Month: August 2024
Senators want investigation of AI-enabled ammo vending machines
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
AI-enabled ammunition vending machines could facilitate mass shootings and let people circumvent federal bans prohibiting people with certain criminal convictions from buying ammunition, two senators warn.
Massachusetts Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) asking it to “closely examine” facial recognition-enabled ammunition vending machines that have recently been installed in supermarkets in certain states.
“Easy access to ammunition helps to fuel our country’s gun violence epidemic, which now claims more than 44,000 lives annually.”
The machines, distributed by the Texas-based company American Rounds, began appearing in grocery stores in Alabama, Texas, and Oklahoma in July. American Rounds says the machines have “built-in AI technology, card scanning capability and facial recognition software” that confirms the purchaser’s age and verifies that their face matches their ID. The machines don’t limit how much ammunition a person can purchase at a time.
“Easy access to ammunition helps to fuel our country’s gun violence epidemic, which now claims more than 44,000 lives annually,” the letter reads. “Studies show that increasing the availability of firearms and ammunition leads to more injuries and deaths, especially suicides, and that regulation of ammunition purchases can help reduce gun violence.”
Markey and Warren’s letter says these machines carry “inherent risks,” including possibly allowing people who are barred from purchasing guns and ammo under federal law — including people with convictions for felonies or domestic violence misdemeanors and people with active domestic violence-related restraining orders — to circumvent these restrictions. The letter also says that eliminating face-to-face sales means there’s no opportunity to identify straw purchases. “[E]xperienced gun shop employees may be able to detect when someone attempts to straw purchase ammunition for another and stop the transaction,” the letter reads. Clerks could also notice when a customer is experiencing signs of distress or other warnings that they plan on using ammunition to hurt themselves or others — and could refuse to sell to them.
The letter also takes issue with the machines’ use of “unreliable and inaccurate facial recognition technology,” noting that studies show that facial recognition algorithms misidentify women and people of color at higher rates than they misidentify white men. “Given the significant error rates with facial recognition technology, ammunition vending machines raise serious concerns about false approval and potential legal implications for both consumers and vendors.”
“A federal license is not required to sell ammunition. However, commercial sales of ammunition must comply with state laws as well as any applicable federal laws,” an ATF spokesperson said in a statement to CNN in July.
Markey and Warren have requested that the ATF provide written responses to a list of questions by August 30th. The ATF did not immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
AI-enabled ammunition vending machines could facilitate mass shootings and let people circumvent federal bans prohibiting people with certain criminal convictions from buying ammunition, two senators warn.
Massachusetts Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) asking it to “closely examine” facial recognition-enabled ammunition vending machines that have recently been installed in supermarkets in certain states.
The machines, distributed by the Texas-based company American Rounds, began appearing in grocery stores in Alabama, Texas, and Oklahoma in July. American Rounds says the machines have “built-in AI technology, card scanning capability and facial recognition software” that confirms the purchaser’s age and verifies that their face matches their ID. The machines don’t limit how much ammunition a person can purchase at a time.
“Easy access to ammunition helps to fuel our country’s gun violence epidemic, which now claims more than 44,000 lives annually,” the letter reads. “Studies show that increasing the availability of firearms and ammunition leads to more injuries and deaths, especially suicides, and that regulation of ammunition purchases can help reduce gun violence.”
Markey and Warren’s letter says these machines carry “inherent risks,” including possibly allowing people who are barred from purchasing guns and ammo under federal law — including people with convictions for felonies or domestic violence misdemeanors and people with active domestic violence-related restraining orders — to circumvent these restrictions. The letter also says that eliminating face-to-face sales means there’s no opportunity to identify straw purchases. “[E]xperienced gun shop employees may be able to detect when someone attempts to straw purchase ammunition for another and stop the transaction,” the letter reads. Clerks could also notice when a customer is experiencing signs of distress or other warnings that they plan on using ammunition to hurt themselves or others — and could refuse to sell to them.
The letter also takes issue with the machines’ use of “unreliable and inaccurate facial recognition technology,” noting that studies show that facial recognition algorithms misidentify women and people of color at higher rates than they misidentify white men. “Given the significant error rates with facial recognition technology, ammunition vending machines raise serious concerns about false approval and potential legal implications for both consumers and vendors.”
