How Real Is Quantum Computing? Weekend Edition has some great guests talking about how they're using quantum computing to help people prepare for IT careers.
Meta's new AI release sparks debate about open-source AI vs. closed-source AI, major legislation expanding US government surveillance capabilities gets little attention, and how accurate these AI launch videos are Before booking his next business trip, a big question arises: A former Boeing manager says he won't fly on a Boeing plane.
All this and more in the “Under the Radar” edition of Hashtag Trends. I'm your host, Jim Love. Let's get started.
Meta has released a compact version of its latest open source AI model called Llama 3 and an updated version of its AI assistant that can answer questions using real-time web information.
These announcements have reignited the debate about the future control and accessibility of powerful AI systems.
The company says its new Meta AI assistant, available for apps and websites like WhatsApp and Instagram, is the “most intelligent” free AI assistant of its kind. This includes new features such as generating custom images and animated GIFs based on text prompts.
However, in a separate and related interview, Meta's chief AI scientist Yann LeCun argued that these types of AI platforms and models should remain open source and decentralized, and that a small number of companies warned of the dangers of controlling everyone's “digital diet.”
“Eventually, all of our interactions with the digital world will be mediated by AI assistants,” LeCun said. That means a few AI assistants can't control what everyone sees. This is very dangerous for diversity of thought, for democracy, and for just about everything.”
LeCun advocates for a future with a variety of open AI models that can be customized for different cultures, languages, and use cases, creating what he calls a proprietary “echo chamber” for AI-powered knowledge. I prevented it.
The move reflects a philosophical divide in the AI ​​industry, with some companies like OpenAI making their models closed and proprietary, while others see themselves as champions of open source. It is positioned.
Mehta's stated goals include not only making the model open, but also making the latest model increasingly multilingual. LeCun also argued for the importance of a diverse range of AI assistants emerging to reflect the diversity of society.
As these systems become the conduits through which people interact with digital information and services, the debate over centralized control and democratized access to this innovative technology is sure to intensify.
Source: Axios and Analytics India
If you've been following US political news, you may have missed this article given the trial, impeachment inquiry, and crisis over Ukraine funds, but there's a big debate, and the US Senate will renew and expand the controversy on Thursday. A vote is expected to be taken on the possibility of Government surveillance powers.
Privacy advocates are sounding the alarm over proposed changes that could force a wide range of companies and individuals to hand over their electronic communications to intelligence agencies.
At issue is the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The provision currently allows U.S. spy agencies to monitor communications involving foreign nationals outside the United States who may pose a national security threat without a warrant.
FISA has long been criticized for also wiping out data on American citizens, allowing intelligence agencies to search for data domestically without a warrant, a practice that civil rights groups consider unconstitutional.
The House passed a bill last week that would reauthorize Section 702 for another eight years. But it included proposed amendments that would significantly expand what can be legally defined as an “electronic communications service provider,” a classification that can force companies to share users' private data.
Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said this would conscript millions of people into “Big Brother agents,” from office cleaners to any company that installs internal computer servers or Wi-Fi routers. warned that there was a possibility of
“This law is an unrestricted law that orders millions of Americans on behalf of the government to spy on anyone with access to their servers, wires, cable boxes, routers, phones, or computers,” Wyden said. It gives power to the government.”
Privacy advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union and tech industry groups, are asking the Senate to reject the provision, citing risks to digital privacy and U.S. competitiveness if user data is released at government request. There is.
The White House and others say FISA provides the tools needed to thwart threats and protect Americans in a world rife with terrorist threats and instability.
As the Senate considers any renewal, it will need to weigh increased national security powers against public concerns about erosion of civil liberties protections in the digital age.
Given the other hubbub and the speed of this movement, it is unlikely that anyone will ever get a chance to hear a clear and rational discussion of these very important issues.
Source: The Register
For people who fly for work or personal travel, we've featured an app that tells you what type of plane you'll be on.
If you think that's just alarming, you might want to check out another U.S. Senate subcommittee. There, former Boeing manager Ed Pearson repeatedly talks about safety issues with his Boeing 737 Max jets, such as those involved in the recent Alaska Airlines incident. The door was blown into the air. Once, he realized he was booked on a 737 Max and got off the plane before it even started.
