Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Google Confirms There Is No Direct Threat To Human Jobs From AI Yet

Search engine giant Google is adding reassurances to the minds of many employed workers today on how they need to take a step back when assuming AI is coming after them and their jobs.

The company mentioned how it's more than certain that the threat is just not there yet and that was obvious considering the huge sums of investments it has made in this domain.

The world of Generative AI continues to evolve as we speak and it’s giving rise to more fears in the minds of people as to how they just might be replaced thanks to the efficiency that this technology portrays,

Google says AI will certainly provide greater economic benefits to the world and any such thought or sentiment about the technology giving rise to tech unemployment is far from the reality of the situation.

Google added how many feel unemployment will reach new highs but these rumors are greatly "overblown" and therefore people need to relax and stop stressing out so much.

Today, the Android maker has reportedly rolled out investments worth billions in these sectors with a wide array of products such as the Gemini chatbot which it feels is the future of its search engine. They similarly spoke about greater expectations related to the firm rolling out a wide array of AI-linked goods and services that are featured through search as more is said to be unveiled in May at its much-hyped I/O conference.

Hence, we don’t see this as something that’s awfully surprising which the tech giant is arguing about in terms of taking on more AI products as it does not feel it would come at any major economic price tag.

In Google’s terms, there’s no direct link between unemployment and AI and if the technology does take over let’s say a quarter of jobs, that does not mean employment will be at an all-time high.

Google provides numerous examples of how AI has been around for years and it has been ruled out a be a leading force to better detect images and help cause a rise in employment in the past when there was a great shortage of skilled labor.

In the same way, it spoke about how both health as well as wealth were on the rise alongside massive tech advancements. With time, a major change has come and the mean income for companies has also been boosted.

The advent of tech has really had a positive impact on increasing life expectancy and also reduced air pollution amongst so many others. So Google is constantly serving as a reminder to the world to stop worrying about problems that cease to exist.


This particular report by the tech giant was rolled out by a top researcher from MIT and those at McAfee, along with several workers at Google who have been outlined to be the core contributors.

Other than that, there was a massive correlation seen between inequality and the world of automation where AI is said to assist with issues like inequality in employee pay scales as it’s impactful in terms of enhancing performance at the entry-level workforce.

The only thing that seems to be promoted here is how the latest technology would give rise to serious hurdles including a wide array of benefits. And in the long run, that’s all that matters. The major factor worth mentioning here is related to quick and impactful efforts that are reskilled.

Today, close to 85% of the American workforce has grown in strength thanks to the arrival of new fields and technology is what is making this possible. Just last week, the company itself rolled out a massive fund worth $75 million to assist in employee training at firms such as Goodwill in regards to tools linked to generative AI.

Read next: Digital Addiction: The Countries with the Highest (and Lowest) Average Screen Time (infographic)
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Digital Addiction: The Countries with the Highest (and Lowest) Average Screen Time (infographic)

Ever wondered how much time people around the world spend glued to their screens? Or how your screen time compares to the average person? Which countries have the most gaming addicts and binge-series junkies? Where do people consume the most cat videos and other types of popular TikTok content?

Electronics Hub decided to tackle all these questions with its latest piece of research into global screen time habits. Based on the most up-to-date information from Datareportal’s Digital 2024 Global Overview Report, it breaks down the average screen time and usage times in every country around the world.

Here's a summary of all results.

The average screen time in every country

Electronics Hub kicked off the study by looking at the average percentage of waking hours people in every country spend staring at screens.

It found that people spend 6 hours of their waking day looking at some sort of screen, including TVs, phones, and laptops.

South Africa is the most 'screen-addicted' nation. Its citizens look at screens for an average of 9 hours and 24 minutes per day, which is over half of their waking life.

There's a similar trend in Brazil, the Philippines, and Colombia. In each country, screen time accounts for more than half of the traditional waking hours for a human being.

Japan is often considered a world leader in innovative screen technology, so it's surprising that it had the lowest average screen time. The average Japanese person spends under two hours looking at screens, less than a quarter of their waking hours.

This hasn't happened by accident. Japan actively limits screen time among its young people through public awareness campaigns and school guidelines to restrict device use during classes.

The country may impose stricter measures. For example, the government is considering curfews for online gaming, which would reduce late-night screen activity.

Countries where people spend the most time on social media

Looking at the data on a country-by-country basis puts South Africa at the top of this chart. People living in South Africa spend (or maybe waste) 3 hours and 41 minutes of every day on social media platforms like Facebook, X, and TikTok.

Once again, Japan can say its citizens are the people who are least addicted to their phones and social media accounts. They spend less than 6% of their waking day on the socials.

Japan's approach to limiting screen time is a big factor. But it may have more to do with the country's aging population. Almost 30% of Japanese people are aged 65 or over. In other words, 30% of the country probably doesn't even know what a TikTok is.

Countries where people watch the most TikToks

Sticking with the TikTok theme, this following chart ranks the top 20 countries based on the number of TikTok videos people watch every day.

In the UK, the average TikTok fan consumes 154 videos per day; that's more than any other person in any other country in the world.

Dutch people watch the least amount of TikToks per day (120). It's worth mentioning that the Netherlands is one of the 'smartest' countries in Europe, with an extremely high level of advanced literacy and a national average IQ score of 103. Coincidence? Spend 20 minutes scrolling through TikTok and decide for yourself.

Average computer screen time in each country

PCs and laptops are completely integrated into our daily lives. Whether it's work, entertainment, or creative pursuits, almost everyone in the developed world spends a significant amount of their days staring at a computer screen.

But nobody stares at them more than Russians. Nearly a quarter (4 hours, 29 minutes) of the average Russian's waking hours pass by while they're eyes deep in a laptop or computer screen.

Other high-ranking nations for computer screen time include Argentina (4 hours, 5 minutes), Portugal (3 hours, 57 minutes), and Colombia (3 hours, 56 minutes).

Australia and New Zealand are two more countries where people spend over a quarter of their daily lives in front of a computer screen.

South Korea, China, and Japan are notable absentees from this section of the study. All three countries have a huge online gaming community. South Korea alone has over 9,000 active PC rooms and gaming cafes, many of which are open 24/7.

Global phone addiction

Smartphone dependence is a real phenomenon. Around 48% of people admit to feeling addicted to their smartphone, with 30% saying they feel anxious or extremely anxious without their handheld device.

These figures rise even higher in some countries, including South Africa. According to data analyzed by Electronics Hub, South Africa has the biggest problem with smartphone addiction. The average South African is on their phone for 31.72% of their waking time; that's more than 5 hours of phone time every single day.

