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Tech wrap Jul 22: Google Play Store, Meta Quest, OPPO K12x, iOS 17.6, more

Tech wrap Jul 22: Google Play Store, Meta Quest, OPPO K12x, iOS 17.6, more

by | Jul 22, 2024 | Technology


4 min read Last Updated : Jul 22 2024 | 8:03 PM IST


Google has stringent rules for scrutinising Android apps before they make their way to Play Store but now Google is making the vetting process even more strict. The US-based software giant has revised its minimum quality requirements for Android apps and will not allow those that do not meet requirements on Play Store from August 31. Further, it could remove such Android apps from Play Store, too.


US-based technology giant Meta is reportedly planning a new high-end model of its Meta Quest mixed-reality headset to take on Apple’s Vision Pro. According to a report by The Verge, citing The Information, Meta is working on a higher-end headset for 2027, apart from the next-generation Meta Quest headsets that would likely launch in 2026.


OPPO is set to expand its budget 5G smartphone lineup in India with the launch of the OPPO K12x 5G on July 29. The Chinese smartphone maker said that the OPPO K12x 5G will feature segment-leading durability features and will be rated IP54 for dust and water resistance. The smartphone will boast the company’s proprietary splash touch technology, which OPPO said will make the smartphone operable even when the display is wet. OPPO has also detailed some of the K12x’s key details including display and battery specifications, and AI features.


Apple is reportedly planning to release the iOS 17.6 update soon, which could be the last major update for iOS 17 as Apple’s new iOS 18 operating system nears its first stable version. According to a report by 9To5Mac, Apple has cancelled the previously planned iOS 17.5.2 update in favour of the iOS 17.6 that is expected to bring bug fixes and improvements on eligible iPhones.


WhatsApp, the Meta owned instant messaging platform is reportedly planning to launch a new feature to let users create usernames for their profiles. According to WhatsApp update tracker WABetaInfo, WhatsApp will allow users to create usernames for connecting with people, removing the requisite of exchanging numbers.


Samsung is reportedly halting the shipment of its newly launched Galaxy Buds 3 Pro wireless earphones. According to a report by Android Authority, Samsung has confirmed that it is temporarily suspending deliveries of the Buds 3 Pro to distribution channels. This comes after a few early users of the new Galaxy Buds 3 Pro alleged that the included silicone eartips are being easily torn when trying to remove them from the buds.


Google continues to improve Gemini to make it more user-friendly. Google Gemini by default offers a text-only response but it offers a speaker icon on the top of each result to read the text aloud. The US-based software giant had announced at its I/O 2024 event that Gemini will offer ten natural sounding voices, instead of just one that is default.


The Gamma PS1 emulator app for iOS is getting significant upgrades, including Multitap emulation, improved audio quality, and disc swapping functionality. The Gamma PS1 emulator is a retro-game emulation app that allows users to play video games made for PlayStation 1 on their iPhones. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gamma PS1’s developer Benjamin Stark said that the emulator’s iOS app has been updated with improved multiplayer support, disc swapping functionality, game library cover art, and more.


Nvidia is working on a version of its new flagship AI chips for the China market that would be compatible with current US export controls, three sources familiar with the matter said.


In a display of digital creativity, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, shared an AI-generated video on the social media platform X. The video showcases an imaginative portrayal of political and world leaders as fashion models, strutting down the runway in an array of eye-catching outfits. This one-of-a-kind video quickly captured the internet’s attention, going viral almost instantly.


Artificial intelligence (AI) could lead to India’s services export growth declining by 0.3-0.4 percentage points annually over the next decade, said the Economic Survey on Monday.

First Published: Jul 22 2024 | 8:03 PM IST



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Tesla to have humanoid robots for internal use by next year: Elon Musk

Tesla to have humanoid robots for internal use by next year: Elon Musk

by | Jul 22, 2024 | Technology


Tesla will have the robots in high production for other companies’ use “hopefully” in 2026: Elon Musk | File Photo

2 min read Last Updated : Jul 22 2024 | 6:57 PM IST


Tesla will have humanoid robots in low production for the company’s internal use next year, CEO Elon Musk said on Monday, months after he announced that the rollout would be by the end of 2024.

 


The company will have the robots in high production for other companies’ use “hopefully” in 2026, Musk said in a post on social media platform X.

 


Musk had said in April that the Tesla robot, called Optimus, would be able to perform tasks in the factory by the end of this year and could be ready for sale as soon as the end of 2025.

