Verizon Debuts New Logo, Programs, and Benefits

Verizon has undergone a major rebrand, refreshing its logo and rolling out new programs and benefits for consumers.

Verizon’s logo has changed a couple of times over the last decade, with the current incarnation being a refinement of previous versions designed to represent the scope of Verizon’s services.

The company is introducing a new logo: a red V with a yellow glow, which anchors in the Verizon name – Veritas (truth) and Horizon (the future of possibility). The refreshed design system reflects that energy with new color palettes, photography, and new TV and digital formats that reflect the way people live, work and play. These changes will roll out across marketing, digital properties, including the website and apps, and in retail stores in the coming years. This supports the momentum in the business while staying within current investments.

The company touts its new myHome plan combines home internet and entertainment options.

Now, all Verizon Home Internet customers can also benefit from choice, flexibility and value with the launch of myHome: a one-stop shop for internet, entertainment and connected home offerings. Choose content perks from top streaming services for just $10/month. That means great value on Netflix & Max (with ads), Disney Bundle (including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+), YouTube Premium, and Walmart+ membership with an included Paramount+ subscription. Get Apple One and Apple Music Family coming later this summer. With fast, reliable home internet coverage, guaranteed pricing for up to 4 years, no hidden fees, no equipment charges and major savings on the entertainment customers love, myHome brings customers the choice, flexibility, value and most of all, simplicity.

Verizon is improving its trade-in program, accepting any smartphone in any condition as a trade-in across all myPlan unlimited tiers. The company is also launching Verizon Access, a program that rewards customers with pre-sales tickets, giveaways, and more.

Finally, Verizon Business launched an end-to-end smartphone management solution.

“Verizon is one of the most recognizable brands. By listening to our customers, we continue to significantly evolve our offerings and brand promise to connect people when it matters most on our reliable network,” said Verizon Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg. “We never stop pushing the industry forward and delivering more value to all of our customers. This next chapter is a continuation of our journey of service and innovation.”

“Verizon is a strong, trusted brand that plays a critical role in people’s lives, but most of what we do is often invisible and behind the scenes. We want to make the invisible, visible,” says Leslie Berland, Verizon Chief Marketing Officer. “The new logo, design system and creative approach pulls inspiration from the company’s heritage while infusing the energy, vibrancy, and experience of life powered by everything Verizon offers.”

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Latest Windows 11 Update Is Causing Taskbar Issues

Users may want to hold off on the latest Windows 11 update, KB5039302, over Taskbar issues.

The latest update was released June 25, but is causing the Taskbar to not show, or to not respond to input. Fortunately, the issue is only impacting Windows N users, as well as those who gave disabled Media Features.

N editions of Windows include the same functionality as other editions of Windows, except for media-related technologies, Windows Media Player, and certain preinstalled media apps.

You might not be able to view or interact with the Taskbar after logging in to your device once the update is installed. Other applications like File Explorer, Desktop and Settings will continue to work.

Next Steps: We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release.

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Microsoft AI CEO Says Online Content Is Fair Game

Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman has raised eyebrows, saying online content is fair game for training AI models.

Content ownership has become one of the most controversial and contentious aspects of AI development. AI models need vast amounts of data for training and most AI firms have used online data as their source, some establishing paid content deals, and others scraping data without paying for it.

According to Suleyman, content found online should be governed by fair use.

“I think that with respect to content that is already on the open web, the social contract of that content since the 1990s has been it is fair use,” he said in an interview with CNBC, via The Register. “Anyone can copy it, recreate with it, reproduce with it. That has been freeware, if you like. That’s been the understanding.”

The one exception Suleyman made is for websites and publishers that explicitly forbid content scraping.

“There’s a separate category where a website or publisher or news organization had explicitly said, ‘do not scrape or crawl me for any other reason than indexing me,’ so that other people can find that content,” he explained. “But that’s the gray area. And I think that’s going to work its way through the courts.”

Unfortunately, not all AI firms respect ‘do not crawl’ requests. AWS is investigating Perplexity AI over accusations it is scraping websites in violation of their terms, using AWS’ cloud platform to do so.

As Suleyman points out, the legality of the practice will ultimately be decided in the courts but, in the meantime, content ownership will continue to be a hotly debated topic.

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SpaceX Wins $840 Million Contract for Space Station Deorbit Craft

SpaceX has won a prestigious and lucrative NASA contract, with the agency selecting it for the deorbit craft for the International Space Station (ISS).

The ISS will reach the end of us operational life in 2030. As a result, NASA has been preparing for the task of safely taking it out of orbit.

According to the agency, SpaceX has been awarded the contract.

NASA announced SpaceX has been selected to develop and deliver the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle that will provide the capability to deorbit the space station and ensure avoidance of risk to populated areas.

“Selecting a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations. This decision also supports NASA’s plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of space near Earth,” said Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The orbital laboratory remains a blueprint for science, exploration, and partnerships in space for the benefit of all.”

NASA says that, while SpaceX will develop and construct the deorbit craft, the agency will take ownership of it and operate it throughout the decommissioning of the ISS.

While the company will develop the deorbit spacecraft, NASA will take ownership after development and operate it throughout its mission. Along with the space station, it is expected to destructively breakup as part of the re-entry process.

The contract award is the latest win for SpaceX, solidifying its position as the leading commercial space company.

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AWS Investigates Perplexity AI Scraping Allegations

AWS is investigating allegations that Perplexity AI used the company’s cloud platform for unauthorized website scraping.

Content ownership is one of the biggest legal and ethical challenges facing AI firms. Some AI firms have committed to honoring the Robots Exclusion Protocol, a standard that defines what web pages search engines should index or scrape, and which should be ignored.

Perplexity AI has been accused of ignoring the protocol and scraping sites without permission, according to Wired. As a result, sources within AWS confirmed to the outlet that it was investigating the AI firm, since AWS requires that its cloud customers adhere to the Robots Exclusion Protocol.

“AWS’s terms of service prohibit customers from using our services for any illegal activity, and our customers are responsible for complying with our terms and all applicable laws,” the spokesperson said in a statement to Wired.

Perplexity has already faced accusations of stealing articles and plagiarism. If the AWS investigation goes against the AI firm, it remains to be seen what action the cloud provider may take.

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The New Era of Work: Remote Working and Time and Attendance in the Digital Age

The landscape of work has undergone a seismic shift. Gone are the days of the rigid 9-to-5 office routine, replaced by a more flexible and geographically dispersed workforce. Remote working, once a niche perk, has become a mainstream reality for many businesses. This transition has been driven by a confluence of factors, including technological advancements, the rise of the gig economy, and a growing emphasis on work-life balance.

However, managing a remote workforce presents unique challenges, particularly in areas like time and attendance tracking. Traditional methods, reliant on physical presence in an office, become obsolete. This is where time and attendance software steps in, offering a sophisticated solution for the modern workplace.

The Rise of Remote Work

The remote work trend has been steadily gaining momentum for years, fueled by several key factors:

• Technology: Cloud-based tools, video conferencing platforms, and instant messaging applications have made seamless collaboration across geographical boundaries possible.
• The Gig Economy: The rise of freelance marketplaces and project-based work arrangements has created a demand for flexible work options.
• Work-Life Balance: Employees increasingly value the ability to manage their own schedules and work from a location that suits them.
• Global Talent Pool: Businesses can now tap into a wider pool of talent, unrestricted by geographical limitations.

The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst, forcing businesses to adopt remote work models en masse. While some companies may eventually return to more traditional office setups, the remote work genie is out of the bottle. Many businesses recognize the benefits of a distributed workforce, including:

• Reduced Costs: Companies save on overhead expenses associated with physical office space.
• Increased Productivity: Studies have shown that remote workers can be just as, if not more, productive than their office-based counterparts.
• Improved Employee Satisfaction: Remote work offers employees greater flexibility and autonomy, leading to higher morale and job satisfaction.
• Access to Top Talent: Businesses are no longer limited to hiring from a local talent pool.