Phone addiction is also prevalent in Brazil and Thailand. Both countries have a daily average screen time score of above 30%.

Then there's the Philippines, where people spend 5 hours and 20 minutes every day on their phones. The Philippines has a notably young population, with about 28% of its population being between the ages of 10 and 24. This demographic is most likely to spend a significant portion of their time on a phone. And it's becoming a real problem. One study found that 62% of Filipino adolescents display signs of smartphone dependency.

Average gaming times all around the world

Gaming is another online activity with a growing addiction problem.

Gaming addiction tends to be a problem among young males. They make up 94% of those addicted, with men in the 19-34 age range most at risk.

And the consequences can be fatal. One well-known incident involved a gamer who died from a pulmonary embolism after playing video games for an extended period without taking necessary breaks. The embolism was attributed to sitting in the same position for too long, which increased the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis.

However, none of this addiction data shows up in the Electronics Hub survey. The two countries with the highest gaming screen time, Saudi Arabia and Thailand, show that, on average, gamers spend less than 2 hours a day playing video games.

It suggests that while gaming addiction is a serious issue, it impacts only a minority of gamers. The rest do an excellent job balancing their gaming habits with real-world responsibilities and hobbies.

Which countries spend the most time watching TV?

This might shock many of you Zoomers, but yes, some people still watch TV.

That means they can wait an entire week for the next episode of their favorite show, rather than binge the entire series in a weekend. Shocking, right?

No nation loves this old-school form of entertainment more than the people of the USA. The average American watches TV for 4 hours and 39 minutes, or 28.35% of their waking day.

But traditional TV and linear programming are dying. Viewership figures continue to fall, even in the USA, where mass communication and network television were created. Since 2023, cable and broadcast TV usage fell below 50% of total TV share among US viewers for the first time, with cable viewership dropping to about 29.6% and broadcast to 20%.

Electronics Hub research reveals global screen time habits from Datareportal’s Digital 2024 Global Overview Report.







Read next: Equal Work, Unequal Pay: New Study Exposes The Gender Pay Gap In The Freelancing Economy
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Meta Announces More Staff Layoffs, This Time In Oversight Board To Better Streamline Work

Meta’s own Oversight Board, which the company created to moderate content across its many apps is said to carry out a number of layoffs as mentioned in a new report by The Washington Post today.

This decision of more layoffs that are envisioned is designed to help the board better streamline its work. And those impacted would be the division’s support staff working in the research domain.

The board entails close to 22 members and a team of support staff who work toward assisting them. The goal here seems to be more related to Meta making the right decisions in terms of content moderation through Facebook, Threads, WhatsApp, Instagram, and beyond.

For now, the board is yet to delineate how many members it would like to lose on this front how many cuts it anticipates, and from where. But it did reveal how many staff would be sent packing for home. However, it was revealed that the layoff process was not something unusual as it was designed to allow for the evolution of the board.

The Board today is said to be one of the top means of moderating content on Meta in a world where competition is at its peak and viewers want to make sure the posts they generate are read and not blocked for no defined reason. But Meta says its goal is to ensure all content that is in line with its policy gets the right viewership.

Meta hopes to commit to its success and also hopes that the Oversight Board can limit costs so that it functions in a manner that’s quite similar to other tech giants in the industry today.

Remember, the company is not exactly doing its best in terms of revenue, although it did reveal decent figures in its earnings report recently.

From what we can decipher here, a net income of $12.3 billion was rolled out in Q1 of 2024. Now we’re not sure how much access the Oversight Board has to do this mega fund to moderate content online or how the funding would be carried out in the future. But change is inevitable.

The Board mentioned how it strongly feels about helping Meta attain a strong earnings report in the next quarter and that’s why it’s making the necessary changes to give rise to this. And while no details on the financial front were revealed, we can see how things are being done to allow for more growth.

Speaking to The Post recently, Meta’s head for communications added that the company is more inclined toward showing support to the Board despite the huge number of layoffs.

Meta has always held the Board in high respect, no matter what decision it makes, calling it an integral member of its organization. A whopping 53 cases were highlighted in the previous year where decisions were reversed and Meta respected that.

Many of those had to do with deepfake videos generated through AI means including those linked to real women portrayed without clothing that really gave rise to a worrisome notion. While the firm did end up removing one of those dubbed to be deepfakes, it did not remove the other and many flagged that, and therefore it was removed.

Some decisions are certainly controversial but Meta continues to trust its Board and vows to follow suit in the future too. What do you think about Meta’s Oversight Board? Let us know your thoughts on the decisions it makes.


Read next: The Smartwatch Market Braces for Disruption in 2024
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Monday, April 29, 2024

The Smartwatch Market Braces for Disruption in 2024

While Apple has reigned supreme in the smartwatch arena thus far, analysts forecast significant disruptions could be on the horizon in 2024. According to the latest projections from market research firm Counterpoint Research, Google's Wear OS and Huawei's HarmonyOS platforms are poised to make considerable inroads over the next year.

Counterpoint estimates that Wear OS will capture 27% market share of advanced smartwatches outside of China by 2024. This surge can be attributed to major Android smartphone brands like Samsung, Google, OnePlus, OPPO, and Xiaomi launching new premium Wear OS-powered smartwatch models. These devices aim to provide a cohesive experience integrating Google AI assistant, health tracking, customization, and optimized battery performance.

"There is an emerging trend where first-time smartwatch buyers or those upgrading from basic models are prioritizing an enhanced user experience," said Counterpoint analyst Anshika Jain. "They are willing to spend more for advanced capabilities that Wear OS can deliver."

In China specifically, Huawei's HarmonyOS is projected to claim an impressive 61% share of the high-end smartwatch market by end of 2024. This growth directly correlates with Huawei's increasing 5G smartphone sales, which has expanded the potential customer base for its smartwatch ecosystem.

"The launch of 5G smartphones by Huawei last year acted as a catalyst, driving higher attach rates for Huawei's HarmonyOS smartwatches," explained Counterpoint's Ethan Qi.

Beyond the operating system battleground, the report identifies several other key trends shaping the future smartwatch landscape. Chipmakers like Qualcomm and Hengxuan are projected for strong growth as manufacturers explore multi-chip architectures combining application processors with low-power co-processors.

Additionally, display technology is becoming a key differentiator, with larger OLED and microLED panels with improved power efficiency entering the market. "We forecast a 16-18% year-over-year increase in display panel orders for advanced smartwatches during 2024," stated David Naranjo from DSCC.

As smartphone brands increasingly look to provide a compelling end-to-end ecosystem, the smartwatch segment is emerging as the next critical battleground. While Apple currently maintains a leadership position, the smartwatch market appears primed for disruption from aggressive players like Google and Huawei over the coming years.


