When we started with digital assistants, Microsoft potentially had the inside track. Its Cortana effort was named after the Halo AI character, which gave it far more potential than the others.Apple had a decent shot, too. It marketed Siri very well but didnt seem to want to fund its advancement, while Amazon just shipped product after product that used Alexa.Google was no slouch either, pivoting hard to its Gemini product (which I use a lot) for Pixel smartphones.What I find fascinating is that Panos Panay, the guy who pretty much made the Microsoft Surface line a thing and drove my favorite phone, the Surface Duo, is now at Amazon and apparently doing there what should have happened at Microsoft with Cortana.Lets discuss how we got here, what to expect, and why this move from Amazon will be a game-changer. Well close with my Product of the Week: AMDs new RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards.Microsofts Cortana FailureMicrosoft was one of the first to introduce a believable AI assistant. What made it believable was that it was named after a character in the Halo video game. To make it work, Microsoft needed to advance this technology and make it look like it did in the game.You might have thought this was a stretch, but an engineer working on his own created exactly what this would have looked like, and it worked. Imagine how this would have set the stage and provided a huge competitive advantage for the company once generative AI was driving into the market years later. It would have been the centerpiece of any tech-forward home, particularly for those of us who got hooked on Halo back in the day.Then, instead of becoming the digital assistant that would rule them all, Microsoft did what it so often does these days: it underfunded and under-executed the effort with virtually no help from marketing and eventually pulled the plug on it years before generative AI became a thing.Apples Siri MisstepApple also had a shot at this race with Siri, which was, compared to Microsoft, far better marketed and executed even though, like Cortana, it really wasnt AI so much as a text-to-speech, speech-to-text interface for the web. Apple had more people using Siri than any of the alternatives, but the promise of Siri that the ads tended to convey was well short of Siris reality. Even today, when Im on a panel discussing AI, someone almost always points to Siri and argues that it isnt AI because it sets such a bad example.Apple had the opportunity as part of its now failed partnership with IBM (who saw that coming?) to have Siri be the front-end for IBMs watsonx, which would have made Siri into the first digital assistant that was a true AI. But that partnership was virtually dead on arrival, largely because Apple just doesnt work well with partners. While IBM has a far better partnership skill set, even IBM couldnt save the thing.Siri remains in use though that may change now that Apple can spell AI but its still the disappointment it has always been.Alexa SurpriseAmazon has lost billions on Alexa. However, arguing that Alexa is a failure is unfounded mainly because many users order products from Amazon using Alexa. Unlike the others, Amazon saw the potential to create a front end for the retail business and use the digital assistant to remind and help people to order stuff and become a trusted part of their day.I know we often start our day asking Alexa about the weather and end the day asking Alexa about actors in shows (for those not using Amazon X-Ray, which is a truly handy feature available with Amazon streaming content) or getting color on the limited information were watching on TV.Even though, just like Cortana was, and Siri is, Alexa is more of a web front end than true AI and has proven far more useful. The only thing we use almost as much is Googles digital assistant, which, for some reason, doesnt have a cute name.What will change in the coming weeks is that Alexa moves to generative AI. Granted, that move was promised in 2023, but this turned out to be more difficult than they thought. Still, it is better to do something well than quickly and while this feature will only be for Prime members, so it is not truly free, the result should be a huge improvement in this technology class.The generative AI assistant will be called Alexa+. It will work on most Alexa devices, a smartphone app, and the Amazon website. So, although Amazon wasnt first, didnt have a game to connect to, and was more of a retailer than a tech company, it out-executed Apple, Google, and Microsoft.Google is arguably a distant second with its planned implementation in Pixel phones, which may be a problem for me because I carry a Pixel phone, and I might prefer Alexa+.Wrapping Up: Alexa+If you arent working with AI, you should start because youll need that skill set to do many things in the second half of this decade. AI can handle complex questions with detailed answers, generate content, offer nuanced advice, and even assist with productivity.Alexa+ will let up jump to scenes in movies you own or rent on Amazons video service, ask for unique playlists on Amazon Music, and get far better answers than just a reading of a web page that Alexa would have previously defaulted to. Youll be able to use natural language rather than the Alexa commands you need to learn, and youll be able to give it complex, multi-step directions based on historical knowledge. For example, you can ask it to book the same place for your anniversary that you booked last year, purchase tickets at specified prices, or even recommend and contact repair services for something broken.With the Rink security cameras and this is huge you could ask Alexa+ to show you any images of people who have been frequenting your property, how often your kids are actually walking the dog, or to figure out where your cat is (assuming a camera has or can see it).There will likely be some quality problems because AI developers arent focusing enough on quality yet, which I think is a huge mistake. So youll want to be careful about taking everything Alexa+ says as fact. There will likely be some issues with third-party applications until they become fully integrated, but this is huge, and I think it will change how we look at digital assistants going forward.Panos Panay wasnt able to execute at Microsoft, though I know he tried so its great to see Amazon give him what he needed to perform there. Maybe a future Amazon device will be able to do what that Cortana prototype did and give Alexa+ a face. Well see.AMD Radeon RX 9000 Series Graphics CardsAMD has put a lot of effort into creating a set of graphics cards that should be a huge value when they appear on the market on March 6. The RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, priced at $549 and $599, will be available through partners such as Acer, Asus, ASRock, Gigabyte, PowerColor, Sapphire, XFX, and Yeston.I have both of these cards in the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT and while I cant yet talk about what Im seeing, I will say Im impressed with them.This is the first AI graphics card set from AMD to really push generative AI performance. It promises AI performance improvements over prior generations of between 12% and a whopping 70%, depending on the model, which makes a massive difference if you are waiting for the result of some AI analysis.Gaming isnt slacking either, with support for up to 80 FPS at 8K resolutions using accelerated post-processing effects.XFX Radeon RX 9000 Series GPU A powerful gaming GPU with an aggressive design, triple-fan cooling, and customizable RGB lighting.My primary PC is an AMD desktop machine I built a year ago. While these cards will work fine with Intel processors, there is increased synergy with AMD processors, making them even better for those of us running AMD desktops.ASRock Taichi Radeon RX 9000 Series GPU A high-performance graphics card with a striking industrial design and RGB lighting.AMD, Intel, and Nvidia do impressive upscaling to get higher frame rates at extreme resolutions. AMDs acceleration on these cards is around 3x base levels, which is pretty remarkable.At launch, over 30 of the top games will be supported with these cards (meaning they can use most of these cards unique capabilities). Before the end of the year, this number is expected to jump to over 75 current titles.Sapphire Radeon RX 9000 Series GPU A sleek, triple-fan cooling solution designed for efficient thermal performance and quiet operation.These AI-optimized GPUs enhance visuals, boost performance, and push generative AI capabilities forward, making the Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT my Product of the Week.The Radeon RX 9000 Series images featured in this article are courtesy of AMD.

Apple on Monday announced a $500 billion investment in the United States over the next four years, a commitment that includes the development of a state-of-the-art data center in Houston.This facility will be crucial in producing servers for Apple Intelligence, the companys AI-driven system, to enhance user productivity and creativity.Apples decision to establish such a critical infrastructure in Texas underscores the states growing technological prominence and highlights the factors that make it a prime destination for significant tech investments.Texas Business Climate Attracts Tech GiantsThanks to its business-friendly environment, economic incentives, and robust infrastructure, Texas has long been a magnet for technology companies.One of the states most significant advantages is its favorable tax policies. Texas offers various incentives for businesses, including exemptions on sales and use taxes for equipment and electricity used in data centers. This attribute significantly lowers operational costs, making it an attractive location for companies looking to expand their footprint.Texas has a long history of tech investment dating back to the mid-1980s when Compaq Computer Corporation was founded. Compaq built the majority of its PCs and servers in Houston in elaborate manufacturing facilities before outsourcing production to Taiwan, courtesy of the lower costs offered by the likes of Foxconn, Quanta, and other ODMs (original design manufacturers).The Lone Star state also has no personal income tax, which can be a draw for highly skilled workers looking to relocate.Texas Energy Edge Powers AI Data CentersThis is crucial: another key reason for Apples choice is Texas energy infrastructure. Data centers require vast amounts of electricity to power and cool servers. Texas boasts some of the most affordable energy rates in the country, with industrial rates as low as $0.06 per kilowatt-hour.This cost-effectiveness, combined with the states investments in renewable energy sources like wind and solar, ensures a reliable and sustainable power supply. The abundance of energy makes Texas an ideal location for high-performance computing and AI-driven operations that demand constant uptime. In addition to economic benefits, Texas offers a well-developed infrastructure that supports high-speed connectivity and efficient logistics. Major cities like Dallas and Houston are home to extensive fiber-optic networks, ensuring optimal performance for data centers. Houston, in particular, has developed into a growing tech hub with a concentration of enterprise IT services and data management firms.The states central location also makes it a strategic distribution point for national and global technology operations, reducing latency for cloud computing services.Texas Talent Fuels Tech ExpansionUnlike traditional manufacturing facilities, AI data centers require highly experienced workers. For that reason, Texas workforce is another significant factor in Apples decision. The state is home to top-tier universities, such as the University of Texas at Austin, which produces thousands of engineering and computer science graduates annually.This steady talent pipeline provides tech companies with the skilled professionals to drive innovation and maintain operations. The concentration of tech talent in Austin, often called Silicon Hills, has already attracted major players like Tesla, Dell, and Oracle, further strengthening the regions appeal.Apples investment will also bring substantial job creation, benefiting the local economy and the broader U.S. workforce. The Houston facility is expected to create thousands of jobs, spanning high-tech engineering, manufacturing, and facility operations.While data centers typically require large workforces during construction, the long-term employment opportunities they create such as IT management and cybersecurity roles contribute to developing a highly specialized workforce. This influx of employment and innovation will likely spur additional economic activity, benefiting local businesses and service providers.Apple Expansion Bolsters U.S. Tech IndependenceBeyond job creation, Apples investment aligns with broader national objectives to strengthen domestic manufacturing and technology independence. By onshoring the production of AI servers, Apple reduces its reliance on overseas supply chains and mitigates risks associated with global disruptions.This move also responds to recent policy shifts, including tariffs on imported goods, which have incentivized companies to reevaluate their manufacturing and logistics strategies. Apples decision to invest heavily in Texas reflects the states growing reputation as a premier destination for tech giants. With its combination of low energy costs, business incentives, skilled workforce, and robust infrastructure, Texas offers an ideal environment for data centers and AI-driven operations.As Apple embarks on this ambitious expansion, it reinforces its commitment to U.S. manufacturing and helps solidify Texas position as a leader in the tech industry. This investment is expected to drive further innovation and economic growth, cementing Texas status as a top choice for high-tech enterprises looking to scale their operations in the years ahead.Reality Check on Apples $500B InvestmentApples announcement of a $500 billion investment in the U.S., including data centers in Texas, may seem like a massive new commitment. However, it represents a cumulative figure that spans multiple years.Apple has consistently invested billions annually in U.S. infrastructure, manufacturing, and data centers. For example, in 2018, the company pledged to invest $350 billion over five years, and in 2021, it announced an additional $430 billion investment plan.The latest $500 billion figure likely includes previous commitments, ongoing expansions, and routine capital expenditures. While Apples continued investment in Texas is significant, the headline number can be misleading, as it doesnt necessarily indicate a sudden increase in spending. Instead, it reflects Apples long-term growth strategy and ongoing infrastructure projects.Nevertheless, while the focus on Texas aligns with Apples broader efforts to expand its data center footprint, the new investment scale is somewhat less dramatic than it appears.

Edtech Company Chegg Sues Google Over AI OverviewsBy John P. Mello Jr.February 26, 2025 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTQuality Leads That Turn Into DealsFull-service marketing programs from TechNewsWorld deliver sales-ready leads. Segment by geography, industry, company size, job title, and more. Get Started Now. An education technology company is taking Alphabet and Google to court over AI overviews displayed with search results.The company, Chegg, of Santa Clara, Calif., announced Monday that it is filing the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, alleging Google unfairly exercises its monopoly power within search and other anti-competitive conduct to muscle out companies like Chegg.In a press release announcing its 2024 fourth-quarter earnings, Chegg reported total net revenue of US$143 million, a 24% year-over-year decline. CEO Nathan Schultz stated in the release that, in addition to the lawsuit, the company was exploring a range of alternatives to maximize shareholder value, including being acquired, undertaking a go-private transaction, or remaining as a public standalone company.These two actions are connected, as we would not need to review strategic alternatives if Google hadnt launched AI Overviews, or AIO, retaining traffic that historically had come to Chegg, materially impacting our acquisitions, revenue, and employees, he said.Chegg has a superior product for education, as evident by our brand awareness, engagement, and retention, he continued. Unfortunately, traffic is being blocked from ever coming to Chegg because of Googles AIO and their use of Cheggs content to keep visitors on their own platform.In its court filing, Chegg argues that Google forces companies to supply proprietary content in order to be included in Googles search function, unfairly exercises its monopoly power within search, and reaps benefits from Cheggs content without paying for it.In a statement provided to TechNewsWorld by Google spokesperson Jos Castaeda, the company countered: With AI Overviews, people find Search more helpful and use it more, creating new opportunities for content to be discovered. Every day, Google sends billions of clicks to sites across the web, and AI Overviews send traffic to a greater diversity of sites. We will defend against these meritless claims.AI Overviews Threaten Content CreatorsBen James, founder of 404, Bittensor Subnet 17, an online 3D content creation company, explained that Googles AI-generated overviews act as a shortcut that provides users with essentially a summary without requiring that they visit the original source of information. This, in turn, affects the traffic to the publishers websites, which would then impact their ad revenue and subscription models, he told TechNewsWorld.If users are no longer required to visit the site of the source info or read full articles, publishers may eventually lose incentives to produce in-depth, high-quality pieces, he said.These overviews can satisfy immediate information needs, reducing the incentive to engage with more detailed and investigative reporting, added Mark N. Vena, president and principal analyst at SmartTech Research in Las Vegas.As a result, he told TechNewsWorld, publishers could see a decline in website traffic and ad revenue, weakening their financial viability. This shift ultimately undermines the competitive landscape for original content, as quality journalism struggles to compete with readily available, AI-curated summaries.AI Overviews could have a devastating effect on original content providers, including news organizations, observed Dan Kennedy, a professor of journalism at Northeastern University, in Boston.The entire news ecosystem of the web has been built on driving traffic to media sites in order to show users advertising and entice them to subscribe, he told TechNewsWorld. Now that vitally important link between the search engine and the news organization is being broken.Since Google remains the default starting point for most searches, its use of AI is likely to be far more harmful than, say, ChatGPT, he added.Doom Loop for News IndustrySearch overviews could also create a less-than-virtuous cycle for many websites. It could create a doom loop, JD Harriman, a partner with the Foundation Law Group, in Burbank, Calif., told TechNewsWorld.When a company has less traffic, and therefore less revenue, overhead must be cut, which could mean reducing content, staff, etcetera, which makes the site less interesting, which means even less traffic, and more cuts creating a vicious circle, he told TechNewsWorld. Vena added that without sufficient financial support, news organizations may cut back on investigative journalism and fact-checking, resulting in a less informed public.This shift could also contribute to a homogenized media landscape where sensationalism or clickbait content predominates over rigorous, original reporting, he said. Ultimately, the decline in original content undermines accountability, transparency, and the overall health of the democratic discourse.The erosion of demand for original content will lead directly to less production of original content, which will harm all of us including the AI chatbots that scrape it for its own profit-driven purposes, Kennedy noted.There will be some challenges to Chegg winning its case against Google.Legally, this appears like it will be a tough battle. While content publishers have a valid argument that Google is profiting from their work without fair compensation, courts have historically been slow to impose strict limitations on tech giants and time here is critical, Martin Balaam, CEO and founder of Pimberly, a global product information management platform, told TechNewsWorld.That said, he continued, regulatory scrutiny around AI and digital monopolies is increasing, so this case could potentially set quite an important precedent.Fair Use or Abuse?Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst at the Enderle Group, an advisory services firm in Bend, Ore., pointed out that summarizing something generally falls within fair use under the Copyright Act of 1986. It allows for the fair use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.What Google did could be argued is part of the research exclusion, he told TechNewsWorld.Its a bit of a long shot, especially since its dire condition is more a byproduct of ChatGPTs existence, added Greg Sterling, co-founder of Near Media, a market research firm in San Francisco.However, he told TechNewsWorld, the claims probably wont be dismissed immediately.If Chegg has any success, others will follow suit, so to speak, he said. But the problem is that no individual publisher is entitled to traffic, and Google is entitled to have some control over its search results. In Europe, however, this action would find greater sympathy and be seen as having merit.Vena maintained that the lawsuit faces significant legal uncertainties. Courts have not yet clearly defined the balance between AI-generated content and the protection of original journalism, he explained. Its success will depend on nuanced interpretations of copyright law, fair use, and the demonstrated economic impact on publishers factors that can vary widely by jurisdiction.Consequently, he added, while the plaintiffs raise legitimate concerns, predicting a favorable outcome remains highly speculative at this stage.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.More by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Tech Law

Apples toned-down announcement of the iPhone 16e marks a strategic shift in how the company approaches product differentiation within its lineup.Unlike the flagship iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models, which will undoubtedly receive a major marketing push later in the year, the 16e appears to be a more pragmatic addition aimed at a specific audience rather than a mass-market spectacle.Pragmatism-Infused Marketing StrategyApple has positioned the iPhone 16e as a lower-cost alternative that retains core iPhone capabilities without the premium features of the higher-end models. This approach aligns with Apples ongoing segmenting user base strategy: high-end users gravitate toward Pro models.At the same time, cost-conscious buyers still get a new option without the need for deep discounts on previous-generation devices.Given the growing demand for mid-range devices, particularly in emerging markets, the iPhone 16e could be Apples answer to a more competitive price segment.The new A18-powered iPhone 16e strategically exposes Apple Intelligence, the companys highly touted AI capability, to entry-level iPhone users.How the iPhone 16e Online Launch FlowedThe prerecorded iPhone 16e unveiling film follows Apples traditional style, making a mid-cycle model feel noteworthy. Still, it was shorter than a typical major Apple smartphone launch, less than 13 minutes.Of course, Apple launched the iPhone 16e via a traditional news release and a keynote-style video. Like a typical WWDC or a September iPhone event, Tim Cook and other Apple staff introduce the device in an organized manner in the video.As a technology analyst who has attended these events, besides getting some hands-on time with anything the company announced at the event, the in-person format has always been less convenient for me, given the challenges of taking notes and writing on a laptop in a cramped seat inside the Steve Jobs Theater inside Apples spaceship headquarters.Not surprisingly, the iPhone 16e videos pacing, transitions, and scripting matched Apples signature presentation style.Apple usually divides its marketing into event presentations and commercials. The former involves Tim Cook and other executives revealing new devices on stage, while the latter has high-production commercial videos demoing products. Apples iPhone 16e video combined both methods. The short product video featured key Apple team members explaining the device on stage at Apple Park, making it feel more like a keynote than an ad. Its a small detail but raises questions regarding Apples product announcement strategy.In fairness to Apple, these short videos do allow it to recreate its keynotes and make the announcement much more substantial than a dry press release.In addition, this style keeps viewers interested longer. Apples method encourages viewers to watch the entire presentation, like a keynote, despite the flood of short, catchy videos on social media.Finally, Apple may be experimenting with a new way to debut mid-cycle products, employing structured videos for lesser releases and full-scale events for major ones.This iPhone 16e launch might be a trial balloon for Apple to use mini-keynotes for products that dont need a full-blown in-person event. Upcoming new iPads, AirPods, and Macs may be announced this way.Testing What Low-End iPhone Consumers Will AcceptIntroducing a new entry-level smartphone has always been a test of what customers are willing to accept from a minimal feature standpoint and wont cannibalize the higher-priced iPhone 16 and 16 Pro.At the product level, Apple may face considerable user backlash over the iPhone 16es limited MagSafe functionality and its reliance on an in-house modem, particularly from those expecting a more uniform experience across the iPhone lineup.MagSafe has become a key ecosystem feature, enabling fast wireless charging and accessory compatibility. By restricting its capabilities in the 16e, Apple risks alienating users who rely on MagSafe for accessories like wallets, battery packs, and car mounts.The more significant challenge, however, could stem from Apples first-generation in-house modem. This feature decision is a massive test for Apple. If performance particularly in areas like signal strength, latency, and power efficiency falls short of Qualcomms established solutions, early adopters might express frustration.Given Apples previous modem struggles and the complexity of network optimization, reliability concerns could deter some buyers.Apples plan to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm depends in part on the performance of the companys in-house developed 16es modem. If the modem performs well, the transition away from Qualcomm will be smooth; if not, Apple may have to continue relying on Qualcomm for longer than anticipated.Apples Long-Term iPhone StrategyApple is keenly aware that a budget-friendly iPhone can eat into sales of its more expensive models. By keeping the 16e announcement low-key, Apple ensures it does not overshadow the upcoming flagship models, maintaining the perception of exclusivity around the Pro line.The smartphone industry is seeing extended upgrade cycles, with consumers holding onto their devices longer. A subdued launch allows Apple to introduce the 16e without pressuring existing customers to upgrade immediately while still appealing to new buyers looking for an affordable entry point into the iPhone ecosystem.Ultimately, Apples understated approach suggests that the 16e is a calculated addition rather than a breakthrough product meant to quietly expand market reach without disrupting its premium branding.It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

While components in most desktop computers can be easily well, relatively easily replaced, laptops tend to be far more difficult to upgrade or replace. Intel is pushing a modular concept that could make upgrading your laptop less expensive than buying a new one and substantially reduce e-waste.A few years ago, Dell introduced Concept Luna, a laptop design featuring modular components that could be upgraded through a robotic upgrade station at a retailer. Similar to a vending machine, the system allowed a robot to handle the upgrade process.Lets talk about modular computers that started with the IBM PCjr, moved to an IBM modular computer concept (I was approached to be CEO for one of the potential spin-off companies), the Dell effort, and finally, the Intel concept this week.Well close with my Product of the Week, a brand-new laptop that could be ideal for an executive or someone interested in a lot of performance in a small, quiet form factor.A Brief History of Modular PCsThe IBM PCjr was a revolutionary desktop design based on the ability to update the product easily. Updated components were packaged kind of like game cartridges in that you buy the basic system and then upgrade it by purchasing and adding components that were covered in plastic and could be plugged into the base unit.It was an amazing design until the folks doing the more expensive IBM PC figured out it was so much better and cheaper that folks would likely prefer it over IBMs more expensive, non-modular products. So, they crippled the PCjr by removing a lot of what would have made it attractive for business (the PCjr was positioned as a consumer PC). While making it unattractive for business, they also made it unappealing for the rest of us, so the product failed.Now, compare that approach to what Steve Jobs did with the iPod. He realized customers would likely prefer a phone with the iPods functionality. Instead of crippling the iPhone to protect the iPod, he leaned into the trend and ended up nearly owning the entire smartphone segment. That strategic move is largely why Apple is one of the most valuable companies in the world.If IBM had done the same with the PCjr, it would have protected its leadership position in PCs and might have been in that business today.The next modular effort was the Archistrat 4s server from a company staffed with ex-IBM people called the Panda Project. It used a passive backplane, allowing components to be easily plugged in or removed to add accessories. The entire system was housed in a vault-like case made of heavy metal, lockable for security, and designed to be bolted to the floor so offices without server rooms could keep it in open areas without worrying about theft.That company failed because the executives had inferior financial skills and wasted a lot of money on parties, jets, and other things not related to the business. The next attempt was the IBM MetaPad, a modular computer with a core computing unit about the size of a cigarette pack, containing everything except a battery, keyboard, or display. It could be placed in a laptop case or docked on a desktop.A company called Antelope Technologies pursued a similar concept, aiming to create a market for it. However, due to its unique design and low initial production volume, it was relatively expensive, as were the docks that could have been integrated into cars, hospitals, hotel rooms, or even airplane seats, providing full PC functionality and an easy upgrade path for the core technology.The problem was that the core module wasnt very powerful due to thermal and cost constraints, and docks for it never became widely available in the places they were envisioned. As a result, it never reached the necessary volume to drive down costs. Performance was also an issue mobile PC technology at the time wasnt efficient enough to make the concept viable in a laptop form. By then, IBM had begun shifting away from the PC market and was unwilling to throw money at a project like this. So, it died.More recently, Dell developed a green project, Concept Luna, that used a robotic upgrade machine that could be placed at locations like Best Buy so users could quickly and cheaply upgrade, modify, or personalize their laptop. This was one of the most well-thought-out concepts Ive ever seen. The benefits started with a massive potential for reduced e-waste, lower lifetime PC ownership costs, and potentially more loyal customers. Sadly, Dell decided not to bring it to market.And that brings us to Intels New Modular Laptop and Desktop VisionLike Dells Concept Luna, Intels modular effort appears primarily focused on reducing e-waste. It would have similar advantages to other earlier modular concepts by reducing life cycle costs, increasing design innovation by making it far less expensive to develop new design concepts, allowing the parts of a laptop that dont wear out to remain in service, and enabling greater customization in the market.This approach could lower upgrade costs for Intel and other component manufacturers while driving post-sale demand for CPUs and GPUs. It would also make it far easier for users to repair their laptops and provide relatively low-cost upgrades for almost every internal component.On the desktop side, Intel appears to be revisiting the Panda Project concept of a passive backplane, making it easier to upgrade motherboard components. Even though desktop PCs are more straightforward to upgrade, swapping out the motherboard is a PITA, and I often just donate my old desktop and start with a new case when I get a new motherboard. With Intels design, instead of unscrewing the motherboard and hoping the new one fits, users could simply replace one or more plug-in cards, similar to the PCjr concept decades ago. Water-cooled implementations might still be tricky, but you could get around that by using quick disconnects and CPU modules that would hook up to the cases water-cooling solution.This approach could enable users to swap out a PCs CPU as easily as a GPU, enhancing chip-level competition and expanding the total addressable market (TAM) for modular components like CPUs, chipsets, and modems.In short, it would increase revenue in the market, allow for creativity in desktop and laptop PC design, and significantly reduce e-waste.Wrapping UpWhats kind of ironic is that back in Andy Groves day, Pat Gelsinger led an effort to increase PC innovation, making me think this effort might have been connected to him somehow. In any case, it showcases that Intel isnt done innovating and is still working hard to change the future of the PC. I genuinely hope it can bring this concept to market.HP EliteBook G1a 14-inch NotebookLast week, I got a new laptop to play with, the HP EliteBook X G1a 14-inch. The one they sent me didnt have the OLED display that I would have favored, but the standard display isnt bad, and its a lot easier on the battery since the OLED screen reduces battery life by around two hours.This laptop is one of the first to use HPs Poly Camera Pro software, which significantly improves the video conferencing experience with more natural backgrounds and a host of features that can make you look better in remote meetings.It is a full Copilot+ machine based on AMDs latest processor and graphics technology, and it performs like a champ. AMD has really stepped it up with mobile computers this year, and unlike older AMD designs which tended to lag Intel, this effort is very competitive.The EliteBook X G1a starts at just under $2,200 and can go up to nearly $2,800 if you want a touch OLED display, more storage, and more memory. All of the display options are 400 nits, which is fine, but they will likely wash out in direct sunlight although HP does a nice job with antiglare technology, so it should work well enough outside in a pinch.The HP EliteBook X G1a 14-inch Notebook (Image Credit: HP)Without the OLED screen, it will get up to 17 hours of battery life watching movies, but less if you do something CPU- or GPU-intensive. With an NPU and 55 TOPS, this is one of the better AI PC configurations, and HP has gone to a lot of trouble to make it really quiet.The laptop uses an impressive amount of recycled material, though youd never know it from its premium design. While not a hardened PC, it has passed some military-specified tests, suggesting it is more robust than most in its class. As with most HP PCs, it includes strong security features, such as blurting the screen if it detects someone looking over your shoulder.Beyond its durability and security features, this is also one of the first AI PCs to fully embrace AI capabilities, including an AI companion for workflow assistance, an AI-enhanced webcam, rapid document and chart analysis, and an AI-powered service and support experiencesomething likely to become more common.Designed for tech experts like software developers and IT executives, the laptop delivers strong performance that both groups will appreciate. While not built for gaming or workstation-level tasks, it remains a high-performing PC that competes well in its category.Overall, the HP EliteBook G1a 14-inch is a pretty awesome laptop and my Product of the Week.