Challenges of Managing Remote Teams

Despite its advantages, remote work also presents challenges, particularly when it comes to managing teams:

• Communication and Collaboration: Maintaining clear communication channels and fostering a sense of collaboration can be more difficult with a geographically dispersed workforce.
• Employee Engagement: Remote workers can feel isolated and disengaged from the company culture.
• Performance Management: Measuring and evaluating employee performance can be trickier in a remote environment.
• Time and Attendance Tracking: Traditional timekeeping methods are no longer effective for remote workers.

The Role of Time and Attendance Software

Time and attendance software plays a vital role in addressing the challenges associated with managing a remote workforce. Modern software solutions offer a range of features specifically designed to meet the needs of remote teams, including:

• Automated Time Tracking: Employees can clock in and out of work hours remotely, using desktop applications, mobile apps, or even biometric authentication.
• Project Management Tools: Software can integrate with project management platforms, allowing employees to track time spent on specific tasks and projects.
• Flexible Work Schedules: The software can accommodate various work schedules, including flexible hours and part-time arrangements.
• Detailed Reporting: Managers can generate comprehensive reports on employee work hours, productivity levels, and project progress.
• Employee Self-Service: Employees can access their timesheets, request time off, and view pay stubs through a self-service portal.

Current Trends in Time and Attendance Software

The time and attendance software market is constantly evolving, with new features and functionalities emerging to meet the ever-changing needs of businesses. Here are some of the latest trends:

• Cloud-Based Solutions: Cloud-based software offers several advantages, including scalability, accessibility, and automatic updates.
• Mobile Apps: The growing use of mobile devices has led to a surge in demand for mobile time tracking apps.
• Biometric Authentication: Biometric technology, such as fingerprint scanners and facial recognition, is being used to ensure the accuracy of timekeeping data.
• Integration with Payroll Systems: Time and attendance software is increasingly being integrated with payroll systems for streamlined and automated payroll processing.
• Focus on Employee Wellbeing: Some software solutions incorporate features that promote employee wellbeing, such as break reminders and overtime alerts.
• AI-Powered Insights: Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to analyze timekeeping data and generate insights to improve workforce management.

Choosing the Right Time and Attendance Software

With a plethora of time and attendance software options available, selecting the right solution can be daunting. Here are some key factors to consider:

• Company Size and Needs: The size and structure of your organization will determine the features you need

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Verizon Will Pay $1 Million Settlement to FCC Over 911 Outage

Verizon and the Federal Communications Commission have reached a settlement of $1,050,000 for a 911 outage in December 2022 in multiple southern states.

According to the FCC, Verizon failed to deliver 911 calls in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee during the period in question. As a result, Verizon has agreed to the fine, as well as a Consent Decree involving a compliance plan to ensure such a failure does not happen again.

The FCC says the December failure resulted in hundreds of 911 calls not going through, and followed another outage in October 2022. Following the October outage, Verizon made improvements to address the issue, but failed to completely fix it.

“When you call 911 in an emergency, it’s critical that your call goes through,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Today’s action is part of the FCC’s ongoing effort to ensure that the public has reliable communications, including access to 911.”

“The Enforcement Bureau takes any potential violations of the Commission’s 911 rules extremely seriously. Sunny day outages, as occurred here, can be especially troubling because they occur when the public and 911 call centers least expect it,” said Loyaan A. Egal, Chief of the Enforcement Bureau. “We are committed to ensuring communications providers uphold their responsibilities in providing critical 911 services to the American public.”

Moving forward, Verizon will be required to perform risk assessments and establish “enhanced processes for implementing security policy updates” in an effort to ensure such an outage doesn’t happen again.

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Microsoft Enables Windows 11 OneDrive Backup Without Asking

In yet another instance of strong-arming users, Microsoft has changed Windows 11 setup so OneDrive backup is enabled by default.

Spotted by Neowin, Microsoft appears to have made the change without notifying users or making any announcement. Now, when a user sets up Windows 11 on a new computer, or reinstalls on an existing one, Windows 11 will begin restoring content from the users OneDrive account onto the machine.

The move is the latest in a litany of issues in which Microsoft appears hell-bent on ignoring its own users’ preferences in favor of what it wants to push. The company has been trying to force users to use a Microsoft account when setting up Windows, rather than a local account as was traditionally the case. Microsoft also has a long history of pushing advertising within Windows, including for its own services. In view of those actions, it’s not surprising that Microsoft has enabled OneDrive by default.

As Neowin points out, OneDrive can be a powerful option for users when they knowingly activate it and configure to work the way they want and backup the files they choose. Unfortunately, Microsoft’s approach means that users’ systems will almost immediately be cluttered by whatever files are in their OneDrive storage, regardless of whether they want those files on their computer or not.

Hopefully, Microsoft will return to the days when it actually respected its users enough to let them make their own choices about how to use their computers and devices.

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Marc Whitten Appointed CEO of Cruise

Marc Whitten, an executive who has served in senior positions at Microsoft, Amazon, and Unity, has been appointed CEO of GM’s Cruise.

Whitten recently resigned as CTO of Unity, after being with the company for more than three years. In a LinkedIn post, Whitten expressed his excitement over joining Cruise.

Joining Cruise is the easiest “yes” in my career. I’m inspired by its deep and meaningful mission and world-class technology, and most importantly the incredible team driving both of these things forward.

I can’t wait to meet the entire Cruise team in July. Together, we will transform transportation to be safer and more accessible for all.

Cruise cited Whitten’s “decades of experience on the frontlines of technology transformations” as one of the leading factors in his appointment as CEO.

Cruise today announced the appointment of Marc Whitten as the company’s Chief Executive Officer, effective July 16. Marc is a proven leader with decades of experience on the frontlines of technology transformations. His experience leading teams at scale and his deep expertise across software, hardware, platform and services will be crucial to fulfilling Cruise’s vision of offering technology and services that provide tangible benefits to society.

Marc was a founding engineer at Xbox and Xbox Live where he scaled three generations of technology to serve millions of gamers. At Amazon, he was general manager and vice president across a range of entertainment devices and services, including Fire TV, Kindle, and Amazon apps and entertainment services. He served as Chief Product Officer of Sonos and most recently as Chief Product and Technology Officer, Create at Unity, where he helped expand the use of AI and the company’s real-time 3D technology, which powers most real-time games, apps and experiences across multiple platforms.

“In a few years, transportation will be fundamentally safer and more accessible than it is today, creating much more value for individuals and communities around the world. It is an opportunity of a lifetime to be part of this transformation,” said Marc Whitten on his decision to join Cruise. “The team at Cruise has built world-class technology, and I look forward to working with them to help bring this critical mission to life.”

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Volkswagen to Invest $5 Billion In Rivian

Rivian and Volkswagen have announced a joint venture, with Volkswagen set to invest $5 billion in the electric vehicle maker.

Rivian has emerged as one of the most successful challengers to Tesla, with the automaker already supplying 10,000 vehicles to Amazon, with plans for a total of 100,000. The EV maker is getting a major boost from its newly-announced joint venture with Volkswagen, while the German automaker will be able to jump start its EV ambitions.

The partnership is anticipated to accelerate the development of software for Rivian and Volkswagen Group. It is expected to allow both companies to combine their complementary strengths and lower cost per vehicle by increasing scale and speeding up innovation globally.

Both companies aim to launch vehicles benefiting from the technology created within the joint venture in the second half of the decade. In the short term, the joint venture is expected to enable Volkswagen Group to utilize Rivian’s existing electrical architecture and software platform. The partnership’s ambition is to accelerate Volkswagen Group’s SDV plans and transition to a pure zonal architecture. Each company will continue to separately operate their respective vehicle businesses.

