Published March 4, 2025 10:00am EST close Heartless scammers are preying on peoples lost pet anguish Scammers are preying on society's most vulnerable members. Companies that handle massive amounts of user data are often the least careful with it. Last year, the National Public Data breachexposed 2.7 billion records. The companys entire business model was built around collecting data from public sources to create detailed user profiles for people in the U.S. and beyond. Now, another breach has surfaced, this time affecting DISA Global Solutions, an employee screening provider.The breach has exposed the data of more than 3.3 million individuals, raising serious concerns about how sensitive personal information is handled. Millions are now at risk of identity theft and fraud. Illustration of a hacker (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)What you need to knowDISA Global Solutions, a company specializing in employee screening services, recentlydisclosed a major data breach affecting over 3.3 million individuals. The Texas-based firm serves more than 55,000 businesses, including a third of Fortune 500 companies, offering background checks, drug and alcohol testing and compliance solutions.The breach began on Feb. 9, 2024, when an unauthorized party gained access to part of DISAs network. Shockingly, the intrusion went undetected for more than two months until the company discovered the "cyber incident" on April 22, 2024. Following the breach, DISA launched an internal investigation with help from third-party forensic experts to assess the damage.It's still unclear how the attack happened. DISA hasnt confirmed whether phishing, malware or another method was used. However, the fact that hackers had access for months without detection points to serious gaps in the companys monitoring systems. Adding to the concern, nearly a year passed before the public was notified, which raises serious questions about DISAs cybersecurity measures and response time. A woman working on her laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)What data got stolen?The hackers accessed a trove of sensitive personal information, though DISA has admitted it cannot definitively confirm the full scope of the stolen data. According to filings with the attorneys general of Maine andMassachusetts, the compromised information included Social Security numbers, financial account details (such as credit card numbers), drivers licenses and other government-issued identification documents.Given DISAs role in employee screening, the breach likely exposed data collected from background checks and drug tests, potentially including employment histories, criminal records and even health-related information. The notification to affected individuals more than 360,000 were Massachusetts residents and 15,198 from Maine underscored the breadth of the incident, affecting a staggering 3,332,750 people nationwide.We reached out toDISA but did not hear back before our deadline. A woman working on her desktop and laptop computers (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)5 ways you can stay safeIf youve undergone a background check or drug test through an employer or prospective employer, your data might be among the millions exposed in this breach. Here are five practical steps to protect yourself.1) Monitor your financial accounts: Regularly check your bank statements, credit card transactions and credit reports for suspicious activity. The breach exposed financial details, making unauthorized transactions a real risk. Consider setting up alerts for any unusual activity.2) Enroll in credit monitoring: DISA is offering affected individuals 12 months of free credit monitoring and identity restoration services through Experian. Take advantage of this by enrolling before the June 30 deadline to keep tabs on your credit and detect potential misuse early.3) Place a fraud alert or credit freeze: Contact one of the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion) to place a fraud alert on your file, which makes it harder for thieves to open accounts in your name. For stronger protection, consider a credit freeze, which restricts access to your credit report entirely.4) Be wary of phishing attempts and install strong antivirus: With personal details in the hands of cybercriminals, expect an uptick in targeted scams. Avoid clicking links or sharing information in unsolicited emails, texts or calls claiming to be from DISA or related entities.The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.5) Invest in data removal services:In light of these recurring data breaches, taking