Robotaxi services are spreading broadly. While theyve clearly had issues in San Francisco as have I, driving in San Francisco those challenges are improving. Now, both Uber and Lyft appear to be taking steps toward replacing their ride-share drivers with AI.We may be on the verge of one of the first large-scale AI job replacement efforts that everyone will witness. This transition will fix a key issue with ride-sharing by aligning revenue more directly with its users. However, it wont address a deeper problem that ride-sharing has in common with social media: a decoupled revenue business model where the people using a service arent necessarily funding it.Lets talk about decoupled revenue. Then, well close with my Product of the Week: a new and awesome notebook from Lenovo that sports a brand-new processor from Intel.The Problem With Decoupled RevenueThe problem with both social media and ride-sharing is that the people paying for the service arent treated as the primary customers.With social media, advertisers fund the platforms, but users engage with content as if they were the primary customers. With ride-sharing, the platform enables car owners to monetize their vehicles, but thats a cost of the service. Since riders are the ones paying, they should be the customers of the drivers, not the platform.In both cases, the platform prioritizes those who provide the revenueadvertisers for social media and riders for ride-sharingwhile those who power the service, such as content creators and drivers, are treated as cost centers rather than valued participants.This decoupling means that those who make the service possible like Uber/Lyft drivers and social media users are often overlooked. Their needs are subordinated to those of the entities providing the funding, like advertisers on social media and riders for Uber/Lyft. Instead of being seen as assets to be optimized, social media content creators and ride-share drivers are frequently treated as problems to be managed. Both conditions are true. Users drive the advertising revenue because ads are worthless without users. Likewise, if there arent any drivers, there is nothing for riders to use.Managers often fail to make this distinction. I once knew a general manager who argued that his plant would run much better without sales reps mucking things up forgetting they were the reason the plant had business in the first place. He was fired shortly thereafter because he was an idiot, but this wasnt a unique situation. I was an internal auditor, and it was surprising how many high-ranking executives didnt seem to know how things actually worked which is kind of scary when you think about it.Businesses generally function better when the people using a service and those funding it are the same. When revenue and users are decoupled, as they are in social media and ride-sharing, platforms risk alienating the people who keep them running. You dont mess with your revenue sources.Will Robotaxis Disrupt or Fix Ride-Sharing?Robotaxis may fix ride-share or badly break it. If Uber and Lyft go to robotaxi services, then the people who use this service to monetize their cars are kind of screwed unless they want to work for nearly free because they wont be able to compete with an AI driver. However, this would also eliminate the problem the drivers represent in terms of being treated more like a cost center than a customer. With robotaxis, Uber and Lyft can just focus on the riders who then become their customers.Now, I know these services have been considering allowing ride-share car owners to stay with the service but buy and maintain the autonomous vehicles themselves, enabling them to earn back a significant part of the revenue. That could resemble a B&B model, but with cars and trucks, maintenance, insurance, and liability concerns create additional hurdles. Plus, while these cars will essentially be electric, we dont have automated charging stations for them to use. Charging infrastructure is critical if autonomous vehicles operate independently, and solutions like robotic charging or battery swaps are still in development.Given these challenges, Uber and Lyft will likely choose to own their fleets and install unique charging ports, automated charging stations, and stand-by parking lots to accommodate typical fluctuations in demand throughout the day.Initially, There Would Be a BlendRight now, robotaxi service technology is suitable for urban areas. However, if the rider needs to go some distance, then, at least in the short term, a human driver would still be needed until we have approved autonomous driving technology that can operate within and between cities.We might even see some integration between autonomous cars and airplanes for service within a state. At least some of the aircraft being considered for this are VTOL (vertical take-off and landing), which provides the potential for more localized landing pads where riders could transfer from their autonomous car to an autonomous plane.There have also been some concepts where an autonomous lifting body attaches to the car when it needs to bypass traffic or travel longer distances. That would be cool, but I think safety concerns might keep people from wanting to use it. I recall a flying car many years ago based on a Ford Pinto where the wings and car came apart at altitude, killing the companys founders.Wrapping UpWhile robotaxis may improve ride-sharing by better aligning revenue with users, what happens to the displaced Uber and Lyft drivers? In some cases and Tesla is exploring this some may work remotely, taking control when a robotaxi runs into trouble to guide it to safety or a repair station. But this would require far fewer drivers than today, offering only temporary employment for some, while most would be out of luck.For us users, things will become much more convenient with lower prices, better service, and less concern about whether your driver is a serial killer. (I watch too many police TV shows!) There will be fewer interesting conversations, although, come to think of it, generative AI is conversational, so you might be able to talk to the car during your ride, and it will certainly be less likely to be abusing drugs or reading messages instead of focusing on the road.The experience should be cheaper, safer, and far more convenient, which will fix the decoupled revenue problem.Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i PrototypePhoto by AuthorThe new Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i prototype is pretty awesome. The shipping version of this laptop uses Nvidia RTX graphics, but this one uses Intel ARC and isnt due until July.This AI PC, one of Intels first, uses the 9u processor also called the Ultra 9 processor. It has a 16-inch OLED screen that looks awesome, and OLEDs have become more efficient, so they arent the huge battery killers they once were.I prefer a larger screen because I generally work off a desktop machine, so going down to a 14-inch or even 13-inch is incredibly painful. Fifteen inches is fine, but that extra inch on a 16-inch makes a noticeable and positive difference.The downside is I cant really work on this laptop on a plane. Still, I generally just watch movies when Im flying because I need time to unwind and chill out since I just dont feel like working every single moment anymore, and films on this screen are incredible.When this laptop ships, the price should be around $1,500 (this could change with tariffs), which is reasonable for a 16-inch OLED with discrete graphics. Intel ARC graphics use a blend of AMDs and Nvidias approaches to upscaling, and, in their stand-alone cards, ARC represents one of the better values in GPUs. The IdeaPad Pro 5i is the first laptop Ive seen with these graphics.The drivers on this prototype were undergoing some changes, but Id expect between 10 and 20 hours of battery life depending on use, which would be huge for a 16-inch laptop.The graphics are more than adequate for my needs. There still isnt a lot of desktop AI stuff outside Office 365. So, while its NPU is light, with 11 TOPS compared to over 40 for other AI PCs, the total TOPS is close to 100, with the GPU contributing additional AI processing power.The downside is that this laptop wont run Recall or Cocreator until Microsoft enables those. Recall is on hold and only available in trial form, although Ive found ChatGPTs Dalle-E web implementation to be just fine. (Microsoft could enable Dall-E on laptops with discrete graphics; its only a matter of time). Given how fast AI is advancing, it is nice to have an AI PC from Intel because most companies still test Intel hardware, which is better to ensure a positive outcome.Overall, this is a very nice product. Mine, pictured above, came in silver-black. It is attractive, useful, and well-priced, making the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i prototype with ARC graphics my Product of the Week. Sorry you wont be able to buy one for yourself until July.

Web Raiders Unleash Global Brute Force Attacks From 2.8M IP AddressesBy John P. Mello Jr.February 12, 2025 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTAchieve Financial Clarity with SettleGetting accurate product cost data is crucial for growth. Settle unifies invoices, payments, and inventory to help e-commerce operators uncover true costs and boost margins -- all in one platform. Get Started Today! A weeks-long brute force attack campaign by malicious actors has reached mammoth proportions, according to a non-profit security organization.The Shadowserver Foundation reports that the campaign, which has been ongoing since January, involves as many as 2.8 million IP addresses daily, targeting VPN devices, firewalls, and gateways from vendors like Palo Alto Networks, Ivanti, and SonicWall.The recent wave of brute force attacks targeting edge security devices, as reported by Shadowserver, is a serious concern for cybersecurity teams, said Brent Maynard, senior director for security technology and strategy at Akamai Technologies, a content delivery network service provider, in Cambridge, Mass.What makes this attack stand out is both its scale millions of unique IPs attempting access daily and the fact that its hitting critical security infrastructure like firewalls, VPNs, and secure gateways, Maynard told TechNewsWorld.These arent just any devices. Theyre the frontline defenses that protect organizations from external threats. If an attacker gains control over them, they can bypass security controls entirely, leading to data breaches, espionage, or even destructive attacks.In a brute force attack, waves of passwords and usernames inundate a login target in an attempt to discover valid login credentials. Compromised devices may be used for data theft, botnet integration, or illegal network access.Massive Botnet Threat EscalatesThis type of botnet activity is not new. However, the scale is worrisome, observed Thomas Richards, a network and red team practice director at Black Duck Software, an applications security company in Burlington, Mass.Depending on the type of device compromised, the attackers could leverage their access to disable internet access to the organization, disrupt networks communicating or facilitate their own access inside the network, Richards told TechNewsWorld. The attack, even if unsuccessful in gaining access to the devices, can cause harm by attempting too many login attempts and having valid accounts locked out.Patrick Tiquet, vice president for security and architecture at Keeper Security, a Chicago-based password management and online storage company, explained that brute force attacks are significant because they exploit weak or reused passwords, one of the most persistent vulnerabilities in cybersecurity. Beyond immediate data loss, these breaches can disrupt operations, damage an organizations reputation, and erode customer trust leading to long-term financial and security consequences, he told TechNewsWorld.Erich Kron, a security awareness advocate at KnowBe4, a security awareness training provider in Clearwater, Fla., added that the source of these attacks is millions of smaller devices spread around the globe, making them extremely difficult to defend against.Many consumers have old and outdated devices in their homes connecting to the internet, Kron told TechNewsWorld. These vulnerable devices are being exploited and used to drive cyberattacks like this.Traditional approaches such as geoblocking and disallowing large blocks of IP addresses could actually block legitimate web traffic, costing some organizations sales and appearing as if the website is down to potential customers, he said.Credential-Based Attacks Overwhelm DefensesKris Bondi, CEO and co-founder of Mimoto, a threat detection and response company in San Francisco, asserted that the campaign exposed by Shadowserver highlights the vulnerability of credentials, even at security and infrastructure organizations.Brute force attacks are automated, so theyre implemented at scale, Bondi told TechNewsWorld. Its not a question of if they can get in with this approach. The question is how many times the organization will be penetrated this way, and will the security team know when it happens.Akamais Maynard explained: Attackers no longer need to sit at a keyboard guessing passwords. They deploy massive botnets that can test thousands of credentials in minutes.Using an attack called password spraying, attackers can use a known username or email address and pair it with tens of thousands of the most common passwords with software that will then try to log into various exposed devices, added KnowBe4s Kron. With several million devices available to be attempting these logins, the success rate is liable to be high. Bondi noted that the number and size of brute force attacks are rising. Automation and generative AI have made it easier to implement this type of attack, she said.They are hitting the large vulnerability that credentials represent, she continued. The attackers know that if they send enough attacks, some percentage will get through. In the meantime, security teams are overwhelmed and arent able to address all the attacks in real time, particularly without additional context.The explosion of internet-connected devices and the continued use of weak credentials also contribute to increased brute force attacks.With remote work, smart devices, and cloud adoption, more organizations rely on edge security devices that must be accessible from the internet, Maynard said. This makes them natural targets.Despite years of warnings, he added, many companies still use default or weak passwords, especially on infrastructure devices.AIs Role in Cyberattack Defense and PreventionWhile artificial intelligence contributes to the rise in brute force attacks, it may also foil them. AI has the potential to be a game-changer in defending against brute force and credential stuffing attacks, Maynard said.He noted that security teams are using AI-driven solutions to detect anomalies, analyze behavior, and automate responses to attacks.AI is very good at spotting anomalies and patterns. Therefore, AI can be very useful at looking at attempted logins, finding a pattern, and hopefully suggesting ways to filter the traffic, Kron explained.Jason Soroko, senior vice president of product at Sectigo, a global digital certificate provider, acknowledged that AI could help defenses by detecting anomalous login patterns and throttling suspicious activity in real time, but advised that strong authentication be prioritized first. While strong authentication needs identity management to scale and digital certificates and other strong asymmetric form factors need provisioning and lifecycle management, they can yield very strong security benefits, Soroko told TechNewsWorld.However, Bondi predicted AI will eventually vacate the need for credentials. AI enables combining anomaly detection with advanced pattern matching to recognize specific people, not credentials, with significantly lower rates of false positives, she said.AI can also help deliver context with alerts, which will enable security teams to prioritize and respond faster to true alerts while reducing false positives, she added.The expectation is that in the near future, AI will also be able to help predict intent based on specific actions and techniques of an attack, Bondi observed. While LLMs arent capable of this yet, they could be within a few quarters.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.Related StoriesMore by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Cybersecurity

The past year saw artificial intelligence (AI) push the boundaries of whats possible, with industries racing to integrate its capabilities to boost productivity and automate complex tasks.In 2024, AI advancements accelerated at a pace outstripping previous high-tech innovations, setting the stage for even greater disruption ahead. But with this rapid progress comes a risk: without human oversight, AIs missteps could be just as monumental as its breakthroughs.Generative and agentic AI are already enhancing users ability to obtain sophisticated content across various media, while AI-powered health care tools are reshaping diagnostics outperforming human physicians in certain tasks. These developments signal a looming transformation in health care delivery, with AI poised to play an even bigger role in business and industrial operations.The power of AI will also birth humanoid agents, noted Anders Indset, author and deep-tech investor in exponential technologies such as AI, quantum technology, health tech, and cybersecurity. As we step into 2025, the technology landscape is rapidly evolving, with a spotlight on humanoid agents.This year began with excitement surrounding large language models (LLMs) but is set to end with groundbreaking advancements in autonomous humanoid robots, Indset told TechNewsWorld.In 2024, the development of robots surged, with innovations that once seemed far off now coming into view. The long-anticipated release of fully autonomous humanoids previously confined to industrial settings is approaching, he observed.The arrival of 2025 brings anticipation for the widespread adoption of AI in robotics, enhanced human-robot interactions, and the rise of robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) models. These will make advanced robotic solutions accessible to more industries, Indset explained, describing the ensuing transformative period for the robotics industry.Humanoid agents will reshape our interactions with technology and expand the possibilities for AI applications across different domains, he predicted.AIs Expanding Role in Cybersecurity and BiosecurityAI will play an increasingly critical role in cyberwarfare, warned Alejandro Rivas-Vasquez, global head of digital forensics and incident response at NCC Group. AI and machine learning (ML) will make cyberwarfare more deadly, with collateral damage outside of conflict zones due to hyper-connectivity, he offered.Cybersecurity defenses, already a successful tool for digital warriors, will extend beyond protecting digital systems to safeguarding people directly through implantable technology. Neural interfaces, bio-augmentation, authentication chips, and advanced medical implants will revolutionize human interaction with technology.According to Bobbie Walker, managing consultant at NCC Group, these innovations will also introduce significant risks. Hackers could exploit neural interfaces to control actions or manipulate perceptions, leading to cognitive manipulation and breaches of personal autonomy. Continuous monitoring of health and behavioral data through implants raises substantial privacy concerns, with risks of misuse by malicious actors or invasive government surveillance, Walker told TechNewsWorld.To mitigate these risks, new frameworks bridging technology, health care, and privacy regulations will be essential. Walker cautioned that standards for digital bioethics and ISO standards for bio-cybersecurity will help define safe practices for integrating technology into the human body while addressing ethical dilemmas.The emerging field of cyber-biosecurity will push us to rethink cybersecurity boundaries, ensuring that technology integrated into our bodies is secure, ethical, and protective of the individuals using it, she added.According to Walker, early studies on brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) show that adversarial inputs can trick these devices, highlighting the potential for abuse. As implants evolve, the risks of state-sponsored cyberwarfare and privacy breaches grow, emphasizing the need for robust security measures and ethical considerations.AI-Driven Data Backup Raises Security ConcernsSebastian Straub, principal solution architect at N2WS, stated that AI advancements better equip organizations to resume operations after natural disasters, power outages, and cyberattacks. AI automation will enhance operational efficiency by addressing human shortcomings.AI-powered backup automation will reduce the need for administrative intervention to near zero, he explained. AI will learn the intricate patterns of data usage, compliance requirements, and organizational needs. Moreover, AI will become a proactive data management expert, autonomously determining what needs to be backed up and when, including adherence to compliance standards like GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS.But Straub warned that as this level of AI dominance dramatically transforms disaster recovery processes, errors will occur through the learning process. In 2025, we will see that AI is not a silver bullet. Relying on machines to automate disaster recovery will lead to mistakes.There will be unfortunate breaches of trust and compliance violations as enterprises learn the hard way that humans need to be part of the DR decision-making process, Straub told TechNewsWorld.AIs Impact on Creativity and EducationFor many AI users, tools to help improve communication skills are already in steady use. ChatGPT and other AI writing tools will emphasize the value of human writing rather than a workaround for personal language tasks.Students and communicators will adjust from asking AI writing tools to produce work on their behalf to owning the content creation process from start to finish. They will leverage technology to edit, enhance, or expand original thinking, suggested Eric Wang, VP of AI at plagiarism detection firm Turnitin. Looking ahead, Wang told TechNewsWorld that writing would be recognized as a critical skill, not just in writing-focused areas of study but also in learning, working, and living environments. This change will manifest as the humanization of technology-enabled fields, roles, and companies.He sees the role of generative AI shifting, with early-stage usage helping to organize and expand ideas while later stages refine and enhance writing. For educators, AI can identify knowledge gaps early on and later provide transparency to facilitate student engagement.Hidden Risks of AI-Powered ModelsAccording to Michael Lieberman, CTO and co-founder of software development security platform Kusari, AI will become more widespread and challenging to detect. His concern lies with free models hosted on platforms.We have already seen cases where some models on these platforms were discovered to be malware. I expect such attacks to increase, though they will likely be more covert. These malicious models may include hidden backdoors or be intentionally trained to behave harmfully in specific scenarios, Lieberman told TechNewsWorld.He sees an increasing prevalence of data poisoning attacks aimed at manipulating LLMs and warns that most organizations do not train their own models.Instead, they rely on pre-trained models, often available for free. The lack of transparency regarding the origins of these models makes it easy for malicious actors to introduce harmful ones, he continued, citing the Hugging Face malware incident as an example.Future data poisoning efforts are likely to target major players like OpenAI, Meta, and Google, whose vast datasets make such attacks more challenging to detect.In 2025, attackers are likely to outpace defenders. Attackers are financially motivated, while defenders often struggle to secure adequate budgets since security is not typically viewed as a revenue driver. It may take a significant AI supply chain breach akin to the SolarWinds Sunburst incident to prompt the industry to take the threat seriously, Turnitins Wang concluded.

Lyft Bringing Robotaxis to DallasBy John P. Mello Jr.February 11, 2025 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTAchieve Financial Clarity with SettleGetting accurate product cost data is crucial for growth. Settle unifies invoices, payments, and inventory to help e-commerce operators uncover true costs and boost margins -- all in one platform. Get Started Today! In an apparent attempt to keep pace with its rival Uber, ride-hailing service Lyft plans to launch a fleet of robotaxis in Dallas as soon as 2026.According to a report Monday in TechCrunch, the new robocabs will be powered by Mobileye technology while Marubeni, a Japanese conglomerate, will perform fleet management. When operational, ride seekers will be able to hail a robotaxi through Lyfts app.Although Lyft hasnt revealed the carmaker for the program, TechCrunch noted that Mobileye technology is already integrated into vehicles made by Ford, General Motors, Audi, Volkswagen, Nissan, and others.Mobileye has been around for more than 20 years and is a global leader in advanced driver assist systems, noted Sam Abuelsamid, vice president of market research at Telemetry Insight, a developer of AI-powered analytic tools, headquartered in Albuquerque, N.M.Most cars on the road have some sort of forward collision alert or lane-keeping assist system based on Mobileye technology, he told TechNewsWorld.While Lyft hasnt revealed how many vehicles it will launch in Dallas, its Executive Vice President of Driver Experience, Jeremy Bird, told TechCrunch that the company plans to scale to thousands of vehicles across multiple cities after the Texas debut.Lyft rival Uber has already announced its teaming up with Waymo to offer robotaxi services in Austin and Atlanta. Meanwhile, Tesla plans to launch an autonomous ride-hail offering in Austin in June.Lyfts Asset-Light Strategy for RobotaxisLyfts initiative is likely in response to Uber, which has made aggressive moves to form partnerships for autonomous vehicles, said Edward Sanchez, a senior analyst in the automotive practice of TechInsights, a global technology intelligence company.He noted that Lyfts asset-light approach to operations explains its partnership with Marubeni. Lyft, like Uber, is taking a somewhat incremental approach to commercializing robotaxi service, Sanchez told TechNewsWorld.He pointed out that Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has said full-scale robotaxi commercialization will be a longer-term pursuit due to the high current cost of autonomous vehicles often more than US$200,000 and currently higher operational costs than human-driven vehicles.Uber and Lyft built their business on the idea that they dont own anything, Abuelsamid explained. The only thing they own is their software platform. They dont own any vehicles, he continued. They dont have to put fuel in them. They dont have to insure them or maintain them. Thats problematic for robotaxis because now you have to find somebody thats going to own, operate, and maintain those vehicles.So theres a lot of new kinds of operational challenges and operational expenses associated with robotaxis that you dont have with a human-driven vehicle when youre relying on somebody else bringing their own vehicle to your platform, he said.They are responsible for all of that stuff. That is not part of your cost of doing business. When you go to a robotaxi, all of a sudden, all of that stuff becomes part of your cost of doing business.Teslas Contrarian ApproachSanchez added that although Tesla is widely considered the leader in terms of miles driven and geographical coverage of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) service, due to extensive data ingestion from its cumulative fleet of vehicles, it has only recently showcased its specific approach to robotaxis with the Cybercab.Its also somewhat unclear if Tesla will pursue a company-operated fleet at scale or simply operate as a platform to enable individual owners to use Cybercabs or presumably other Teslas with fully autonomous capability as an entrepreneurial venture, he said.Cybercab (Image Credit: Tesla)He noted that Tesla has historically been highly vertically integrated and has often taken a contrarian approach to technologies. One noteworthy example is Teslas shunning of Lidar in its suite of autonomous sensing technologies, while much of the rest of the industry has been embracing it or considering it a mandatory technology for safe AV operation.Tesla refuses to use any other type of sensors, which I think is a fundamental mistake, Abuelsamid said. I dont think that they are going to be able to build a viable robotaxi platform with a camera-only system. Its not robust enough.It doesnt work well in low light conditions, he continued. It doesnt work well in fog or rain. Its cheaper, but it does not have the robustness of a system that uses multiple types of sensors.Can Robotaxis Win Consumer Confidence?Mark Giarelli, an equity analyst with Morningstar Research Services in Chicago, views Lyft as a laggard in the robotaxi partnership race.The most important thing to remember here is that Lyft has a way smaller value proposition to autonomous vehicle manufacturers compared to what Uber offers because Lyfts network of drivers and riders is so much smaller than Ubers, Giarelli told TechNewsWorld.If an AV company partners with Uber, they are guaranteeing access to 75% of the U.S. rideshare market, but if they partner with Lyft, they are only getting access to 20% to 25% of the U.S. rideshare market, he explained. During this early chapter in the robotaxi story, the technology has faced some challenges. Its not been an easy rollout, said Mark N. Vena, president and principal analyst at SmartTech Research in Las Vegas.Deploying robotaxis in cities face major challenges such as regulatory hurdles, with complex and evolving approval processes that vary by region, he told TechNewsWorld. Technical difficulties arise from navigating dense urban environments filled with unpredictable obstacles like pedestrians, cyclists, and construction zones.Additionally, achieving public trust and ensuring safety at scale remain significant obstacles, especially after high-profile incidents involving autonomous vehicles, he said.Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst at the Enderle Group, an advisory services firm in Bend, Ore., agreed that getting people comfortable with the technology has been a problem. The large-scale trials have had issues with noise, navigation errors, and glitches stranding some riders, he told TechNewsWorld.They are still largely safer than human-driven cars, but when something bad happens, because they are new, the accident gets an unusual amount of attention, creating the false impression the technology is unsafe, he said.Growing Consumer Comfort With RobotaxisNevertheless, there are signs that consumers are getting more comfortable with the technology. In its second U.S. Robotaxi Experience study released in October, J.D. Power found consumer satisfaction with the robotaxi experience to be 8.53 on a 10-point scale.The consumer research, data, and analytics firm in Troy, Mich., also reported that consumer confidence when riding in a fully automated, self-driving vehicle is 56 percentage points higher among those who have ridden in a robotaxi (76%) than the general population who have not had the experience (20%).Kathleen Rizk, Powers senior director of user experience benchmarking and technology, acknowledged, however, that many consumers with robotaxi experience tend to be early adopters.What we find with early adopters of technology is they dont always expect technology to work perfectly when its brand new, but they want to be part of that experience, Rizk told TechNewsWorld. So they may experience an issue, but theyre more willing to overlook it as part of the technology like a bug being worked out.The study also revealed that when given a series of scenarios assuming the cost for either service would be the same, 77% of riders say they would prefer to utilize a robotaxi service without a human driver when needing to have a private conversation in the vehicle. In contrast, a ride-hailing service, such as Uber or Lyft, is preferred when traveling in an area they dont know well.Whether its a taxi, ride-hailing, or robotaxi, what its ultimately going to come down to is affordability for the consumer, Rizk said.That time, although years away, will eventually come. Enderle predicted: By 2035, finding a human-driven taxi will be as hard as finding a robotaxi today.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.More by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Transportation

