Here are the top tech news stories from the past week or so:
- Roku Data Breach: More than 15,000 Roku users were affected by a data breach where account login credentials were compromised via third parties. The company is notifying impacted customers and working with law enforcement to conduct an investigation.
- AI-Generated Content and ‘Cognitohazards’: The Guardian discusses the concept of harmful ideas that can be spread through AI-generated content. The article highlights the potential dangers of hyperrealistic deepfakes and emotionally manipulative videos.
- Generative AI in Health: Generative AI is increasingly being integrated into healthcare, with big tech firms and startups developing tools for personalized patient experiences and analyzing medical databases. However, there are concerns about its readiness and limitations, particularly in handling complex medical queries or emergencies.
- WD Ultrastar Transporter: Western Digital has introduced the Ultrastar Transporter, which supports up to 368 TB of NVMe flash storage. It’s portable, weighing approximately 30 pounds, and is designed to provide reliable storage solutions in challenging environments.
- Solar Panel Efficiency: Researchers at Lehigh University have created a solar cell material with up to 190% external quantum efficiency. This development pushes beyond conventional efficiency limits and shows great promise for enhancing future solar energy systems.
- WhatsApp’s Age Limit: Meta has lowered the minimum age to use WhatsApp from 16 to 13 in the UK and EU. A number of campaign groups have criticized the move and urged the company to reverse the decision.
- Yann LeCun on AI: Yann LeCun, one of the ‘godfathers of AI’ and Meta’s chief AI scientist, has stated that AI won’t take over the world or permanently destroy jobs. He believes that intelligent machines will usher in a new renaissance for humanity.
