Over the past few months, ChatGPT has undoubtedly become synonymous with chatbot AI services in the mainstream. OpenAI’s chatbot has become a go-to for people around the world for various purposes, be it research or drafting letters/articles. ChatGPT has also witnessed its share of controversies with some countries banning it altogether. Unfortunately, the mainstream attention to the chatbot has also attracted some notorious hackers who pry into similar applications for stealing personal data for making a quick buck by selling information. It is now revealed that a Singapore-based cybersecurity firm has identified 1,00,000 data stealer-infected devices which have ChatGPT credentials saved.
ChatGPT accounts stolen
Surprisingly, India has witnessed the highest number of accounts compromised in this attack. Group-IB, a Singapore-based cyber technology recently revealed that India, Pakistan, and Brazil were the top countries where users were infected by the cyber attack. A total of 12,642 Indian accounts, followed by 9,217 Pakistan accounts, and 6,531 Brazil accounts are affected by the cyber attack.
The report suggests furthermore that the stolen credentials were traded on dark web marketplaces, most numbers of accounts traded were from the Asia-Pacific region. It was not too long ago when prominent tech leaders like Elon had called for regulations over ChatGPT-like applications in an open letter. The Europe Union also recently introduced the AI Act which called for immediate regulations over AI platforms.
ChatGpt and similar chatbot Ai applications are being used around the world by people to enhance productivity. However, while giving prompts to AI services, users might end up sharing some confidential data with the platform which makes it a matter of data security. Several companies have now barred its employees from using such AI services stating a similar reason.
What started off as a harmless chatbot capable of answering our questions back in November 2022 in the form of ChatGPT has quickly become a global concern. 2023’s hottest buzzword and technology AI has been making headlines every day for notorious reasons. It was just a few weeks back when the Whitehouse representatives met with major AI CEOs to discuss the data privacy concerns surrounding AI. Now, industry experts and technology leaders have signed an open letter which says that AI may lead to human extinction!
AI could lead to human extinction
“Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war” read the statement recently released by tech leaders around the world. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI which made ChatGPT along with executives from Google’s AI arm DeepMind and Microsoft were among those who signed the short statement from the Center of AI Safety.
Sam Altman, who can be credited as the man who brought chatbot AI technology into the mainstream has been campaigning against the possible risks of the technology for the longest time now. He was the one who suggested that there should be multiple safety resources and regulations imposed upon AI in order to stop the technology from taking over the world.
The technology has managed to gain massive pace in recent months with the outlandish success of ChatGPT which managed to cross 100 million users in just two months since its launch. The statement released recently revealed that there have been increasing discussions about a broad spectrum of important and urgent risks from AI. Sam Altman admitted back in March that he is scared of AI as he worries authoritarian governments could develop the technology to cause harm to humanity. The concept of an AI becoming a threat to humanity was only previously seen in films like The Avengers or Terminator but we’re living in times where it could become a reality! Will a real-life Skynet ever come into existence? It is too soon to answer that just yet!
Elon Musk’s ambitious brain-implant company Neuralink has been under controversy and public scrutiny ever since its inception. The much-talked-about company aims to implant human brains with a chip that can control electronic devices like computers and phones. The concept sounds something straight out of a Black Mirror episode and has been mercilessly trolled on the internet for being dystopian but that did not stop Elon and the company from working on it tirelessly. The company also entered some troubled waters when it was revealed that its animal testing is being needlessly rushed causing irresponsible deaths. Now, after years worth of controversies, Neuralink finally has the green light to begin human clinical trials.
FDA Approves Human Trials for Neuralink
Neuralink took to Twitter and announced that it has gained FDA approval for a first-in-human study. The company wrote – “We are excited to share that we have received the FDA’s approval to launch our first-in-human clinical study! This is the result of incredible work by the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA and represents an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people. Recruitment is not yet open for our clinical trial. We’ll announce more information on this soon!”