When a 737 Max 9 lost a door in mid-air, leaving a gaping hole in the fuselage, the National Transportation Safety Board found that a bolt designed to secure the door was missing. The same report said a door plug was removed at a Boeing factory to fix a broken rivet, but Boeing told the board that no documentation existed regarding this work.
Mr. Pearson testified that a Boeing whistleblower gave him documents showing a “criminal cover-up” related to the Door incident. Boeing reportedly claimed there was no documentation of its work on the door plug that came loose from the 737 Max jet.
Pearson said Wednesday, “The records actually exist. I know this because I personally turned them over to the FBI.”
Pearson was a senior manager at the Boeing 737 factory and retired in 2018, before the first Boeing 737 Max 8 crash.
“We're not going to take this lightly. This is a criminal conspiracy,” Pearson said.
The FBI is investigating whether criminal charges should be filed in the case, and Alaska Airlines passengers reportedly received a letter from the FBI stating they may be victims of a crime.
Anyone who has ever sat next to an exit door will take on a whole new meaning when a flight attendant asks, “Are you ready to act in case of an emergency?”
Source: Business Insider
Big tech companies like Amazon are facing intense scrutiny over claims that some of their touted artificial intelligence systems actually rely heavily on offshore human labor. Critics argue that this is tantamount to traditional outsourcing being repackaged under the banner of AI. Both companies, however, deny the allegations, insisting that their AI capabilities are indeed automated and that the role of human judges is limited.
Recently, Amazon's “Just Walk Out” cashierless checkout system sparked controversy after reports surfaced that human workers in India verify purchases by reviewing surveillance footage. This prompted accusations that the tech giant was exaggerating the AI ​​automation behind the system, which was touted to allow customers to simply pick up the item and leave the store.
In a recent article, author Janet Bartesi argues that much of what is labeled AI is actually just old-fashioned labor outsourcing in a new guise.
Bertesi said, “AI is just a buzzword in today's outsourcing, and it comes with the same problems that have plagued outsourcing companies for decades…Behind the curtain is the well-known phenomenon of outsourcing, which is expensive and… “Skilled labor is traded for cheap, unskilled labor overseas.”
However, Amazon forcefully pushed back on this perception. John Jenkins, the company's vice president who oversees Just Walk Out, told Axios in a recent interview that human judges in India analyze “a small percentage” of cases after the fact to improve the accuracy of the AI. He said he was not observing live shoppers.
“The idea that there are human reviewers monitoring shoppers live is simply not true,” Jenkins said. “The idea that there are human reviewers monitoring shoppers live is simply not true. There are fewer than 1,000 people.''
While Jenkins claims that Just Walk Out leverages advanced sensors, cameras and AI to enable a grab-and-go experience, there are challenges in efficiently scaling the technology to more locations. admits there is still work to be done.
This discussion speaks to the broader challenge of separating AI hype from reality. Many AI products, including Amazon's, can be said to “improve system performance” by editing videos. Google was found to be editing one of its AI announcements to improve its apparent performance. Yesterday, we featured a scathing review of Humane's AI pendant. The actual performance of the device was completely different from what was shown in the video demo, and this infuriated reviewers. If you start digging, you'll find plenty of examples.
But Amazon's lawsuit also raised concerns that technology companies are cutting costs by outsourcing labor overseas in the name of automation.
This problem is expected to become even more acute as AI enables more sophisticated simulations. In response to Groucho Marx's words, “Are you going to believe me or are you going to believe your lying eyes?” Maybe there's another saying: “There should be laws…” I don't know.
Sources include: Techpolicy.press and Axios
And that’s today’s show…
Hashtag Trends airs five days a week, with an interview show on the weekends. And we're also active on YouTube.
Find us at our new home at technewsday.ca or .com. Please choose. For comments, suggestions or criticisms, please contact therealjimlove@gmail.com or editor@technewsday.ca.
I'm your host, Jim Love. Have a wonderful Friday!