Tag: Computers

So guys, get yourself together for one of the biggest announcements for the coming year. Earlier today, a brand new teaser of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live was aired on YouTube and it has made me as excited as I can be for the upcoming show. Rick Grimes is finally making a comeback after all these years. We last saw him in season 9 of The Walking Dead where he sacrificed himself to save his family and has been missing since. Michonne later sets out to find him and we see the last of them in the finale of The Walking Dead. Now, it seems that finally, after so long they are going to unite in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Release Date

In the series finale of Fear The Walking Dead, AMC revealed a new teaser for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. By the end of the teaser, it was revealed that The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live will be released on February 25, 2024. In an earlier teaser, we got to see that this series will be revolving around Michonne and Rick where Andrew Lincon and Danai Gurira will be reprising their respective roles. There are a lot of speculations about the upcoming show, where has been Rick all along? Who had captured him? Although we do not have all the answers, I’ll give you some speculations I have further in the article.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Teaser Explained

If we talk about the timeline of The Walking Dead as of now, it is really difficult to figure out exactly when something happened. However, if we look at it based on release dates, The Walking Dead: Dead City was released on June 18, 2023, and Daryl Dixon was released on September 10, 2023. We can assume that the events of both shows happened in the same order as well. The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, based on this logic, is set after the events of Daryl Dixon. As far as my assumption goes, by the end of all these spin-offs, the whole team will reunite once again. Since season 2 of all these series is yet to be released, they might set up the reunion of all these characters.

In the teaser, we get to see Rick in a very undesirable condition where he possibly was being held captive by the CRM and somehow managed to escape. Now, he is being hunted down by the CRM forces and is totally on his own trying to find a way back home. Meanwhile, Micchone is looking for him as well, and in certain brief scenes of the teaser, it seems as if Rick and Michonne have united. However, there are two possibilities to this show if we analyze the way The Walking Dead series releases its shows. Michonne will find Rick in the final moments of the final episode of the season in an extremely adverse situation, or as soon as Rick and Michonne find each other, the final episode will end without them engaging in an interaction.

However, what we do know is The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live will have a total of six episodes and the story will possibly extend into a second season. The plot arc of this spin-off is yet unknown to us since The Walking Dead has always been kinda predictable but also extremely unpredictable. This series can turn out to be one of the biggest releases of 2024 if AMC plays its cards right since the relationship between Rick and Micchone is quite literally one of the most anticipated things about the whole Walking Dead franchise and as of now, we will have to wait for February 25, 2024 for some answers.

In a bold move, Google Chrome is set to bid farewell to its existing extension framework, Manifest V2, next year, as it ushers in the era of Manifest V3. The tech giant recently announced that Manifest V2 will be discontinued in June 2024, marking a significant shift in the Chrome extension landscape. Extensions still reliant on V2 will be remotely deactivated, and any attempts to install them via the Chrome Web Store will be thwarted.

Navigating the Transition: Google Chrome’s Manifest V3 Evolution

Manifest V3 has not been without controversy, especially among adblock developers who have voiced concerns about its perceived limitations. In response to these concerns, Google has taken steps to address issues and enhance the new extension manifest. A recent blog post by the company outlines key improvements made to Manifest V3, aiming to alleviate developers’ reservations.

One major enhancement highlighted by Google is the improved content filtering support in Manifest V3, featuring more generous limits. This improvement allows for the creation of more extensive block lists and rule sets, empowering developers to refine and optimize their extensions further. Additionally, extensions relying on background playback receive attention with better control over service worker lifetimes, contributing to a smoother user experience. Google introduces a new User Scripts API as part of the package, offering additional flexibility and capabilities for developers.

Last December, Google faced a substantial backlash from developers, prompting a temporary pause in the transition to Manifest V3. Now, the company appears confident that the necessary adjustments have been made to address developers’ concerns. The plan is to phase out Manifest V2 with the release of Chrome 127 and newer in June 2024. Google emphasizes a gradual implementation of this change, providing some users with the opportunity to retain their extensions a little longer.

Enhancing User Experience: Google Chrome’s Transition to Manifest V3

Google encourages developers to embrace Manifest V3 promptly, asserting that there has been a significant increase in support for the new manifest among the developer community. The blog post highlights AdGuard as an example, a collaborator with Google in refining Manifest V3 to better suit tracker and ad-blocking functionalities. AdGuard expresses a sense of “cautious optimism” regarding the changes, indicating a potential thaw in developer skepticism.