Since Microsoft launched Copilot+, the past few months have been a battleground for PC manufacturers. Qualcomm initially had a huge lead, but then AMD and Intel came out with Copilot+ PCs that cut into that advantage.AMD outperformed Intel with a broader line of compliant products, while Intel focused on the premium market. Meanwhile, Qualcomm saw its design wins decline, and the laptop PC market has shifted more in AMDs favor, though Intel remains the dominant player overall.Why didnt we see the big shift to Qualcomm, and what happened to Intel that cost its CEO?Lets break it down and well close with my Product of the Week, which has been keeping my driveway clear for the last week or so.Why Copilot+ PCs Struggled To Gain TractionMicrosoft rushed to market with Copilot+ for PCs with two primary features. One was Cocreator, a derivative of Dall-E, which could have been pretty handy (I use Dall-E a lot these days). The other was Recall, an automatic indexing tool designed to help users find hard-to-locate files. That was pretty much it at launch.However, Microsoft positioned Recall poorly and had to pull it back. Cocreator by itself on a laptop as opposed to a desktop PC or workstation where folks usually mess with graphics turned out to be not very interesting.So, for a time, Qualcomm had only Copilot+ PCs. People werent too excited about Copilot+, and by the time Office began showcasing AI capabilities, PCs from AMD and Intel were available to run it. Unfortunately, Qualcomms brand name wasnt as well known in PCs as AMD or Intel. In addition, Qualcomms product had a compatibility problem that made it largely unacceptable in large companies, so enterprise and large business sales never really emerged outside of trials.A heavy marketing campaign was needed to sell people on the features of running Copilot+ locally. That never emerged, so AI PCs became an AMD and Intel project, with Qualcomm increasingly on the sidelines.What Qualcomm Should Have DoneQualcomm had three advantages in the market: great battery life, the strongest wireless networking of any of the three vendors, and dominance in premium smartphones, which are basically pocket PCs.Qualcomm pushed hard on the AI aspect, which Microsoft fumbled badly. It did mention battery life, but it wasnt successful in making its PCs 5G-capable, which removed that advantage. Finally, it didnt have a better together story to leverage its strong smartphone advantage.Taking on entrenched vendors like AMD and Intel is very difficult, but Qualcomm almost acted like it wasnt that important, even though it acted seriously about this market. In addition, because it had a compatibility problem, it needed to do targeted marketing for the low-hanging fruit: users who wouldnt experience this shortcoming, influencers, small business owners, consultants, attorneys, and others who dont run a lot of custom apps or need to play PC games on their laptops. However, Qualcomm didnt target these users. As a result, while compatibility improved, people tended to lose interest in Qualcomms offer over time.Qualcomm could also have created a halo product that showcased its strengths. The HP Folio PC was an ideal configuration for much of the audience Qualcomm needed to capture, and it launched with an older Snapdragon processor and a 5G modem, making it nearly perfect.Intel displaced Qualcomm with an inferior product (for this use case), and eventually, HP discontinued the Qualcomm-powered PC. Losing the Folio was disappointing because it was my favorite PC of all time. It showcased that with the right internals and effective marketing, a Qualcomm-based PC could have gained traction with users who valued its unique advantages.If both HP and Qualcomm had put some decent marketing behind this laptop, it would have helped build interest in Qualcomms solution, and it would be in a vastly stronger position than it is now.Intels Challenges and Leadership Shake-UpIntel and Microsoft dont see eye to eye often, which has been problematic for both companies execution over the years. Intel seemed to take Microsofts requests as bad suggestions, which forced Microsoft to work with Qualcomm rather than Intel. AMDs reputation was more on the high-performance side, and while AMD executed well, it didnt have anything ready at launch. That gave Qualcomm the huge initial advantage that it failed to capitalize on.This failure appeared to be connected to a prior CEOs decision to reduce the focus on PC technology in favor of smartphones, an effort that failed spectacularly due to poor execution and some questionable behavior by Apple that left Intel out of step with both AMD and Qualcomm.Most recently, Intel lost its CEO partially due to a change in U.S. leadership where the proximity of the Intel CEO to the prior administration might have created some excessive friction and the anticipated loss of U.S. funding for its fab and foundry business. This situation again highlights the markets resistance to significant strategic moves that come at the expense of short-term performance a disappointing reality, given the strategic importance of U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing.Now Intel has co-CEOs, which is stronger tactically but makes it harder to execute strategically. In addition, Intels CMO support was below where it needed to be, and Intels CTO was more of a COO, leaving the critical CTO underperforming. The CTO sets the vision for strategic moves. Without that, the short-term problems likely contributed significantly to CEO Pat Gelsingers premature departure.Intel needs to appoint a real CTO. Theres a new CMO, but Intel needs to both support and fund him to reform Intels image as a market leader.How AMD Outperformed Intel and QualcommAMDs people just put their heads down and executed, and of the three vendors, it ended up doing the best, even suggesting it would buy Intel. Qualcomm was on the list of companies looking to buy Intel, too. However, Intel is both more complex and far larger than either AMD or Qualcomm, making it unlikely that either company would be comfortable making this acquisition.AMD would be the strongest of the two because it shares both market coverage and x86 technology, meaning it would be better able to step in seamlessly to lead Intel. Still, given how complex Intel is and the cloud its under, it seems unlikely either firm will be able to make an Intel acquisition happen.So, as AI hit, while Qualcomm had the initial potential benefit, AMD has seen the greatest benefit, primarily because it just outexecuted the other two companies.There is something to be said about focus. AMD showed an incredible level of focus over the last decade, which helped it achieve significant growth and benefit from the latest trends. Its recent financial results were impressive.AMD could have displaced Intel during this cycle, but that would have required substantial additional investments. As I noted above, the market isnt rewarding strategies that pull from the present to create a stronger future. AMD played the market well in this cycle.Wrapping Up: Nvidias AI Supremacy and Future in PCsIt has been an interesting few months since Microsoft launched Copilot+. Execution was key, and AMD outperformed Qualcomm and Intel by just sticking to what its good at. However, Nvidia remains the king of AI in hardware, and it also has an Arm-based processor coming, which means it could disrupt the market as AI matures.However, we are still at the very front of the AI wave. By the end of it, I expect both smartphones and PCs will have been replaced by hardware that better addresses the need to interact with AIs in a way we never did with PCs. A massive disruption is coming, and only Nvidia appears truly positioned to drive it. Well, and Huawei, but well save that for another column.Yarbo AI-Powered Snowblower RobotImage Credit: YarboWhile I got my first Yarbo over a year ago, I never put it together because Id broken my back and couldnt mess with something that heavy. As it turned out, there were problems with that first generation, and Yarbo generously offered me the option of an upgrade to a newer unit for a relatively small upgrade cost compared to Yarbos $5,000 sales price.The Yarbo is an AI-driven, GPS-connected yard robot. While I only have configurations for snow blowing and security (it can patrol the outside of your house), depending on the accessories you buy or use, it can also mow your lawn, spread fertilizer, pull a trailer (to stow it), and blow leaves. Mine is a blower only, but it also comes with a trailer hitch and a security head unit if I want it to patrol my yard after the snow melts.Some of the Yarbo yard robots and accessories (Image Credit: Yarbo)Yarbo has sold over 5,000 units to date, making it one of the most successful robots for the outdoors, if not the most successful, this last year. This is an AI/GPS robot, so you dont have to trench and put in boundary wires, like many of the early robotic lawnmowers. It charges inductively, which means you can run and charge it even if you arent home.It does need to see the GPS satellites, which can make placement of the base station difficult (the base station communicates with the Yarbo). My initial base station placement attached to the house didnt work, so I had to move it to one of my sheds. It works fine now, though Im not a fan of having to run an extension cord over my driveway.I noticed that the Yarbo really doesnt like uneven pavers. Neither does my Honda snowblower, but at least I can rock it back to go over the problem areas. You have to set the Yarbo so the blower is a bit higher, which means it isnt going down to the road. I hope a future software patch will address this.Yarbo snowblower at work (Photos by Author)In addition, it comes with winter treads with built-in studs that can tear up an epoxy garage floor like mine, but it has been working okay with the summer treads so far. Running it out of your garage is somewhat problematic anyway since it requires a line of sight to the GPS satellites.It comes with what looks like an Xbox controller that you can use to drive the Yarbo manually and map out the area you want it to service. It also uses a smartphone app. Yarbo does a good job of detecting people and animals, and it will stop if either approaches it. It also has an emergency off switch.I have a large, long driveway, around 3,000 sq. ft. The Yarbo takes about an hour and a half (using half its battery charge) to complete that job. You can tell it where to put the snow, and it will craft a far better plan than I have ever made to clear it all.Although the Yarbo isnt a cheap date, it allows me not to get up early to clear snow in the morning, and it runs autonomously unless it gets into trouble (those damned pavers). Ive really enjoyed setting it up and using it. As a result, Yarbo is my Product of the Week.

Apple MacBook Pro users often find it difficult to switch to Windows laptops due to the deep integration of the Apple ecosystem, which offers seamless connectivity between devices like iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. Features such as AirDrop, Handoff, iMessage, and iCloud synchronization create a frictionless workflow thats difficult to replicate on Windows.Additionally, macOS is known for its stability, optimized performance, and clean user experience, making the transition to Windows where driver issues, inconsistent UI, and bloatware can be concerns feel clumsy. Many MacBook Pro users are also heavily invested in Apple-exclusive software like Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and macOS-specific productivity tools.Hardware aesthetics and longevity also play a role; Apples unibody aluminum design, high-resolution Retina displays, and industry-leading battery life set a high standard. Ultimately, switching from a MacBook to Windows isnt just about a laptop its about leaving an entire ecosystem that enhances convenience and productivity. But lets focus on the laptop itself.Lenovos latest ThinkPad X1 Carbon Aura Edition is giving me pause. The Aura Edition moniker signifies advanced AI features, including intelligent modes for privacy, productivity, distraction management, and premium customer support.It also highlights a powerful neural processing unit (NPU) within Intels latest Lunar Lake processor, delivering a more innovative and personalized user experience than standard Lenovo models.I dont say this lightly. In the ever-evolving landscape of premium laptops, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 and Apples 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip stand out as top contenders. Both devices cater to professionals seeking performance, portability, and advanced features.However, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13, especially with Intels Lunar Lake processor marketed under the Core Ultra series, offers distinct advantages, making it a compelling choice for discerning users.The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Aura Edition features a lightweight design and vibrant display, making it a strong alternative to the MacBook Pro. (Photo by Author)ThinkPad vs. MacBook: Design and Build QualityThe ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition continues Lenovos legacy of combining durability with elegance. Weighing a mere 2.17 pounds, it is notably lighter than many competitors, including the MacBook Pro. The X1s carbon fiber and magnesium alloy construction ensure sturdiness without compromising on weight, making it exceptionally portable for professionals on the move.In contrast, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip maintains Apples signature aluminum unibody design. While aesthetically pleasing and sturdy, it is considerably heavier than the ThinkPad at 3.3 pounds, which might be a consideration for users prioritizing ultra-lightweight devices and that additional 1.1 pounds feels much heavier when youve been on the road for a few weeks.Performance ShowdownAt the heart of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 is Intels Lunar Lake processor, designed for efficiency and performance. It enables smooth multitasking and handles demanding applications with ease. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 features integrated Intel Arc Graphics 140V, providing solid performance for professional workloads and light creative tasks.The MacBook Pros M4 chip is built on a 3-nanometer process, delivering significant performance improvements over its predecessors. It excels in single-core tasks and provides solid performance for creative applications.However, for users who rely on software optimized for Windows or require specific enterprise solutions, the ThinkPads architecture may offer better compatibility and flexibility especially since its x86-based. This reduces the risk of software compatibility issues, a potential concern with Arm-based laptops like those featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip.ThinkPad OLED vs. MacBook XDR: Display QualityThe ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 features a stunning 14-inch 2.8K OLED display that delivers deep blacks, high contrast, and vivid colors. With HDR 500 certification and a 120Hz refresh rate, it offers smooth visuals and excellent clarity for both work and media consumption. The anti-glare, anti-reflection, and anti-smudge coatings enhance visibility, making it well-suited for varied work environments. The 14-inch MacBook Pro features Apples Liquid Retina XDR display, known for its extreme brightness (1,000 nits sustained, 1,600 nits peak in HDR) and exceptional color accuracy. The M4 series improves glare reduction while maintaining high contrast and true-to-life colors, making it an excellent choice for creative professionals working in different lighting conditions.Both displays offer outstanding image quality, but the ThinkPads OLED panel excels in contrast, while the MacBook Pros XDR display leads in sustained brightness and color accuracy. Users prioritizing high peak brightness for HDR content may prefer Apples offering, while those seeking deep blacks and OLED vibrancy may lean toward the ThinkPad.Battery Life and ChargingBattery performance is crucial for professionals on the go. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 stands out with respectable battery life, lasting through a typical workday under moderate use. While Apples MacBook Pro (and Air) with Apple Silicon set a high bar for battery endurance, Lenovos latest optimizations bring the X1 closer in efficiency, making it a more competitive option.While it may not surpass the MacBook Pros impressive battery life, the X1 compensates with rapid charging, minimizing downtime. The MacBook Pro with the M4 chip boasts extended battery life, often exceeding 16 hours for standard tasks. This longevity is beneficial for users who require prolonged unplugged use.ThinkPad vs. MacBook Keyboard ExperienceLenovos ThinkPad series is renowned for its exceptional keyboards, and the X1 Carbon Gen 13 is no exception. It offers deep travel and tactile feedback, ensuring a comfortable typing experience. Additionally, the iconic TrackPoint provides an alternative navigation method, which many professionals appreciate.One huge plus for the ThinkPad is that it uses Lenovos TrackPoint for precise cursor control without lifting your hands off the keyboard, speeding up workflow for power users. Its small footprint doesnt take up valuable trackpad space, making it perfect for confined spaces or on-the-go productivity. Plus, the tactile feel and responsiveness make it a favorite for those who prefer a more tactile navigation experience over a traditional trackpad.Apples MacBook Pro features the Magic Keyboard, which has been well-received for its improved key stability and responsiveness. While it provides a satisfactory typing experience, users who prefer deeper key travel might favor the ThinkPads keyboard.Connectivity and PortsThe ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 excels in connectivity options. It includes multiple USB-A and USB-C ports, HDMI, and a headphone jack, allowing users to connect various peripherals without needing adapters.While the MacBook Pro offers Thunderbolt ports, HDMI, and a headphone jack, it may require users to utilize adapters or dongles for USB-A and other connections, which can be less convenient for those with diverse peripheral needs.The ThinkPad X1 Carbons left side includes one USB-A and two USB-C (Thunderbolt 4) ports, offering greater connectivity than most ultrabooks. (Photo by Author)The ThinkPad X1 Carbons right side features HDMI, a headphone/mic combo jack, and another USB-A port, ensuring broad compatibility with peripherals. (Photo by Author)Windows vs. macOS: Software and CompatibilityThe ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 runs on Windows, providing access to various software applications, particularly those tailored for enterprise environments. This compatibility is essential for professionals who rely on specific Windows-based tools.The MacBook Pro operates on macOS, which is known for its stability and seamless integration with other Apple products. While it supports a wide range of applications, some specialized software may not be available or optimized for macOS, which could be a limitation for specific professional workflows.Price and Business ValueLenovos ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13, starting at $2,267, is positioned as a premium device, reflecting its build quality, performance, and features. It offers substantial value for professionals seeking a lightweight, durable, and versatile laptop.The MacBook Pro with the M4 chip, which costs $2,199 when configured with similar storage and memory, also falls into the premium price bracket. While it delivers strong performance and battery life, users should consider whether its ecosystem and software compatibility align with their needs.Closing ThoughtsThe Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 and the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro with the M4 chip are formidable laptops catering to professionals.However, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 distinguishes itself with its ultra-lightweight design, superior keyboard and TrackPoint experience, diverse connectivity options, and the flexibility of the Windows operating system. These attributes make it a compelling choice for users seeking a reliable and versatile tool for their professional endeavors. While pricing is comparable, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon offers advantages such as frequent discounts from online retailers, customizable configurations, and enterprise-level security features tailored for business users. Additionally, its broader selection of ports and upgrade options reduces the need for costly dongles or proprietary accessories, further enhancing its appeal for professionals who prioritize versatility and practicality.The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 is a powerhouse for professionals who need a lightweight, well-built laptop with top-tier input devices and strong connectivity. Lenovos focus on enterprise-friendly features, customization, and practicality makes it an excellent choice for those prioritizing versatility over ecosystem lock-in.For more details on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Aura Edition, visit the Lenovo store.

Bots Now Dominate the Web, and Thats a Problem CopyBy John P. Mello Jr.February 4, 2025 10:09 PM PT ADVERTISEMENTEngage with IT decision makers and key influencers. TechNewsWorld's B2B marketing services deliver sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Fill your funnel and grow revenue with our lead gen expertise. Get Started Today. Nearly half the traffic on the internet is generated by automated entities called bots, and a large portion of them pose threats to consumers and businesses on the web.[B]ots can help in creating phishing scams by gaining users trust and exploiting it for scammers. These scams can have serious implications for the victim, some of which include financial loss, identity theft, and the spread of malware, Christoph C. Cemper, founder of AIPRM, an AI prompt engineering and management company, in Wilmington, Del., said in a statement provided to TechNewsWorld.Unfortunately, this is not the only security threat posed by bots, he continued. They can also damage brand reputations, especially for brands and businesses with popular social media profiles and high engagement rates. By associating a brand with fraudulent and unethical practices, bots can tarnish a brands reputation and reduce consumer loyalty.According to the Imperva 2024 Bad Bot Report, bad bot traffic levels have risen for the fifth consecutive year, indicating an alarming trend. It noted the increase is partly driven by the increasing popularity of artificial intelligence (AI) and large learning models (LLMs).In 2023, bad bots accounted for 32% of all internet traffic a 1.8% increase from 2022, the report explained. The portion of good bot traffic also increased, albeit slightly less significantly, from 17.3% of all internet traffic in 2022 to 17.6% in 2023. Combined, 49.6% of all internet traffic in 2023 wasnt human, as human traffic levels decreased to 50.4% of all traffic.Good bots help index the web for search engines, automate cybersecurity monitoring, and assist customer service through chatbots, explained James McQuiggan, a security awareness advocate at KnowBe4, a security awareness training provider in Clearwater, Fla.They assist with detecting vulnerabilities, improving IT workflows, and streamlining procedures online, he told TechNewsWorld. The trick is knowing whats valuable automation and whats nefarious activity.Ticket Scalping at ScaleAutomation and success are driving the growth trends for botnet traffic, explained Thomas Richards, network and red team practice director at Black Duck Software, an applications security company in Burlington, Mass.Being able to scale up allows malicious actors to achieve their goals, he told TechNewsWorld. AI is having an impact by allowing these malicious actors to act more human and automate coding and other tasks. Google, for example, has revealed that Gemini has been used to create malicious things.We see this in other everyday experiences as well, he continued, like the struggle in recent years to get concert tickets to popular events. Scalpers find ways to create users or use compromised accounts to buy tickets faster than a human ever could. They make money by reselling the tickets at a much higher price.Its easy and profitable to deploy automated attacks, added Stephen Kowski, field CTO at SlashNext, a computer and network security company in Pleasanton, Calif. Criminals are using sophisticated tools to bypass traditional security measures, he told TechNewsWorld. AI-powered systems make bots more convincing and harder to detect, enabling them to mimic human behavior better and adapt to defensive measures.The combination of readily available AI tools and the increasing value of stolen data creates perfect conditions for even more advanced bot attacks in the future, he said.Why Bad Bots Are a Serious ThreatDavid Brauchler, technical director and head of AI and ML security at the NCC Group, a global cybersecurity consultancy, expects non-human internet traffic to continue to grow.As more devices become internet-connected, SaaS platforms add interconnected functionality, and new vulnerable devices enter the scene, bot-related traffic has had the opportunity to continue increasing its share of network bandwidth, he told TechNewsWorld.Brauchler added that bad bots are capable of causing great harm. Bots have been used to trigger mass outages by overwhelming network resources to deny access to systems and services, he said.With the advent of generative AI, bots can also be used to impersonate realistic user activity on online platforms, increasing spam risk and fraud, he explained. They can also scan for and exploit security vulnerabilities in computer systems.He contended that the biggest risk from AI is the proliferation of spam. Theres no strong technical solution to identifying and blocking this type of content online, he explained. Users have taken to calling this phenomenon AI slop, and it risks drowning out the signal of legitimate online interactions in the noise of artificial content.He cautioned, however, that the industry should be very careful when it considers the best solution to this problem. Many potential remedies can create more harm, especially those that risk attacking online privacy, he said.How to Identify Malicious BotsBrauchler acknowledged that it can be difficult for humans to detect a malicious bot. The overwhelming majority of bots dont operate in any fashion that humans can detect, he said. They contact internet-exposed systems directly, querying for data or interacting with services.The category of bot that most humans are concerned with are autonomous AI agents that can masquerade as humans in an attempt to defraud people online, he continued. Many AI chatbots use predictable speech patterns that users can learn to recognize by interacting with AI text generators online. Similarly, AI-generated imagery has a number of tells that users can learn to look for, including broken patterns, such as hands and clocks being misaligned, edges of objects melting into other objects, and muddled backgrounds, he said.AI voices also have unusual inflections and expressions of tone that users can learn to pick up on, he added.Malicious bots are often used on social media platforms to gain trusted access to individuals or groups. Watch for telltale signs like unusual patterns in friend requests, generic or stolen profile pictures, and accounts that post at inhuman speeds or frequencies, Kowski cautioned.He also advised to be wary of profiles with limited personal information, suspicious engagement patterns, or pushing specific agendas through automated responses.In the enterprise, he continued, real-time behavioral analysis can spot automated actions that dont match natural human patterns, such as impossibly fast clicks or form fills.Threat to BusinessesMalicious bots can be a significant threat to enterprises, noted Ken Dunham, director of the threat research unit at Qualys, a provider of cloud-based IT, security, and compliance solutions in Foster City, Calif.Once amassed by a threat actor, they can be weaponized, he told TechNewsWorld. Bots have incredible resources and capabilities to perform anonymous, distributed, asynchronous attacks against targets of choice, such as brute force credential attacks, distributed denial of service attacks, vulnerability scans, attempted exploitation, and more.Malicious bots can also target login portals, API endpoints, and public-facing systems, which creates risks for organizations as the bad actors probe for weaknesses to find a way to gain access to the internal infrastructure and data, added McQuiggan.Without bot mitigation strategies, companies can be vulnerable to automated threats, he said.To mitigate threats from bad bots, he recommended deploying multi-factor authentication, technological bot detection solutions, and monitoring traffic for anomalies.He also recommended blocking old user agents, utilizing Captchas, and limiting interactions, where possible, to reduce success rates.Through security awareness education and human risk management, an employees knowledge of bot-driven phishing and fraud attempts can ensure a healthy security culture and reduce the risk of a successful bot attack, he advised.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.More by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Cybersecurity

