In a recent support page discovery by XDA Developers and Windows Central, Microsoft has announced the discontinuation of support for Cortana as a standalone app in Windows, starting later this year.
The decision to end Cortana’s presence on Windows does not come as a surprise, as Microsoft unveiled its latest Windows Copilot tool during the Build conference held in May. This new AI-powered tool will reside in the taskbar and offer users a plethora of functionalities, surpassing what Cortana currently provides. Users can expect features such as content summarization, text rewriting, query assistance, system setting adjustments, and more.
Cortana was initially introduced to Windows 10 in 2015, allowing users to set reminders, launch applications, and pose queries through voice commands. However, Microsoft has been gradually scaling back Cortana’s integration into the Windows experience over the years. With the release of Windows 11, Cortana lost its prominent position on the taskbar and was absent from the initial boot setup. In 2020, Microsoft discontinued the Cortana app on iOS and Android devices and halted Cortana support for Surface headphones and other related products.
The specific date for Cortana’s removal from Windows remains uncertain. Nevertheless, Microsoft’s growing collection of AI tools, including the Bing chatbot and Microsoft 365 Copilot, has taken precedence. Despite Cortana’s impending departure from Windows, Microsoft assures users that the digital assistant will still be accessible through Outlook mobile, Microsoft Teams mobile, Teams display, and Teams rooms. However, the longevity of Cortana’s presence on these platforms remains unclear.
The highly anticipated Apple VR/AR headset has been the subject of much speculation in recent months, with rumors and leaks circulating about its potential specifications. Now, a new leak from display industry expert Ross Young has revealed some impressive details about the headset’s displays.
According to Young’s tweet, the Apple VR/AR headset will feature two Micro OLED displays, each measuring 1.41 inches and boasting a pixel density of 4000 pixels per inch (PPI). This would make the headset’s displays significantly sharper than those of any other VR headset on the market. In addition, the displays are said to have a peak brightness of over 5000 nits, which would make them much brighter than the displays on most VR headsets.
These impressive display specifications suggest that the Apple VR/AR headset will offer a truly immersive VR experience. Users will be able to see incredibly sharp and detailed images, and they will be able to experience VR content in a much brighter environment than is currently possible.
The Apple VR/AR headset is expected to be released later this year. It is still unclear how much the headset will cost, but it is likely to be priced at a premium. However, given the headset’s impressive specifications, it is likely to be a popular choice for VR enthusiasts.
In addition to the impressive display specifications, the Apple VR/AR headset is also rumored to feature the following:
A powerful processor, likely based on Apple’s M2 chip
16GB of RAM
A high-resolution front-facing camera
A variety of sensors for tracking the user’s head and hand movements
Support for a wide range of VR content
The Apple VR/AR headset has the potential to revolutionize the VR industry. With its impressive specifications and powerful features, the headset is poised to offer a truly immersive VR experience that is unlike anything that has come before.
Stay tuned for more information about the Apple VR/AR headset as it becomes available.
In a recent announcement, Google has made its dark web reporting feature available on most Google accounts in the United States. This service enables users to conduct one-off scans to determine if their Gmail address has been compromised in the shadier corners of the internet. The inclusion of this feature is part of a handful of updates revealed in Google’s latest Android feature drop, which appears to be relatively limited as the highly anticipated public release of Android 14 approaches later this year.
Users located in the US can access the dark web reports for free through the Google One website and app. By visiting one.google.com, individuals will find a “try now” option within the dark web scan section.
Previously, the reporting feature was exclusively available to subscribers of Google One, the cloud storage membership. However, even non-subscribers can still benefit from dark web scanning. Google One members now have the added advantage of automated monitoring of their online information and the ability to search for additional personal data such as social security numbers. Google has stated that the dark web reporting tool will gradually roll out to more than 20 additional countries in the coming months.
Among the other updates announced is enhanced functionality for smartwatches running older versions of Wear OS. Spotify’s DJ feature, which leverages AI to identify listening habits and suggest new songs, is being introduced on Wear OS version 2 and newer devices in the US, UK, Canada, and Ireland. Additionally, Google Wallet has been updated on Wear OS 2 to support SmarTrip and Clipper payment cards for public transportation, enabling commuters in Washington, DC, and the San Francisco Bay area to conveniently pay for rail, bus, and parking by tapping their smartwatch on a contactless receiver.
Moreover, Google has launched a new note-taking tile for Google Keep on Wear OS. This tile allows users to quickly access a single note or to-do list from their smartwatch. The new note tile is being rolled out today to Wear OS 3 and newer devices worldwide, and it is available in all supported languages.
With the public rollout of Android 14 expected in August 2023, it seems that Google is gradually slowing down its releases. Although the company provided minimal details about the upcoming operating system during the recent Google I/O keynote, Android 14 has already been in beta for some time, providing users with a glimpse of what to expect upon its official release.
Neuralink, the brain chip firm founded by Elon Musk, has secured a momentous achievement as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants approval for its first human clinical trial. This milestone follows earlier struggles the company faced in obtaining regulatory clearance, positioning Neuralink at the forefront of the race to develop a revolutionary brain-computer interface.
In a tweet, Neuralink expressed that the FDA’s approval represents a crucial initial step toward a future where their technology can assist countless individuals. Although specific details of the study have not been disclosed, the company stated that recruitment has not commenced and promised to share more information soon.
Neuralink’s primary objective is to establish a groundbreaking method for direct communication between computers and the human brain. By accomplishing this, the company aims to address complex neurological conditions that have thus far eluded effective medical interventions. These conditions encompass a wide range, from paralysis and blindness to depression and schizophrenia.
The proposed procedure involves implanting a minute, hermetically sealed chip directly into the patient’s brain. This chip is connected to 1,024 tiny electrodes, thinner than a human hair, and powered by a rechargeable wireless battery. Through this interface, the chip can both transmit and receive signals from an external computer.
Safety concerns surrounding Neuralink’s technology encompass three aspects: short-term physical risks, long-term medical implications, and ethical considerations. Brain surgeries inherently carry the risk of physical harm and potential rejection by the host organism. While the company has conducted extensive (albeit controversial) testing on animals, a complaint filed earlier this year highlighted alleged mistreatment of macaque monkeys involved in the technology’s evaluation.
However, the FDA’s approval for human testing suggests that Neuralink has overcome some of these challenges. Yet, more profound concerns arise regarding the long-term effects of having such a device operating within the immensely intricate human brain—an organ that humanity is only beginning to comprehend. Currently, there is no data on potential harm, but human testing will provide crucial insights for the development of similar products.
Ethical considerations related to Neuralink’s technology are subjective and contentious. The field of brain-computer interfaces raises concerns about data protection, potential applications, and the controversial concept of human enhancement. This includes augmenting cognitive abilities, sensory perception, or physical capabilities beyond current human limits. Consequently, calls for stringent regulation of this sector are anticipated.
Neuralink was established in California by Elon Musk and a team of seven scientists and engineers in 2016. Over time, most of the co-founders have departed, leaving only two at the company. Musk’s involvement brings an entrepreneurial approach and substantial publicity to an issue that many primarily consider scientific in nature. Being one of the most recognizable and controversial figures globally, Musk’s association with Neuralink ensures widespread attention and discourse surrounding the venture.
Several other companies are actively pursuing similar endeavors, with some reportedly making more progress than Neuralink. For instance, Black Rock Neuro Tech is also working on a brain implant technology. Additionally, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is rumored to be developing wearable tech that enables typing through neural signals. Recently, Swiss scientists achieved a breakthrough in assisting a paralyzed individual to walk again. The field is rapidly expanding with numerous players vying for success.
While Neuralink’s association with Elon Musk guarantees substantial publicity, the ultimate victors in this race will be determined by which technology proves to be the most effective and can demonstrate safety to regulators and the market.
In an anticipated move, Google has introduced the beta version of Magic Compose, a new feature for its Messages app that leverages AI to aid in writing text messages. However, this exciting addition comes with a significant caveat. Android Police has brought to light that Magic Compose will send up to “20 previous messages” to Google’s servers, even when using RCS with end-to-end encryption (E2EE).
The conditions surrounding Magic Compose are outlined on Google’s support page, clarifying that the feature transmits these messages, including emojis, reactions, and URLs, to its servers to enable AI-driven suggestions. The company assures users that it will not forward any messages containing attachments, voice messages, or images. However, it mentions that image captions and voice transcriptions might be sent.
Google implemented end-to-end encryption on its app in 2020 and extended it to group chats last year. Activating E2EE ensures that not even Google can access users’ messages. Despite using Magic Compose alongside E2EE, Google maintains that it cannot read the messages.
Google spokesperson Justin Rende clarified to The Verge that the “conversation data used by Magic Compose is not retained” and that “suggested response outputs are not retained once they’ve been provided to the user.” Furthermore, when users disable Magic Compose, Google will no longer transmit their messages to its servers.
Magic Compose is just one of the many AI-powered features showcased by Google during its I/O event earlier this month. This feature enables users to respond to text messages using stylized, context-based suggested responses. It is currently being rolled out to users participating in the Google Messages beta program.
Once the feature becomes available, users will notice a chat bubble next to the app’s message composer. They can choose a suggested response and further customize the text using preset styles such as “chill,” “excited,” or “Shakespeare.” Presently, Magic Compose appears to be limited to RCS messages, and there is no information on when it will support SMS/MMS.
In a similar move, Microsoft introduced a comparable feature in its keyboard app, SwiftKey. This functionality enables users to compose text messages and emails, modify the tone, format, and length of suggested messages, and even includes a Bing icon within the app’s toolbar.
While Magic Compose presents an exciting development for Google Messages users, concerns about privacy and the transmission of messages to Google’s servers have been raised. Users should weigh the convenience of AI assistance against their privacy preferences before deciding to utilize this feature.
TikTok, the popular social media platform, is currently conducting tests on an innovative AI chatbot named Tako, which has the potential to transform the way users search and navigate within the app. Screenshots of the feature, shared with The Verge, reveal that Tako can recommend videos based on user inquiries.
According to Daniel Buchuk from Watchful Technologies, a firm specializing in identifying upcoming app changes for Fortune 500 companies, if TikTok decides to release Tako on a wider scale, it could “radically change search and navigation” within the platform. The precise AI model employed by TikTok to power Tako remains undisclosed.
In the shared screenshots, Tako is positioned above the TikTok profile icon, adjacent to a video. Tapping on Tako opens a chat interface, where the bot appears capable of providing answers to a broad range of queries. The extent of Tako’s capabilities and its proficiency in understanding user intent are yet to be fully revealed.
Tako is designed to offer suggested prompts that aid users in initiating conversations with the chatbot. Buchuk explains that when watching food videos and requesting a recipe, Tako will present related TikTok videos alongside a list of suggestions in response. Another screenshot displays a Tako-suggested prompt asking about the significance of King Charles III’s coronation.
Zachary Kizer, a spokesperson for TikTok, emphasized that the chatbot is currently in the early stages as a “limited experiment” and is not accessible to users in North America or Europe. The test is exclusively being conducted in the Philippines, according to a tweet from the company.
Kizer further added, “We’re always exploring new technologies that add value to our community. In select markets, we’re testing new ways to power search and discovery on TikTok, and we look forward to learning from our community as we continue to create a safe place that entertains, inspires creativity, and drives culture.”
Notably, TikTok recently filed a trademark application for “chatbot software” under the name Tako, suggesting that the company is preparing for a broader release of the AI chatbot. TikTok follows in the footsteps of other social media platforms, such as Snapchat, which made its My AI bot freely available to all users in April. Mark Zuckerberg has also expressed his intent to introduce AI agents to billions of people, showcasing the growing trend of chatbot integration in social media.
The potential introduction of Tako as a widely accessible AI chatbot on TikTok signifies the platform’s dedication to enhancing user experiences through advanced technologies. As the testing phase continues, users eagerly await the arrival of this innovative feature, which holds the promise of transforming the way they interact with TikTok’s vast content library.
Adobe Photoshop is revolutionizing image editing with its latest feature called Generative Fill, harnessing the power of AI to extend images and manipulate objects based on text prompts. This cutting-edge tool, utilizing Adobe’s AI image generator Firefly, was previously available as a web-only beta and is now launching in beta within Photoshop, with a full release expected later this year.
Generative Fill seamlessly integrates into the Photoshop workflow, operating within individual layers of an image file. Whether users want to expand image borders (outpainting) or create new objects, the tool presents three options for selection. When used for outpainting, the system can generate image extensions automatically, but it performs even better with user-guided instructions. This functionality bears resemblance to Photoshop’s existing Content-Aware Fill feature, offering users enhanced control over the editing process.
Although I haven’t personally tested Generative Fill, I witnessed a live demonstration that showcased its impressive capabilities alongside its limitations. While some generated objects, such as cars and puddles, appeared unnatural within the image, the tool excelled at handling backgrounds and filling empty spaces. In certain instances, it even managed to incorporate visual elements from the original photograph, mimicking light sources and creating reflections in generated water.
For creators familiar with AI image generation tools, such feats may not be entirely surprising. However, the integration of this technology into mainstream applications like Photoshop brings these capabilities to a broader audience.
In addition to its functionality, Firefly’s training data stands as another crucial aspect. Adobe assures that the model is exclusively trained on content for which the company possesses the necessary rights, including Adobe Stock images, openly licensed content, and copyright-restricted content. In theory, this ensures that anything created using the Generative Fill feature is safe for commercial use, offering a sense of security to creatives and agencies who may have been hesitant to utilize AI tools due to potential legal implications.
Generative Fill also incorporates Content Credentials, a system likened to a “nutrition label” that attaches attribution data to images when shared online. This information informs viewers whether the content was created or modified using AI. To verify the Content Credentials of an image, users can inspect it via verify.contentauthenticity.org, which provides a comprehensive overview of relevant information.
Ashley Still, Senior Vice President of Digital Media at Adobe, emphasized the impact of integrating Firefly directly into creative workflows, stating, “By integrating Firefly directly into workflows as a creative co-pilot, Adobe is accelerating ideation, exploration, and production for all of our customers. Generative Fill combines the speed and ease of generative AI with the power and precision of Photoshop, empowering customers to bring their visions to life at the speed of their imaginations.”
While Generative Fill is not yet available in the full release of Photoshop, users can experience it firsthand by downloading the desktop beta app or accessing it as a module within the Firefly beta app. Adobe plans to introduce the feature to the public Photoshop app in the second half of 2023.
Adobe has been progressively incorporating AI-powered tools into its products, with Sensei, another of Adobe’s AI models, driving features like higher-quality object selections in Photoshop. Firefly is already utilized in Adobe Illustrator for vector-based image recoloring, and Adobe intends to integrate Firefly with Adobe Express, a cloud-based design platform that competes with services like Canva, although no official release date has been confirmed.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has been issued a €1.2bn (£1bn) fine by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) for mishandling the transfer of people’s data between Europe and the United States. This represents the largest fine ever imposed under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) privacy law. The fine is a result of Meta’s alleged violation of GDPR rules that govern the transfer of user data outside of the EU. Meta has expressed its intention to appeal the ruling, citing it as “unjustified and unnecessary.”
Concerns have emerged regarding the use of standard contractual clauses (SCCs) in moving European Union data to the US. These legally binding contracts, formulated by the European Commission, contain safeguards to ensure the continued protection of personal data during its transfer outside of Europe. However, there are apprehensions that these data flows may still expose Europeans to weaker privacy laws in the US, and that US intelligence agencies could potentially access the data.
It is important to note that this decision does not directly affect Facebook in the UK. The Information Commissioner’s Office clarified that the ruling “does not apply in the UK,” although it acknowledged the decision and stated that it would review the details in due course.
Meta argues that the wide application of SCCs makes the imposed fine unjust. Facebook’s president, Nick Clegg, expressed disappointment, stating, “We are therefore disappointed to have been singled out when using the same legal mechanism as thousands of other companies looking to provide services in Europe. This decision is flawed, unjustified, and sets a dangerous precedent for the countless other companies transferring data between the EU and US.”
While Meta contests the ruling, privacy groups have welcomed it as a significant precedent. Caitlin Fennessy, of the International Association of Privacy Professionals, commented, “The size of this record-breaking fine is matched by the significance of the signal it sends. Today’s decision signals that companies have a whole lot of risk on the table.” The ruling could lead EU companies to demand that US partners store data within Europe or consider switching to domestic alternatives, Fennessy added.
The decade-long battle surrounding the legality of transferring EU data to the US traces back to Edward Snowden’s 2013 disclosure of US intelligence agencies repeatedly accessing individuals’ information through technology companies like Facebook and Google. Austrian privacy campaigner Max Schrems initiated a legal challenge against Facebook, claiming a failure to protect his privacy rights, which sparked the ongoing dispute. The European Court of Justice (ECJ), Europe’s highest court, has consistently maintained that US surveillance laws lack sufficient safeguards to protect Europeans’ information.
In 2020, the ECJ invalidated an EU-to-US data transfer agreement, although it allowed companies to use SCCs if they ensured an “adequate level of data protection” during transfers to other third countries. It is this criterion that Meta has been found to have failed.
In response to the €1.2bn fine, Max Schrems expressed satisfaction after a decade of litigation but suggested that the penalty could have been even higher. He emphasized that Meta would need to fundamentally restructure its systems unless US surveillance laws were rectified.
Despite the record-breaking fine, experts believe that Meta’s privacy practices are unlikely to undergo significant changes. Johnny Ryan, a senior fellow at the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, remarked, “A billion-euro parking ticket is of no consequence to a company that earns many more billions by parking illegally.”
The US has recently updated its internal legal protections to provide the EU with greater assurances that American intelligence agencies will adhere to new rules governing data access. In 2021, Amazon faced a similar fine for breaching the EU’s privacy standards. The DPC in Ireland has also fined WhatsApp, another business owned by Meta, for violating data protection regulations.
According to a report from Bloomberg News on Friday, Meta Platforms’ Instagram is gearing up to introduce a new text-based app that will directly rival Twitter. The app, which has been in development and testing, may potentially debut as early as June, sources familiar with the matter have revealed.
Influencers and selected creators have been chosen to participate in the testing phase of the product, as stated in the report. However, when contacted for comment, Meta Platforms did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters.
Insights from industry insiders suggest that Meta Platforms has been reaching out to talent agencies and celebrities, gauging their interest in trying out an early version of the app. This upcoming app will be integrated with Instagram but will also feature compatibility with other platforms like Mastodon, according to a newsletter by Alex Heath.
Lia Haberman, a social and influencer marketing instructor at UCLA, also shared details about the app. According to Haberman, the new app has been discreetly made available to select creators for several months now. While it is separate from Instagram, it will allow users to connect their accounts seamlessly.
A screenshot shared by Haberman provides a glimpse into the app’s features. Users will be able to connect with friends through texts, shared links, photos, and videos. Additionally, fans will have the opportunity to easily join the accounts of their favorite influencers and creators from Instagram with just a single tap.
In terms of security, the app is being updated to include robust measures. Accounts blocked on Instagram will soon carry over to this new app, ensuring privacy for its users. Furthermore, efforts are underway to ensure compatibility with Mastodon, Twitter’s competitor platform.
The release of this text-based app by Instagram, under the umbrella of Meta Platforms, is expected to intensify the competition between social media giants, particularly in the realm of text-based communication and influencer engagement. As June approaches, anticipation grows among users and industry observers, eager to see how this new app will impact the social media landscape.
