Category: Technology

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) aims to simplify the process for consumers to unlock their mobile phones from their carriers, proposing that all devices should be unlockable just 60 days after purchase. This proposal seeks to address how it will integrate with current phone plans and purchasing trends, a topic the FCC intends to explore further before implementing the rule.

Typically, mobile phones bought from carriers are locked to that carrier until the contract expires or the phone is fully paid off. Despite progress over the years—unlocking phones was once illegal—it remains unclear to many consumers when and how they can unlock their phones to use with different carriers or in different countries.

To clarify, this isn’t about unlocking the phone using facial recognition, fingerprints, or passwords, but rather altering the phone’s software settings to enable it to work with various mobile networks.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in a press release on Thursday. “When you buy a phone, you should have the freedom to decide when to change service to the carrier you want and not have the device you own stuck by practices that prevent you from making that choice,” she wrote. “That is why we are proposing clear, nationwide mobile phone unlocking rules.”

The proposal specifically requires carriers to provide unlocking services 60 days after activation. While this standard is welcomed, it may clash with the current dynamics of the phone and wireless markets.

For example, although the two-year contract is no longer mandatory for most consumers, many still opt for such contracts to secure pricing and other benefits. More relevantly, phones are often paid for through installment plans, where a phone is acquired for “free” but paid off over several years.

The NPRM stage in FCC rulemaking involves drafting the rule without having solicited public feedback yet. On July 18, the agency will publish the complete document and open the floor for comments on these issues. It’s expected that mobile providers will have much to say!

Without knowing the exact details of the proposed rule, it’s uncertain how it will align with these common pay-over-time arrangements. However, unlocking a phone doesn’t absolve the user from paying off the device—it simply allows them to use it on other networks. If a carrier lets a customer buy a phone outright but locks it to its bands for six months or a year purely out of greed, this rule would provide an early way out.

As Rosenworcel pointed out, the objective of the rule is to offer consistency and transparency—a straightforward, nationwide regulation that sets a reasonable limit on how and when carriers can lock devices. More details will be available in July when the full NPRM is published.

Nikesh Arora, CEO and chairman of Palo Alto Networks, is the sole Indian-American featured among the top 10 highest-paid CEOs in the United States, according to a recent report by C-Suite Comp, a data analytics firm. This report, published on Monday, diverges from the commonly highlighted Indian-origin executives in Silicon Valley, such as Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella, who did not make the list.

C-Suite Comp compiled two lists based on different metrics: “total compensation granted” and “compensation actually paid” in 2023. Remarkably, neither Google’s Sundar Pichai nor Microsoft’s Satya Nadella featured on either list, despite Microsoft’s significant achievements with OpenAI over the past year. Conversely, Nikesh Arora secured spots on both lists, highlighting his significant earnings.

In the “Highest earning CEOs in the US by total compensation granted in 2023” category, Arora ranked fourth with an impressive $151.4 million. Additionally, he was tenth in the “Highest earning CEOs in the US by compensation actually paid in 2023” category, with an annual compensation totaling $266.4 million.

Leading the list of highest-paid CEOs by actual compensation in 2023 is Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, with an astronomical earning of $1.4 billion. He is followed by Alexander Karp of Palantir Technologies, who also crossed the billion-dollar mark with $1.1 billion. Other notable CEOs on this list include Hock Tan of Broadcom, Brian Armstrong of Coinbase Global, and Safra Catz of Oracle.

Here’s a detailed look at the top earners:

1. Elon Musk, Tesla – $1.4 billion
2. Alexander Karp, Palantir Technologies- $1.1 billion
3. Hock Tan, Broadcom- $767.7 million
4. Brian Armstrong, Coinbase Global – $680.9 million
5. Safra Catz, Oracle- $304.1 million
6. Brian Chesky, Airbnb- $303.5 million
7. Jon Winkelried, TPG – $295.1 million
8. Jeff Green, Trade Desk – $291.7 million
9. Adam Foroughi, Applovin- $271.3 million
10. Nikesh Arora, Palo Alto Networks- $266.4 million

Nikesh Arora’s journey to becoming one of the highest-paid CEOs is noteworthy. He became the CEO of Palo Alto Networks in 2018, following a distinguished career at Google and SoftBank Group. Born 56 years ago to an Indian Air Force officer, Arora completed his early education at Air Force Public School in Delhi. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (now IIT-BHU). Furthering his education, he obtained an MBA from Northeastern University and an MSc from Boston College.

Arora’s professional trajectory includes a decade at Google, where he held senior leadership roles. In 2014, he transitioned to SoftBank Group, serving as its president and chief operating officer. His career also spans roles at T-Mobile and Bharti Airtel, Europe.

In his personal life, Arora is married to Ayesha Thapar, the granddaughter of the notable business magnate Karam Chand Thapar. This background not only highlights his professional achievements but also his significant personal affiliations.

Arora’s inclusion in the top 10 highest-paid CEOs in the US underscores the financial recognition of his leadership at Palo Alto Networks, a leading cybersecurity company. His dual appearances on both the “total compensation granted” and “compensation actually paid” lists further emphasize his substantial earnings and the high value placed on his executive role.

The achievement is particularly significant given the context of the technology industry, where other prominent Indian-American CEOs like Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella have not made the same lists despite their considerable influence and the technological advancements under their leadership. Arora’s recognition in these rankings demonstrates the diverse achievements of Indian-origin executives in the United States and the broad spectrum of industries where they make significant impacts.

