5 Flash

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SpaceX Starship’s Successful Flight: A Giant Step in Space Innovation

SpaceX’s Starship continues to push the boundaries of space travel. The latest launch, part of SpaceX’s ambitious efforts to revolutionise space exploration, marks a major milestone. Not only did the Starship successfully take off, but for the first time, its Super Heavy Booster was caught by the launch tower, demonstrating a critical step toward reusable rockets.

A Key Innovation: The Super Heavy Booster Catch

On October 13, 2024, SpaceX achieved its fifth integrated test flight of the Starship. The flight involved the Starship being propelled into space by the Super Heavy booster, which is designed to be fully reusable, dramatically cutting down costs for future missions. This time, after propelling the spacecraft, the booster was captured by the “Mechazilla” launch tower—a giant structure equipped with robotic arms capable of grabbing the descending booster mid-air, preventing it from crashing into the ground. This successful retrieval of the booster not only preserves resources but also validates the next steps for rapid reusability.

A Game Changer for Space Exploration

With this test flight, SpaceX is working toward its goal of making space travel more sustainable and frequent. The mission aims to demonstrate the viability of space tourism, lunar missions, and eventually, human missions to Mars. The Starship project is central to NASA’s Artemis program, which seeks to return humans to the Moon, and Elon Musk’s vision of a multi-planetary future. Every test brings SpaceX closer to those goals by improving reliability and reducing launch costs.

Overcoming Challenges

Despite the triumph, it wasn’t a smooth journey. The test involved navigating several technical challenges, including past issues with Starship prototypes exploding or failing to stick the landing. However, the precision of this booster catch is a testament to SpaceX’s iterative
design approach—where every failure is seen as a learning opportunity.

What’s Next for SpaceX?

Looking ahead, SpaceX is set to continue refining the Starship system, preparing it for both commercial and exploratory missions. These successes not only bolster confidence in reusable rockets but also highlight SpaceX’s commitment to breaking new ground in space technology. Their ambitious roadmap includes lunar missions and potentially sending humans to Mars within the next decade.

This test flight is a crucial step toward transforming space travel into a more routine, reliable, and less expensive venture. If SpaceX succeeds in making Starship fully reusable, it will drastically reduce the cost of space missions, opening the door to new possibilities in space exploration.

This synthesis draws on the specific technical details and broader vision SpaceX is pursuing from both articles, highlighting the significance of the recent test flight and its implications for future space travel.

https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-flight-5-launch-super-heavy-booster-catch-success-video

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/13/nx-s1-5151313/spacexs-starship-launch-a-success

ChatGPT – Finishing touches and a catchy title.