proactive steps to protect your personal information is crucial. While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time.Check out my top picks for data removal services here.Kurts key takeawayThe DISA Global Solutions data breach isnt just an apparent mistake. It seems to be a complete failure. A company that handles sensitive data for millions, including Fortune 500 clients, let hackers lurk in its systems for more than two months. Worse, it took 10 months to tell the public. Now, 3.3 million people are left dealing with the fallout while DISA offers a token year of credit monitoring. The real cost is years of potential identity theft and financial damage.How do you feel about companies that collect and sell data? Do you think they should be held accountable for breaches? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/Newsletter.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

A Paris court has denied bail to businessman Thomas Herdman, who faces charges over distributing encrypted phones that were used by criminals, stating that he is a flight risk and that justice needs to be carried out.The Canadian is charged with 22 offences, including laundering profits from drug trafficking by organised crime through the distribution of Sky ECC encrypted phones. He denies all charges.Belgian and Dutch police broke the encryption of Sky ECC, the worlds largest cryptophone network, and harvested millions of messages between June 2019 and March 2021, resulting in mass arrests of suspected drug gangs in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.French prosecutors have indicted more than 30 individuals who owned or worked for four companies that distributed Sky ECC phones and individual resellers. Sky Globals founder and CEO, Jean-Francois Eap, who continues to live and run businesses in Canada, is among those named on the French indictment.Herdman is understood to be the only individual charged in French custody.At a hearing in a Paris court on 27 February, Herdmans lawyer, Paul Sin-Chan told, the court his client had been cooperating with American authorities, including the Department of Justice (DoJ), the FBI and the US Marshals Service, before he was unexpectedly arrested by French police.Herdman had consistently demonstrated his willingness to work with law enforcement and should not be considered a flight risk, the court heard.Philippe Ohayon, also representing Herdman, said French police were wrong to extradite his client to France while he was working with US law enforcement investigating Sky Global in Spain.Thomas HerdmanThe court heard that the FBI ran a sting operation to trap Herdman. A Department of Justice report disclosed to the court claims that Herdman allegedly sold three Sky phones to undercover officers posing as drug traffickers.The prosecutor acknowledged both Herdmans cooperation and the fact that he had not directly communicated with anyone she said was mafia.Five judges will hear a case against 30 people accused of being involved in the distribution of encrypted mobile phones used by organised criminals at a special criminal court expected to take place in spring 2026 in Paris.The French appeal court judges rejected a petition by Herdman in December 2024 to expedite his case by hearing it in a lower court, after his lawyers argued that there was no evidence that Herman had any direct links to criminality.The defence team said their client was isolated and had lost hope after years of incarceration without trial.When Herdman addressed the court, his voice broke with emotion. He has been detained for nearly four years without trial.His daughter, Julie, who was in the courtroom for the hearing, cried as he spoke of missing four of her birthdays.Herdman asked the court to allow him to fight his case from outside prison. He assured the judges that he had a job and a place to live in France, which demonstrated his ties to the country.I am the breadwinner for my family, and this situation is weighing heavily on them, he said. He told the court that his mother suffered a stroke in December and now requires 24-hour care, further straining the familys finances.Read more about Sky ECCBelgian police raid 200 premises in drug operation linked to breach of encrypted phone network.Police crack worlds largest cryptophone network as criminals swap EncroChat for Sky ECC.Arrest warrants issued for Canadians behind Sky ECC cryptophone network used by organised crime.Cryptophone supplier Sky Global takes legal action over US government website seizures.Sky ECC provided free cryptophones to a Canadian police force.Ex-boxer fights US government over legality of Sky ECC cryptophone intercepts.Dutch lawyers raise human rights concerns over hacked cryptophone data.He rejected allegations that he was involved in illicit activities and told the court he did not own Sky Global and was not an employee of the company.Herdman was hired by LevUp Technologies Inc in 2017 after it won a contract to distribute Sky ECC phones. He described LevUp as a failed business that had never profited from criminal activity.According to my calculations, it only had 1% of Sky Globals customers, he said.His only known link to France, Herdman argued, was a computer server used by Sky Global, which supplied Sky ECC software to resellers, in a French datacentre that he had not even been aware of.He said France was bending its own pre-trial detention rules by holding him for so long without trial. I was extradited from Spain and came here willingly, Herdman said. I am not a flight risk.After a short deliberation, the judges ruled against granting Herdman bail.As officers prepared to take him back into custody, Herdman and his daughter exchanged words I love you before he was led away in handcuffs.Speaking outside the courtroom, Julie said she was baring up given the circumstances. I didnt know what to expect, she said, but my dad and his lawyers did think the bail would be denied, so they were prepared for it.He has 10 days to appeal the decision.Read more about Thomas Herdmans legal battle2010: Jean-Francois Eap founds Sky Global which develops and markets software for use in encrypted phones.2017: Grant Persall, the owner of LevUp Technologies, which had won a contract to distribute Sky ECC phones, hires Thomas Herdman.June 2019: Herdman is first contacted by US undercover agents posing as potential clients.9 March 2021: Belgian police raid 200 premises after infiltrating the encrypted messaging service Sky ECC.11 March 2021: France launches investigation into Herdman.12 March 2021: A grand jury in the Southern District of California indicts Thomas Herdman and Jean-Francois Eap for crimes allegedly committed through Canadian telecommunications company Sky Global. Herdman is alleged to have been involved in distributing telecommunications devices to retailers, which in turn sold a number of phones to individuals who used them for criminal purposes.7 April 2021: Herdman agrees to take part in a proffer session with the US government and US federal agents. He agrees to travel from France, where he is living, to Madrid in Spain for a series of meetings with US law enforcement officials.31 May 2021: A French judge signs a warrant for Herdmans arrest.3 June 2021: Herdman is arrested by Spanish police in Madrid where he has relocated at the request of US prosecutors. He is detained at the Prison de soto del Real-Madrid V.18 June 2021: Herdman is extradited from Madrid to Paris. He is detained in Fleury-Mrogis prison south of Paris.1 August 2024: A French prosecutor recommends Herdman is released on bail of 5m.5 August 2024: Herdman is refused bail.3 September 2024: Herdman is refused bail by the Paris Court of Appeal.5 November 2024: The court orders Herdman to appear at a special criminal court of five judges expected to take place in spring 2025. Out of 30 named individuals in the indictment, Herdman is the only person to have been detained and is expected to appear as the sole defendant.12 December 2024: The appeal court refuses Herdmans application to have his case heard more quickly in the correctional court and denies a bail application.28 February 2025: A Paris court rejects a further bail application from Herdman.

CW+ Premium Content/Computer WeeklyThank you for joining!Access your Pro+ Content below.4 March 2025Cutting the costs of AIIn this weeks Computer Weekly, we analyse how the emergence of the DeepSeek AI model shows how the cost of deploying artificial intelligence is coming down. Samsung put a UK tech startup at the heart of its latest flagship smartphone launch we talk to its founder. And we look at a transport industry project looking to optimise road haulage to reduce carbon emissions. Read the issue now.Access this CW+ Content for Free!Already a member? Login hereFeaturesin this issueDeepSeek-R1: Budgeting challenges for on-premise deploymentsbyCliff SaranThe availability of the DeepSeek-R1 large language model shows its possible to deploy artificial intelligence on modest hardware. But thats only half the storyInterview: Why Samsung put a UK startup centre stagebyCliff SaranThe launch of the flagship Galaxy S25 smartphone from Samsung showcased AI innovation from a company spun out of Oxford UniversityView Computer Weekly ArchivesNext IssueMore CW+ ContentView All