Nikesh Arora stands out not just among Indian-origin executives, but across the entire landscape of American corporate leadership. His impressive earnings and notable career progression highlight his substantial contributions to the tech industry and his exceptional role at Palo Alto Networks. As the only Indian-American in the top 10 highest-paid CEOs in the US, Arora’s achievement is a testament to his hard work, expertise, and the high regard in which he is held within the business community.

Several of India’s largest temples, including the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, and Venkateswara Swami Temple in Tirupati, have embraced facial recognition technology to manage their vast numbers of worshippers. This technology captures data on tens of thousands of daily visitors, raising concerns about privacy and surveillance in the absence of clear regulations.

At the Venkateswara Swami Temple, for instance, devotees are photographed upon entry, with their details cross-checked against registration information. According to L.M. Sandeep, TTD’s general manager for information technology, the system aims to prevent criminal entry and eliminate exploitation by middlemen who charge for expedited temple access and accommodation services.

Critics like Disha Verma from the Internet Freedom Foundation argue that facial recognition technology is inherently flawed and raises serious privacy concerns, particularly when used without robust legal frameworks. They warn of potential misuse of data, especially in a country where similar technologies have been deployed for law enforcement purposes, often with discriminatory outcomes.

India has rapidly adopted facial recognition technology since 2018, with systems deployed across various states in public spaces, schools, and even temples. Concerns about its accuracy and the lack of transparency regarding data storage and usage persist, despite some legislative efforts like India’s Data Protection Law, which has yet to be fully enforced.

The inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya marked a significant moment, symbolizing a shift towards integrating AI technology into religious sites for enhanced security. However, critics argue that such measures could lead to increased surveillance and potential misuse of data, particularly in a politically charged environment where religious sentiments are mobilized during elections.

The Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, witnessing massive footfall daily, introduced AI-enabled facial recognition in 2023 to manage crowds effectively. Similarly, other states have explored schemes linking temple visits with government subsidies, raising further concerns about privacy and the possible targeting of minority groups.

While India’s parliament passed its first data protection law in 2023, its implementation remains pending, leaving privacy rights vulnerable to technological advancements like facial recognition. Contrastingly, countries like China have begun drafting laws to restrict private use of such technologies and safeguard personal data, highlighting the global debate on surveillance and privacy rights.

In the absence of clear guidelines and accountability, the deployment of facial recognition in temples and other public spaces continues to be contentious. Legal challenges have been mounted, although outcomes remain pending, reflecting the broader uncertainty and concerns regarding privacy in the digital age.

In a significant advancement for customer service technology in the Middle East, NAM InfoCom has introduced a cutting-edge Arabic Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solution named IVR 2.0, powered by @E42.ai’s advanced AI platform. This innovation promises to revolutionize customer interactions across the region.

NAM InfoCom, renowned for its IT solutions globally, has developed this new Arabic IVR system as a testament to their commitment to innovation and excellence. By harnessing the sophisticated AI capabilities of @E42.ai, NAM InfoCom aims to provide businesses with a tool that can manage customer inquiries more efficiently and effectively than ever before.

Vinay Mahajan, CEO of NAM InfoCom, emphasized the importance of customer service in driving business success, particularly in the rapidly growing and evolving Middle Eastern market. He stated, “Our new AI-powered Arabic IVR 2.0 solution is designed to meet the specific needs of this region, providing businesses with the ability to offer high-quality, round-the-clock customer support.”

The article highlights a challenge faced by a leading provider of voice-supported backend services—a surge in call volumes strained manpower resources and impacted profitability. To combat this, the company implemented voice-based intelligent responses to automate call handling. However, they encountered limitations in cognitive capabilities and experienced reduced customer satisfaction.

Seeking a solution that could deliver more human-like responses, the company integrated a Cognitive AI platform into their response system. This enhancement enabled the system to accept voice inputs, recognize customer queries, validate identities, generate context-aware responses, guide users through interactive voice experiences, confirm resolutions, and probe for further issues.

The integration of Cognitive AI yielded significant results:

– Reduced caller wait times to under 3 seconds.

– Improved customer experience and satisfaction.

– Increased operational efficiency and reduced manpower costs.

The benefits extended beyond efficiency improvements. The enhanced IVR system offered:

– Enhanced self-service capabilities through natural language understanding.

– Personalized support by analyzing customer data and tailoring responses based on past interactions.

– Improved issue resolution rates using machine learning.

– Round-the-clock availability for seamless customer support across time zones.

– Substantial cost savings by automating complex tasks and reducing operational overheads.

– Reduced wait times for quicker issue resolution.

– Enhanced first-call resolution rates with accurate and helpful information.

The Middle Eastern market poses unique challenges due to its diverse and multilingual population, which often complicates delivering consistent and effective customer support. NAM InfoCom’s AI-powered Arabic IVR 2.0 addresses these challenges adeptly by not only understanding and speaking Arabic fluently but also adapting to the cultural nuances and expectations of customers in the region.

Animesh Samuel, CEO of @E42.ai, expressed their goal to empower Middle Eastern businesses in enhancing customer service operations. He remarked, “By combining our AI expertise with NAM InfoCom’s deep understanding of the local market, we have developed a solution that truly meets the needs of Arabic-speaking customers and can be adapted to cater to diverse language needs globally.”

