Risky AI Incidents See 690% Increase

As AI continues to become an ever more prominent aspect of the manner in which you have currently chosen to end up living your life, it has the potential to cause enormous harm as well. For all of the benefits that it can provide, so called AI incidents which refer to malfunctions, as well as intentional misuse from threat actors, have been dangerous enough to put the world on the brink of nuclear war.

This occurred back in 1983, when a rudimentary form of AI that was being used by the Soviet Union mistakenly detected an incoming nuclear attack from the USA. Not all incidents are quite this cataclysmic, although they can still cause more harm than might have been the case otherwise. The most recent example that we can think of is that of Tessa, the chatbot offered by the National Eating Disorders Institute, or NEDA for short.

This chatbot offered extremely dangerous advice to the people it was conversing with, which may have increased their eating disorders risks with all things having been considered and taken into account. Tesla’s AI based self driving systems have also been quite dangerous, such as when they accidentally led to a car colliding with an unwary pedestrian.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that these incidents have increase by a massive 690% year over year. About a quarter of these incidents, or 24.5% to be precise, come from three companies, namely Tesla, Meta and OpenAI. This data comes from Surfshark, and with all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that it reveals the worrying trend with AI.

There has been a 261% increase in the number of chatbots online. As these numbers continue to grow, so too will the incidents that put the world in harm’s way. Implementing AI can create enormous seismic shifts, but more work needs to be put into ensuring that these shifts occur in the right direction. Failing to do so could lead to a highly unpredictable outcome in terms of risk.

H/T: Surfshark blog

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Bridging the Digital Divide: Global Internet Access Disparities

The World Bank recently released statistics showing that access to internet services on both fixed and mobile devices still varies greatly around the globe.

The most recent World Bank figures have shown considerable differences in internet availability throughout the globe, highlighting the ongoing digital divide between distinct geographic locations. In terms of widespread connectivity via landlines and mobile internet, many developing countries still need help to catch up to wealthy countries.

These statistics illustrate the importance of solving the issue of unequal availability of ICTs (information and communication technology) on a global scale. According to the World Bank, first-world nations have a large excess of mobile cellular customers relative to their populations.

However, the significant discrepancy in internet availability becomes much more evident when considering countries like Pakistan, India, and Nigeria. These countries have barely 80–90 mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 individuals, although they have sizable populations.

This difference hinders their capacity to connect and communicate clearly and presents problems for both social and economic advancement. The situation grows more serious in countries like South Sudan, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In some countries, there are as low as 30–50 lines per 100 people with access to mobile cellular subscriptions.

It is difficult to advance in enterprise, healthcare, or education because of this significant lack of connectedness, exacerbating existing social and economic inequality. Similarly, Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Laos need help to provide adequate access to mobile cellular subscriptions, with approximately 60 subscriptions per 100 people.

This limited availability prevents millions of individuals from harnessing the full potential of digital technologies, including accessing vital information, participating in e-commerce, and connecting with global networks.

It is worth noting that not all individuals in developing nations who possess a mobile phone own a smartphone. NewZoo reports penetration rates as low as 30-40 per cent in Pakistan and Nigeria and 47 per cent in India, leaving a significant portion of the population reliant on feature phones.

Remarkably, some of these devices are 4G-enabled, providing basic connectivity and access to essential services. While sharing mobile phone subscriptions is a widespread practice in economically disadvantaged countries, this phenomenon extends globally when it comes to landline internet access.

Broadband connections have reached unprecedented levels, with as high as 40-50 lines per 100 people in Europe and East Asia and a comparable rate of 37 in the United States. Unfortunately, the situation sharply contrasts in numerous developing nations, where broadband availability and connections are nearly nonexistent.

The discrepancies in global internet access underscore the urgent need for concerted efforts to bridge the digital divide. The World Bank statistics serve as a reminder that encouraging global connection, empowering individuals, and supporting socio-economic development all depend on everyone having equitable access to technology and digital resources.

Governments, non-governmental organisations, and businesses must work together and contribute to creating infrastructure, legal frameworks, and educational programmes that put narrowing the digital divide first. By doing this, we can enable information exchange, empower people and communities, and realise the revolutionary promise of the digital era.

H/T: Statista

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Retailers Say Too Much Tech is Bad for the Customer Experience

It seems like there is a new form of tech that companies have to incorporate every other day, and they tend to be seen positively due to the assumption that they can boost efficiency. In spite of the fact that this is the case, many retailers are claiming that an overabundance of tech is having a decidedly negative impact on the customer experience with all things having been considered and taken into account.

