Geoffrey Hinton, the Godfather of AI, Quits Google Over Safety Concerns

Renowned computer scientist and one of the pioneers of artificial intelligence (AI) Dr. Geoffrey Hinton recently resigned from Google, citing concerns about the potential dangers of AI. 

In an interview with the New York Times, Hinton said that he believes AI is “growing hazardous” and has the potential to “impact our world in a very negative way.”

We know that Hinton is not the only one who has raised concerns about the dangers of AI by far. Months ago, Elon Musk even said that AI can be more dangerous than nuclear weapons. 

The debate about the potential risks of AI, including the possibility that it could be used for malicious purposes, such as spreading misinformation or propaganda, have been going on for quite some time now. Add to that the concerns that AI could lead to mass unemployment, with machines becoming capable of performing tasks that are currently done by humans, have also increased in the previous months. 

“The existential risk of what happens when these things get more intelligent than us is very real,” Hinton said. “We need to be very careful about how we develop AI, and we need to make sure that it is used for good and not for evil.”

Computer scientist at the University of California, Berkeley and co-author of the book, “Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach,” Dr. Stuart Russell once said this about AI, “AI is the most powerful technology that humanity has ever created. It is important that we use this technology wisely.”

Russell believes that the best way to address the dangers of AI is to develop a set of safety guidelines that developers must adhere to. Ensuring that AI systems are transparent and accountable, and not designed to be used for harmful purposes are crucial steps to be taken moving forward. 

“We need to take the safety of AI seriously,” Russell said. “But we also need to be optimistic. AI has the potential to solve some of the world’s biggest problems. It is up to us to ensure that it is used for good.”

More about this news here: ‘Godfather of AI’ Geoffrey Hinton quits Google and warns over dangers of misinformation | Google | The Guardian

Antitrust arm is investigating Microsoft’s cloud service

The European Commission (EC) has launched an antitrust investigation into Microsoft’s Azure cloud service, which is focused on whether Microsoft is using its market power to unfairly hinder competitors.

The EC is concerned that Microsoft may be engaging in anti-competitive practices such as tying its cloud service to its other software products and restricting access to interoperability information, practices that could make it difficult for competitors to develop products that work well with Azure.

The EC’s investigation is just one of several antitrust probes that it has launched against major tech companies in recent years. These investigations are part of a broader effort by the EC to ensure that competition is fair and that consumers have access to a wide range of choices.

“The EC’s investigation into Microsoft’s Azure cloud service is a necessary step to ensure fair competition in the cloud computing market,” said Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition. “Microsoft is a dominant player in this market, and it is important to prevent it from using its market power to unfairly hinder competitors.”

Ms. Vestager is a former Danish politician who has served as the European Commissioner for Competition since 2014. She is a leading expert on antitrust law and has been praised for her tough stance against anti-competitive behavior.

The EC’s investigation into Microsoft’s Azure cloud service is still ongoing, and without any clear outcome yet. However, the investigation is a significant development and it is likely to have a major impact on the cloud computing market.

More about this news here: https://dig.watch/updates/microsoft-is-facing-antitrust-scrutiny-in-the-eu-over-its-azure-cloud-service?fbclid=IwAR24eX0Guu1b3ShoKF3-jUwOEVrZVjlN11mC8iQQ9A9pE1uTWC6EdXhJp1o

Google to Delete Inactive Accounts After 2 Years

Google has updated its policy for inactive accounts, and will now delete accounts that have not been used for at least two years. The policy change will take effect on December 1, 2023.

“We understand that people have many different Google accounts, and that some of them may not be used very often,” said Ruth Kricheli, Google’s VP for Product Management. “This policy change is designed to help us keep our systems secure and to free up space for active users.”

Under the new policy, Google will begin by deleting accounts that have never been used. After that, Google will delete accounts that have been used less than once a year. Google will send multiple notifications to users before their accounts are deleted.

“We want to give users plenty of time to access their data before it is deleted,” said Kricheli. “If you have an inactive account that you want to keep, please sign in at least once a year.”

The new policy change has been met with mixed reactions from users. Some users have expressed concern that they may lose important data if their accounts are deleted. Others have welcomed the change, saying that it will help to keep Google’s systems secure.

Google’s new inactive account policy is a step towards keeping its systems secure and freeing up space for active users. However, it is important for users to be aware of the policy change and to take steps to protect their data.

More about this news here: https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/16/23725438/google-gmail-deleting-inactive-accounts

Zillow Launches ChatGPT Plugin to Make Home Searches Easier

Zillow, the online real estate marketplace, has launched a new ChatGPT plugin that makes it easier for users to search for homes. 

The plugin, which is available for free, allows users to chat with a virtual assistant to find homes that meet their criteria.

Users simply need to enable it in ChatGPT and then start a conversation. 

For example, a user could say, “Show me homes with three bedrooms and two bathrooms in the San Francisco Bay Area that are under $1 million.” ChatGPT will then search Zillow’s database and return a list of homes that meet the user’s criteria.

The Zillow ChatGPT plugin is a valuable tool that makes the home search process easier and more efficient.

Users can then browse through the results and click on any home that interests them to learn more. It also provides information about each home, such as the square footage, number of bathrooms, and school district.

“We’re excited to launch the Zillow ChatGPT plugin,” said Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff. “This new tool makes it easier than ever for people to find their dream home.”

The Zillow ChatGPT plugin is available now for both iOS and Android devices.

More about this news here: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zillow-builds-chatgpt-plugin-for-real-estate-searches-301813951.html

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