Month: July 2023
Smartphone Shipments Have Dropped 24%, Analysts Say – CNET
The second quarter saw a year-over-year decline in phones shipped in the US.
The second quarter saw a year-over-year decline in phones shipped in the US.
Inside the World’s Largest 3D-Printed Neighborhood In Texas
The world’s largest community of 3D-printed homes, located in Texas, has unveiled its first completed house. CNN reports: With walls “printed” using a concrete-based material, the single-story structure is the first of 100 such homes set to welcome residents starting September. The community is part of a wider development in Georgetown, Texas called Wolf Ranch. It’s located about 30 miles north of Austin, the state capital, and is a collaboration between Texas construction firm ICON, homebuilding company Lennar and Danish architecture practice Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). On Saturday prospective buyers toured around the finished model home at the project’s grand opening, and some of the units have already sold, ICON spokesperson Cara Caulkins told CNN via email.
Images of the newly completed building shared by the company show brightly lit interiors and curved gray walls. The walls are made from a concrete mix called Lavacrete, which is piped into place using 46-foot-wide robotic printers. After the walls are printed, the doors, windows and roofs — all of which are equipped with solar panels — are installed. ICON says more than a third of the homes’ walls have now been printed, and the properties currently on offer are being sold at $475,000 to $599,000. The 3D-printed homes range in size from 1,500 to 2,100 square feet and have three to four bedrooms.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
The world’s largest community of 3D-printed homes, located in Texas, has unveiled its first completed house. CNN reports: With walls “printed” using a concrete-based material, the single-story structure is the first of 100 such homes set to welcome residents starting September. The community is part of a wider development in Georgetown, Texas called Wolf Ranch. It’s located about 30 miles north of Austin, the state capital, and is a collaboration between Texas construction firm ICON, homebuilding company Lennar and Danish architecture practice Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). On Saturday prospective buyers toured around the finished model home at the project’s grand opening, and some of the units have already sold, ICON spokesperson Cara Caulkins told CNN via email.
Images of the newly completed building shared by the company show brightly lit interiors and curved gray walls. The walls are made from a concrete mix called Lavacrete, which is piped into place using 46-foot-wide robotic printers. After the walls are printed, the doors, windows and roofs — all of which are equipped with solar panels — are installed. ICON says more than a third of the homes’ walls have now been printed, and the properties currently on offer are being sold at $475,000 to $599,000. The 3D-printed homes range in size from 1,500 to 2,100 square feet and have three to four bedrooms.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Google’s New AI Tech Lets You Command Robots to Throw Away Your Trash – CNET
Google is looking to help people use natural language to control robots, with technology that’s like the systems powering Bard and ChatGPT.
Google is looking to help people use natural language to control robots, with technology that’s like the systems powering Bard and ChatGPT.
The Rise and Fall of Threads: Zuck’s Struggle to Retain Users
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, recently announced that their new social media platform, Threads, has experienced a significant decline
The post The Rise and Fall of Threads: Zuck’s Struggle to Retain Users appeared first on ReadWrite.
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, recently announced that their new social media platform, Threads, has experienced a significant decline in users. Just days after its launch, Threads amassed over 100 million users, but that number has since plummeted. In a call with employees, Zuckerberg admitted that the retention rate is not satisfactory and expressed his hope for improvement as new features are added to the app.
When Threads first debuted, it quickly gained traction and attracted millions of users. However, the platform faced criticism for its limited functionality. Users found the app lacking in features, which hindered its ability to compete with established social media giants like Twitter. Recognizing the need for improvement, Meta has been working diligently to address these concerns.
To address the limitations of Threads, Meta has introduced several new features to enhance user experience. The addition of separate “following” and “for you” feeds allows users to tailor their content consumption. Furthermore, the company has expanded the language translation capabilities, making it easier for users to engage with posts in different languages.
Meta’s Chief Product Officer, Chris Cox, has emphasized the importance of implementing “retention-driving hooks.” These features are designed to entice users to return to the platform regularly. For instance, one such hook is the integration of Threads with Instagram. Users must have an Instagram account to sign up for Threads, and this connection is expected to drive engagement on both platforms.
