Technology
- Twitch’s BibleThump will soon go to emote heavenwww.theverge.com Twitch’s BibleThump will soon go to emote heaven
All emotes go to heaven... especially this one.
> All emotes go to heaven... especially this one.
- The Internet Archive’s Fight to Save Itselfwww.wired.com The Internet Archive’s Fight to Save Itself
The web’s collective memory is stored in the servers of the Internet Archive. Legal battles threaten to wipe it all away.
Note: article may be paywalled if you've read all your free articles from Wired for now. Archive link in that event.
> [...] Against the back wall, where one might find confessionals in a different kind of church, there’s a tower of humming black servers. These servers hold around 10 percent of the Internet Archive’s vast digital holdings, which includes 835 billion web pages, 44 million books and texts, and 15 million audio recordings, among other artifacts. Tiny lights on each server blink on and off each time someone opens an old webpage or checks out a book or otherwise uses the Archive’s services. The constant, arrhythmic flickers make for a hypnotic light show. Nobody looks more delighted about this display than Kahle. > > It is no exaggeration to say that digital archiving as we know it would not exist without the Internet Archive—and that, as the world’s knowledge repositories increasingly go online, archiving as we know it would not be as functional. Its most famous project, the Wayback Machine, is a repository of web pages that functions as an unparalleled record of the internet. Zoomed out, the Internet Archive is one of the most important historical-preservation organizations in the world. The Wayback Machine has assumed a default position as a safety valve against digital oblivion. The rhapsodic regard the Internet Archive inspires is earned—without it, the world would lose its best public resource on internet history.
Note: article may be paywalled if you've read all your free articles from Wired for now. Archive link in that event.
- Microsoft details security/privacy overhaul for Windows Recall ahead of relauncharstechnica.com Microsoft details security/privacy overhaul for Windows Recall ahead of relaunch
Recall nearly launched as a scraper that stored all its data in plaintext.
> Recall nearly launched as a scraper that stored all its data in plaintext.
- AI bots now beat 100% of those traffic-image CAPTCHAsarstechnica.com AI bots now beat 100% of those traffic-image CAPTCHAs
I, for one, welcome our traffic light-identifying overlords.
> I, for one, welcome our traffic light-identifying overlords.
- This is not an ad for this product, but a warning for devs (IBM-Granite)www.ibm.com Granite | IBM
Start building today with Granite, our family of open-sourced, carefully curated models designed for business & spanning multiple modalities.
The advertising for this that I heard, was for companies to use this AI instead of developers because devs are so expensive to hire. It was a podcast audio ad. Their web presence makes it sound like it's for devs to use.
Heads up
- Dell sales team told to return to office 5 days a week, starting Mondayarstechnica.com Dell sales team told to return to office 5 days a week, starting Monday
"... sales teams are more productive when onsite."
> "... sales teams are more productive when onsite."
- Man tricks OpenAI’s voice bot into duet of The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby”arstechnica.com Man tricks OpenAI’s voice bot into duet of The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby”
OpenAI doesn't want its chatbot to sing, but sometimes the ability slips through.
> OpenAI doesn't want its chatbot to sing, but sometimes the ability slips through.
- CNN will start locking some articles behind a paywallwww.theverge.com CNN will start locking some articles behind a paywall
The publication aims to bolster its business with digital subscriptions.
> The publication aims to bolster its business with digital subscriptions.
- Steam doesn’t want to pay arbitration fees, tells gamers to sue insteadarstechnica.com Steam doesn’t want to pay arbitration fees, tells gamers to sue instead
Valve previously sued a law firm in attempt to stop mass arbitration claims.
> Valve previously sued a law firm in attempt to stop mass arbitration claims.
- Software fixes now account for over 20% of car recallswww.techspot.com Software fixes now account for over 20% of car recalls
There are about 100 million lines of code in modern cars, according to PwC – far more than a passenger jet running 14 million lines of code,...
> There are about 100 million lines of code in modern cars, according to PwC – far more than a passenger jet running 14 million lines of code, or a fighter jet with about 25 million. Therefore, it should come as little surprise that software fixes now account for over 20 percent of automotive recalls, according to an analysis of 10 years of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data by DeMayo Law, as reported by Ars Technica. For better or worse, this represents a significant shift in how recalls are handled.
- Google Was Set to Host An Israeli Military Conference. When We Asked About It, The Event Disappeared.theintercept.com Google Was Set to Host An Israeli Military Conference. When We Asked About It, The Event Disappeared.
Google's Tel Aviv office was to host a military tech conference in Israel, but scrubbed any internet record of it after being asked.
> Google's Tel Aviv office was to host a military tech conference in Israel, but scrubbed any internet record of it after being asked.
Archived version: https://web.archive.org/web/20240927160825/https://theintercept.com/2024/09/27/google-israel-defense-tech-conference/
- Musk’s X blocks links to JD Vance dossier and suspends journalist who posted itarstechnica.com Musk’s X blocks links to JD Vance dossier and suspends journalist who posted it
X says it suspended reporter for "posting unredacted personal information."