Samsung is springing into the early days of the spring season with savings on top products like TVs, phones, appliances, and more during the tech giant's Discover Samsung Spring Sale.This sale officially kicked off on March 3 and lasts through Sunday, March 9. You can shop Samsung's deals of the day, bundle offers, and weeklong offers on their top tech products. You'll find daily deals across mobile, home, appliances, monitors, and entertainment categories that you can exclusively shop at Samsung.From the latest Galaxy S25 smartphone lineup to washers, dryers, and TVs, now's your chance to snag savings on top flagship Samsung devices. We'll update this list daily with fresh deals, so check back before you check out.Shop the Samsung Discover Spring SaleThe best Discover Samsung Spring Sale deals you can shopGalaxy Z Flip6: Starting at $900 (save up to $820 with up to $700 trade-in credit or $200 without trade-in + double the storage on select colors) (Deal of the Day 3/4)Buy a Flip6 smartphone, get a select case for free (Deal of the Day 3/4)AutoRelease Smart 46dBA Dishwasher with StormWash in Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel: $549 (save $350)(Deal of the Day 3/4)30" Smart Electric Cooktop with Sync Elements in Stainless Steel: $979 (save $870) (Deal of the Day 3/4)43" Smart Monitor M7 (M70D) 4K UHD with Streaming TV, Speakers and USB-C: $400 (save $100) (Deal of the Day 3/4)Phones Kerry Wan/ZDNETGalaxy S25 Ultra: Starting at $1,100 with trade-in (save up to $1,020, with $900 trade-in credit, or $200 without trade-in + double the storage on select colors)Galaxy S25+: Starting at $870 with trade-in (save up to $800, with up to $700 trade-in credit or $100 without trade-in + double the storage on select colors)Galaxy Z Flip6: Starting at $1,300 with trade-in (save up to $1420, with up to $1,000 trade-in credits or $300 without trade-in + $300 IR and double the storage on select colors)Galaxy Z Fold6: Starting at $950 with trade-in (save up to $820, with up to $700 trade-in credit or $150 without trade-in + double the storage on select colors)Galaxy S25: Starting at $720 with trade-in (save up to $560, with up to $500 trade-in credit or $100 without trade-in + double the storage on select colors)Select Cases: Save up to $30Select Adapter/Battery/Charger: Save up to $60Laptops and tablets Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETGalaxy Tab S10 Ultra: Starting at $1,060 (save up to $1,000 with up to $800 instant trade-in credit or up to $400 instant trade-in credit with any tablet trade-in. Or, get up to $180 off without trade-in)Galaxy Book5 Pro: Starting at $1,150 (save up to $500 with up to $300 guaranteed instant trade-in credit with any PC trade-in or get up to $200 off before trade-in)Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: Starting at $1,450 (save up to $500 with up to $500 guaranteed instant trade-in credit or $200 guaranteed instant trade-in credit with any PC trade-in. Or up to $250 off without trade-in)Galaxy Book4 Ultra: Starting at $1,750 (save up to $650 with up to $500 instant trade-in credit or get $650 off without trade-inGalaxy Tab S9 FE/FE+: Starting at $1,900 (save up to $350 with instant trade-in credit or up to $200 off without trade-in)Smartwatches, smart rings, and earbuds Matthew Miller/ZDNETGalaxy Buds FE: Save up to $30 with trade-inGalaxy Buds3: Starting at $55 (save up to $125 with enhanced trade-in)Galaxy Buds3 Pro: Starting at $210 (save $40 without trade-in or up to $150 with enhanced trade-in)Galaxy Watch Ultra: Starting at $490 (save $160 without trade-in or up to $400 with enhanced trade-in)Galaxy Watch7: Starting at $100 (save up to $200 with enhanced trade-in)Galaxy Ring: Starting at $150 (save up to $250 with enhanced trade-in)Galaxy Watch6 Classic: Starting at $250 (save $150 without trade-in or up to $225 with enhanced trade-in)Audio & TV Jason Hiner/ZDNETFreestyle Projector 2nd Gen: $600 (save $200)Neo QLED 8K TVs (QN800D): Starting at $2,600 (save up to $2,000)Neo QLED 4K TVs (QN90D): Starting at $900 (save up to $2,000)The Frame TV: Starting at $550 (save up to $1,300) + select models get a free bezelCrystal UHD TVs: Starting at $2,500 (save up to $1,500, plus get free TV mounting)85" Class QLED 4K Q80D: Starting at $750 (save up to $1,600)85" Class QLED 4K QE1D: Starting at $530 (save up to $1,620)83" Class OLED S90D: Starting at $1,000 (save up to $2,100)98" Class Crystal UHD DU9000: Starting at $2,000 (save up to $500)75" Class Samsung Neo QLED 8K QN800D: Starting at $2,600 (save up to $2,000)85" Class Samsung