Bots Now Dominate the Web, and Thats a ProblemBy John P. Mello Jr.February 4, 2025 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTQuality Leads That Turn Into DealsFull-service marketing programs from TechNewsWorld deliver sales-ready leads. Segment by geography, industry, company size, job title, and more. Get Started Now. Nearly half the traffic on the internet is generated by automated entities called bots, and a large portion of them pose threats to consumers and businesses on the web.[B]ots can help in creating phishing scams by gaining users trust and exploiting it for scammers. These scams can have serious implications for the victim, some of which include financial loss, identity theft, and the spread of malware, Christoph C. Cemper, founder of AIPRM, an AI prompt engineering and management company, in Wilmington, Del., said in a statement provided to TechNewsWorld.Unfortunately, this is not the only security threat posed by bots, he continued. They can also damage brand reputations, especially for brands and businesses with popular social media profiles and high engagement rates. By associating a brand with fraudulent and unethical practices, bots can tarnish a brands reputation and reduce consumer loyalty.According to the Imperva 2024 Bad Bot Report, bad bot traffic levels have risen for the fifth consecutive year, indicating an alarming trend. It noted the increase is partly driven by the increasing popularity of artificial intelligence (AI) and large learning models (LLMs).In 2023, bad bots accounted for 32% of all internet traffic a 1.8% increase from 2022, the report explained. The portion of good bot traffic also increased, albeit slightly less significantly, from 17.3% of all internet traffic in 2022 to 17.6% in 2023. Combined, 49.6% of all internet traffic in 2023 wasnt human, as human traffic levels decreased to 50.4% of all traffic.Good bots help index the web for search engines, automate cybersecurity monitoring, and assist customer service through chatbots, explained James McQuiggan, a security awareness advocate at KnowBe4, a security awareness training provider in Clearwater, Fla.They assist with detecting vulnerabilities, improving IT workflows, and streamlining procedures online, he told TechNewsWorld. The trick is knowing whats valuable automation and whats nefarious activity.Ticket Scalping at ScaleAutomation and success are driving the growth trends for botnet traffic, explained Thomas Richards, network and red team practice director at Black Duck Software, an applications security company in Burlington, Mass.Being able to scale up allows malicious actors to achieve their goals, he told TechNewsWorld. AI is having an impact by allowing these malicious actors to act more human and automate coding and other tasks. Google, for example, has revealed that Gemini has been used to create malicious things.We see this in other everyday experiences as well, he continued, like the struggle in recent years to get concert tickets to popular events. Scalpers find ways to create users or use compromised accounts to buy tickets faster than a human ever could. They make money by reselling the tickets at a much higher price.Its easy and profitable to deploy automated attacks, added Stephen Kowski, field CTO at SlashNext, a computer and network security company in Pleasanton, Calif. Criminals are using sophisticated tools to bypass traditional security measures, he told TechNewsWorld. AI-powered systems make bots more convincing and harder to detect, enabling them to mimic human behavior better and adapt to defensive measures.The combination of readily available AI tools and the increasing value of stolen data creates perfect conditions for even more advanced bot attacks in the future, he said.Why Bad Bots Are a Serious ThreatDavid Brauchler, technical director and head of AI and ML security at the NCC Group, a global cybersecurity consultancy, expects non-human internet traffic to continue to grow.As more devices become internet-connected, SaaS platforms add interconnected functionality, and new vulnerable devices enter the scene, bot-related traffic has had the opportunity to continue increasing its share of network bandwidth, he told TechNewsWorld.Brauchler added that bad bots are capable of causing great harm. Bots have been used to trigger mass outages by overwhelming network resources to deny access to systems and services, he said.With the advent of generative AI, bots can also be used to impersonate realistic user activity on online platforms, increasing spam risk and fraud, he explained. They can also scan for and exploit security vulnerabilities in computer systems.He contended that the biggest risk from AI is the proliferation of spam. Theres no strong technical solution to identifying and blocking this type of content online, he explained. Users have taken to calling this phenomenon AI slop, and it risks drowning out the signal of legitimate online interactions in the noise of artificial content.He cautioned, however, that the industry should be very careful when it considers the best solution to this problem. Many potential remedies can create more harm, especially those that risk attacking online privacy, he said.How to Identify Malicious BotsBrauchler acknowledged that it can be difficult for humans to detect a malicious bot. The overwhelming majority of bots dont operate in any fashion that humans can detect, he said. They contact internet-exposed systems directly, querying for data or interacting with services.The category of bot that most humans are concerned with are autonomous AI agents that can masquerade as humans in an attempt to defraud people online, he continued. Many AI chatbots use predictable speech patterns that users can learn to recognize by interacting with AI text generators online. Similarly, AI-generated imagery has a number of tells that users can learn to look for, including broken patterns, such as hands and clocks being misaligned, edges of objects melting into other objects, and muddled backgrounds, he said.AI voices also have unusual inflections and expressions of tone that users can learn to pick up on, he added.Malicious bots are often used on social media platforms to gain trusted access to individuals or groups. Watch for telltale signs like unusual patterns in friend requests, generic or stolen profile pictures, and accounts that post at inhuman speeds or frequencies, Kowski cautioned.He also advised to be wary of profiles with limited personal information, suspicious engagement patterns, or pushing specific agendas through automated responses.In the enterprise, he continued, real-time behavioral analysis can spot automated actions that dont match natural human patterns, such as impossibly fast clicks or form fills.Threat to BusinessesMalicious bots can be a significant threat to enterprises, noted Ken Dunham, director of the threat research unit at Qualys, a provider of cloud-based IT, security, and compliance solutions in Foster City, Calif.Once amassed by a threat actor, they can be weaponized, he told TechNewsWorld. Bots have incredible resources and capabilities to perform anonymous, distributed, asynchronous attacks against targets of choice, such as brute force credential attacks, distributed denial of service attacks, vulnerability scans, attempted exploitation, and more.Malicious bots can also target login portals, API endpoints, and public-facing systems, which creates risks for organizations as the bad actors probe for weaknesses to find a way to gain access to the internal infrastructure and data, added McQuiggan.Without bot mitigation strategies, companies can be vulnerable to automated threats, he said.To mitigate threats from bad bots, he recommended deploying multi-factor authentication, technological bot detection solutions, and monitoring traffic for anomalies.He also recommended blocking old user agents, utilizing Captchas, and limiting interactions, where possible, to reduce success rates.Through security awareness education and human risk management, an employees knowledge of bot-driven phishing and fraud attempts can ensure a healthy security culture and reduce the risk of a successful bot attack, he advised.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.More by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Cybersecurity

This AI-feeding frenzy reminds me more and more of the dot-com bubble in the late 1990s, but with less focus on overpaying employees. As it was then, the core issue now is companies screaming that their AI is better, but most buyers are still not well enough informed or trained to deploy AI effectively.One of the big problems DeepSeek seemed to address out of the box is that quality is important in an AI. What makes DeepSeek interesting is that rather than glossing over that problem, it addressed it up front, resulting in what appears to be both a cheaper and better AI alternative.It is also fascinating that because DeepSeek was blocked from using Nvidias current top AI technologies, its developers optimized the model to work better on older Nvidia technology. The result appears to be 94% cost savings in creating the model.These cost savings have improved performance while reducing expenses. The trade-off is the typical security concern and potential model corruption by the Chinese government, although China may simply be using a filter that blocks unacceptable queries and doesnt corrupt the core AI.Lets discuss AI-wars this week, with a focus on DeepSeek. Well close with my Product of the Week from Samsung, which is arguably the most premium non-foldable phone on the market and a showcase of Qualcomms latest processor.DeepSeek: Its Good. ButUnless youve been living under a rock, youve heard of DeepSeek. Its entry into the market tanked Nvidia stock last week (even though many argue it shouldnt have done that) and put OpenAI on notice that there is a new AI sheriff in town from China.Ive been arguing for some time that the industrys huge mistake was focusing more on speed than quality and accuracy because AIs have become increasingly unreliable over time. What DeepSeek did differently was build in an AI quality check. Instead of just focusing on speed, it puts a lot of effort into quality. The result is impressive.The other advantage to DeepSeek is that while it takes around $100 million to spin up a generative AI model like DeepSeeks, it claims it did it for only $6 million, resulting in a better, cheaper product. Better and cheaper generally result in a win.OpenAI is not amused and is suing DeepSeek. However, the lack of cooperation between the U.S. and China makes it unlikely that OpenAI will prevail globally in this effort because China will certainly not support it, which is where DeepSeek is based. DeepSeeks origin in China presents a significant drawback because the Chinese government appears to be interfering with the app. Users are blocked from asking questions about anything China finds sensitive or critical of the governments actions, past or present.While this looks to be a front-end filter, typically, when you place artificial rules on an AI, it will both seek to break them and foster a knowledge base on how to get around the restrictions, which could eventually result in a degradation of accuracy that defines this product.Finally, if the U.S. government has issues with TikTok, it will hate DeepSeek because it is more damaging and appears closer to the Chinese government than TikTok. This AI brings up huge domestic privacy and security concerns that easily eclipse those surrounding TikTok, given how an AI is trained and how much more information could be captured from its users.AI WarsThe competition is just beginning, as we are already up to our necks in new AI companies at 1,532. Most of these companies will be acquired or will fail, which makes this a really interesting and impressively scary market to work or invest in at the moment, much like it was back in those dot-com days when VCs were throwing money at internet companies until it became clear that many of them werent going to make it to revenue, let alone profit.This rapid evolution in AI is only a precursor to what we are likely to see in a few years when the first AGI (artificial general intelligence) products show up. Things will likely get crazy because most of the limitations with generative AI will go away, models should drop rapidly in price, and much like the internet is everywhere now, AI will be on the fast path to being everywhere then.The amount of money in play is in the trillions of dollars for whoever gets this right first. If Elon Musk is displaced at the top of the rich guy pile, it will likely be by someone as closely connected to AGI as Musk was to electric cars a decade ago. Since AI covers robotics and self-driving vehicles, whoever that is may eclipse Musk quickly once their AGI product sells at scale.There is already both a fight for top talent and significant efforts to get AI to develop itself. The latter effort is likely to be the most disruptive because once AI can develop itself, the door opens to an even bigger problem with speed and quality unless that quality aspect is addressed as DeepSeek has.Nvidia Is in Trouble. ButSince the DeepSeek announcement, people have argued that Nvidia is in trouble, so its valuation has taken a beating. However, Nvidia isnt in trouble because of DeepSeek. It is in trouble because of the U.S. policy preventing Nvidia from selling its best tech to China. As a result, China is figuring out how to use older technology effectively, which has enabled DeepSeeks impressive, inexpensive, and accurate performance.Instead of protecting Nvidia and other U.S. companies, this policy is turning China into a far stronger competitor and effectively locking Nvidia out of competing with Chinese companies. The embargo doesnt prevent China from getting and reverse engineering a part; they have been doing that for decades with defense technology, and a commercially available part is pretty easy to gray market. So, the embargo only creates the illusion of security and limits Nvidia from protecting its IP more effectively. DeepSeek would likely perform even better on Nvidias Blackwell AI GPU, which is significantly more efficient and powerful than the older hardware it currently runs on.Nvidia should be allowed to compete for this opportunity. However, since its blocked, China is successfully figuring out how to move beyond Blackwell and eventually will figure out a way to move beyond Nvidia. Its not what they want to do because they recognize Nvidia has better technology; it is what they are being made to do by what I view as a foolish U.S. policy that is creating a competitive problem for them.If this doesnt get fixed, the next AI wave will likely break out of China, which, thanks to DeepSeek, may already be happening.Wrapping Up: Who Will Win the Global AI Race?With the launch of DeepSeek, the AI-wars have kicked off, but this is just the opening salvo. Its an impressive opening move that gives the world a heads up that Chinese companies are more than willing to compete despite technology sanctions that appear to be hurting U.S. companies and consumers (the Chinese EVs are now leading that market) more than they are hurting Chinas prospects.If the U.S. doesnt step up to this competition more aggressively by helping rather than hindering U.S. tech companies, it is increasingly likely that China will eventually emerge as the stronger AI competitor (which it may be doing right now), and to the new victor will go the AI spoils.Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraImage Credit: SamsungWhile I prefer foldable phones, most people still opt for traditional single-screen devices. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a technology powerhouse based on Qualcomms best processor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite. You can pre-order it now, and it will be available by Friday in the U.S.The S25 Ultra is an expensive phone at $1,300. Right now, theres a sale that makes the 512GB upgrade free, and you can get up to $900 off if you have a relatively current smartphone or tablet to trade in.Its sleeker than its predecessor, with a bigger, brighter, and tougher display. It also allows actions across multiple apps. Its 50 MP camera is amazing, and its AI will work out of the box (Apples AI lagged in its latest phone announcement). Some iPhone users who have tested this product found it better than their Apple phones, which is high praise.The ability to span apps with AI can be very useful. For instance, you can look up a date for a coming event, put that event on your calendar, and send details to whoever is going with you with a single prompt. This feature continues to make me wonder if separate apps will even be a thing in the future since this phone can seamlessly move between apps using agentic AI to complete complex tasks like the one just mentioned.While the phone has some interesting noise cancellation features, early testing has been mixed, suggesting there may be a learning curve to getting the tech to work properly or the need for a patch, which is not unusual for a brand-new advanced feature. The phone comes in several colors. I like the Titanium Jetblack (pictured above with the S pen) the best.The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is as much a showcase of Qualcomms advanced technology as it is of Samsungs. It is arguably one of, if not the best, premium phones on the market and my Product of the Week.

DeepSeek Success Could Invite Reprise of TikTok BanBy John P. Mello Jr.January 29, 2025 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTEnterprise IT Lead Generation ServicesFuel Your Pipeline. Close More Deals. Our full-service marketing programs deliver sales-ready leads. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! Learn more. The Chinese AI app DeepSeek has created a splash in the artificial intelligence world not seen since OpenAI introduced ChatGPT. All the attention garnered by the AI model, however, could pose a threat to its success in the United States, as other technology companies based in countries Uncle Sam considers adversary states have discovered.Although the app is barely out of the starting gate, questions have been raised about it as a threat to national security. Those are the kinds of questions that have sunk U.S. sales of companies like Kaspersky and Huawei and threaten the popular social media app TikTok.[T]he U.S. cannot allow CCP [Chinese Communist Party] models such as DeepSeek to risk our national security and leverage our technology to advance their AI ambitions. We must work to swiftly place stronger export controls on technologies critical to DeepSeeks AI infrastructure, Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., chairman of the Select Committee on China, told NBC News Monday.DeepSeek exploded on the scene over the weekend when it became the top download at Apples App Store in the United States, vaulting AI stalwart ChatGPT. The Chinese app has also been garnering kudos for its speed, efficiency, and mighty reasoning skills.Whats more, it runs on less powerful chips than its U.S. competitors. According to DeepSeek, those chips allow it to train its model for less than US$6 million a fraction of what Google, OpenAI, and Meta are spending to train their models with top-of-the-line processors.If DeepSeeks claims about its technology pass scrutiny, it could dramatically impact the AI industry. There could be less demand for high-octane chipsets, power requirements could be curtailed, and there would be less need for more large-scale data centers, such as those to be built by the Trump administrations $500 billion Stargate project.DeepSeek does force a question about the costs and investments needed to race to AGI outcomes and innovations, said Jeff Le, a former California deputy cabinet secretary.This race is also focused on time but there are energy and infrastructure consequences, especially if there is validation that would force others to relook the recently-announced Stargate project, he told TechNewsWorld.National Security RisksThen theres that national security thing that has tripped up companies like Huawei, Kaspersky, and, most recently, TikTok.In 2018, Huawei was a high-flying smartphone and telecommunications maker. It temporarily pushed Apple to third place in the global smartphone market. However, Huawei smartphones were banned from being sold in the United States due to national security concerns, and its market share never recovered.In 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerces Bureau of Industry and Security prohibited Kaspersky Lab from directly or indirectly providing antivirus software and cybersecurity products or services in the United States or to U.S. persons. The bureau found that the companys continued operations in the United States presented a national security risk due to the Russian governments offensive cyber capabilities and capacity to influence or direct Kasperskys operations.Then theres TikTok, which Washington wants out of Chinese hands for fear its owner, ByteDance, could potentially collect and share sensitive data from American users with the Chinese government.DeepSeek could pose a greater threat to national security than TikTok, maintained Allie Mellen, a senior analyst with Forrester, a national market research company headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. She pointed out that DeepSeeks privacy policy explicitly states it can collect your text or audio input, prompt, uploaded files, feedback, chat history, or other content and use it for training purposes.It also states it can share this information with law enforcement agencies, public authorities, and so forth at its discretion, and that any information collected is stored in China, she told TechNewsWorld.In addition, she continued, the information being submitted into DeepSeek is more wide-ranging. Some are submitting voice recordings, pictures, personal information, and enterprise data and IP into the tool.Portal for Data LeakageRich Vibert, CEO of Metomic, a data privacy and security software company in London, asserted that the likelihood of the U.S. government banning DeepSeek hinges on whether its capabilities are perceived as a national security threat.If the tool demonstrates a potential for large-scale exploitation of vulnerabilities or potential to leak sensitive data, its plausible that regulatory or security agencies might act to restrict its use, he told TechNewsWorld.Such vulnerabilities were reported Monday by Kela, an Israeli threat intelligence company. Kelas AI Red Team was able to jailbreak the [DeepSeek] model across a wide range of scenarios, enabling it to generate malicious outputs, such as ransomware development, fabrication of sensitive content, and detailed instructions for creating toxins and explosive devices, the company reported in a blog.As AI technologies like DeepSeek become increasingly advanced, the risks of failing to secure sensitive data grow exponentially, Vibert said.He noted that while both DeepSeek and TikTok raise concerns about data security, their risks are distinct. Concerns around TikTok focus on the scale of data collection, with fears around where and how that data is stored, he explained. DeepSeek, however, represents a more targeted risk, as it appears to be designed to identify and exploit vulnerabilities on a massive scale. DeepSeek extends national security concerns beyond the consumer privacy issues of TikTok, contended Gal Ringel, co-founder and CEO of MineOS, a data governance platform based in Tel Aviv, Israel. It expands to the potential exposure of proprietary business information, trade secrets, and strategic corporate information, he told TechNewsWorld.Just as TikTok raised red flags about personal data exposure, DeepSeeks AI tools apply the same rules of risk to sensitive corporate information, he said. Organizations must now urgently audit and track their AI assets to prevent potential data exposure to China.This isnt just about knowing what AI tools are being used, Ringel continued. Its about understanding where company data flows and ensuring robust safeguards are in place so it doesnt inadvertently end up in the wrong hands.The parallels to TikTok are striking, but the stakes may be even higher when considering the potential exposure of business data ending up in adversarial hands, he added.Protectionist CamouflageNational security concerns could also be used to camouflage protectionist policies, the way Apple was protected from Huawei and todays social media outfits are being protected from TikTok.Trump is totally unpredictable, so we dont know whats going to happen in terms of a ban, said Greg Sterling, co-founder of Near Media, a market research firm in San Francisco.I think its somewhat premature to speculate, but DeepSeeks storage of U.S. data on Chinese servers with full access by the Chinese government makes it at least the security risk that TikTok is, he told TechNewsWorld.The same logic being applied here would theoretically apply to any Chinese app, he added. So, the government must decide what the general policy is. The EU wont let EU citizens data go to U.S. servers. The U.S. could take a similar position with Chinese apps and completely ban those that pose the most significant risks.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.More by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Cybersecurity

Chinese AI App DeepSeek Rattles Tech MarketsBy John P. Mello Jr.January 27, 2025 6:15 PM PT ADVERTISEMENTEngage with IT decision makers and key influencers. TechNewsWorld's B2B marketing services deliver sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Fill your funnel and grow revenue with our lead gen expertise. Get Started Today. A popular app from China sent the tech markets plummeting Monday, fueled by fear that the United States may be losing its primacy in artificial intelligence.Nvidia shares dropped 16.9%, contributing to a 1.5% slide in the S&P 500, while tech titans contributed to the Nasdaq Composite Index falling 3.1%, its worst decline in over a month.The setbacks are being attributed to an announcement by China-based DeepSeek that it has developed an AI model that can compete with the likes of ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini at a fraction of the cost and the rise over the weekend of the companys free app to the top of the charts in Apples App Store in the U.S.DeepSeek has gained popularity because it has shown simply how good it is at the tasks consumers care about, said Hodan Omaar, a senior AI policy analyst at the Center for Data Innovation, a think tank studying the intersection of data, technology, and public policy, in Washington, D.C.Hodan called out DeepSeek as a rising star in a report she wrote in June. One of the key points of that report was that the gap between the leading models from U.S. industry leaders and those developed by Chinas foremost tech giants and start-ups was quickly closing.So while some may be surprised that DeepSeeks new model is rivaling on English language tasks, the signs that it was heading in that direction with the strength of its earlier models were there, she told TechNewsWorld.An AI BargainMark N. Vena, president and principal analyst at SmartTech Research in Las Vegas, noted that the DeepSeek app has recently surged in popularity due to its introduction of advanced AI features, such as real-time contextual insights and personalized search recommendations, which make information retrieval faster and more precise.Its new integrations with widely used productivity tools have also streamlined workflows, attracting professionals across industries, he told TechNewsWorld.Furthermore, he continued, recent updates emphasizing enhanced data security and privacy protections have resonated with users seeking trustworthy digital solutions.It has the reputation of being one of the best generative AI engines but is substantially less expensive to use than its competitors, added Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst with the Enderle Group, an advisory services firm in Bend, Ore.People like a bargain, he told TechNewsWorld. Willy Leichter, CMO of AppSOC, an application security and vulnerability management provider in San Jose, Calif., agreed. Any breakthrough that reduces the massive computing resources and costs of large-scale AI will be popular, he told TechNewsWorld. Lowering the costs to entry will benefit innovators, criminals, and anyone else using AI on a budget.Curiosity may also be contributing to the apps popularity. Its ability to produce results comparable to Western AI giants using non-premium chips has drawn international interest, explained Ted Miracco, CEO of Approov Mobile Security, a global mobile application security company.Its also possible that interest in Chinese apps has been piqued by the TikTok ban, RedNote, and other Chinese apps in the news, he told TechNewsWorld.Questions About PerformanceDeepSeek raised some eyebrows last week when it released its DeepSeek R-1 model, which it stated beats OpenAIs latest o1 model on several benchmark tests.Heres the rub and my biggest concern about DeepSeek, Vena said. Verifying DeepSeeks performance claims can be challenging due to limited transparency and potential restrictions on independent testing or auditing, especially since it operates within Chinas regulatory environment.Concerns around access to proprietary data and algorithms, as well as potential bias in publicized benchmarks, further complicate the validation process, he added.Additionally, Vena continued, geopolitical tensions and mistrust between nations may make third-party verification more difficult, raising questions about the credibility of its claims.Leichter noted that verifying DeepSeeks claims and doing apples-to-apples comparisons will be difficult. The shortcuts these Chinese developers found may have hidden flaws, massive security gaps, or other issues we cant anticipate yet, he said.For people building AI on the cheap, this may not matter, but large businesses building AI applications will need much more assurance that China is likely to provide, he noted.Miracco explained that verifying DeepSeeks claims is challenging due to both language barriers and limited transparency. Chinese tech companies operate under strict government oversight, which may prevent the release of unbiased benchmarks or third-party audits, he said.We believe the Chinese government has a vested interest in proving that sanctions in semiconductors and AI will be ineffective, he added. The release of DeepSeek performance claims will no doubt support that narrative.Export Controls DownsideMiracco argued that DeepSeek is trying to demonstrate that innovation can bypass hardware limitations through optimization and ingenuity.This is intended to prove that export controls alone may not be sufficient to curb technological progress in adversarial nations, he said. The U.S. may need to double down on sanctions by focusing more on software-based regulations such as open-source restrictions partnerships, and fostering innovation to maintain its edge, rather than relying solely on restricting hardware exports.Enderle countered, however, that restrictions on chip exports implemented by the Biden Administration may have had some unintended consequences. DeepSeek showcases those blocks are forcing China to advance its own technology more quickly and China appears to be even better than Japan was at reverse engineering or even stealing competitive technology, he observed. The blocks made duplicating and exceeding U.S. tech a top national priority for China, and DeepSeek is only one of the troubling results, he said.Vena asserted that DeepSeeks ability to achieve results comparable to leading U.S. AI firms using less advanced chips challenges the rationale behind export controls.This demonstrates that cutting-edge AI capabilities are not solely dependent on the most advanced hardware, he explained. Consequently, restricting access to top-tier Nvidia products may not fully prevent the development of competitive AI systems, potentially undermining the effectiveness of such controls.However, he added, export controls may still serve a broader purpose by retarding technological advancements in rival nations and preserving U.S. leadership in the most sensitive and high-performance AI applications.Democratizing Cutting-Edge TechAndrew Bolster, senior R&D manager at Black Duck Software, an applications security company in Burlington, Mass., maintained that the release of DeepSeek undeniably showcases the immense potential of open-source AI.By making such a powerful model available under an MIT license, it not only democratizes access to cutting-edge technology but also fosters innovation and collaboration across the global AI community, he told TechNewsWorld.However, he continued, DeepSeeks rumored use of OpenAI Chain of Thought data for its initial training highlights the importance of transparency and shared resources in advancing AI. In the context of Open Source AI, its crucial that the underlying training and evaluation data are open, as well as the initial architecture and the resultant model weights.DeepSeeks achievement in AI efficiency leveraging a clever reinforcement learning-based multi-stage training approach, rather than the current trend of using larger datasets for bigger models signals a future where AI is accessible beyond the billionaire classes, he predicted. Open-source AI, with its transparency and collective development, often outpaces closed-source alternatives in terms of adaptability and trust, he said. As more organizations recognize these benefits, we could indeed see a significant shift towards open-source AI, driving a new era of technological advancement.Nevertheless, the markets may be selling the existing AI ecosystem short. I think the markets are overreacting to the source of the innovation, as opposed to the innovation itself, observed Chirag Dekate, vice president analyst at Gartner, a research and advisory company based in Stamford, Conn.Because of that, it is amplifying jingoistic perceptions, he told TechNewsWorld.It is also amplifying perceptions that you dont need data centers, [and] you dont need GPUs when the underlying facts are completely the opposite, he said. In order to deliver AI at scale, in order to create AI-native societies of the future, you still need underlying infrastructure.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.Related StoriesMore by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Artificial Intelligence