“A federal license is not required to sell ammunition. However, commercial sales of ammunition must comply with state laws as well as any applicable federal laws,” an ATF spokesperson said in a statement to CNN in July.
Markey and Warren have requested that the ATF provide written responses to a list of questions by August 30th. The ATF did not immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.
Microplastics Are Infiltrating Brain Tissue, Studies Show
A growing body of scientific evidence shows that microplastics are accumulating in critical human organs, including the brain, leading researchers to call for more urgent actions to rein in plastic pollution. From a report: Studies have detected tiny shards and specks of plastics in human lungs, placentas, reproductive organs, livers, kidneys, knee and elbow joints, blood vessels and bone marrow. Given the research findings, “it is now imperative to declare a global emergency” to deal with plastic pollution, said Sedat Gundogdu, who studies microplastics at Cukurova University in Turkey. Humans are exposed to microplastics — defined as fragments smaller than 5mm in diameter — and the chemicals used to make plastics from widespread plastic pollution in air, water and even food.
The health hazards of microplastics within the human body are not yet well-known. Recent studies are just beginning to suggest they could increase the risk of various conditions such as oxidative stress, which can lead to cell damage and inflammation, as well as cardiovascular disease. Animal studies have also linked microplastics to fertility issues, various cancers, a disrupted endocrine and immune system, and impaired learning and memory.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
A growing body of scientific evidence shows that microplastics are accumulating in critical human organs, including the brain, leading researchers to call for more urgent actions to rein in plastic pollution. From a report: Studies have detected tiny shards and specks of plastics in human lungs, placentas, reproductive organs, livers, kidneys, knee and elbow joints, blood vessels and bone marrow. Given the research findings, “it is now imperative to declare a global emergency” to deal with plastic pollution, said Sedat Gundogdu, who studies microplastics at Cukurova University in Turkey. Humans are exposed to microplastics — defined as fragments smaller than 5mm in diameter — and the chemicals used to make plastics from widespread plastic pollution in air, water and even food.
The health hazards of microplastics within the human body are not yet well-known. Recent studies are just beginning to suggest they could increase the risk of various conditions such as oxidative stress, which can lead to cell damage and inflammation, as well as cardiovascular disease. Animal studies have also linked microplastics to fertility issues, various cancers, a disrupted endocrine and immune system, and impaired learning and memory.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Google sales reps allegedly keep telling advertisers how to target teens
Illustration: The Verge
Google representatives gave ad buyers tips on how they could reach teens, even though the company bars targeted advertisements to users under the age of 18 based on their demographics, according to a report from Adweek.
Three unnamed ad buyers told Adweek that Google sales reps suggested they might be able to reach teens by targeting a group of “unknown” users, whose “age, gender, parental status, or household income” Google doesn’t know. Adweek said it also reviewed written documents backing up the sources’ claims. A Google spokesperson told Adweek that the unknown category can include users who aren’t signed in to their accounts or who’ve turned off personalized ad targeting.
Google’s stated policy is to “block ad targeting based on the age, gender, or interests of people under 18.” The Adweek story is yet another example of Google reportedly helping ad buyers target teens through the use of its unknown user category, after the Financial Times recently reported on a similar situation.
Google spokesperson Jacel Booth said in a statement that the company “strictly prohibit[s] ads being personalized to people under 18—full stop. Our policies are reinforced with technical protections, which continue to work properly.” Booth added that Google would take “additional action with sales representatives to reinforce that they must not help agencies or advertisers attempt to circumvent our policies.”
“We strictly prohibit ads being personalized to people under 18—full stop.”
The reported behavior could potentially raise concerns under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which prohibits platforms from collecting personal information on kids under 13 without parental consent. An updated version of the law, which passed the Senate and awaits a House vote, would ban targeted advertising to kids under 17.
One unnamed agency buyer cited in the Adweek article said they were “shocked” at how explicitly a Google rep allegedly suggested including the unknown category for a client’s media buy on YouTube, because they said teens may be included in that group. Another buyer at a brand told Adweek that Google reps had reached out to suggest targeting users over 16 who may have disposable income, via the unknown category.
A third buyer who worked at an agency representing a large entertainment brand said Google reps offered the unknown category as a solution to possibly target some teens after the brand threatened to move its spend to Meta, which allows some targeting of teens.