Volkswagen’s initial investment will be $1 billion, with the company expected to invest a total of $5 billion

“Our customers benefit from the targeted partnership with Rivian to create a leading technology architecture,” said Oliver Blume, CEO of Volkswagen Group. “Through our cooperation, we will bring the best solutions to our vehicles faster and at lower cost. We are also acting in the best interest of our strong brands, which will inspire with their iconic products. The partnership fits seamlessly with our existing software strategy, our products, and partnerships. We are strengthening our technology profile and our competitiveness.”

“We’re very excited to be partnering with Volkswagen Group,” added RJ Scaringe, Founder and CEO of Rivian. “Since the earliest days of Rivian, we have been focused on developing highly differentiated technology, and it’s exciting that one of the world’s largest and most respected automotive companies has recognized this. Not only is this partnership expected to bring our software and associated zonal architecture to an even broader market through Volkswagen Group’s global reach, but this partnership also is expected to help secure our capital needs for substantial growth. Rivian was created to help the world to transition away from fossil fuels through compelling products and services, and this partnership is beautifully aligned with that mission.”

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Google Search Is Eliminating Continuous Scroll

Google is making a major change to its Google Search results, eliminating continuous scrolling in favor of old-style page-based results.

According to Search Engine Land, Google first debuted continuous scroll on the desktop in December 2022, although it had existed on mobile search since October 2021. The company is dumping the feature in favor of the traditional “Next” button at the bottom of the search results.

The company told the outlet that performance was a major factor in the decision, as the older page-based style allows the company to return results faster. It also saves resources by not pre-loading results the user may never scroll down and see.

As the outlet points out, the change could have a significant impact on search engine rankings and websites, as being on the second, third, or lower pages could result in a major drop in traffic. At the same time, the majority of search engines one the market use page-based results, so Google will once again be more in-line with the rest of the industry.

The company is making the change effective today, June 25.

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Apple Passed On Meta AI Deal Over Privacy Concerns

Apple reportedly passed on a possible deal with Meta to include the latter’s Llama model in Apple Intelligence (A.I.) over privacy concerns.

Reports surfaced this week that Apple and Meta were in talks regarding a possible partnership on artificial intelligence, much like Apple’s deal with OpenAI that will see ChatGPT offered as an option to Apple customers. Apple has made clear that it is willing to work with more than one AI provider, so a possible deal with Meta was not outside the realm of possibility.

According to Bloomberg, via MacRumors, Apple rejected a possible deal with Meta months ago over privacy concerns. Apple evidently began talks with Meta around the same time as OpenAI and Alphabet, but quickly ended them because “it doesn’t see that company’s privacy practices as stringent enough.”

Meta has a long history of privacy abuses, and regulators have repeatedly expressed concern about the sheer amount of data Meta has on people’s lives. In that context, it’s reassuring that Apple opted not to partner with Meta.

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Low-Cost Service Businesses You Can Start from Home

Are you thinking about starting a business without spending lots of money? You can start a service business from home. Social media makes it easy to find work worldwide. If you’re good at putting things together, being organized, or knowing a lot about something, there’s a job for you. You could help with emails, writing, designing, or teaching online. Starting doesn’t cost a lot, and you can work from home. It lets you earn money doing what you love and helping others simultaneously.

Content Creation

Social media and the nonstop news cycle have created new chances for creative people like writers and graphic designers. If you’re good at these things, grab the opportunity to create great content for businesses and news sites as it is one of the best ways to make money online. They always need better content to keep their audience interested. With more freelancers, showing off what you can do and getting hired for jobs is more accessible. You can become a famous professional if you use your imagination and skills well. Use this changing world to show what you can do and help businesses and media companies with their content. It’s a great way to build a successful career online.

Personal or virtual Assistant

Entrepreneurs who want to make their businesses bigger must focus on jobs that benefit them. They need people who organize things to help everything run smoothly. Personal or virtual assistants are super important because they do many different office jobs from their homes. They work for other people, managing schedules, booking trips, and doing office work well. As businesses get bigger, they need more assistants who are good at their jobs. It means there are lots of chances for assistants to do well. They can work from home and help many clients, ensuring everything runs smoothly. It allows entrepreneurs to focus on essential things that help their businesses grow and be successful.

Event Planning Services

Starting an event-planning business could be significant if you’re good at organizing and paying attention to small things. Event planners help with different parties, such as weddings and birthdays, ensuring everyone has a good time without any worries. Plan a few free events to improve and show what you can do. Use websites like LinkedIn and make calls to find people who can help, like vendors and contacts. It will help you prepare to make your clients’ dreams come true and give them parties they’ll never forget. With hard work and a love for arranging, you can turn your hobby into a successful future as an event planner.

Errand/Concierge Service

Many working parents have jobs and care for their kids, so they only have a little time for grocery shopping or mailing packages. But if you’re motivated, you can help out with these tasks. It gives parents more time for important stuff. You can charge for every hour you work or each task you do, and remember to include travel costs in your rates. By helping with errands, you not only make life easier for busy parents but also get a chance to earn money. This job lets you make a big difference in their lives while reaching your money goals. If you’re committed and willing to help, you can create a successful business while supporting families in your area.

Professional Reviewer

A professional reviewer gets paid to share their thoughts about products, services, or experiences. They might work for companies, websites, or magazines or be independent reviewers who write on blogs or social media. These reviewers often know much about technology, fashion, food, and entertainment. They try out the things they’re reviewing and share detailed feedback based on what they experienced. Their reviews can help people decide what to buy and help companies improve their products. To be a professional reviewer, you need to think critically, communicate well, and care about giving honest opinions.

Social Media Consultant

Big companies can afford to pay a marketing team or hire someone to handle their social media and blogs. But small businesses usually do this themselves. Business owners already have much to do, so utilizing social media can take time and effort. As a consultant, you can help by advising them on what to post, when to post, and how to make their posts delightful for the folks they want to reach. When their follower numbers go up, it’s good for their business, and it’s good for yours too. More people noticing their business online means more people noticing your consultancy, which helps both of you grow.

Online Courses and Tutoring

Do you enjoy doing something a lot? Like yoga, baking, or making websites? You can teach others about it and help them learn. Giving virtual classes is an excellent way to do this. You can make instruction sheets and videos for people to download or teach live on Skype. Another idea is to start a tutoring service where you help people learn at home or online. It feels good to share what you love and watch others improve. Teaching can make a difference in people’s lives and help them find new things they enjoy. So, whether you’re doing virtual classes or tutoring, there are many ways to teach and help others.

Personal Chef

In this business, your main task is to cook meals for your clients weekly or daily. So, having good cooking skills and understanding nutrition and various diets is important. You don’t necessarily need to attend culinary school, but cooking classes can give you more confidence and credibility. Sometimes, you may have to go to the grocery store or your clients’ homes to cook the meals. But don’t worry; your clients will cover the cost of the food and any additional fees for your service. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your culinary talents while providing a valuable service to busy individuals or families. As you build trust with your clients and deliver delicious meals, your business will likely grow through word-of-mouth recommendations.

Translation Service

If you know another language well, you can work as a translator. Your job is to change words from one language to another in writing and when speaking. This job is needed because there are more connections between countries now and more people in the U.S. who don’t speak English. The government says it will keep growing by 4 percent until 2032. You can start your translation business and offer services to businesses, schools, hospitals, courts, and meeting spots. Helping break down language barriers will make it easier for various groups to understand each other. As you get more clients, you’ll be helping to create a more open and understanding society where everyone can communicate better.

Conclusion

People can start many types of home-based businesses without spending much money. They can use their skills and interests to help others and chase their dreams of owning a business. Whether creating content, cooking meals, translating, or something else, each option lets people make a difference in their community while earning money. With the internet connecting everyone and more people needing special services, now is a great time to start a business from home. People can use their talents and ideas to build successful careers while making life better for others around them in the changing world.

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Experts Sound Alarm Over Telegram’s ’30 Engineers’

Experts are weighing in and sounding the alarm over Telegram founder Pavel Durov’s boast that the company only has “about 30 engineers.”

According to TechCrunch, Durov made the revelation in an interview with Tucker Carlson. As the outlet noted, Durov was bragging about his company being “super efficient,” but experts didn’t agree with his assessment.

Between being based in Dubai, and only have 30 engineers in a field that is a ripe target for bad actors, experts say Durov’s revelation is a major concern.

“Without end-to-end encryption, huge numbers of vulnerable targets, and servers located in the UAE? Seems like that would be a security nightmare,” Matthew Green, a cryptography expert at Johns Hopkins University, told TechCrunch.

Unlike Signal and WhatsApp, Telegram does not use end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default, requiring users to manually opt-in.

“What makes Telegram different (and much worse!) is that Telegram is not just a messaging app, it is also a social media platform. As a social media platform, it is sitting on an enormous amount of user data. Indeed, it is sitting on the contents of all communications that are not one-on-one messages that have been specifically [end-to-end] encrypted,” Eva Galperin, cybersecurity director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, told TechCrunch. “‘Thirty engineers’ means that there is no one to fight legal requests, there is no infrastructure for dealing with abuse and content moderation issues.”

“And I would even argue that the quality of those 30 engineers isn’t that great,” Galperin added. “Also, if I was a threat actor, I would definitely consider this to be encouraging news. Every attacker loves a profoundly understaffed and overworked opponent.”

Telegram has had questions raised about its security for years, with critics slamming its lack of default E2EE. What’s more, the arrest of Russian protesters relying on Telegram has cast doubt on whether the app’s encryption algorithms are truly secure.

Given the app’s history, it’s easy to understand why experts are so concerned about its mere 30 engineers.

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OpenAI Buys Multi, the Multiplayer Desktop Collaboration Tool

OpenAI has purchased Multi, multiplayer desktop collaboration tool, with the existing service shutting down next month.

Multi was created with the prospect of making desktop computers and collaboration truly multiplayer. The company’s software enables simultaneous screensharing, shared control, keyboard-first control, and much more. The software is used by such names as Mozilla, Automattic, VMware, Plaid, and others.

The company announced in a blog post that it is joining Meta, viewing the acquisition as the next step in its vision for modern computing.

What if desktop computers were inherently multiplayer? What if the operating system placed people on equal footing to apps? Those were the questions we explored in building Multi, and before that, Remotion.

Recently, we’ve been increasingly asking ourselves how we should work with computers. Not on or using computers, but truly with computers. With AI. We believe it’s one of the most important product questions of our time.

And so, we’re beyond excited to share that Multi is joining OpenAI!

The announcement includes bad news for existing customers, with Multi sunsetting next month.

Unfortunately, this means we’re sunsetting Multi. We’ve closed new team signups, and currently active teams will be able to use the app until July 24, 2024, after which we’ll delete all user data. If you need help or more time finding a replacement, email alexander@multi.app. We’re happy to suggest alternatives depending on what exactly you loved about Multi, and we can also grant extensions on a case by case basis.

There is no word from OpenAI or Meta on exactly how the latter’s products will be used by the AI firm, nor was the cost of the deal disclosed.

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EU Rules Against Apple In App Store Review, Widens Investigation

The EU Commission has informed Apple that it has preliminarily ruled against the company, finding its App Store rules violation the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The EU has been investigating whether Apple was complying with the DMA in regard to its rules allowing developers to bypass the App Store and direct customers to alternative payment methods. Developers and critics said Apple was not doing enough to comply, and was making it difficult for developers to take advantage of the options guaranteed by the DMA.

The EU has released its preliminary findings and found that Apple is not in compliance. There are three things in particular Apple is doing that violates the DMA:

• None of these business terms allow developers to freely steer their customers. For example, developers cannot provide pricing information within the app or communicate in any other way with their customers to promote offers available on alternative distribution channels.
• Under most of the business terms available to app developers, Apple allows steering only through “link-outs”, i.e., app developers can include a link in their app that redirects the customer to a web page where the customer can conclude a contract. The link-out process is subject to several restrictions imposed by Apple that prevent app developers from communicating, promoting offers and concluding contracts through the distribution channel of their choice.
• Whilst Apple can receive a fee for facilitating via the AppStore the initial acquisition of a new customer by developers, the fees charged by Apple go beyond what is strictly necessary for such remuneration. For example, Apple charges developers a fee for every purchase of digital goods or services a user makes within seven days after a link-out from the app.

Apple now has the opportunity to mount a defense. If the Commission’s charge is proven, however, it would formerly “adopt a non-compliance decision,” which could result in substantial fines for the iPhone maker.

In addition to the preliminary ruling, the Commission opened a new non-compliance investigation into Apple’s terms for allowing developers to access new features that should be protected and guaranteed by the DMA. Again, the Commission is focused on three particular terms Apple is imposing:

• Apple’s Core Technology Fee, under which developers of third-party app stores and third-party apps must pay a €0.50 fee per installed app. The Commission will investigate whether Apple has demonstrated that the fee structure that it has imposed, as part of the new business terms, and in particular the Core Technology Fee, effectively complies with the DMA.
• Apple’s multi-step user journey to download and install alternative app stores or apps on iPhones. The Commission will investigate whether the steps that a user has to undertake to successfully complete the download and installation of alternative app stores or apps, as well as the various information screens displayed by Apple to the user, comply with the DMA.
• The eligibility requirements for developers related to the ability to offer alternative app stores or directly distribute apps from the web on iPhones. The Commission will investigate whether these requirements, such as the ‘membership of good standing’ in the Apple Developer Program, that app developers have to meet in order to be able to benefit from alternative distribution provided for in the DMA comply with the DMA.

EU officials emphasized the importance of the ruling in the context of DMA enforcement.

“Today is a very important day for the effective enforcement of the DMA: we have sent preliminary findings to Apple. Our preliminary position is that Apple does not fully allow steering,” said Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President in charge of competition policy. “Steering is key to ensure that app developers are less dependent on gatekeepers’ app stores and for consumers to be aware of better offers. We have also opened proceedings against Apple in relation to its so-called core technology fee and various rules for allowing third party app stores and sideloading. The developers’ community and consumers are eager to offer alternatives to the App Store. We will investigate to ensure Apple does not undermine these efforts.”

“Apple’s new slogan should be “act different,” added Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market. “Today we take further steps to ensure Apple complies with the DMA rules. We have reason to believe that the AppStore rules not allowing app developers to communicate freely with their own users is in breach of the DMA. We are also opening a new case in relation to Apple’s new business terms for iOS. Without prejudice to Apple’s right of defence, we are determined to use the clear and effective DMA toolbox to finally open real opportunities for innovators and for consumers.”

The EU Commission is sending a clear message that it will hold companies to the DMA and not tolerate efforts to minimize the legislation’s impact, or circumvent its application.

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Red Hat Moves One Step Closer to In-Vehicle Linux Systems

Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System took a major step forward with a functional safety assessment, as well as certification for a critical Linux math library.

Red Hat announced its Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System in 2022, collaborating with General Motors to bring Linux to vehicles at the edge. Red Hat outlined the benefits of Linux in vehicles at the time:

Adopting open source software in lieu of proprietary operating systems can introduce an avenue for establishing common standards and fosters an ecosystem of Linux-savvy automotive developers. By utilizing open source software, the automotive industry can help alleviate many of these issues and as a result, modernize their strategies while meeting customers’ present-day needs.

According to the company, its efforts have crossed a major milestone with math library libm.so glibc achieving ISO 26262 ASIL-B functional safety certification from exida.

In collaboration with exida, Red Hat has developed and validated a novel approach to meet the process objectives of many functional safety standards including ISO 26262, overcoming the challenges associated with complex, pre-existing open source software like Linux. This certification demonstrates that the engineering of the math library components individually and as a whole meet or exceed stringent functional safety standards, ensuring substantial reliability and performance for the automotive industry. The certification of the math library is a significant milestone that strengthens the confidence in Linux as a viable platform of choice for safety related automotive applications of the future.

