My First Line of Code: Linus Torvalds

February 21, 2024 Addis Ababa

Techኢት ማለዳTech☕️

Elon Musk Says Neuralink’s First Brain Chip Patient Can Control Computer Mouse By Thought

The first human implanted with a chip from Elon Musk’s computer-brain interface company Neuralink has recovered and can move a computer mouse with thought alone, the tech billionaire announced on Monday, a brief insight into the firm’s progress as it works towards restoring lost abilities like movement and sight and enhancing others like memory and intelligence.

@techinethio

Source:
https://forbes.com

Feb 21, 2024 Addis Ababa
Techኢት NightByte🌙  

Samsung Galaxy S24 shows us what smartphone industry’s response to AI could look like

The S24 series brings in a range of AI capabilities, not as a gimmick but as a core offering.

We are maybe at a pivotal stage in the evolution of smartphones, especially with the first ‘post-smartphone’ devices like the Humane AI pin making their debut this year. While it has not become obvious yet, smartphone companies seem worried that they too will need to offer AI capabilities on-device, not as a gimmick but as a core offering.

@techinethio

source: Indianexpress.com

The surge of Artificial Intelligence poses a threat to digital privacy as personal data is indiscriminately collected and analyzed. The opacity of AI algorithms amplifies concerns about accountability and bias. From widespread surveillance to opaque data practices, addressing the negative impact on digital privacy necessitates transparent AI development, robust regulations, and heightened public awareness to balance technological progress with safeguarding personal freedoms.

@techinethio

Link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4WZ_k0vUDM

Today, I watched "the Social Dilemma" documentary from Netflix <<Watch Here >> and was struck by the following ideas. 

1. Google is not just a search box; it's a place where they use your psychology against you.

We've become increasingly less in control of our identities and beliefs. Silicon Valley tech companies ponder questions like, "How can we manipulate people's psychology to increase engagement?" This manipulation operates like a Pavlovian response, conditioning users for the polarization of the digital world. 

2. If a platform is free, you are the product. Asking people how much they would pay for Facebook, if not, how is it worth more than $500 billion as a company? It's because we are the products, addicted, polarized, and disinformed.

They have Attention mining models that relay on human weaknesses, social
self-consciousness, and our need for belonging and expressing anger. Algorithms bring people to platforms, causing psychological misalignment.

3. The big O lies in mathematics, where algorithms predict humans instead of the market, based on browser history and ad tech.

Predatory practices related to race, gender, and money occur inpolitical campaigns and propaganda. 

4. The cookies follow us everywhere, creating scores for each user based on their likelihood to object to what they're saying. Data is used to generate outcomes, importing worldviews without balance, leading to racial bias and a design meant to amplify misinformation and hate speech.

5. The affirmation fee ensures people receive affirmation rather than information, affecting our collective global will.

Is there a silver bullet to solve this dilemma? Undoing it won't be easy. In TikTok, recommendation engines are manipulated
6. While we can't see the changes in the size of our brains or the rise in depression and anxiety,the data is clearly acknowledging the individual cost of social media consumption.


@techinethio

February 22, 2024 Addis Ababa

Techኢት ማለዳTech☕️

The Samsung Galaxy S23 series will get AI features in late March

Right now, you need a Galaxy S24 phone to use the very latest AI features from Samsung, but that’s changing next month. In late March, Samsung will extend Galaxy AI features to the S23 series — including the S23 FE — as well as recent foldables and tablets as part of Verge.comthe One UI 6.1 update. It’s all free for now, but after 2025 you might have to pay up.

@techinethio

Source:verge.com

Google introduces Gemma⚡️⚡️

Gemma is a new family of open models for responsible AI development, derived from Gemini technology. Available worldwide, Gemma comes in two sizes (2B and 7B) with pre-trained variants.

The release includes a Responsible Generative AI Toolkit and supports various frameworks like JAX, PyTorch, and TensorFlow. Gemma models outperform larger counterparts, prioritizing safety and reliability. Developers can access Gemma on laptops, workstations, or Google Cloud, optimized for NVIDIA GPUs and Google Cloud TPUs. Free credits are offered for research and development, making Gemma accessible for innovation. Explore more at ai.google.dev/gemma.

AMLD Africa
Applied Machine Learning Days Africa Broadcast

Location: Addis Ababa University,Ethiopia

Venue: FBE Campus, Eshetu Chole Hall

February 27 to 29
08:30AM - 05:00PM

3 days of talks, tutorial & Workshops on Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence with top speakers from industry and academia.

News from the past🐚

Google Photo App Labeled
Black Couple 'Gorillas'

In a regrettable incident from 2015, Google's image recognition system wrongly tagged two Black individuals as gorillas. The affected user, Mr. Alcine, voiced his frustration, drawing attention to the inherent issues associated with such mislabeling. Google's chief social architect, Yonatan Zunger, responded swiftly, acknowledging the problem and committing to a prompt resolution.

This incident not only prompted Google to issue a formal apology but also sparked discussions on the challenges of automatic image labeling and the potential biases within AI systems.

The episode highlighted the critical need for continuous improvement in technology to prevent unintentional harm and discrimination, prompting the industry to reevaluate and refine its algorithms to ensure fair and unbiased outcomes.