Illustration: The Verge
Google representatives gave ad buyers tips on how they could reach teens, even though the company bars targeted advertisements to users under the age of 18 based on their demographics, according to a report from Adweek.
Three unnamed ad buyers told Adweek that Google sales reps suggested they might be able to reach teens by targeting a group of “unknown” users, whose “age, gender, parental status, or household income” Google doesn’t know. Adweek said it also reviewed written documents backing up the sources’ claims. A Google spokesperson told Adweek that the unknown category can include users who aren’t signed in to their accounts or who’ve turned off personalized ad targeting.
Google’s stated policy is to “block ad targeting based on the age, gender, or interests of people under 18.” The Adweek story is yet another example of Google reportedly helping ad buyers target teens through the use of its unknown user category, after the Financial Times recently reported on a similar situation.
Google spokesperson Jacel Booth said in a statement that the company “strictly prohibit[s] ads being personalized to people under 18—full stop. Our policies are reinforced with technical protections, which continue to work properly.” Booth added that Google would take “additional action with sales representatives to reinforce that they must not help agencies or advertisers attempt to circumvent our policies.”
The reported behavior could potentially raise concerns under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which prohibits platforms from collecting personal information on kids under 13 without parental consent. An updated version of the law, which passed the Senate and awaits a House vote, would ban targeted advertising to kids under 17.
One unnamed agency buyer cited in the Adweek article said they were “shocked” at how explicitly a Google rep allegedly suggested including the unknown category for a client’s media buy on YouTube, because they said teens may be included in that group. Another buyer at a brand told Adweek that Google reps had reached out to suggest targeting users over 16 who may have disposable income, via the unknown category.
A third buyer who worked at an agency representing a large entertainment brand said Google reps offered the unknown category as a solution to possibly target some teens after the brand threatened to move its spend to Meta, which allows some targeting of teens.
Microsoft’s Recall AI feature won’t be available for Windows testers until October
Image: Microsoft
Microsoft says it’s planning to allow Windows testers to try out its controversial Recall AI feature in October. The software giant was originally planning to launch Recall with its Copilot Plus PCs in June but was forced to hold back the feature after security concerns were raised.
At the time of the delay on June 13th, Microsoft promised the feature — that screenshots nearly everything on your PC — would be available for Windows Insiders “in the coming weeks,” but that’s now more like the coming months. “With a commitment to delivering a trustworthy and secure Recall (preview) experience on Copilot Plus PCs for customers, we’re sharing an update that Recall will be available to Windows Insiders starting in October,” says Windows and Surface chief Pavan Davuluri in an updated blog post.
The feature uses local AI models built into Windows 11 to screenshot mostly everything you see or do on your computer and then give you the ability to search and retrieve items you’ve seen. An explorable timeline also lets you scroll through all these snapshots to look back at your work on a particular day.
GIF: Microsoft
Recall’s timeline feature.
While Microsoft has always maintained that Recall is secure, local, and private on-device, security researchers found that the database wasn’t encrypted, and malware could have potentially accessed the Recall feature. Microsoft is now working on major changes to Recall, including making the AI-powered feature an opt-in experience instead of on by default, encrypting the database, and authenticating through Windows Hello.
Davuluri doesn’t explain why Recall has been pushed back further, but he does say that “security continues to be our top priority and when Recall is available for Windows Insiders in October we will publish a blog with more details.” It’s likely that Microsoft simply needs more time to fully test its security changes to Recall.
This could mean we won’t see a full launch of Recall this year, though. Microsoft typically tests Windows features with its Insider program for weeks or months at a time before shipping them out more broadly. That timing may well depend on exactly when Microsoft manages to ship the test version of Recall in October.
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Image: Microsoft
Microsoft says it’s planning to allow Windows testers to try out its controversial Recall AI feature in October. The software giant was originally planning to launch Recall with its Copilot Plus PCs in June but was forced to hold back the feature after security concerns were raised.
At the time of the delay on June 13th, Microsoft promised the feature — that screenshots nearly everything on your PC — would be available for Windows Insiders “in the coming weeks,” but that’s now more like the coming months. “With a commitment to delivering a trustworthy and secure Recall (preview) experience on Copilot Plus PCs for customers, we’re sharing an update that Recall will be available to Windows Insiders starting in October,” says Windows and Surface chief Pavan Davuluri in an updated blog post.