The integration of a Cognitive AI platform into the company’s IVR system marked a transformative shift in their call center operations. By leveraging AI capabilities, they have not only elevated customer experiences but also streamlined processes and significantly boosted profitability. This innovation underscores NAM InfoCom’s leadership in delivering advanced solutions tailored to meet the dynamic demands of the Middle Eastern market.

Duddilla Sridhar Babu, the IT minister of Telangana, emphasized the state’s proactive efforts in engaging NRIs, particularly those of Telugu origin, to contribute to the development of their respective regions and hometowns. Speaking to New India Abroad, Babu outlined plans to create platforms ensuring accountability for NRIs’ contributions: “We would like to create some platform. So, the benefits that NRIs would like to share with their own people will be given with proper audit and accountability.”

He highlighted the initiative taken by the former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy to establish a US embassy in Hyderabad, simplifying visa processes for Telangana residents: “Previously, people from Telangana had to travel to Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, or Bengaluru for their visas, but they can now be obtained locally,” he noted.

Addressing the significant Telugu diaspora in the US, Babu urged their contribution in various forms, including intellectual property and financial support: “We are seeking their contribution in terms of kind, in terms of their intellectual property, in terms of their expertise. And if need be, if somebody wants to contribute in terms of money or in cash, they can give back to the region or the place where they hail from.”

Regarding economic policies, Babu, a Congress leader, affirmed the government’s commitment to Telangana’s economic progress. He underscored the continuity of progressive policies while introducing new initiatives to further enhance economic growth: “This is the confidence that we have been trying to instill in our investors in the state and who also become the stakeholders of our state’s economy.”

Babu outlined plans to replicate Hyderabad’s success across other districts and towns, promoting investment in tier 2 and tier 3 cities for holistic development: “The plan is to replicate Hyderabad’s success in other districts and towns, encouraging investors to set up operations in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, fostering a holistic development approach.”

Highlighting Telangana’s role in the global IT sector, Babu acknowledged the contribution of companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, whose operations in Hyderabad have significantly contributed to their global growth: “Most of the companies which have contributed to US growth too, we are also part and parcel of this growth.”

In the context of emerging technologies, Babu stressed the importance of embracing AI to avoid missed opportunities similar to the semiconductor industry: “AI is occupying a major role in times to come. So, we cannot miss that bus. We cannot miss that, just like we have missed the semiconductor bus.”

Reflecting on Hyderabad’s advantages over Bengaluru, Babu cited affordable living, reliable infrastructure for water and power, and efforts to decentralize growth across the city: “We have affordable living, quality of life is much better, you know, water, is never a problem, power is never a problem and when you see in some parts, the density of the population, especially the IT population, is high. Now we are concentrating on four corners of Hyderabad.”

He contrasted Hyderabad’s growth strategy with Bengaluru’s centralized development approach, emphasizing the need to learn from Bengaluru’s experiences: “When Bengaluru is losing its vitality, we are growing and we have learned many lessons in the process from Bengaluru too. Not to concentrate everything in one area or one city, but we are trying to concentrate in all parts of our state.”

Duddilla Sridhar Babu articulated Telangana’s strategic initiatives to leverage its diaspora’s strengths, promote economic growth, embrace technological advancements like AI, and ensure balanced regional development. His vision underscores the state’s ambition to emerge as a leader in inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Apple is fully embracing artificial intelligence, unveiling several novel AI functionalities and forming a partnership with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. This groundbreaking collaboration was announced during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday.

Regarded by analysts as relatively slower in embracing AI compared to peers like Microsoft and Google, this move marks a significant step forward for Apple. The partnership allows Apple’s vast user base to tap into the technology offered by OpenAI, a prominent player in the AI landscape. OpenAI, known for its high-profile alliances with various technology and publishing entities, including a substantial deal with Microsoft, will now integrate its capabilities into Apple’s digital assistant Siri, as revealed by Apple’s software chief Craig Federighi during the conference. This integration will enable users to seek assistance for tasks ranging from recipe suggestions to story composition, as Federighi demonstrated with an example of crafting a customized bedtime story for a child.

The announcement comes amidst the rapid expansion of AI technology, accompanied by notable challenges such as erroneous outputs and controversies like the alleged unauthorized use of actor Scarlett Johansson’s voice by OpenAI. Additionally, Apple finds itself entangled in an antitrust lawsuit filed by the Justice Department and several states, accusing the tech giant of monopolistic practices. The implications of Apple’s partnership with OpenAI in the context of this legal battle remain uncertain.

Following Apple’s disclosure, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “very happy to be partnering with apple to integrate chatgpt into their devices later this year! think you will really like it.”

Alongside its collaboration with OpenAI, Apple introduces “Apple Intelligence,” its proprietary generative AI software. This new offering encompasses features such as call transcription, AI-powered photo editing, and enhancements to Siri’s conversational abilities. Furthermore, Apple Intelligence facilitates the summarization of notifications, text messages, articles, documents, and web pages. Federighi underscored Apple’s commitment to privacy with the introduction of Private Cloud Compute, a system designed to safeguard user data.

Apple has slated the rollout of these new features for later this year.

In a significant cybersecurity breach, a group of hackers has leaked a database containing the criminal records of 70 million Americans, as reported by cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes. The leaked data includes comprehensive personal and criminal details, posing a serious threat to those with past convictions.

