Instagram is Experimenting With an AI Chatbot in DMs

If you want to know what the tech industry is obsessing over, you need only take a look at the features that they have started incorporating in the recent past. Meta tends to be front and center in this regard. The company has previously used Snapchat Stories as inspiration for a slew of new features across Facebook, Instagram and even WhatsApp. They tried to do the same with short form content after the rise of TikTok.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that AI chatbots seems to be the latest bandwagon that Meta is trying to jump on. Snapchat added a chatbot to its DMs not too long ago, so it was only a time before a platform that fell under Meta’s umbrella would try to follow suit.

Meta has been using generative AI to offer features such as helping users make better Facebook ad and creating visual prompts that can be used in the creation of Instagram stickers. In spite of the fact that this is the case, the company is going full speed ahead with yet another AI addition, this time in the form of an AI chatbot that can be located in the DMs section of Instagram.

This chatbot can be used to help draft better messages than might have been the case otherwise. It can also be a useful tool if you ever need to ask a question in the middle of a conversation because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up streamlining the dialogue. Users will just have to type in @ai in the typing box and they will be taken to the chatbot which will answer any and all questions that they might have.

It will be interesting to see what other AI related features Meta brings to the table. The company is notorious for jumping on every trend with all things having been considered and taken into account. It also manages to normalize features thanks to its enormous userbase and massive footprint across the world.

H/T: Alessandro Paluzzi

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Meta’s Oversight Board Puts Its Reviewed Cases On Display In Its Annual 2022 Report

The yearly report for Meta’s Oversight Board is out for the year 2022 and it’s safe to say that it’s got plenty of interesting pointers included.

The board put out a thorough overview of what users can expect in terms of case reviews and that entails some massive improvements across the tech giant’s systems. These are all the cases that it has intervened upon and assisted in terms of reaching a final decision.

Moreover, let’s not forget how it was for the sake of adding more transparency to the company’s actions so as to show how it was following its own rules set out for content moderation.

The Board is one that many called out as an experiment when it comes down to regulating content through social media. Similarly, it’s a clear reminder of how apps need to use the help of experts when taking on big decisions to ensure all of their rules are refined.

So when you actually come to think of it, the Oversight Board of Meta is a true success.

The board recently went on to mention a few statements that expanded between the likes of January 2021 to April 2023. This is where it made a staggering 191 recommendations for the firm. And about two-thirds of these had to do with the firm completely implementing them and putting out progress on the final result.

We saw in the year 2022 how encouraging it was to witness something like this and how the tech giant was making changes to the system and its regulations and how it was getting implemented.

This entailed Meta putting out changes to user alerts, making amendments to rules, and even recording all the progress it has made over time. It’s just refreshing for experts in the tech world to see how strongly Meta takes the board and how it does end up following its guidance to a great degree to ensure they’re working on the right track.

The news means saying hello to greater transparency from the firm as it enables the board to play a stronger role in making decisions and provides users with more understanding of why some posts were added or deleted.

In the recent past, we saw plenty of users guessing why the firm deleted content. Now, Facebook’s parent firm says they’re busy trying to ensure global users are well aware of why a certain decision was taken or which rule had been broken and what the consequences of such behavior would be.

Be it hate speech or content that revolves around the likes of bullying, harassment, and more- Meta will let its users know what they did wrong. Now, there are even more reports of how the tech giant will also inform people about human reviews that caused a certain post to be deleted.

This is a new form of transparency that Meta says it required and it’s glad to be offering it to all on its platform.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Apple CEO Admits Using ChatGPT Personally While Expressing Interest In Its Unique Applications

Tim Cook recently sat down for an exclusive interview and that’s where he made some striking revelations that are now making headlines.

The CEO of Apple admitted to using the popular ChatGPT tool and also spoke about how exciting its overall applications were.

During the interview with ABC, Cook added that his firm utilizes a lot of AI in so many of its products. But not a lot of users are concerned or aware of that. They don’t call it out as AI, while similarly delineating how the leading iPhone maker is closely staring at ChatGPT for use in the company’s own system.

Remember, Tim Cook has previously spoken about how so many language models are now present that serve as massive AI tools powering chatbots such as ChatGPT and even Bard. They are all being called out for displaying massive promises but also have some great potential of being biased and putting misinformation on display in certain situations.

The CEO of Apple is also putting out some news about how the firm is setting out plenty of safeguards and even some guardrails for AI that’s not only leading but moving in a swift direction.

Cook adds that when you look at the way things are unfolding at this point in time, you’ll realize how firms need to make some strong and ethical considerations. Moderating behavior is not going to be easy, despite the great progress related to this as that’s how fast things are moving. This is why he feels it’s time firms started taking matters into their own hands and begin regulation.

Tim Cook's long list of comments arises at a time when AI continues to move at a fast pace, not to mention how huge of a fan following and powerful mark it has managed to create in the tech world in such a short span of time.

Tech giants and big names in the world of AI are concerned and have signed up letters to tell individuals that the risks are plenty and that a pause in training is required. On the other hand, a few critics claim that the threats are not as huge as they’re being projected and that’s causing nothing but fear and panic across the board.