The feature uses local AI models built into Windows 11 to screenshot mostly everything you see or do on your computer and then give you the ability to search and retrieve items you’ve seen. An explorable timeline also lets you scroll through all these snapshots to look back at your work on a particular day.
GIF: Microsoft
Recall’s timeline feature.
While Microsoft has always maintained that Recall is secure, local, and private on-device, security researchers found that the database wasn’t encrypted, and malware could have potentially accessed the Recall feature. Microsoft is now working on major changes to Recall, including making the AI-powered feature an opt-in experience instead of on by default, encrypting the database, and authenticating through Windows Hello.
Davuluri doesn’t explain why Recall has been pushed back further, but he does say that “security continues to be our top priority and when Recall is available for Windows Insiders in October we will publish a blog with more details.” It’s likely that Microsoft simply needs more time to fully test its security changes to Recall.
This could mean we won’t see a full launch of Recall this year, though. Microsoft typically tests Windows features with its Insider program for weeks or months at a time before shipping them out more broadly. That timing may well depend on exactly when Microsoft manages to ship the test version of Recall in October.
iPhone 15 Pro Max: One Year Review
It’s been almost a year since the iPhone 15 models were released, so MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera decided to do a one-year check-in review on the iPhone 15 Pro Max to see how it’s performed over the last 12 months.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Unsurprisingly, Dan has seen some iPhone battery degradation, and it’s dropped to 89 percent. That’s with regular CarPlay usage, running betas, and standard day-to-day use. Even at 89 percent, the battery can still last for a full day without needing a charge.
As for the titanium chassis, it’s held up well. There are a few nicks due to minor drops, but the display has seen a lot more damage with several scratches, some of which are deep.
The transition to USB-C has been a little tough just because there are still people with Lightning iPhones. If someone wants to borrow your charger, you may not have the right cable if you’ve switched to USB-C and they’re still on Lightning.
Dan uses the Action Button for opening up the Camera app, but there’s so much more that the Action Button can do in iOS 18, and it’s going to get a lot more useful in the future. You can set Control Center controls to the Action Button, and developers can make new controls for apps that you can use.
There’s not too much to say about the triple-lens camera setup, which is great. The 5x zoom lens is excellent for taking portrait pictures of people, and it’s been a solid improvement. Otherwise, the cameras are fantastic with a lot of focal length versatility thanks to the new zoom option.
Overall, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has held up well, and if you have one (or a Pro), there’s no real need to upgrade to the iPhone 16 models. The A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro is incredibly fast and there’s no way most people are even reaching the limits of its capabilities at this time, and Apple isn’t adding too much more than an extra Capture Button and a slightly larger display in 2024. You can already use Apple Intelligence if you have an iPhone 15 Pro model, so there’s not a lot to get out of a year-over-year upgrade.
If you have an older iPhone, it’s worth looking at the iPhone 16 models, or even an iPhone 15 Pro when prices drop and they’re discontinued. All of the iPhone 16 models will have a chip compatible with Apple Intelligence, a Capture Button, and an Action Button, so there’s a lot to gain coming from an iPhone 14 or earlier.
How has your iPhone 15 held up if you have one? Let us know in the comments below.This article, “iPhone 15 Pro Max: One Year Review” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
It’s been almost a year since the iPhone 15 models were released, so MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera decided to do a one-year check-in review on the iPhone 15 Pro Max to see how it’s performed over the last 12 months.
Unsurprisingly, Dan has seen some iPhone battery degradation, and it’s dropped to 89 percent. That’s with regular CarPlay usage, running betas, and standard day-to-day use. Even at 89 percent, the battery can still last for a full day without needing a charge.
As for the titanium chassis, it’s held up well. There are a few nicks due to minor drops, but the display has seen a lot more damage with several scratches, some of which are deep.
The transition to USB-C has been a little tough just because there are still people with Lightning iPhones. If someone wants to borrow your charger, you may not have the right cable if you’ve switched to USB-C and they’re still on Lightning.
Dan uses the Action Button for opening up the Camera app, but there’s so much more that the Action Button can do in iOS 18, and it’s going to get a lot more useful in the future. You can set Control Center controls to the Action Button, and developers can make new controls for apps that you can use.