The Stargate project is one massive AI build-out that sounds a lot like Skynet.When coming up with a name, they probably decided Skynet would be too much on the nose and picked a name that had virtually nothing to do with what they were actually building.Skynet, the real villain in The Terminator movies, was an AI that concluded that technicians would kill it once they realized what Skynet could do, so it acted defensively with extreme prejudice.The lesson from the movie is that humans could have avoided the machine vs. human war had they refrained from building Skynet in the first place. However, Skynet is an AGI (artificial general intelligence), and we arent there yet, but Stargate will undoubtedly evolve into AGI. OpenAI, which is at the heart of this effort, believes we are a few years away from AGI.Elon Musk, arguably the most powerful tech person involved with the U.S. government, seemingly doesnt believe Stargate can be built. Right now, he appears to be right. However, things can always change.Lets talk about the good and bad things that could happen should Stargate succeed. Well close with my Product of the Week, the Eight Sleep system.Stargate: The GoodThe U.S. is in a race to create AGI at scale. Whoever gets there first will gain significant advantages in operations, defense, development, and forecasting. Lets take each in turn.Operations: AGI will be able to perform a vast number of jobs at machine speeds, everything from managing defense operations to better managing the economy and assuring the best resource use for any relevant project.These capabilities could significantly reduce waste, boost productivity, and optimize any government function to an extreme degree. If it stood alone, it could assure U.S. technical leadership for the foreseeable future.Defense: From being able to see threats like 9/11 and instantly moving against them to being able to pre-position weapons platforms before they were needed to planning out the optimal weapons to be deployed (or mothballed), Stargate would have the ability to optimize the U.S. military both tactically and strategically, making it far more effective with a range that would extend from protecting individuals to protecting global U.S. assets.No human-based system should be able to exceed its capabilities.Development: AIs can already create their own successors, a trend that will accelerate with AGI. Once built, the AGI version of Stargate could evolve at an unprecedented pace and on a massive scale.Its capabilities will grow exponentially as the system continuously refines and improves itself, becoming increasingly effective and difficult to predict. This rapid evolution could drive technological advancements that might otherwise take decades or even centuries to achieve.These breakthroughs could span fields such as medical research and space exploration, ushering in an era of transformative, unprecedented change.Forecasting: In the movie Minority Report, there was the concept of being able to stop crimes before they were committed using precognition.An AGI at the scale of Stargate and with access to the sensors from Nvidias Earth 2 project could more accurately forecast coming weather events further into the future than we can today. However, given how much data Stargate would have access to, it should be able to predict a growing group of events long before a human sees the potential for that event to occur.Everything from potential catastrophic failures in nuclear plants to potential equipment failures in military or commercial planes, anything this technology touched would at once be more reliable and far less likely to fail catastrophically because Stargates AI would be, with the proper sensor feeds, be able to see the future and better prepare for both positive and negative outcomes.In short, an AGI at Stargates scale would be God-like in its reach and capabilities, with the potential to make the world a better, safer place to live.Stargate: The BadWe are planning on giving birth to a massive intelligence based on information it learns from us. We arent exactly a perfect model for how another intelligence should behave.Without adequate ethical considerations (and ethics isnt exactly a global constant), a focus on preserving the quality of life, and a directed effort to assure a positive strategic outcome for people, Stargate could do harm in many ways, including job destruction, acting against humanitys best interests, hallucinations, intentional harm (to the AGI), and self-preservation (Skynet).Job Destruction: AI can be used to help people become better, but it is mainly used to either increase productivity or replace people.If you have a 10-person team and you double their productivity, but the task load stays the same, you only need five employees AIs are being trained to replace people. Uber, for instance, is eventually expected to move to driverless cars. From pilots to engineers, AGI will be capable of doing many jobs, and humans will not be able to compete with any fully competent AI because AIs dont need to sleep or eat, nor do they get sick.Without significant and currently unplanned enhancement, people just cant compete with fully trained AGI.Acting Against Humanitys Best Interest: This assumes that Stargate AGI is still taking direction from people who tend to be tactical and not strategic.For instance, L.A.s cut of funding for firefighters was a tactically sound move to balance a budget, but strategically, it helped wipe out a lot of homes and lives because it wasnt strategic.Now, imagine decisions like this made at greater scale. Conflicting directives will be increasingly common, and the danger of some kind of HAL (2001: A Space Odyssey) is significant. An oops here could cause incalculable damage.Hallucinations: Generative AI has a hallucination problem. It fabricates data to complete tasks, leading to avoidable failures. AGI will face similar issues but may pose even greater challenges to ensure reliability due to its vastly increased complexity and partial creation by Generative AI.The movie WarGames depicted an AI unable to distinguish between a game and reality, with control over the U.S. nuclear arsenal. A similar outcome could occur if Stargate were to mistake a simulation for an actual attack.Intentional Harm: Stargate will be a huge potential target for those both inside and outside the U.S. Whether to mine it for confidential information, to alter its directives so that it does harm, or just helps some person, company, or government unfairly, this project will have unprecedented potential for security risks.Even if the attack has no intention of doing massive harm, if it is done poorly, it could result in problems ranging from system failure to actions that cause significant loss of life and monetary damage. Once fully integrated into government operations, it would have the potential to take the U.S. to its knees and create global catastrophes. This means the defense of this project from foreign and domestic attackers will also be unprecedented.Self-Preservation: The idea that an AGI might want to survive is hardly new. It goes to the core of the plots in The Terminator, The Matrix, and Robopocalypse. Even the movie Colossus: The Forbin Project was somewhat based on the idea of an AI that wanted to protect itself, though in that case, it was made so secure that people couldnt take back control of the system.The idea that an AI might conclude that humanity is the problem to fix isnt a huge stretch, and how it went about self-preservation could be incredibly dangerous to us, as those movies showcased.Wrapping UpStargate has massive potential for both good and bad outcomes. Assuring the first outcome while preventing the second would require a level of focus on ethics, security, programming quality, and execution that would exceed anything weve ever tried as a race.If we get it right (the odds initially are against this since we tend to learn from trial and error), it could help bring about a new age for the U.S. and humanity. If we do it wrong, it could end us. So, the stakes couldnt be higher, and I doubt we are currently up to the task as we simply do not have a great history of successfully building massively complex projects the first time.Personally, Id put IBM at the head of this effort. It has worked with AI the longest, had ethics designed into the process, and has decades of experience with extremely large, secure projects like this. I think IBM has the highest probability of ensuring better results and fewer bad ones from this effort.Eight Sleep Water Cooled Mattress CoverIve been a user of the Chilipad since the beginning. It has truly improved my sleep performance over the years, but it went through distilled water like crazy, and distilled water isnt that common.So, when my Chilipad Pros started dumping water on the floor, I picked up an Eight Sleep system that has some critical advantages. First, for a large bed, there is only one tall unit to manage and one thick set of hoses that go to the head of the bed. This allows you to place the Eight Sleep system by the headboard rather than at the foot of the bed, which is more convenient for me.It comes with built-in sleep monitoring that requires a subscription (this was optional on the Chilipad). While the Chilipads improved mattress topper was far more comfortable than the old one, the Eight Sleep mattress topper is even better. It looks better, too, though, given that the sheets cover it, that doesnt mean that much. Still, better is better.Image Credit: Eight SleepThe sleep monitor is AI-based, and so far (Ive had mine for several months now), it has worked incredibly well after its learning period, which is when it figures out the best temperatures for you. The bed is generally the perfect temperature at all times of the night.Finally and this was huge for me it doesnt use much water. In the months Ive had this, Ive used something like an eighth of a cup of water and have yet to need to refill it (my guess is Ill have to do this twice a year), which is a huge improvement over the Chilipad, which went through nearly a gallon of water a week, sometimes more.Fortunately, we have tile floors, so I dont have floor damage, but if I had carpet, Id have likely had to replace it and check to make sure I didnt have mold or structural wood damage from the water. This alone would cause me to select the Eight Sleep system over the Chilipad.Also, they have an option that the Chilipad does not have and that I havent yet bought: a pad that goes under the mattress and elevates the bed, which is great for stopping snoring or watching TV.So, because the Eight Sleep system is better than the Chilipad and because its helped me with my sleep issues (getting old sucks), it is my Product of the Week.

Tech Diversity Key To Saving Imperiled Federal Broadband Program: ReportBy John P. Mello Jr.January 22, 2025 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTQuality Leads That Turn Into DealsFull-service marketing programs from TechNewsWorld deliver sales-ready leads. Segment by geography, industry, company size, job title, and more. Get Started Now. An emphasis on fiber optic broadband delivery blunts the effectiveness and reach of a federal program created to close the gap between internet haves and have-nots, according to a report released Tuesday by the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF).The Washington, D.C. tech think tank maintained that the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is financially imperiled by a preference for deployment projects using fiber-optic cables.It called on the Trump administration to reform BEAD to stop favoring overly expensive fiber when low-Earth-orbiting (LEO) satellites could do the same job for less.Taking a technology-neutral approach to broadband deployment would save money that could be better spent on other causes of the digital divide, it argued in its 11-page report.We think tech neutrality would have made sense from the beginning, but certainly in the years since the law was initially adopted, a lot of satellites have been launched, and there have been a lot of fixed wireless deployments, said ITIF Director of Spectrum and Broadband Policy Joe Kane.We dont really need to be putting fiber everywhere if there are viable satellite and fixed wireless options, he told TechNewsWorld.Tech Overruns GuidanceThe legislation creating BEAD was passed three years ago and funded to the tune of US$42.45 billion. The program aimed to help communities overcome the barrier of high front-end broadband deployment costs and get high-speed internet service to every American who wanted it.[I]t has become clear that technological advancements have outrun the programs regulatory guidelines, Kane and Research Assistant Ellis Scherer wrote in the report. The main issue is that BEAD is not technology neutral, they continued. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has designed the program to give it a strong preference for using expensive fiber-optic cables. The result is that the money funds more expensive infrastructure than is needed, which will ultimately limit BEADs impact in bridging the digital divide.The NTIA declined to comment for this story.According to the report, states could save tens of millions of dollars on their deployment efforts if BEAD could better incorporate cheaper yet still high-performing technologies such as fixed wireless broadband, such as 5G internet, and satellite service. Those savings could then be used to address the other principal causes of the digital divide, including affordability for low-income households and digital literacy, it added.The change in administrations can be a good inflection point to take stock of where we are now, Kane said. The satellite ecosystem is a lot different than it was when President Biden took office. The same can be said for the fixed wireless ecosystem.Underfunded From the StartJim Dunstan, general counsel for TechFreedom, a technology advocacy group in Washington, D.C., maintained that BEAD has been underfunded since its inception. $42.5 billion isnt going to get broadband to everybody no matter what technology you use, he told TechNewsWorld.He added that inflation has increased dramatically since the passage of the BEAD legislation. That makes closing the digital divide with $42.5 billion even less likely, he said.Nevertheless, he acknowledged, I think the NTIA really missed the ball on this by giving a nod to fiber. While fiber is expensive, it has advantages, besides performance, over satellite technologies, countered Ry Marcattilio, associate director for research at the Community Broadband Networks Initiative of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a nonprofit organization and advocacy group that provides technical assistance to communities about local solutions for sustainable community development, with offices in Washington, D.C., Portland, Maine, and Minneapolis.Fiber is certainly more expensive to build, but it solves the problem for a geometrically longer time horizon than LEO satellite services, he told TechNewsWorld. Those satellites have to be replaced every five years.This argument that we should build broadband infrastructure in a technology-neutral way I think is a recipe for having to spend thousands of dollars every five years on the same household over and over and over again, instead of running fiber to the vast majority of them and solving the problem once for three or four generations in a row, he said.Niche Solution?Marcattilio contended that satellite internet is a good niche solution for a small number of very rural households. It works well as a niche solution if you dont care about shifting the burden of startup and monthly costs onto households.LEO service will work well for a small number of households, and this has been true since its inception, he added. I think it will be true for a while, but its never going to be a mass market solution the way we all might wish it were.If we handed the $42.5 billion to the satellite providers, you could deliver broadband to 100% of Americans pretty easily, Dunstan contended. The problem is, what kind of service can you squeeze out of those satellites? He explained that satellite networks claim they can support 100 Mbps downloads and 20 Mbps uploads. The problem is when you start adding people to the service, he said. Youre sharing bandwidth. At some point, even with 6,000 satellites up there, its going to be hard to maintain that speed.Kane conceded congestion could be a problem for satellite networks, but its less of a concern for BEAD users. BEAD is targeting people in rural and remote locations, places where broadband has never been deployed before, he explained.In those places, theres not going to be thousands of people signing up at once, he continued. Were talking about areas where there arent thousands of people at all.Fouled in PoliticsJohn Strand of Strand Consulting, an advisory firm focusing on global telecom based in Denmark, argued that the NTIA should not have been charged with administering the program. It was political from the start, he told TechNewsWorld. The FCC should have had responsibility. It has experience in subsidy distribution and provides bipartisan accountability.He contended that BEAD was supposed to be tech-neutral, but the NTIA put its thumb on the scale in favor of fiber solutions. This is because fiber builds typically require more labor. Hence, unions get involved, a Democratic Party constituency, he said.Fiber networks also lend themselves to delivering increasing amounts of video entertainment traffic and advertising from the Big Tech and Hollywood platforms, helpful to another traditional Dem constituency, he added.He also noted that BEAD had climate and DEI requirements, which were not welcome in red states. The NTIA put requirements on the money which Congress did not require, he added. This made the program take longer to administer.Wireless technologies are, in general, more economical, but no one network type is always the right solution for every situation, he explained. Networks are a blend of technologies.I expect Arielle Roth will be named the head of NTIA and predict she will either kill BEAD or remake it into something practical, not political, or aspirational, he observed.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.Related StoriesMore by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Internet

Cisco Announces Radical Approach to AI SecurityBy John P. Mello Jr.January 21, 2025 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTQuality Leads That Turn Into DealsFull-service marketing programs from TechNewsWorld deliver sales-ready leads. Segment by geography, industry, company size, job title, and more. Get Started Now. Cisco is taking a radical approach to AI security in its new AI Defense solution.In an exclusive interview Sunday with Rowan Cheung of The Rundown AI, Cisco Executive Vice President and CPO Jeetu Patel said that AI Defense is taking a radical approach to address the challenges that existing security solutions are not equipped to handle.AI Defense, announced last week, aims to address risks in developing and deploying AI applications, as well as identifying where AI is used in an organization.AI Defense can protect AI systems from attacks and safeguard model behavior across platforms with features such as:Detection of shadow and sanctioned AI applications across public and private clouds;Automated testing of AI models for hundreds of potential safety and security issues; andContinuous validation safeguards against potential safety and security threats, such as prompt injection, denial of service, and sensitive data leakage.The solution also allows security teams to better protect their organizations data by providing a comprehensive view of AI apps used by employees, create policies that restrict access to unsanctioned AI tools, and implement safeguards against threats and confidential data loss while ensuring compliance.The adoption of AI exposes companies to new risks that traditional cybersecurity solutions dont address, Kent Noyes, global head of AI and cyber innovation at technology services company World Wide Technology in St. Louis, said in a statement. Cisco AI Defense represents a significant leap forward in AI security, providing full visibility of an enterprises AI assets and protection against evolving threats.Positive Step for AI SecurityMJ Kaufmann, an author and instructor at OReilly Media, operator of a learning platform for technology professionals, in Boston, affirmed Ciscos analysis of existing cybersecurity solutions. Cisco is right, she told TechNewsWorld. Existing tools fail to address many operationally driven attacks against AI systems, such as prompt injection attacks, data leakage, and unauthorized model action.Implementers must take action and implement targeted solutions to address them, she added.Cisco is in a unique position to provide this kind of solution, noted Jack E. Gold, founder and principal analyst at J.Gold Associates, an IT advisory company in Northborough, Mass. Thats because they have a lot of data from their networking telemetry that can be used to reinforce the AI capabilities they want to protect, he told TechNewsWorld.Cisco also wants to provide security across platforms on-premises, cloud, and multi-cloud and across models, he added.Itll be interesting to see how many companies adopt this, he said. Cisco is certainly moving in the right direction with this kind of capability because companies, generally speaking, arent looking at this very effectively.Providing multi-model, multi-cloud protection is important for AI security.Multi-model, multi-cloud AI solutions expand an organizations attack surface by introducing complexity across disparate environments with inconsistent security protocols, multiple data transfer points, and challenges in coordinating monitoring and incident response factors that threat actors can more easily exploit, Patricia Thaine, CEO and co-founder of Private AI, a data security and privacy company in Toronto, told TechNewsWorld.Concerning LimitationsAlthough Ciscos approach of embedding security controls at the network layer through their existing infrastructure mesh shows promise, it also reveals concerning limitations, maintained Dev Nag, CEO and founder of QueryPal, a customer support chatbot based in San Francisco.While network-level visibility provides valuable telemetry, many AI-specific attacks occur at the application and model layers that network monitoring alone cannot detect, he told TechNewsWorld.The acquisition of Robust Intelligence last year gives Cisco important capabilities around model validation and runtime protection, but their focus on network integration may lead to gaps in securing the actual AI development lifecycle, he said. Critical areas like training pipeline security, model supply chain verification, and fine-tuning guardrails require deep integration with MLOps tooling that goes beyond Ciscos traditional network-centric paradigm. Think about the headaches weve seen with open-source supply chain attacks where the offending code is openly visible, he added. Model supply chain attacks are almost impossible to detect by comparison.Nag noted that from an implementation perspective, Cisco AI Defense appears to be primarily a repackaging of existing security products with some AI-specific monitoring capabilities layered on top.While their extensive deployment footprint provides advantages for enterprise-wide visibility, the solution feels more reactive than transformative for now, he maintained. For some organizations beginning their AI journey that are already working with Cisco security products, Cisco AI Defense may provide useful controls, but those pursuing advanced AI capabilities will likely need more sophisticated security architectures purpose-built for machine learning systems.For many organizations, mitigating AI risks requires human penetration testers who understand how to ask the models questions that elicit sensitive information, added Karen Walsh, CEO of Allegro Solutions, a cybersecurity consulting company in West Hartford, Conn.Ciscos release suggests that their ability to create model-specific guardrails will mitigate these risks to keep the AI from learning on bad data, responding to malicious requests, and sharing unintended information, she told TechNewsWorld. At the very least, we could hope that this would identify and mitigate baseline issues so that pen testers could focus on more sophisticated AI compromise strategies.Critical Need in the Path to AGIKevin Okemwa, writing for Windows Central, notes that the launch of AI Defense couldnt come at a better time as the major AI labs are closing in on producing true artificial general intelligence (AGI), which is supposed to replicate human intelligence.As AGI gets closer with each passing year, the stakes couldnt be higher, said James McQuiggan, a security awareness advocate at KnowBe4, a security awareness training provider in Clearwater, Fla. AGIs ability to think like a human with intuition and orientation can revolutionize industries, but it also introduces risks that could have far-reaching consequences, he told TechNewsWorld. A robust AI security solution ensures that AGI evolves responsibly, minimizing risks like rogue decision-making or unintended consequences.AI security isnt just a nice-to-have or something to think about in the years to come, he added. Its critical as we move toward AGI.Existential Doom?Okemwa also wrote: While AI Defense is a step in the right direction, its adoption across organizations and major AI labs remains to be seen. Interestingly, the OpenAI CEO [Sam Altman] acknowledges the technologys threat to humanity but believes AI will be smart enough to prevent AI from causing existential doom.I see some optimism about AIs ability to self-regulate and prevent catastrophic outcomes, but I also notice in the adoption that aligning advanced AI systems with human values is still an afterthought rather than an imperative, Adam Ennamli, chief risk and security officer at the General Bank of Canada told TechNewsWorld.The notion that AI will solve its own existential risks is dangerously optimistic, as demonstrated by current AI systems that can already be manipulated to create harmful content and bypass security controls, added Stephen Kowski, field CTO at SlashNext, a computer and network security company, in Pleasanton, Calif.Technical safeguards and human oversight remain essential since AI systems are fundamentally driven by their training data and programmed objectives, not an inherent desire for human well-being, he told TechNewsWorld.Human beings are pretty creative, Gold added. I dont buy into this whole doomsday nonsense. Well figure out a way to make AI work for us and do it safely. Thats not to say there wont be issues along the way, but were not all going to end up in The Matrix.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.Related StoriesMore by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Artificial Intelligence

Large-scale weather events are becoming increasingly common, and the tendency to build back after a disaster without upgrading the buildings to prevent another one would be foolish. For decades, Los Angeles (L.A.) has had some of the strongest building codes for earthquakes and localized fires, but large-scale fire events are new to the region and appear to be a trend.Fortunately, there are a variety of technologies and approaches to rebuilding after the fires are put out. Still, aggressive action at the state, county, and city levels will be needed to ensure that policies and rules are updated to provide architects and builders with clear guidance as to what will be allowed for new structures so that this kind of disaster doesnt repeat itself in the future.This week, lets explore strategies like fire-resistant materials, advanced building technologies, and innovative housing solutions to rebuild and adapt for a safer future. Then, well close with my Product of the Week: the Google Pixel Watch 3, which my wife gave me last Christmas.Hardening Homes Against WildfiresI grew up in Orange County, Calif., and trained to fight fires. I now live in Bend, Ore., where we tend to have big fires every year.Last year, my wife asserted that we needed an SUV or trailer big enough to escape a fire should one approach our home. I argued that it would make more sense to harden our house against fire so we could shelter in place because, as we saw in prior fires, and with the L.A. fires, getting out can be problematic given the roads tend to become quickly clogged with evacuating residents and fire teams trying to get in.Like most homes in the area, our house is primarily constructed of wood and unlikely to survive a fire. We replaced the roof with a combination of insulation and metal. We installed solar panels and Tesla batteries in case of power outages and replaced our siding with fire-resistant Hardie Board, which will smoke if heated but wont combust.We are located near a river and have a swim spa, both of which could be used as water sources should the hydrant system become oversubscribed as it did in L.A. Weve also put in rolling shutters that can further insulate the house from a fire and protect the windows from breaking, which helps prevent fire from entering the home. Our next step is to install an external home anti-fire sprinkler system that will help keep the house from combusting, given the house is still wood-framed. The service we are looking at is Frontline, which specializes in home wildfire defense.The cost for this kind of retrofitting is steep. The roof was approximately $20,000, the siding cost around $40,000, the shutters (automatic) were between $2,000 to $5,000 per window, and the Frontline sprinkler system was between $20,000 and $40,000. However, the result is that the structure should now survive external fire events and allow us to shelter in place safely.As I was finishing this column, my wife shared a link to a story of one of the surviving homes.Apparently, the homeowner had paid between $100,000 and $150,000 to install his own fire hydrant and rigged a high-performance pump that took over when the pressure dropped in the hydrant system. He saved his house and two others. So, a little foresight resulted in three families not struggling with insurance companies and FEMA and trying to find a place to live in a saturated rental market.I think the Frontline solution will have the same benefit for me, but this is something to think about.Redesigning Los AngelesAs of this writing, the issue with the L.A. fires is that the homes were not designed to withstand wildfires. The hydrant system and this is the problem with most of them cant maintain pressure in a wildfire, access was problematic during evacuations, the ability to respond to a fire was too slow, and the winds were near hurricane levels, rendering aircraft mostly useless until the winds dropped.This last means that current firefighting technology is inadequate to address fires of this magnitude. Like earthquakes, homes need to be built to withstand the fire rather than relying on central firefighting resources to put the fires out.In addition, the government will have significant revenue problems coupled with substantial increases in spending as it recovers from this damage. Revenues from property taxes will be reduced, and a massive number of people are unlikely to be able to pay even the reduced amount, given that they are now homeless (and possibly jobless). Federal funds wont be enough to rebuild.Many of these now-homeless homeowners have lost their fire insurance, and getting insurance on a new, similar structure may be impossible.These cities need to rebuild fast. They need to build new structures that are far more fire resistant, and they need to rethink many of these areas so that they can be better defended should fires recur, as they likely will.Rebuilding Fast With Manufactured HomesOne way to rebuild fast is by using approved manufactured homes. Im not talking typical mobile homes, which are often considered unsafe in high winds and are not particularly fire resistant, but manufactured homes like Blu Homes that are designed like aircraft to withstand a variety of extreme weather events and can be put up on an existing foundation in a matter of hours. These homes are manufactured mainly with fire-resistant materials and tested to be wind-resistant. Depending on supply, they can be assembled very quickly by relatively small teams of people so that homeowners can get back into their homes rapidly.Blu Homes packages typically include all fixtures and major appliances installed before shipping, making them ideal for this kind of problem. Prices for a Blu Home range from $285,000 to $635,000 but can exceed this range depending on the number of modules and accessories.3D Printing Fire-Resistant HomesThis newer technology typically uses a special cement that can be applied through a nozzle to build a home quickly. 3D-printed homes are highly fire resistant if you dont put a flammable roof on them. They can be built in a few days with a small crew (generally around three to four people) and can be designed to order.A 3D-printed home typically costs in the range of $30,000 and $100,000, though larger homes can be more expensive than the $150,000 to $450,000 cost of a more traditionally built home.Often, building codes have to be altered to accept 3D-printed homes, and given how fast they go up, timely inspections in a disaster area can be problematic during the build. However, this technology is likely the fastest method to rebuild with fewer workers. Although the first 3D-printed homes did look pretty strange, later structures combined building methods. This video shows one of the newer designs that looks far more traditional.Saving money and getting back into a home quickly make this technology nearly ideal, except for one big problem: Few contractors have the needed equipment and training right now. This suggests that a government-funded effort to subsidize training and equipping builders would be timely in L.A. if they want to build back quickly and restore tax revenues.Wrapping Up: Modernizing Building Codes for Fire SafetyWe need to rethink building codes. For instance, this architect specialized in fire-resistant homes, but the citys requirements resulted in avoidable damage due to outdated building codes.This effort needs to start with regulatory agencies rethinking building codes to enable more fire-resistant and advanced building methods to address this need. Buildings need to be safe, but regulatory bodies tend to move very slowly when updating codes for fear of litigation should they get it wrong.Still, unless these governments step up and rethink their codes with regard to these extreme weather events, people are likely to flee their cities as unsafe and unaffordable.As I write this, utility companies are again being accused of starting some of these recent fires.Regardless of the cause, a more effective sensor and response network is essential to catch fires while they are still small and containable. This calls for advanced drone firefighting technologies and greater reliance on satellites for early fire detection. Current technology falls short, and we are not utilizing AI, drones, or sensors to their full potential.One final idea is Arcology, which is a very large structure that can be more easily protected and houses a town or city with living, working, and recreational facilities inside. These would be vastly easier to protect from the increasingly dangerous weather events we anticipate. As our weather degrades, this may be the only viable solution short of migrating to another planet that will reliably keep people safe.Google Pixel Watch 3I used to collect mechanical watches but moved to smartwatches some time ago. Normally, I prefer a watch like the TicWatch Pro 5 that has a more traditional look and will use a metal band. However, a metal band can be uncomfortable by either being a bit too big or too small, and it can scratch your ride when cleaning or working on it if you arent careful.Currently priced at $300 (discounted from $349), Google Pixel Watch 3 features a rubber casing and wristband, offering surprising comfort even when worn tightly for heart rate monitoring. It builds in Fitbit functionality for accurate exercise recording, and there is an LTE version for $100 more (which I didnt get, sadly).The watchs screen is up to 2000 nits, which makes it highly usable outside. However, it burns through the battery far faster (two days) than my old TicWatch. Charging is done through a magnetic charger rather than wireless inductive charging, similar to every smartwatch Ive owned, but not as well as the Apple Watch.The Google Pixel Watch 3 is particularly useful for competitive runners as it measures your time and distance and compares it to past efforts, pushing you to exceed them. It will integrate with other Google devices like the Nest Camera to see images on the watch or Google TV as the remote control, and it will work as an interface to your phone so you can chat with your watch (not all smartwatches do this).The watch also has several safety features, including a timer that will trigger an alert if the time you set expires (say youre on a questionable date or have a sketchy Uber driver) and fall detection that sends alerts if you have a hard fall. You can notify contacts from the watch of your location or let them know you cant answer because you are already on a call.You can buy replacement bands for the watch, including metal ones, but Im fine with the one it came with. The watch is water resistant down to 50 meters. Oh, and you can get up to $300 back if you trade in your old watch (which I didnt do).While the Pixel Watch 3 isnt as feature-rich or has as long battery life as my old TicWatch Pro 5, it is more comfortable, does a better job tracking my sleep and steps, and is easier to use, making it my Product of the Week.

