Technology
Microsoft will defend AI Copilot commercial customers against copyright claims

Microsoft will defend AI Copilot commercial customers against copyright claims

Microsoft is stepping up its commitment to support commercial customers using its AI Copilot services, assuring them protection against any copyright claims related to content generated through these services. Announced by Microsoft President Brad Smith, the initiative promises that the company will take responsibility for any legal issues as long as customers adhere to the specified safety measures and agreements set by the company. This commitment is part of Microsoft's strategy to facilitate advancements in the generative AI field while respecting copyright laws and implementing adequate safety measures. It's important to note, however, that this protection only extends to commercial users of platforms such as GitHub Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot, and not to individuals creating content on platforms like Bing Chat.

Zoom Unveils AI Companion to Enhance Productivity, Now Included Free with Paid Accounts

Zoom Video Communications is set to enhance user experience and productivity with the launch of Zoom AI Companion, a generative AI digital assistant now available at no extra cost for paid account users. Renamed from Zoom IQ, the tool aids in fostering collaboration and streamlining workflows by integrating AI functionalities across various Zoom services including meetings, chats, emails, and whiteboards. Along with this, Zoom also introduced the Zoom Revenue Accelerator, a rebranded version of Zoom IQ for Sales. This initiative comes as part of Zoom's broader vision to revolutionize industry pricing structures and foster seamless human connections on a single platform, vouched by Zoom's Chief Product Officer, Smita Hashim. The company ensures customer privacy remains a priority, with AI Companion features being disabled by default, allowing users and administrators to control its activation. With promising developments slated for spring 2024, the AI Companion aims to redefine modern workspaces by facilitating pre-meeting preparations, in-meeting real-time support, and post-meeting summaries and action steps through an intuitive and interactive interface.

Apple is spending millions of dollars per day to bring generative AI capabilities to Siri

Apple is reportedly investing millions daily to enhance Siri's generative AI capabilities, says a report by The Information. Under the guidance of John Giannandrea, who joined in 2018, Apple has formed the Foundation Models unit to focus on conversational AI, and two other teams developing image or language models. These efforts include creating multimodal AI capable of recognizing and producing images, videos, and text, potentially powering a chatbot for AppleCare users. Moreover, new Siri features are in the works to facilitate the automation of multi-step tasks through simple voice commands. Notably, Apple's advanced language model, AjaxGPT, having been trained on over 200 billion parameters, is anticipated to surpass the capabilities of OpenAI's GPT-3.5. These advancements are part of a larger strategy initiated last year, centering on the Ajax framework and an internal tool resembling ChatGPT to streamline machine learning development at Apple.

Google Chrome's Enhanced Ad Privacy Feature Sparks Privacy Concerns

Google is gradually introducing its Enhanced Ad Privacy feature in Chrome, allowing websites to serve targeted ads based on users' browser histories unless disabled manually. The feature, powered by Google's Topics API which is part of its Privacy Sandbox project, has raised privacy concerns among users who are wary of their online activities being monitored for ad targeting. This method could potentially tarnish a brand's image, prompting a reconsideration of ad strategies. Despite privacy worries, a Google spokesperson emphasized that the Topics function, which derives data from users' device without involving external servers, offers transparency and control, permitting users to view, modify or deactivate the feature completely. The roll-out commenced in July with the release of Chrome 115, with the feature currently accessible to a limited user base.

Slack to Introduce AI Integration for Enhanced Workplace Communication

To address the increasing complexity of workplace communication, particularly in remote and hybrid work setups, Slack is integrating artificial intelligence (AI) features into its platform, which currently has over 20 million users according to Statista. The new AI capabilities will facilitate the summarization of communication channels and message threads, enabling users to easily pinpoint critical information and enhancing productivity. Additionally, the AI assistant will help in locating specific data within messages, channels, and files, and provide concise summaries for quick reference. These features are set to undergo pilot testing soon, with pricing details to be announced closer to the official launch. Slack is encouraging users to participate in the pilot to help refine the pricing structure.

Tailor Announces Beta Launch of ChatGPT Plugin for Streamlined ERP Operations.

Tailor Technologies, known for its headless ERP software, has unveiled the beta version of their new Tailor ChatGPT Plugin. This tool, developed on OpenAI's ChatGPT, facilitates a conversational interface allowing users to interact with applications on the Tailor Platform using natural language commands, simplifying tasks like generating reports or creating orders in the Order Management System (OMS). The introduction of this plugin promises to decrease the learning curve for newcomers and infrequent users by obviating the need for complex screen operations and, in some instances, a graphical user interface, which could lead to considerable savings in system design and development. Tailor aims to incorporate AI technology comprehensively to enhance user convenience and flexibility in their business system platform.

Google Looker Studio Exploited in Cryptocurrency Phishing Scam.

Cybercriminals are exploiting Google's Looker Studio, an online data conversion tool, to create fake cryptocurrency phishing websites, resulting in account breaches and financial losses. The criminals are embedding URLs of these fraudulent sites in phishing emails that bypass security checks owing to Looker Studio's good reputation. These emails, falsely appearing to be from Google, lure individuals with promises of substantial Bitcoin winnings, encouraging them to click on the embedded link. Once clicked, the victims are redirected to a phishing page that hosts a Google Slideshow promising even larger cryptocurrency winnings, and urges them to enter their crypto wallet details, which are then stolen. Check Point has reported this misuse to Google, but it remains unclear what actions have been taken to prevent further exploitation. Google encourages users to report any suspicious activity via their reporting tool to help address the issue.

YouTube to Introduce Fewer, Longer Ad Breaks on TV Apps for Enhanced Viewing Experience.

Google is modifying the ad format on its YouTube TV apps to offer viewers fewer interruptions but with longer ad breaks, aiming to align more with the traditional TV viewing experience. This decision stems from a Qualtrics survey where a significant majority expressed preference for bundled ads over scattered ones during long-form content viewing. In response, YouTube is exploring options to reduce average interruptions, enhancing the overall viewing experience. Moreover, YouTube plans to test additional features such as a timer displaying the remaining duration of the ad break, offering users a clearer expectation of ad length. Meanwhile, the subscription fee for an ad-free experience on YouTube Premium has increased to $13.99 per month in the US, a move that Google says will help maintain the quality of service and features.