Details of the Leak:

The leaked database contains extensive information, including full names, dates of birth, known aliases, postal addresses, dates of arrest, dates of conviction, sentences, and more. This leak is particularly concerning for anyone who has been convicted in the past, as their personal and criminal details are now exposed.

Malwarebytes disclosed the news of this data leak on its blog. The post suggests that the company did not have direct access to the leaked database but was able to provide substantial information about the incident and the threat actors involved.

The Perpetrators:

The hacking groups EquationCorp and USDoD are reportedly behind this major data breach involving the criminal record database. The breach resulted in the online leak of the database, which contains 70 million entries. These entries include comprehensive personal and criminal details of millions of Americans who had encounters with the U.S. justice system between 2020 and 2024.

Insights from Malwarebytes:

We reached out to Malwarebytes and spoke with Pieter Arntz, a security researcher at the company. Arntz informed us that they were able to obtain a small sample of the criminal records, which are specific to individual incidents. Each entry represents either an arrest or a case rather than a comprehensive compilation of all crimes committed by a single person. In other words, these records provide a snapshot of discrete legal events rather than a comprehensive overview of an individual’s criminal history.

The Source and Motive:

The exact source of this database is unknown. However, the hacker group USDoD, a major player in the field, is closely linked to “Pompompurin,” the operator of the original data leak site BreachForums. According to Malwarebytes, USDoD plans to create a successor to the second version of BreachForums, which was recently shut down by law enforcement. By releasing this database, USDoD might be trying to attract new users.

The same hacker is also believed to be involved in a breach at TransUnion, the data from which was partly dumped in September 2023.

Implications of the Leak:

The exposure of such a comprehensive criminal database could have significant implications for law enforcement, judicial proceedings, and the individuals mentioned within the dataset. The hackers who pulled off the leak might be looking to make a quick buck by selling your data to shady characters on the dark web. They might also try to con you by pretending to be someone you trust or a legit company, aiming to get their hands on some cash.

This much bulk data can also be used by bad actors to threaten, harass and blackmail people with records similar to the Ashley Madison breach. For the unaware, In July 2015, a hacker group calling itself “The Impact Team” stole the user data of Ashley Madison, a commercial website billed as enabling extramarital affairs. These hackers copied personal information from the user base and threatened to expose users’ names and personal details unless Ashley Madison shut down right away.

Steps to Protect Your Personal Data and Privacy:

If you suspect you’ve been impacted by this data breach, follow these steps to protect your personal data and privacy:

1.Invest in identity theft protection:If you think your personal data has been leaked, scammers may try to impersonate you to gain access to your private information. The best thing you can do to protect yourself from this type of fraud is to subscribe to an identity theft service.

2.Place a fraud alert:Contact one of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion) and request a fraud alert to be placed on your credit file. This will make it more difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name without verification.

3.Be cautious of phishing attempts:Be vigilant about emails, phone calls or messages from unknown sources asking for personal information. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or providing sensitive details unless you can verify the legitimacy of the request.

4.Check Social Security benefits:It is crucial to periodically check your Social Security benefits to ensure they have not been tampered with or altered in any way, safeguarding your financial security and preventing potential fraud.

5.Invest in removal services:While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time.

6.Change your password:You can render a stolen password useless to thieves simply by changing it. Opt for a strong password — one you don’t use elsewhere. Even better, consider letting a password manager generate one for you.

The fact that threat actors were able to leak such a comprehensive amount of data suggests serious loopholes in government systems. These issues need to be addressed to prevent data breaches like this from exposing people’s personal information. As there is currently no advisory from the government, you’ll have to take matters into your own hands. Stay extra vigilant against identity theft and targeted phishing attacks.

Have you ever been a victim of a data breach? If yes, what steps did you take to protect your personal data? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

For more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

WhatsApp, the widely-used global messaging platform under the umbrella of Meta, has introduced fresh functionalities, including an alternative login method and an artificial intelligence aide within the application.

iPhone users now have the option to utilize passkeys for logging in. This allows them to access the app through Face ID, Touch ID, or their iPhone passcode, eliminating the need for SMS verification. WhatsApp stated on X, formerly known as Twitter, on April 24 that this feature constitutes “a more secure way to login.” Additionally, it circumvents potential obstacles associated with SMS verification, with the company noting: “traveling? no network? no problem.”

The introduction of passkeys for Android users took place in October, as evidenced by a post shared on Threads, another social media platform under the Meta umbrella.

Furthermore, there’s been a recent update to the messaging app. On April 18, Meta expanded the presence of a new AI assistant across its suite of social platforms—Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp.

Users can now leverage this assistant, dubbed Meta Llama 3, within feeds, chats, and search functionalities across the apps to access information and create images “without having to leave the app you’re using,” according to the company.

Moreover, Meta AI in English is now accessible in over a dozen countries beyond the United States, including Australia, Canada, Ghana, Jamaica, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, has enlisted Pragya Misra as its inaugural recruit in India. Sources revealed to IANS that Ms. Misra’s role will focus on steering public policy affairs and forging partnerships within the nation.

Formerly, she held the position of Director of Public Affairs at Truecaller, where she extensively collaborated with governmental bodies, investors, vital stakeholders, and media affiliates. Preceding her tenure at Truecaller, she dedicated three years to Meta Platforms.