Is there a real-life threat to humans and a possible human extinction on the rise, top AI researchers don’t think so. But on the contrary, the pioneers related to the field of AI do think it could occur. So as you can tell, the statements coming out right now are quite skeptical.

The conversation with Tim Cook comes just one day after we observed a notable keynote speech on the subject of technology by Apple’s CEO at the world-famous annual WWDC conference. This is where the Cupertino firm put a long list of new apps and products on display including the much anticipated mixed reality headset called Vision Pro.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Microsoft Edge’s Market Share Drops Below 10% While Safari Continues to Gain Ground

With the arrival of June 2023, the U.S.-based web traffic analyst firm StatCounter has released its monthly report highlighting the progress reports of different search engines.

As per the stats, Google’s Chrome continued to lead the chart. The desktop version had more than sixty-six percent share even after losing 0.2 points last month.

On the other hand, Safari, an Apple-owned engine, is getting itself adjusted to its latest position as it successfully took over Microsoft-owned Edge two months ago. Safari was able to increase its user community as the stats went up from almost twelve percent to thirteen percent. Whereas Edge came down from ten percent to 9.91 percent.

The decline in Microsoft Edge’s market share could be attributed to several factors. One possible reason is the increasing competition from other browsers, such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, which have managed to capture a larger share of the market. Additionally, the perceived performance issues and compatibility concerns associated with Microsoft Edge may have played a role in its dwindling user base.

In contrast, Safari’s continued growth can be attributed to Apple’s thriving ecosystem. The built-in web browser, Safari, is automatically installed on every Apple device, including iPhones and Macs, giving it a significant advantage in terms of user adoption. With Apple’s strong customer base and seamless integration with its other products and services, Safari has managed to attract a loyal user community.

Similarly, Mozilla Firefox was also unable to increase its numbers. Instead of going up, the engine went further down, from almost 5.6 percent to 5.3 percent. As compared to last year, the engine had a share of around eight percent.

Shifting to the engines available on mobile phones, Google Chrome leads the table with an almost 61 percent share, followed by Safari, which holds 27.81 percent. Samsung’s own Samsung Internet gained almost 0.14 points and earned a share of approximately 5 percent.

The browser market remains highly competitive, with different players contending for a larger slice of the user base. Each browser offers unique features, security measures, and compatibility options, leading users to make choices based on their preferences and requirements.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Android Users Need to Act Fast to Safeguard Their Devices From Malicious SpinOk Malware

Attention Android users, be cautious as a fresh surge of malicious apps has been identified, housing the harmful SpinOk malware. In a recent investigation, security experts revealed that more than 100 apps for android, with an astonishing total of 400 million downloads, were tainted with this insidious spyware. To make matters worse, an extra 92 apps have now been discovered to be compromised, intensifying the danger to unsuspecting individuals.

Originally introduced as an advertising tool in the form of a software development kit (SDK), SpinOk was unknowingly integrated by developers into their apps to offer users enjoyable "other games" and enticing "daily gifts." However, these seemingly harmless features masked a dangerous form of malware. Dr. Web, an antivirus company, uncovered the SpinOk module, which operates discreetly in the background and carries out a range of malicious actions. These actions include searching, uploading, replacing, listing files, and copying. Unfortunately, such functionality poses a significant risk, potentially leaking personal videos, documents, and images without authorization. Furthermore, the malware can exploit the device's clipboard to pilfer sensitive information like passwords and credit card data.

After Dr. Web's initial discovery of 101 apps infected with the malware called SpinOk, CloudSEK cybersecurity company has revealed an addition of 92 more infected apps at this point. These apps have amassed an astonishing 30 million downloads. Alarmingly, 43 of these infected apps were still accessible on the Google Play Store when the report was made, although Google is expected to take prompt action to remove them.

SpinOk has had a significant impact on various popular apps, including Macaron Match, Macaron Boom, Jelly Connect, Tiler Master, Crazy Magic Ball, Happy 2048, and Mega Win Slots. These apps have amassed millions of downloads, but it's crucial to highlight that the malicious SDK probably incorporated the into their apps without the creators knowing, mistaking it for a harmless advertising library.

If you happen to be an Android user with any of these apps installed, It is advisable to uninstall them immediately. Taking precautions with the security of your device is crucial, even if the malicious SDK is to be removed. Once the SpinOk module has been completely eradicated, you can consider reinstalling the apps.

Google has addressed the issue and emphasized the importance of developer and user safety. A spokesperson for Google stated that they have carefully examined the reports regarding the SpinOk SDK and are actively implementing measures against apps that breach their policies. Furthermore, Google Play Protect, a service provided by Google, acts as an additional layer of security by notifying users about apps that demonstrate malicious behavior, even if they are obtained from sources other than the official Play Store.

To ensure protection against Android malware and potentially harmful apps, it is recommended to exercise caution when installing new applications. Take the time to carefully evaluate the app's ratings and read user reviews, keeping in mind the possibility of fake reviews. Seeking out external reviews and watching video demonstrations can provide valuable insights.It is important to be cautious when you come across apps that request unnecessary permissions. For example, a photo-editing app should not require you to grant access to your contacts or call history.