While focusing on Threads, Meta is also making significant investments in the development of the Metaverse, a virtual reality world. Zuckerberg shared updates on the company’s progress in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies, which will power the Metaverse. Although the timeline for mainstream adoption of the Metaverse extends into the next decade, Zuckerberg remains optimistic about its potential.
Despite the promising future of the Metaverse, concerns have been raised about the financial impact of Meta’s investments in its Reality Labs division, responsible for producing VR headsets and related products. The division has incurred substantial losses, but Meta, as a whole, continues to perform well financially, reporting a profit of $7.79 billion in the last quarter.
In an intriguing turn of events, Zuckerberg and fellow tech titan Elon Musk expressed interest in a cage fight, initially suggesting a venue in Las Vegas. However, when questioned about the potential bout, Zuckerberg expressed uncertainty, stating that he was unsure if it would come to fruition. This peculiar exchange between the two influential figures generated significant media attention.
While Threads may have experienced a decline in users, Meta remains committed to improving the platform and retaining its user base. Zuckerberg’s acknowledgment of the current situation as “normal” reflects the company’s determination to overcome challenges and enhance the overall user experience. With continuous updates and new features, Meta aims to regain user confidence and establish Threads as a formidable social media platform.
Additionally, Meta’s investment in the Metaverse highlights the company’s forward-thinking approach. Although it may take years for the Metaverse to become mainstream, Meta’s dedication to advancing AR and VR technologies positions them at the forefront of innovation in the tech industry.
Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement regarding the decline in Threads users sheds light on the challenges faced by Meta’s new social media platform. Despite its initial success, Threads struggled to retain users due to limited functionality. However, Meta has been proactive in addressing these concerns by introducing new features and enhancements. Furthermore, the company’s investment in the Metaverse demonstrates its commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology. As Meta continues to improve Threads and explore new frontiers, it remains a prominent player in the ever-evolving social media landscape.
First reported on Entrepreneur
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Threads, and how did it perform after its launch?
Threads is a social media platform launched by Meta. It initially gained over 100 million users shortly after its debut but experienced a significant decline in users soon after. Users criticized its limited functionality, which affected its ability to compete with established social media giants.
What steps has Meta taken to improve Threads?
Meta has introduced new features to enhance user experience on Threads. This includes separate “following” and “for you” feeds, expanded language translation capabilities, and integration with Instagram to drive engagement on both platforms.
What is Meta’s approach to retaining users on Threads?
Meta’s Chief Product Officer, Chris Cox, has emphasized the importance of implementing “retention-driving hooks.” These features are designed to entice users to return to the platform regularly and improve user retention.
Aside from Threads, what other major investment is Meta making?
Meta is heavily investing in the development of the Metaverse, a virtual reality world powered by augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies. Although the mainstream adoption of the Metaverse is projected to take years, Meta is committed to advancing these technologies.
Has Meta’s investment in its Reality Labs division raised concerns?
Meta’s Reality Labs division, responsible for producing VR headsets and related products, has incurred significant losses. However, the company as a whole continues to perform well financially, reporting a profit of $7.79 billion in the last quarter.
What is the context of the exchange between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk regarding a cage fight?
Zuckerberg and Musk expressed interest in a cage fight, which garnered media attention. However, Zuckerberg later expressed uncertainty about whether it would actually happen.
What is Meta’s future strategy for Threads and the Metaverse?
Despite the decline in Threads users, Meta remains committed to improving the platform and retaining its user base through continuous updates and enhancements. Additionally, Meta continues to invest in the development of the Metaverse, positioning itself as a forward-thinking company in the tech industry.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash
The post The Rise and Fall of Threads: Zuck’s Struggle to Retain Users appeared first on ReadWrite.
MOVEit Hackers Accessed Health Data of ‘At Least’ 8 Million Individuals
An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: U.S. government services contracting giant Maximus has confirmed that hackers exploiting a vulnerability in MOVEit Transfer accessed the protected health information of as many as 11 million individuals. Virginia-based Maximus contracts with federal, state and local governments to manage and administer government-sponsored programs, such as Medicaid, Medicare, healthcare reform and welfare-to-work. In an 8-K filing on Wednesday, Maximus confirmed that the personal information of a “significant number” of individuals was accessed by hackers exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in MOVEit Transfer, which the organization uses to “share data with government customers pertaining to individuals who participate in various government programs.”