Read next: Mapping Success: The Biggest CEO Fundraisers in Every US State
by Asim BN via Digital Information World

Everything A Newcomer Needs To Know About Division 2


When Ubisoft came up with the concept for the first part of The Division, players greeted it excellently at the level of trailers and anticipation. It was a survival project with an abandoned city that suffered a disaster and now the remaining military must obtain equipment and confront other factions in constant competition for equipment, weapons, territory and outposts.

But the project completely failed due to disgusting optimization and absolute crudeness at the time of release. Now Ubisoft has updated the game map, worked on graphics and optimization, and players can fully experience division 2 boosting in the format in which the first part of the project should have been.

Start

You will begin your gaming journey at a common base, which will be your headquarters for replenishing ammunition and planning operations.

You will be able to receive tasks and quests, or simply go out to destroy opponents and gain experience.

Weapon

You have to independently look for weapons for your gameplay and not one, but two types of weapons that can be changed at your discretion.

First, let's look at the quality of the weapon, which affects the accuracy, rate of fire and force of the shot:

  • Ordinary
  • Rare
  • Epochal
  • Legendary

The higher the quality of the weapon, the better its combat capabilities.

The best type of weapon for your boost in Division 2 will be an assault rifle, which will help you gain more experience and do it much safer because you will have high accuracy and damage at all distances.

The second useful weapon can be a sniper rifle, which will allow you to safely shoot at other players and attack outposts with minimal risk of getting shot.

To do this, you will have to master the ballistics of bullet flight, find a sight with x4 or x4 zoom, and be sure to have a silencer so that opponents cannot immediately detect your shooting position.

An alternative weapon for an assault rifle can be a machine gun - this is a small weapon with a high rate of fire and reduced damage. With it, you will not be able to shoot effectively at long distances, but due to the rate of fire you will not have problems in close combat.

Those who prefer melee combat can try their hand at the shotgun, which actually deals fatal damage to opponents who get too close.

Ideally, you have an assault rifle and any secondary weapon of your choice.

Equipment

Like weapons, all the equipment you use will have a quality and protection category.

You need to strive to find the best, legendary helmet and body armor, a good and capacious backpack and unloading.

Tasks and advices for the game

You need to constantly leave the player base to level up your character and get a cheap boost to Division 2.

Outpost

To begin with, you will attack outposts that have influence in the region in order to reduce the number of bandit groups and simplify your travels and hunting.

Additionally, you will be able to gain experience and equipment, which can be replenished at the same outpost without returning to base.

Capturing a post will not be as difficult as periodically repelling counterattacks.

Tips for storming an outpost:

  1. Choose a height from which the entire post can be seen, if possible. Conduct analysis and mark all enemies you find.
  2. Approach at close range if you do not have equipment with a silencer, or eliminate enemies from afar to reduce the number of guards.
  3. Then act quickly - shoot at the enemies, kill them, and do not let them regroup. Be sure to use cover and shoot in the head to eliminate the numerical superiority of your opponents as quickly as possible.

Upgrade your operative

You need to develop your agent to increase his combat potential, but the first points are better spent on boosting future progress.

For example, you can increase the amount of experience you will receive and the chance of obtaining valuable resources that will be obtained when disassembling items.

Then pay attention to survivability and recharging of skills, because in the first stages it is much more difficult to get valuable items and weapons.

Loot and how to manage it

You can collect many valuable items by inspecting killed enemies and exploring caches and other areas.

You will come across weapons, ammunition, accessories and a lot of junk - items whose value is minimal.

It’s worth saying right away that all unnecessary equipment can and should be disassembled - this is more profitable than selling it for pennies and accumulating consumables for your future crafting and character enhancement. You can put marks on items that you consider junk and in the future you will immediately understand what is better to disassemble and leave in the warehouse, and what to sell.

How the fight is organized in Division 2

The combat system in Division 2 can be compared in some ways to GTA 5 - where you will have the opportunity to both kill with one cartridge and fire at opponents, and use cover, shoot in Somali style (pulling out a weapon from cover and shooting at random) and looking out for aimed shooting. Both you and your opponents will use these methods.

How to increase your survivability and lethality to your enemies:

  1. Aim for the head - it is very ineffective to shoot at the torso, because enemies will often use body armor of different categories, which simply cannot be shot in this way.
  2. Use cover - players who stand or fight not from cover quickly receive fatal damage from a large number of opponents.
  3. Use grenades - the 3rd person view system allows you to see the enemy without even leaving cover, which will allow you to accurately and safely throw grenades that will smoke out enemies from them. If such a technique is used against you, then either run to another zone, or jump over the cover and crush the enemy with fire until it explodes, and then return to the opposite point.
  4. Change weapons instead of reloading, if you have an assault rifle and say an assault rifle, you can first unload both weapons before reloading, because it may well be that the fight will end earlier.
  5. Go around your opponents - if you manage to outwit and deceive your enemies, then you will most likely be able to destroy them, go into the back, or side, where the defense is much weaker, and the damage and ability to aim are much higher.

Conclusions from the Division 2 review for beginners

Division 2 is a well-thought-out and refined format of the first part, which completely failed a few years ago. Ubisoft rethought the format of survival and struggle in large cities in the United States among factions and launched a new and completed format.

You will be able to create your own operative and begin your gameplay of searching for weapons and equipment, clearing outposts and completing tasks and operations that will help you better understand the gameplay and boosting format in The Division 2.

You will pump up your agents and learn skills that will significantly strengthen it - at first it will be faster pumping and a chance to get more valuable trophies, then you will learn accelerated reloading of skills, damage and protection for your shooter.

You can play either alone or as part of a group, depending on your wishes, but of course playing in a squad of 4 people is safer than being a lone shooter facing both bandits and other players.

Sources:

  1. https://skycoach.gg/blog/division-2/articles/division-2-leveling-guide - a guide for beginners that will help you quickly upgrade your operative and learn new skills
  2. https://www.ign.com/wikis/the-division-2/ - guide with new descriptions and data on changes to Division 2
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC5SvGdWb2E&ab_channel=TuxedoBandido - a video guide for beginners that will help you visually understand all the features of Division 2 from Ubisoft

by Web Desk via Digital Information World

Mapping Success: The Biggest CEO Fundraisers in Every US State

Investor capital is the lifeblood of any business that wants to grow; it's the steam that keeps the engine turning. Without it, everything grinds to a halt.

So while money might not actually make the world go round, it's definitely what drives businesses forward.

And the bigger your ambition, the more capital you need.

