Month: August 2024
California Legislature Approves A.I. Safety Bill
Gov. Gavin Newsom must now decide whether to sign into law the fiercely debated legislation.
Gov. Gavin Newsom must now decide whether to sign into law the fiercely debated legislation.
Cybercrime and Sabotage Cost German Firms $300 Billion In Past Year
According to a new survey from Bitkom, cybercrime and other acts of sabotage have cost German companies around $298 billion in the past year, up 29% on the year before. Reuters reports: Bitkom surveyed around 1,000 companies from all sectors and found that 90% expect more cyberattacks in the next 12 months, with the remaining 10% expecting the same level of attacks. Some 70% of companies that were targeted attributed the attacks to organised crime, the survey found, adding 81% of companies reported data theft, including customer data, access data and passwords, as well as intellectual property such as patents. Around 45% of companies said they could attribute at least one attack to China, up from 42% in the previous year. Attacks blamed on Russia came in second place at 39%.
The increase in attacks has prompted companies to allocate 17% of their IT budget to digital security, up from 14% last year, but only 37% said they had an emergency plan to react to security incidents in their supply chain, the survey showed.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
According to a new survey from Bitkom, cybercrime and other acts of sabotage have cost German companies around $298 billion in the past year, up 29% on the year before. Reuters reports: Bitkom surveyed around 1,000 companies from all sectors and found that 90% expect more cyberattacks in the next 12 months, with the remaining 10% expecting the same level of attacks. Some 70% of companies that were targeted attributed the attacks to organised crime, the survey found, adding 81% of companies reported data theft, including customer data, access data and passwords, as well as intellectual property such as patents. Around 45% of companies said they could attribute at least one attack to China, up from 42% in the previous year. Attacks blamed on Russia came in second place at 39%.
The increase in attacks has prompted companies to allocate 17% of their IT budget to digital security, up from 14% last year, but only 37% said they had an emergency plan to react to security incidents in their supply chain, the survey showed.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Are AI-created recipes hard to swallow?
Chefs are increasingly using AI to dream up new food combinations, but the results are mixed.
Chefs are increasingly using AI to dream up new food combinations, but the results are mixed.
Deepfake Tech at Defcon 2024 video
Senior Security Reporter, Bree Fowler, investigates cutting edge deepfake tech.
Senior Security Reporter, Bree Fowler, investigates cutting edge deepfake tech.
Yelp files antitrust lawsuit against Google
Yelp has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google. The move caps off years of animosity between the two companies, with Yelp alleging that Google has leveraged its control over online searching to dominate local queries and prioritize its own reviews. CNN first reported on the lawsuit.
“Google abuses its monopoly power in general search to keep users within Google’s owned ecosystem and prevents them from going to rival sites,” Yelp Co-founder and CEO Jeremy Stoppelman said in a blog post announcing the suit. “This anticompetitive conduct siphons traffic and advertising revenue from vertical search services, like Yelp, that provide objectively higher quality local business content for consumers.”
The US lawsuit could carry extra weight following a Department of Justice case where the judge deemed Google a monopolist over search. The August ruling did not place any sanctions on Google, but it’s likely that Yelp’s case will be the first of many brought by the tech company’s competitors.
While this lawsuit centers on the US, Yelp has also been sounding off about Google’s practices overseas. The European Digital Markets Act was meant to loosen some of the company’s stranglehold over search results with rules to prevent massive tech businesses from favoring their own services. But Yelp argued that Google’s attempt at DMA compliance actually made users less likely to leave the Google ecosystem.
We’ve reached out to Google for comment and will update with their response.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/yelp-files-antitrust-lawsuit-against-google-230228737.html?src=rss
Yelp has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google. The move caps off years of animosity between the two companies, with Yelp alleging that Google has leveraged its control over online searching to dominate local queries and prioritize its own reviews. CNN first reported on the lawsuit.
“Google abuses its monopoly power in general search to keep users within Google’s owned ecosystem and prevents them from going to rival sites,” Yelp Co-founder and CEO Jeremy Stoppelman said in a blog post announcing the suit. “This anticompetitive conduct siphons traffic and advertising revenue from vertical search services, like Yelp, that provide objectively higher quality local business content for consumers.”
The US lawsuit could carry extra weight following a Department of Justice case where the judge deemed Google a monopolist over search. The August ruling did not place any sanctions on Google, but it’s likely that Yelp’s case will be the first of many brought by the tech company’s competitors.
While this lawsuit centers on the US, Yelp has also been sounding off about Google’s practices overseas. The European Digital Markets Act was meant to loosen some of the company’s stranglehold over search results with rules to prevent massive tech businesses from favoring their own services. But Yelp argued that Google’s attempt at DMA compliance actually made users less likely to leave the Google ecosystem.
We’ve reached out to Google for comment and will update with their response.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/yelp-files-antitrust-lawsuit-against-google-230228737.html?src=rss
Quordle today – hints and answers for Thursday, August 29 (game #948)
Looking for Quordle clues? We can help. Plus get the answers to Quordle today and past solutions.
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now nearly 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.
Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
Quordle today (game #948) – hint #1 – Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #948) – hint #2 – repeated letters
Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.
Quordle today (game #948) – hint #3 – uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?
• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today’s Quordle answers.
Quordle today (game #948) – hint #4 – starting letters (1)
Do any of today’s Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?
• The number of today’s Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.
If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you’re not ready yet then here’s one more clue to make things a lot easier:
Quordle today (game #948) – hint #5 – starting letters (2)
What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with?
• D
• D
• A
• K
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #948) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle, game #948, are…
DECAYDRUIDAVOIDKNEED
There are lots of Ds in today’s Quordle – five of them, including two in DRUID. That’s great if you played D early on in your game (as I did), less so if you didn’t, obviously! But DRUID is probably not the hardest word here (though it is a difficult one), with KNEED arguably taking that spot. Not only does it have a repeated E, but it begins with the uncommon KN combination – so well done if you spotted that.
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Daily Sequence today (game #948) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle Daily Sequence, game #948, are…
GROINFRAUDNERVEKOALA
Quordle answers: The past 20
Quordle #947, Wednesday 28 August: VIOLA, GONER, CAVIL, SHAREQuordle #946, Tuesday 27 August: ABYSS, DAILY, AGONY, MUSKYQuordle #945, Monday 26 August: NEVER, CHUNK, AUNTY, CROUPQuordle #944, Sunday 25 August: APTLY, LEVER, STORK, WIDOWQuordle #943, Saturday 24 August: EVENT, APNEA, SWATH, IRONYQuordle #942, Friday 23 August: LAUGH, SATYR, CACHE, CLONEQuordle #941, Thursday 22 August: BEARD, PAYER, BROWN, TRUCKQuordle #940, Wednesday 21 August: ALOFT, SNUCK, LAPSE, COMICQuordle #939, Tuesday 20 August: CHIEF, SNORT, OUNCE, MILKYQuordle #938, Monday 19 August: GIVEN, STIFF, STOOL, ANTICQuordle #937, Sunday 18 August: DEPTH, JUICY, GAWKY, INLAYQuordle #936, Saturday 17 August: HUMUS, FRONT, FUNNY, DRYLYQuordle #935, Friday 16 August: BRICK, CABLE, INBOX, FLOSSQuordle #934, Thursday 15 August: STINT, TRAIL, DECAL, BRAINQuordle #933, Wednesday 14 August: TENOR, CLEFT, USHER, CREEPQuordle #932, Tuesday 13 August: LIMIT, AMBLE, ALBUM, BULLYQuordle #931, Monday 12 August: CHEER, FUNKY, TRITE, THUMPQuordle #930, Sunday 11 August: COURT, LOAMY, TOAST, OCCURQuordle #929, Saturday 10 August: MOLAR, FLIER, HEFTY, JAZZYQuordle #928, Friday 9 August: WEARY, SWILL, CUMIN, COBRA
NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Thursday, August 29 (game #179)
Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here’s all you need to know to solve today’s game, including the spangram.
Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #179) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Wake up and …
NYT Strands today (game #179) – hint #2 – clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
MOREROACHLOADNICECUREDBLEED
NYT Strands today (game #179) – hint #3 – spangram
What is a hint for today’s spangram?
• Joe’s choice?
NYT Strands today (game #179) – hint #4 – spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?
First: left, 5th row
Last: right, 5th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #179) – the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today’s Strands, game #179, are…
LATTEMOCHAESPRESSOCAPPUCCINOBLACKICEDSPANGRAM: COFFEEORDER
My rating: EasyMy score: Perfect
I am not a coffee drinker, but even I know enough about the ubiquitous drink to be able to solve today’s Strands in short order. The theme clue helped, as did the fact that LATTE stood out along one side of the board. With those two clues in my armory, I was clear on what I needed to do here and found the answers easily. Well, almost. Once again, the spangram proved a bit more… obscure. COFFEEORDER? Really? It’s not exactly a common phrase, is it? But anyway, I found that too and solved this Strands in a couple of minutes.
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Wednesday 28 August, game #178)
FERRYTRAINSTREETCARMONORAILSUBWAYSPANGRAM: PUBLICTRANSPORT
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.
NYT Connections today — hints and answers for Thursday, August 29 (game #445)
Looking for NYT Connections answers and hints? Here’s all you need to know to solve today’s game, plus my commentary on the puzzles.
Good morning! Let’s play Connections, the NYT’s clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.
What should you do once you’ve finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I’ve also got daily Wordle hints and answers, Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
NYT Connections today (game #445) – today’s words
(Image credit: New York Times)
Today’s NYT Connections words are…
PLAYERGAMBLEBROWNYOUNGCOUNTSMITHNOBLEDUKEUPRIGHTCONSIDERGRANDJUDGEELECTRONICREGARDHOWARDJOHNSON
NYT Connections today (game #445) – hint #1 – group hints
What are some clues for today’s NYT Connections groups?
Yellow: They have keysGreen: Think aboutBlue: Places of learningPurple: Something & something
Need more clues?
We’re firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today’s NYT Connections puzzles…
NYT Connections today (game #445) – hint #2 – group answers
What are the answers for today’s NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: KINDS OF PIANOSGREEN: DEEMBLUE: U.S. COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIESPURPLE: SECOND NAMES IN COMPANIES WITH AMPERSANDS
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #445) – the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today’s Connections, game #445, are…
YELLOW: KINDS OF PIANOS ELECTRONIC, GRAND, PLAYER, UPRIGHTGREEN: DEEM CONSIDER, COUNT, JUDGE, REGARDBLUE: U.S. COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES BROWN, DUKE, HOWARD, SMITHPURPLE: SECOND NAMES IN COMPANIES WITH AMPERSANDS GAMBLE, JOHNSON, NOBLE, YOUNG
My rating: HardMy score: Fail
Yeah, OK, this was just too difficult for me. That’s my fifth Connections fail in the past 12 days, which implies either that I’m not very good at this, or that this game has gotten harder recently. I don’t really have any complaints here, beyond that the blue ‘universities’ group is very, very difficult for those players who are not in the US – as I am not. I did spot BROWN and DUKE, but didn’t know any other possibles and simply guessed blindly until I lost.
Purple was even harder. Again, I spotted a couple of options in JOHNSON (& Johnson) and (Proctor &) GAMBLE, but NOBLE and YOUNG… no chance. I now realize that NOBLE must relate to BARNES &, but am still none the wiser about YOUNG.
To make matters worse, even yellow and green were quite tough. I’m still yet to lose a Wordle in nearly 1,000 games, but Connections is an entirely different matter – this game is hardcore.
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Yesterday’s NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, 28 August, game #444)
YELLOW: PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT MONKEY BARS, SLIDE, SWINGS, TEETER-TOTTERGREEN: FOUND AT THE END OF A STRING/CORD PENDULUM, TEA BAG, TETHERBALL, YO-YOBLUE: DESCRIBED AS DRY DESERT, HUMOR, MARTINI, TEETOTALERPURPLE: BABY ___ BLUES, BOOMER, STEPS, TEETH
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.
On the plus side, you don’t technically need to solve the final one, as you’ll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What’s more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.
It’s a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.
It’s playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
Gemini’s AI will soon slide into your DMs on WhatsApp and Messages
Google Gemini will launch extensions for WhatsApp and Messages apps.
Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence assistant will soon be able to say “hey” directly to you through your messaging apps and notifications, according to code uncovered by Android Authority. The upcoming extensions for Gemini will continue to broaden the options for connecting the Gemini AI to existing services beyond the initial options of Google Flights, Hotels, Maps, Workspace, YouTube, and YouTube Music.
Extensions are a way to provide Gemini with access to your real-time personal data and improve its response to requests. The code points to that list, adding not only the first-party texting tool Google Messages but also the third-party WhatsApp. Clearly, Google doesn’t plan on keeping Gemini to itself.
The Google Messages extension will apparently let you read and reply to messages using voice commands with Gemini. That’s not too dissimilar to what Google Assistant could do, though presumably with the same flexibility in language and phrasing provided by Gemini. The WhatsApp extension will include the same features but will be bolstered by the option to make a call through the app by asking Gemini.
The last new extension dug up in the code is for Android notifications. It appears to be able to make notifications much more than the list you see on screen. Gemini might be able to organize the notifications based on what it has learned is important to you and even summarize what you’ve missed if there are a lot of them or if the alerts are related in some way. It would make Gemini notably more proactive as an aide than Google Assistant,
Gemini Jumpstart
As Google keeps upping the ante for what Gemini can do, it’s worth noting how much pressure the company faces from what looks to be a tsunami of upgrades for its biggest rivals. Apple is expected to introduce new Apple Intelligence features for Siri to debut with the iPhone 16 series this year and Amazon’s plans for an AI update for Alexa have already been mostly spoiled.
Google wants people to rely on Gemini as more than just a toy or reinvention of Google Assistant, they want it to be part of your life in every way possible. Incorporating WhatsApp and its huge number of users worldwide makes a lot of sense in that reckoning. But if Gemini is really going to be the star of the AI assistants, Google will likely face a two-front battle. There’s the mobile and voice AI competition against the likes of Apple and Amazon, as well as the more online-focused fight to scoop up the same users that OpenAI, Microsoft, and independent AI services are pursuing.
You might also like
Google Gemini will soon let you edit those AI-generated images to fix the 3-eyed dogs and impossible buildingsThe best version of Google Gemini is now out for more people, teens includedGoogle is ‘reimagining’ Android to be all-in on AI – and it looks truly impressive
Mark Zuckerberg’s letter about Facebook censorship is not what it seems
submitted by /u/R_Daneel_Olivaww [link] [comments]
submitted by /u/R_Daneel_Olivaww
[link] [comments]