Feb 22, 2024 Addis Ababa
Techኢት NightByte🌙  

Google to pause Gemini AI model's image generation of people due to inaccuracies

Google is pausing its AI tool that creates images of people following inaccuracies in some historical depictions generated by the model, the latest hiccup in the Alphabet-owned (GOOGL.O), opens new tab company's efforts to catch up with rivals OpenAI and Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab.
Google started offering image generation through its Gemini AI models earlier this month, but over the past few days some users on social media had flagged that the model returns historical images which are sometimes inaccurate.

Source:reuters.com

Reddit has announced a $60 million-per-year deal with Google, allowing the search engine to train its AI models using user-generated content.

This partnership comes ahead of Reddit's planned IPO in March and raises concerns about how AI companies profit from such content without benefiting users🤔. Reddit's move to restrict unauthorized use of its data for AI training without value return sparked controversy among moderators last April. Despite making over $800 million in revenue last year, Reddit's deal with Google reflects the growing trend of AI companies seeking data licensing agreements for training purposes.

February 23 2024 Addis Ababa

Techኢት ማለዳTech☕️

Spotify follows Meta, YouTube and others by offering AUX, a service to connect brands and creators

Facebook, Instagram, Snap, YouTube, and other social networking companies offer programs to connect creators with brands, and now Spotify is doing the same. The company announced the launch of AUX, its new in-house “music advisory agency” for brands. While not necessarily a creator marketplace, the program has a similar aim — it will facilitate connections between brands and emerging artists for various campaigns benefitting both parties.


@techinethio
Source:
https://techcrunch.com/

It seems like Elon Musk is turning Google's problems into opportunities 😀

Feb 23, 2024 Addis Ababa
Techኢት NightByte🌙  

Title:Chrome gets a built-in AI writing tool powered by Gemini

Google Chrome users will now have access to a cutting-edge AI writing tool, thanks to Gemini's advanced capabilities. This innovative feature, an extension of Gmail's existing "Help me write" functionality, is now available across the web, fueled by Google's latest Gemini AI models.

Originally announced in January, this tool is currently in its experimental phase, requiring users to opt in to experience its full potential.

To activate this feature, navigate to the Chrome settings menu and locate the "Experimental AI" page. From there, users can seamlessly enable the AI writing tool, along with Google's automatic tab organizer and Chrome theme manager. Presently, the AI writer is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux systems, supporting English language input.

To utilize the AI writing tool, simply right-click on any text field and select "Help me write." Whether crafting new content or refining existing text, Gemini's capabilities are at your fingertips.

Gemini Advanced subscribers should note that this tool does not provide access to an enhanced writing model, as confirmed by a Google spokesperson. Primarily designed for short-form content such as emails or support requests, a larger model may not offer significant advantages in these scenarios.

One standout feature is the tool's ability to contextualize recommendations based on the webpage being visited. Google engineering director Adriana Porter Felt explains, "The tool will understand the context of the webpage you’re on to suggest relevant content," ensuring tailored suggestions for users. For instance, when composing a review for a product, Chrome will extract pertinent details from the product page to enhance the recommendation.

Similar to Gmail's "Help me write" feature, users can easily adjust the length and tone of generated content to suit their preferences.

It's essential to acknowledge that utilizing this service entails sharing text, content, and webpage URLs with Google, subject to its existing privacy policy. Google emphasizes that this data is utilized to enhance the feature, including ongoing research and development in generative models and machine learning, with human oversight.

Experience the future of writing with Chrome's AI-powered tool, setting new standards for efficiency and creativity. Caveat noscriptor.

https://techcrunch.com/2024/02/22/help-me-write-chrome-gets-a-built-in-ai-writing-tool-powered-by-gemini/

Techኢት ማለዳTech ☕️
February 24, 2024 Addis Ababa

AI chip firm Nvidia valued at $2trillion

Nvidia's remarkable journey to a $2tn valuation is fueled by its pivotal role in the widespread adoption of AI. Originally recognized for graphics chips, its strategic investments in AI-friendly features have positioned it as a crucial player.

The surge in share value, tripling over a year, reflects the increasing integration of AI across industries, marking a significant tipping point for the tech landscape. The company's influence extends beyond specialized tech, impacting automotive, telecommunications, and mainstream businesses, showcasing the transformative power of AI in unlocking new insights and possibilities

@techinethio
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-68387018

Tech Facts 🧙‍♀

In the 1960s, the CIA used a robotic cat named "Acoustic Kitty" in an attempt to spy on the Soviet.

Feb 24, 2024 Addis Ababa
Techኢት NightByte🌙  

Apple Said to Be Working on Foldable Device Larger than iPhone

Apple is working on the development of a foldable device that could be larger than a smartphone, according to a report. The purported foldable device could arrive in the form of a notebook or a tablet, according to a DigiTimes report that cites Taiwan-based supply chain sources. The iPhone maker is said to have been working on a folding device for at least half a decade and is expected to decide on the design of the device before the company begins manufacturing.

If Apple does release a foldable device in the coming years — the report says a launch before 2025 is unlikely — it is likely to compete with products from Samsung, Oppo, Google, Huawei, and Xiaomi. These are just some of the firms that already offer foldable devices that can currently be purchased by consumers.

@techinethio
source:https://www.gadgets360.com/