Neo QLED 4K QN90D: Starting at $900 (save up to $6,000)85" Class Samsung Neo QLED 4K QNX1D: Starting at $850 (save up to $2,050)Q-series 3.1.2 ch. Dolby ATMOS Soundbar with / Q-Symphony / HW-Q600C: $350 (save $250)Memory and monitors June Wan/ZDNET990 EVO Plus Gen4 NVMe SSD 4TB: $270 (save $110)990 PRO w/ Heatsink PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD 4TB: $340 (save $105)Portable SSD T7 USB 3.2 1TB (Blue): $110 (save $45)PRO Plus Sonic the Hedgehog + Adapter microSDXC 512GB: $50 (save $19)27" Odyssey G65B QHD 240Hz 1ms HDR600 Gaming Hub 1000R Curved Gaming Monitor: $400 (save $300)43" Odyssey Neo G7 4K UHD 144Hz 1ms VESA Display HDR600 Smart Gaming Monitor: $600 (save $400)27" M70C Smart Monitor 4K UHD with Streaming TV USB-C and Ergonomic Stand: $350 (save $200) Kerry Wan/ZDNET Right now, you can save up to $250 off a newSamsung Galaxy Ringwith an eligible trade-in at Samsung. This could help you score one of the latest smart wearables, which sells for $400, for as low as $150. That's a great deal for Samsung'sflagship smart ring, which offers top features like sleep and stress tracking, fitness tracking, and more.The Samsung Galaxy Ring is ZDNET's pick forbest smart ring for Android users, and editor-in-chief Jason Hiner says Samsung delivers a smart ring that is outstanding at overall wellness tracking --"especially for delivering actionable insights about the data it collects to help you improve areas of your health that could use some attention," he says. Show more View now at Samsung Kerry Wan/ZDNET Every size of Samsung's popular The Frame TV is discounted during the Discover Samsung Spring Sale this week. So if you've been looking for a quality TV that won't ruin the aesthetics of your living room, look no further.The Frame is a QLED 4K TV, with an anti-reflection matte display to limit glare day and night. When you turn on Art Mode, the TV becomes a display for your personal art or photo collection, or for iconic pieces from theMetropolitan Museum of Art.Right now, Samsung has all display sizes discounted, with the 32-inch starting at $550 (save $50) and ending with the 85-inch for $3,000 (save $1,300). Plus, starting with the 43-inch model and above, you'll get a free bezel with your purchase.The Frame TV also includes a slim-fit wall mount, so you can hang the TV flush against the wall to look like, well, a picture frame. Samsung also aims to limit unsightly cables with just one cable needed, keeping eyes on the display itself. You can also pick a customizable bezel to make The Frame fit into your home decor. Show more View now at Samsung Allison Murray/ZDNET Current price: $600Original price: $800Samsung's Freestyle 2 combines a projector and a gaming hub all-in-one, and the Freestyle 2 builds on its predecessor with greater functionality, a better remote, and some literally game-changing features. In fact, what's distinctly unique about the Samsung Freestyle 2 Gaming Hub is that you don't need a physical console to play a game, but just the Freestyle 2, internet access, and game controller.When ZDNET's Allison Murray and her husband tested the Freestyle 2 in their home, they were impressed with the portable projector's power-packed value, and the ability to play video games from the ceiling -- or any room in the house with an open wall."My husband was able to playRocket Leaguewith a free membership to GeForce Now, and other free games likeFortnitewere also available. The overall gaming experience will depend on your Wi-Fi connection, but the graphics were crystal clear, and the Freestyle 2 loaded the games fast with virtually no glitches," Murray said.And the Freestyle 2's projecting capabilities weren't lackluster, either."The Samsung Freestyle 2 impressed me with both image quality, the ability to auto-focus -- whether it was projecting onto a slanted ceiling or a projector screen -- and the overall experience of setup and streaming," Murray wrote in her review. Show more View now at Samsung When will these deals expire? Samsung's Discover Spring sale will officially kick off on March 3, 2025 and will run through March 9, 2025. There are mystery deals, Deals of the Day, weeklong discounts, and more throughout the event, so keep an eye out on your favorite products this week.As always, deals are subject to sell out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We're sorry if you've missed out on these deals, but don't fret -- we're constantly finding new chances to score savings and sharing them with you atZDNET.com. Show more ZDNET Recommends

It's a bargain as long as you don't mind missing out on two huge features.

