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Understanding Bolt Typhoon: The Most Destructive Threat of Our Time | Cybersecurity

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Tensions between the United States and China have escalated in recent years, primarily due to Beijing’s threats to annex Taiwan. This has raised concerns about potential hostilities and the risk of a full-scale conflict. The recent revelation that a Chinese hacking network, known as Bolt Typhoon, had been dormant within America’s critical infrastructure for five years, has caused significant alarm.

This network exploited weaknesses in US technological and security systems. However, US and allied intelligence agencies have stated that their focus was on “prepositioning” for future acts of sabotage rather than stealing secrets.

FBI Director Christopher Wray described Bolt Typhoon as “the defining threat of our generation” during a US committee hearing last week.

The Netherlands and the Philippines have also publicly acknowledged that Chinese-backed hackers were targeting their national networks and infrastructure.

What is Bolt Typhoon?

Western intelligence officials believe that Volt Typhoon (also known as Vanguard Panda, Bronze Silhouette, Dev-0391, UNC3236, Voltzite, and Insidious Taurus) is a state-sponsored Chinese cyber operation. Thousands of internet-connected devices were compromised as part of a larger effort to infiltrate critical infrastructure in the West, including military ports, internet service providers, communications services, and public utilities.

The recent Bolt Typhoon advisory follows US authorities’ announcements of dismantling a bot network of hundreds of compromised devices attributed to a hacking network.

“CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency] The team includes aviation, water, energy, [and] transportation,” CISA Director Jen Easterly said at a U.S. House of Representatives committee hearing earlier this month.

How does it work?

Volt Typhoon works by exploiting vulnerabilities in small or end-of-life routers, firewalls, and virtual private networks (VPNs), often using administrator credentials or stolen passwords, and by using outdated technology that lacks regular security updates. This is the main weakness identified in US digital infrastructure. It uses a “living off the land” technique where the malware only uses existing resources within the target operating system, rather than introducing new (and more detectable) files.

A report released last week by CISA, the National Security Agency, and the FBI revealed that the Bolt Typhoon hackers had maintained access for the past five years, only targeting US infrastructure but also affecting allies of the Five Eyes, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

What is its purpose?

US officials noted that Bolt Typhoon’s target selection and behavioral patterns were inconsistent with traditional cyber espionage or intelligence gathering operations. Microsoft’s research has shown that Bolt Typhoon has been active since mid-2021.

“People's Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored cyber adversaries are using their IT networks to prepare for disruptive or devastating cyber attacks on U.S. critical infrastructure in the event of a major crisis or conflict with the United States. ,” the joint report said.

What does China say?

The Chinese government regularly denies any accusations of cyberattacks or espionage linked to or sponsored by the Chinese state. However, evidence of Chinese government cyber espionage has been accumulating for more than two decades.

Secureworks, a division of Dell Technologies, mentioned Bolt Typhoon’s interest in operational security last year, as a response to increasing pressure from the Chinese leadership to avoid public scrutiny of cyber espionage.

What's next?

The widespread nature of the hack prompted a series of meetings between the White House and the private technology industry, including several telecommunications and cloud computing companies, during which the US government sought assistance in tracking the activity.

The institutions and assets targeted by the now-dismantled botnet were ordered by CISA to disconnect affected devices and products in January, starting an intensive and difficult remediation process.

“Given the extent of targeting and compromise around the world, with three vulnerabilities currently being exploited affecting these devices, this is a significant It was necessary,” said Eric Goldstein, executive assistant director of cybersecurity at CISA.

“All organizations running these devices need to be targeted and expect a breach.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Understanding the sensation of dying: Insights from medical professionals

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Similar to childbirth, death is a bodily process that progresses through stages and is recognizable. The speed of the process varies from person to person, and medical support may be necessary to ensure a safe and comfortable experience.

As death nears, most people lose interest in eating and drinking, which is normal. Even if they are unable to manage full meals, a small taste may still be welcomed.

Dying individuals typically experience a lack of energy, similar to the extreme fatigue associated with severe illness or surgery recovery. While sleep normally recharges energy, it gradually diminishes as the body weakens towards death.

Waking hours decrease, and periods of unconsciousness become more frequent. People report feeling like they were peacefully asleep during these periods of unconsciousness.

