Prototype ‘Brain-like’ chip promises greener AI, says tech giant:
A prototype “brain-like” chip could make artificial intelligence (AI) more energy efficient, its developer, technology giant IBM, has said. Concerns have been raised about emissions associated with warehouses full of computers powering AI systems. IBM said its prototype could lead to more efficient, less battery draining AI chips for smartphones. Its efficiency is down to components that work in a similar way to connections in human brains, it said. Compared to traditional computers, “the human brain is able to achieve remarkable performance while consuming little power”, said scientist Thanos Vasilopoulos, based at IBM’s research lab in Zurich, Switzerland.
Panasonic Sues Xiaomi and Oppo for Using Its 4G Technology:
Xiaomi and Oppo have gotten in trouble again over a patent infringement case against Panasonic. This time it has to do with Panasonic’s 4G technology patents, which the company says that Xiaomi and Oppo have been using without permission. The case was taken to Europe’s Unified Patent Court (UPC), which was recently set up by the European Union. Its goal is to make it easier and less expensive to enforce patents in the area. Panasonic vs Xiaomi and Oppo is the first major case it’s going to handle.
Telecom Sector Revenue Sees Over 18% Growth During FY23:
The telecom sector revenues increased to Rs. 1,518 billion in the last two years. According to the document available with Media, in the financial year 2022-23, the revenue of the telecom sector grew by 18.71 percent to Rs. 824 billion, whereas in 2021-22 the telecom revenues were Rs. 694 billion. According to the PTA document, the telecom sector attracted US$276 million in the last two years. In the financial year 2021-22 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was US$ 186 million, whereas in the financial year 2022-23, FDI decreased to US$ 108 million.
AI Can Listen to Your Keyboard Sounds to Steal Passwords and Private Data:
First, it was our webcams and microphones, but now our keyboards aren’t safe either. People using laptops are now in danger of having their confidential data, such as private messages, passwords, and credit card details, compromised solely through their typing activity. Recent research paper authored by a consortium of British university scholars underscores that artificial intelligence possesses the capability to discern keystrokes based solely on auditory cues, achieving an accuracy rate of 95%. These attacks are only expected to become more sophisticated given how fast AI is developing these days.
Google Docs Will Now Let You Sign Documents Digitally:
Google has unveiled its initiative to enhance user convenience by integrating native support for eSignatures into Docs and Drive. This move aims to streamline the process of requesting signatures and digitally signing documents directly within Google’s platform. Having undergone over a year of alpha testing, the feature is now being introduced in beta, facilitating the request and application of eSignatures. Numerous software solutions, including cloud-based platforms like Dropbox and local applications such as Adobe Acrobat, already offer eSignature capabilities. Google’s inclusion of this functionality aligns more with achieving parity among its competitors rather than pioneering novel territory. This addition means that users will have to switch less between other apps to get a signature.
Sony Reports Healthy Revenue Growth Thanks to Strong PS5 Sales:
Sony has released its quarterly report spanning from April to June, marking Q1 within the company’s fiscal calendar. The collective revenue surged by 33%, propelled by a substantial uptick in the domains of game and network services, music, imaging, and financial services. Although the specific count of dispatched gaming consoles wasn’t disclosed in the report, the Game & Network Services division exhibited a robust 27% annual growth. Furthermore, the company anticipates a continued upswing in sales over the forthcoming months.
Nokia 150 2023 and 130 Music Launched for Only $22:
HMD Global is introducing an updated lineup to the Nokia feature phone range, debuting two novel models: the elegant 150 and the music-centric 130. The Nokia 150 (2023) strikes a balance between aesthetics and durability. Crafted from colored polycarbonate, the phone’s construction avoids issues like paint chipping or surface scratching. Moreover, it boasts an IP52 rating, safeguarding it against dust intrusion and light water splashes. The textured rear panel and the metallic-feel function keys on the front enhance the device’s visual appeal. Other than these design elements, the 150 has the usual functionalities you would expect from a feature phone and is not too different from the Nokia 150 from three years ago.
IT Minister Congratulates Himself at Farewell of PSEB and NITB Board of Directors:
Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque on Wednesday presided over farewell meetings of the Boards of Directors of Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and National Information Technology Board (NITB) in the committee room of the Ministry of IT & Telecom. Addressing the meetings, the Federal Minister for IT said that he always gave topmost priority to merit and transparency, adding that due to the cooperation of the entire team of the Ministry of IT and its attached departments, he succeeded in taking steps owing to which the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector of Pakistan got an important place.
This OnePlus Phone Will Have More RAM Than You’ll Ever Need:
The long-standing rumors about the OnePlus Ace 2 Pro, set to debut on August 16, have been confirmed as true. OnePlus has officially disclosed that the Ace 2 Pro will indeed feature an impressive 24 GB of LPDDR5X RAM. That much RAM sure isn’t necessary on a smartphone, but it does make for a good headline. While the storage capacity for the 24 GB RAM variant has not been disclosed by OnePlus, AnTuTu suggests it will be equipped with a generous 1 TB of onboard storage. Additionally, an alternative version with 16 GB of RAM will be available, possibly offering either 256 GB or 512 GB of storage, although this detail has not been confirmed.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is Still the Strongest Foldable on the Market:
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 was announced only two weeks ago, but it is already appearing on durability tests as per tradition. To absolutely no one’s surprise, the Z Fold 5 is still the strongest foldable in the series. It can easily keep out a handful of dust, grime, and tiny rocks. The phone has no official dust proofing, but that doesn’t seem to matter here. The external screen is encased in glass, as one might expect, resulting in a scratch resistance of 6 on the Mohs hardness scale while more profound scratches show up at level 7. The fingerprint sensor starts to malfunction after a few scratches. After approximately 10 seconds of exposure to an open flame, the upper plastic layer of the inner screen starts to melt, while the outer screen requires a longer duration due to its glass build.