Notably, Pragya Misra assumed the mantle as the pioneer employee of WhatsApp in India. She spearheaded WhatsApp’s endeavors combating misinformation in 2018 and contributed her expertise to firms like Ernst & Young as well as the Royal Danish Embassy in Delhi. Ms. Misra attained her MBA from the International Management Institute in 2012, having completed her undergraduate studies in commerce at Delhi University. Furthermore, she holds a Diploma in Bargaining and Negotiations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Ms. Misra’s multifaceted talents extend beyond her professional domain. She boasts a considerable following of 35,000 on Instagram, where she wields influence. Additionally, she is a podcaster, hosting the Pragyaan podcast (@pragyaan_podcast), which delves into subjects ranging from meditation to human consciousness.

Moreover, as a Heartfulness meditation trainer, Ms. Misra shares her expertise in fostering mindfulness. Her diverse array of engagements exemplifies her commitment to holistic well-being and intellectual exploration.

The surge in Generative AI (GenAI) adoption is reshaping the landscape of the Asia-Pacific region, with India poised to join the ranks of the fastest-growing markets in the coming years.

In accordance with an IDC report, the Asia-Pacific region is undergoing an unparalleled rise in GenAI adoption across various sectors, encompassing software, services, and hardware tailored for AI-centric systems.

Projections indicate that GenAI expenditure in the region is expected to skyrocket to $26 billion by 2027, boasting a staggering compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 95.4 percent during this period.

This surge underscores the region’s pivotal role in propelling the next phase of AI innovation and technological progress, as highlighted in the report.

Deepika Giri, Head of Research for Big Data and AI at IDC APJ, emphasized that investment in GenAI is anticipated to peak within the next two years, followed by a phase of stabilization.

“China is anticipated to uphold its dominance in the GenAI market, with Japan and India emerging as the most rapidly expanding markets in the foreseeable future,” Giri noted.

From software development to customer service, GenAI is driving a paradigm shift in various industries, heralding a new era of innovation across the region.

The financial services sector, in particular, is witnessing a rapid surge in GenAI adoption in Asia, with projections indicating a growth to $4.3 billion by 2027, boasting a CAGR of 96.7 percent, according to the report (IANS).

Google has announced plans to remove millions of users’ browsing data in response to the settlement of a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of tracking individuals without their consent. The lawsuit, initiated in 2020, contended that Google’s Chrome web browser collected data from users even when in private “incognito” mode, contrary to users’ expectations. Although this mode ostensibly allows users to browse without data collection, the suit alleged that Google’s auxiliary tools, such as advertising technology, continued to gather data.

In December, Google agreed to settle the case, committing to erase “billions” of data records associated with users’ private browsing. The details of the settlement were disclosed in a filing at a federal court in San Francisco. Additionally, Google pledged to enhance its disclosures, providing clearer information on data collection practices and the visibility of users’ activities to websites while in incognito mode. Over the next five years, Google will enable incognito mode users to block third-party cookies, enhancing privacy protection.

Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda expressed satisfaction with the settlement, stating, “We are pleased to settle this lawsuit, which we always believed was meritless.” Castaneda emphasized that Google does not link data to individual users in incognito mode and expressed willingness to delete outdated technical data unrelated to individuals or personalization.

Despite plaintiffs initially seeking $5 billion in damages, the settlement does not involve financial compensation from Google. Instead, individuals retain the option to pursue damages through their own complaints in U.S. state courts, with approximately 50 individuals already having taken this course of action.

David Boies, lead attorney for the plaintiffs, described the settlement as “groundbreaking” and a significant step in compelling major tech companies to be transparent about their data collection and usage practices. Notably, Google’s agreement to retroactively delete user data holds significance as it underpins the company’s lucrative advertising business, reliant on the quality of its search engine. This settlement coincides with Google facing numerous regulatory challenges domestically and internationally, amidst growing concerns regarding tech giants’ utilization of vast user data.

Stephanie Liu, a senior analyst at Forrester, highlighted the trend of consumers becoming increasingly aware of privacy issues and taking legal action against companies for data mishandling. Representatives for the consumers in the lawsuit, including attorneys from Boies Schiller Flexner and Morgan & Morgan, affirmed that the settlement provides “substantial relief” for plaintiffs.

Moreover, the settlement averted a trial originally scheduled for February, a year anticipated to be busy for Google in the courts. Notably, a jury trial concerning allegations of antitrust violations, brought by the U.S. Justice Department and a coalition of state attorneys general, is slated for September. Additionally, a lawsuit from Texas and other states challenging Google’s ad tech practices is scheduled for March 2025. Meanwhile, a federal antitrust trial in Washington accusing Google of monopolizing the online search market is approaching its conclusion, with closing arguments set for May.

A legal settlement has recently brought fresh attention to the widely used private browsing mode, known as “Incognito,” in Google’s Chrome browser. While this feature has been available for almost ten years, its functionality and implications have been under scrutiny due to this settlement disclosed in a federal court. The primary aim of this settlement is to enhance privacy for users utilizing Incognito mode in Chrome while browsing the internet.

The settlement, unveiled on Monday, doesn’t involve direct monetary compensation for consumers. However, the attorneys who initiated the case in June 2020 estimate that the stricter privacy measures could be valued between $4.75 billion to $7.8 billion, considering the safeguarded personal information. This development underscores the growing significance of privacy concerns in the digital age.