If the dying person relies on regular medications, it may be necessary to switch to medications that do not require swallowing. Skin patches, syringe pumps, and suppositories can be used, as unconsciousness is usually caused by the dying process, not medication.

What happens in your last moments

As death progresses, the heartbeat slows, blood pressure drops, the skin cools, and the nails dull. Restlessness, confusion, and periods of deepening unconsciousness may occur.

There is no proven method to investigate what people experience near death, but recent research suggests that the unconscious brain responds to noise in the room. Breathing becomes automatic and may involve heavy, noisy breaths or breathing through saliva in the back of the throat without signs of distress.

Breathing cycles from deep to shallow, fast to slow, until it becomes slow and very shallow, eventually pausing and stopping altogether due to lack of oxygen.

Understanding common patterns of death and its stages can help companions feel less fearful and manage symptoms. Seeking medical attention when necessary is important. For more information, you can watch the BBC short film about death: BBC short film about death.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Understanding the Job Cuts in the $180 Billion Gaming Industry

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I
It's widely agreed that 2023 was a great year for video games. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur's Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, Marvel's Spider-Man 2… Barely a week has passed without a blockbuster or independent masterpiece appearing.

But behind these accolades there is a sadder and more worrying story. This year also saw widespread layoffs in the industry, a trend that continues into the first weeks of 2024. Microsoft laid off 1,900 employees after acquiring Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. .Publisher Embracer Group
lay off at least 900 staff
In addition to shutting down veteran British developer Free Radical Design, it has ended activity across many of the company’s studios. Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, one of his most successful titles of this decade, has laid off 830 employees.electronic arts
6% reduction in workforce, which equates to approximately 780 jobs. There were similar harrowing stories from Ubisoft, Naughty Dog, Sega, and Unity.Big publishers and small studios alike
is affected

Why did this happen? Why is the entertainment industry, said to be worth $180 billion a year, cutting staff at such an alarming rate?

In some cases, there are certain factors that promote redundancy. In the case of Activision Blizzard, one of the reasons is the duplication of roles after the purchase is completed. “Microsoft obviously already had a publishing business, but they bought ZeniMax Media, Bethesda's parent company, and another publishing business,” said James Batchelor, editor-in-chief of GamesIndustry.biz. “The company then acquired two publishing businesses, Activision and Blizzard, which operated somewhat separately. Think about the number of departments that have doubled here, including human resources, public relations, marketing, and accounting. So you end up with a lot of people doing the same job within the same company. This is a case of rationalization.”




Even though Fortnite has been a huge success, the publisher is still cutting back on employee numbers.
Photo: Zuma Press/Alamy

Sweden's Embracer Group is a game publisher that owns 135 studios around the world, including Tomb Raider creator Crystal Dynamics. After a period of accelerated expansion, the company was forced to close developers, cancel games, and make staff redundant. “The company had a very aggressive merger and acquisition strategy, but we now know that it was dependent on outside investment,” Batchelor said. “But last year, deals worth at least $2 billion were reportedly struck by Saudi investors.
was canceledThis meant we had to make major adjustments to our plans. Embracer is a classic example of a company that is too big to survive. There are thousands of people working on the Embracer game, but we didn’t have a big seller to sustain that number. ”

However, one event looms large in the background: the new coronavirus pandemic. Interest in video games exploded during lockdown. He had two effects. For one thing, strong sales of titles like “Animal Crossing” and “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” have boosted revenues and sent stock prices soaring, attracting the attention of outside investors and flooding the industry with money. That means I did it. In response, arrogant publishers commissioned more ambitious projects and hired accordingly.

But the bubble didn't last. Sales declined as lockdowns eased and people continued to live their lives. “We've seen a lot of games canceled over the last few months. I think there are more that we just don't know about,” Batchelor says. “If we cancel a project and focus on a few games that we know will do well for the studio, we will unfortunately be putting the jobs of the people working on the projects that are being scrapped at risk.”




Hyena, one of many games canceled in 2023.
Photo: Sega

The solution for many publishers has been to cut back on riskier projects and focus on “sure-fire” hits, but this may just be perpetuating the cycle. McDonald explains: “Publishers are signing fewer games, development costs are lower, and it takes longer to sign deals, but if you leave them without all the promising games for the next few years, You put yourself at risk.”