This comes from a survey that was conducted by Epsilon in collaboration with Phronesis Partners, and it revealed that too many tech vendors can make this rather confusing. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that too much tech is also having the exact opposite effect in terms of efficiency.

Instead of making things more efficient, a multiplicity of tech vendors is actually making it more difficult for retailers to obtain essential data than might have been the case otherwise. Brands often end up pitching to customers more than once, thereby alienating shoppers along with failing to target customers that have not been reached out to before.

Based on the findings that can be seen in this report, it appears that 37% of companies offering retail services are not using any off site ads. This can be a big risk because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up reducing the number of sales that they can take advantage of in the long run.

However, 42% of companies stated that it can be overly challenging for them to implement these ads due to the aforementioned difficulties pertaining to targeting and tracking of customers, as well as how this can inhibit customization across the board. 76% are of the opinion that ad quality should be held above everything else, and 75% said that inventory is also high on their list of priorities. It will be interesting to see how these companies adapt to the shifting tides, since the influx of tech solutions does not seem like it will go away.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Will Meta's New Social Media Platform Threads Be a Success? The App's Revenue Challenges and Opportunities

Threads, Mark Zuckerberg's new app has seen tremendous success since its launch in early July. It has gained over 92 million signups and attracted a wide audience, including users from Instagram and those who are dissatisfied with Twitter. The ongoing rivalry between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk has taken an intriguing turn with the introduction of Threads. The app offers a diverse range of features that have the potential to make it one of the most beloved platforms of all time.

Currently, Meta claims that Threads is ad-free. However, since Instagram and Facebook heavily rely on advertising for revenue, it is likely that Threads will eventually incorporate ads. While an ad-free experience allows for uninterrupted scrolling, it may not be ideal for those seeking to monetize their presence on the platform.

Meta's other apps, such as Facebook and Instagram, have reaped significant benefits from advertisements, generating $117 billion in sales last year. In contrast, Elon Musk takes a different approach to advertising and continuously explores alternative funding methods for his companies.

According to Justin Patterson, a research analyst at KeyBancCapital Markets, even if Meta decides to introduce advertisements in Threads, the revenue generated could contribute 1% to 5% of Meta's overall revenue. While this may not initially seem like a substantial amount, it becomes significant considering the challenges Meta faces due to Apple's privacy rules. Additionally, it comes as no surprise that Threads has performed well without ads, as its potential revenue is comparable to Twitter's ad revenue of $4.5 billion in 2021, prior to Elon Musk's involvement.

The future success of Threads will depend on its continued development. However, Elon Musk's legal action concerning stolen trade secrets adds a layer of complexity. It is worth noting that both Zuckerberg and Musk have encountered challenges related to transparency, privacy issues, and data handling. Nevertheless, Threads' promise of providing a superior ecosystem has already attracted popular celebrities and dissatisfied Twitter users to the platform.

Summing up, this ongoing quarrel between Meta and Twitter suggests that both platforms have the potential to coexist or serve as a wake-up call for Elon Musk and Twitter. If Threads remains ad-free for a certain period, it may offer Twitter an opportunity to address its own challenges.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

The Role of Tech Corporations in Carbon Emissions

As the world hurtles towards an impending catastrophe, a few major players start to emerge that might have a higher impact at making global warming a larger problem than might have been the case otherwise. The aviation industry is often blamed for contributing a larger portion of carbon emissions that are increasing the rate at which the climate of the planet happens to degrade, but in spite of the fact that this is the case, tech corporations contribute just as much.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that the tech industry contributes anywhere from two to three percent of the world’s carbon emissions. This is actually comparable to the emissions that come from the aviation industry, so curbing the tech sector’s contribution can be crucial to keeping global warming under the catastrophic 1.5 Celsius degree increase that is on the horizon.

Major tech companies such as Google as well as Meta signed a pledge wherein they promised to contribute nearly a billion dollars to reducing their carbon footprint. To be more specific, these companies pledged to invest $925 million into this endeavor with all things having been considered and taken into account.

However, it bears mentioning that neither of these companies hold the title of highest carbon emitter in the entire tech space. That dubious honor belongs to Samsung, which puts out an estimated 20 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each and every year. This is equivalent to 4.3 million cars driving on the road. Fortunately, the company has spent an estimated $5 billion on becoming carbon neutral by 2060.