However, not all voices in the tech community are satisfied with the improvements in Manifest V3. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a digital privacy nonprofit, acknowledges Google’s efforts. But points out a persistent issue: the potential stifling of innovation for extensions. According to the EFF, if extensions cannot evolve, users may lose out while trackers and advertisers gain an upper hand. The organization emphasizes the ongoing responsibility on Google’s part to continually update the API to keep pace with the ever-evolving landscape of advertisers and trackers.

Coinciding with the push for Manifest V3 adoption is Google’s crackdown on ad-blockers, particularly on its video-sharing platform, YouTube. Google has taken a more aggressive stance against users employing ad-blocking tools. Denying access to videos as long as these blockers are active. This approach has sparked privacy lawsuits in the European Union. As critics argue that the measures taken by YouTube raise concerns about user privacy and freedom of choice.

As the tech world braces for the Manifest V3 transition, the evolving landscape of Chrome extensions brings forth challenges and opportunities. Developers find themselves at a crossroads, weighing the benefits of Manifest V3 against concerns about innovation limitations. Meanwhile, users navigating the ad-blocker battleground witness the unfolding dynamics between tech giants and digital privacy advocates. The coming months will undoubtedly shape the future of Chrome extensions. With Manifest V3 at the center of this transformative journey.

Microsoft has just announced that it has hired Sam Altman, the former CEO of OpenAI and creator behind ChatGPT. To recap the events leading up to this decision – Altman was recently kicked out of OpenAI, and a new CEO was instated. Today, a new second interim CEO was appointed at OpenAI, and it was confirmed that Sam Altman will not be returning to the company.

Now, it looks like Microsoft will be the big winner amidst the shaky leadership changes at OpenAI. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has announced on X (formerly Twitter) that “Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, together with colleagues, will be joining Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team.“

Microsoft will continue its partnership with OpenAI (and work out things with the new leadership). However, Altman along with a few brilliant, influential AI researchers who previously worked at OpenAI will be joining Microsoft and will essentially become a driving force in Microsoft’s endeavors into artificial intelligence! So yeah, Microsoft is bringing the main man and the brains behind ChatGPT to their company without buying OpenAI.

Microsoft has invested billions of dollars into OpenAI. Currently, it uses GPT to deploy Copilot, which is available on Windows 11 and also coming to Windows 10 soon. Furthermore, there are plans to integrate it across Microsoft 365 and Office products too. Soon, Sam Altman could start contributing towards the development of Maia chips for AI.

According to an NYT report, Sam’s plans regarding a new company involved pitching AI processing chips to several investors. It attracted a lot of interest including Microsoft’s. When at OpenAI, Sam Altman was already working with Microsoft to refine these chips.

That is just a glimpse of what could happen in the present. In the future, it will be very exciting to see all the big plans by Microsoft with its new AI research team. They have the right members, especially Sam Altman, perhaps the most renowned person in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Hopefully, Sam Altman’s goal of making AI that enriches human lives remains true!

Do you believe that Sam Altman, former CEO of OpenAI, joining Microsoft will be good for the AI industry? After he was kicked from his own company, it was only a matter of a few days for the mastermind to join Satya Nadella’s side instead. This is where Altman will work now, to further innovate upon AI. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Featured Image Courtesy: OpenAI Devday

OnePlus has been teasing its fans about the OnePlus 12 for a good while now. Although the brand has officially revealed many things about the upcoming device, it still kept the fans waiting by not revealing the launch date.

Well, today, OnePlus has officially confirmed when the OnePlus 12 is officially landing. It’s about to drop in December 4 in China at a special event that’s about to take place at 7 PM (local time).

All the Confirmed and Likely Specs of the OnePlus 12 Known So Far

As mentioned earlier, OnePlus has revealed a good number of specs of the OnePlus 12 in its previous teasers. Among all the confirmed specs, the biggest one is the camera setup. OnePlus has worked with Sony to integrate a brand-new sensor on the upcoming device. It will feature the Sony LYT-808 as the primary camera.

In addition, the OnePlus 12 will come with a 64 MP OmniVision OV64B telephoto sensor that offers 3x optical zoom. As for ultra-wide angle, the device will likely come with a 48 MP sensor. OnePlus has already shared some camera samples of the device. You can check those samples out on this link.

On the front, OnePlus has previously said that its upcoming flagship phone has broken multiple DisplayMate records. Now, according to an NBTC certification, it’s confirmed that the OnePlus 12 will be featuring a BOE X1 panel. For those wondering, it’s about to be the brightest display featured in a commercially available smartphone.