Private browsing modes have become a standard feature in nearly every major browser. Let’s delve into what these modes do and don’t offer for internet users.

**What private browsing actually does:**

Enabling your browser’s private mode essentially initiates a clean slate for your browsing session. It eliminates the benefits of browser personalization, such as history-based suggestions and autocomplete features. Additionally, users typically need to sign into their accounts afresh.

Upon closing the incognito window, your browser clears the browsing history and any cookies generated during that session. This local action means that your browser won’t retain information about visited sites or form entries. Private browsing can be particularly useful for conducting searches on sensitive topics or ensuring added security when using public computers.

**What private browsing doesn’t do:**

It’s crucial to understand that private browsing mode doesn’t conceal the fact that you visited a website but rather hides this information from your device.

Despite using incognito mode, websites can still detect your location through your IP address, and your internet service provider may log your activities. As long as your IP address is visible, your identity and online actions remain exposed to search engines and third parties, including advertisers. This vulnerability was highlighted in a recent lawsuit settlement with Google, which agreed to erase billions of records collected from individuals using incognito mode and enhance privacy disclosures.

Furthermore, files downloaded or bookmarks created during a private session aren’t automatically erased, leaving users susceptible to potential security threats like viruses, malware, and keystroke loggers.

**Are there options for more private browsing?**

While private browsing features provide a level of privacy, they’re not foolproof. Using a virtual private network (VPN) can obscure your IP address, making it harder for sites to track you. However, the use of VPNs introduces additional security considerations, especially with free or low-cost providers.

Some search engines, such as DuckDuckGo, prioritize privacy and pledge not to collect personal information or track user queries. Additionally, specialized browsers like Tor aim to thwart third-party trackers and advertisers.

Despite these options, achieving complete anonymity online remains unlikely. Users should be mindful of their digital footprint and take proactive steps to protect their privacy while navigating the internet landscape.

Yahoo has announced its acquisition of Artifact, the AI-powered news app developed by Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. The financial details of the deal remain undisclosed. Following the acquisition, Artifact will cease to exist as a standalone app, and its advanced personalization technology will be seamlessly integrated into various Yahoo platforms, including the Yahoo News app in the upcoming months. It’s noteworthy that Yahoo is the parent company of TechCrunch.

During the transition period, Systrom and Krieger will serve Yahoo in an advisory capacity. This move comes after Artifact had previously announced its decision to wind down operations due to insufficient market opportunities. Originally conceived as a simple news app, Artifact had evolved into something resembling a Twitter alternative, entering a competitive landscape already populated by various challengers, such as Meta’s Threads.

Artifact’s distinguishing feature lies in its AI-driven technology, which learns users’ preferences over time to deliver a personalized feed of news stories. Additionally, the app offered AI tools for news summarization, rewriting clickbait headlines, and surfacing high-quality content. Yahoo anticipates that incorporating these capabilities into its ecosystem will enhance user experiences and provide tailored personalization.

Kat Downs Mulder, Yahoo’s SVP and general manager of Yahoo News, expressed excitement about continuing to develop Artifact’s technology, stating, “Artifact has become a beloved product and we’re thrilled to be able to continue to grow that technology and further our mission of becoming the trusted guide to digital information and the best curator connecting people to the content that matters most to them.”

Systrom emphasized the potential of Artifact’s technology to benefit millions and highlighted Yahoo’s scale as instrumental in realizing their vision. He remarked, “Yahoo brings the scale to help the product achieve what we envisioned while upholding the belief that connecting people to the trusted sources of news and information is as critical as ever.”

Scientists have uncovered a critical juncture in the evolutionary journey of fungi that regulates their growth patterns and shapes. The study, detailed in the journal Cell Reports, illustrates how minor alterations in environmental conditions can yield significant shifts in evolutionary trajectories.

Fungi play a vital role as nature’s decomposers, residing beneath forest floors to break down fallen trees and autumnal foliage, thus releasing essential nutrients back into the soil.

While mushrooms typically come to mind when thinking of fungi, these organisms also possess subterranean “roots” known as mycelia. Mycelia consist of a multitude of interconnected, microscopic cells called hyphae, which resemble finger-like structures and form extensive networks. Hyphae extend through the soil by elongating from their tips, akin to the inflation of long balloons used in crafting balloon animals.

The varied shapes of hyphae play a crucial role in their function, with some featuring rounded tips while others exhibit pointed ones, a characteristic particularly prominent in the hyphae of water molds—fungus-like pathogens responsible for crop blights.

Enrique Rojas, assistant professor of biology at New York University and the study’s senior author, emphasized the challenge in determining the evolutionary factors dictating an organism’s form. He stated, “A major challenge in biology is to identify the specific evolutionary factors that determine the shape—or form—of a given organism.”

To unravel the mystery behind the diverse shapes of hyphae, Rojas and his team merged theoretical frameworks with experimental approaches, scrutinizing fungi and water molds across various ecological niches. By employing physics-based models of tip growth, they explored the spectrum of potential hyphal shapes. Interestingly, they discovered that the observed shapes in nature represented only a fraction of the conceivable forms.

The researchers theorized that the limited diversity of shapes seen in nature resulted from the concept of “survival of the fittest,” suggesting that the unobserved shapes were evolutionary casualties. To test this hypothesis, they evaluated the growth rates of hyphae with different shapes, constructing a fitness landscape for hyphae.

