From the data of 3 billion people leaked to the new design of the Google search engine, we cover you through the headline of this week’s technology update. August has been filled with news so far; stay with us to know more.
3 Billion People Data Leaked
Nearly three billion people had their personal data compromised in a massive cyber attack on National Public Data (NPD), a background checking service owned by Jerico Pictures. This breach, one of the largest in history, was revealed through a class-action lawsuit filed recently.
The lawsuit claims that sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, addresses, and more, was leaked in April and offered for sale on the Dark Web by a criminal gang for $3.5 million.
NPD has not confirmed the breach nor notified affected individuals, highlighting the importance of identity protection measures, as even non-publicly shared data can be exposed without individuals’ knowledge or consent.
Neuralink implants its brain chip on a second patient
Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-computer interface startup, has implanted its device, the N1 implant, in a second patient with a spinal cord injury.
This implant aims to allow paralysed individuals to control digital devices using their minds. Musk reported promising signals from the 400 electrodes in the new patient’s brain.
The company plans to complete ten such surgeries by year’s end. The first patient, Noland Arbaugh, received his implant in January and has since engaged in activities like video games and online chess. Despite initial technical setbacks, the project progresses, backed by $280 million in new venture capital funding following FDA approval for human trials.
China competes with Starlink
A Chinese state-owned enterprise, Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST), is set to launch the first batch of satellites for a mega constellation aimed at competing with SpaceX’s Starlink, according to the China Securities Journal.
This launch, taking place at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi, is part of SSST’s “Thousand Sails Constellation” plan, which seeks to deploy over 15,000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites by 2030. This initiative is seen as a significant step towards Beijing’s goal of establishing its own global internet network.
SSST aims to launch 108 satellites this year, 648 by 2025, and achieve global coverage by 2027. The move underscores China’s efforts to rival the Starlink network, which currently has about 5,500 satellites and is widely used by consumers, companies, and government agencies.
Judge rules: Google ‘is a monopolist’
A federal judge has ruled that Google violated U.S. antitrust laws by maintaining a monopoly in the search and advertising markets. Judge Amit Mehta found that Google broke the law by dominating “general search services” and “general search text advertising.” However, not all of the government’s claims were upheld.
The ruling focusses on Google’s responsibility, with future proceedings to decide possible remedies, such as changes to how Google operates or even breaking up its search business. Google plans to appeal, arguing that its success comes from having better products. This case is part of a larger effort to address tech industry monopolies. Take a look at this video for more in-depth insight.
OpenAI watermark ChatGPT text
OpenAI has developed a watermarking system for ChatGPT-generated text and a detection tool, but is divided on whether to release it or not. The watermarking works by subtly altering word predictions to create a detectable pattern without affecting text quality.
While this could help educators identify AI-generated content and is supported by a majority of people surveyed, there are concerns that it might deter users and could be outwitted by rephrasing.
OpenAI confirmed the watermarking system’s high accuracy and resistance to tampering, but it is also exploring alternative methods like embedding metadata, which is still in its early stages and would avoid false positives.
Elon Musk is suing OpenAI and Sam Altman
Elon Musk has filed a new lawsuit against the OpenAI company and its founders, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman. Musk alleges that they neglected OpenAI’s founding mission to develop AI for the benefit of humanity, accusing them of manipulating him into co-founding their nonprofit organisation by promising safety and transparency.
The lawsuit claims OpenAI’s assurances about its nonprofit structure were deceptive. Musk’s previous similar lawsuit was withdrawn in June. His lawyer, Marc Toberoff, described the new suit as more forceful, alleging OpenAI violated federal racketeering laws and highlighting concerns about its contract with Microsoft.
Google is redesigning its search engine
A year after declaring AI the future of search, Google is rolling out “AI Overviews” to users in the US and soon worldwide. These AI-generated summaries will appear at the top of many search results, marking a significant shift in how users interact with search.
Liz Reid, Google’s head of search, highlighted features like AI overviews, video search via Lens, and AI-powered trip and meal planning tools, all aimed at making search more efficient and user-friendly.
Google’s Gemini AI will enhance search by understanding various query formats and summarising web content accurately. While not every search will use AI, complex queries will benefit most from integrating Google’s Knowledge Graph with AI to deliver precise answers. This AI-driven approach aims to provide more relevant results and encourage deeper engagement with the web, despite potential challenges with factual accuracy.
Overall Summary
Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or simply curious, our weekly reviews highlight just how rapidly the industry is evolving. From new innovations to alarming breaches, such as the recent data of 3 billion people leaked, these updates reveal the important impact of technology on our lives. Stay tuned as we continue to track the latest trends, developments, and challenges shaping our digital future.
