Month: March 2024

Red Hat Issues Urgent Alert For Fedora Linux Users Due To Malicious Code

BrianFagioli shares a report from BetaNews: In a recent security announcement, Red Hat’s Information Risk and Security and Product Security teams have identified a critical vulnerability in the latest versions of the ‘xz’ compression tools and libraries. The affected versions, 5.6.0 and 5.6.1, contain malicious code that could potentially allow unauthorized access to systems. Fedora Linux 40 users and those using Fedora Rawhide, the development distribution for future Fedora builds, are at risk.

The vulnerability, designated CVE-2024-3094, impacts users who have updated to the compromised versions of the xz libraries. Red Hat urges all Fedora Rawhide users to immediately cease using the distribution for both work and personal activities until the issue is resolved. Plans are underway to revert Fedora Rawhide to the safer xz-5.4.x version, after which it will be safe to redeploy Fedora Rawhide instances. Although Fedora Linux 40 builds have not been confirmed to be compromised, Red Hat advises users to downgrade to a 5.4 build as a precautionary measure. An update reverting xz to 5.4.x has been released and is being distributed to Fedora Linux 40 users through the normal update system. Users can expedite the update by following instructions provided by Red Hat. Further reader submissions: xz/liblzma Backdoored, Facilitating ssh Compromise;
Malicious Code Discovered in Popular XZ Utils.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

BrianFagioli shares a report from BetaNews: In a recent security announcement, Red Hat’s Information Risk and Security and Product Security teams have identified a critical vulnerability in the latest versions of the ‘xz’ compression tools and libraries. The affected versions, 5.6.0 and 5.6.1, contain malicious code that could potentially allow unauthorized access to systems. Fedora Linux 40 users and those using Fedora Rawhide, the development distribution for future Fedora builds, are at risk.

The vulnerability, designated CVE-2024-3094, impacts users who have updated to the compromised versions of the xz libraries. Red Hat urges all Fedora Rawhide users to immediately cease using the distribution for both work and personal activities until the issue is resolved. Plans are underway to revert Fedora Rawhide to the safer xz-5.4.x version, after which it will be safe to redeploy Fedora Rawhide instances. Although Fedora Linux 40 builds have not been confirmed to be compromised, Red Hat advises users to downgrade to a 5.4 build as a precautionary measure. An update reverting xz to 5.4.x has been released and is being distributed to Fedora Linux 40 users through the normal update system. Users can expedite the update by following instructions provided by Red Hat. Further reader submissions: xz/liblzma Backdoored, Facilitating ssh Compromise;
Malicious Code Discovered in Popular XZ Utils.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Don’t Be April Fooled on Monday: Spotting the Weirdest Current Pranks – CNET

Pour me some 7-Eleven Hot Dog Sparkling Water, please. Wait. On second thought, don’t.

Pour me some 7-Eleven Hot Dog Sparkling Water, please. Wait. On second thought, don’t.

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LinkedIn is testing a TikTok-like feed for vertical video

LinkedIn is testing a new feed of TikTok-like vertical videos. The feature hasn’t been publicly announced but it’s been spotted by users in recent days and the company confirmed the tests to TechCrunch.
According to a screenshot shared by Instagram employee Jenny Eishingdrelo and a video posted to LinkedIn by influencer marketing exec Austin Null, the new feed will appear in a separate “video” tab in the LinkedIn app. Users will be able to scroll vertically to move between clips, much like TikTok or Instagram Reels.
It’s not the first time the company has hopped on a trendy format. LinkedIn previously experimented with a Stories feature for disappearing posts. That feature lasted less than a year, though the professional network hinted at the time that it wasn’t done with its video experiments, saying it was working “to evolve the Stories format into a reimagined video experience across LinkedIn.”
Presumably, LinkedIn is hoping the feed will showcase content from its ranks of professional creators and thought leaders, many of whom are already posting video to their feeds. However, it’s not clear how many of the site’s users are interested in a dedicated video feed for workplace-related content.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/linkedin-is-testing-a-tiktok-like-feed-for-vertical-video-233454044.html?src=rss

LinkedIn is testing a new feed of TikTok-like vertical videos. The feature hasn’t been publicly announced but it’s been spotted by users in recent days and the company confirmed the tests to TechCrunch.

According to a screenshot shared by Instagram employee Jenny Eishingdrelo and a video posted to LinkedIn by influencer marketing exec Austin Null, the new feed will appear in a separate “video” tab in the LinkedIn app. Users will be able to scroll vertically to move between clips, much like TikTok or Instagram Reels.

It’s not the first time the company has hopped on a trendy format. LinkedIn previously experimented with a Stories feature for disappearing posts. That feature lasted less than a year, though the professional network hinted at the time that it wasn’t done with its video experiments, saying it was working “to evolve the Stories format into a reimagined video experience across LinkedIn.”

Presumably, LinkedIn is hoping the feed will showcase content from its ranks of professional creators and thought leaders, many of whom are already posting video to their feeds. However, it’s not clear how many of the site’s users are interested in a dedicated video feed for workplace-related content.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/linkedin-is-testing-a-tiktok-like-feed-for-vertical-video-233454044.html?src=rss

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OpenAI’s voice cloning AI model only needs a 15-second sample to work

Illustration: The Verge

OpenAI is offering limited access to a text-to-voice generation platform it developed called Voice Engine, which can create a synthetic voice based on a 15-second clip of someone’s voice. The AI-generated voice can read out text prompts on command in the same language as the speaker or in a number of other languages. “These small scale deployments are helping to inform our approach, safeguards, and thinking about how Voice Engine could be used for good across various industries,” OpenAI said in its blog post.
Companies with access include the education technology company Age of Learning, visual storytelling platform HeyGen, frontline health software maker Dimagi, AI communication app creator Livox, and health system Lifespan.
In these samples posted by OpenAI, you can hear what Age of Learning has been doing with the technology to generate pre-scripted voice-over content, as well as reading out “real-time, personalized responses” to students written by GPT-4.
First, the reference audio in English:

And here are three AI-generated audio clips based on that sample,

OpenAI said it began developing Voice Engine in late 2022 and that the technology has already powered preset voices for the text-to-speech API and ChatGPT’s Read Aloud feature. In an interview with TechCrunch, Jeff Harris, a member of OpenAI’s product team for Voice Engine, said the model was trained on “a mix of licensed and publicly available data.” OpenAI told the publication the model will only be available to about 10 developers.
AI text-to-audio generation is an area of generative AI that’s continuing to evolve. While most focus on instrumental or natural sounds, fewer have focused on voice generation, partially due to the questions OpenAI cited. Some names in the space include companies like Podcastle and ElevenLabs, which provide AI voice cloning technology and tools the Vergecast explored last year.

At the same time, the US government is trying to curb unethical uses of AI voice technology. Last month, the Federal Communications Commission banned robocalls using AI voices after people received spam calls from an AI-cloned voice of President Joe Biden.
According to OpenAI, its partners agreed to abide by its usage policies that say they will not use Voice Generation to impersonate people or organizations without their consent. It also requires the partners to get the “explicit and informed consent” of the original speaker, not build ways for individual users to create their own voices, and to disclose to listeners that the voices are AI-generated. OpenAI also added watermarking to the audio clips to trace their origin and actively monitor how the audio is used.
OpenAI suggested several steps that it thinks could limit the risks around tools like these, including phasing out voice-based authentication to access bank accounts, policies to protect the use of people’s voices in AI, greater education on AI deepfakes, and development of tracking systems of AI content.

Illustration: The Verge

OpenAI is offering limited access to a text-to-voice generation platform it developed called Voice Engine, which can create a synthetic voice based on a 15-second clip of someone’s voice. The AI-generated voice can read out text prompts on command in the same language as the speaker or in a number of other languages. “These small scale deployments are helping to inform our approach, safeguards, and thinking about how Voice Engine could be used for good across various industries,” OpenAI said in its blog post.

Companies with access include the education technology company Age of Learning, visual storytelling platform HeyGen, frontline health software maker Dimagi, AI communication app creator Livox, and health system Lifespan.

In these samples posted by OpenAI, you can hear what Age of Learning has been doing with the technology to generate pre-scripted voice-over content, as well as reading out “real-time, personalized responses” to students written by GPT-4.

First, the reference audio in English:

And here are three AI-generated audio clips based on that sample,

OpenAI said it began developing Voice Engine in late 2022 and that the technology has already powered preset voices for the text-to-speech API and ChatGPT’s Read Aloud feature. In an interview with TechCrunch, Jeff Harris, a member of OpenAI’s product team for Voice Engine, said the model was trained on “a mix of licensed and publicly available data.” OpenAI told the publication the model will only be available to about 10 developers.

AI text-to-audio generation is an area of generative AI that’s continuing to evolve. While most focus on instrumental or natural sounds, fewer have focused on voice generation, partially due to the questions OpenAI cited. Some names in the space include companies like Podcastle and ElevenLabs, which provide AI voice cloning technology and tools the Vergecast explored last year.

At the same time, the US government is trying to curb unethical uses of AI voice technology. Last month, the Federal Communications Commission banned robocalls using AI voices after people received spam calls from an AI-cloned voice of President Joe Biden.

According to OpenAI, its partners agreed to abide by its usage policies that say they will not use Voice Generation to impersonate people or organizations without their consent. It also requires the partners to get the “explicit and informed consent” of the original speaker, not build ways for individual users to create their own voices, and to disclose to listeners that the voices are AI-generated. OpenAI also added watermarking to the audio clips to trace their origin and actively monitor how the audio is used.

OpenAI suggested several steps that it thinks could limit the risks around tools like these, including phasing out voice-based authentication to access bank accounts, policies to protect the use of people’s voices in AI, greater education on AI deepfakes, and development of tracking systems of AI content.

Read More 

What to Expect From macOS 15

When WWDC 2024 takes place in June, Apple will unveil the next-generation version of macOS, macOS 15. While most of what we’ve heard about upcoming software has been focused on iOS, macOS and iOS often share many features, so we have some idea of what’s coming to macOS as well.

AI Features
Apple is working to add a number of AI-centric features to its operating system updates, many of which are likely to be cross-platform.

AI-generated Apple Music playlists.
AI-assisted writing in Pages.
AI-assisted slide deck creation in Keynote.
AI code writing features in Xcode.
Siri improvements and deeper integration with Shortcuts.

‌Siri‌ could benefit the most from AI improvements, and there are rumors suggesting the personal assistant will be better at natural conversation and user personalization, with the new functionality set to be available cross-device.

Apple is specifically working on improved interaction between ‌Siri‌ and the Messages app, so ‌Siri‌ will be able to do things like auto-complete sentences more effectively and follow multi-part, complex commands.

Deeper integration with the Shortcuts app could allow users to automate complex tasks that involve multiple apps.

There is a slim possibility there might be some kind of chatbot based on generative AI, as rumors suggest that Apple is considering partnering with Google or OpenAI to use their large language models, but Apple may also just be planning to use generative AI for system features.

Other New Additions
There are several other features that are rumored to be coming to ‌macOS 15‌.

Accessibility – Apple is working on an Adaptive Voice Shortcuts feature for creating a custom phrase and linking an accessibility setting to it, plus there will be an option for organizing Live Speech into user-created categories.
Freeform – A Scenes feature will let users select specific sections or Scenes within their boards for faster navigation and sharing.
Maps – The Maps app may gain support for creating custom routes, and it may also be upgraded with topographic maps.

Name
Since 2013, Apple has been using California landmark names for the Mac operating system, and there’s no sign that’s going to change. Apple has trademarked several names over the last decade, and some of the possibilities that have yet to be used include Redwood, Grizzly, Sequoia, Mammoth, Pacific, Rincon, Farallon, Miramar, Condor, Diablo, and Shasta.

Apple could go with a non-trademarked name, and it has done so several times in the past.

These are the names that Apple has used since it started naming macOS after California landmarks:

Mavericks
Yosemite
El Capitan
Sierra
High Sierra
Mojave
Catalina
Big Sur
Monterey
Ventura
Sonoma

Release Date
‌macOS 15‌ will be previewed at the ‌WWDC 2024‌ keynote on Monday, June 10. The first beta will be provided to developers that same day, and a public beta will likely follow in the summer.

‌macOS 15‌ will then see a public launch sometime in the fall, either in September or October based on past launch timelines.

Read More
For more on what to expect in ‌macOS 15‌, check out our ‌macOS 15‌ roundup, which we will keep up to date both before and after WWDC.Related Roundup: macOS 15This article, “What to Expect From macOS 15” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

When WWDC 2024 takes place in June, Apple will unveil the next-generation version of macOS, macOS 15. While most of what we’ve heard about upcoming software has been focused on iOS, macOS and iOS often share many features, so we have some idea of what’s coming to macOS as well.

AI Features

Apple is working to add a number of AI-centric features to its operating system updates, many of which are likely to be cross-platform.

AI-generated Apple Music playlists.

AI-assisted writing in Pages.

AI-assisted slide deck creation in Keynote.

AI code writing features in Xcode.

Siri improvements and deeper integration with Shortcuts.

‌Siri‌ could benefit the most from AI improvements, and there are rumors suggesting the personal assistant will be better at natural conversation and user personalization, with the new functionality set to be available cross-device.

Apple is specifically working on improved interaction between ‌Siri‌ and the Messages app, so ‌Siri‌ will be able to do things like auto-complete sentences more effectively and follow multi-part, complex commands.

Deeper integration with the Shortcuts app could allow users to automate complex tasks that involve multiple apps.

There is a slim possibility there might be some kind of chatbot based on generative AI, as rumors suggest that Apple is considering partnering with Google or OpenAI to use their large language models, but Apple may also just be planning to use generative AI for system features.

Other New Additions

There are several other features that are rumored to be coming to ‌macOS 15‌.

Accessibility – Apple is working on an Adaptive Voice Shortcuts feature for creating a custom phrase and linking an accessibility setting to it, plus there will be an option for organizing Live Speech into user-created categories.

Freeform – A Scenes feature will let users select specific sections or Scenes within their boards for faster navigation and sharing.

Maps – The Maps app may gain support for creating custom routes, and it may also be upgraded with topographic maps.

Name

Since 2013, Apple has been using California landmark names for the Mac operating system, and there’s no sign that’s going to change. Apple has trademarked several names over the last decade, and some of the possibilities that have yet to be used include Redwood, Grizzly, Sequoia, Mammoth, Pacific, Rincon, Farallon, Miramar, Condor, Diablo, and Shasta.

Apple could go with a non-trademarked name, and it has done so several times in the past.

These are the names that Apple has used since it started naming macOS after California landmarks:

Mavericks

Yosemite

El Capitan

Sierra

High Sierra

Mojave

Catalina

Big Sur

Monterey

Ventura

Sonoma

Release Date

‌macOS 15‌ will be previewed at the ‌WWDC 2024‌ keynote on Monday, June 10. The first beta will be provided to developers that same day, and a public beta will likely follow in the summer.

‌macOS 15‌ will then see a public launch sometime in the fall, either in September or October based on past launch timelines.

Read More

For more on what to expect in ‌macOS 15‌, check out our ‌macOS 15‌ roundup, which we will keep up to date both before and after WWDC.

Related Roundup: macOS 15

This article, “What to Expect From macOS 15” first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Read More 

LinkedIn Moves In On TikTok’s Turf With Short-Form Videos

LinkedIn is testing support for short-form videos to help it compete with TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and other social media platforms. “[W]e are testing new ways to help members more easily discover timely, relevant videos to watch on LinkedIn,” Suzi Owens, a company spokesperson, tells Axios in an email. From the report: A new “Video” option will appear next to the “Home” button at the bottom of the app’s navigation bar, per a demo of the feature shared online by Austin Null, strategy director at creative agency McKinney. After tapping it, viewers are led to a feed of short-form videos similar to Instagram Reels and TikTok.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

LinkedIn is testing support for short-form videos to help it compete with TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and other social media platforms. “[W]e are testing new ways to help members more easily discover timely, relevant videos to watch on LinkedIn,” Suzi Owens, a company spokesperson, tells Axios in an email. From the report: A new “Video” option will appear next to the “Home” button at the bottom of the app’s navigation bar, per a demo of the feature shared online by Austin Null, strategy director at creative agency McKinney. After tapping it, viewers are led to a feed of short-form videos similar to Instagram Reels and TikTok.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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