This is the principle behind the latest research by the team at Switch On Business. It delves into which US-based CEOs have raised the largest amounts of capital for their companies.

The team collected and analyzed data from Crunchbase, then translated it into a series of maps showing the most successful fund-raising CEOs in every US state.

Let's take a closer look at the results.

The CEO who secured the most funding for any US company

Hock Tan must have delivered a seriously great pitch when coming face-to-face with potential investors. In total, the CEO of Broadcom Limited secured a staggering $100,000,000,000 for his company's future growth plans. And if you're struggling with all those zeros, they translate to $100 billion.

That's the single largest amount of funds landed by any CEO of any US company.

So what did Hock Tan do with all that investment?

Well, quite a lot.

The investment was instrumental in transforming Broadcom into a major player in the semiconductor industry. The firm later expanded beyond semiconductors to build and deliver a wider range of technology solutions, including software and computing infrastructure.

Hock Tan is famous for wooing investors. But he's not afraid to play hardball when necessary, an approach which has often placed him in the spotlight, and not always for the best reasons. His business strategy included a hyper-aggressive takeover of semiconductor and wireless technology provider Qualcomm. However, this was one of the few battles Tan lost. The move was blocked by the US government in 2018.

But it turned out to be nothing more than a minor setback for Tan. Broadcom went on to complete several significant acquisitions under Tan's leadership, including a massive $37 billion deal for Broadcom Corporation. Other notable acquisitions include CA Technologies and Symantec's enterprise security business.

The CEO that secured the most funding in every US state

No other CEO has come close to securing the $100 billion landed by Tan.

However, there are a few that have still managed to put up some pretty huge numbers.

They include Albert Bourla, who is New York's most successful CEO when it comes to generating capital. Bourla is the Chairman and CEO of Pfizer; the data shows he's raised just over $31 billion for the pharmaceutical giant.

And Brendan McCracken hasn't done too badly since taking over as the top executive at Ovintiv Inc. As Colorado's top fundraising CEO, he's raised a very impressive $24 billion.

You'll probably recognize Texas's number one fundraising CEO; it's SpaceX and Tesla visionary Elon Musk. Otherwise known as the real Tony Stark. Or the biggest douchebag in the world. It depends on who you ask.

Musk has generated $ 19 billion in investor funding, but not without a fair share of controversy. Elon's aggressive capital-raising strategies have been labeled risky by many analysts, with some even labeling the CEO a confidence man or a modern-day snake oil salesman. Still, Tesla has continued to maintain a rapid period of income and expansion and is leading the way in bringing greener cars to the masses. So time will tell if all those edgy tweets have really paid off.

Another familiar name in finance and investing took the number one spot in Nebraska. It's legendary money magician Warren Buffett, the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Known as the ‘Oracle of Omaha’ due to his ability to predict future financial moves, Buffett is widely regarded as one of the shrewdest money managers of all time.

Buffett is worth an estimated $130 billion and is still going strong at the age of 93. Despite his colossal personal wealth, Buffett, like many other CEOs, prefers it when investors put up their money for his next venture. He’s convinced investors to hand over $1.27 billion.

Florida's Karen Benson is one of the few female CEOs that appears in the research. She's also the biggest female fundraiser. The shipping line boss, who captains the Royal Caribbean Group, has raised $6.2 billion since heading up the board.

Tech CEOs that have raised the most funding in every state

The next part of the study examined data on which tech CEOs in every US state have raised the most capital for their companies.

Former Verizon CEO Lowell C. McAdam is New York's best tech boss for generating funds. Between 2006 and 2018, he steered the telecom giant through a period of huge growth and expansion, raising around $29 billion along the way.

Fred Thiel is Nevada's most successful CEO regarding fresh investment capacity. He also heads up one of the most interesting companies in the study. Marathon Digital Holdings is a prominent player in the emerging cryptocurrency industry, with a focus on mining Bitcoin.

The company is an industry leader due to its sustainable operations that leverage the latest technology and renewable energy sources to mine in a way that minimizes environmental impact while monetizing stranded energy sources.

It's a green approach that has persuaded many investors to allocate more than a billion dollars of their money to support and grow Marathon's operations.

Other tech CEOs who have raised billions for their companies include Colorado's Sureel Choksi, boss of Vantage Data Centers, and John Visentin, who makes the big calls at software company Xerox, headquartered in Connecticut.

The capital raised by Madhava Syamlal is minuscule compared to some of the figures we've been discussing. Syamlal has raised 'just' $275,000 for QubitSolve Inc, based in West Virginia. But it's not necessarily his fault. Instead, Syamlal might be too far ahead of the tech game.

QubitSolve Inc. is at the very cutting edge of cutting-edge technology. It builds and develops quantum computers, which use advanced theoretical knowledge to allow computer code bits to exist in multiple states simultaneously, accelerating computing power by truly mind-boggling degrees. Try summing that up in a catchy pitch board for 'boomer' investors.

The top fundraising finance CEOs across the USA

If anyone knows how the money-raising game works, then it's the heads of the USA's biggest and wealthiest finance companies.

New York is the finance capital of the world, so it's no surprise that one of the biggest fund-raising CEOs is based in the Big Apple. His name is Robert Rubin, the former head of the CITI banking group, who raised $7 billion.

Impressive stuff. But for a seasoned (and very well connected) financial leader like Rubin, that's probably not as hard as it sounds. Before taking over the bank, Rubin served as the 70th US Secretary of the Treasury during the Clinton administration. He also spent 20 years as a senior consultant at Goldman Sachs, followed by positions on the board of directors at the New York Stock Exchange, the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Financial Services Advisory Committee.

In other words, Robert Rubin's contact list was a 'who's who' of the most influential people in finance, and he'd built up a long list of favors to call in by the time he became CITI's boss. This was one guy who everyone called back, and you never said no to an investor pitch by Rubin.

CEOs across states secure significant investments, highlighting their strategic vision and leadership skills.

Diverse industries see CEOs leading successful capital acquisition efforts, driving expansion and innovation.

US CEOs demonstrate exceptional fundraising prowess, securing billions for company growth and innovation.

Read next: US CEOs demonstrate exceptional fundraising prowess, securing billions for company growth and innovation.
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

X's Growth Amid Speculation: EU Report Reveals Strengths and Challenges

For a while now, the debate about whether or not X (previously Twitter) is losing viewership or gaining them has been taking place.

Third parties have been calling the app out for failing to unravel the truth on this front but Elon Musk and his team of executives are not bothered about what others have to say.

According to them, the app is performing better than they had anticipated and thanks to a long list of changes and updates, Musk feels confident that usage is better than ever.