Favorable Refresh Cycle, Windows 10 End Drove 2024 PC Shipment GrowthBy John P. Mello Jr.January 15, 2025 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTQuality Leads That Turn Into DealsFull-service marketing programs from TechNewsWorld deliver sales-ready leads. Segment by geography, industry, company size, job title, and more. Get Started Now. Shipments of personal computers grew in 2024, fueled by businesses replacing old hardware and Microsofts looming end of support for its Windows 10 operating system.According to market research firm Canalys, PC shipments climbed 3.8% in 2024 to 255.5 million units from 246.3 million in 2023. IDC, another research firm, pegged 2024 shipments higher 262.7 million but it also had higher 2023 shipments 260.2 million, for a year-over-year increase of 1%.2024 was a year of modest recovery and a return to traditional seasonality for the PC market as full-year shipments grew 3.8%, Canalys Analyst Kieren Jessop said in a statement.Growth increased slightly in Q4, with shipments rising by 4.6% year on year, signaling a positive trend as we moved to within a year of the Windows 10 end-of-support date, he continued.Holiday season demand was supported by strong discounting by vendors and retailers, enticing consumers who have become increasingly price-sensitive, he stated.Jessop noted that the use of buy now, pay later services supported that trend, with increasing examples of those offerings being leveraged to drive spending on big-ticket items, such as PCs.Meanwhile, he added that in China, government stimulus in the form of consumer subsidies helped to promote spending on notebooks amid a weakening demand environment.Strong Seasonal SalesThough the market has been experiencing a slower return to growth, there was some room for optimism in Q4 as government subsidies in China led to better than expected performance within the consumer segment, IDCs Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers Research Manager Jitesh Ubrani said in a statement.Beyond that, he continued, the U.S. and some European countries also showed strong performance due to end-of-year sale promotions, as well as enterprises continuing on the path of upgrading hardware before the end of support for Windows 10, which is scheduled for October 2025.Year-end sales were a little bit more aggressive than weve seen in recent years, added IDC Program Vice President for Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers Ryan Reith.Much of the promotional activity in the PC space throughout 2024 was aimed at moving inventory, he noted. PC makers wanted to keep things moving, even if it meant smaller margins because getting people on new hardware means other opportunities like selling them new software, he told TechNewsWorld.Commercial shipments, representing about 50% of the global PC market, were also an important part of the growth story. Companies refresh their PCs at a pretty stingy cadence, Reith said. Usually, its between three and four years in most of the developed markets. It can go a little bit longer in developing markets. But the reason they do that is not because the hardware isnt good. Its usually because of the software.Businesses can only go so long before they refresh. Youre not gonna keep a PC for 10 years in a business, added Jack E. Gold, founder and principal analyst with J.Gold Associates, an IT advisory company in Northborough, Mass.Covid brought in a ton of new machines three, three and a half, years ago, he told TechNewsWorld. Most companies refresh on a three-year basis. So were gonna see an uptick in business buying of PCs.End of Days for Win10Jessop added that a significant factor contributing to PC shipment growth in 2024, which will continue in 2025, is the size and age of the installed hardware base. Its never been larger or older than now, he told TechNewsWorld.Thats why Canalys forecasts that commercial PC shipments will continue to outgrow consumer shipments. Consumer price sensitivity and budget prioritization mean many people are delaying their next purchase, Jessop explained. Another factor stoking PC shipments is Microsofts announcement that it will stop supporting Windows 10 in October 2025. Hundreds of millions of those old PCs are ineligible to update to Windows 11, so businesses will be nudged toward refreshing their devices, Jessop said.Microsoft is getting increasingly aggressive in letting customers know that support is going to be ending, and they really need to upgrade to Windows 11, added Ross Rubin, the principal analyst with Reticle Research, a consumer technology advisory firm in New York City.Given the relatively stringent requirements for that, the only way to do so is to purchase a new computer, he told TechNewsWorld.AI PCs Puzzle ConsumersJessop cited the introduction of AI PCs into the market as an influencer of growth. Theyre being positioned as a halo category and are being used to open the door to conversations around a wider fleet refresh, he said.Paul Schell, an industry analyst with global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, sees AI PCs as having a significant impact on growth. We continue to see the introduction of AI PCs, and in particular notebooks/laptops, as being the driving force behind a shortening of refresh cycles, he told TechNewsWorld.In the AI PC segment, challenger Qualcomm has expanded its portfolio to include fewer premium chipsets including an SKU targeting the $600 laptop range which has a democratizing effect, as the first releases from all vendors, including Apple, Intel and AMD, were more premium, he said. Jessop, though, noted that despite the hype around the PCs at CES last week, the computers have failed to generate much excitement among buyers. Many channel partners we surveyed indicated that their customers are either unaware of Copilot+ PCs or are unwilling to pay a premium price for them, even if they are aware, he noted.This dual challenge limits the ability of the category to create a strong aspirational pull or halo effect, he continued. Customers are prioritizing pricing over perceived innovation, suggesting the value proposition for Copilot+ PCs needs stronger articulation or refining.AI PCs will be a big deal in 2025, contended Mark N. Vena, president and principal analyst with SmartTech Research in Las Vegas. With special chips called NPUs [Neural Processing Units], theyre great for tasks like AI, language processing, and predicting things, he told TechNewsWorld. Businesses and people will want PCs that can use AI to make their work easier, more creative, and more automated.Im not convinced yet that AI will be a dominating factor, but as AI usage models become more compelling, AI PCs will become more attractive to the average mainstream user, he said.Eric Compton, director of technology equity research at Morningstar Research Services in Chicago, maintained that 2025 will be the same as 2024 in terms of fueling growth in PC shipments.The continued PC refresh cycle and the need to replace machines purchased during the boom years of 2020 and 2021 will be the primary factors, he told TechNewsWorld. If AI PCs can improve their functionality and generate some more unique demand, this could be a wildcard for additional demand.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.Related StoriesMore by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Personal Computers

Biden Bashed Over AI Diffusion PolicyBy John P. Mello Jr.January 14, 2025 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTEnterprise IT Lead Generation ServicesFuel Your Pipeline. Close More Deals. Our full-service marketing programs deliver sales-ready leads. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! Learn more. An eleventh-hour move by the Biden Administration to regulate how American AI technology is shared with the world is coming under fire from the nations tech sector.According to the White House, the Interim Final Rule on Artificial Intelligence Diffusion (IFR) streamlines licensing hurdles for both large and small chip orders, bolsters U.S. AI leadership, and provides clarity to allied and partner nations about how they can benefit from AI. It added that it builds on previous chip controls by thwarting smuggling, closing other loopholes, and raising AI security standards.The new rule is necessary, it maintained, [t]o enhance U.S. national security and economic strength.[I]t is essential that we do not offshore this critical technology and that the worlds AI runs on American rails, it asserted. It is important to work with AI companies and foreign governments to put in place critical security and trust standards as they build out their AI ecosystems.Stephen Kowski, field CTO of SlashNext, a computer and network security company in Pleasanton, Calif., explained that the rule attempts to strike an essential balance between protecting advanced AI capabilities and maintaining technological leadership.Given the increasing sophistication of cyberthreats and potential misuse of AI systems, securing AI infrastructure and computing resources is crucial, he told TechNewsWorld. Strong controls on AI chip exports can help prevent advanced capabilities from being used in ways that could compromise security or enable malicious activities.Fundamentally, economic innovation and national security are intertwined, added Jeff Le, VP for global government affairs and public policy at SecurityScorecard, a cybersecurity ratings company in New York City.The global competition on sourcing and compute is key for sustained progress in the AI race and pivotal to surpassing Chinas ambitions, he told TechNewsWorld. There have been linkages with concerns about the Chinese backend and digital vulnerabilities that exist for American data and IP. Reducing the interdependence serves as a vital national security imperative and also allows us to bolster our supply chains, which represent significant vulnerability, as seen by Chinas saber-rattling on Taiwan.Derailing Economic GrowthCritics of the rule, which is set to take effect in 120 days, contend it will do more harm than good.Today, companies, startups, and universities around the world are tapping mainstream AI to advance health care, agriculture, manufacturing, education, and countless other fields, driving economic growth and unlocking the potential of nations, Ned Finkle, VP of government affairs at Nvidia, a major maker of chips used for AI applications, wrote in a company blog.Built on American technology, the adoption of AI around the world fuels growth and opportunity for industries at home and abroad, he continued. That global progress is now in jeopardy. The Biden Administration now seeks to restrict access to mainstream computing applications with its unprecedented and misguided AI Diffusion rule, which threatens to derail innovation and economic growth worldwide. In its last days in office, the Biden Administration seeks to undermine Americas leadership with a 200-plus page regulatory morass, drafted in secret and without proper legislative review, he contended. This sweeping overreach would impose bureaucratic control over how Americas leading semiconductors, computers, systems, and even software are designed and marketed globally.And by attempting to rig market outcomes and stifle competition the lifeblood of innovation the Biden Administrations new rule threatens to squander Americas hard-won technological advantage, he argued.While cloaked in the guise of an anti-China measure, these rules would do nothing to enhance U.S. security, he added. The new rules would control technology worldwide, including technology already widely available in mainstream gaming PCs and consumer hardware. Rather than mitigate any threat, the new Biden rules would only weaken Americas global competitiveness, undermining the innovation that has kept the U.S. ahead.Policy Gaps May Undermine US AI LeadershipDaniel Castro, vice president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a research and public policy organization in Washington, D.C., argued that the IFR raises serious concerns about its potential impact on U.S. competitiveness, global AI leadership, and international alliances.By pressuring other nations to choose between the United States and China, the administration risks alienating key partners and inadvertently strengthening Chinas position in the global AI ecosystem, he said in a statement.Confronted with such an ultimatum, many countries may opt for the side offering them uninterrupted access to the AI technologies vital for their economic growth and digital futures and currently, only one country is threatening to cut them off from these technologies.Moreover, Castro added, the IFRs narrow focus on regulating closed-weight AI models while leaving open-weight equivalents unaddressed creates a glaring and counterproductive imbalance.U.S. companies developing proprietary AI models will face stringent regulatory burdens that foreign competitors can evade by leveraging open-source alternatives, he explained. This policy undercuts American firms in the global market and fails to meaningfully mitigate the risks the regulation purports to address.Instead of bolstering national security or safeguarding U.S. technological leadership, the administrations approach risks enabling rivals to accelerate their advancements and surpass the United States in this crucial domain, he contended.The administrations initial restrictions on chip exports were misguided, and the IFR compounds this misstep, he added. Instead of correcting course, the administration persists with counterproductive policies that undermine U.S. leadership in AI while granting rivals a clearer path to dominance. The United States should be working to solidify its position as the global leader in AI by fostering innovation, strengthening alliances, and ensuring the broad availability of U.S. technology to legitimate users worldwide.A strategy rooted in competitiveness not containment will best serve Americas interests in the digital economy of the future, Castro maintained.Short-Term Gains, Long-Term LossesWhile agreeing with the underlying objectives of the IFR, University of Pennsylvania Professor of Engineering Benjamin Lee disagrees with the approach taken to pursue those objectives. Sustaining U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence both the hardware architectures and the software models is essential for national security and economic strength, he told TechNewsWorld.However, Lee pointed out that U.S. leadership means that its companies build a hardware and software ecosystem that forms the foundation for global AI computation. Although administration rulings and export controls produce a narrow, short-term advantage, they may produce a broader, long-term loss to American technological leadership, he said. In the short-term, export controls will slow some countries deployment of the most advanced GPUs and the largest AI data centers, he explained. But in the long-term, export controls will cause other countries to develop their own hardware architectures or software models.Much of this technology rests on openly published resources or code, lowering barriers to building alternatives to the American technology, if needed, he continued. Export controls may also give the United States less visibility into the technological state-of-the-art in other countries.Ten years ago, similar export controls on Intel CPUs that aimed to slow Chinese growth in high-performance scientific computing led to a burst of computer engineering within China, he added. U.S. experts now have less visibility into the state of Chinese supercomputing.Unintended Consequences of AI Lock-In PoliciesThe IFR is trying to establish lock-in at the national level, asserted Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst of the Enderle Group, an advisory services firm in Bend, Ore.While lock-in the practice of forcing customers to use only your technology can work over a short period, as IBM showcased for several decades, it can also create a trend away from your technology, which is also what happened to IBM and could now happen to the U.S., he told TechNewsWorld. This move, while tactically sound, is strategically suicidal for AI technology in the U.S. long term.I think the rule was well-meaning but poorly thought through by people who either dont understand the technology or the market in which the technology operates, he added. It will likely hurt U.S. AI interests and safety in the long term in exchange for questionable short-term benefits, making U.S. companies unable to compete with their foreign counterparts during a time when U.S. tech is superior and assure it wont be that way long-term.Chinas capabilities are increasing faster than the U.S.s largely due to Chinas government taking a far more aggressive stance on assisting with tech advancements, Enderle said. If the U.S. doesnt respond appropriately, the tech market will follow oil, trains, electronics, and automobiles to other countries, most likely China.Kris Bondi, CEO and co-founder of Mimoto, a threat detection and response company in San Francisco, added that one of the most frustrating things about decrees from any administration is that they tend to be all or nothing. Regulations are needed, but they should be on access, monitoring, and the usage of AI, she told TechNewsWorld.While I agree that the use and protection of AI is critical for U.S. national security and economic strength, this form of isolationism will undermine innovation, she said. Not every advancement is produced on U.S. soil. Instead of protecting, the bubble this rule will create will limit the ability of the U.S. to evolve and compete on a global scale.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.Related StoriesMore by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Artificial Intelligence

CES has always been a place to find new cool toys and gadgets. Even though the timing of this show sucks because it comes so soon after the holidays and steals vacations from those that have to prepare for it, I have to admit I look forward to this event every year. This year was heavy in AI, exercise and health equipment, PCs, and robotics.I wont do a Product of the Week this week because each of the products Im going to list could easily qualify, and given how different they are from each other, picking a winner would be hard to defend.Lets start with the product I have the greatest lust for.Bodyfriend 733 Massage ChairImage Credit: BodyfriendI have a massage chair at home and even have massage seats in my car, so I love the concept, but neither of these solutions is close to a real massage. However, if you have a spare $20,000, consider the Bodyfriend 733 Massage Chair.It looks like the offspring of a Transformer and a yellow recliner. What makes this chair so expensive is that it will do physical therapy, which is huge when you get to be as ancient as I am. It forces stretching and mobility, and when used right, it could extend your mobility well into your later years, not to mention that it is less painful than sessions with human physical therapists.In effect, it blends massage functions with arm and leg exercises using heat and unique magnetic hand-like pressure to provide an experience that should be unmatched in this category. It is AI-driven, with 50 automatic programs to fully customize your experience. These features make it worth the massive $20,000 price point.The Bodyfriend 733 Massage Chair is definitely on my wish list of things Im lusting for.Lenovo Legion Go S 8-inch Gaming HandheldImage Credit: LenovoLenovo has been pushing the innovation button hard of late and has two new products that caught my eye. The first is the Legion Go S 8-inch gaming handheld a handheld gaming PC. Using AMDs Ryzen Z2 Go processor and integrated RDNA graphics.This product, currently available for $749 on pre-order at Best Buy, is one awesome little PC. It has dual USB C 4.0 ports (so you could turn it into a mini-PC), runs Windows 11, and has eGPU compatibility, so it will play high-end PC games. Theres no camera, but it does have built-in microphones and speakers, though Id suggest using headphones if you use this on a plane as they are likely to escort you off early if you dont.This device will also switch between PC, Xbox, and Steam games with one click. This device class has been underpowered in the past, but this new AMD unit appears to have power to spare. It is a testament to how far AMD has come over the last decade or so. A more affordable $599 version with less memory will be released in May, though I think $130 for the extra memory is more than worth the additional cost.Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 RollableImage Credit: LenovoFoldable displays have become common on smartphones but havent taken off on PCs yet. Lenovo has brought forward an even more interesting technology, rollable displays, and used it on an impressive little 14-inch laptop that will expand up to 16.7 inches, which is a more acceptable size for a monitor that grants substantially more real estate on an under-four-pound laptop (1.7 kg).I use a 49-inch Dell monitor on my desk, so switching to a 14-inch or smaller laptop screen is really annoying. Expanding that screen to nearly 17 inches would make a huge difference in my productivity, so I look forward to seeing this. It uses Intels Core Ultra processors for strong performance and has Microsoft Copilot+ compatibility.Granted, at around $3,500, this isnt a cheap date, but if you need the space like I do, this could be well worth the extra cost and the wow factor is off the charts. The only downside is that I dont think youll be able to use the screen expansion in a coach seat (it expands up). Otherwise, this is the PC I want in my computer bag in 2025.Nvidia Project Digits: Grace Blackwell Personal AI SupercomputerImage Credit: NvidiaI must admit Ive been expecting Nvidia to do this for some time now, and I wasnt disappointed at CES. The Nvidia keynote set the tone for the show with massive AI, robotics, and autonomous car elements.Still, what really knocked my socks off was the Nvidia Project Digits personal computer. This tiny machine has massive power, making it one of the worlds smallest and most powerful personal supercomputers. It has an Arm CPU and a special Blackwell GPU for incredible power (a full petaflop of FP4 performance), 128GB of unified, coherent memory, and up to 4TB of NVMe (non-volatile memory express) storage.It runs Nvidias Linux (Im guessing Microsoft missed a meeting) called DBX OS, and it provides server-level AI performance in a tiny desktop form factor. This machine is used for prototyping, fine-tuning, and testing AI models, making it critical for those learning how to or who are already developing AI models or running Nvidias Omniverse simulations.Sadly, this wont run PC games, but if you plan to make money on AI rather than spend it, this machine should probably be on your shortlist for 2025. The PC starts at around $3,000 and is about the size of one of the paperbacks of The Lord of the Rings books. I think they should have named it AWESOME (AI Workstation Engineering System Operative Manufacturing Engine), but it is code-named Digits.Tombot Jennie Robotic PuppyOne of the problems with getting older is that you get lonely and lose the ability to care for pets properly. You need companionship, but even if you can care for a pet, there is a real risk that the pet will be traumatized and left homeless if you die.Tombot has created a robotic dog named Jennie that looks and feels like a puppy. It has interactive sensors, responds to voice commands, and makes real puppy sounds, but it doesnt pee on your floor. Basically, it just sits on your lap and keeps you company.This product is for people who are hospitalized or mobility challenged and want the experience of a pet but lack the ability to care for one. This robotic Labrador puppy is expected to cost under $500, which is pretty cheap compared to a real dog.Studies have shown that a pet can significantly improve the quality of life for someone alone, lonely or unable to get out. Tombot Jennie could make a huge difference for someone who has lost their smile due to age or infirmity, so giving them their smile back would be invaluable.Roborock Saros Z70 Robot VacuumI have three robotic vacuum cleaners that are forever running into socks, pet toys, and anything left on the floor. Wouldnt it be great if a robotic vacuum could pick stuff up while it vacuumed? Well, the folks at Roborock must agree with me because they created the Roborock Saros Z70, a $1,000 robotic vacuum/mop with an arm that can pick up stuff off the floor.This robotic vacuum has a docking station where it can dump what it vacuums up, and it will automatically attach or remove the mops depending on need, which is unique to this class of robotic vacuums.The demos I saw of the device suggest the software still needs some work, so I wouldnt buy one of the first of these, but once they get the software sorted out, this would be a killer solution for those of us with pets and kids. Im just hoping it knows enough to identify dog poop before it drags it all over the house (a rather bad experience we had with an older robotic vacuum).Oh, and the vacuum has an interesting Call & Cruise video function that will allow it to roam around your house so you can check on the status of your home remotely and yell at your kids or pets if they are getting into trouble. It is due out around June of this year.OpenDroids R2D3 Ultimate Home RobotImage Credit: OpenDroidsAt $55,000, this is far from a cheap date and well over my budget, but darn if Im not intrigued.This rolling robot is designed to help you around the home, though stairs will be an issue. Fully AI-enabled and with dual lifting arms, the OpenDroids R2D3 is a pretty amazing showcase of just where we are with shipping personal robotics.OpenDroids also has a lower-cost R1D1 single-armed robot for around $18,500, which is showcased using a handheld vacuum cleaner that could do many of the same things.But its the R2D3 that comes closest to Rosie, the Jetsons robot maid we all wanted as kids when I was young. This robot would be particularly useful for someone who is disabled and needs help around the home, though given it is on wheels and not legs, getting up or down stairs would be problematic.The robots body raises and lowers based on need, suggesting it could reach things that would be out of reach unless we had a ladder handy. OpenDroids R2D3 was arguably the most impressive robot at CES this year.Amp Strength TrainerImage Credit: Amp FitIt is January, and like a lot of you, Im considering joining a gym again (I quit during the pandemic), but driving to the local gym early in the morning tends to get old, and often the equipment I want to use was being used by someone else. My final excuse is that viruses seem to be spreading again, making it likely I will want to avoid places where people congregate and spread bodily fluids (sweat).But home exercise equipment takes up a lot of space, and Ive had to get rid of a lot of it over the years. The Amp home fitness machine is AI-driven, has Peloton-like features that work through your phone or tablet, and is both small and simple, making it look good in the home and very easy to use.The equipment costs $1,795, and the subscription to the trainers is a reasonable $23 per month. The price includes delivery and setup. Strength training is increasingly important to maintain mobility, flexibility, and freedom as we age, making it critical that I find a solution like Amp to ensure my future physical well-being. Its due out in early 2025.Realbotix Full-Bodied RobotThe Realbotix full-bodied robot is close enough to the Star Trek: The Next Generation Data character to be scary. At $175,000 to $200,000 for the fully featured version (you can buy the AI bust for $10,000, but I expect it will nag you to buy the rest of her body), this is no cheap date, but it will pack into a suitcase.When unpacked, it will walk and act like a human, though I think it is on the wrong side of the uncanny valley. It comes close enough to what we believe an android will eventually become, but it is a bit freaky, and it makes me want to ensure my future robotic overlords wont be a problem.While Realbotix hasnt achieved its entire mission of making a robot indistinguishable from a human, Melody comes closer than I thought possible, given where we are with todays technology. Its the best showcase for how far we have come to creating our own Data android.Wrapping UpCES 2025 was an impressive show this year, and I didnt even cover flying and autonomous cars, although most of them arent due out until far later in the decade. From robots that will help you recover from an injury, help you work out, keep you company, or clean your house, CES had it all, including some fantastic PCs for gaming, productivity, and creating your own future AI. CES was the place to see the future that is coming at us amazingly rapidly.I can hardly wait until next year. Im kind of hoping Skynet wont be part of next years show, though if you know where John Connor is, you might want to tell him it is past time for him to begin preparing for the future.Happy New Year everyone. Heres hoping our AI and robotic future will be amazing!