Macdonald believes there may be a bandwagon effect. “We're at a stage now where so many studios are having so many layoffs that some companies think it's an opportunity to make layoffs for more specific reasons. , many other studios will be in the spotlight for job losses. It's especially unfortunate that companies with billions of dollars in cash jumped on the bandwagon and made mass layoffs, and that cash It is likely that the interest increase alone could have covered all of these salaries.

Given the gloomy start to 2024, the effects of coronavirus and various acquisitions across the industry are likely to continue to impact the gaming business. And even if it recovers, another threat looms over staff: the rise of artificial intelligence in development and production processes. “We don't know how widely AI tools are being deployed, but there is talk that some reductions are being made in hopes of leveraging AI for content creation.” McDonald says.

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The use of AI could be attractive to publishers looking to reduce costs, such as by creating digital caricatures of an actor's voice.
Photo: David O’Donnell/The Guardian

For publishers looking to reduce development costs, the use of AI can be attractive, especially in areas such as quality assurance and performance capture. In January, the Sag-Aftra union
criticized An agreement reached with an AI company that will allow actors to create digital images that resemble their voices has sparked an uproar on social media.Starfield and Mortal Kombat actor Sunil Malhotra
I wrote to X: “I sacrificed going on strike for half of the last year to keep my profession instead of hoarding AI replicas.”

With their livelihoods threatened, more development staff are seeking to unionize, increasing pressure on the industry to self-regulate. Incumbent publishers are starting to see both as threats. Last June,
Electronic Arts Financial Report We have identified unionization and AI regulation as having the potential to negatively impact our business and performance.

So how can newcomers to the gaming industry protect themselves? “At the end of the day, job seekers always have to look out for themselves,” McDonald says. “Check if the company is profitable, has a history of layoffs, and if salaries are sustainable.”

Video game companies also have a responsibility to reflect on the past year and learn from it. But what lessons might they learn?

“I think the industry is going to get more attention and focus on known hits and safer bets,” Batchelor said. “This is unfortunate because the industry still needs to take risks. But ultimately those risks need to be maintained and funded by companies, rather than relying on external investment.”

“As companies become more streamlined and more sustainable, we hope to create a smarter industry.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Understanding ImageFX: A Comprehensive Guide to Google’s New AI Image Generator

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Google is lagging behind in artificial intelligence. While OpenAI’s innovative Dall-E AI art image generator was released two years ago, Google only recently released its competing product.

The software, known as ImageFX, is backed by one of the largest technology companies and a substantial amount of data. So how is this data accumulated?

In brief, ImageFX has produced some impressive images that rival the best. But how does it work? Can it be accessed now? And have major problems in the AI art world been solved?

How to use Google ImageFX

Google ImageFX is currently available in countries like the United States, Kenya, New Zealand, and Australia.

If you attempt to access the site in a country like the UK, you’ll see a warning stating, “This tool is not yet available in your country.”

To access it from any of the currently available countries, visit Google’s AI Test Kitchen. Then create an account. Once everything is set up, your new prompt will be ready for use.

Even if you’re not in one of the listed countries, the website is still worth visiting. Google allows you to sign up for notifications about when the platform becomes available in your area.

How good is Google ImageFX?

There’s no denying that Google is late to the game. OpenAI’s Dall-E was released in January 2021, and Midjourney was released a year later. So did Google’s delay pay off in terms of quality?

Two images generated by ImageFX. On the left is a room with an art desk, and on the right is a painting of a vampire – Credit: ImageFX

The images released so far demonstrate that ImageFX is capable of producing content at a very high level. Detailed and contextual, ImageFX is an unsurprisingly capable image generator.

But that’s expected. AI art has made significant progress over the years, and Google’s main competitors are producing similarly high-quality work and have been doing so for much longer.

The significant advantage of ImageFX at the moment is that it’s free (in select countries). Both Midjourney and Dall-E are mainly behind paywalls or restricted services, so it’s worth making the most of ImageFX before any changes.

ImageFX also includes a unique feature called the “Expressive Chip.” This allows users to quickly edit the prompt and try a different search. For example, if you request a portrait of a woman, you can quickly switch this to an abstract, hand-drawn, or even oil painting.

How does it work?

Basically, Google ImageFX works like any other AI art generator. This involves several steps, starting with obtaining an image database large enough for training.

Google has not disclosed the source of its training data, but it likely includes a combination of internal sources, collaborations, and possibly web scraping and user-generated content.

Once the database is built, a model is trained on these images to learn the relationships between the words and visual concepts in the images, possibly through a diffusion model.

These models start with random noise in the image and are refined based on information from both the data and the accompanying text description. By repeating this process, you essentially learn the relationships between words, images, and context.

This training helps ImageFX and other AI image generators understand the prompts asked because it understands what words are associated with the images.

How is it linked to Google Bard?

Google Bard is probably the biggest competitor to the AI chatbot ChatGPT. Google has been working on the chatbot for some time and was released publicly in 2023.

If ImageFX is photography, Bard is understanding words and context. The goal is to combine the two to create the ultimate AI model, similar to OpenAI’s combination of ChatGPT and Dall-E (OpenAI’s image generator).

Google Bard is currently in testing but will soon be fully operational with the recently announced Google Gemini system.

This could theoretically mean a platform that asks models to create a board game and returns both the rules and lore, as well as all images, boards, and content. Or you could write a series of books with illustrations to go along with it.

Does ImageFX produce bad images?

There’s a problem with AI art…people. When trained on artwork from a human population and then utilized again by humans, less appropriate parts of the human brain tend to enter.

Previous AI art generators displayed sexist, biased, and sometimes intensely graphic images. This is a problem that all major technology companies are trying to tackle, including Google with ImageFX.

“All images generated with ImageFX are marked with SynthID, a tool developed by Google DeepMind that adds digital watermarks directly to the content we generate.” Google says:.

“SynthID watermarks are imperceptible to the human eye but can be detected for identification. Additionally, all images contain metadata, so when you encounter an AI-generated image, You can get more information.”

In addition to this, Google announced that it has improved the safety of its training data, reducing problematic output such as violent, offensive, or sexually explicit content. This extends to a reduced ability to create images of real people.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Understanding the Purpose of Designing Cars to Exceed Speed Limits

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Why are cars designed to go far above the speed limit? (Don’t tell me they’re built with the Autobahn in mind.) Andy Crosby, North Wales

Please send new questions to nq@theguardian.com.

Reader replies

Because for mechanical reasons, a car that can get to 100 will perform better at 70 than a car that can only get to 70. Also, an engine that can only reach 110 mph on flat ground may struggle on hills. I was riding a 1.2 Clio and had to anticipate the hills and lower gears so I wouldn’t run out of breath. My Golf Diesel ran smoothly on the same slope without any complaints. Of course, you can also install a speed limiter on your vehicle (I often drive minibuses with speed limits). But consider the problems that arise when a speed-limited truck tries to pass another truck, slowly weaving in the center lane of a freeway, and the resulting confusion and congestion. yorkshire expatriate

I think the Germans call this the “elephant race”. socialism now

Of course, men are embarrassed to buy Viagra. Greg KZ

Is it because you are selling it? Automotive journalists like to include acceleration and top speed performance as positive in their reviews. So perhaps car buyers want a faster car, even if they can’t use that performance (at least in theory). reggie pudding

I purchased a 2015 Audi A5 3.0TDi Quattro 5 years ago. With 245bhp it will reach 60mph in less than 6 seconds. When you need that oomph to pass a bloke going 40mph on the local highway, it’s also thanks to its bags of torque that it means overtaking is quick and easy.

Top speed is limited to 155 mph, but I’ve never seen one. In France, I hit 132 mph on the motorway, the legal maximum speed.

The best part is that despite the engine’s size, it literally ticks along at 110mph at 1,600rpm and gets over 50mpg on long trips. So it’s a good grand tourer, with the ability to drift, a decent slug of power, and the ability to growl when needed. This is called being flexible. I’m already looking forward to my next road trip to France! Chilled Gibo

You’re Jeremy Clarkson, I charge you £5! Tatty Bogle

I am disappointed that the transition to electric power is not seen as an opportunity to end our obsession with increasingly high-powered cars. We see advertisements boasting extraordinary acceleration rates and high power outputs, but as a result, batteries are increasingly required to be larger and heavier, and have a greater environmental impact during manufacturing and use. This is contrary to the potential of electric vehicles to reduce the impact of personal mobility. We will properly lower speed limits and introduce aggressive punitive taxes on large, powerful personal vehicles. evan 1

Highest efficiency point. Designed for 110 miles per hour, it runs at full capacity. Imagine sprinting endlessly on every trip. It is designed to have a top speed of 160 mph and then cruise at 110 mph. I can run comfortably. Seno j1

A significant number of EVs buck this trend by having very fast acceleration but relatively low top speeds. For example, in my case he is supposed to reach 60 in less than 7 seconds, and this acceleration corresponds to a top speed of 130-140. In fact, its top speed is around 108, more than enough to allow a comfortable margin of stress relief at legal speeds. It is also true that some EVs reach 60 points within his 3 seconds, which begs the question of how many drivers can handle this without crashing into a more solid vehicle. suspicious solipsist

Fuel Efficiency – If a car can go 240 km/h while redlining in 5th, it will rev much lower and consume less fuel, potentially reaching 120 km/h. mcknight

Is it because speeding fines are a valuable source of income? eddie miscellaneous post

Margin of error (also known as safety). You have to turn occasionally (at legal speeds) to avoid accidents, and you always have to use mechanical devices that aren’t working at stress points, because it’s not good for wheels to fall off. Speedy 95060

A car with an engine with a “design” speed of 130 mph can have a “smaller” carburetor fitted to the engine, which will limit power and speed accordingly, but with less impact on the engine and moving parts. It has the advantage of being less stressful. . Of course, this will be about the same price as the “unlimited” version, so boy racers will want to go over the speed limit, so I guess manufacturers choose the faster version to increase sales. balance and reason

Cars are sold as toys, but only incidentally as a means of transportation. Lochaber 1

I hope this is the answer they give as their “last word.” Doralicious

Source: www.theguardian.com

Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding how tardigrades are able to survive in extreme conditions

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Tardigrade observed using a fluorescence microscope.Some organs are highlighted with fluorescent markers

Smythers et al/PLoS ONE (CC-BY 4.0)

Tardigrades are known for their ability to withstand extreme environments, and we now know how they do this. Small molecular sensors inside cells can detect when harmful molecules called free radicals are produced in excess, causing a state of dormancy.

Tardigrades, also known as tardigrades, are eight-legged microscopic invertebrates found throughout the world. Under adverse conditions such as sub-zero temperatures and strong radiation, the creatures shrink into a dry ball called a tongue and enter a deep hibernation state.

“Tardigrades do not breed under extreme conditions, but they can overwinter.” Derrick Colling At Marshall University in West Virginia. “We wanted to understand how they could step in there.”

To study, Kolling and colleagues exposed tardigrades to high levels of hydrogen peroxide, sugar, salt, or temperatures of -80°C (-112°F) to induce Tun. As a result of these stresses, tardigrades produce harmful, highly reactive molecules called oxygen free radicals.

The free radicals then go on to react with other molecules, team members say. leslie hix At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Importantly, the research team discovered that free radicals oxidize an amino acid called cysteine, which is one of the building blocks of proteins in the body. These reactions change protein structure and function and signal the onset of quiescence.

In experiments where cysteine ​​oxidation was prevented, tardigrades were unable to enter the tun state. “Cysteine acts like a kind of regulatory sensor,” Hicks says. “This allows the tardigrade to sense its environment and respond to stress.”

When conditions improved, the researchers discovered that the cysteine ​​was no longer oxidized and instructed the tardigrades to wake up from the tongue.

“Whether this is a universally conserved protection mechanism and whether this is conserved across tardigrade species is a really important question,” Hicks says. Her answers, she says, could help us better understand the aging process and how to make long-term space travel a reality.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Understanding the Red River Hog: A Overview

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Pigs are charismatic and intelligent animals, but this piglet prefers ginger biscuits. The red river hog, also known as the “dwarf pig”, is a wild swine native to western and central Africa.

Featuring a striking red coat, they are the most colorful of the pigs. Its bright fur is covered by a thin white mane that runs the length of its back, on stubby black legs and sturdy treadles.

Its face is part ALF (an alien life form from the 80's American sitcom) and part Dobby the house elf (from the movie). Harry potter story).

Whiskers protrude from the base of its long black nose, and its jet-black eyes are framed by bold white markings. Contrasting markings are a form of camouflage called disruptive coloration, which breaks up the animal's outline so that it blends into the background.

But those ears are the main event. The tapered triangle gives way to spectacular long tufts of hair that frame the face and add a touch of wizardly chic to this animal's unconventional beauty.

Red River Hog lives small group Approximately 4 to 20 animals called sounders. It is found in rainforests and adjacent savannahs, often near rivers and swamps. Each sounder is led by a boar and oversees a harem of females and their young.

Weighing between 50 and 100 kg (110 and 220 lb), they may be among the smaller pigs, but they are energetic. Males fend off rivals by head-butting, snouting, and whipping each other with their tails, and easily protect their families from leopards, spotted hyenas, and pythons.

Within groups, individuals communicate with an inventive repertoire of moans and shrieks. They take a nap and forage for food at night. Like all pigs, red river hogs are omnivorous and will eat anything they can find. Fruits, seeds, nuts, eggs, snails, carrion, and lizards are all prey, as are livestock and crops such as goats and cassava.

They use their teeth to dig for roots, bulbs, and insects, and swim to forage for aquatic plants. They also have a fondness for Boko tree seeds (Balanite Wilsoana), they find undigested material in elephant feces or by following chimpanzees in the hopes of finding fallen fruit.

Females give birth to up to six piglets between February at the end of the dry season and July in the middle of the rainy season. Mothers build temporary nests out of dead leaves and grass and take care of their children while being protected by wild boars.

Piglets initially develop dark brown fur with yellow stripes and spots, are weaned at four months of age, and grow ginger-like fur after two months. The black spots on the face fully mature after about two years.

Although the species is not currently endangered, there are concerns that local populations could decline as pigs continue to encroach on farmland and the bushmeat trade intensifies. It's time for people to come together and save this piggy bacon before things get worse.

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To submit a question, please email questions@sciencefocus.com (remember to include your name and location)

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Understanding the Incredible Anatomy and Function of the Human Eye

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Our eyes, with over 100 million light-sensitive cells and some of the fastest muscles in the body, are able to pick up everything from starlight traveling across galaxies to the full range of human emotions. I can.

However, by connecting to our minds through the approximately 1 million nerve fibers that connect each eye to our brains, we are able to synthesize smooth vision that is not distracting or overwhelming, acquire the ability to interpret what is happening around you.

important parts of the human eye

pupil

It looks like a black dot, but it’s actually a gap that allows light to pass through to the back of your eye.

cornea

The cornea, the transparent dome in front of the eye, refracts light and helps direct it along the correct path to the retina.

iris

The colored part of the eye that dilates or constricts the pupil to control how much light enters. The iris is part of a larger structure that forms a layer between the retina and the sclera.

lens

A transparent lens that changes shape to focus incoming light onto the retina.

retina

Although it is often thought of as the back of the eye, it is more accurately the innermost layer that receives light that is reversed by the lens. The retina is packed with light-sensitive cells and nerve cells.

sclera

The sclera, also known as the white of the eye, is a tough, protective outer layer made of collagen fibers.

vitreous body

A transparent jelly that fills the eyeballs. As we age, the consistency of this jelly becomes more liquid and gradually becomes less wobbly.

optic nerve

A thick bundle of nerve fibers that carries signals between each eye and the brain.

How do we see it?

The simplest explanation is that what we see is the result of light entering the eye through the cornea and lens, which directs and focuses the light onto the light-sensitive cells (rods and cones) in the retina. about it.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Improving the Understanding and Management of AI

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evil robot artificial intelligence

A new paper discusses the complex role of AI in society and highlights its potential for both benefit and harm. He explores AI’s contribution to national security, its role in exacerbating social problems such as radicalization and polarization, and the importance of understanding and managing its risks.
Credit: SciTechDaily.com

Artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms have and are being used to exacerbate radicalization, strengthen polarization and spread racism and political instability, according to academics at Lancaster University. .

Jo Barton, professor of international security at Lancaster University, argues that AI and algorithms are not just tools used by national security agencies to thwart malicious online activity. He suggests that they can foster polarization, radicalism and political violence, thereby posing a threat to national security itself.

In addition to this, he says the securitization process – which presents technology as an existential threat – has helped shape how AI is designed, how it is used, and the harmful outcomes it produces.

AI in securitization and its social impact

Professor Barton’s paper was recently published in Elsevier’s High Impact magazine. Technology in society journal.

“AI is often framed as a tool to counter violent extremism,” Professor Barton says. “This is the other side of the argument.”

This paper examines how AI has been securitized throughout its history and in media and popular culture depictions, creating polarizing and radicalizing ideas that have contributed to political violence. We explore this by examining contemporary examples of AI that have had an impact.

AI in War and Cybersecurity

This article explores how the classic film series The Terminator, which depicts a holocaust caused by an “advanced and malignant” artificial intelligence, has changed the public’s perception of artificial intelligence and how machine consciousness could have catastrophic consequences for humanity. He cites it as being more helpful than anything else in instilling fear. Humanity – In this case nuclear war and a deliberate attempt to wipe out humanity. seed.

“This distrust of machines, the fear associated with them, and their association with biological, nuclear, and genetic threats to humanity has led to a desire on the part of governments and national security agencies to influence the development of technology. connected, we can reduce risks and (in some cases) exploit its positive potential,” writes Professor Barton.

Professor Barton said advanced drone roles, such as those used in the Ukraine war, were now capable of full autonomy, including functions such as target identification and recognition.

There have been widespread and influential campaign discussions, including at the United Nations, to ban “killer robots” and ensure that humans are always informed about life-or-death decisions. According to him, the infiltration of armed drones continues to advance rapidly.

In cyber security (computer and computer network security), AI is used in major ways, the most prevalent areas being (dis)information and online psychological warfare.

The Putin regime’s actions against the 2016 US election process and the subsequent Cambridge Analytica scandal showed that AI combined with big data (including social media) polarizes, encourages extremist beliefs, and manipulates identities. It showed the possibility of producing political effects centered on group. This demonstrated the power and potential of AI to divide society.

The social impact of AI during the pandemic

And during the pandemic, AI was seen as a positive in tracking and tracing. virus But it also led to privacy and human rights concerns.

This article examines AI technology itself, arguing that problems exist in the design of AI, the data it relies on, how it is used, and its outcomes and impacts.

The paper concludes with a strong message for researchers in cybersecurity and international relations.

“AI certainly has the ability to transform society in positive ways, but it also poses risks that need to be better understood and managed,” said John C., an expert on cyber conflict and emerging technologies and a university professor. Professor Barton, who is part of the Security and Protection Science Initiative, writes:

“It is clear that understanding the dichotomous impact of technology is critical at every stage of its development and use.

“Cybersecurity and international relations scholars have an opportunity to incorporate these elements into new AI research agendas and avoid treating AI as a politically neutral technology.

“In other words, concerns about the security of AI systems and their societal impact should not be overridden by how they are used in international and geopolitical struggles.”

Reference: “Algorithmic extremism? The Securitization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its Impact on Radicalism, Polarization, and Political Violence,” by Joe Barton, September 14, 2023. Technology in society.
DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2023.102262

Source: scitechdaily.com

Analyzing HomeCooks’ $3.2 million seed deck: Understanding the pitch deck

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Originally Facebook The group was started by people during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown to make healthy meals for those close to them. home cook has evolved into a comprehensive marketplace for chefs. We facilitate the entire process from chef preparation to delivery, offering over 200 meal options. The company recently raised $3.2 million in crowdfunding on Seedrs.

HomeCooks positions itself as the “Etsy of food” and has grown rapidly and now serves approximately 7,000 customers. Take a look at how the company told its story with its crowdfunding campaign.

Quick spoiler alert here: This deck is way too long at 25 slides, but it’s also one of the best pitch decks I’ve seen in this heat of the moment.

This deck slide

The company shared 25 slides in their entirety without any edits or edits. The situation is as follows.

  1. cover slide
  2. mission slide
  3. “Food Etsy” slide
  4. How Eater Slide works

    5. …

  5. social impact slides
  6. end slide

3 things to love

This is not a perfect pitch deck, but it has to be an incredibly good one. Below are some highlights.

threading the market needle

There is So There are many reasons why marketplaces are so difficult to succeed…

PDT 77 3.2m Seed HomeCooks s17

[Slide 17] Homecooks argues that the audience will grow with supply. Normally he would call BS, but the numbers support their claims. image credits: Home Cook

sustainability perspective

…

[Slide 14] Yass! image credits: Home Cook

It’s an incredible team

…

[Slide 20] good . . . Fuck! That’s impressive! image credits: Home Cook

Bravo.

In the rest of this teardown, we’ll look at three things HomeCooks could have improved or done differently, along with its full pitch deck.

Source: techcrunch.com