 


Humanoid robots have been in development for several years by Japan’s Honda and Hyundai Motor’s Boston Dynamics.

 


Several companies are betting on them to meet potential labor shortages and perform repetitive tasks that could be dangerous or tedious in industries such as logistics, warehousing and manufacturing.

 


Musk has a history of failing to fulfill bold promises to Wall Street. In 2019, he told investors that Tesla would be operating a network of “robotaxi” autonomous cars by 2020.

 


Tesla put out the first generation of its Optimus robot, dubbed Bumblebee, in September 2022. This year, the company posted a video of a second generation of the bipedal robot folding a T-shirt at the firm’s facility.

 


(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Jul 22 2024 | 6:56 PM IST



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AI advances fuel rise in child abuse deepfakes, UK safety watchdog warns

AI advances fuel rise in child abuse deepfakes, UK safety watchdog warns

by | Jul 22, 2024 | Technology


3 min read Last Updated : Jul 22 2024 | 5:40 PM IST


Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are being exploited by predators to create AI-generated videos of child sexual abuse, raising concerns about a potential increase in such content as technology progresses, The Guardian reports, citing a UK-based safety watchdog.


The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) reports that most of these instances involve the manipulation of existing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or adult pornography, where a child’s face is superimposed onto the footage. A smaller number of cases feature entirely AI-generated videos lasting about 20 seconds.


The IWF, which tracks CSAM globally, alerted that more AI-generated CSAM videos could proliferate as AI tools become more accessible and user-friendly.


Dan Sexton, IWF’s chief technology officer noted a worrying trend, “If AI video tools follow the same pattern as AI-generated still images, we can expect a rise in CSAM videos.” He said that future videos could be of “higher quality and realism”.


IWF analyst also observed that most videos found on a dark web forum used by paedophiles are partial deepfakes. These involve using freely available AI models to superimpose a child’s face, including images of known CSAM victims, onto existing CSAM videos or adult pornography. The IWF identified nine such videos.


While fewer in number, some wholly AI-generated videos are of a more basic quality. Analysts warn, however, that this could represent the ‘worst’ of fully synthetic video production for now.


The IWF highlighted that AI-generated CSAM images have become more photorealistic this year compared to 2023 when they first detected such content. A snapshot study of a single dark web forum revealed 12,000 new AI-generated images posted over a month-long period. The IWF found that nine out of ten of these images were so realistic they could be prosecuted under UK laws governing real CSAM.


The organisation, which operates a public hotline for reporting abuse, found examples of offenders selling AI-generated CSAM images online in place of non-AI-generated CSAM.

 


Susie Hargreaves, IWF’s chief executive, issued a stark warning: “Without proper controls, generative AI tools provide a playground for online predators to realise their most perverse and sickening fantasies. Even now, the IWF is starting to see more of this type of material being shared and sold on commercial child sexual abuse websites on the internet.”


The IWF is advocating for legal reforms to criminalise the creation of guides for generating AI-made CSAM and the development of ‘fine-tuned’ AI models capable of producing such material.

 


In a related move, Baroness Kidron, a crossbench peer and child safety campaigner, proposed an amendment to the data protection and digital information bill this year to criminalise the creation and distribution of these AI models. However, the bill was shelved after Rishi Sunak called for a general election in May.

 

First Published: Jul 22 2024 | 5:40 PM IST



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Soon, WhatsApp could let you sign in using username on web client: Details

Soon, WhatsApp could let you sign in using username on web client: Details

by | Jul 22, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : Jul 22 2024 | 4:37 PM IST


WhatsApp, the Meta owned instant messaging platform is reportedly planning to launch a new feature to let users create usernames for their profiles. According to WhatsApp update tracker WABetaInfo, WhatsApp will allow users to create usernames for connecting with people, removing the requisite of exchanging numbers.


According to the report, users will be asked to select a username that is unique to them during the setup process. The username, once selected, will not be used by others and will also not include a discriminator or tag. The unique username will also ensure privacy as only people who know the user’s phone number or selected username will be able to connect with the user. This anticipated feature is similar to the ones available on other social media platforms such as Discord, an instant messaging and Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) social platform. 


The feature is reportedly still in its development stage and there might be changes in the design of the interface when it launches. It is also likely that the feature will only be available for WhatsApp Web and not for the smartphone apps. Meta has not yet shared a timeline for the release of the feature, despite it being reportedly under work for quite some time. 


WhatsApp is also reportedly working on a new feature that will automatically translate messages in chats. 


Recently WhatsApp had announced the rollout of a “Favorites” filter for chats and calls. It is essentially a new filter wherein you can park all your favourite contacts for quick access without necessitating contacts search or scrolling through the endless list of active chats and recent call logs.

First Published: Jul 22 2024 | 4:36 PM IST



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OPPO K12x 5G set to launch in India on July 29: Check specs, features, more

OPPO K12x 5G set to launch in India on July 29: Check specs, features, more

by | Jul 22, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : Jul 22 2024 | 2:55 PM IST


OPPO is set to expand its budget 5G smartphone lineup in India with the launch of the OPPO K12x 5G on July 29. The Chinese smartphone maker said that the OPPO K12x 5G will feature segment-leading durability features and will be rated IP54 for dust and water resistance. The smartphone will boast the company’s proprietary splash touch technology, which OPPO said will make the smartphone operable even when the display is wet. OPPO has also detailed some of the K12x’s key details including display and battery specifications, and AI features. Here are the details:


OPPO K12x 5G: What to expect

OPPO said that the upcoming K12x 5G smartphone will sport a 360-degree damage-proof armour body. The company said that it has used drop-resistant materials inspired by the structure of a sponge to cushion the internal components of the smartphone. Additionally, the smartphone’s display will be protected by twice-reinforced Panda Glass. With these features, the smartphone is said to boast MIL-STD-810H military standard certification for durability. OPPO has also confirmed that the smartphone will come with an air cushion armour case out-of-the-box for further protection.


The OPPO K12x 5G smartphone will be 186g heavy and measure 7.68mm at its thinnest point. The company also said that it will get matte finish around the frame for more grip. The smartphone will be available in Breeze Blue and Midnight Violet colours.


OPPO K12x 5G: Specifications


The OPPO K12x 5G smartphone has been confirmed to feature a 6.67-inch HD+ display of 120Hz refresh rate. The display will boast up to 1000nits peak brightness and support for Widevine L1 certification for streaming video content from platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. The smartphone will be powered by a 5100mAh battery and will support 45W wired charging. A 45W SUPERVOOC charger will be included in the box.


As for the built-in features, OPPO said that the K12x smartphone will get the company’s AI Linkboost technology that uses artificial intelligence to improve connectivity and faster network recovery in elevators, basements and more. The smartphone will also get a Dual View Video feature, allowing users to record videos from front and back camera systems simultaneously.


Display: 6.67-inch HD+, 120Hz refresh rate, 1000nits peak brightness


Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695


RAM: 8GB


Storage: up to 256GB


Rear camera: 50 MP primary + 2MP depth sensor


Front camera: 16MP


Battery: 5100mAh


Charging: 45W wired

First Published: Jul 22 2024 | 2:54 PM IST



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'Advent of AI' may slow down growth of India's services export: Eco Survey

'Advent of AI' may slow down growth of India's services export: Eco Survey

by | Jul 22, 2024 | Technology


The survey also highlighted how India should focus on other sectors to mitigate the impact of AI. This includes a focus on agriculture and other relatively less skill-dependent sectors | (Photo: Reuetrs)

2 min read Last Updated : Jul 22 2024 | 3:51 PM IST


Artificial intelligence (AI) could lead to India’s services export growth declining by 0.3-0.4 percentage points annually over the next decade, said the Economic Survey on Monday.


It cited a report by Capital Economics on the technology’s impact on services export growth.


“The advent of artificial intelligence casts a huge pall of uncertainty as to its impact on workers across all skill levels – low, semi and high. These will create barriers and hurdles to sustained high growth rates for India in the coming years and decades. Overcoming these requires a grand alliance of union and state governments and the private sector,” said the survey.


The country should focus on agriculture and other relatively less skill-dependent sectors to soothe the impact of AI.


“This only underscores the importance of the relatively less skill-dependent tourism sector for employment generation. Therefore, public policy should pay particular attention to boosting the tourism sector. Governments at all levels and the private sector must work together to realise the sector’s potential,” said the survey.


Trade protectionism, resource-hoarding, excess capacity and dumping, and the advent of AI are narrowing the scope for countries to get growth from manufacturing and services. “That is forcing us to turn conventional wisdom on its head. Can the farm sector be the saviour? A return to roots, as it were, in terms of farming practices and policymaking, can generate higher value addition from agriculture, boost farmers’ income, create opportunities for food processing and exports and make the farm sector both fashionable and productive for India’s urban youth,” said the survey.

First Published: Jul 22 2024 | 2:27 PM IST



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