While Maximus hasn’t yet been able to confirm the exact number of individuals impacted — something the company expects to take “several more weeks” — the organization said it believes hackers accessed the personal data, including Social Security numbers and protected health information, of “at least” 8 to 11 million individuals. If the latter, this would make the breach the largest breach of healthcare data this year — and the most significant data breach reported as a result of the MOVEit mass-hacks. Maximus has not confirmed which specific types of health data were accessed and has not responded to TechCrunch’s questions. In its 8-K filing, the company said it began notifying impacted customers and federal and state regulators, adding that it expects the security incident to cost approximately $15 million to investigate and remediate. Clop, the Russia-linked data extortion group responsible for the MOVEit mass-hacks, claims to have stolen 169 gigabytes of data from Maximus, which it has not yet published. The report notes that “more than 500 organizations have so far been impacted by the MOVEit mass-hacks, exposing the personal information of more than 34.5 million people.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: U.S. government services contracting giant Maximus has confirmed that hackers exploiting a vulnerability in MOVEit Transfer accessed the protected health information of as many as 11 million individuals. Virginia-based Maximus contracts with federal, state and local governments to manage and administer government-sponsored programs, such as Medicaid, Medicare, healthcare reform and welfare-to-work. In an 8-K filing on Wednesday, Maximus confirmed that the personal information of a “significant number” of individuals was accessed by hackers exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in MOVEit Transfer, which the organization uses to “share data with government customers pertaining to individuals who participate in various government programs.”
While Maximus hasn’t yet been able to confirm the exact number of individuals impacted — something the company expects to take “several more weeks” — the organization said it believes hackers accessed the personal data, including Social Security numbers and protected health information, of “at least” 8 to 11 million individuals. If the latter, this would make the breach the largest breach of healthcare data this year — and the most significant data breach reported as a result of the MOVEit mass-hacks. Maximus has not confirmed which specific types of health data were accessed and has not responded to TechCrunch’s questions. In its 8-K filing, the company said it began notifying impacted customers and federal and state regulators, adding that it expects the security incident to cost approximately $15 million to investigate and remediate. Clop, the Russia-linked data extortion group responsible for the MOVEit mass-hacks, claims to have stolen 169 gigabytes of data from Maximus, which it has not yet published. The report notes that “more than 500 organizations have so far been impacted by the MOVEit mass-hacks, exposing the personal information of more than 34.5 million people.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
‘Talk to Me’s terrifying ending explained
There’s a reason why Talk to Me is currently the highest-rated horror film of 2023 on Rotten Tomatoes. Danny and Michael Philippou’s feature directorial debut follows a group of teenagers in Australia who stumble upon an embalmed hand that can conjure lost spirits. The hand quickly becomes the group’s favorite party favor, as they treat it almost like a drug that they can’t stop messing with regardless of its threatening consequences. That is, of course, up until the hand’s true malevolence comes to fruition. While a lot of Talk to Me’s fear factor is built on its stunningly grotesque practical effects, the film’s true power rests in the sheer ambiguity of its ending and who (or what) may be behind the hand. But the hand’s magic has strict rules about how to use it safely, and those rules mean that our protagonist, Mia (Sophie Wilde), has been possessed from her very first encounter with it. And that detail answers all our questions about the film’s stunning last scene. Let’s dive in. How does the hand in Talk to Me work?
Credit: Andre Castellucci/ A24
As explained by Hayley (Zoe Terakes) and Joss (Chris Alosio), Mia’s friends and the hand’s current owners, the hand either belonged to a medium who could contact the spirit world or a Satanist. While its true origins remain a mystery, we know that the hand was cut off from its original body — perhaps to permanently halt communication with spirits or to ensure that the door remains open forever — and was embalmed with ceramic.
SEE ALSO:
‘Talk to Me’ review: YouTubers find fresh horror with creepy seance game
There’s a whole ritual for using the hand to contact the spirit world. First, light a candle to act as a beacon to the spirit realm, and then recite the words “talk to me” while holding the hand. When a spirit appears, surrender control over your body by declaring, “I let you in.” To expel the spirit and close the door between the two realms, the candle needs to be blown out and the hand removed from the person’s grip. If a person dies while a spirit is still within them, then they’ll join the spirit in that purgatorial realm and forever wander in the dark with other lost souls. There’s another rule, and it’s a big one. You must end the ritual within 90 seconds… or else. We find out the reason for that rule when Mia’s friend Riley (Joe Bird) starts mutilating himself after waiting too long. Breaking that rule also gives the spirits the power to stick around in the host’s body. This is exactly Mia’s fate by the end of the film. Was Mia possessed?