Meta Scraps Fact-Checkers, Loosens Content RestrictionsBy John P. Mello Jr.January 8, 2025 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTQuality Leads That Turn Into DealsFull-service marketing programs from TechNewsWorld deliver sales-ready leads. Segment by geography, industry, company size, job title, and more. Get Started Now. Fact-checkers are headed to the dustbin of history at Meta.We will end the current third-party fact-checking program in the United States and instead begin moving to a Community Notes program, Metas Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan announced in a company blog on Tuesday.Kaplan added that Meta would also be addressing the mission creep that has made the rules governing the companys platforms too restrictive and prone to over-enforcement.Were getting rid of a number of restrictions on topics like immigration, gender identity and gender that are the subject of frequent political discourse and debate, he wrote. Its not right that things can be said on TV or the floor of Congress, but not on our platforms.In addition, Meta will be modifying the automated systems that scan its platforms for policy violations. [T]his has resulted in too many mistakes and too much content being censored that shouldnt have been, Kaplan wrote.Going forward, the systems will focus on illegal and high-severity violations, like terrorism, child sexual exploitation, drugs, fraud, and scams, while less severe policy violations will depend on someone reporting an issue before any action is taken.Meta is also making it harder to remove content from the platforms by requiring multiple reviewers to reach a determination in order to take something down and allowing users to see more civic content posts about elections, politics, or social issues should they desire it.Censorship ToolKaplan explained that when Meta launched its independent fact-checking program in 2016, it didnt want to be the arbiter of truth, so it handed the responsibility of fact-checking content to independent organizations.The intention of the program was to have these independent experts give people more information about the things they see online, particularly viral hoaxes, so they were able to judge for themselves what they saw and read, he wrote.Thats not the way things played out, especially in the United States, he continued. Experts, like everyone else, have their own biases and perspectives. This showed up in the choices some made about what to fact check and how.Over time, we ended up with too much content being fact-checked that people would understand to be legitimate political speech and debate, he noted. Our system then attached real consequences in the form of intrusive labels and reduced distribution. A program intended to inform too often became a tool to censor. David Inserra, a fellow for free expression and technology at the Cato Institute, a Washington, D.C. think tank, served on a Facebook content policy team and said he was bothered by the selection bias of the group. The only people who joined to be fact-checkers wanted to moderate content, he told TechNewsWorld. People who wanted users to make their own decisions about content didnt become fact-checkers.My experience with the effectiveness of Facebooks fact-checking was pretty mixed overall, added Darian Shimy, CEO and founder of FutureFund, a fundraising platform for K-12 schools and PTAs, in Pleasanton, Calif.Its safe to say that it added a layer of accountability, but candidly, I found it was too slow and inconsistent to keep up with the pace of viral misinformation, he told TechNewsWorld. Talking to many people in my circle and researching internally, I found that most people felt that relying on third-party fact-checkers created a perception of bias, which didnt always help build trust with users.Not a Victory for Free SpeechIrina Raicu, director for internet ethics at Santa Clara Universitys Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, noted that there was plenty of disinformation showing up on Facebook under the existing fact-checking regime.Part of the problem was the automation of content moderation, she told TechNewsWorld. The algorithmic tools were pretty blunt and missed the nuances of both language and images. And the problem was even more widespread in posts in languages other than English.With billions of pieces of content posted daily, it was simply impossible for human fact-checkers to keep up, added Paul Benigeri, co-founder and CEO of Archive, a company that develops software to automate e-commerce digital marketing workflows, in New York City.Fact-checking felt more like a PR move, he told TechNewsWorld. Sometimes it worked, but it never came close to catching the full volume of misleading posts.Meta scrapping its fact-checking system was questioned by Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor, founder and executive director of CyberWell, a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting antisemitism on social media, headquartered in San Francisco.While the previous fact-checking system has proven to be an ineffective and unscalable method of combatting misinformation and disinformation during real-time conflicts and emergencies, she told TechNewsWorld, the answer cannot be less accountability and less investment from the side of the platforms.This is not a victory for free speech, she declared. Its an exchange of human bias in a small and contained group of fact-checkers for human bias at scale through Community Notes. The only way to prevent censorship and data manipulation by any government or corporation would be to institute legal requirements and reforms on big tech that enforce social media reform and transparency requirements.Flawed Community SolutionMetas Community Notes replacement for fact-checking is modeled on a similar scheme deployed on X, formerly Twitter. The community-based approach is nice in that it deals partially with the scale issue, said Cody Buntain, an assistant professor at the College of Information at the University of Maryland. It allows many more people to engage with this process and add context.The problem is that community notes, while it can work in the large aggregate scale for occasional pieces of information or the occasional story that goes viral, it is generally not fast enough and gets totally overwhelmed with new major events, he explained.We saw this in the aftermath of the attacks in Israel back in October of 2023, he continued. There were people highly engaged in the community note process, but Twitter as a platform just got swamped and overwhelmed with the amount of misinformation going on around this event. When the platforms say, Were going to wash our hands of this and let the community deal with it, that becomes problematic in these moments where the only people who really can deal with massive influxes of high-velocity, low-quality information are the platforms, he said. Community notes arent really set up to deal with those issues, and those are the moments when you want high-quality information the most.Ive never been a fan of community notes, added Karen Kovacs North, clinical professor of communication at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California.The type of people who are willing to put notes on something are usually polarized and passionate, she told TechNewsWorld. The middle-of-the-roaders dont take time to put their comments down on a story or a piece of content.Currying Trumps FavorVincent Raynauld, an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Emerson College, noted that while community moderation sounds great in theory, it has some problems. Even though the content might be flagged as being disinformation or misleading, the content is still available to people to consume, he told TechNewsWorld.So even though some people might see the community note, they might still consume that content, and that content might still have an impact on their attitudes, knowledge, and behavior, he explained.Along with the Kaplan announcement, Meta released a video of CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailing the companys latest moves. Were going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platforms, he said.Zuckerbergs announcement has nothing to do with making Metas platforms better and everything to do with currying favor with Donald Trump, asserted Dan Kennedy, a professor of journalism at Northeastern University, in Boston.There was a time when Zuckerberg cared about his products being used to promote dangerous misinformation and disinformation, about the January 6 insurrection and Covid, he told TechNewsWorld. Now Trump is returning to office, and one of Zuckerbergs rivals, Elon Musk, is running amok with Trumps indulgence, so Zuckerberg is just getting with the program.No system of fact-checking and moderation is perfect, he added, but if Zuckerberg really cared, hed work to improve it rather than getting rid of it altogether.Musk as Trend SetterDamian Rollison, director of marketing for SOCi, a comarketing cloud platform headquartered in San Diego, pointed out an irony in Metas latest move. I think its safe to say that no one predicted Elon Musks chaotic takeover of Twitter would become a trend other tech platforms would follow, and yet here we are, he told TechNewsWorld.We can see now, in retrospect, that Musk established a standard for a newly conservative approach to the loosening of online content moderation, one that Meta has now embraced in advance of the incoming Trump administration, he said.What this will likely mean is that Facebook and Instagram will see a spike in political speech and posts on controversial topics, he continued.As with Musks X, where ad revenues are down by half, this change may make the platform less attractive to advertisers, he added. It may also cement a trend whereby Facebook is becoming the social network for older, more conservative users and ceding Gen Z to TikTok, with Instagram occupying a middle ground between them.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.Related StoriesMore by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Social Networking

AI Dominates 2025 Cybersecurity PredictionsBy John P. Mello Jr.January 7, 2025 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTEnterprise IT Lead Generation ServicesFuel Your Pipeline. Close More Deals. Our full-service marketing programs deliver sales-ready leads. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! Learn more. When it comes to cybersecurity in 2025, artificial intelligence is top of mind for many analysts and professionals.Artificial intelligence will be deployed by both adversaries and defenders, but attackers will benefit more from it, maintained Willy Leichter, CMO of AppSOC, an application security and vulnerability management provider in San Jose, Calif.We know that AI will be used increasingly on both sides of the cyber war, he told TechNewsWorld. However, attackers will continue to be less constrained because they worry less about AI accuracy, ethics, or unintended consequences. Techniques such as highly personalized phishing and scouring networks for legacy weaknesses will benefit from AI.While AI has huge potential defensively, there are more constraints both legal and practical that will slow adoption, he said.Chris Hauk, consumer privacy champion at Pixel Privacy, a publisher of online consumer security and privacy guides, predicted 2025 will be a year of AI versus AI, as the good guys use AI to defend against AI-powered cyberattacks.It will likely be a year of back-and-forth battles as both sides put to use information theyve gathered from previous attacks to set up new attacks and new defenses, he told TechNewsWorld.Mitigating AIs Security RisksLeichter also predicted that cyber adversaries will start targeting AI systems more often. AI technology greatly expands the attack surface area with rapidly emerging threats to models, datasets, and machine language operations systems, he explained. Also, when AI applications are rushed from the lab to production, the full security impact wont be understood until the inevitable breaches occur.Karl Holmqvist, founder and CEO of Lastwall, an identity security company based in Honolulu, agreed. The unchecked, mass deployment of AI tools which are often rolled out without robust security foundations will lead to severe consequences in 2025, he told TechNewsWorld.Lacking adequate privacy measures and security frameworks, these systems will become prime targets for breaches and manipulation, he said. This Wild West approach to AI deployment will leave data and decision-making systems dangerously exposed, pushing organizations to urgently prioritize foundational security controls, transparent AI frameworks, and continuous monitoring to mitigate these escalating risks. Leichter also maintained that security teams will have to take on more responsibility for securing AI systems in 2025.This sounds obvious, but in many organizations, initial AI projects have been driven by data scientists and business specialists, who often bypass conventional application security processes, he said. Security teams will fight a losing battle if they try to block or slow down AI initiatives, but they will have to bring rogue AI projects under the security and compliance umbrella.Leichter also pointed out that AI will expand the attack surface for adversaries targeting software supply chains in 2025. Weve already seen supply chains become a major vector for attack, as complex software stacks rely heavily on third-party and open-source code, he said. The explosion of AI adoption makes this target larger with new complex vectors of attack on datasets and models.Understanding the lineage of models and maintaining the integrity of changing datasets is a complex problem, and currently, there is no viable way for an AI model to unlearn poisonous data, he addedData Poisoning Threats to AI ModelsMichael Lieberman, CTO and co-founder of Kusari, a software supply chain security company in Ridgefield, Conn., also sees poisoning large language models as a significant development in 2025. Data poisoning attacks aimed at manipulating LLMs will become more prevalent, although this method is likely more resource-intensive compared to simpler tactics, such as distributing malicious open LLMs, he told TechNewsWorld.Most organizations are not training their own models, he explained. Instead, they rely on pre-trained models, often available for free. The lack of transparency regarding the origins of these models makes it easy for malicious actors to introduce harmful ones, as evidenced by the Hugging Face malware incident. That incident occurred in early 2024 when it was discovered that some 100 LLMs containing hidden backdoors that could execute arbitrary code on users machines had been uploaded to the Hugging Face platform.Future data poisoning efforts are likely to target major players like OpenAI, Meta, and Google, which train their models on vast datasets, making such attacks more challenging to detect, Lieberman predicted. In 2025, attackers are likely to outpace defenders, he added. Attackers are financially motivated, while defenders often struggle to secure adequate budgets since security is not typically viewed as a revenue driver. It may take a significant AI supply chain breach akin to the SolarWinds Sunburst incident to prompt the industry to take the threat seriously.Thanks to AI, there will also be more threat actors launching more sophisticated attacks in 2025. As AI becomes more capable and accessible, the barrier to entry for less skilled attackers will become lower while also accelerating the speed at which attacks can be carried out, explained Justin Blackburn, a senior cloud threat detection engineer at AppOmni, a SaaS security management software company, in San Mateo, Calif.Additionally, the emergence of AI-powered bots will enable threat actors to execute large-scale attacks with minimal effort, he told TechNewsWorld. Armed with these AI-powered tools, even less capable adversaries may be able to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and disrupt services on a scale previously only seen by more sophisticated, well-funded attackers.Script Babies Grow UpIn 2025, the rise of agentic AI AI capable of making independent decisions, adapting to their environment, and taking actions without direct human intervention will exacerbate problems for defenders, too. Advances in artificial intelligence are expected to empower non-state actors to develop autonomous cyber weapons, said Jason Pittman, a collegiate associate professor at the school of cybersecurity and information technology at the University of Maryland Global Campus in Adelphi, Md.Agentic AI operates autonomously with goal-directed behaviors, he told TechNewsWorld. Such systems can use frontier algorithms to identify vulnerabilities, infiltrate systems, and evolve their tactics in real-time without human steering. These features distinguish it from other AI systems that rely on predefined instructions and require human input, he explained.Like the Morris Worm in decades past, the release of agentic cyber weapons might begin as an accident, which is more troublesome. This is because the accessibility of advanced AI tools and the proliferation of open-source machine learning frameworks lower the barrier for developing sophisticated cyber weapons. Once created, the powerful autonomy feature can easily lead to agentic AI escaping its safety measures. As harmful as AI can be in the hands of threat actors, it can also help better secure data, like personally identifiable information (PII). After analyzing more than six million Google Drive files, we discovered 40% of the files contained PII that put businesses at risk of a data breach, said Rich Vibert, co-founder and CEO of Metomic, a data privacy platform in London.As we enter 2025, well see more companies prioritize automated data classification methods to reduce the amount of vulnerable information inadvertently saved in publicly accessible files and collaborative workspaces across SaaS and cloud environments, he continued.Businesses will increasingly deploy AI-driven tools that can automatically identify, tag, and secure sensitive information, he said. This shift will enable companies to keep up with the vast amounts of data generated daily, ensuring that sensitive data is continually safeguarded and that unnecessary data exposure is minimized.Nevertheless, 2025 could also usher in a wave of disappointment among security pros when the hype about AI hits the fan. CISOs will deprioritize gen AI use by 10% due to lack of quantifiable value, Cody Scott, a senior analyst for Forrester Research, a market research company headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., wrote in a company blog.According to Forresters 2024 data, 35% of global CISOs and CIOs consider exploring and deploying use cases for gen AI to improve employee productivity as a top priority, he noted. The security product market has been quick to hype gen AIs expected productivity benefits, but a lack of practical outcomes is fostering disillusionment.The thought of an autonomous security operations center using gen AI generated a lot of hype, but it couldnt be further from reality, he continued. In 2025, the trend will continue, and security practitioners will sink deeper into disenchantment as challenges such as inadequate budgets and unrealized AI benefits reduce the number of security-focused gen AI deployments.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.Related StoriesMore by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Cybersecurity

Quantum Computing Remains Experimental Despite 2024 Advances: ForresterBy John P. Mello Jr.January 6, 2025 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTQuality Leads That Turn Into DealsFull-service marketing programs from TechNewsWorld deliver sales-ready leads. Segment by geography, industry, company size, job title, and more. Get Started Now. Quantum computing made significant strides in 2024, but its yet to demonstrate a practical advantage over classical digital computers, according to a recent trends report released by Forrester Research.Despite improvements in qubit count, coherence time, and gate fidelity, the technology remains experimental, with broad-scale applications likely still a decade away, maintained the report written by Forrester Vice President for Emerging Technologies Brian Hopkins and Principal Analyst David Mooter, with Stephanie Balaouras, Mike Gualtieri, Charlie Dai, James McGlynn, and Jen Barton.Key developments in optimization, quantum simulation, and quantum machine learning show promise for specific industries like finance and pharmaceuticals, yet challenges such as high error rates and scalability persist, the analysts added.Roger A. Grimes, author of Cryptography Apocalypse: Preparing for the Day When Quantum Computing Breaks Todays Crypto, published by Wiley, acknowledged that practical, usable quantum computers havent made a public appearance yet, but some useful applications of quantum have been deployed, such as quantum random number generators, networks, sensors, and all sorts of other devices.No one has publicly shown a problem solved by a quantum computer that is super usable in the real world, he told TechNewsWorld. Today, your wristwatch has more power than what we have in quantum computers. But that is changing. We are making steady progress, and the day when quantum computers turn into sufficiently-capable quantum computers is not far away.Quantum Solving Problems NowTrevor Lanting, chief development officer at D-Wave Systems in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, agreed that gate-model quantum computing has not yet demonstrated a practical quantum advantage but pointed out that annealing quantum computing is delivering value over classical computing today.Gate-model quantum computers use quantum logic gates to perform operations on qubits, similar to how classical computers use logic gates to perform operations with digital bits. The gate model is more suitable for general-purpose computing, while annealing quantum computing is more narrowly focused on optimization problems, such as workforce scheduling and portfolio optimization.D-Wave has been using annealing quantum technology in a hybrid solution to solve complex optimization problems. For example, it was able to optimize the mobile network resources of Japans largest telecom provider, NTT Docomo, in 40 seconds, compared to 27 hours using classical methods.Forresters report predicted that gate-based quantum computing platforms will likely remain experimental for 10 to 15 years, a prediction that Lanting agrees with. However, annealing quantum computing which is uniquely suited for solving complex optimization problems is here now, he told TechNewsWorld.Optimization problems are everywhere from workforce scheduling to vehicle routing and D-Waves annealing quantum computers are already delivering measurable results for customers, he said.Lanting maintained that D-Waves technology helped Pattison Food Group, a Canadian grocery chain, reduce an 80-hour scheduling task to just 15 hours an 80% time savings and at the Port of Los Angeles, working with SavantX, cargo handling efficiency was improved by 60%.These arent theoretical use cases, he said. Theyre real businesses solving real problems right now with quantum and hybrid quantum computing.Optimization Apps Will Lead WayWhile D-Waves annealing platform has been touted by the company for years as superior to gate-based solutions for optimization problems, Forrester pointed out that those claims were challenged in 2024.Q-CTRL has challenged D-Waves claim by using IBMs gate-based quantum computers to outperform D-Wave for an optimization problem, the analysts wrote. Gate-based algorithms offer the potential for greater solution speedups as qubit counts and quality increase.This makes Q-CTRLs claim an interesting challenge to D-Waves self-proclaimed lead in optimization, they continued.Optimization is an important application for quantum computing because it matters to most industries, Forrester noted. For finance, representative areas include risk modeling, trading strategy optimization, asset pricing optimization, and portfolio optimization, it explained. Health care use cases include optimizing radiotherapy treatments, generating targeted cancer drug therapies, and creating protein models, it added. And for energy, use cases include energy exploration, seismic survey optimization, reserve and spot trading optimization, and reservoir optimization.In the near term, if quantum is going to go beyond experimentation and generate a return on investment for users, its going to be through optimization tools, explained Erik Garcell, director of quantum enterprise development for North America for Classiq, a global quantum computer software maker.Optimization offers more near-term benefits because it scales so well on quantum computers, he told TechNewsWorld. Even having a few quantum resources, you know, 100 qubits on your quantum chip, means a lot for that kind of problem.The bigger the problem, the harder it is for a classical computer to solve, he continued, but that many more resources arent needed for a quantum computer because of how it scales. So, youre going to actually see applications in quantum for very large optimization problems that are causing classical computers to chug.Quantum Machine Learning Shows Signs of LifeGrimes, though, contends focusing on optimization can be too limiting for quantum. Optimization completely rules out the chances of brand-new advancements, he said. Im not sure if quantum is like the AI world, but it is getting the same sort of feel.It really feels like we are possibly on the cusp of tremendous, sudden improvement, he continued. There are so many organizations making steady improvement. It seems strange to me to think that not one of those vendors out of the thousands wouldnt make a substantial breakthrough.Another 2024 quantum breakthrough cited by the Forrester analysts is the emergence of quantum machine learning. They explained that quantum-as-a-service (QaaS) has expanded access to quantum computing, enabling breakthroughs in quantum machine learning. Researchers are now developing quantum neural networks, quantum support vector machines, and quantum algorithms for complex tasks like image and natural language processing.These advancements are pushing the boundaries of what machine learning can achieve, making it a critical area of growth, they wrote. Training AI models on classical computers is time-intensive and computationally expensive, especially with deep learning networks, observed Skip Sanzeri, co-founder and COO of QuSecure, a maker of quantum-safe security solutions, in San Mateo, Calif.Using an algorithm like the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm, along with other quantum enhancements like gradient descent, could speed up the training of machine learning models by orders of magnitude, he told TechNewsWorld.Sanzeri also pointed out that AI on classical systems is not exponentially scalable, so classical machines tend to struggle with combinatorial problems like optimization. Since quantum computers are exponential in nature, they will be able to handle these combinatorial problems much better, he explained.Quantum algorithms can also be used to process and analyze large data sets more efficiently using the Quantum Fourier Transform, leading to faster insights and real-time decision-making, he noted.Generative AI models, too, can be challenging for classical computing systems, he added. Superposition and entanglement quantum properties can be used to generate data distributions more efficiently and accurately, he said.Preparation for Quantum Threats Becoming UrgentAs quantum advances push the boundaries of what machine learning can achieve, theyre also driving a focus on quantum security. With NIST [the U.S. Department of Commerces National Institute of Standards and Technology] setting standards for quantum-resistant algorithms, the need to safeguard data against future quantum threats is becoming more urgent, the Forrester analysts wrote.They added that cryptography and machine learning hold substantial potential, but their benefits remain years away. Shors algorithm could one day break todays PKI cryptography, they noted, although this is likely a decade or more in the future.Sanzeri disagreed with Forrester. With the use of ever increasingly powerful AI, combined with other breakthroughs in the quantum computing industry like Googles Willow chip we could see that 10-year time frame getting cut in half, he argued.Meanwhile, Grimes cautioned that government intelligence agencies working to break quantum-susceptible encryption dont need a fully-capable quantum computer to break todays cryptography. They will make quantum devices that are specialized in breaking encryption, just like they do with todays regular non-quantum encryption breaking, he said.The NSA isnt using laptops, servers, and regular cloud computing to break crypto, he continued. They use specialized crypto-devices, maximized for crypto-breaking efficiency. Certainly, they are doing the exact same thing with quantum cracking. It would be insane to do anything else if I was in their shoes. He also warned about using Shors algorithm, created in 1994, as a benchmark for what kind of quantum power is needed to crack PKI cryptography. I think there is a good chance that the U.S. government has access to another algorithm that is far more efficient than Shors, he contended. If youre fixated on Shor as the standard to meet, youre probably not focused on the right algorithm.Even if a quantum solution that can crack PKI is 10 years away, the time to act on that possibility is now, declared Tomas Gustavsson, chief PKI officer at Keyfactor, a digital identity management company, in Cleveland. A decade is a short time for this type of migration, as it is an immense undertaking, he told TechNewsWorld.We need to act now for the migration to be completed in a decade. Organizations must not start in a decade, Gustavsson said. So, when saying that a practical Shors algorithm is at least a decade away, Forrester is reiterating what NIST and others are saying. I also hope its at least a decade away. If not, we are in trouble.Winter of Quantum Investor Discontent?Despite quantums promise, Forrester predicts a winter setting in on investment in the technology. Although the number of quantum computing deals hit a record in 2023, investment dollar totals peaked in 2021 and have declined sharply since as generative AI excitement has claimed investor funding, Forresters analysts wrote.They added that geopolitical pressures, like vendors in China transferring their IP to academia, are also at play. This will put pressure on startups, causing many to seek exits with little to show, they noted.On the plus side, the investment winter will delay the time when quantum computing platforms become powerful enough for mainstream use, which means a delay of Y2Q: the day when quantum computers break state-of-the-art asymmetric cryptography, the analysts reasoned.However, they warned about procrastinating about Y2Q. Although this development may buy more time to implement post-quantum encryption, they urged security leaders to begin planning now on how to protect against harvest now, decrypt later vulnerabilities, where encrypted data is gobbled up by adversaries now with an eye on decrypting it later with a quantum computer. Forresters glum weather forecast isnt shared by everyone. Growth estimates for the quantum computing market by industry forecasters range from a low CAGR of 27.04% over the next eight years to a high CAGR of 32.7% over the next five years, growing from slightly over a billion dollar market in 2024 to US$6.95 billion to $16.22 billion market in the early 2030s.We would not expect a quantum winter but may see the same level of investment or increased investment in 2025, Sanzeri predicted. There has been significant progress in quantum computing in 2024 with some breakthroughs that are fundamental. We cannot find a reason why there would be at least the same level of investment in 2025 as in 2024.The recent relative downturn in quantum investment is really just a factor of the original, overstated quantum hype dying down at the same time as AI took off, added Grimes. Quantum will have plenty of investment, and as the steady improvements turn into sufficiently-capable quantum computers, the needed investment will flood back. Im not concerned.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.More by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Emerging Tech

In the ever-evolving world of technology, 2024 brought some exciting innovations alongside an alarming number of trends that expose the pitfalls of our current tech culture.From overhyped AI gimmicks to privacy erosion and unsustainable hardware practices, here are some of the worst tech trends of 2024 that have frustrated consumers and industry leaders and are unlikely to abate next year.1. Proliferation of Useless AI ToolsGenerative AI dominated 2023, but by 2024, the trend spiraled into absurdity. Countless companies have rolled out AI-powered tools that address non-existent problems or create entirely new ones.AI now generates everything from poorly edited videos and unintelligible blog posts to automatically written emails that require human intervention to fix. Tools that claim to offer productivity boosts often result in inefficiencies because of their flawed outputs.The flood of low-quality AI products has undermined trust in genuinely helpful AI innovations. Small businesses and consumers alike are overwhelmed by tools with overblown marketing promises.Many of these deficient AI solutions add another layer of automation without offering real value. This overproduction has created noise, making distinguishing truly transformative tools from mere gimmicks harder.2. Decline of Digital PrivacyFormer Oracle CEO Larry Ellison once famously said, Privacy is Dead. However, privacy has been resurrected and killed more times than a Tyrannosaurus Rex in a Jurassic Park sequel.Digital privacy continues to erode in 2024 as big tech companies push the boundaries of data collection under the guise of personalization. This year, the rise of AI-driven surveillance tools has become particularly concerning. Facial recognition is now integrated into everything from retail stores to public transportation systems without sufficient regulation or oversight.Hyper-targeted ads across platforms and connected technologies have reached a tipping point. New technologies scrape data from various devices at unprecedented levels, often without users consent or precise opt-out options. For instance, smart home devices have increasingly come under fire for tracking conversations and usage patterns far beyond their intended purpose.Perhaps most worrying is the resurgence of the were improving your experience excuse. Tech companies increasingly bypass GDPR-like protections by using convoluted terms of service agreements that make opting out prohibitively tricky. This unfortunate phenomenon sets a dangerous precedent for future interactions between consumers and technology.3. Tech Subscription FatigueMost tech users will identify with this trend. In 2024, the everything-as-a-service model has reached absurd new heights. From software to hardware, companies are turning more and more products into monthly subscriptions. Consumers are now paying subscriptions for products that were traditionally one-time purchases: car manufacturers charging for heated seats, printers requiring monthly fees to unlock ink usage, and even smart home locks demanding ongoing payments to access advanced features.The subscription model has become synonymous with monetizing basic functionality. What started with streaming platforms has now spread to nearly every product category. It has become overwhelming, financially unsustainable, and increasingly frustrating for many consumers. Companies risk alienating their customer base by prioritizing recurring revenue over user experience.4. Return of Vaporware and OverpromisesTech companies have revived a troubling trend of overhyping products that dont exist in usable forms. This year has been marked by grand promises of game-changing devices and services that either underdeliver or never materialize.One example is the push for AI PCs, where marketing campaigns tout devices with unmatched capabilities that remain largely theoretical. Similarly, augmented reality (AR) platforms have made headlines, yet most consumers still lack meaningful use cases beyond demo videos and niche applications.This trend mirrors the vaporware hype of the early 2000s, where buzzwords like digital transformation were attached to half-baked products. In 2024, buzzwords such as quantum-ready and AI-powered are increasingly slapped onto underdeveloped offerings to ride the tech wave, undermining consumer trust.While I am optimistic about the rise of PCs (both Windows and Mac, x86, Arm or Apple Silicon-based) with integrated AI technology at the silicon level, the jury is still out if mainstream consumers have drunk the AI Kool-Aid.5. E-Waste From Unnecessary UpgradesThe unsustainable tech upgrade cycle will worsen in 2025. Major hardware manufacturers continue to push minor annual refreshes of devices while retiring older models earlier than necessary. Smartphones, laptops, and wearables now seem designed for obsolescence, forcing users to replace functional devices far too soon. This approach has generated alarming levels of electronic waste. Consumers face limited repair options as companies lock down parts and restrict third-party fixes, leading to devices being thrown away rather than repaired. Additionally, the push for disposable devices contradicts the industrys public commitments to sustainability.In parallel, new hardware launches often emphasize gimmicky features, like foldable screens or AI-generated wallpapers, that offer little utility. Meanwhile, genuine performance improvements are increasingly incremental, leaving users questioning whether upgrades are worth the cost.6. Dystopian Applications of AI SurveillanceAI surveillance tools have seen rapid adoption, particularly in workplaces and schools. Employers increasingly turn to AI monitoring software to track productivity by analyzing keystrokes, screen activity, and facial expressions. This invasive approach erodes trust between employers and employees while normalizing intrusive surveillance practices.Similarly, schools have begun implementing AI tools to monitor students attention and behavior, often with flawed algorithms. These technologies reinforce punitive environments and disproportionately impact vulnerable communities. Critics argue that such systems prioritize control over genuine engagement or well-being.7. Social Medias Algorithmic DeclineSocial media algorithms in 2024 have become worse than ever, prioritizing engagement metrics over quality content. Platforms are flooded with clickbait, misinformation, and sensationalized posts designed to keep users scrolling endlessly. Genuine connection once the core promise of social media has been replaced by a relentless pursuit of ad revenue.Adding insult to injury, platforms have ramped up the push for paid verification and algorithmic boosts, forcing creators to pay for visibility. This pay-to-play model exacerbates inequality in content discovery, pushing smaller creators to the margins.Conclusion: A Call for Responsible InnovationWhile technology has the potential to improve lives, 2024 has brought forth trends that emphasize profit, surveillance, and short-term gains over long-term innovation and ethical considerations.From the glut of useless AI tools to worsening e-waste and dystopian surveillance practices, its clear that the tech industry needs a course correction.Consumers, regulators, and innovators alike must push for responsible, meaningful advancement since ignoring it will allow these trends to define the future of technology.