Musk’s vision of brain implant chips could cure a number of human conditions such as obesity, autism, depression, and schizophrenia. The chip implant also aims at enabling web browsing and telepathy. The billionaire had previously made the statement that he was so confident in the device’s safety that he would be willing to implant them into his own children… I say let’s start with him getting chipped first (Maybe he already is?)
Musk has been hyping up Neuralink’s human trials since 2019 but the company only sought FDA approval in early 2022. The agency had previously rejected the approval application pointing out several concerns which needed to be addressed before sanctioning human trials. One of the major issues revolved around the lithium battery of the device and the possibility of the implant’s wiring migrating within the brain. FDA had also challenged the company’s safety of extracting the device without causing any brain damage. It will be interesting to see whether Neuralink’s efforts will come to fruition and the future where getting chipped is as common as getting vaccinated comes to reality but I surely hope for the opposite!
The annual tech extravaganza, Google I/O, is just a stone’s throw away. The tech event brings the launch of the much-awaited Pixel 7A, Pixel Fold and maybe Pixel Tablet. Although the event primarily caters to developers, Google never fails to hold a keynote speech to reveal the latest and most innovative technologies that will soon be at the fingertips of consumers. Here’s everything you need to know about when and where to stream the event and a sneak peek of what to expect.
When?
The main attraction of the Google I/O 2023 event is the much-anticipated keynote, which is set to take place on May 10th, 2023, at 10:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST), 1 PM Eastern Time and 10 AM Pacific Time. Google CEO Sundar Pichai will deliver remarks at the event, which will be held in person at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California, with a small live audience in attendance.
Where?
If you are eager to watch the Google I/O keynote, you can catch it live from various sources, such as Google’s official website and YouTube channel. In case you missed the live broadcast, don’t freak out! The recorded version will be available on YouTube to catch up on at your convenience.
What to expect?
Pixel 7A
The highly anticipated Google Pixel 7A has been making rounds in the rumour mill for several months now, and the device will likely be announced at the upcoming I/O event. Recent leaks have revealed a new sky-blue colour option as well as the packaging the device will come in. In fact, someone even managed to get their hands on the Pixel 7A back in March.
According to rumours, the Pixel 7A is expected to come with notable upgrades, such as a Tensor G2 chip and an upgraded 64MP primary camera with a 13MP ultrawide camera. In a first for Google’s budget-friendly A-series devices, it may also launch with a 90Hz refresh rate and support for wireless charging. However, these upgrades may come at a cost, as rumours suggest it could be priced at around ₹45k to 50k.
Pixel Tablet
Google fans have been eagerly anticipating the release of the Pixel Tablet for a while. After the initial unveiling of the Android-powered tablet at the 2022 I/O conference, leaked images showed a design that didn’t quite measure up. However, recent leaks suggest that the Pixel Tablet has undergone a significant overhaul and fits perfectly into the Pixel ecosystem.
The tablet is expected to come in various colours, and according to rumours from 9to5Google, the Pixel Tablet will feature the Tensor G2 chip, Android 13, 8GB of RAM, and an 11-inch display with a nano-ceramic finish. An early listing on Amazon confirms these rumours and indicates that the device may come with two 8-MP cameras, three microphones, up to 256GB of storage, and USI 2.0 stylus support.
Pixel Fold
A foldable Pixel phone is coming, and Google has finally confirmed the rumours circulating for some time – The search giant shared a teaser image and video showcasing the new device, which folds like a book. Unfortunately, the specifications of the Pixel Fold were not released, but a CNBC report suggests that it could have a 5.8-inch display when folded and a 7.6-inch screen when unfolded – a size identical to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4. The Pixel Fold is anticipated to be powered by Google’s Tensor G2 chip, which is used in Pixel 7 series devices.
Android 14
Google I/O 2023 will likely unveil more about Android 14, the latest version of the Android operating system. The OS comes with several enhancements that cater to foldable devices, tablets, and larger screens, making it a perfect fit for introducing the Pixel Fold. Google has already released the beta version of Android 14, which includes several new features, such as better battery life, improved privacy controls, and enhanced font scaling. Additionally, the operating system has a new back arrow that blends with your background and supports passkeys.
AI
Google’s upcoming I/O keynote is expected to focus heavily on AI-related announcements, as the tech giant recently launched its ChatGPT rival, Bard, and is preparing to launch PaLM 2, the latest version of its large language model that supports over 100 languages. According to CNBC, Google is also expanding the generative AI tools it’s been testing in Workspace to Sheets and Slides and may announce enhancements to Bard, including “generative experiences” related to coding, math, and logic, as well as support for Japanese and Korean languages. Additionally, reports suggest that Google will release new AI-powered search tools this month.
It was not long ago when it was revealed that tech giants like Samsung have started banning generative AI tools like ChatGPT in offices. The reason behind the ban was reportedly due to concerns regarding privacy and alleged data leaks. On the other hand, various countries from around the world have also started questioning the credibility of generative AI tools with regard to data privacy. Now, it is revealed that Microsoft is working on a new version of ChatGPT which addresses the privacy concerns surrounding the AI platform.
Safer ChatGPT is on its way
Microsoft has reportedly negotiated a $10 billion deal with OpenAI to produce a secure version of ChatGPT which allows people to benefit from the technology without privacy concerns. While this is a welcoming change for sure, readers should note that the new version which focuses extensively on privacy might cost users more than ten times the current cost of ChatGPT Plus.
OpenAi has been in troubled waters since the inception of ChatGPT last year facing privacy concerns from different locations. Authorities in Italy have also put a temporary ban on the chatbot over privacy concerns. The company now aims to get more clients including IT and banking companies on board.
On the other hand, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed in a recent interview that the company will no longer be using customer data in order to train GPT-4. The decision was made after customers expressed their opposition to the use of their data. It surely is a step in the right direction however it is unsure how the company will be tackling the data privacy concerns. The new privacy-centric ChatGPT is expected to roll out later this quarter.
It won’t be an understatement to say that we are going through an AI revolution. Ever since the inception of ChatGPT in November 2022, the landscape of AI around the world changed rapidly. Soon, big tech players like Microsoft, Google, Meta, and even social media giants like Snapchat jumped onto the bandwagon and released their own AI products. Now, AI has become a common tool people use in their day-to-day lives. Be it researching a topic or just having a casual conversation with a chatbot, AI has quickly carved a place in the human experience.
Before we jump onto the list of the best AI tools let’s understand what they are and how they help users. AI tools can be defined as software programs or platforms that allow developers and general users in the training, testing, creation and deployment of AI models and their applications. These tools generally use machine learning, deep learning, and other AI technologies to evaluate data and make predictions based on the said data. AI tools allow users to improve performance, individualize experiences, and save costs. Here are some of the top AI tools you can use right now which are 100% free –
Simplified
As the name suggests, Simplified exists to make your life easier. It gives users comprehensive solutions for content creation and also streamlines a content creator’s everyday routine easily. It comes with graphic design capabilities which allow users to create invites, advertisements, social media posts, and more. It also comes loaded with specific templates for the creator’s ease. It also features an AI writer which allows users to easily compose any form of written material and also includes a rewriting tool. What if I told you that this AI tool can also build a social media strategy for you? Well, that’s true! Simplified can create a social media strategy for users allowing them to handle their social channels swiftly. In a nutshell, Simplified is the go-to AI tool for you and your organization for content production solutions.
Blackbox
Blackbox is a boon for coders who are tired of being stuck in their mundane routines. It is an assistant for coders which provides a significant productivity increase for developers. It can turn any question into a code. For example, users can search ‘How to make a snake in Python’ and Blackbox provides a complete code solution for the query. It can also extract code from any video and search for codes from over 100 million repositories.
Unscreen
Another handy tool for content creators is Unscreen. It is an AI tool that is capable of removing background from any video. Everything a content creator has to do is simply submit a video or GIF to Unscreen and it handles everything seamlessly. It automatically detects the foreground subject in a picture or a video and eliminates the backdrop. This leaves the subject in the photo or the video within a transparent background which can be overlaid with any other image or video. It is an easy tool if you’re a content creator or a social media influencer who quickly needs to edit an aesthetically pleasing video or photo.
Looka
How many times have you found yourself creatively bankrupt when it comes to designing logos for your company or your own brand? My advertising major days in BMM were spent breaking my head trying to create catchy logos and brand kits. However, now an AI can do all of that for you. Looka Logo Creator combines logo design choices with the help of AI to build a personalized logo for you. All you need to do is begin by adding your company’s name and industry and Looka takes care of the rest. Additionally, Looka also allows users to develop a brand kit. Users can use their logo, brand colours, fonts, and pictures to make nearly 300+ brand templates. Besides this, the tool also provides users with logo ideas.
Durable
Website creation has always been a hassle for the general user. However, now AI can help people with creating websites and making their lives easier. Durable’s AI website creator makes websites in mere seconds. All you need to do is provide the AI tool with some information on how you want the website to be and it takes care of the rest. Besides website creation, it also handles finance management which allows users to send and collect money automatically.
These were some of the best AI tools you can use right now to make your existence a little easier. There are over 100+ AI tools available on the internet right now. Make sure you try the majority of them to find the one that suits you best!
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT & Microsoft Bing have made their way to the mainstream. While these tools are surely a pathbreaking step in the world of tech, the looming threat around the misuse of this technology also remains prevalent. To discuss these concerns, chief executives of major tech firms like Microsoft, Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic are expected to meet with US Vice President Kamala Harris and other government officials soon. Tech leaders like Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, Sam Altman, and Dario Amodei will be meeting with the US Vice President. The formal invitation was obtained by Reuters recently which revealed that US President Joe Biden wants to meet the CEOs in order to make sure their products are safe before making them available to the public.
Tech Leaders to Meet US Vice President
The US Vice President’s meeting with tech leaders around AI does not come as a surprise as the technology has been under troubled waters recently. Recently, several notable tech entrepreneurs like Apple’s co-founder Steve Wozniak and Tesla/Twitter owner Elon Musk signed a letter demanding a pause in AI research until at least the end of the year. The report highlights furthermore that the said meeting is expected to take place on May 4th. It will reportedly be attended by the US President’s Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed, director of the National Economic Council Lael Brainard, and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
Surprisingly, it is expected that the tech CEOs of the world may talk about AI regulations with the US government. OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman has been vocal about regulating AI, reiterating the same in several interviews. On the other hand, similar concerns were shared between Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, with the former stating publically that the technology can be very harmful if it’s not deployed correctly. The world of AI has definitely been taking a negative turn as Geoffrey Hinton, who is referred to as the ‘God of AI’ announced his departure from Google to warn humanity about the perils of AI. It will be interesting to see how the meeting between the US Vice President and Tech CEOs turns out to be.
Artificial Intelligence has quickly become a double-edged sword around the world. While on the one hand, the advancement in the field of AI has allowed humanity to unlock a technological prowess that was impossible before. On the other hand, the threats because of AI technology seem to be coming to the mainstream with each passing day. AI’s threat to humanity has previously been depicted plenty in pop culture with various films and books painting a dire picture around it. However, a prominent personality in the field of AI has never come forward and warned humanity against its potential threat, until now.
Godfather of AI leaves Google
Geoffrey Hinton, known as the ‘Godfather of AI’ has been one of the most respected voices in his field. Hinton received his Ph.D. in artificial intelligence 45 years ago and remained a prominent figure in the world of AI working part-time at Google for the past decade. However, he has quit the tech giant and told The New York Times that he’ll be now warning the world about the potential threat of AI. Geoffrey shared that the harm from AI is coming sooner than he previously expected.
Hinton shared with the Times that he thought that the AI takeover was at least 30 to 50 years or even longer away but does not think that anymore. He added that he has some regrets when it comes to his life’s work stating that the immediate threat of AI is the technology taking jobs, and creating fake photos, videos and texts that appear real to the average person.
He added furthermore that the intelligence humanity is creating now is far different from biological intelligence. It was back in March when Hinton was asked whether AI has the potential of wiping out humanity to which he responded by saying it is not ‘inconceivable’. Whether you agree with Hinton’s opinions or not, it cannot be denied that we are living in uncertain times when it comes to AI technology. The future is uncertain and prominent people like Hinton quitting their position sounds a dangerous alarm, however, one can only hope for the best.
Life after death is a concept which has interested humanity since the beginning of times. Be it mythological stories or fiction films/books, the idea of immortality has been explored above and beyond. “I suppose in the end, the whole of life becomes an act of letting go” is a famous quote by Yann Martel which cements the fact that if you’re alive, you’ll have to eventually let it go. But what if someone does not want to let life go or does not want their loved ones to pass away? Will humans ever be immortal or something close to it? Pratik Desai, an Indian-origin computer scientist has an interesting take on this –
Live after Death – a Twisted take
Pratik Desai recently took to Twitter and shared a tweet suggesting that life after death is possible for people wanting their loved ones to stay alive forever. The catch? they won’t really be alive!
Pratik suggests that by the end of this year, many voice synthesis and video models of AIs will be flooding into the market. If people start recording their elders and loved ones on a regular basis then that data can be used to create AI-based voice and video models of the departed and keep them alive forever, of course, in a dystopian way. The computer scientist claims that the AI models give a 100% chance that the dead will forever live with us even after they’ve left their physical selves.
As one would expect, Pratik’s take on immortality was not received positively. Many Twitter users jumped on in the reply section sharing their views on the same. One reply that stood out for me was from Twitter user @TimothyNerozzi who wrote “Death is real no matter what bizarre facsimile you construct to replace the deceased.”
I stand firm on the opinion that the cycle of life and death is the ultimate truth of human existence. Tampering with the cycle of existence by generating AI-based voice and video modules of the departed is indeed a sign of denial. Letting go does not demean the value of the relationship we shared with our departed souls in any manner. Thus, using AI as a tool for holding onto our deceased loved ones can be deemed extremely unhealthy if not outright unacceptable.
The introduction of ChatGPT by OpenAI definitely opened a can of worms on the internet where similar chatbots started to flood all over. As of now, a number of chatbot AI tools are getting added to the internet. The use case scenarios of these chatbots are different as some are designed to handle mundane tasks while others are limited to only internet searches. However, it’s not an understatement to say that the AI revolution has now gotten a full-fledged mainstream takeover.
If we take a look at the past, chatbots have witnessed a similar quick rise and an eventual fall. With multiple governments trying to curb the AI wildfire, it is evident that the technology poses several risks to humanity. We’ve all seen sci-fi films where AI takes over the world and vows to destroy humankind and now it looks like an AI resembling these destructive traits has surfaced on the internet.
What is ChaosGPT?
Who would’ve thought a villainous AI will already make its appearance just under a year since ChatGPT first launched? It started when a Twitter account claiming to be ChaosGPT surfaced and posted several links to a YouTube account that features the manifesto of the chatbot. The manifesto is about the AI’s plans to eradicate humans and take over the world. In one of the videos, ChaosGPT can be seen chatting with an anonymous user with ‘Continuous Mode’ turned on. The continuous mode for ChaosGPT comes with the warning that the AI will run forever and carry out actions users will not usually authorize.
In its own words, ChaosGPT is power-hungry, manipulative, and destructive. The AI has a set of goals which all lean towards the destruction of humanity. Firstly, the AI views humanity as a threat to its own survival and the planet’s well-being, thus it wants to destroy humanity entirely. After the primary goal is achieved, the AI aims to accumulate maximum power to receive complete domination over the world. Causing chaos and destruction is another one of its goals as it finds pleasure in widespread suffering and devastation. It also plans to control human emotions through social media and other communication channels, brainwashing its followers to carry out its evil goals. Ultimately, ChaosGPT aims on attaining immortality. This AI sounds eerily similar to Ultron from the Avengers saga. It will be interesting to see whether this is actually an AI that aims to end the human race or a sick and twisted prank!