Maxim Ohairwe, a Ph.D. student at NYU’s Department of Biology and the lead author of the study, described their breakthrough moment when they realized the intimate connection between hyphal shapes and their growth capabilities. He stated, “Our eureka moment was when we realized that the shapes of hyphae were intimately connected to their ability to grow fast.”

A fitness landscape serves as a visualization of an organism’s evolutionary journey, illustrating how species navigate through genetic mutations to optimize their growth rates. The researchers, however, uncovered a more intricate landscape for hyphae, characterized by an overhanging cliff or tipping point, acting as a barrier to evolutionary change and constraining hyphal shapes.

Furthermore, they predicted that hyphae nearing this tipping point would be highly susceptible to slight environmental, chemical, or genetic alterations. To validate their prediction, they exposed fungi near the tipping point to small doses of chemicals affecting hyphal growth. The treatments yielded significant outcomes, with hyphae elongating at a slower pace and exhibiting abnormal shapes not found in nature.

Rojas highlighted the broader implications of their findings, stating, “Our findings explain hyphal shape diversity in an enormous, diverse, and important group of species.” He emphasized the revelation of a new evolutionary principle wherein fitness landscapes can harbor instabilities, such as tipping points, imposing stringent constraints on complex traits like biological form.

The researchers underscored the critical implications of their results for ecological and evolutionary systems. Species susceptible to tipping points in their evolution may face heightened vulnerability to the gradual temperature increments associated with climate change. Additionally, the findings could inform the development of novel antimicrobials targeting disease-causing fungi by pinpointing vulnerabilities linked to an evolutionary tipping point.

In a groundbreaking initiative called Predicting Image Geolocations (PIGEON), three Stanford graduate students, Michal Skreta, Silas Alberti, and Lukas Haas, harnessed the power of artificial intelligence to excel in geolocating photos, demonstrating its potential and raising privacy concerns.

The project originated from a Stanford class, Computer Science 330, where the students, avid players of the online game GeoGuessr, sought to build an AI player surpassing human capabilities. Using the OpenAI-developed CLIP neural network, they trained their system with a dataset of 500,000 Google Street View images, achieving remarkable performance. PIGEON can correctly identify the country in 95% of cases and pinpoint locations within approximately 25 miles.

Silas Alberti emphasized the program’s ability to surpass human geoguessers, recounting their victory against renowned human geoguesser Trevor Rainbolt. PIGEON’s success is attributed to its capacity to discern subtle visual cues, including variations in foliage, soil, and weather, making it adept at image classification by global position.

The potential applications of PIGEON are extensive, ranging from identifying infrastructure issues to aiding biodiversity monitoring and serving as an educational tool. However, the project raises concerns about privacy, voiced by Jay Stanley from the American Civil Liberties Union. Stanley warns of potential misuse for government surveillance, corporate tracking, or even stalking, emphasizing the sensitivity of location information from a privacy standpoint.

To test PIGEON’s capabilities, the program was challenged with personal, unpublished photos from a cross-country trip. Impressively, it accurately identified a campsite in Yellowstone within 35 miles and a street in San Francisco within a few city blocks. While some mismatches occurred, the ACLU’s Jay Stanley acknowledges the project’s overall potential, pondering what larger entities, like Google, could achieve.

The conversation extends to existing features, such as Google’s “location estimation,” utilizing AI to guess photo locations. While currently limited to a catalog of approximately a million landmarks, concerns arise regarding potential expansion for tracking user travel or government surveillance. Stanley emphasizes the shift in removing GPS location tags from photos may become ineffective.

Despite their achievement, the Stanford students recognize the risks associated with AI geolocation and have refrained from publicly releasing their full model. Stanley anticipates the growing influence of AI in geolocation but emphasizes individual awareness of the content in background photos posted online.

The PIGEON project, born from a student endeavor, showcases the remarkable capabilities of AI in geolocating images, opening doors to diverse applications. However, the ethical implications and potential for privacy invasion underscore the need for responsible development and usage of such technology.

A recent investigation carried out in Romania has unveiled that individuals who are subjected to phubbing—being ignored in favor of a mobile phone—tend to experience heightened loneliness and psychological distress. This study, published in BMC Psychology, suggests that loneliness might play a partial role in mediating the connection between perceived phubbing, life satisfaction, and psychological distress.

The ubiquity of mobile devices has seen an explosive growth over the past few decades, with estimates in 2021 indicating a staggering 5.3 billion smartphone users worldwide. While this technological advancement has undeniably facilitated communication and interaction, it has also introduced new challenges in social dynamics, one of which is phubbing.

Phubbing, a contraction of “phone snubbing,” refers to the phenomenon where individuals prioritize their smartphones over face-to-face interactions with others. Those engaging in phubbing neglect the company of others in favor of their mobile devices, leading the person on the receiving end, termed the “phubbee,” to feel ignored or unimportant. This behavior can result in feelings of isolation, frustration, reduced social connection, and diminished life satisfaction for those affected.

Alexandra Maftei and Cornelia Măirean, the authors of the study, aimed to explore the connections between phubbing experiences, loneliness, life satisfaction, and psychological distress in adult phubbees. They hypothesized that higher levels of perceived phubbing would be linked to increased psychological distress and lower life satisfaction. Additionally, they believed that phubbing could induce feelings of loneliness, which, in turn, might lead to higher psychological distress and lower life satisfaction.