We also recently saw an upcoming rival of X, Threads, take center stage in terms of the best alternative for the platform with higher monthly user stats and greater popularity.

Now, X is rolling out a new report that boasts the platforms’ record-breaking user stats with those in the EU. This new indicator has opened up a new realm of insights in terms of where X really stands.

As per the Digital Services Act of the EU, most big online apps are forced to continue reporting how their user counts in the region may be shifting to make sure transparency is at an all-time high.

As can be seen in the report rolled out in January of 2024, close to 62 million EU users (or 61.8M precisely) logged into the platform while 49.6 million logged out. This gave rise to a majority of 111.4 million users as a whole using the X platform in the EU.

The reports spoke about dips witnessed in the past year while this year saw slightly more people using the app with fervor.

X unveils updated EU user stats, revealing 111.4 million users engaged on the platform.

Average between February 1st - July 31 2023 Average between August 1st 2023 - January 31 2024
Logged In X Users In EU 60.9M 61.8M
Logged Out Guests In EU 51.3M 49.6M
Total 112.2M 111.4M

White it does indicate a bigger trend in terms of losing users, it’s not witnessing any major decline and people don’t wish to turn away from this platform in record figures. There is also very little growth arising.

As explained by X, people engaging seem to be spending a lot of time on the platform and the figure for daily active users has hit 250 million. The X app has a serious audience even if reports about expansion aren’t believed to be true.
We agree that it might not be like the 600 million user count that Musk had predicted for 2025 but the platform does not seem to be going anywhere, anytime soon, that’s for sure. Moreover, the strength of this platform seems to be coming from the likes of how it performs habitually. This includes sports communities and much more where connections ensure activity stands strong on the platform.

Changes like these on the X platform are said to be broader and provide greater room for political comments. While it might not mean a lot for some, debates on this domain are evitable as we’ve seen with time passing on.

So if you happen to be a part of those reaching such audiences, then you need to consider X as your next best option in terms of rolling out ads and marketing. This is no matter what your next opinion could be regarding Elon Musk’s project.

In the same way, X has spoken about how it wishes to enhance its advertising system and give people greater chances to flourish. And if you have the right audiences, there’s no stopping you from being a hit and getting the right sort of engagement across the board.

We can see how many can see this type of dichotomy as one that’s difficult. But the way in which Musk is flourishing today means big things. The app’s viewership is huge and no matter if it experiences a decline or not, one thing is for sure. The reach is there with great potential.

Read next: Best AI Photo Editing Apps for Mobile: Elevating Your Images with Cutting-Edge Technology
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Sunday, April 28, 2024

Best AI Photo Editing Apps for Mobile: Elevating Your Images with Cutting-Edge Technology

Overview of AI Photo Editing Apps

In today's digital age, AI photo editing apps have become indispensable for enhancing images before sharing on social media.

These apps wield complex algorithms and machine learning to simplify the photo editing process, catering to both novice and professional photographers.

We examine the capabilities and ease of use of the leading AI smartphone photo editors.

Features: AI-powered apps boast automatic adjustments for lighting, color, and filters, alongside object removal and style transfer capabilities. Some incorporate facial recognition for perfecting portraits, while others offer creative overlays and effects.

Usability: Intuitive interfaces are a common trait among the best AI photo editors, making photo editing accessible without requiring advanced skills. Quick taps and sliders suffice to produce visually appealing results.

Compatibility: The leading AI photo editing tools are available for Android and iOS platforms, ensuring a broad user base can access these powerful capabilities.

AI Enhancements: The AI components are especially adept at improving photos for social media, providing tools to optimize images for engagement and adherence to platform-specific aesthetics.

Best AI Photo Editor Apps:

  • Lensa: Renowned for its portrait enhancements and user-friendly operation.
  • Adobe Photoshop: Offers comprehensive editing tools with AI features like content-aware fill.
  • Canva: Known for its AI-driven design features and extensive template library.
  • Pixlr: An easy-to-navigate online editor with a robust set of AI tools.
  • PicsArt: Popular for its AI effects and a vast collection of editing tools.
  • PhotoDirector: All-in-one AI editor that delivers intelligent editing tools with high-quality output.
  • Photoleap by Lightricks: Features an array of artistic effects with AI-powered editing precision.

Navigation and User Experience

When we evaluate AI photo editing apps, the navigation and user experience (UX) are crucial aspects that determine their appeal to both amateur and professional photographers.

Below, we outline the UX features of some leading AI photo editing apps.

  • Photoleap: This app boasts a clean interface that guides users from text prompts to stunning image creations. Accessibility features and tutorials are prominent, making it easy to use for beginners.
  • Lensa: Recognized for its intuitive design, Lensa caters to seamless usability with distraction-removal and retouching tools, often requiring just a single tap.
  • Adobe Photoshop: Offers a robust toolset for a more professional experience, combining AI capabilities with familiar Photoshop elements for experienced users.
  • PicsArt: This app provides a playful and easy-to-use interface, attractive for those looking to apply aesthetic AI editing ideas with minimal effort.
  • VSCO: Delivers a straightforward UX with sophisticated filters, aligning with its reputation among professional photographers while remaining accessible for amateurs.

Here’s a quick reference table:

App Name

UX for Beginners

UX for Pros

Single-Tap Tools

Extensive Tutorials

Photoleap

Yes

Moderate

Yes

Yes

Lensa

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Photoshop

Moderate

Yes

No

Yes

PicsArt

Yes

Moderate

Yes

Yes

VSCO

Yes

Yes

No

No

Editing Tools and Features

Get to Know Photoleap | App Introduction

In this section, we explore the diverse range of editing tools and features that the best AI photo editing apps offer.

These tools allow us to fine-tune the aesthetics of our photos, enhance their quality, and apply creative effects with ease.

Basic Adjustments

Basic adjustments are foundational to any editing process. We find tools like brightness, contrast, saturation, and exposure adjustments crucial.

Apps like Photoleap offer interactive tutorials that help us understand the impact of each adjustment on our photos.

Advanced Editing Capabilities

Advanced editing capabilities include selective edit tools, which allow for precise control over sharpness, denoise, and sharpening of specific areas.

Features like object removal and background removal are often powered by advanced machine learning to blend edits seamlessly.

Effect Filters and Presets

A variety of effect filters and presets, which we can apply with a single tap, are available to save time and provide consistent looks.

Apps like VSCO and Luminar Neo come with an extensive library of professionally crafted presets that cater to both portrait and landscape photography.

AI-Specific Tools

AI-specific tools harness artificial intelligence to perform tasks like sky replacement, neural filters, and generative fill.

These tools can dramatically change the atmosphere of a photo, making apps such as Photoleap highly effective for creative edits.

Social Media Optimization

Social media optimization is essential for sharing our work online. Features like upscaling for quality improvement, Instagram-ready filters, and text overlays help our photos stand out in the feed.

Cloud storage and backup functionalities ensure that our edits are safely synced across devices.

Professional-Level Functions

Professional photographers require tools that offer fine control over the editing process.

High-quality denoise, sharpening, and advanced color grading tools are a must. Stable diffusion techniques and in-depth exposure adjustments are also part of professional-level functions.

Convenience Features

Convenience features like cloud backup and sync across devices are invaluable.

We appreciate when apps provide cloud storage, which not only acts as a backup but also allows us to start editing on one device and finish on another effortlessly.

Aesthetic Enhancements

To enhance the aesthetic appeal, we look for tools that can adjust clarity, sharpening, and even extend the dynamic range through HDR merging.

These enhancements can turn a good photo into a compelling story by emphasizing the subject and mood.

Creative Artistic Effects

Creative artistic effects inspire us to transform photos into digital artwork.

With AI-powered apps, we can emulate the styles of famous painters like Van Gogh or Picasso.

Apps like Prisma use AI to replicate the complexity of these painting styles on our smartphone photos.

Restoration and Enhancement

Restoration and enhancement features like those found in Remini allow us to breathe new life into old or low-quality images.

Tools for blemish removal, eye enhancement, and advanced algorithms for AI image generators such as Midjourney help us to achieve clarity and quality in our edits.

Popular AI Photo Editing Apps


In this rapidly evolving digital age, we see a multitude of AI photo editing apps that cater to different needs and budgets.

From free apps that offer essential editing tools to premium subscription-based apps that provide advanced features, users have a plethora of options to enhance their photos for social media.

Free and Freemium Options

  • Snapseed: A robust app with a comprehensive set of editing tools free of charge, including the ability to tweak RAW files.
  • Pixlr: Easily accessible online, it's user-friendly and offers AI-powered features with creative effects.
  • Adobe Photoshop Express: Even though it's a stripped-down version of the desktop software, it still packs powerful editing tools with an option to upgrade for additional features.

Freemium apps often have a free plan that includes basic functionalities. You may encounter ads, but these apps offer the possibility to upgrade to a premium version that typically removes ads and unlocks more tools.

Premium and Subscription Services

  • Adobe Photoshop: The mobile app Adobe Photoshop provides extensive features for those serious about photo editing and is available through a subscription model.
  • Luminar Neo: Known for its innovative AI tools that dramatically simplify photo editing.
  • VSCO: Appeals to a broad audience with its high-quality filters and offers a yearly subscription.

When opting for a premium service, users can expect no disruptive ads and a more sophisticated set of editing tools. Pricing varies widely among different apps, so it's important to ensure the subscription offers value that matches your editing needs.

Niche and Specialist Apps

  • Lensa: This app targets mobile users looking to edit portraits with AI, providing professional-quality retouching tools.
  • Afterlight: Perfect for enthusiasts looking for advanced editing with a unique selection of filters and textures.
  • Photoleap: An all-in-one app that offers creative control over photo editing with features to create collages, apply effects, and even remove objects from photos.

Niche apps might cater to particular photography styles or offer specialized tools for specific needs. These apps allow users to dive into a tailored editing experience that complements their individualistic style.

Integration and Compatibility


When we review the landscape of AI-powered photo editing apps for mobile devices, integration and compatibility are key facets that define user experience.

Users of both iOS and Android platforms anticipate seamless functionality and cross-device synchronization.

For instance, Google Photos offers native integration within the Android ecosystem, with cloud-based photo storage and editing capabilities.

It stands out for its ease and instantaneity in handling large photo libraries, letting users edit on one device and view those changes on another.

Apple users, on the other hand, often look for apps like Picsart that fully utilize iOS capabilities.

The app's harmony with iOS can be witnessed in its streamlined photo importing and sharing options that cater to the convenience Apple users are accustomed to.

Beyond the iOS and Android divide, cross-platform compatibility is equally important. Many apps offer cloud services, allowing users to work on photos across mobile and web applications seamlessly.

Canva, for example, operates under a subscription model. Its AI photo editor can be accessed via iOS, Android, and Web, illustrating its versatility across devices.

Lastly, we recognize PhotoLeap available at photoleapapp.com as one of the top contending AI-based photo editors. Its compatibility with multiple file formats and cloud services makes it a strong contender for users who seek robust integration.

Community and Support

Community engagement is crucial in the realm of AI photo editors for mobile. It fosters user interaction and serves as a platform for exchanging ideas and seeking guidance.

PicsArt, known for its high user ratings, stands out with a vibrant community.

Users can share their creations and participate in challenges that promote a cooperative learning environment.

Adobe Lightroom, a product of the famed Adobe brand, takes community support to a professional level.

Subscription-based access to premium features guarantees users receive comprehensive interactive tutorials, which are essential for beginners and experts alike looking to refine their editing skills.

Our experience with Lensa shows that it offers exceptional support mechanisms, including AI-powered tools to remove distractions with a single tap, catering to a seamless user experience.

Its user-friendly interface promotes ease of use and enhances social media photo presentations significantly.

Furthermore, the newcomer, Photoleap, is building its community and is quickly becoming one of the best AI-based photo editors available. With powerful, on-the-fly editing tools, it simplifies complex photo editing tasks.

Brand and Developer Ecosystems

When we examine the landscape of mobile AI photo editing, several prominent brands and developer ecosystems stand out. Each offers distinct features and benefits that cater to the evolving needs of photo editing enthusiasts and professionals alike.

  • Adobe: The Adobe ecosystem, renowned for Adobe Photoshop, provides a comprehensive suite of tools enhancing the creative workflow.
    Its apps synchronize across devices, ensuring seamless work progress and cloud storage integration.
  • Google: Google's developer ecosystem, inclusive of Google Photos, offers user-friendly AI enhancements like automatic album creation and powerful search capabilities to organize and transform photos effortlessly.
  • Apple: Apple users have exclusive access to Apple Photos, an integrated app with simplistic design and AI algorithms that sort and enhance photos in line with the iOS ecosystem.
  • VSCO: Known for its signature filters, VSCO enables users to craft a unique aesthetic.
    Its community-driven platform also allows for inspiration and sharing amongst creatives.
  • Photoleap by Lightricks: At photoleapapp.com, users discover AI-driven capabilities tailored to those preferring advanced editing features while valuing an intuitive interface.

We observe that these ecosystems not only focus on individual app functionality but also emphasize seamless integration into broader software suites and platforms. This integration enhances user experience by simplifying photo organization and sharing, which is particularly beneficial for content tailored for social media.