“Red Hat’s collaboration with exida exemplifies the automotive industry’s growing demand for a reimagined, software-centric driving experience that meets the stringent standards of reliability and safety,” said Francis Chow, vice president and general manager, In-Vehicle Operating System and Edge, Red Hat. “Today, we proudly present tangible proof that our innovative approach to delivering a functionally safe certified Linux operating system is effective. Red Hat remains steadfast in its commitment to offering the automotive industry the freedom and flexibility provided by open, SDV-ready solutions. This empowers organizations to choose the best-in-class solutions for their unique needs across every layer of their technology stack.”

“Red Hat is an undisputed leader in open source technologies with unparalleled expertise in Linux and the development, deployment and maintenance of complex software at scale. Since the inception of our collaboration, Red Hat has brought a unique and comprehensive approach that integrates modern software development practices while paving the way for the widespread adoption of open source solutions in automotive safety applications,” added Jonathan Moore, director, advanced systems, exida LLC.. “Their focus on ensuring the safety of both individual components and the operating system as a whole is crucial. This latest achievement brings them even closer to realizing the first continuously-certified in-vehicle Linux– Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System. Their open source first approach to the organization, culture and thought process is an exemplary superset of what exida regards as a best practice for world-class safety culture. Contrary to many who believe open source is incompatible with safety, exida has found that Red Hat is dedicated to working towards goals aligned to functional safety in ways that benefit everyone.”

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Apple and Meta In Talks Regarding AI Partnership

Apple and Meta are reportedly discussing the possibility of incorporating Meta’s AI models into Apple Intelligence (A.I.).

Apple unviled its A.I. at WWDC, using a combination of on-device models, Apple’s Private Cloud Compute, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Despite forming a partnership with OpenAI to give Apple users access to ChatGPT, Apple has left the door open to working with other AI firms.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is in talks with Meta to incorporate its models into A.I. Just like its deal with OpenAI, the companies are discussing a deal in which neither pays the other. Instead, Apple would benefit from the incorporation of another AI model, while Meta would benefit from Apple’s network of devices and potential to sell premium subscriptions to users.

The outlet reports that Apple has also held discussions with Anthropic and Perplexity. If multiple partners are signed, Apple could allow its customers to use the external AI model of their choice, in addition to its own home-grown model.

Apple is in a unique position in the AI field, benefiting from its large user base and focus on providing the best possible experience. The company can leverage its user base to ink favorable deals while providing its users with services that offer a tangible benefit, all without the gargantuan cost that dedicated AI firms are shouldering.

As we pointed out in our coverage of Apple’s A.I. announcement, the company is doing what it does best in its approach, showing users tangible use cases for AI and the ways it can make things easier.

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NASA Delays Boeing Starliner’s Return to Earth

NASA announced it is delaying Boeing Starliner’s return to earth to further study “small helium system leaks and thruster performance.”

Starliner experienced issue on its flight to the International Space Station (ISS). The craft experienced two helium leaks, and some of its thruster unexpectedly went offline. In view of the issues, NASA and Boeing have decided to delay the craft’s return to Earth, originally scheduled for June 26, until the data can be reviewed.

“We are taking our time and following our standard mission management team process,” said Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. “We are letting the data drive our decision making relative to managing the small helium system leaks and thruster performance we observed during rendezvous and docking. Additionally, given the duration of the mission, it is appropriate for us to complete an agency-level review, similar to what was done ahead of the NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 return after two months on orbit, to document the agency’s formal acceptance on proceeding as planned.”

The agency says that mission managers are looking return dates after two planned ISS spacewalks on June 24 and July 2. As a result, Starliner will not return until at least some time in July.

“Starliner is performing well in orbit while docked to the space station,” said Stich. “We are strategically using the extra time to clear a path for some critical station activities while completing readiness for Butch and Suni’s return on Starliner and gaining valuable insight into the system upgrades we will want to make for post-certification missions.”

“The crew’s feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and they know that every bit of learning we do on the Crew Flight Test will improve and sharpen our experience for future crews,” said Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager, Boeing’s Starliner Program.

The delayed return is the latest in a raft of issues that have plagued Boeing’s Starliner. Starliner’s manned flight was scrubbed repeatedly due to issues, leading to questions about the program’s viability, especially in comparison to SpaceX.

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Amazon Accused of Retaliating Against Protesting Employees

Amazon is once again in the spotlight for questionable labor practices, this time accused of retaliating against employees protesting the company’s RTO efforts.

Amazon has stirred controversy among its employees with its insistence they return to the office. To make matters worse, executives have failed to point to verifiable data on the benefits of an RTO, instead saying the decision was a “judgment call” or “serendipity.”.

In response to the company’s ongoing RTO efforts, as well as layoffs, employees at the company’s headquarters planned a walkout for May 31. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has now accused the company of retaliating against those employees. The NLRB says Amazon “interrogated its employees regarding their protected, concerted activity.”

Read More: Amazon Exec Angers Staff By Admitting He Had ‘No Data’ to Support RTO Mandates

The NLRB says one of the employees that organized the walkout was placed on PIVOT, the company’s performance improvement plan, before being offered a severance package.

THe NLRB concluded that Amazon “as been interfering with, restraining, and coercing employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in § 8(a)(1) of the [National Labor Relations] Act.”

Amazon has a long history of anti-union and anti-organizing activities. A judge ruled in May that CEO Andy Jassy went too far when he made anti-union comments in interviews. Similarly, in late 2022, another judge ordered the company to stop its anti-union activities. The company has gone so far as to hire Pinkerton detectives to dissuade unionization efforts and disturbed investors with its activities enough for them to call on the company to stop pressuring workers.

The NLRB’s latest ruling merely adds to Amazon’s growing labor issues.

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Stability AI Gets a New CEO and a Cash Injection

Stability AI has appointed a new CEO and received a much-needed cash injection as the AI firm struggles in a competitive industry.

According to The Information, Stability has appointed Prem Akkaraju to the role, following the resignation of Emad Mostaque in March. In addition to taking on the role of CEO, Akkaraju joins a group of investors that includes former Facebook President Sean Parker in injecting much-needed cash into the company.

Mostaque resigned unexpectedly in March to focus on decentralized AI development, saying: “Not going to beat centralized AI with more centralized AI.”

As The Information points out, the fresh investment will likely result in existing investors’ stakes shrinking.

Interestingly, as of the time of writing, Akkaraju’s LinkedIn profile still shows him as CEO of Weta Digital.

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4 Ways Fleet Maintenance Software Can Help Businesses

In business, sometimes you have to spend money to make money. It’s about making investments that’ll positively impact the corporate bottom line.

One investment to consider if your business operates a fleet of vehicles is fleet maintenance software. Leveraging the features of such solutions, your company can keep cars in tip-top shape so they stay on the road more often and at the mechanic shop less.

According to Fact.MR, the fleet maintenance software segment is on pace to expand at a 9.2% compound annual growth rate from 2022 to 2032. It adds that the market could be worth almost $30.9 billion by the end of the forecast period.

If your business has a fleet but doesn’t have a fleet maintenance system, keep reading to learn about four things you’re missing out on.

1. Reduce Vehicle Maintenance Expenses

Fleet maintenance software will help your business reduce car maintenance costs. The application will send reminders about upcoming maintenance needs, so vehicle maintenance matters won’t fall between the cracks. Failing to maintain vehicles at proper intervals will increase risks of efficiency- and productivity-destroying downtime. And any business knows that unplanned downtime can lead to losses and even cause reputational harm. 

A fleet maintenance application will help you prevent missing out on maintenance that may — if left undone — lead to breakdowns and more costly fixes down the road. It’s the sort of investment that can save you money by keeping your vehicle assets in good shape.

2. Increase Customer Satisfaction

When your company’s fleet of vehicles is in good shape, customers won’t have to face delays in getting their orders. Consumers won’t continue patronizing businesses that let them down. And there’s only so much they’ll tolerate, even if you’re upfront about any problems with deliveries.

If your vehicles are in shoddy shape and regularly need to be rushed to a mechanic, customer satisfaction levels could tank. Customers need to trust that you can deliver what they want on time. They won’t continue buying from businesses that can’t honor their service guarantees. Don’t underestimate the importance of customer satisfaction. It can make or break your company. 

3. Ensure Vehicles Are Safer

Maintaining your fleet will ensure the cars, trucks, vans, and other vehicles your business owns are safe for the drivers. It’s essential that your drivers operate vehicles that are in a good state of repair — so, you can’t allow upkeep to go undone. Fleet maintenance software is a good way to stay on top of maintenance and repairs that will ensure vehicles operate at peak efficiency. It’s about keeping drivers safe while they go about business for your company.

4. Get More Out of Your Vehicle Investments

Well-maintained vehicles will last longer than poorly-maintained vehicles. With a fleet maintenance application, you can increase the longevity of your vehicles. 

Vital maintenance won’t fall between the cracks and cause more expensive issues. You can squeeze as much use out of all your business assets — and that includes vehicles. Whether the work is done by your staff or a mechanic, you can be proactive with fleet maintenance software.

The global chip crisis, a byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic, has affected the automotive industry. While shortages aren’t as bad as when the crisis started in 2020, it’s not over yet. Because of the shortage of chips needed to manufacture vehicles, prices for new cars are higher than they were before the pandemic unfolded. In fact, even used cars cost more these days. That’s why your business should do everything it can to extend the lifecycle of fleet vehicles.

If your business owns vehicles, consider the benefits of fleet maintenance software. It’s an investment that will protect your business interests — the vehicular assets. 

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Spotify Introduces Basic Plan Sans Audiobooks

Just weeks after raising prices for the second time in roughly a year, Spotify has announced a cheaper basic plan without audiobook listening time.

The company made the announcement on its website:

On Spotify, users discover and enjoy music, podcasts, and audiobooks, with various plans that meet our listeners’ needs. We offer subscriptions for every stage of life and household, depending on how listeners like to stream. And we’re now offering even more options for eligible U.S. subscribers, who can choose one of the plans below.

Basic

• Enjoy the music streaming benefits of your Premium plan without the monthly audiobook listening time. Starting at $10.99/month for eligible users.

At $10.99, the Basic plan is just $1 less than the Premium Individual, at $11.99. While not a big difference, it’s still nice that users can choose not to pay for a feature they may not use.

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T-Mobile’s Home Internet Address Verification Plans Are Back On Track

T-Mobile is moving forward with plans to verify Home Internet users’ addresses to ensure the service is used in areas that have the proper coverage.

T-Mobile announced plans in April to crack down on users that were using Home Internet outside of approved coverage areas. While the service will often work in areas the company doesn’t officially support, using it in such areas can overload the network and result in poor performance.

Despite the company’s plans to implement address verification months ago, the company reportedly held up until it could implement a new Away plan, according to The Mobile Report.

It’s still unclear exactly how T-Mobile’s location verification will work, but users that are outside of coverage will need to cancel their service or switch to the Away plan, designed for people on-the-go.

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Amazon Eliminating Plastic Air Pillows From Packaging

Amazon announced it has achieved a major milestone, eliminating 95% of the plastic air pillows in its packaging in favor of paper filler.

Amazon has been working to improve its environmental impact. Given the number of packages Amazon ships, eliminating plastic filler materials can make a big difference in the company’s efforts. The company says it has already eliminated 95% of plastic air pillows, and is on target for full removal by the end of 2024.

We’re constantly inventing and thinking big to make our packaging small. We want to ensure that customers receive their items undamaged, while using as little packaging as possible to avoid waste, and prioritizing recyclable materials.

The removal of 95% of our plastic air pillows is another step in our path to avoid and reduce packaging—and part of our multi-year effort to remove plastic delivery packaging from North America fulfillment centers. To date, this will be Amazon’s largest plastic packaging reduction effort in North America and will avoid nearly 15 billion plastic air pillows annually. For Prime Day this year, nearly all of our customer deliveries will not contain plastic air pillows.

“I’m proud of the cross-Amazon collaboration to make a positive impact on the customer delivery experience with easier to recycle materials. It’s a great example of how we thoughtfully test and scale new solutions to protect our customer experience,” said Pat Lindner, VP of Mechatronics and Sustainable Packaging. “We are working towards full removal in North America by end of year and will continue to innovate, test, and scale in order to prioritize curbside recyclable materials.”

The company says it is also working to invent new materials and recycling solutions.

We’re also working to invent new materials and recycling solutions that keep both our customers and the environment in mind. For example, Amazon has teamed up with the U.S. Department of Energy to bring new materials and recycling programs to life. We’re also piloting new technology with Glacier, a San Francisco-based artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics company, to use AI-powered robots to automate the sorting of recyclables and collect real-time data on recycling streams for companies—which can help reduce landfill waste and increase the use of recycled materials in packaging.

The announcement is good news for climate activists and consumers alike, especially given the sheer volume of plastic Amazon previously used.

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Start a Business in Dubai. Examples of Successes

Many potential investors are now looking overseas to start their very own business. In a way, some countries offer opportunities that can’t be found anywhere else. Dubai is an expansive city full of incredible ventures. You can set up a new business with ease thanks to its myriad of resources to choose from. You can find a rent a car Dubai service with luxury cars or a tech repair shop for the latest phones. You can provide whatever kind of service or product you want so long as you have the determination. We can talk about some successful examples as well as how to get started.

How to get started

When first starting, try to plan as much as you can before arriving in Dubai. There are loads of aspects you can research before finalizing the idea. Here is a checklist of what to do: 

• Research a potential product/service
• Look into the target market for such a service. 
• Write up your business plan and decide on a name. 
• Finance your business through either a loan or self-funding. 
• Network and make contacts to support your business. 
• Find a suitable location to set up. 

Many of these can be researched beforehand. Once you arrive in Dubai, you can then implement them more practically. This includes finding an appropriate bank to take a loan from or finding an empty lot to set up a shop. Dubai is full of other businesses willing to make connections. Depending on what type of business you are doing, you can begin networking with them to help you out. 

The more you have sorted before landing, the less work there will be to do while you are there. You may even have a business that has combined accommodation, giving you somewhere to live as well as starting up. 

Example 1: Construction Sector

Dubai is a city that never stops changing. It is always building new infrastructures to help more businesses flourish. If you wish to help the city grow, the construction sectors have seen massive accomplishments. So long as you have the knowledge and experience needed, you can set up new projects across the city. You can even set up a business to help provide the materials needed for such projects. This includes providing bricks, cement, metals, and more. You can organize contractors and workers to offer help in building new projects. 

Example 2: Tourism

Dubai is one of the most popular destinations in the world for tourists. There are many activities and beautiful sights to see. There will always be a target market for providing tourism services and travel options. Thankfully, there are many ways to provide such services. Tour guides are common, and you can find them anywhere along the main city areas. 

There are also offices that can offer guides to the city as well as directions to popular activities. Some unique services can also be provided, such as bus tours, skyscraper hunts, shopping destinations, and so much more. If you can provide something new, this will benefit Dubai as a whole. 

Example 3: Car Rentals

Dubai has the biggest automobile market in the world. Car rentals are common, providing vehicles for people to travel with whilst they visit. If you wish to start your own car rental service, it can be difficult to face such varied competition. The best way to provide this service is to choose vehicles that can support multiple types of visitors. This includes families, couples, business travelers, and more. The cars themselves must be convenient, easy to handle, as well as offering a sense of luxury. You could provide cars that visitors would never be able to normally drive on their budget.

Adapting is Key

A last bit of advice is to make sure you are prepared for most outcomes. Expect to make a loss every now and then, as this is similar for most businesses that start out. Be prepared for competition being intimidating, as it can be hard to set yourself apart from others. Be sure to have some finances left as a backup in case money troubles could be around the corner. Don’t spend too much endlessly just to keep the business afloat. Take your time, plan accordingly, and Dubai will be thankful for another entrepreneur.

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People Don’t Want AI-Produced News

According to the latest research, the majority of users don’t want news that is produced by AI, preferring old-fashioned human-reported news.

Multiple outlets have been laying off news personnel in favor of AI, or augmenting their efforts with AI tools. Unfortunately, the vast majority of consumers are not sold on the idea of receiving their news from AI.

Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism published its Digital News Report 2024, and found that only 23% of Americans were comfortable with news that was produced mostly by AI. Similarly, only 18% of UK respondents were comfortable, and 26% of those in Mexico.

Respondents from Mexico had the biggest percentage of those who had no preference at 38%, but in the UK and US that number was a mere 18%. 63% of UK and 52% of US respondents were uncomfortable with news produced mostly by AI, while that number was only 27% in Mexico.

“If it was disclosed to me that this was produced by an AI [I] will probably go, ‘Okay, well, then I’ll just not read that,’” said one 40 year-old UK male.

One of the leading concerns among consumers was the propensity for AI to hallucinate or make mistakes.

“It is very important that there is human supervision,” said one 28 year-old male in Mexico. “I trust a human more, because we have the ability to analyse and discern, while AI is not sensitive, it has errors, it does not know how to decide what to do … it does not have a moral compass.”

That doesn’t mean that consumers are completely opposed to the use of AI, but they seem to prefer it being used in the background.

Our findings show audiences are most open to AI uses that are behind the scenes and areas where AI can help improve their experiences using news, providing more personalised and accessible information. They are less comfortable when it comes to public-facing content, sensitive or important topics, and synthetic videos or images that may come across as real, and where the consequences of error are viewed as most consequential. Overall, there is consensus that a human should always be in the loop and complete automation should be off limits.

The findings should serve as a caution for those companies and newsrooms that are rushing to replace human journalists and writers with AI.

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EU Postpones Vote On Chat Surveillance Legislation

The EU has delayed a vote on legislation that would have resulted in mass surveillance of all messaging platforms, including those with end-to-end encryption (E2EE).

The EU has been under growing scrutiny and criticism over its efforts to force messaging platforms to include client-side scanning, effectively bypassing E2EE. Signal President Meredith Whittaker recently slammed the bloc for playing “rhetorical games” in its efforts to pass the legislation.

Patrick Breyer–former MP for the German and the European Pirate Party—celebrated the delay as a major win for privacy proponents.

Today EU governments will not adopt their position on the EU regulation on “combating child sexual abuse”, the so-called chat control regulation, as planned, which would have heralded the end of private messages and secure encryption. The Belgian Council presidency postponed the vote at short notice. Once again the chat control proposal fails in Council.

“Without the commitment and resistance of countless individuals and organizations in Europe, the EU governments would have decided today in favour of totalitarian indiscriminate chat control , burying the digital privacy of correspondence and secure encryption,” said Breyer. “A big thanks to all who have contacted politicians and spoken out in the past few days. The fact that we have prevented the orwellian chat control for the time being should be celebrated!”

In order to pass, the legislation needed at least 15 member countries to back it. Germany, however, has emerged as a strong opponent of the legislation, having experienced first-hand the downsides of mass surveillance during the Cold War. Germany has been joined by Austria, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Poland.

Proponents of the legislation claim it will help fight child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and that any loss of privacy from breaking E2EE is worth it. Privacy advocates, security researchers, and even law enforcement officials have said such legislation would have limited success, if any, and would endanger far more people than it would protect.

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Biden Administration Poised to Ban Kaspersky Products

The Biden administration is reportedly poised to ban Kaspersky Lab’s security software given the company’s ties to the Kremlin.

Kaspersky is a popular maker of antivirus and security software, but the company is based in Russia. According to Reuters, officials are concerned by how widely used Kaspersky’s products are, including by organizations classified as critical infrastructure providers. The company’s software is also used by state and local governments.

Accusations of close ties between Kaspersky and the Russian government have been growing in recent months. According to CNET, there have been some reports that indicate the company is actively working with the FSB, while others claim that Russian intelligence has hacked the company’s products for its own benefit. Either way, officials are increasingly concerned that Kaspersky’s products represent a growing threat to national security.

“The case against Kaspersky Lab is overwhelming,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen. “The strong ties between Kaspersky Lab and the Kremlin are alarming and well-documented.”

Given the popularity of Kaspersky’s products, a ban on its software will likely have significant repercussions for organizations and government entities alike.

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Anthropic Releases Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Says It Beats GPT-4o

Anthropic announced the release of Claude 3.5 Sonnet, the latest version of its AI model, and says it beats GPT-4o in seven of nine tests.

Anthropic is OpenAI’s main competitor and was founded by former OpenAI executives who disagreed with the direction the company was going. In particular, Anthropic has emphasized a greater focus on safe AI development.

The Claude AI model has already demonstrated some impressive results, beating ChatGPT in the crowdsourced Chatbot Arena in March, as well as giving evidence it understands when it is being tested.

The company says the new Claude 3.5 sets the bar even higher.

Claude 3.5 Sonnet sets new industry benchmarks for graduate-level reasoning (GPQA), undergraduate-level knowledge (MMLU), and coding proficiency (HumanEval). It shows marked improvement in grasping nuance, humor, and complex instructions, and is exceptional at writing high-quality content with a natural, relatable tone.

One of the benefits of the new model is increased speed, operating twice as fast as its predecessor. The model’s problem solving also takes a major leap forward.

In an internal agentic coding evaluation, Claude 3.5 Sonnet solved 64% of problems, outperforming Claude 3 Opus which solved 38%. Our evaluation tests the model’s ability to fix a bug or add functionality to an open source codebase, given a natural language description of the desired improvement. When instructed and provided with the relevant tools, Claude 3.5 Sonnet can independently write, edit, and execute code with sophisticated reasoning and troubleshooting capabilities. It handles code translations with ease, making it particularly effective for updating legacy applications and migrating codebases.

Anthropic emphasized its commitment to safety, engaging outside experts to help ensure Claude has the appropriate safety mechanisms in place.

As part of our commitment to safety and transparency, we’ve engaged with external experts to test and refine the safety mechanisms within this latest model. We recently provided Claude 3.5 Sonnet to the UK’s Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (UK AISI) for pre-deployment safety evaluation. The UK AISI completed tests of 3.5 Sonnet and shared their results with the US AI Safety Institute (US AISI) as part of a Memorandum of Understanding, made possible by the partnership between the US and UK AISIs announced earlier this year.

Anthropic’s approach to safety stands in stark contrast to OpenAI, which recently dissolved the team that was responsible for ensuring AI could not pose an existential threat to humanity, and has lost a number of executives and researchers, with some of them citing grave concerns over the company’s approach to safety. Interestingly, one of the departing executives who was most vocal about OpenAI’s lack of appropriate safety measures recently joined Anthropic.

Anthropic is proving that leading-edge AI development can still be done in a safe and responsible manner.

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SUSE Wants to Democratize Generative AI With SUSE AI

SUSE—one of the leaders in the Linux community—announced its new SUSE AI, designed to utilize open source principles and democratize generative AI.

Companies large and small are rushing to deploy generative AI models, but many are concerned by the fact that the leading models are closed-source and controlled by corporations. From a practical standpoint, integrating different AI models can also pose a challenge for multi-platform organizations.

SUSE wants to change that with its SUSE AI:

SUSE is bringing AI sovereignty to enterprises by coupling open source principles with security and privacy – fostering collaboration and providing choice. Our AI strategy is focused on providing an open, enterprise-ready GenAI platform that offers security, privacy and control.

SUSE AI is a modular, secure, vendor and LLM-agnostic GenAI solution that helps dissolve silos and reduces costs associated with enterprise generative AI implementations – built on SUSE’s industry-leading open source, cloud-native Linux, Kubernetes, and container security offerings.