To enhance your defense against mobile malware, it is recommended to contemplate the installation of a top-rated antivirus application designed for Android devices. Many Android phones come pre-installed with Google Play Protect, a built-in feature that offers the benefit of free scanning for both apps you already have and those you download in the future.

With the ongoing expansion of the list of apps contaminated by the malware of SpinOk, it is anticipated that Google will issue an official statement soon. In the interim, Android users are strongly advised to remove any affected apps from their devices as a precautionary measure to protect their personal data and maintain a secure mobile environment.

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by Ayesha Hasnain via Digital Information World

Former TikTok Executive Exposes Chinese Communist Party's Alleged Data Breach and TikTok's Involvement

Yintao Yu, a former executive at ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok has made a significant accusation in a legal document. During his tenure as the head of ByteDance's US engineering team from 2017 to 2018, Yu claimed that officials at the Chinese Communist Party had obtained personal data from civil rights activists residing in Hong Kong, who were users of TikTok. This allegation surfaces at a moment when lawmakers have been expressing mounting apprehension regarding the app's potential security risks.

In a wrongful termination lawsuit filed in May, Yu voiced his grievances against his former company. In a recent court filing, a new allegation came to light. As per the filing, the committee of the Chinese Communist Party reportedly acquired and compiled the communication data, IDs of their SIM, and IP addresses of individuals in Hong Kong, specifically targeting political activists.

TikTok has refuted the claims made by Yu and has expressed its disagreement with what it considers to be unfounded accusations. The company highlighted that Yu took 5 years after the wrongful termination to bring up these concerns, suggesting that they lack credibility.

Earlier this year Yu's lawyer made a decision to initiate the legal claim following Chew, the TikTok CEO's testimony before Congress. Chew denied any connection between the app and the leaking of any personal data that the government of China might've acquired. This compelled Yu to come forward and contradict Chew's statements. Currently, Forbes' attempts to obtain a comment from TikTok have been met with silence as the company has chosen not to respond.

In the midst of increasing worries regarding the protection of TikTok's data, particularly among lawmakers in the United States, a noteworthy development has emerged. Yu, a former employee who was dismissed from TikTok in 2018, has made allegations in a separate legal filing related to his wrongful termination case. According to Yu, his termination was a result of voicing concerns about a scheme intended to unlawfully appropriate and gain financial benefits with the misuse, and leaking of intellectual assets of various organizations. Furthermore, the legal complaint alleges that Beijing-based ByteDance's offices engaged with individuals linked to the Chinese Communist Party who actively supervised the company's applications and held the power to fully deactivate them at their discretion.

Lawmakers in the United States have displayed significant skepticism towards TikTok, raising doubts about the safety of American users' data. During a congressional hearing in March, TikTok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, faced intense scrutiny as he consistently refuted allegations of the Chinese Communist Party's access to TikTok data in the US. Experts have voiced apprehensions regarding the potential national security risks posed by the app, its data collection practices, and the potential influence it may have on the content shown to American users.

Moreover, the concerns surrounding TikTok's security have not been limited to the federal level alone. Last month, the state of Montana took measures to ban the app citing concerns related to data privacy, leading to legal actions initiated by TikTok and its users.

In summary, Yintao Yu's accusations of Chinese Communist Party access to TikTok user data in Hong Kong have heightened concerns about the app's security. TikTok has denied the claims, but lawmakers and experts remain skeptical. The state of Montana has even banned the app due to data privacy concerns, leading to legal disputes. The issue of TikTok's data security continues to be a subject of scrutiny and legal action.

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by Ayesha Hasnain via Digital Information World

As Earth Overshoot Day Approaches, These Countries Act as Role Models

Earth Overshoot Day refers to a time of the year when the resources that we use end up exceeding the amount that the Earth can create on an annual basis. Each year, Earth Overshoot Day draws closer and closer to the start of the year. That highlights just how excessive our resource consumption can be with all things having been considered and taken into account.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Earth Overshoot Day this year is falling on August 2nd. This marks the earliest overshoot day since it first began in the year 1970 when humanity exceeded Earth’s annual resources on the last day of the year.

In spite of the fact that this is the case, there are still plenty of countries that don’t have an Earth and Overshoot Day. This is largely due to their low resource consuming nature, and virtually all of these countries can be found in Asia and Africa with a few examples in South America as well.

The subcontinental nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka along with their northern neighbor of Afghanistan stand out quite a bit. Countries across Eastern, Western and Southern Africa, with the notable exception of South Africa itself, also serve as role models.

More people need to start living like the citizens of these countries because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up keeping the impending climate catastrophe at bay. On the other end of the spectrum are European nations like France and Germany which use twice as many natural resources on an annual basis.

America, of course, uses far more natural resources and if everyone lived like Americans the world would collapse faster than might have been the case otherwise. It will be interesting to see how much closer Earth Overshoot Day comes in 2024, since it is already edging far too close to the first half of the year and it might start occurring in the second quarter by the end of the decade.

H/T: Statista Blog

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World