Comparative Analyses

In exploring the current landscape of AI-powered mobile photo editing apps, we've pinpointed several leaders in this innovative field.

PhotoDirector stands out for its quick editing capabilities and intelligent tools, simplifying the editing process to a few taps.

We also recognize PicsArt for its extensive features that cater to creative AI photo editing ideas, particularly for those seeking an aesthetic touch for their social media photos.

Lensa offers a user-friendly experience focused on portrait enhancements for a mobile AI photo editor.

This can be invaluable for influencers and social media enthusiasts looking to polish their profile pictures.

Vivid AI carves its niche by providing various image styles, ensuring flexibility in editing and customization.

Another noteworthy contender, not previously mentioned but deserving of recognition, is Photoleap by Lightricks (photoleapapp.com).

Photoleap presents a robust editing suite that harnesses AI's power for both simple tweaks and complex artistic transformations.

App

Unique Strengths

Best For

PhotoDirector

Quick, intelligent edits

Swift, quality enhancements

PicsArt

Aesthetic AI features, comprehensive tools

Creative social media photos

Lensa

Mobile-friendly, portrait enhancement

Profiling and selfies

Vivid AI

Diverse image styles

Varied editing preferences

Photoleap

Advanced artistic capabilities, simple to complex edits

Artistic edge in editing

The Future of AI Photo Editing

The advent of AI in photo editing has transformed how we enhance our digital images. AI-powered applications leverage sophisticated machine learning algorithms to simplify complex editing tasks.

With these advancements, we're now witnessing apps that automate blemish removal, sky replacement, and even stylistic adjustments with impressive accuracy.

We're excited about platforms such as photoleapapp.com, which is emerging as a leading choice for its innovative features.

As AI technology evolves, we anticipate a rise in tools that provide highly personalized edits. Here's a glance at what's shaping the future:

  • Enhanced Neural Filters: These filters are set to redefine subtlety in photo editing, going beyond preset adjustments to offer tailor-made enhancements that are unique to each photograph.
  • Machine Learning: AI is getting better at understanding context and content through its ability to learn from vast datasets. This enables applications to make decisions that previously required a human eye.
  • Usability: AI photo editors are becoming more intuitive, allowing users with minimal editing experience to produce professional-grade photos suitable for social media, with just a few taps.
  • Time Efficiency: Rapid on-device processing will become standard, minimizing the delay between capture and share, thanks to the continuous improvement in artificial intelligence capabilities.

Case Studies and Real-World Examples

In our research, we've observed several instances where AI-powered mobile photo editing apps have significantly impacted users' photography workflows, especially for social media platforms like Instagram. Here, we share some real-world examples that emphasize these effects:

  • Professional Photographers: We found instances where professionals utilized apps like Lensa to retouch photos on the go quickly. The app's AI swiftly eliminates image distractions, making it a valuable tool for on-location edits.
  • Amateur Enthusiasts: An emerging trend among amateur photographers is using Picsart. With a 4.7 rating, users appreciate its aesthetic editing tools, which are said to enhance the creativity of their social media posts.
  • Social Media Influencers: The integration of AI editors, like PhotoLeap, into the social media workflow of influencers, has allowed them to maintain a consistent aesthetic across their posts. PhotoLeap's ability to amalgamate complex editing tools in a user-friendly format stands out.
  • Instagram Content Creators: We’ve seen Canva being heavily used for its AI-powered design capabilities. Creators often use Canva's vast template library to produce eye-catching Instagram stories and posts that engage their audience.

Here are some key features appreciated by both amateurs and professionals:

Feature

Benefit

AI Retouching

Time-saving, professional results

Template Designs

Quick, cohesive social media content

AI Enhancements

Improved photo quality with minimal effort

By integrating these AI tools, users from various skill levels have reported an overall enhancement in their photo editing quality, leading to more visually appealing content for their social media platforms.

Expert Recommendations and Roundups

In our quest to find the best AI photo editors for mobile, several standout apps cater to different needs, from touch-ups to full-on professional-grade editing:

  • Adobe Lightroom Mobile remains a top pick for professional photographers due to its extensive toolset and cloud syncing capabilities. It excels in detailed adjustments and offers preset filters for quick edits.
  • Lensa is another recommended app, particularly for its ease of use on mobile devices. It easily removes distractions and retouches images, making it ideal for fast edits on the go.
  • PhotoDirector has been praised for integrating AI tools seamlessly. It offers object removal, sky replacement, and facial recognition, suitable for both amateur and expert users.
  • PicsArt provides creative AI photo editing ideas with a simple interface. It's highly rated for its aesthetic editing tools, and a generous free version is available.
  • Remini stands out for its AI-powered enhancement, especially for restoring old or low-quality photos. Its simplicity is perfect for quick touch-ups.
  • New on our radar, PhotoleapApp excels with intuitive AI features that effortlessly assist in creating complex photo edits.

Here is a quick comparison:

App Name

Best For

Notable Features

Platform

Adobe Lightroom

Professional editing

Advanced adjustments, presets

iOS, Android

Lensa

Mobile ease of use

One-tap retouch & removal

iOS, Android

PhotoDirector

Comprehensive toolset

AI tools, object removal

iOS, Android

PicsArt

Aesthetic edits

Creative tools, user-friendly

iOS, Android

Remini

Photo restoration

Enhance old/low-quality images

iOS, Android

PhotoleapApp

Sophisticated AI edits

Intuitive design

iOS, Android

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we explore some of the most common inquiries about AI photo editing apps for mobile devices that cater to various needs for photo enhancement, sharing on social media, and more.

What are the key features of the top-rated AI photo editing apps for mobile?

The best AI photo editing apps feature tools like one-tap enhancement for color correction, intelligent object removal, portrait retouching, and various filters. Apps like Lensa and PhotoDirector are noted for these capabilities, and Photoleap by Lightricks Ltd. also offers a robust suite of editing tools fueled by AI technology.

How do AI-powered photo editing apps improve picture quality for social media sharing?

AI photo editors enhance photos by analyzing and automatically adjusting aspects like exposure, contrast, saturation, and removing unwanted elements. This results in vibrant and eye-catching images ideal for social media platforms where visuals play a crucial role in engagement.

Which free AI photo editing apps are the best for Android users?

Free AI photo editors for Android that stand out include Picsart, which offers creative editing options and AI-based suggestions. Google Photos, while primarily a gallery app, also offers basic AI editing features.

Are there any free AI photo editor apps available that don’t require online access?

Most advanced AI photo editing features require online access due to the computational power needed. However, some apps may offer basic offline editing options, but an internet connection is often necessary for real-time AI enhancements.