> X says it suspended reporter for "posting unredacted personal information."
- A deepfake caller pretending to be a Ukrainian official almost tricked a US senatorwww.theverge.com A deepfake caller pretending to be a Ukrainian official almost tricked a US senator
Security officials warned future attempts are imminent.
> Security officials warned future attempts are imminent.
- Kaspersky defends force-replacing its security software without users' explicit consenttechcrunch.com Kaspersky defends force-replacing its security software without users' explicit consent | TechCrunch
That lack of user interaction — or request for consent — is what confused and concerned some former Kaspersky customers.
> That lack of user interaction — or request for consent — is what confused and concerned some former Kaspersky customers.
- FTC Report Confirms: Commercial Surveillance is Out of Controlwww.eff.org FTC Report Confirms: Commercial Surveillance is Out of Control
A new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report confirms what EFF has been warning about for years: tech giants are widely harvesting and sharing your personal information to fuel their online behavioral advertising businesses.
> A new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report confirms what EFF has been warning about for years: tech giants are widely harvesting and sharing your personal information to fuel their online behavioral advertising businesses.
Report: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/09/ftc-staff-report-finds-large-social-media-video-streaming-companies-have-engaged-vast-surveillance
- Most Amazon workers considering job hunting due to 5-day in-office policy: Pollarstechnica.com Most Amazon workers considering job hunting due to 5-day in-office policy: Poll
“My morale for this job is gone ..."
> “My morale for this job is gone ..."
- LG TVs start showing ads on screensaversarstechnica.com LG TVs start showing ads on screensavers
LG's TV business is heightening focus on selling ads and tracking.
> LG's TV business is heightening focus on selling ads and tracking.
- Amazon dodges antitrust scrutiny in UK over Anthropic investmenttechcrunch.com Amazon dodges antitrust scrutiny in UK over Anthropic investment | TechCrunch
The U.K.s' antitrust authority says that Amazon's equity investment in Anthropic can't be investigated under current merger regulations.
> The U.K.s' antitrust authority says that Amazon's equity investment in Anthropic can't be investigated under current merger regulations.
- Huawei will replace Windows with homegrown HarmonyOS in upcoming PCswww.techspot.com Huawei will replace Windows with homegrown HarmonyOS in upcoming PCs
Huawei is nearly ready to ditch Windows and adopt HarmonyOS as its primary PC operating system. According to Yu Chengdong, who heads the company's consumer business group,...
> Huawei is nearly ready to ditch Windows and adopt HarmonyOS as its primary PC operating system. According to Yu Chengdong, who heads the company's consumer business group, the PCs currently being sold by Huawei will be the last to feature Microsoft's "Western" OS. The next batch of Huawei computers will include HarmonyOS Next, the upcoming iteration of the operating system, which is expected to launch by the end of 2024.
- Calif. Governor vetoes bill requiring opt-out signals for sale of user dataarstechnica.com Calif. Governor vetoes bill requiring opt-out signals for sale of user data
Gavin Newsom said he opposes mandate on mobile operating system developers.
> Gavin Newsom said he opposes mandate on mobile operating system developers.
- Exponential growth brews 1 million AI models on Hugging Facearstechnica.com Exponential growth brews 1 million AI models on Hugging Face
Hugging Face cites community-driven customization as fuel for diverse AI model boom.
> Hugging Face cites community-driven customization as fuel for diverse AI model boom.
- OpenAI to remove non-profit control and give Sam Altman equitywww.reuters.com /technology/artificial-intelligence/openai-remove-non-profit-control-give-sam-altman-equity-sources-say-2024-09-25/
> ChatGPT-maker OpenAI is working on a plan to restructure its core business into a for-profit benefit corporation that will no longer be controlled by its non-profit board, people familiar with the matter told Reuters, in a move that will make the company more attractive to investors.
- MKBHD is getting cancelled over $12/month wallpaper app, ad overload, and excessive permissionswww.techspot.com MKBHD is getting cancelled over $12/month wallpaper app, ad overload, and excessive permissions
MKBHD launched the Panels Wallpapers (just called Panels on Android) app this week. The YouTuber personally curates high-resolution digital wallpapers from artists, but unlocking them costs $12...
> MKBHD launched the Panels Wallpapers (just called Panels on Android) app this week. The YouTuber personally curates high-resolution digital wallpapers from artists, but unlocking them costs $12 per month or $50 per year.
- Google accuses Microsoft of antitrust violations over Azure cloud platformarstechnica.com Google accuses Microsoft of antitrust violations over Azure cloud platform
Complaint cites "steep penalties" for Microsoft customers using other providers.
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/23424063 > Complaint cites "steep penalties" for Microsoft customers using other providers.