This display will be 6.82-inch in size and will deliver a crisp 2K resolution. Also, thanks to featuring a 120Hz refresh rate, the device will offer a smooth visual experience. Besides, the OnePlus 12 will pack the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 under the hood. It’s the latest flagship SoC from Qualcomm. As for the software, it will run Android 14 with ColorOS on top.

Sam Altman might not come back to OpenAI after all. The efforts made by company executives and partners to bring back the former CEO have failed. This is according to Ilya Sutskever, board member and chief scientist at OpenAI. For those unaware, Altman was ousted by the OpenAI board for “a consistent lack of candor in his communications with the board.”

And now, Emmett Shear is the new interim CEO of OpenAI, as confirmed in the latest report from The Information. He is the former CEO of Twitch, the massively popular streaming platform. He replaces Mira Murati as the interim CEO of the AI company behind ChatGPT. Furthermore, as per a memo reviewed by the NYT, Shear has been appointed to the position for his “unique mix of skills, expertise, and relationships that will drive OpenAI forward.”

Several reports about the recent discussions stated that Sam wanted the current OpenAI board to step down if he were to return as CEO of the company. The original report by TheInformation does claim that Sutskever told the staff that “Altman will not return to the startup he cofounded in 2015.” The board firmly stands by the decision, which blindsided investors and partners, they took earlier last week.

What Went Down At OpenAI HQ After Sam Altman’s Departure

In the last few days, heated discussions were happening at the OpenAI headquarters about Altman’s firing. According to The Verge, the board was aiming to bring back Sam Altman. This was due to employees threatening to walk out (with added pressure from investors). Many scientists at OpenAI seemingly prefer Sam Altman’s leadership.

The co-founder also left following the board’s decision to fire Sam, along with several senior researchers of the team. Earlier today, Sam Altman entered the OpenAI offices with a guest badge, telling us on X, sharing this is the “first and last time I wear one of these.” On X (formerly Twitter), many employees shared support through their posts, showing appreciation for the former CEO.

A joint document spotted by Reuters reveals that Germany, France and Italy have reached an agreement on how to regulate AI in the future. The agreement is expected to accelerate negotiations at the European level. The three governments all agree to make binding voluntary commitments to large/small AI providers in the EU. The European Commission, European Parliament and European Council are currently negotiating how the EU should find its place in this new area.

The EU Parliament proposed an “AI Bill” in June. The bill aims to avoid security risks brought about by AI applications and avoid discriminatory effects. However, it doesn’t want to slow down the innovative power of this new technology in Europe. During the discussion, the European Parliament proposed that the code of conduct should first be binding only on major AI providers, mainly from the United States.

However, three EU governments have warned against this apparent competitive advantage of Europe’s smaller suppliers. They said this could lead to less trust in the security of these smaller providers, leading to fewer customers. Thus, they eventually agreed that the “rules of conduct and transparency should be binding on everyone.”

Germany’s Economy Ministry, which is jointly responsible for the topic with the Digital Affairs Ministry, said that laws and state controls should not regulate AI itself, but its use. The development of AI models that have not yet been put into use or have not yet been put on the market should not be regulated by the state alone.

Key Points of the Agreement

The joint paper seen by Reuters outlines the following key points of the agreement:

1. Binding Voluntary Commitments: The three governments support binding voluntary commitments for all AI providers in the EU, regardless of their size or origin.

2. Regulating Applications, Not Technology: The focus of the regulation is on regulating the applications of AI, rather than the technology itself. This approach aims to harness the opportunities of AI while limiting the associated risks.

3. European Authority Monitoring Compliance: The agreement proposes the establishment of a European authority to monitor compliance with AI regulation standards in the EU.

4. EU Institutions’ Debate on AI Act: The European Commission, the European Parliament, and the EU Council are currently negotiating the EU’s position in the field of AI. The Parliament presented an “AI Act” in June, aiming to avert safety risks from AI applications and avoid discriminatory effects without impeding the innovative power of the technology in Europe.

Germany’s Stance

Germany’s Economy Ministry, responsible for the issue along with the Ministry of Digital Affairs, emphasized that the state should not regulate AI itself, but rather its use. The German Federal Government’s National AI strategy aims to bring benefits for people and the environment and to fund AI applications to benefit society. This approach aligns with the joint agreement reached by Germany, France, and Italy. It also supports binding voluntary commitments for both large and small AI providers in the European Union.

The German strategy proposes several policy reforms and initiatives for formal training and education, with a special focus on the formation of educators, trainers, and the general public to ensure a high-quality level of education in AI. Also, Germany contributes to the ongoing work of the OECD on AI and supports the OECD’s Principles on AI, aiming to help policymakers implement these principles.