The study involved 720 Romanian adults, ranging from 18 to 77 years old, with an average age of 24 years. The majority of participants (74%) were female, and 44% were in a romantic relationship, 36% were single, and 18% were married.

Participants underwent assessments for psychological distress (using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale), life satisfaction (using the Satisfaction with Life Scale), perceived phubbing (using the Generic Scale of Being Phubbed), loneliness (using the revised UCLA Loneliness Scale), and time spent on social media (assessed with a single item). Results confirmed that higher perceived exposure to phubbing was associated with increased levels of psychological distress and loneliness, although no direct correlation was found between phubbing and life satisfaction.

The researchers developed and tested a statistical model proposing that loneliness acts as a mediator between perceived phubbing and life satisfaction, as well as between perceived phubbing and psychological distress. The model testing revealed a slight positive direct effect of phubbing on life satisfaction and a negative indirect effect through loneliness. This suggests that while phubbing may slightly increase life satisfaction, it more significantly increases loneliness, subsequently decreasing life satisfaction.

The model, when extended to include psychological distress, indicated that phubbing might impact psychological distress both directly and indirectly, through increasing loneliness. The study authors concluded by highlighting the substantial role of perceived phubbing in discussions about psychological distress and life satisfaction. They emphasized the need for further exploration into the (mis)use of digital devices, such as smartphones, within interpersonal relationships and the importance of understanding the outcomes of such behaviors to shape effective interventions.

While this study provides valuable insights into the phenomenon of phubbing, it is crucial to acknowledge its limitations. The study design does not permit drawing cause-and-effect conclusions. It is plausible that phubbing triggers loneliness, but it is equally plausible that lonely individuals are more likely to experience phubbing or pay more attention to phubbing behaviors, consequently reporting greater perceived phubbing. Additionally, the predominantly young age of study participants raises questions about the generalizability of results to populations with a larger proportion of older individuals.

WhatsApp has introduced an innovative ‘Secret Code’ feature geared towards enhancing user privacy in sensitive conversations. This complements their existing Chat Lock tool, enabling users to password-protect specific chats.

The Secret Code feature allows users to establish a distinct password, separate from their phone’s lock code, to access locked chats. This introduces an additional layer of security in the event that someone gains unauthorized access to the user’s phone. Moreover, the Locked Chats folder now has the option to be completely concealed from the main chat list. The exclusive means of accessing locked chats is by entering the secret code into WhatsApp’s search bar.

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, expressed, “Rolling out secret code to Chat Lock on WhatsApp so you can protect your chats with a unique password. Now you can set your locked chats to only appear when you type the secret code in the search bar, so no one can unintentionally discover your most private conversations.”

In addition to bolstering security, the new feature streamlines the process of locking new chats. Users can now effortlessly lock any chat by long-pressing on it, eliminating the need to navigate through settings.

The global rollout of this feature commences this week, with the aim of reaching all WhatsApp users in the coming months. This development is part of a series of privacy-centric updates from the Meta-owned app, showcasing its commitment to reassuring users. In a landscape where chat privacy holds significant importance, the introduction of innovative tools like the Secret Code could potentially set WhatsApp apart from its competitors.

Over the past year, ChatGPT has solidified its position as the leading AI chatbot, dominating the landscape and garnering an impressive 14.6 billion total visits between September 2022 and August 2023, as per a recent study. This staggering number represents 60% of the total traffic directed to the top 50 AI tools during the same period. On average, ChatGPT received 1.5 billion visits per month, surpassing the combined traffic of its nearest competitors.

To contextualize ChatGPT’s success, its closest rival, Character AI, secured a distant second place with 3.8 billion total visits over the year. While commendable, this figure is dwarfed by ChatGPT’s nearly 15 billion visits. Interestingly, a previous study indicated that Character AI boasted higher engagement, with users spending nearly 8 times more time on the platform compared to ChatGPT.

Major players in the industry, such as Google’s Bard and Microsoft’s Bing Chat, lagged significantly behind in the past 12 months. Google Bard, launched earlier in the year, secured the sixth position with 241 million total visits, while Microsoft’s Bing Chat failed to make the top 10 list.

The gap between ChatGPT and its competitors is poised to widen further, given the explosive 10.7 times year-over-year growth observed in the overall AI industry, largely fueled by ChatGPT’s viral popularity.

The data for this analysis was sourced from writerbuddy.ai, which utilized SEMrush to compile information from AI tool directories. The top 10 most visited AI tools over the last 12 months are listed as follows:

1. ChatGPT
2. Character AI
3. QuillBot
4. Midjourney
5. Hugging Face
6. Google Bard
7. NovelAI
8. CapCut
9. Janitor AI
10. Civitai

Notwithstanding ChatGPT’s dominance, the broader trend indicates a steady influx of traffic to AI tools, with monthly average visits skyrocketing from 241 million in September 2022 to over 4 billion at its peak in May 2023. The cumulative visits for the top 50 AI tools during this period surpassed 24 billion.

However, not all AI tools experienced growth; some, including Craiyon, Midjourney, and Quillbot, witnessed a significant decline in traffic despite maintaining high rankings.

ChatGPT has achieved remarkable success with its viral launch and user-friendly conversational AI. The landscape of AI is dynamic, and it remains to be seen whether established tech giants like Google and Microsoft will catch up in 2024 or if a surprise contender from a new AI startup will emerge.