- Here’s how much Disney Plus will charge to share your passwordwww.theverge.com Here’s how much Disney Plus will charge to share your password
Disney’s password sharing crackdown is here.
> Disney’s password sharing crackdown is here.
- London Newspaper Plans to Revive Dead Art Critic With AI, Lays Off Real Writersgizmodo.com London Newspaper Plans to Revive Dead Art Critic With AI, Lays Off Real Writers
One of London's biggest newspapers is resurrecting a famous editorial personality via algorithm.
> One of London's biggest newspapers is resurrecting a famous editorial personality via algorithm.
- OpenAI asked US to approve energy-guzzling 5GW data centers, report saysarstechnica.com OpenAI asked US to approve energy-guzzling 5GW data centers, report says
OpenAI stokes China fears to woo US approvals for huge data centers, report says.
> OpenAI stokes China fears to woo US approvals for huge data centers, report says.
- Just 5,000 people use the Rabbit R1 every daywww.theverge.com Just 5,000 people use the Rabbit R1 every day
Maybe smartphones do make better pocket AI pals.
> Maybe smartphones do make better pocket AI pals.
- Cox asks court to block Rhode Island plan for broadband expansionsarstechnica.com Cox asks court to block Rhode Island plan for broadband expansions
Cox disputes speed tests, claims it serves areas eligible for broadband grants.
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/23424650 > Cox disputes speed tests, claims it serves areas eligible for broadband grants. > > Case file: https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/cox-v-rhode-island.pdf
- DoNotPay has to pay $193K for falsely touting untested AI lawyer, FTC saysarstechnica.com DoNotPay has to pay $193K for falsely touting untested AI lawyer, FTC says
You can't "sue anyone with a click of a button" without testing it first, FTC says.
> You can't "sue anyone with a click of a button" without testing it first, FTC says.
- Mozilla accused of tracking users in Firefox without consent
> European digital rights group NOYB (None Of Your Business) has filed a privacy complaint with the Austrian data protection watchdog (DSB) against Mozilla, alleging the company uses a Firefox privacy feature (enabled without consent) to track users' online behavior.
- X/Twitter releases its first transparency report since Elon Musk's takeoverapnews.com X releases its first transparency report since Elon Musk's takeover
Social media platform X published its first transparency report on Wednesday. The report is the first since the company was purchased by Elon Musk two years ago.
> The report, which details content moderation practices, shows the company has removed millions of posts and accounts from the site in the first half of the year. > > X, formerly Twitter, suspended nearly 5.3 million accounts in that time, compared with the 1.6 million accounts the company reported suspending in the first half of 2022. The social media company also “removed or labeled” more than 10.6 million posts for violating platform rules — about 5 million of which it categorized as violating its “hateful conduct” policy. > [...] > When Musk was trying to buy Twitter in 2022, he said he was doing so because it wasn’t living up to its potential as a “platform for free speech.” Since acquiring the company that October, Musk has fired much of its staff and made other changes, leading to a steady exodus of celebrities, public figures, organizations and ordinary people from the platform.
- Telegram will now hand over your phone number and IP if you’re a criminal suspectwww.theverge.com Telegram will now hand over your phone number and IP if you’re a criminal suspect
Telegram continues trying to repair its reputation.
> Telegram continues trying to repair its reputation.
- Amazon, Tesla, Meta called out for eroding democracywww.theregister.com Amazon, Tesla, Meta called out for eroding democracy
Exploiting workers, undermining public services, exacerbating climate crisis, ITUC says
> Exploiting workers, undermining public services, exacerbating climate crisis, ITUC says
- Terminator’s Cameron joins AI company behind controversial image generatorarstechnica.com Terminator’s Cameron joins AI company behind controversial image generator
Famed sci-fi director joins board of embattled Stability AI, creator of Stable Diffusion.
> Famed sci-fi director joins board of embattled Stability AI, creator of Stable Diffusion.
- YouTuber claims another channel used AI to clone his voice without consentwww.techspot.com YouTuber claims another channel used AI to clone his voice without consent
Raspberry Pi expert Geerling posted a shorter-than-usual video on his YouTube channel yesterday titled 'They stole my voice with AI.' In it, he plays a clip from...
> Raspberry Pi expert Geerling posted a shorter-than-usual video on his YouTube channel yesterday titled 'They stole my voice with AI.' In it, he plays a clip from a tutorial video posted on Elecrow's channel featuring a voice that sounds almost identical to Geerling's.
- The New York Times will now charge for past episodes of its popular podcastswww.theverge.com The New York Times will now charge for past episodes of its popular podcasts
The Daily will offer only three free episodes now.
> The Daily will offer only three free episodes now.
- YouTube Premium subscribers are reporting price hikes around the globewww.theverge.com YouTube Premium subscribers are reporting price hikes around the globe
YouTube subscriptions are getting more premium (pricing).
> YouTube subscriptions are getting more premium (pricing).