France Stance

France has been actively advocating for global-scale regulations for artificial intelligence (AI) and recognizes the United States as a significant partner in this endeavour. French President Macron proposed that platforms such as the G7 and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) would be suitable for establishing global regulations for AI by the end of 2023.

French politicians emphasize the importance of ensuring safety, minimizing biases, and promoting transparency in AI systems, all while encouraging flexibility to foster innovation. France aims to position itself as a hub for AI development and work alongside the EU’s groundbreaking AI Act while advocating for global regulations.

Moreover, French President Macron has warned against overly restrictive and punitive AI regulation, emphasizing the need to regulate the uses of AI rather than the technologies themselves. Macron stressed the importance of controlled regulation to preserve innovation, highlighting the ongoing discussions within the European Union on the AI Act.

Italy’s Stance

Italy’s stance on AI regulation is focused on establishing an ethical regulatory framework for sustainable and trustworthy AI. The Italian Ministry of Economic Development released a draft version of its National AI strategy in October 2020, which highlights the importance of ensuring transparency, accountability, and reliability in AI systems to stimulate citizens’ trust and engagement in a thriving AI ecosystem.

The Italian strategy also emphasizes the need to foster AI research and innovation to enhance entrepreneurial competitiveness, support international networks and partnerships, develop data infrastructure for AI applications, and improve public services through wider adoption and use of AI systems.

Moreover, the Italian government has committed to governing AI and mitigating its potential risks, particularly to safeguard human rights and ensure an ethical deployment of AI. The government aims to invest €2.5 billion in human capital, research, and innovation in AI.

To date, there is no specific domestic regulation in Italy focusing on bias and discriminatory practices in the field of AI. However, the Italian Constitution provides different principles and provisions that AI can affect, and certain AI solutions have already been scrutinized by courts and authorities.

Final Words

The agreement reached by Germany, France, and Italy on future AI regulation emphasizes the importance of binding voluntary commitments for AI providers in the EU, with a focus on regulating applications rather than the technology itself. This approach is expected to shape the EU’s position in the field of AI and establish a framework for monitoring compliance with AI regulation standards.

Google released Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 this Thursday. @MishaalRahman discovered that it brings a new feature called “Private Space”. However, this new feature is not at its full potential at the moment as Google is still working on it. Let us now take a look at this new feature and its implications for Android users. A screenshot of the new Private Space reveals some of what we should expect from the feature.

The appearance of this feature in Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 seems to indicate that Google is preparing to provide “private spaces” for other compatible Pixel users in the December feature update. Of course, even if you stumble upon Private Spaces on your Pixel phone now, it won’t be available for normal use until next month.

What is Private Space?

The Private Space feature on Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 allows users to create a new user profile with a private sub-categorization, enabling them to hide apps and possibly data behind this new profile. This feature is designed to enhance privacy and security by providing users with the ability to conceal sensitive information on their devices.

How Does Private Space Work?

By clicking on the “Create Private Space” button, users can create a separate user profile within Android, where they can hide specific apps and data. This private space can be unlocked using the screen lock, adding an extra layer of security to the hidden content. The feature is still under development, and more functionalities may be added in the future to further enhance its capabilities.

As can be seen from its settings page, this new feature can “create a private space”. This space will allow users to set up a new user profile in the system. Users can then hide some apps or other documents in the space. Judging from the description, “Private Space” can be opened through a specific password on the lock screen. This is equivalent to creating a “small account” on the phone. Of course, you can also choose whether the “private space” is “visible”.

Implications and Comparison

While Private Space is a new addition to stock Android, similar features have existed on devices from other manufacturers such as Oppo, OnePlus, Huawei, and Samsung. However, the ability to create a separate user profile for hiding apps and data sets the Private Space feature apart from existing solutions.

Many OEMs already have similar features on their Android screen. Samsung has the “Secure Folder” on its OneUI system. However, it is a bit different because its principle is not to “open a small account”. So “private space” seems to be slightly different in this regard.

The introduction of Private Space in Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 aims to provide users with a more secure and private experience. By allowing the hiding of apps and data behind a separate user profile, Android users can have greater control over their privacy and the security of their personal information.

Conclusion

The addition of the Private Space feature in Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 represents growth. It is a big step towards enhancing privacy and security for Android users. This new capability allows users to create a private space within their devices. It enables them to hide apps and data behind a separate user profile. As the feature continues development, it should provide users with more control over their privacy.

Overall, the Private Space feature is a welcome addition to Android. It offers users a new way to manage their privacy and security on their devices. What do you think about the new Private Space feature on Android 14? Is it a feature that you would like to explore? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below