Credit: Matthew Thorne/ A24
Yes, she was, from the very beginning. When Mia first conjures a spirit with the hand, you’ll remember that the spirit she lets in immediately takes a liking to Riley. The spirit mentions that they want him and warns him to run. After that, Mia starts seeing spirits around her, even when she’s not holding the hand — this is a major hint that the spirit never left. And while she does seem to finish the ritual, it’s entirely possible that it went over the allotted time, and a sneaky spirit simply latched on to an already-vulnerable person.It’s a similar situation to what happened to the hand’s previous owner, Duckett (Sunny Johnson), as seen in the film’s opening scene. At the start of Talk to Me, we watch Duckett’s brother, Cole (Ari McCarthy), maneuver his way through a crowded house party as he desperately tries to find where Duckett is. Cole eventually finds Duckett alone in a room where he clearly looks unwell and begins stuttering that he’s been talking to the spirit of their deceased father, who has been telling Duckett to kill Cole and himself to stop them from unleashing evil. Duckett then stabs Cole and kills himself in front of everyone at the party. Mia has an eerily similar experience, but with her mom.
SEE ALSO:
The 20 best horror movies of 2022
Mia’s mother passed away a few years ago. For years, Mia assumed it was an accidental overdose, but her dad, Max (Marcus Johnson), has known the whole time it was a suicide. He even has her mother’s suicide letter, which he reads to Mia after her encounter with the hand. But her denial and grief understandably cloud her judgement, which the spirits exploit. Whenever Mia encounters her mom’s spirit in the film, whether through apparitions or when she thinks Riley’s talking to her, it isn’t actually her mom. It’s a malevolent spirit merely taking the form of her mom to mess with Mia. We know the spirits can shape-shift; one of them even takes the shape of her father to try to hurt her. Both Mia and Duckett weren’t actually seeing their parents but evil spirits who were exploiting their grief and trauma to hurt others while possessing them. What happens in Talk to Me’s ending?
Credit: Courtesy of A24
Mia is determined to help Riley, who’s in the hospital after his terrifying spirit session. But Mia’s also possessed, so whatever she thinks will help Riley is actually just what the spirit that’s possessed her wants her to do. Mia’s convinced that she needs to kill Riley in order to save him, which would permanently keep Riley’s soul in the spirit realm forever. Remember, we’ve known since Mia’s first experience with the hand that the spirits have their supernatural sights set on Riley.Mia kidnaps Riley and takes his wheelchair to a highway where she plans on killing him. Riley’s sister, Jade (Alexandra Jensen), arrives just in time to save him, but not before Mia jumps onto the highway herself and dies. Then we see Mia’s ghost standing in a hospital, where she notices that Riley’s fully healed — and that no one can see her. Mia’s spirit is walking amongst the land of the living for the last time. As the lights go out one by one, Mia’s transported into a dark realm where she sees one small, shimmering light. When she approaches it, she realizes it’s a candle that’s summoning her towards the new group of friends who now own the hand. She lets them in, and Talk to Me ends there.
SEE ALSO:
Scream time: 20 best horror movies on Netflix
Mia’s possession means that she died with a spirit in her, which is why she’s now stuck in their realm, though it’s still unclear why Riley was able to fully heal. Perhaps it was because the spirits wanted Mia all along and were using Riley to torment her into killing herself. Or perhaps it’s because they wanted one more soul, regardless of who it would be, so Mia dying was enough for them to let Riley go. Whatever the reason, we can assume from Mia’s death that all souls wandering in Talk to Me’s dark purgatory were previously people who either owned or messed with the hand, which is especially terrifying when we remember just how many spirits Mia’s small group of friends were able to conjure by themselves. Although Talk to Me’s finale is a spectacularly twisted turn of fate, ending on a note that satisfies Mia’s story, it still has us begging for more — and begging to be let in. How to watch: Talk to Me is now playing in theaters.