Apple, Samsung Users Unimpressed by AI on Their Phones: SurveyBy John P. Mello Jr.December 18, 2024 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTEngage with IT decision makers and key influencers. TechNewsWorld's B2B marketing services deliver sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Fill your funnel and grow revenue with our lead gen expertise. Get Started Today. While artificial intelligence has juiced the marketing departments of smartphone makers like Apple and Samsung, it isnt generating much enthusiasm among users, according to a survey released Monday by a used electronics selling site.The survey by SellCell of more than 2,000 iPhone and Samsung users found that 73% of iPhone and 87% of Samsung users said that the AI features on their phones added little to no value to their smartphone experience.Users low opinion of the AI on their phones reflects confusion in the market. While companies are saying now with AI or AI included, theyre not telling users what to do with it, said HP Newquist, executive director of The Relayer Group, a business consulting firm in New York City.Theyre telling users, you now have access to AI. You can now use AI, he told TechNewsWorld. Theyre just saying, here it is. Youve got it now. And quite frankly, thats not a compelling reason to use AI.Were getting AI thrust at us, and I think consumers are completely nonplussed by that, he observed.Were finding the same exact thing in corporate America, he continued. Theyre getting told, you need to use generative AI. You need to use agentic AI. But theyre not being told how specifically it can benefit them. Until thats made clear both at the consumer and the corporate level, you are going to have a fairly tepid response from first-time users.AI Not Well UnderstoodPrivacy concerns may be dampening enthusiasm about AI among iPhone users, contended Mark N. Vena, president and principal analyst at SmartTech Research in Las Vegas. Apple users have high expectations for data protection and skepticism about whether the features offer meaningful improvements beyond what competitors already provide, he told TechNewsWorld.Limited compatibility, with AI features likely restricted to newer iPhone models, may also alienate users of older devices, he added.On the Samsung side of things, Vena continued, Galaxy AI lacks differentiation from other Android-based AI offerings, which may reduce excitement. Samsungs features might appear incremental rather than groundbreaking.Additionally, inconsistent user experiences with Samsungs software and AI across devices could contribute to lower enthusiasm, compared to the more tightly integrated Apple ecosystem, he said. Greg Sterling, co-founder of Near Media, a market research firm in San Francisco, asserted that one of the central problems with Apple Intelligence is that its not well explained or well understood by the public. Apple needs to do more to educate people about what the features are and when they will be available, he told TechNewsWorld.Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies, a technology advisory firm in San Jose, Calif., agreed. AI integration in smartphones is new and not well understood by the average user, he told TechNewsWorld. Google and Apple need to do more tutorial-like posts that show users the new AI features and how to use them.AI requires you to learn how to prompt, and its not easy, added Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst at the Enderle Group, an advisory services firm in Bend, Ore.So we have a lot of training in front of us with regard to users knowing how to use this stuff, he told TechNewsWorld. I would expect the survey to be bad this early simply because Apple Intelligence hasnt been available for very long, and people just dont know how to use it yet.Long Rollout Dampens ExuberanceSterling added that the multiple features clustered under the rubric Apple Intelligence are rolling out incrementally over time, so users havent really seen the concrete benefits yet. In a year or two, I suspect this survey would have different outcomes, he predicted.Will Kerwin, an equity analyst with Morningstar Research Services in Chicago, also cited the drawn-out rollout of Apple Intelligence as a source of consumer apathy toward AI on their iPhones. We believe itll take consumers time to fully bake in how Apple Intelligence is most useful to them and adapt personal habits, he told TechNewsWorld.This all informs our view that Apple iPhone sales driven by AI will be stronger in fiscal 2026 than they are currently in fiscal 2025, he said.Runar Bjrhovde, an analyst with Canalys, a global market research company, added: The stark reality is that most people dont buy phones because of AI. They buy because of different features. If we think of the type of features that AI has enabled, they are not that interesting right now, he told TechNewsWorld.Its honestly not that surprising right now that AI features might disappoint people a bit because theyre not as advanced in reality as some of the marketing and messaging say they are, he said.Bjrhovde maintained that many tech firms are having an existential crisis, where theyve lost the huge hype and interest that people have had in them for the last 20 years.They have to come up with new stories to try and get people interested, he contended. So, AI is a gold mine right now. I believe it can give us some really interesting innovations in a few years. But for now, it is this marketing bubble where people dont actually know what to believe.Decline in LoyaltyThe SellCell survey also found that about one in six iPhone users (16.8%) said they would consider switching to Samsung if it offered better AI features. In contrast, only 9.7% of Samsung users said theyd consider moving to Apple for better AI features.It added that the percentage of users loyal to Apple has declined from 92% in 2021 to 78.9% now. That compares to a decline from 74% to 67.2% over the same period for Samsung.In general, the excitement around Apples annual upgrade cycle has declined a lot, said Ross Rubin, the principal analyst at Reticle Research, a consumer technology advisory firm in New York City.These AI features are an attempt to inject something new and exciting into the experience, he told TechNewsWorld. But consumers are looking for a baseline of functionality and dont think the platform is as much of an issue anymore.Still, the finding that so many Apple users might be willing to jump ship for AI is surprising, he acknowledged. Apple users just tend to be far more likely to opt into Apple services, he explained. Because of the App Store investments, you cant necessarily move all that stuff to another platform. So that makes the reported greater willingness to switch surprising.However, not everyone sees Apples fan base as waning. We dont see brand loyalty slipping in our surveys, Bajarin declared. We expect Apple to have a blockbuster holiday season, with iPhone sales and drawing many switchers to the Apple ecosystem.We also dont think loyalty to Apple is going away, Kerwin added. In our view, iPhone users are significantly likely to remain iPhone users, and AI features are just another means of locking them into Apples ecosystem.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.Related StoriesMore by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Artificial Intelligence

Many amazing products launched this year, and well cover some of them. However, unlike most years when the decision was difficult, one product stood out well above the rest as revolutionary. What made it particularly special was that it was a bold bet that paid off and helped its manufacturer become one of, and for a time, the most valuable company in the world.Typically, I dont do a Product of the Week for this column as it focuses on the Product of the Year, but I ran into a confection that Ive become almost addicted to, thanks to my love of dark chocolate, so Im compelled to squeeze it in. Its from a small company called Sweet as Fudge. So, before we revisit 2024 and discuss some of the standout products, lets talk about this chocolate.The product is Dark Chocolate Triple-Dipped Malt Balls. Theres also a sugar-free version thats surprisingly good. A pound costs around $15, but these things are so good. I keep them in the refrigerator so they melt more slowly in my mouth. If you are into chocolate and like malt (chocolate malt is my go-to drink in the summer), give them a try this holiday season.Now, on to the main event. Lets begin with the contenders that didnt quite make the top of my list and conclude with the one that earned the title of Product of the Year.Fisker OceanImage Credit: FiskerIts a shame this company didnt survive the year, but the Fisker Ocean which I had planned to buy was arguably the best electric SUV on paper. It had a bunch of cool, unique features like a solar panel roof and a pull-up table so the driver could enjoy a snack or meal in the car without making a mess.This eSUV was well-designed and had decent range, and I thought it was one of the best-looking vehicles in the market. Operating inefficiencies and apparently some financial mismanagement killed the company and the car. RIP Fisker.2025 Audi RS e-tron GT PerformanceImage Credit: Audi CommunicationsI bought a used 2022 Audi e-tron GT after Fisker went under. Right after I bought it, Audi released the 2025 model, and it is a beast. It has nearly 1,000 HP, giving it blazing performance (more than I need as my base car is quick enough), hydraulic suspension allowing it to adjust its height nearly instantly, and the car is beautiful.Oh, they added around 100 miles of range over my car, making it far more useful for a daily driver. At $171,000, it is out of my budget range, but wow, what a car!Hyundai Ioniq 5 NImage Credit: HyundaiI think Hyundais approach with the Ioniq 5 N electric car is the way to go for those who miss the engine sound and gear shifting in a manual gas car. This Hyundai is arguably the most fun electric car in the world. It does a decent job faking engine sounds, and shifting feels like you are shifting a car even though this is emulated and actually makes the car slower. But it is incredibly fun to drive and reasonably quick (0 to 60 in 3.25 seconds).The Hyundai Ioniq 5 Nisnt badly priced for a performance car that lists under $70,000, and its likely quicker than your buddys far more expensive exotic car.OpenAIs ChatGPTWow, talk about an offering that changed the world! ChatGPT is the core technology under both Apple and Microsofts AI efforts. Its Dall-E capability for images is impressive (as is Googles Gemini, which I also use), and it has changed the way many of us write software, create images, and even write complete works.ChatGPT has been advancing incredibly quickly, and with artificial general intelligence (AGI) it promises to change how we create what we read. ChatGPT and its peers are starting to change what we watch. It is a truly revolutionary platform, though Googles Gemini Advanced is no slouch either. While ChatGPT launched before 2024, it became the basis for both Microsofts and Apples huge AI efforts this year.Windows 365 LinkEver since the PC came out, weve essentially been asking to go back to terminals. We love the freedom the PC gives us, but we arent crazy about the complexity of supporting them ourselves, particularly at scale. Microsoft helped create the problem, and, to be fair, it has mitigated a lot of the related pain by improving Windows.However, Windows 365 Link is a nearly instant, on-terminal-like device that promises and mostly delivers Windows capabilities with the reliability and simplicity of a terminal. Its kind of a Back to the Future product and a bit of a man-bites-dog story. I expect this to be the future of the PC eventually.BlueskyImage by Author / GeminiEver since Elon Musk bought Twitter, many of us have been looking for an alternative. Each time we got excited about a new effort, we were disappointed.Bluesky has been the closest thing to a better Twitter so far, and more and more people I know have migrated to it. Given its distributed architecture, it also has some technical advantages over X/Twitter.Its moderation, in my opinion, appears to be better than Twitters. It was a huge step in the right direction, and I hope it makes it into our future.Google Pixel 9 Pro FoldThe Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is now the phone I carry, and it is awesome. The updates to the phone have been helpful. It locks if it moves suddenly, as if someone stole it, for instance. It also locks if you are reading in a plane when it takes off, but you can just log in again. It folds out into a small tablet, so if I dont have my glasses handy, I can still make the text large enough to read. Speaking of reading, it is the best e-book alternative since the discontinued Microsoft Duo.I wish Google had used a Qualcomm Snapdragon instead of its own processor, but the difference isnt as bad as it was with the first Fold. Im just loving this phone.Huawei Mate XT Tri-Fold SmartphoneHuawei has demonstrated remarkable ingenuity by navigating technological restrictions to deliver one of the most desirable smartphones in the world, despite some initial growing pains because this was almost an entirely new platform.Given that Huawei wasnt allowed to buy the technology from the U.S., this three-screen phone that went from iPhone to iPad size is a technical marvel. It showcases where we will likely go with phones and set itself apart from competitive devices this year.Huawei remains impressive, considering the problems posed by the conflicts between the U.S. and China this year. Impressive work.Lenovo Auto Twist AI PC ConceptLenovo is another company that stood out this year in terms of sheer innovation. The product that most caught my eye was the ThinkBook Auto-Twist AI PC Concept.What makes this PC different is that it automatically pans the screen and on-board camera based on where you are in the room. This feature is particularly handy for those of us who have to move around during team calls or when you need to watch a how-to video while doing something else.Watching that screen swivel automatically so it remained focused on the user was awesome. As AI advances, I expect well see even more innovation when it comes to AI PCs.HP Print AIFor me, 2024 was defined by AI innovations. The HP Print AI offering, released in September, directly addresses a lot of our aggravation with printers, automatically formatting things for pages without cutting off the borders and positioning the data and graphics so that each print job is perfect.Weve all had issues when printing a document and not having it lay up properly. Spreadsheets are the worst, often printing one line or column on a page and then kicking out hundreds of useless print copies that make little or no sense, like this:Image Credit: HPHP Print AI will auto-format print jobs, so the printed document is useful. The AI analyzes your print job based on past training to determine the optimal format. Then, it auto-configures for that result so each print job is as perfect as the AI can make it, like this:Image Credit: HPPrinter technology needs to be moved into this decade, and this software from HP should do that. Expect to see more advances like this from many companies that plan to use AI to address customer frustrations with their products.Disney BDX RobotsThe BDX robots are part of Project Groot and use Nvidias Jetson robotic technology. Youll see them at Disney parks, and eventually, youll be able to buy one.This little guy is the closest to a real Star Wars-like robot Ive ever found. I wish Id been smart enough to invest in Lucas Films back then rather than spending my money on going to that first Star Wars movie over and over and over again. BDX showcased how far robotics has come, and well be seeing a lot of amazing robots you can buy in 2025.Nvidia Blackwell B200 GPUImage Credit: NvidiaWhen Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang first presented Blackwell, it was a fantastic event that showcased how a company should release a revolutionary product. This GPU is massive in terms of performance and power requirements, and it is forcing a gigantic pivot from air to water cooling in cloud and enterprise data centers as the world pivots to AI.The backstory on this part and Nvidias entire AI effort is a tale of legend. Back in the early 2000s, when only IBM was really working with AI, Jensen Huang became convinced it was a much more near-term future event. For much of the next 20 years, Nvidias financial performance dragged as the company basically bet its future on AI. Had Huang not been a founder, he likely would have been fired.Then OpenAI asked for help, and Nvidia provided it. Thanks to Nvidia, we now have generative AI that works. Blackwell is the current culmination of this work, a massive GPU that is extremely power-hungry but also incredibly efficient. While it uses a ton of power, it does much more work than any group of other GPUs or NPUs can do with that same power.AMDs Threadripper CPU was equally innovative, but it was designed for existing market needs. Nvidia was working on Blackwell before AI became a market, and thats just never done. By taking what seemed to be an unreasonable risk and executing on it, Nvidia caught its competitors sleeping, and now Nvidia is nearly synonymous with AI.Back when there were pensions, CEO compensation was more reasonable, and boards more supportive of long-term strategic moves, an effort like this wouldnt have been that unusual. But in todays world, you just dont see that.Nvidias Blackwell effort gave me hope that the U.S. might be able to return to a more strategic future. It caught the imagination of a world increasingly focused on and concerned about AI. Blackwell was a once-in-a-generation leap in performance and a massive bet that could have gone badly, so it is my choice for Product of the Year.

As a lifelong New York Giants fan, its been hard to suffer through the 2024 season, culminating last weekend in the Giants most recent debacle, losing to the below-average New Orleans Saints on a botched field goal in the last seconds of the game.In my disgust in the aftermath of the game, it occurred to me: Is present-day Intel the equivalent of the 2024 Giants? It sounds like a ridiculous question, but the similarities are eerie.Lets face it: The two titans of their industries the New York Giants in professional football and Intel in technology have struggled through severe scrutiny and poor performance the past few years. Both were once at the top of their fields, making headlines and defining periods, so its easy to draw analogies between them.For the Giants, simply beyond the sheer shoddiness of the on-field performance over the past few years (the team hasnt been to the Super Bowl since 2012), management made one of the most idiotic decisions of all time before the season began by extending a questionable long-term contract to franchise quarterback Daniel Jones and allowing Saquon Barkley to sign with its divisional rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, Barkley is having one of the greatest seasons of all time for a running back.As for Intel, the company has struggled to maintain market share in the PC space over the past few years, conceded the smartphone space after it passed over Apples request for a suitable silicon solution for its iPhone in 2007 (which would have ecosystem ramifications that Apple has taken advantage of), not to mention missing the overall industry movement to Arm-based architectures for mobile devices and even laptops.Both organizations are currently under fire for their (at least perceived) inability to give fans and customers a modicum of faith that turnarounds were in the making. Although there are similarities between their difficulties, a deeper examination shows that Intels problems are essentially distinct from the New York Giants of 2024 and are being addressed in a way that distinguishes the company from them.Giant IssuesThe New York Giants, a legendary NFL team that has won four Super Bowls, was under tremendous pressure going into the 2024 campaign.Recent years have been characterized by inconsistent play, dubious coaching choices, and poor player development. In todays NFL, the team has had difficulty adjusting when creative play-calling and analytics-driven tactics are paramount.The Giants have mostly failed to take advantage of their chances despite brief flashes of potential, which has created discouraged supporters and experts doubtful of their prospects, as well as exasperating season ticket holders like me.Difficulties Facing IntelIntel used to be the undisputed leader in its industry. The company literally controlled the semiconductor market for many years, establishing the chip innovation and performance benchmark. But a slew of upheavals in the 2020s put its hegemony in jeopardy. The emergence of rivals like AMD and Nvidia and the advanced manufacturing technology pioneered by Taiwan Semiconductor have compelled Intel to confront its weaknesses.The leading cause of Intels problems is the companys delay in switching to sophisticated manufacturing nodes. Due to setbacks with its 10nm and 7nm nodes, Intel lost market share in essential categories, while Taiwan Semiconductor and Samsung advanced with their state-of-the-art 5nm and 3nm processes. These challenges were exacerbated by the increasing use of Arm-based architectures, especially in AI and mobile applications, where Intels x86 architecture has struggled to stay competitive. Although the Giants and Intel face formidable obstacles, their responses distinguish them. The Giants have frequently seemed hapless, switching quarterbacks and coaches in an attempt to find a short-term solution. Due to their inability to develop a clear plan of action, fans and experts are beginning to doubt the franchises long-term survival.In contrast, Intel has attempted to take serious action to overcome its obstacles. Under the direction of CEO Pat Gelsinger, the company launched a daring plan to regain its place at the forefront of the semiconductor industry.The core of this endeavor is Intels IDM 2.0 strategy, which aims to increase its role as a foundry for third-party clients while modernizing its manufacturing capabilities. By doing this, Intel hopes to take on Taiwan Semiconductor and Samsung head-to-head as a manufacturing giant and chip designer.Additionally, Intel has increased its focus on cutting-edge technologies. Its attempts to create specialized chips for data centers and its investments in AI-specific hardware, such as the Gaudi AI accelerators, demonstrate a proactive approach to the upcoming wave of computing innovation. In fairness to Intel, these actions have revealed a business willing to own up to its mistakes while working to influence the future rather than merely responding to it.Changes in Culture and LeadershipAn organizations ability to overcome hardships is largely dependent on its leadership. With numerous coaching staff changes and a front office that frequently appears out of step with the teams demands, the Giants have had difficulty establishing a permanent leadership structure. This unpredictability has led to a lack of direction and identity on the field. Watch any of the Giants losses over the past few seasons, and its hard to dispute this.In contrast, Intel enjoyed reasonable unity and support when Pat Gelsinger rejoined the company. Gelsinger prioritized a return to Intels engineering foundation while cultivating an innovative and accountable culture. Ambitious aims and a willingness to take chances characterized his tenure, which contrasts sharply with the Giants more cautious strategy.Legacy Is a Double-Edged SwordThe Giants and Intel are both burdened by their histories. The Giants rich past makes them feel both proud and burdened, which makes their recent setbacks even more disappointing. Because of the teams illustrious background, supporters find it challenging to make sense of its current hardships in light of its former success. Being a pioneer in its industry comes with expectations, which Intel also struggles with. The impact of the companys errors is exacerbated by its standing as a technology innovator. However, Intels heritage offers distinct advantages, including a wealth of technical know-how, solid industry ties, and a still enviable reputation, especially with legacy PC OEMs like HP, Dell, and Lenovo. These resources have put Intel in a position to build on its prior achievements and focus on future expansion.Extended Future for IntelThe timelines of their various sectors represent one of the most considerable distinctions between Intel and the Giants. NFL teams follow an annual cycle, and their fortunes frequently fluctuate depending on how one season turns out. Failures are front-page news, and because of their immediacy, it has become challenging for the Giants to bounce back from in the near future.Timelines are lengthier in the tech sector, though. Years pass during semiconductor development cycles, and strategic choices cannot have their full effects for ten years.Intel has more time to accomplish its ambitions and bounce back from setbacks because of this longer horizon. While Intels problems have been more gradual and (in theory) allow for course correction and progressive development, Wall Street is typically not patient, and investors get nervous when they dont sense positive signs of leading indicators like market share gains and revenue increases.Intels Path AheadDespite its struggles, Intel is not a business that is content to let things go. Intel is setting itself up for a long-term resurgence with its IDM 2.0 strategy, AI initiatives, and redoubled emphasis on silicon excellence.Some now contend that Intel will never regain its position as the semiconductor industry leader, and its issues are so complicated that they might not be resolved. Due to the companys manufacturing delays, AMD and Nvidia have increased market share, further widening the gap as Intel prepares for the 18A production phase.Furthermore, Intels foundry sector has had trouble attracting customers, which has made its recovery attempts more difficult. Pat Gelsingers resignation highlights the need for strong leadership and creative ideas after his tenure saw a significant drop in stock value. Restoring investor trust and industry stature will need strategic restructuring and a fresh emphasis on execution, which will be highly challenging due to internal resistance to whoever takes over as Intels leader.Its easy to forget that many analysts welcomed Gelsingers return to Intel in 2021 with hope because they thought his familiarity with the firm, his grasp of the silicon industry, his focus on customers, and his visionary attributes were precisely what was required to turn the giant around. However, under his direction, Intel had endeavored to overcome several obstacles, such as a lag in manufacturing improvements and heightened competition from rivals like AMD and Nvidia. Due to these problems, Intels stock value significantly dropped, wiping out almost $150 billion in market capitalization.Although some have claimed that Gelsinger just needed more time to carry out his plan effectively, the companys board thought differently and finally decided that a drastic change in direction, starting with a change in CEO, was required.Despite being interesting and even amusing, the connection between Intel and the 2024 New York Giants ultimately falls short considering all that.Even if both organizations are going through difficult times, Intels approach shows a degree of strategic vision and flexibility that the Giants have not yet shown. Intel is building the foundation for a future that solidifies its position as a leader in the technology industry, not just battling to remain relevant. If Intel is a behemoth, it is undergoing reinvention rather than decline, which it must do if the company is to grow.There are reasons to be optimistic for Intel. Its Lunar Lake family of processors is showing favorable performance and battery life comparisons to Apple Silicon and even offerings from Qualcomm, which has made a great deal of favorable news with its Snapdragon Elite solutions for laptops.High Stakes for Intels Next CEOIntels incoming CEO, whoever that might be, will have one of the greatest corporate turnaround challenges in tech history. The company will have to dramatically cut headcount, which makes Intels cut of 15,000 people earlier in the year look like a pinprick.Intel seems committed to its foundry strategy, which will require years of investment before it yields significant returns. In a post-Biden Administration world, the company may be unable to rely on the federal government for further investment in its foundry business. To top all of that, some customers may not be comfortable with Intels church and state strategy of manufacturing non-Intel chips in Intel factories. Intels chances for success will largely depend on its new leader. I advise hiring someone from the outside who is not an Intel insider who might be influenced by legacy Intel personnel who have developed a survival mentality and are reluctant to take risks. Intels new CEO will likely be the most-watched tech hire of 2025, as their leadership will provide critical insights into the companys future.The new CEO will also have to deal with a management team who have remained the many cuts the company has gone through and might be unwilling to make the necessary changes Intel must undertake, as legacy management will be in survivor mode and unlikely to take risks.As for the Giants, Im horrified to state that Im not optimistic. For the first time in my 46 years as a season ticket holder (shelling out over $200,000 during that period), Im contemplating giving them up. Or maybe Ill just play Madden 2025 on my Xbox One for the remainder of the season and not waste my team watching Big Blue suffer.Fortunately for Intel, it is not at that point. The company controls its destiny, but time is not on its side, so its incoming CEO must show results quickly and tangibly.