The Korean electronics manufacture is not traditionally considered to be a part of the Big Five in tech, so its role needs to be factored in for the purposes of maintaining the planet for future generations. If we were to zero in solely on the Big Five, Amazon emerges as the biggest offender in this regard.

Amazon produces an annual 16.2 million metric tons of CO2, and while this is 20% less than what Samsung contributes, it is still an enormous portion of the total emissions that are speeding up climate change. The multi-trillion dollar company should therefore be held accountable. Jeff Bezos has signed another pledge in 2019 claiming that his company will be carbon neutral by 2040, yet the company’s carbon footprint grew by 18% in 2021 alone.

As for companies that produce the most carbon emissions per employee, the Taiwan based semiconductor creator named TSMC came out on top. Each worker at this corporation puts out an estimated 206 metric tons of CO2 per year, yet the importance of semiconductors to global trade often helps corporations like this fly under the radar.

Another way to look at this is in terms of carbon emissions relative to revenue. In this respect, yet another semiconductor manufacturer comes to the fore. This time around, it is the US based Onsemi that holds the title of highest carbon emitter relative to revenue. This company emit around 405 metric tons of CO2 for every million dollars of income that they bring in.

Semiconductor firms are often the worst offenders in terms of the carbon emissions that they put out, at least when you look at it in the context of a per employee or relative to revenue basis. The lack of feasible renewable energy in Asia continues to hamper any attempts to achieve carbon neutrality within the next few decades. A major shift will have to occur, otherwise there will simply be no way to stop the catastrophe that seems to be right at our doorstep. Every tech company needs to play its part in helping to keep climate change and global warming at bay.

H/T: Electronics Hub
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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Study Shows How Beauty Videos TikTok Can Give Young Women Self Esteem Issues

The time of content and media that we consume online can have an enormous impact on our self esteem and mental health, and TikTok can have a decidedly negative effect in that regard. According to a recent study that was released in the Body Image journal, a negative correlation could be seen between watching beauty videos on TikTok and a young woman’s self esteem.

What this basically means is that young women that watch videos like this are more likely to experience anxiety about their self worth than might have been the case otherwise. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that this is not the only type of impact that TikTok videos can have.

The type of video that you watch can change the effect, with self esteem and self love themed videos not causing the same kinds of problems with all things having been considered and taken into account. In spite of the fact that this is the case, much of the content that can be seen on TikTok is beauty oriented, and this can create unreasonable expectations for how people should look.

The study was conducted with a set of female participants who were between the ages of 17 and 25, all of whom are based in Australia. Three sets of seven minute TikTok compilations were created, one of which was in the beauty niche, the other being in the travel niche, and the final one being self compassion focused.

The participants were then assigned these clips at random, and they were asked to rate their mood after watching them. Watching beauty videos on TikTok led to increased feelings of shame and anxiety, whereas the women that watched the self compassion videos reported an increased sense of wellbeing.

While this study is by no means definitive, it does point to a glaring problem in the world of social media, namely in how it changes people’s self perception. More research must be done to uncover the true effects and how long they might last.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

25% of Gen Z Want Finance Careers Amid Cost of Living Crisis

Gen Z is growing up fast, and as this generation’s college graduates enter the work force, a noticeable trend has started to emerge. The CFA Institute recently conducted a survey which revealed that as many as a quarter of Gen Z respondents said that they are looking to start a career in finance. The cost of living crisis might be behind this, because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up forcing Gen Z to find the most lucrative career paths.

This makes finance the single most prominent career sector for Gen Z to focus on 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 it was in 5th place only recently in 2021, but the economic shockwaves that have started overcoming the planet are making finance seem like a much more viable choice than might have been the case otherwise.

After all, 62% of recent graduates said that getting a good salary is their single biggest priority when it comes to selecting the career that they will follow through with. A similar survey conducted by Deloitte revealed that the cost of living crisis is weighing heavily on members of Gen Z. That makes it understandable that so many of them would want to start a career in an industry that deals with financial investments.

In spite of the fact that this is the case, 52% of Gen Z are still of the opinion that they have it easier then their parents ever did. This is a 6 point increase from the 48% that said the same in 2021, so there is a clear upward trajectory that can be seen on this front.

Over half of the people that responded to the CFA Institute’s survey said that they are basing their career decisions on the rising cost of living. This may very well lead to fewer people applying for tech jobs, especially after the massive layoffs that occurred last year.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World