There’s a reason why Talk to Me is currently the highest-rated horror film of 2023 on Rotten Tomatoes.
Danny and Michael Philippou’s feature directorial debut follows a group of teenagers in Australia who stumble upon an embalmed hand that can conjure lost spirits. The hand quickly becomes the group’s favorite party favor, as they treat it almost like a drug that they can’t stop messing with regardless of its threatening consequences. That is, of course, up until the hand’s true malevolence comes to fruition.
While a lot of Talk to Me‘s fear factor is built on its stunningly grotesque practical effects, the film’s true power rests in the sheer ambiguity of its ending and who (or what) may be behind the hand. But the hand’s magic has strict rules about how to use it safely, and those rules mean that our protagonist, Mia (Sophie Wilde), has been possessed from her very first encounter with it. And that detail answers all our questions about the film’s stunning last scene. Let’s dive in.
How does the hand in Talk to Me work?
Credit: Andre Castellucci/ A24
As explained by Hayley (Zoe Terakes) and Joss (Chris Alosio), Mia’s friends and the hand’s current owners, the hand either belonged to a medium who could contact the spirit world or a Satanist. While its true origins remain a mystery, we know that the hand was cut off from its original body — perhaps to permanently halt communication with spirits or to ensure that the door remains open forever — and was embalmed with ceramic.
There’s a whole ritual for using the hand to contact the spirit world. First, light a candle to act as a beacon to the spirit realm, and then recite the words “talk to me” while holding the hand. When a spirit appears, surrender control over your body by declaring, “I let you in.” To expel the spirit and close the door between the two realms, the candle needs to be blown out and the hand removed from the person’s grip. If a person dies while a spirit is still within them, then they’ll join the spirit in that purgatorial realm and forever wander in the dark with other lost souls.
There’s another rule, and it’s a big one. You must end the ritual within 90 seconds… or else. We find out the reason for that rule when Mia’s friend Riley (Joe Bird) starts mutilating himself after waiting too long. Breaking that rule also gives the spirits the power to stick around in the host’s body. This is exactly Mia’s fate by the end of the film.
Was Mia possessed?
Credit: Matthew Thorne/ A24
Yes, she was, from the very beginning. When Mia first conjures a spirit with the hand, you’ll remember that the spirit she lets in immediately takes a liking to Riley. The spirit mentions that they want him and warns him to run. After that, Mia starts seeing spirits around her, even when she’s not holding the hand — this is a major hint that the spirit never left. And while she does seem to finish the ritual, it’s entirely possible that it went over the allotted time, and a sneaky spirit simply latched on to an already-vulnerable person.
It’s a similar situation to what happened to the hand’s previous owner, Duckett (Sunny Johnson), as seen in the film’s opening scene. At the start of Talk to Me, we watch Duckett’s brother, Cole (Ari McCarthy), maneuver his way through a crowded house party as he desperately tries to find where Duckett is. Cole eventually finds Duckett alone in a room where he clearly looks unwell and begins stuttering that he’s been talking to the spirit of their deceased father, who has been telling Duckett to kill Cole and himself to stop them from unleashing evil. Duckett then stabs Cole and kills himself in front of everyone at the party. Mia has an eerily similar experience, but with her mom.
Mia’s mother passed away a few years ago. For years, Mia assumed it was an accidental overdose, but her dad, Max (Marcus Johnson), has known the whole time it was a suicide. He even has her mother’s suicide letter, which he reads to Mia after her encounter with the hand. But her denial and grief understandably cloud her judgement, which the spirits exploit. Whenever Mia encounters her mom’s spirit in the film, whether through apparitions or when she thinks Riley’s talking to her, it isn’t actually her mom. It’s a malevolent spirit merely taking the form of her mom to mess with Mia.
We know the spirits can shape-shift; one of them even takes the shape of her father to try to hurt her. Both Mia and Duckett weren’t actually seeing their parents but evil spirits who were exploiting their grief and trauma to hurt others while possessing them.
What happens in Talk to Me‘s ending?