Apple Intelligence is notably absent from the company's latest entry-level iPad.NurPhoto via Getty ImagesApple released its new entry-level iPad today a device that notably lacks support for Apple Intelligence at a time when competitors like Amazon and Google are ramping up their AI capabilities across their products.The launch comes just days after Amazon unveiled Alexa Plus, its ambitious, improved AI assistant redesign that provides more natural conversations while performing complex tasks. Google, meanwhile, has spent the past year aggressively expanding its Gemini AI capabilities to devices at all price points, recently enhancing its abilities to understand and respond to images, text, and speech simultaneously.Apple Intelligence: New iPad SegmentationThe new 11th-generation iPad brings welcome improvements despite its lack of Apple Intelligence support, including an A16 chip that delivers up to 50% faster performance than its predecessor and double the starting storage at 128GB. The $349 price point also remains unchanged, preserving its position as Apples most affordable tablet. Yet, despite these enhancements, its processor remains unable to support Apple Intelligence features, creating a distinct differentiation within the company's own product lineup.What makes this decision particularly intriguing, is Apple's simultaneous announcement of a new iPad Air with the M3 chip a device that fully supports Apple Intelligence. This notable split within Apple's freshly updated tablet range establishes AI capabilities as a clear differentiator between product tiers a surprising approach given the prominence of AI in consumer tech.This hardware-driven segmentation is a stark contrast to Google's more inclusive approach. Google has designed Gemini to function on virtually all Android handsets running Android 10 with at least 2GB of RAM a lower barrier to entry that better democratizes access to AI across a range of price points.Apple Intelligence itself has followed a deliberate rollout timeline since its introduction in June 2024, with features gradually appearing beginning in October 2024. Industry analysis suggests that Apple's cautious deployment may continue, with reports indicating that significant Siri enhancements could arrive on extended timelines. This measured release strategy aligns with Apple's historical behavior where features are often refined and polished before release.Apple Intelligence: Contrasting AI PhilosophiesAmazon is betting big on improving its Alexa assistant to provide a better service across all ... [+] devices.SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesThe different approaches to AI implementation suggest fundamentally different corporate philosophies about how AI should evolve and reach consumers.Amazons dramatic pivot toward making AI the centerpiece of its strategy, for example, represents a radical transformation. After years of hardware experimentation that yielded mixed results, Amazon has invested heavily in cloud infrastructure and Large Language Models (LLMs), effectively acknowledging that the value proposition of Echo devices was never about the hardware itself but the intelligence powering them. By recently introducing Alexa Plus as a standalone subscription service, Amazon signals its belief that AI capabilities have intrinsic value that transcends the devices they run on essentially betting that consumers will pay for intelligence as a distinct offering.Google's strategy with Gemini takes a platform-centric approach that leverages the company's dominance in search and the Android ecosystem. By bringing sophisticated AI capabilities to devices across virtually all price points, Google positions AI not entirely as a premium feature (although paid tiers exist).Apple's more measured, tiered approach stands in contrast to both competitors. By restricting Apple Intelligence to devices with more capable processors, the company creates a clear product hierarchy. This cautious strategy may partly reflect technical constraints, but it could also mirror Apple's traditional focus on delivering polished user experiences rather than racing to market, while also looking to provide consumers with more affordable hardware options.The evolving AI landscape will likely reveal how these strategies pan out over the next few years. As AI offerings like Gemini, Alexa Plus, and Apple Intelligence increasingly becomes the competitive battleground for consumer technology, these strategic differences may ultimately determine which companies lead the next era of innovation and whether AI ultimately becomes a universal computing layer available to all users, or remains a premium feature for those willing to invest in higher-end devices.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 14: Joy Buolamwini speaks ontage during the NAACP Image Awards ... [+] Dinner at Hollywood Palladium on March 14, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images For NAACP)Getty Images For NAACPDo a Google search on the major risks of AI, and youre likely to come up with a lot of concern about deepfakes, and singularity events in which we fail to control the technology in fundamental ways.But theres already another very real threat for many people around the world, those who may face additional challenges due to being part of marginalized groups, where AI can feed bias and discrimination.Take a look at this CNBC article in which Rommun Chowdhury, Twitters former head of machine learning ethics, talked about the similarities between traditional redlining and new algorithmic operations.There would be a giant map on the wall of all the districts in Chicago, and they would draw red lines through all of the districts that were primarily African American, and not give them loans, Chowdhury points out. Fast forward a few decades later, and you are developing algorithms to determine the riskiness of different districts and individuals. And while you may not include the data point of someones race, it is implicitly picked up.Many others have also echoed these issues, and brought up questions about how we address them. In fact, we had this with prior waves of technology, too: for instance, in the age of the blockchain (as everyone learned about the new technology through the last decade or so) we had the unbanked and underbanked the difference, in that case, was that the blockchain was going to be the great equalizer, and bring people together. Its debatable whether this ever happened in any given society, but now, with AI, its different. Were concerned that if people are ceding decision-making power to automation, machines might drive people further apart.A Personal JourneyFew people understand the discrimination that can result with AI better than Joy Buolamwini, who was an early researcher on facial recognition technology. Where was she working? Buolamwini was working on her thesis at MITs media lab, which enjoys its anniversary this year!In any case, Buolamwini noticed that the algorithm did not recognize her darker skin, and so she put on a white mask in order to get the computer vision engine to see her face.Eventually Buolamwini started the Algorithmic Justice League, which is pretty much what it sounds like: the office looks at the impact of AI on people and societies, and how to keep algorithmic decisions more equitable. Shes written a book about the need to protect the excoded, people who dont get the correct recognition and acknowledgment from AI machines.You can be excoded when you are denied a loan based on algorithmic decision-making, Buolamwini explained in a press statement around her work. You can be excoded when your resume is automatically screened out. You can be excoded when a tenant screening algorithm denies you access to housing. These examples are real. No one is immune from being excoded, and those already marginalized are at greater risk.She also knows the unrealistic expectations that people may have about AI in general, saying this about our struggle to integrate artificial intelligence:(We) swap fallible human gatekeepers for machines that are also flawed, but assumed to be objective. Just like algorithms confronted with individuals who do not fit prior assumptions, the human gatekeeper stands in the way of opportunity, supposedly for the safety of those deemed credible enough or worthy to enter the building.Even the word bias itself was part of early machine learning analysis, with bias and variance assessments, and we are still grappling with this as a fundamental part of AI research.A Poem for its DayAt the Imagination in Action event at Davos in January, Buolamwini took the stage to recite an original work called Unstable Desire, which talks about these risks and how to protect the value of humanity in the AI age.Prompted to competition, she began. Where be the guardrails now? Threat in sight, will might make right? Hallucinations taken as prophecy, destabilized on a middling journey to outpace, to open-chase, to claim supremacy, to reign indefinitely, haste and paste control altering deletion, unstable desire remains undefeated. The fate of AI still uncompleted, responding with fear: responsible AI beware. Prophets do snare, and people still dare to believe our humanity is more than neural nets and transformations of collected muses, more than data and errata.Noting that humans are more than data and errata brings illumination to the reductive nature of seeing people only in a digital light.The poet continues:Are we not transcendent beings, more than transactional diffusions, bound in transient forms? Can this power be guided with care, augmenting the light alongside economic destitution? Temporary band aids cannot hold the wind, when the task ahead is to transform the atmosphere of innovation - the Android dreams entice, the nightmare schemes of vice, point of code, certified, human made.Its a strong reminder from someone with real experience in being a watchdog on AI impact that we need to keep thinking about all of the ramifications of our sentient AI colleagues as they evolve. There will be talk about parity between humans and machines, but there also has to be talk about parity between humans and other humans. All of this is going to be critical as we move forward.

Why it matters: It's not even been 24 hours since CEO Tim Cook teased that Apple was about to unveil new "Air" products this week, but Cupertino has already pulled back the curtain. Surprisingly, it's not a new faster MacBook Air as most expected, but a new iPad Air packing the M3 chip. There's also been an update to the Magic Keyboard and the base iPad. Apple claims the new M3 iPad Air is twice as fast as the older M1 model, and 3.5 times faster than the A14 Bionic version. Compared to the most recent iPad Air with the M2 chip, which launched less than a year ago, the M3 model is expected to be ~20% faster.As with the current iPad Air, this newer M3 tablet will come in both 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, all while keeping the same prices of $599 and $799, respectively. Storage capacities remain between 128GB and 1TB, and battery life also stays the same, as do the Space Gray, Starlight, Blue, and Purple color options.Beyond the SoC upgrade, there doesn't appear to be any other major changes. The 12MP front and rear cameras, Touch ID power button, USB-C port, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3 are all still there.That means the 60Hz display is unchanged. In my comparison between the 2024 iPad Air and a 2017 iPad Pro, which has a 120Hz refresh rate, I found that the noticeable difference between the two screens was the only element of the iPad Air I didn't like.Apple also announced a new Magic Keyboard accessory. Priced at $269 for the 11-inch iPad and $319 for the 13-inch model both $30 cheaper than the previous versions it comes with a new 14-key function row that allows for easy access to features like screen brightness and volume controls, as well as a larger trackpad. // Related StoriesThe keyboard is also lighter and thinner, though it does lack the backlighting and haptic feedback found in the iPad Pro Magic Keyboard.Apple has also updated the base iPad. The starting storage is being doubled to 128GB and it comes with the A16 chip instead of the A14 found in the previous model, which means there's no support for Apple Intelligence. The starting price remains the same at $349.Pre-orders for the iPad Air and updated iPad start today. They will begin arriving for customers and in Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers starting March 12.

Welcome to our new iPad Air launch live blog. Apple has announcedthe new iPad Air with M3 chip, along with an update to the entry-level iPad.The new iPad Air comes as somewhat of a surprise, arriving a day before Apple hosts a launch event where we expect to see the new MacBook Air announced.Recommended VideosIts also not an entirely new iPad, as Apple has taken the M2-powered iPad Air (2024) it launched last year and replaced the chip with the M3. Its even kept the colors the same. If you own a 2024 iPad Air with M2 chip, there really is no need to upgrade.RelatedPre-orders are already open, with the iPad Air available in stores from March 12. Were posting everything you need to know about the new iPad Air, and reactions to the latest Apple slate, right here.LiveLast updated March 04, 2025 8:25 AMThe liveblog has ended.No liveblog updates yet.Editors Recommendations

Acclaim, the publisher known for titles like Turok, Mortal Kombat, and WWF WrestleMania,has come back to life with a focus on indie titles and classic games from its (extensive) catalog. Its a move no one saw coming; after all, the last thing anyone expects is for a studio that closed in 2004 to return 21 years later. Can you say blackjack?With CEO Alex Josef at the head, Acclaim has the potential for a strong start due to the strength of its name alone. Its a relaunch, and revitalization of the Acclaim brand with a completely new team, Josef said, according to VentureBeat.Recommended VideosThe rebirth of the studio comes at a time when numerous other game studios are closing down, including the recent loss of the celebrated Monolith Studios. Acclaim plans to provide services like funding, marketing, and more to independent studios. Josef said, It will provide all of the resources needed to bring their games to the widest possible audiences.N/AThe newly-revived Acclaim has an advisory board made up of names as classic as the games themselves, including wrestler Jeff Jarrett, among other professional athletes and musicians.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe publisher first came onto the gaming scene in the late 80s with NES ttiles like Tiger-Heli andStar Voyager,before going on to publish a massive list of games including the hit puzzler Myst.In recent years, several of Acclaims games have reemerged in some way or another most to the Nintendo Switch Online catalog. Extreme-G andIggys Reckin Balls were early additions to the NSO N64 library, while Turok 2: Seeds of Evil andShadow Man came along later. Both of these latter franchises have new titles in development, too, with Blowfish Studios heading up a new Shadow Man game and Saber Interactive leading the charge with As for specifically what games Acclaim plans to bring back, that isnt clear. Josef said, Were taking a look at rebooting games. Some of the IP is not going to be available. The goal, according to Josef, is to publish three or four games per year until it gets up to speed.Editors Recommendations