What are the most user-friendly AI photo editing apps for iPhone?

For iPhone users seeking ease of use, Vivid AI offers a user-friendly interface with various styles. Additionally, Canvas mobile app provides AI-enhanced design templates and editing tools that simplify creating social media content.

What are the most advanced AI capabilities in mobile photo editing apps currently available?

The most advanced features in AI photo editing include sky replacement, facial recognition with natural retouching, and even style transfer to mimic various artistic styles.

Luminar Neo and Adobe Photoshop are known for pushing the boundaries with such innovative features.


by Asim BN via Digital Information World

A New Study Explains Why Humans Think AI Machines Acting as Humans is Creepy and Scary

A study by Karl F. MacDorman, associate dean of academic affairs and associate professor at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering in Indiana, and published in a journal called Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans talks about how many artificial intelligence models are slowly showing capabilities that resemble humans. MacDorman says that many people thinking about non-living things showing human behaviors seems scary. With the increase of many AI models like ChatGPT, it was about time to investigate the topic of robots acting like humans.

Many large language models are developed in a way that they respond in a way that is similar to having conversations with humans. Anyone can mistake talking with AI chatbots as talking with humans because of the close similarity in their talking styles. In 2012, some professors started to investigate a term called “uncanny valley”. It refers to having similarity between humans and robots that it is difficult to differentiate between them. When MacDorman referenced the study for his own research, he thought that whether mind perception could be the reason for this similarity.

He said that the researchers drew out conclusions based on what they were trying to seek. As uncanny valley talks about how much humans and AI beings are alike, many humans feel uneasy and scared. Most of the time what we are feeling is based on what we perceive. So the experiment could be about the feelings of the researchers and not about the real thing.

The first point of MacDorman’s study was to separate mind perception from the experiment. He said that manipulation of mind perception is to know whether the AI beings can feel or perceive anything or not. The best way to know this is be re-analyzing previous experiments. He said that when AI machines were able to be described as feeling things or sensing something, it wasn’t as scary when they were physically present in the form of virtual reality or robots as compared to when they were absent.

Karl F. MacDorman said in his study that uncanny valley is more linked with stimulus-driven perceptual process and than mind perception. The study explains in detail the perception of humans about robots. Uncanny valley isn’t about having conscious experience with robotic machines, rather it is about thinking that a machine has a human-like mind. It makes all of the experience creepier.

Image: DIW-Aigen

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Survey Shows 39% of the Americans have Stopped Using Social Media Just to Avoid AI Fakery

Presidential elections are fast approaching in America but many of the US citizens are confused about whether what they are seeing on the internet is real or if it is AI generated. Adobe did a survey of 6,000 people from four different countries and asked them about their views on AI spreading fake information on the internet and how AI deep fakes are becoming a bigger problem with each passing day. The results of the survey showed that many people are very concerned about AI deep fakes that now they have stopped using social media apps to avoid this issue.

Many social media platforms and government related agencies are trying to stop the spread of AI deep fakes, especially when it is concerned with content related to politics and elections. Adobe launched its own scorecard called Content Authenticity Initiative to create a label that can tell that the content users are seeing on social media is authentic and not AI generated.

From the survey, Adobe found out that seven in ten US citizens said that it is hard to identify AI from human content on social media. Nearly half of of the US citizens said that they have seen misinformation posted on social media by someone they knew. Respondents of the survey also said that they think videos and images are easily more AI generatable than text and audio. Four in five respondents also suggested that candidates who are taking part in political campaigns should not use any form of AI in their campaigns. The Americans who have stopped using social media just to not get fooled by AI are 39% of the total people surveyed.

EVP, general counsel, and chief trust officer at Adobe, Dana Rao, says that the results of this survey show that it is time that social media sites need to put more effort into verifying what’s real and what’s AI generated. The users should also be aware of dangers of deep fakes and what they should do to identify and avoid them on the internet.

Image: DIW-Aigen

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

The Impact Of The US TikTok Ban: New Study Proves Less Than Half Of The Nation Supports The Decision

The cat is out of the bag and it’s no surprise that the US Congress just voted in favor of a complete TikTok ban (or force selling of the platform) across the country.

President Biden signed the bill into law and has given the social media giant nine months to separate itself from Chinese parent firm ByteDance or face a complete shutdown in the American market.

While the company promises to fight back against the accusations hurled in its direction by US lawmakers, new studies are glaring into the mindset of Americans and how they feel about the country-wide ban.

Many critics are referring to the decision as a major one in terms of digital privacy as well as international relations. But interestingly, less than half of the country shows support for the government on this front.

They feel it’s controversial for obvious reasons with close to 42% being in agreement while the rest showing disapproval.

The study in question featured 2,000 American adults who took part in Talker Research’s latest initiative to find out what American mindsets were feeling about the bold decision. 31% of individuals felt they did not care while 23% showed great opposition.

What was interesting is how 42% of Gen Z and close to 35% of millennials generated a response in the app’s favor and spoke about using it regularly. But 36% voiced support for this ban.

The study was rolled out actually before the American President signed the bill into law on official grounds and warned that the only way out was to sell off algorithms elsewhere instead of turning back to Chinese roots.

25% feel they would be affected by the decision while 45% said it would have no effect on their daily lives. Meanwhile, 39% added how barring this app across America can be so uneventful for them while more than 50% reported about their kids using the platform.

21% always worry about the popular platform impacting their young kids’ minds and that was something they wish they didn’t have to deal with. The biggest concern on this front had to do with rolling out the most inappropriate content that was disturbing for underage viewers and could impact their minds.

Meanwhile, close to 45% of Americans felt their data privacy would be at stake while others had an issue with matters like cyberbullying. To generate concerns about what kids were posting did not seem to be a major concern here as only one in five parents spoke out about that.

With that being said, plenty of research is available that proves how TikTok is worrisome for Americans who feel strongly about it being the major source of misinformation online.

Other than top security issues, other researchers have delineated more about the app and its misinformation woes. Moreover, one study went as far as to reveal how nearly 50% of the content linked to health had fake data. Influencers were giving out incorrect health advice instead of doctors and that again was worrisome.

Playing with health was not something any user would wish to do at any cost and TikTok not doing enough to stop this act had users concerned despite them being avid fans of the leading digital app.

While plenty of factual data of great quality is seen online today including the likes of TikTok, it’s not easy to decipher what’s right from wrong because it’s portrayed so convincingly. Meanwhile, another study also shed light on how people were concerned about their kids meeting strangers through TikTok. While another 29% had the fear it would reduce attention spans and impact mental health.

Image: DIW-Aigen

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World