Here is Your First Official Look at Xiaomi Mix Fold 3:
Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 is becoming official in China next week on August 14 alongside the Redmi K60 Ultra and Pad 6 series. The upcoming folding phone has already appeared in teasers before, but now we are getting our first official look. Xiaomi has shared marketing images for Mix Fold 3 as part of its ongoing teaser campaign. These images fully reveal what was partly shown in previous teasers. Have a look at the image below.
Little Cheverell ‘cut off’ without internet for three weeks:
People living in a rural village have been left “cut off” after having no internet or landline connection for three weeks. Little Cheverell, in Wiltshire, has been left without connectivity after an oak tree fell and damaged a telephone pole on 20 July. Parish council vice-chairman, Mike Phillips, said: “The whole village has been left completely cut off.” Openreach said it is “really sorry” for delays to repair work. Mr Phillips said there is “a lot of anger towards Openreach in the village”. “There are about 140 people in the village and 10% are over 75 with many also living alone,” he said.
Why it matters where your data is stored:
Mattias Åström glances out of the office window in France. “Look at all the beautiful roads and bridges here,” says the founder and chief executive of Evroc. “You can see what we built hundreds of years ago. Now, we’re letting foreign companies build our critical infrastructure.” He’s talking about digital infrastructure: the hardware and software, data centres and communications networks that power modern business. There’s growing concern in Europe about digital sovereignty, the region’s ability to control its own data and technology. For example, Europe is heavily dependent on US firms for cloud services – the remote computing and data storage services dominated by US companies including Amazon and Microsoft.
Public bodies scrutinised for FOI request failings:
Five public bodies have been named and shamed for failures to meet expected standards in responding to Freedom of Information Act (FOI) requests. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has revealed action against the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Environment Agency (EA) and Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHPRA). They were sent enforcement notices. The ICO also sent recommendations to Tower Hamlets Council and Liverpool City Council. The ICO is the UK’s independent regulator for data protection and information rights law.
No 10 suggests UK still EU member in tweet gaffe:
Downing Street has had to correct a tweet, after it suggested the UK is still a member of the European Union. In a post on X, the new name for Twitter, the official No 10 account used a graphic saying the UK “is home to twice as many AI companies as any other EU country”. It was deleted and a new graphic, saying “any EU country” instead, was reposted 45 minutes later. The UK left the trading bloc in January 2020, after the 2016 referendum. The post was promoting the government’s investment in artificial intelligence, including an announcement of £13m for use of the technology in healthcare such as surgical robotics.
Elon Musk to auction Twitter signs and other memorabilia:
Multi-billionaire Elon Musk is putting Twitter building signs and other items from the company up for auction just weeks after the firm’s rebranding as X. Among the 584 lots on offer are coffee tables, outsized bird cages, and oil paintings of images that went viral. Also listed are tens of desks and chairs, a DJ booth, and enough musical instruments to equip a band. Since buying the social media platform last year, Mr Musk has cut thousands of jobs in an effort to lower costs. The auction has been called “Twitter Rebranding: Online Auction Featuring Memorabilia, Art, Office Assets & More!” One of the Twitter signs on offer is still fixed to the company’s headquarters on 10th Street in San Francisco.
Smart socks on trial at Exeter dementia care home:
A pair of socks that can track levels of anxiety and distress in people with dementia is being tested in a care home in Exeter. The Old Rectory is part of a University of Exeter trial to test the benefits of so-called Smart Socks. The socks are a wearable technology that monitor heart rate, sweat levels and motion. Project leaders said it was hoped they could prevent falls, as well as improve wellbeing and promote independence. The first resident to be fitted with the socks is 83-year-old John Piper.
Is AI a threat to the world of fabric design?:
Last year my partner and I thought it would be funny to send Christmas cards designed by artificial intelligence (AI). So we went to one of the AI-powered websites that create pictures from a text description. We asked it to draw a springer spaniel going down a hill on a sledge. In the style of Salvador Dali. Once we got the image, and emailed it to a local printers, all we then had to do was send the cards to our bemused friends and family. Eight months is a long time in AI, and this concept of asking AI to make you a specific design that you have in mind has spread to the world of fabrics. One of the first firms to enter this field is UK textiles business The Millshop Online. Its AI-powered Fabric Genie tool will turn your text description into a pattern that it will then print onto as many metres of cotton, or a cotton-linen mix, as you want. Carl Fisher, the company’s director, says: “We’ve been in the industry a while. My mum was a curtain-maker and she worked out of our garage.
US to ban American investments in China tech sector:
The US will ban American investment in some areas of China’s high-tech sector, including artificial intelligence, adding to strained relations between the two superpowers. US firms will also be asked to disclose what investments they make in China in high-tech sectors. The much-anticipated move gives the US government new power to screen foreign dealings by private companies. The US said the measure would be narrowly targeted. However, it is poised to further chill economic relations between the world’s two largest economies. China said it was “very disappointed”. The US “has continuously escalated suppression and restrictions on China,” said Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington.