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One of AI's biggest changes is already here
LLMs have changed how data is accessible online, and it's here to stay.
The world didn't change when ChatGPT launched to the public in November 2022. But in the tech space, it certainly felt like it. Most people were familiar with algorithms, fewer with Machine Learning, and an even smaller margin were familiar with reinforcement learning. These algorithms were black boxes, spooky bits of mysterious technology inside big-tech companies designed to push relevant ads. But overnight, ChatGPT took over the tech news cycle as increasingly impressive demos of its capabilities were being discovered. Overnight, people were enamored by the power of large-language models, from debugging code to writing cover letters. AI rapidly moved from slowly building hype to being the newly established frontline of tech.
A large computing cluster at sea might have big implications for AI legislation
A floating AI-focused data center might sound outlandish, but there’s more than meets the eye here. We’ll dig into the reasons why.
The BlueSea Frontier Compute Cluster (BSFCC) is a floating data center announced on X (formerly Twitter) by Nevada-based research firm Del Complex. A seemingly simple concept that poses more than a few serious challenges, this floating compute cluster will contain “over 10,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs” on what is effectively a technology-packed barge.
Telegram reportedly released user data to German authorities
According to a new report, Telegram has released users personal data to the Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany.
Again, there is only speculation as to how the Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany was able to obtain the data requested, since there is no official word from Telegram about the reported event. But if this event makes you uneasy, you can check out other messaging alternatives.
Study: Over 1000 Android apps on Google Play accessed user data without proper permissions
Researchers found that many Android apps on the Google Play Store had ways to bypass Android's permission model to harvest user data.
Despite user perception, Android is actually quite secure as a mobile OS. We generally accept the premise that the weakest link is the user; so long as you watch what you install and what permissions you grant, you should be safe from unauthorized access and distribution of your data. If you deny an Android app access to your location, then that app shouldn't have any way to figure out where you are or where you've been. However, some app developers have figured out ways to get around Android's permission model, according to researchers from the International Computer Science Institute (ICSI).
Shelter is an open source sandboxing app to isolate apps from your data
For those cautious about personal data, there is a new open source app called Shelter that lets you sandbox applications to isolate them from your data.
Big data is a big business right now and this can come in the form of just about any type of information that someone can get their hands on. Whether it's a business tracking your location for monetization or a malicious application abusing various permissions to gain access to as much of your data as possible. For those who are very cautious about their personal data, you should know there is a new open source application called Shelter that lets you sandbox applications to isolate them from your data.
Datally can disable data usage while you sleep, save data for emergencies
Google has added two new features to Datally. The first one can disable data usage during bedtime, the other can save up data for emergencies.
Smartphones have assuredly brought massive convenience to our daily lives. There really is no debating that point. However, with that convenience, there have been a couple of pain points. One of these issues is battery life, which Google has been working on fixing. The other is trying to maintain control of how much mobile data our devices use, which is where Datally comes in.
Millions of users' data leaked through misconfigured Firebase backends
Millions of users' data have leaked through misconfigured Firebase backends, leaving plaintext passwords and more publicly viewable.
Millions of users' data have been leaked because of misconfigured Firebase backends, according to a report from Appthority. Around 113GB of data over 2,271 databases were exposed publicly as a result of being misconfigured. Firebase is a Backend-as-a-Service offering by Google which was reported to be the fastest growing SDK in 2017. The service is hugely popular among the top Android developers. It provides cloud messaging, push notifications, databases, analytics, advertising and a lot more that developers can utilize, all powered by Google's high-performance servers. However, it seems that many developers are misusing it.
Datally gets 4 new data saving tools including "Guest Mode" and daily limits
Google's mobile data saving app, Datally, just got 4 new features that will help you better control and save your data. An update is rolling out today.
Google launched Datally, an app for saving and control mobile data, in November of last year. The application helps you track your mobile data, control which apps use it, and find high-quality Wi-Fi networks. It uses VPN service to restrict mobile data usage. According to Google, an average user saves 21% of data by using this app. Just today the app gained 4 new features that will help you to better save your data. Let's break them down.