Credit: Courtesy of A24
Mia is determined to help Riley, who’s in the hospital after his terrifying spirit session. But Mia’s also possessed, so whatever she thinks will help Riley is actually just what the spirit that’s possessed her wants her to do. Mia’s convinced that she needs to kill Riley in order to save him, which would permanently keep Riley’s soul in the spirit realm forever. Remember, we’ve known since Mia’s first experience with the hand that the spirits have their supernatural sights set on Riley.
Mia kidnaps Riley and takes his wheelchair to a highway where she plans on killing him. Riley’s sister, Jade (Alexandra Jensen), arrives just in time to save him, but not before Mia jumps onto the highway herself and dies. Then we see Mia’s ghost standing in a hospital, where she notices that Riley’s fully healed — and that no one can see her. Mia’s spirit is walking amongst the land of the living for the last time. As the lights go out one by one, Mia’s transported into a dark realm where she sees one small, shimmering light. When she approaches it, she realizes it’s a candle that’s summoning her towards the new group of friends who now own the hand. She lets them in, and Talk to Me ends there.
Mia’s possession means that she died with a spirit in her, which is why she’s now stuck in their realm, though it’s still unclear why Riley was able to fully heal. Perhaps it was because the spirits wanted Mia all along and were using Riley to torment her into killing herself. Or perhaps it’s because they wanted one more soul, regardless of who it would be, so Mia dying was enough for them to let Riley go. Whatever the reason, we can assume from Mia’s death that all souls wandering in Talk to Me‘s dark purgatory were previously people who either owned or messed with the hand, which is especially terrifying when we remember just how many spirits Mia’s small group of friends were able to conjure by themselves.
Although Talk to Me‘s finale is a spectacularly twisted turn of fate, ending on a note that satisfies Mia’s story, it still has us begging for more — and begging to be let in.
How to watch: Talk to Me is now playing in theaters.
OceanGate’s cofounder wants to send 1,000 people to a floating colony on Venus by 2050, and says we shouldn’t stop pushing the limits of innovation
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AI is making our jobs harder, not easier
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been heralded as a game-changer with the potential to revolutionize the way we work. Bill Gates
The post AI is making our jobs harder, not easier appeared first on ReadWrite.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been heralded as a game-changer with the potential to revolutionize the way we work. Bill Gates and other leaders in the technology industry have highlighted the benefits of AI in the workplace. The co-creator of Microsoft predicts that AI will primarily be used to make people more efficient at their jobs. Researchers at MIT found that using AI tools like ChatGPT increased productivity across the board, including in areas like resume writing, email etiquette, and financial analysis. This research provides evidence that AI tools can be helpful in professional settings.
The potential advantages of AI are clear, but actual applications have not always gone smoothly. Neil Clarke, editor and publisher of the science fiction and fantasy magazine Clarkesworld, saw a rise in submissions generated by artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, Clarke and his team’s workload was doubled rather than increased as a result of the AI-generated content. The sheer volume of AI-generated content can suffocate workers, requiring them to spend more time manually sorting through submissions, highlighting a significant challenge.
What Clarke went through is not unprecedented. Employees in a wide range of fields, from the aviation industry to the healthcare sector, have complained that they are being used as “guinea pigs” in the rush to adopt AI-powered technologies. Because these tools can’t always automate everything, workers are left with some stragglers. Therefore, people have to take on logistics work that machines can’t do. The use of AI has the potential to raise the tempo of work to a level never before seen. Many workers have found their workloads and stress levels increasing as a result of these difficulties.
OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann agrees that AI can enhance some aspects of job quality, but he also points out the costs and risks involved. Workers have reported an increase in the intensity of their work since the introduction of AI, despite the fact that it may increase productivity. Wages for workers who aren’t managers or AI specialists haven’t changed much either, suggesting that while productivity may increase, pay hasn’t. This prompts worries about the potential for wage inequality and the necessity of ensuring that workers reap the benefits of AI’s enhanced efficiency.
One sector that has become emblematic of the benefits and drawbacks of using AI is the media industry. Copywriting, advertising, and editorial work could be done more quickly and effectively with the help of AI tools. However, serious mistakes have already been made. After attempting to use an artificial intelligence tool to write stories, CNET was forced to issue significant corrections. When an AI-written article about Star Wars needed to be updated, it caused internal strife at Gizmodo. Both organizations, however, plan to keep using AI in their newsrooms despite the difficulties that have arisen. This shows an understanding of the potential benefits of AI, along with the acknowledgement that its implementation still needs work.
Workers’ participation in the AI implementation process is essential but often overlooked. According to Ivana Saula, research director of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the expertise of frontline workers is crucial to the smooth implementation of AI. When asked about the real-world applications of AI, employees have valuable insights that should be shared with their employers. Employers can better foster a collaborative and effective implementation process by actively involving workers and bridging the gap between management and frontline employees.
As the difficulties of implementing AI become clearer, work is being done to create AI tools that can help with the resulting increase in activity. To handle the influx of submissions, Neil Clarke and his team turned to detectors powered by artificial intelligence. Yet, they discovered that, especially for authors whose first language is not English, these tools were not reliable in identifying AI-generated content. Because of this, more progress in AI technology is needed to guarantee proper recognition and management of AI-generated content.
The use of AI in the workplace is just getting started, and despite the difficulties it faces, it has enormous potential. The implementation process must be fine-tuned, with special attention paid to minimizing negative side effects. When adopting AI technologies, businesses must think about how it will affect employee hours, job satisfaction, and compensation. Successful and long-lasting integration is possible, especially when employees are consulted and their knowledge is utilized. As AI develops further, it will become increasingly important to find a happy medium between maximizing productivity and protecting employees’ well-being.
In conclusion, Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize the workplace by boosting productivity and efficiency. The truth, however, is more nuanced. Since the advent of AI technologies, many workers have faced difficulties such as increased workloads and quality concerns. While artificial intelligence tools have the potential to simplify processes and boost output quality, their introduction calls for cautious planning and employee buy-in. It is essential that we address these issues and find ways to harness the full potential of AI while ensuring the well-being of workers as we move forward into the future of AI in the workplace.
First reported on CNN
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the potential of AI in the workplace?
AI has the potential to revolutionize the workplace by boosting productivity and efficiency. It can be used to streamline processes, improve output quality, and enhance various aspects of job performance.
Has AI been successful in the workplace so far?
While AI has shown promise in improving productivity and efficiency, there have been challenges in its implementation. Some workers have reported increased workloads, and there have been instances of AI-generated content leading to mistakes in the media industry.
What are the challenges of implementing AI in the workplace?
One of the challenges is the sheer volume of AI-generated content, leading to increased workload for employees who have to manually sort through submissions. Additionally, some AI tools may not be reliable in identifying AI-generated content, leading to quality concerns.
What is the role of workers in the AI implementation process?
Workers’ participation in the AI implementation process is essential but often overlooked. Their expertise and insights are crucial to the successful integration of AI in the workplace.
How can businesses ensure a successful integration of AI in the workplace?
To ensure successful integration, businesses should carefully plan the implementation of AI technologies, considering how it will affect employee hours, job satisfaction, and compensation. They should also actively involve workers and utilize their knowledge in the process.
What is the future of AI in the workplace?
The future of AI in the workplace holds great potential, but it requires fine-tuning and careful consideration of its impact on employees. Finding a balance between maximizing productivity and protecting employees’ well-being will be essential for successful long-term integration.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash
The post AI is making our jobs harder, not easier appeared first on ReadWrite.
European satellite plunges back to Earth in first-of-its-kind assisted re-entry
“This is quite unique, what we are doing here.”
Enlarge / Artist’s illustration showing the orbital tracks of the European Space Agency’s Aeolus satellite. (credit: ESA/ATG medialab)
The European Space Agency deftly guided one of its satellites toward a fiery re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere Friday, demonstrating a new method of post-mission disposal to ensure the spacecraft would not fall into any populated areas.
The Aeolus satellite was relatively modest in size and mass—about 1.1 metric tons with its fuel tank empty—but ESA hailed Friday’s “assisted re-entry” as proof that the space agency takes the stewardship of space seriously.
When the Aeolus mission was conceived in the late 1990s, there were no guidelines for European satellites regarding space debris or the safety of their re-entry. Aeolus took nearly 20 years to get to the launch pad, operated in space for five years, and now regulations have changed. Future ESA satellites will need to be capable of a targeted re-entry, where rocket engines steer the spacecraft toward a specific patch of ocean or are designed to burn up from aerodynamic heating.