The company says SUSE AI is available in early access:

The SUSE AI Early Access Program is a collaborative engagement between SUSE and organizations to implement a private generative AI solution, and includes a proof-of-concept.

SUSE has a long history in the Linux community and is one of the leading enterprise Linux distros in Europe. The company’s products compete favorably against Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Ubuntu, but is less well-known in the US, despite having some of the best-engineered Linux products on the market.

In recent months, SUSE has been working to increase its footprint, joining with Oracle and CIQ to form the Open Enterprise Linux Association in the wake of Red Hat’s licensing changes. The company also forked Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) over the same licensing issues to provide customers a migration path from RHEL to SUSE.

With the announcement of SUSE AI, SUSE is once again looking for an opportunity to differentiate itself and expand its reach.

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Navigating the Latest Trends in Business Communication

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, staying abreast of the latest trends in business communication is essential for maintaining a competitive edge and fostering effective collaboration within organizations. From advancements in technology to changes in consumer behavior and workplace dynamics, the realm of business communication is constantly evolving. This article explores the latest trends shaping the field of business communication and offers insights into how organizations can navigate and leverage these trends to enhance productivity, foster innovation, and drive success.

Embracing Digital Transformation

Integration of Unified Communication Tools

With the increasing prevalence of remote and distributed teams, organizations are turning to unified communication tools to streamline collaboration and communication across different channels and devices. These tools integrate various communication channels such as voice, video, messaging, and email into a single platform, enabling seamless communication and collaboration regardless of location. By adopting unified communication tools, organizations can improve efficiency, reduce communication silos, and enhance team collaboration.

Transition to Cloud-Based Solutions

Cloud-based communication solutions offer scalability, flexibility, and accessibility, making them an attractive option for businesses of all sizes. digital tools and platforms, like many organizations, benefits from these advantages. Cloud-based communication platforms provide the ability to access communication tools and resources from anywhere, at any time, using any device with an internet connection. This flexibility allows for greater agility and responsiveness, enabling Adapt quickly to changing business needs and market dynamics.  

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Automation

AI-powered chatbots and Virtual Assistants

AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are revolutionizing organizations’ customer service and internal communication. These intelligent systems use natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms to understand and respond to user queries in real time. Chatbots can handle routine inquiries, provide personalized assistance, and streamline communication workflows, freeing up human agents to focus on more complex tasks. Organizations can improve efficiency, enhance customer satisfaction, and reduce operational costs by leveraging AI-powered chatbots.

Automation of Routine Tasks

Automation technology is transforming business communication by automating routine tasks and processes, such as email marketing, scheduling meetings, and managing customer inquiries. Automated communication workflows can help organizations streamline operations, eliminate manual errors, and improve productivity. By automating repetitive tasks, employees can focus on more strategic initiatives that require human creativity and problem-solving skills, driving innovation and value creation within the organization.

Embracing Remote and Hybrid Work Environments

Remote Work Collaboration Tools

The shift towards remote and hybrid work environments has accelerated the adoption of collaboration tools that facilitate virtual communication and teamwork. Video conferencing platforms, project management software, and team collaboration tools have become indispensable for remote teams to stay connected, coordinate projects, and collaborate effectively. These tools enable virtual meetings, file sharing, task management, and real-time communication, allowing teams to collaborate seamlessly regardless of physical location.

Cultivating a Culture of Communication and Collaboration

Effective communication becomes even more critical for maintaining team cohesion and fostering a sense of belonging in remote and hybrid work environments. Organizations must prioritize communication and collaboration by establishing clear communication channels, setting expectations for remote work etiquette, and providing support and resources for virtual team building and collaboration. Cultivating a culture of communication and collaboration helps remote teams stay connected, engaged, and aligned with organizational goals.

Enhancing Customer Engagement and Experience

Personalized and Omnichannel Communication

In today’s digital age, customers expect personalized and seamless communication experiences across multiple channels and touchpoints. Organizations are leveraging data analytics and customer relationship management (CRM) systems to gather insights into customer preferences, behavior, and interactions. By delivering personalized and targeted communication across email, social media, chat, and other channels, organizations can enhance customer engagement, build brand loyalty, and drive business growth.

Interactive and Multimedia Content

Interactive and multimedia content formats, such as videos, infographics, and interactive presentations, are becoming increasingly popular for engaging customers and conveying complex information in a visually compelling manner. Organizations are incorporating interactive elements into their communication strategies to capture audience attention, increase retention, and drive action. By leveraging interactive and multimedia content, organizations can create memorable and impactful communication experiences that resonate with their target audience.

Adapting to Changing Regulatory and Compliance Landscape

Data Privacy and Security Regulations

In an era of increasing data privacy concerns and regulatory scrutiny, organizations must prioritize compliance with data privacy and security regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Compliance with these regulations requires organizations to implement robust data protection measures, obtain consent for data collection and processing, and ensure transparency and accountability in their communication practices. By adhering to data privacy and security regulations, organizations can build trust with customers and mitigate the risk of costly fines and penalties.

Ethical and Responsible Communication Practices

In addition to regulatory compliance, organizations must uphold ethical and responsible communication practices in their interactions with customers, employees, and other stakeholders. This includes being transparent and honest in communication, respecting individual privacy rights, and avoiding deceptive or misleading messaging. By practicing ethical and responsible communication, organizations can build trust, credibility, and goodwill with their audience, ultimately enhancing their reputation and long-term success.

To Wrap Up

In conclusion, navigating the latest trends in business communication requires organizations to embrace digital transformation, leverage artificial intelligence and automation, adapt to remote and hybrid work environments, enhance customer engagement and experience, and comply with changing regulatory and compliance requirements. By staying abreast of emerging trends and leveraging innovative communication technologies and strategies, organizations can foster effective collaboration, drive customer engagement, and achieve their business objectives in today’s dynamic and interconnected business landscape.

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Nvidia Is Now the World’s Most Valuable Company

Nvidia is now the world’s most valuable company, passing Microsoft at the end of trading Tuesday when its stock hit $135.58 per share.

Microsoft was the world’s most valuable company, with Nvidia in second-place after it passed Apple in early June. According to The Verge, Nvidia’s closed Tuesday with a market cap of $3.335 trillion, besting Microsoft’s $3.32 trillion.

The milestone is a testament to how important Nvidia has become, with the company’s GPUs powering AI models for companies across the industry.

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BBB Advises T-Mobile Should Stop Using ‘Price Lock’ Claim

The BBB’s National Advertising Division (NAD)has recommended T-Mobile stop using “Price Lock” in its advertising for 5G Home Internet or clarify what it means.

T-Mobile has made a big deal of its “Price Lock” guarantee. The only problem is, the company has recently raised prices, including on plans it had previously guaranteed it would never raise prices on. AT&T challenged T-Mobile’s advertising and the NAD agreed.

The NAD made note of how pervasive T-Mobile’s use of “Price Lock” is in the company’s advertising.

The challenged “Price Lock” claim appeared in print, online, and television advertising, including in a television commercial featuring actors Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Jason Momoa performing a humorous musical number promoting the beneficial features of T-Mobile’s internet service.

The NAD then recommended that the magenta carrier stop using the term, or clarify what it actually means.

In each of the challenged advertisements, the description of the “Price Lock” policy appears in text below the claim and states, with some variation, “Get your last month of service on us if we ever raise your internet rate.” NAD found that a disclosure that “Price Lock” does not lock the price but gives consumers one month of free service if certain conditions are met contradicts the main message of the “Price Lock” claim.

To avoid conveying a misleading message, NAD recommended that T-Mobile discontinue the “Price Lock” claim or modify it to explain, as part of the main claim, that “Price Lock” is a policy that promises customers a free month of home internet service if T-Mobile raises the monthly price and the consumer promptly notifies T-Mobile that they are cancelling their service.

T-Mobile disagreed with the decision but said it would abide by it.

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