There’s not too much to say about the triple-lens camera setup, which is great. The 5x zoom lens is excellent for taking portrait pictures of people, and it’s been a solid improvement. Otherwise, the cameras are fantastic with a lot of focal length versatility thanks to the new zoom option.
Overall, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has held up well, and if you have one (or a Pro), there’s no real need to upgrade to the iPhone 16 models. The A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro is incredibly fast and there’s no way most people are even reaching the limits of its capabilities at this time, and Apple isn’t adding too much more than an extra Capture Button and a slightly larger display in 2024. You can already use Apple Intelligence if you have an iPhone 15 Pro model, so there’s not a lot to get out of a year-over-year upgrade.
If you have an older iPhone, it’s worth looking at the iPhone 16 models, or even an iPhone 15 Pro when prices drop and they’re discontinued. All of the iPhone 16 models will have a chip compatible with Apple Intelligence, a Capture Button, and an Action Button, so there’s a lot to gain coming from an iPhone 14 or earlier.
How has your iPhone 15 held up if you have one? Let us know in the comments below.
This article, “iPhone 15 Pro Max: One Year Review” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Releases Fifth watchOS 11 Public Beta With Vitals App and More
Apple today released the fourth beta of watchOS 11 to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to give the new features a try ahead of when the software launches this fall. The fifth beta comes a week after the fourth beta.
watchOS 11 can be downloaded after signing up on Apple’s beta software website and upgrading your iPhone to the public beta version of iOS 18. You’ll need to open up the Watch app on iPhone, go to General, select Software Update, and choose the watchOS 11 Public Beta option under Beta Updates.
With watchOS 11, Apple added a new Vitals app that can be used to give you a daily overview of your health metrics, letting you know if anything is out of the ordinary. It compares information collected at night like heart rate, sleep, respiratory rate, and oxygen level to your levels over the previous weeks.
Smart Stack has new widgets like Translate and Shazam, plus it’s smarter because it is able to suggest widgets based on time, date, location, and daily routine. Interactive widgets let you access app features from the Smart Stack, and it also supports Live Activities.
Training Load is a new way of measuring how the intensity and duration of workouts impact the body over time, with Apple providing an effort level for cardio-based workouts to help you know when to rest and when to push harder.
You can now customize your Activity Ring requirements for different days of the week, and Apple added support for rest days. Taking a break from activity will no longer ruin a streak because you can pause for a day, a week, a month, or more.
Other new features include more workout types, Check In for Messages, a revamped Photos watch face, improvements to Double Tap, and more, with additional information available in our watchOS 11 roundup.Related Roundups: watchOS 10, watchOS 11Related Forum: Apple WatchThis article, “Apple Releases Fifth watchOS 11 Public Beta With Vitals App and More” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple today released the fourth beta of watchOS 11 to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to give the new features a try ahead of when the software launches this fall. The fifth beta comes a week after the fourth beta.
watchOS 11 can be downloaded after signing up on Apple’s beta software website and upgrading your iPhone to the public beta version of iOS 18. You’ll need to open up the Watch app on iPhone, go to General, select Software Update, and choose the watchOS 11 Public Beta option under Beta Updates.
With watchOS 11, Apple added a new Vitals app that can be used to give you a daily overview of your health metrics, letting you know if anything is out of the ordinary. It compares information collected at night like heart rate, sleep, respiratory rate, and oxygen level to your levels over the previous weeks.
Smart Stack has new widgets like Translate and Shazam, plus it’s smarter because it is able to suggest widgets based on time, date, location, and daily routine. Interactive widgets let you access app features from the Smart Stack, and it also supports Live Activities.
Training Load is a new way of measuring how the intensity and duration of workouts impact the body over time, with Apple providing an effort level for cardio-based workouts to help you know when to rest and when to push harder.
You can now customize your Activity Ring requirements for different days of the week, and Apple added support for rest days. Taking a break from activity will no longer ruin a streak because you can pause for a day, a week, a month, or more.
Other new features include more workout types, Check In for Messages, a revamped Photos watch face, improvements to Double Tap, and more, with additional information available in our watchOS 11 roundup.
This article, “Apple Releases Fifth watchOS 11 Public Beta With Vitals App and More” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums