Archives December 2023

Google announced its decision to shut down the Assistant Driving Mode feature of Maps in 2020. This feature offered users a “Dashboard” in the home screen which included a map, media suggestions, audio controls, as well as calling and texting shortcuts. This was meant to be replaced by Android Auto for phone screens. However, most users took it as a downgrade.This left Google Maps for Android with another optimised UI in which was also called the “Driving Mode”. However, this feature is also expected to go away in 2024.
According to a report by 9to5Google, the latest Google app (version 14.52) contains code strings that suggest that the Google Maps feature will be removed in February 2024. Here’s what the codes look like:

What is Google Maps “Driving Mode”
Compared to the “Assistant Driving Mode Dashboard” feature, Google Maps’ Driving Mode can be accessed after starting driving navigation. It appears as a black bar at the bottom of the phone screen and offers quick access to Assistant, Google Maps and a launcher for compatible music, podcast, audiobook as well as other streaming apps. This mode also offers an optimised media UI that shows large touch targets.
How will it affect users
In 2022, Google said it was focusing on the Maps Driving Mode. The company found that most people were using this experience over the Dashboard. With this feature going away, Google may direct users to just access the Google Maps navigation mode with “Hey Google, launch driving mode.” In June, this feature also received an update for faster voice input powered by Assistant.

 At a New York City dive bar on a recent December night, Pitbull blared from the sound system, and a gathering of like-minded young people had passionate debates about morals and the future of humanity. The local community of effective altruists was holding its “end of year celebration.”

It seemed like EAs had little to celebrate. Because for the second time in as many years, a guy named Sam was the subject of an extraordinary tech story and an apparent indictment of the EA philosophy. This time it wasn’t crypto criminal Sam Bankman-Fried, but the artificial intelligence industry’s superstar, Sam Altman.

It’s been quite the ride for those calling themselves effective altruists, an embodiment of a philosophy that morphed from doing good, into how to make as much money as possible to give to world-saving causes. Having bathed in the glow of an instant best-selling book by the movement’s co-founder William MacAskill in August 2022, the hype swiftly unraveled with the fall of Bankman-Fried a few months later.

The cryptocurrency entrepreneur had been one of the most recognizable proponents of EA. After Bankman-Fried’s companies collapsed, MacAskill went mostly silent.

But the EA meet-ups continued, and the focus for many remained on how to do the most good. That was the main topic of conversation at the East Village bar earlier this month as attendees sampled vegan snacks and drank beer.

Rachael Woodard wasn’t interested in talking about either of the Sams. She lives in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, in a house with eight EA friends, and said she’s sometimes overwhelmed trying to decide how to do the most good in the world. She’s practicing the 80,000 hours project — dedicating that amount of time in one’s career to solving the world’s most pressing problems — but was unsure if her role was indeed having the most impact.

People in this group were especially concerned about animals — the meat industry and factory farming. In other corners of EA, it’s the threat of AI to humanity.

The tension between EAs, who held board seats at OpenAI and fired Altman as chief executive officer, and Altman, who’s more of an optimist about AI, delivered a fresh blow to the movement. Altman won that battle by getting himself reinstated as CEO, and most of the board was ousted.

After the saga, Vinod Khosla, a billionaire venture capitalist and OpenAI investor, posted on X mocking an “uninformed misapplied EA religion vs a real vision for AI.” Harvard University Professor Steven Pinker called EA “cultish” and said it had lost its way.

So what of these supposed cult members? Well, many of them are still fretting about AI.

Garrison Lovely, an enthusiastic, Hawaiian shirt-wearing member, described a paper he was writing about the overlooked risks of AI. He went on to describe how extraordinary the last couple of years had been for EA and how it made him feel like an early employee of a unicorn startup. The exuberance, the media attention, the money raised.

Some of the attendees admitted to being frustrated by the EA backlash, propelled by a group calling itself effective accelerationists, but mostly they were idealists seeking to create a better future — if the robots don’t kill us first.

 

Steam has shared its “Best of 2023” list. This list reveals the best-selling games on the platform. Apart from this, the list also reveals the titles that were played the most on PC, Steam Deck, VR, Controller and more.
Steam hasn’t ranked the games that were in each category, however, its “Best of 2023” list groups them into Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze tiers. The top 12 games in each category are placed in Platinum, the next 12 are in gold, the next 26 games are in Silver while the last 50 are in Bronze. The list was compiled by Steam using the data from January 1 through December 15, 2023.
Top Sellers by gross revenue
The Platinum tier in this category includes Apex Legends, Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, Hogwarts Legacy, Cyberpunk 2077, Dota 2, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Call of Duty and more
Top new Releases by gross revenue
The Platinum tier of this category includes Street Fighter 6, Starfield, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, FC 24, Hogwarts Legacy, Baldur’s Gate 3 and more
Most played games
The games in this category are measured by peak concurrent players. The Platinum Tier of this category consists of games that had over 300,000 peak players and includes Hogwarts Legacy, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Counter-Strike 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Destiny 2, Apex Legends, Dota 2 and more.
Top Early access titles by gross revenue
This category includes Baldur’s Gate 3, Marvel Snap, Everspace 2, My Time at Sandrock, Farlight 84, Against the Storm and more.
Top Steam Deck games by daily active players
The platinum tier in this category includes Elden Ring, Hogwarts Legacy, The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, Baldur’s Gate 3, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Grand Theft Auto V, Half-Life, Cyberpunk 2077 and others
Most played games by daily active controller players
This category includes Call of Duty HQ, Rocket League, FIFA 23. Hogwarts Legacy, Elden Ring, FC 24, Street Fighter 6, Resident Evil 4 Remake NBA 2K23 Apex Legends and more.
Top VR-exclusive experiences by gross revenue
The top tier in this category includes Boneworks, Blade & Sorcery, Half-Life: Alyx, VTOL VR, Pavlov, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR and more.

ABC’s multi-city New Year’s Eve special and new music from the K-pop act TVXQ are some of the new television, movies and music headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists are a true crime story on Max, a new version of “America’s Got Talent” and a streaming guide to the year’s best films.

NEW MOVIES TO STREAM 

— As the year winds down, most of the movie action is in cinemas. But if you’re not heading out to see “The Color Purple,” “Poor Things” or “Ferrari,” there’s no better time to catch up on some of the year’s best movies. Many of the films that made the top 10 lists of myself and AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr are available in various places to stream.

If you haven’t caught up to “Barbie” or “Oppenheimer” yet, you can digitally rent Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster biopic, while Greta Gerwig’s pink-hued phenomenon is streaming on Max. Alexander Payne’s masterfully melancholic “The Holdovers,” starring Paul Giamatti, can be digitally rented also, as can Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla Presley drama “Priscilla.”

On Netflix, there’s Todd Haynes’ appealingly arch “May December” and the dazzling animated sequel “Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse.” On Prime Video, you can catch up to a pair of standouts from earlier in the year: A.V. Rockwell’s sprawling New York tale “A Thousand and One” and Wes Anderson’s elaborately layered “Asteroid City.” And if you’re looking for something further afield, seek out “The Eight Mountains,” a majestic epic of friendship, streaming on the Criterion Channel.

— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle

NEW MUSIC TO STREAM

— Twenty years ago, SM Entertainment boy band TVXQ helped usher in K-pop’s second generation. (To put that into context: K-pop is currently in its fifth generation, and BTS arrived in the third.) By the end of first generation, lead by bubble gum pop like H.O.T.’s “Candy,” TVXQ emerged with a new kind of charisma, producing soulful harmonies with global resonance and performances alongside Britney Spears. Two decades later, the group is now a duo — made up of original members U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin — preparing to release their ninth studio album, “20&2,” five years since their last full-length, 2018’s “New Chapter #2: The Truth of Love.” Across 10-tracks, the veteran act offers listeners a modern take on their familiar melodic talents. Begin with the rocking, tense falsetto pop of lead-single “Dark.”

— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman

NEW SERIES TO STREAM

— Ryan Seacrest and Rita Ora ring in 2024 on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.” The lineup from Times Square includes Megan Thee Stallion, Jelly Roll, Sabrina Carpenter and Tyla, while Los Angeles performances will include Janelle Monáe, Coco Jones, Doechii, Green Day and more. The show begins airing at 8 p.m. Eastern on Sunday. The show is available to watch over the air with a digital antenna. Those with Hulu’s Live TV bundle can stream it.

— 2024 kicks off in a big way with “America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League” hosted by Terry Crews. In this competition, Mel B returns to judge alongside Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel and Heidi Klum, where they each selects from a talent pool of past winners, finalists, fan favorites and other standout contestants from the global “Got Talent” franchise to form their own team of 10 acts. The judges will then guide their acts through the competition where the audience determines who advances to the semi-finals and finals. The extravaganza begins Monday, Jan. 1 on NBC and streams on Peacock.

— True crime fans were hooked by Max’s “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace,” about an Indiana couple who in 2010 adopted a 6-year-old girl with dwarfism from Ukraine named Natalia Grace. Within two years they began to question Natalia’s identity and believed she was in her early 20s, a fraud and dangerous. While that docuseries focused on the adopted parents’ story, Grace shares her version in “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalie Speaks.” The six-part series airs over three consecutive nights beginning Monday, Jan. 1 on ID.

— Alicia Rancilio

 

Tata Motors, one of the largest commercial vehicle manufacturers in India has public transport with the delivery of Starbus EVs to Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). This is claimed to be milestone as part of a larger order as per the agreement between TML Smart City Mobility Solutions Ltd, a Tata Motors subsidiary, and BMTC, encompassing the commencement of supply, operation and maintenance of 921 state-of-the-art 12-metre low-floor electric buses, over a 12-year period.Tata Starbus EV, an indigenous innovation, joins BMTC‘s fleet, boasting superior design and best-in-class features for a sustainable and comfortable commuting experience. Aligned with the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, these zero-emission electric buses are developed on next-gen architecture, powered by advanced battery systems for safe, comfortable and convenient intra-city commute across the city of Bengaluru.
Commenting on the announcement, Ms G Sathyavathi, IAS, Managing Director, BMTC, said “We are delighted to induct Tata Motors’ state-of-the-art buses after successful completion of prototype trials of Tata’s electric buses within the city. The remarkable performance of these electric buses align perfectly with BMTC’s commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and improving the quality of life for our citizens. These buses will not only contribute towards eco-friendly transportation, but will also offer noise-free and comfortable mass mobility in the city.”
Sharing his thoughts at the event, Asim Kumar Mukhopadhyay, CEO and MD, TML Smart City Mobility Solutions Limited, said “We are elated to witness our top-of-the-line Starbus EVs inducted in BMTC’s fleet. Our offering to the citizens of Bengaluru is testament to our commitment to cutting-edge, eco-friendly offerings. We are confident that our buses will further strengthen BMTC’s fleet and make public transportation safe, comfortable, tech driven and energy-efficient. These buses have been developed and manufactured at state-of-the-art facilities and have been rigorously tested and validated across varied conditions.”
Till date, Tata Motors claimed to have supplied over 1,500 electric buses across multiple cities in India, which have cumulatively clocked more than 10 crore kilometres, with an uptime of over 95%. The Tata Starbus EV, is a cutting-edge e-bus that sets new benchmarks for urban city commuting. With its full-electric drivetrain, this state-of-the-art vehicle optimises energy consumption, resulting in low energy usage and operational costs. It offers features like ease of boarding, comfortable seating and driver-friendly operations, while ensuring zero emissions. Equipped with electronic stability control, electronic brake distribution, air suspension, Intelligent Transport System, panic button among other advanced features, it prioritises comfort and safety to its commuters. This electric bus embodies the commitment to cleaner public transport and is an ideal choice for urban passenger transportation needs.

Google has agreed to settle a consumer privacy lawsuit seeking at least $5 billion in damages over allegations it tracked the data of users who thought they were browsing the internet privately. The object of the lawsuit was the “incognito” mode on Google’s Chrome browser that the plaintiffs said gave users a false sense that what they were surfing online was not being tracked by the Silicon Valley tech firm. But internal Google emails brought forward in the lawsuit demonstrated that users using incognito mode were being followed by the search and advertising behemoth for measuring web traffic and selling ads.

In a court filing, the judge confirmed that lawyers for Google reached a preliminary agreement to settle the class action lawsuit — originally filed in 2020 — which claimed that “millions of individuals” had likely been affected.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs were seeking at least $5,000 for each user it said had been tracked by the firm’s Google Analytics or Ad Manager services even when in the private browsing mode and not logged into their Google account.

This would have amounted to at least $5 billion, though the settlement amount will likely not reach that figure, and no amount was given for the preliminary settlement between the parties.

Google and lawyers for the consumers did not respond to an AFP request for comment.

The settlement came just weeks after Google was refused a request that the case be decided by a judge. A jury trial was set to begin next year.

The lawsuit, filed in a California court, claimed Google’s practices had infringed on users’ privacy by “intentionally” deceiving them with the incognito option.

The original complaint alleged that Google and its employees had been given the “power to learn intimate details about individuals’ lives, interests, and internet usage.”

“Google has made itself an unaccountable trove of information so detailed and expansive that George Orwell could never have dreamed it,” it added.

A formal settlement is expected for court approval by February 24, 2024.

Class action lawsuits have become the main venue to challenge big tech companies on data privacy matters in the United States, which lacks a comprehensive law on the handling of personal data.

In August, Google paid $23 million to settle a long-running case over giving third-parties access to user search data.

In 2022, Facebook parent company Meta settled a similar case, agreeing to pay $725 million over the handling of user data.

 

It’s time for your daily dose of Quordle hints, plus the answers for both the main game and the Daily Sequence spin off. 

Quordle is the only one of the many Wordle clones that I’m still playing now, around 18 months after the daily-word-game craze hit the internet, and with good reason: it’s fun, but also difficult.

Its time to say good bye to the year 2023. While the shadow of economic uncertainty looms, top execs of IT industry acknowledge the continued reliance on technology to drive business growth. The focus is on maximizing efficiency, bridging productivity gaps, and extracting value from existing infrastructure. Emerging technologies like generative AI offered exciting possibilities, but concerns about security and responsible development loomed. As we look ahead to 2023, here’s what some of the top executives have to say.
Bikram Singh Bedi, Managing Director, Google Cloud
“2023 has been an extraordinary year for Google Cloud and particularly for our business in India. From forging deep collaborations with CERT-In, Bhashini and ONDC to launching Gemini Pro we have seen the potential of how technology can shape the future of Indian organizations, the public sector and beyond. Our customers have trusted us, and we saw incredible momentum across key industries and verticals. Today we sit in a unique position to help businesses innovate with generative AI with our advanced models and continue to help businesses solve complex problems and transform in this new AI era.”
Vikram Raman, Vice President Marketing and E-Commerce, India, Racold
“As the year draws to a close, Racold reflects on a remarkable journey of innovation, warmth, and steadfast commitment to excellence in the heating solutions industry. From pioneering technologies to creating moments of comfort in countless homes, we take pride in the trust you’ve placed in us. In 2023, Racold stood at the forefront of redefining warmth, setting new benchmarks in efficiency and sustainability. As we embark on a new year, we express gratitude for your unwavering support. Here’s to a future filled with even greater advancements, shared warmth, and a commitment to making every home a haven. Cheers to a year well-heated!”
Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India
“Technology advancements are reshaping our world into a more inclusive place, where intelligence and connectivity enrich our daily lives. In 2023, MediaTek remains a frontrunner in diverse 5G use cases, delivering next-gen technologies including Satellite connectivity, Generative AI, Cloud Computing, Automotive, Connectivity and advanced 5G solutions across 5G FWA. MediaTek foresees that Generative AI is emerging as the top opportunity for 2024 and is leading the revolution by uncovering new possibilities. Recently launched flagship chipset, MediaTek Dimensity 9300 has groundbreaking big core designs and supports generative AI on-device processing for seamless, secure edge AI experiences. Besides Generative AI, the major technology trends such as quantum computing, sustainable technology, cyber resilience, and autonomous vehicles will drive the technology landscape in the fast-evolving age of AI.”
Nilesh Gupta, Director, Vijay Sales
“The Retail industry celebrated a triumphant year, exceeding expectations with an outstanding performance in the offline channel. The driving force behind our remarkable year-on-year growth during the festival season was the undeniable dominance of smartphones. Witnessing a noteworthy trend in Premiumization, consumers are willingly investing in superior experiences, enhanced convenience, seamless connectivity, and energy efficiency. As the industry embarks on consolidating growth post a double-digit value-based expansion in the festive season and encouraging business during weddings, we remain committed to delivering excellence.”
Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO, KRAFTON India
“In 2023, India witnessed an unprecedented surge in the growth of gaming and Esports, marking a monumental year for the industry. The landscape has flourished with major tournaments, new game launches, and substantial investments, reflecting an ever-expanding community of gamers. As we look ahead to 2024, we remain committed to India and growing the gaming and Esports system holistically. We are excited to continue nurturing talent through our gaming incubator program and hope to publish a title in the country and also in other global markets that is developed and made by Indian talent. We believe in the power of Indian IPs and content in making a lasting global impact, and we are excited to achieve new milestones in our journey to unlock the country’s full potential as a global gaming powerhouse.”
Hitesh Garg, Vice President and India Managing Director, NXP Semiconductors
“Reflecting on the semiconductor industry’s journey in 2023, we witnessed a year of resilience and transformation. As we stand at the cusp of 2024, the industry is poised for significant technological shifts that will shape India’s trajectory in profound ways. The integration of edge computing capabilities into semiconductor devices marked a significant leap forward enhancing the efficiency of connected systems. Chip design innovation, driven by the demand for smaller, more powerful, and energy-efficient chips, showcased the industry’s commitment to pushing technological boundaries. The semiconductor industry is forecasted to experience a strong rebound and substantial growth as the Indian semiconductor market is expected to reach USD 55 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 20% during the period 2022-2026. This resurgence positions the industry for a remarkable comeback, emphasizing the critical role of semiconductor companies in driving global technological progress. Looking ahead to 2024, the industry is in the transformative phase. Going forward, the integration of edge computing with enhanced connectivity and security will bring transformational changes across various industry segments like automotive, communication infrastructure, industrial, mobile, smart city and smart home. Advancements in chip design will persist, with a relentless pursuit of smaller, more powerful, and energy-efficient solutions that will make the world more safe, secure and connected.”

OpenAI employee debunks prompt engineering as future’s key skill; Chinese cybercriminals arrested for creating ransomware with ChatGPT assistance; Seoul boosts crime prevention with AI-powered surveillance expansion; Generative AI breakthrough enhances focused ultrasound for neurological treatment- this and more in our daily roundup. Let us take a look.

1. OpenAI employee debunks prompt engineering as future’s key skill

OpenAI’s Logan Kilpatrick challenges the notion that prompt engineering is the future’s key skill. He asserted that effective communication with AI, akin to human interaction, is paramount. While prompt engineering gains traction, Kilpatrick emphasises reading, writing, and speaking as crucial skills for human competitiveness in the era of advancing AI. Learning to communicate with AI, some users note, can enhance overall interpersonal communication skills, Business Insider reported.

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2. Chinese cybercriminals arrested for creating ransomware with ChatGPT assistance

In China, four individuals were arrested for developing ransomware with ChatGPT, marking the country’s first case involving the chatbot not officially available locally. The cybercriminals, arrested in Beijing and Inner Mongolia, utilised ChatGPT to optimise the ransomware program, conduct vulnerability scans, infiltrate systems, implant ransomware, and extort victims. The legal status of ChatGPT in China remains unclear, as the government restricts access to foreign generative AI products. OpenAI has blocked its services in China, but users employ VPNs to circumvent restrictions, according to a South China Morning Post report.

3. Seoul boosts crime prevention with AI-powered surveillance expansion

Seoul city officials announce plans to enhance crime prevention with additional AI-backed surveillance cameras in public parks and along hiking trails. Equipped with AI technology, these cameras detect movements and transmit images to control rooms, enhancing emergency monitoring. The initiative aims to eliminate crime blind spots, with 10,657 AI cameras to be installed by 2026. The city also plans to replace outdated cameras, investing 126.5 billion won ($98.1 million) over three years, Asia News Network reported. 

4. Generative AI breakthrough enhances focused ultrasound for neurological treatment

Researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology have developed a generative AI-based real-time acoustic simulation technology to address the challenges of applying focused ultrasound therapy for neurological issues. Overcoming limitations in reflecting ultrasound wave distortions caused by diverse skull shapes, the technology predicts and corrects distortions during therapy. This innovation enhances the clinical viability of non-invasive focused ultrasound therapy for conditions like depression and Alzheimer’s disease, ANI reported.

5. Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis explores AI collaboration with Google India Headquarters

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis discussed the application of AI in governance with Google India’s Country Head and VP, Sanjay Gupta. The meeting explored potential collaborations with the Maharashtra Government. Fadnavis shared details on social media, highlighting the fruitful conversation on the application of AI and future possibilities, ANI reported.

Cybersecurity experts from Barracuda recently discovered and patched a high-severity vulnerability in some of its email security gateway (ESG) devices.

The flaw, tracked as CVE-2023-7102, is an Arbitrary Code Execution (ACE) vulnerability found inside a third-party library called Spreadsheet::ParseExcel. This library is used by the Amavis virus scanner, within the ESG appliance, the experts said. By crafting a custom Excel attachment, the attackers would able to exploit the flaw and run pretty much any code on the vulnerable device, unabated.