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Amazon Alexa, Google Home top privacy risks in smart home devices: Study

Amazon Alexa, Google Home top privacy risks in smart home devices: Study

by | Jun 17, 2024 | Technology


Source: (L to R) Amazon; Google

3 min read Last Updated : Jun 17 2024 | 12:48 PM IST


The global surge in smart home adoption, projected to reach 785.16 million users by 2028 according to Statista, heralds a new era of convenience and connectivity.


However, alongside the benefits of these technologies, concerns about data privacy have emerged, challenging the sanctity of our private spaces.


A recent study by Surfshark’s research hub, the ‘Smart Home Privacy Checker,’ has uncovered troubling trends. Shockingly, one in 10 smart home apps is found to collect user data for tracking purposes.


Major players like Amazon and Google stand out as significant collectors, their apps consuming vast amounts of personal information from millions of users daily.


“In today’s world, where convenience often trumps privacy, our research reveals a worrying trend in smart home device apps, especially from major companies like Amazon and Google. This issue goes beyond mere data collection; it intrudes into users’ private lives, potentially leading to data theft, security breaches, and the uncontrolled sharing of personal information,” Goda Sukackaite, privacy counsel at Surfshark, was quoted as saying by Firstpost.


Sukackaite advises users to take proactive steps such as managing privacy settings, reviewing app permissions, and staying informed about data policies governing their smart home devices.


Surfshark’s study scrutinised 290 apps across more than 400 Internet of Things (IoT) devices, focusing on the most popular ones. Each app underwent rigorous evaluation across 32 data points, assessing criteria like user identification, tracking mechanisms, and data linkage. The findings rank apps based on the extent and type of data collected.


Tech giants under the scanner


Amazon’s Alexa app emerged as a significant data aggregator, capturing 28 out of 32 possible data points — more than triple the industry average for smart home devices. This includes precise location data, contact details, and even health-related information, all meticulously linked to individual user profiles.


Similarly, Google’s suite of smart home devices was found to amass 22 out of 32 data points. It surpassed industry norms with extensive data collection ranging from addresses and locations to photos, videos, audio recordings, and browsing histories.


 


The cost of convenience


Consumers engaging with smart devices pay a dual price: first financially, then with their personal data. These apps frequently track user behaviour to tailor ads or share information with third parties and data brokers.


Approximately one-third of these apps focus on collecting detailed data points such as device IDs, email addresses, and product interactions, with some even tracking precise locations.


Outdoor security cameras, particularly aggressive collectors, gather an average of 12 data points — 50 per cent more than other devices.


Apps like Deep Sentinel and Lorex significantly contribute to this heightened data gathering.


Outdated privacy protocols


The study also revealed a concerning trend — 12 out of the 290 apps analysed have not updated their data collection practices in over a year. This raises questions about compliance with privacy laws and transparency.


Notably, apps controlling children’s toys like MekaMon and Cozmo were found to collect sensitive data such as precise location, photos, and audio recordings.


As smart home devices become increasingly integrated into daily routines, users face a critical balancing act — embracing convenience while mitigating the risks to their privacy posed by these evolving technologies.

First Published: Jun 17 2024 | 12:48 PM IST



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Google Chrome is introducing 'Listen to this page' for Android: Know more

Google Chrome is introducing 'Listen to this page' for Android: Know more

by | Jun 17, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : Jun 17 2024 | 12:35 PM IST


Chrome for Android has been testing its own text-to-speech (TTS) capability for the last few months, and the “Listen to this page” feature is reportedly being rolled out server-side with Chrome 125. According to 9To5Google, the feature is not accessible to all and is expected to be released to more users in the coming days.


The TTS can be utilised on web pages that have a lot of text and when the user wants the content to be read. To use the “Listen to this page” feature, users have to tap the three-dot menu at the top right corner of Chrome for Android. This will display a drop-down menu, and between Translate and Add to Home Screen, users will be shown the option to listen to the page.


On tapping the option, an audio player will be shown at the bottom of the page with a play/pause button, indicating how much of the audio has been listened to. A button to close the audio player is also present. The audio player will display the name of the page and the site. On tapping the audio mini-player, you can choose to rewind or forward the audio by 10 seconds or change the playback speed. You will also have the option to change the voice and turn on or off “Highlight text & auto scroll.” The options for voice change available are:


  • Ruby: Mid-pitch, Warm


  • River: Mid-pitch, Calm


  • Field: Low-pitch, Bright


  • Moss: Low-pitch, Peaceful




The playback will continue even after you open other web pages or lock your device, but if you exit the Chrome browser, the TTS will stop. When you relaunch the mini-player, it will start from where you left off.


Users can also add a shortcut in the Toolbar that is next to Omnibox. To do that, go to Settings, scroll to Advanced, and then select Toolbar shortcut. This will allow users to play audio with one tap and is also available in Chrome Custom Tabs.

First Published: Jun 17 2024 | 12:08 PM IST



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Apple Intelligence gradual rollout to push AI-backed Siri for 2025: Report

Apple Intelligence gradual rollout to push AI-backed Siri for 2025: Report

by | Jun 17, 2024 | Technology


3 min read Last Updated : Jun 17 2024 | 11:47 AM IST

Apple is reportedly planning a gradual rollout schedule for Apple Intelligence features on its new operating systems for iPhones, iPads, and Macs. According to a Bloomberg report, artificial intelligence (AI) features unveiled at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2024 will be available as a preview when iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia launch officially around September.


Apple generally rolls out the full version of iOS with new iPhone models. However, the report states that many new features, especially AI-powered tools that the company calls Apple Intelligence, will be available as a preview on the iPhone 16-series models. Additionally, Apple Intelligence features will likely work only in American English, and users might have to join a waitlist to access some of the new features.


According to the report, this rollout strategy will buy Apple more time to fine-tune its features. For example, by starting with American English, Apple will have time to train its AI model on other languages while getting feedback from the existing version. Additionally, Apple is still working on building its cloud infrastructure for processing heavier AI workloads, and having too many users at once in its initial phase could be very risky.


iOS 18: AI features for initial rollout


While many new features won’t be available in the initial version of iOS 18 when it rolls out likely in September, it will still pack some upgrades. According to the Bloomberg report, the initial version of iOS 18 will likely get AI-powered notification summaries. Additionally, it is expected to get webpage, email, and note summarisation features. A few image generation tools, including custom emojis called “Genmojis,” are also expected to make the cut for the first iOS 18 update.


iOS 18: Apple Intelligence timeline


Apple will likely keep adding AI capabilities with each update in 2024. While some features like Categories in the Mail app and more will likely be available for users by the end of the year, others won’t be available until 2025. According to the report, Apple’s digital assistant Siri with AI backing will not be ready until next year. Although the redesigned interface for Siri and the ability to type in prompts will likely be available by the end of 2024, capabilities such as contextual understanding, in-app function control, and on-screen awareness will arrive next year.


OpenAI’s ChatGPT integration into iOS will also likely arrive in late 2024. Meanwhile, Apple is looking to add more third-party AI service providers to its catalogue of available AI chatbots. According to the report, Apple is eyeing a deal with Google and Amazon-backed Anthropic to add Gemini and Claude AI chatbots to its operating systems. Additionally, the Cupertino-based technology giant is also looking at potential partners in China, such as Baidu and Alibaba, to offer similar services in the country.

First Published: Jun 17 2024 | 11:47 AM IST



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Global audiences suspicious of AIpowered newsrooms misinformation

Global audiences suspicious of AIpowered newsrooms misinformation

by | Jun 17, 2024 | Technology


Newsrooms globally are working to address a new challenge with generative artificial intelligence (Representative Picture)

4 min read Last Updated : Jun 17 2024 | 7:40 AM IST


Global concerns about the use of AI in news production and misinformation are growing, a report published by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism found, posing fresh challenges to newsrooms already struggling to engage audiences.


The institute’s annual Digital News Report published on Monday, which this year is based on surveys of nearly 100,000 people across 47 countries, offers a picture of the hurdles news media faces in lifting revenue and sustaining business.

 


Newsrooms globally are working to address a new challenge with generative artificial intelligence, as tech giants and startups like Google and OpenAI build tools that can offer summaries of information and siphon traffic from news websites.

 


But the report found that consumers are suspicious about the use of AI to create news content, particularly for sensitive subjects such as politics.

 


According to the survey, 52 per cent of US respondents and 63 per cent of UK respondents said they would be uncomfortable with news produced mostly with AI. The report surveyed 2,000 people in each country, noting that respondents were more comfortable with behind-the-scenes uses of AI to make journalists’ work more efficient.

 


“It was surprising to see the level of suspicion,” said Nic Newman, senior research associate at the Reuters Institute and lead author of the Digital News Report. “People broadly had fears about what might happen to content reliability and trust.”

Concerns about false news content online rose by three percentage points from last year, with 59 per cent of survey respondents saying they were worried. This figure was higher in South Africa and the US at 81 per cent and 72 per cent, respectively, as both countries hold elections this year, the report said.

 


Another challenge facing news organizations is the general unwillingness of audiences to pay for news subscriptions.


Following some growth during the pandemic, 17 per cent of respondents across 20 countries said they paid for online news, a figure that has been unchanged for the past three years, the report said.

 


A significant proportion of news subscribers in the US were also likely to be paying discounted rates due to trials or promotions, with 46 per cent paying less than the full price for their subscriptions.


Turning into alternatives

 


News influencers are playing a bigger role than mainstream media organizations in delivering the news to users of popular online platforms like TikTok.

 


In a survey of more than 5,600 TikTok users who said they used the app for news, 57 per cent said they mostly paid attention to individual personalities, versus 34 per cent who said they mainly followed journalists or news brands.

 

The findings show that newsrooms need to build a direct relationship with their audiences while also “strategically using the platforms to connect with people who are trickier to reach, like younger audiences,” Newman said. “We see that these influencers have a bigger role on the platforms.” Vitus “V” Spehar, a TikTok creator with 3.1 million followers, was one news personality cited by some of the survey respondents.

Spehar has become known for their unique style of delivering the top headlines of the day while laying on the floor under their desk, which they previously told Reuters is intended to offer a more gentle perspective on current events and contrast with a traditional news anchor who sits at a desk.

 


The Digital News Report surveyed people in the US, UK, France, Argentina and Brazil, asking them to name up to three mainstream or alternative accounts they follow for the news.

 


The top 10 individuals cited by respondents in the US are most known for offering political commentary rather than original newsgathering, the report noted. These personalities included Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News anchor, Joe Rogan, who hosts the top podcast on Spotify and David Pakman, a progressive talk radio host.

 


(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: Jun 17 2024 | 7:40 AM IST



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AI gaming PCs to drive growth in consumer segment Lenovo India exec

AI gaming PCs to drive growth in consumer segment Lenovo India exec

by | Jun 16, 2024 | Technology


According to Sikka, AI-enabled PCs offer consumers a host of benefits over normal PCs. These features are expected to increase as adoption increases.

4 min read Last Updated : Jun 16 2024 | 10:44 PM IST


Personal computer (PC) manufacturer Lenovo India is looking to gain a stronger foothold in the Indian consumer PC market this financial year on the back of its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered PCs and the gaming devices’ portfolio, a senior executive at the firm said.


The company is confident that 20 per cent of the PC consumer market will be powered by AI by the end of this year.


Ashish Sikka, director and category head, Lenovo India, told Business Standard that the demand Lenovo is witnessing for AI-enabled devices is “much higher than anticipated.”


He expects sales to pick up going into the latter half of the year as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) launch more such devices.


“It is a pivotal moment for the industry, quite similar to the phone industry pivoting from feature phones to smartphones. We believe that around 20 per cent of the consumer market will be AI PCs by the end of this year. As we progress, adoption will be much faster,” he said.


According to Sikka, AI-enabled PCs offer consumers a host of benefits over normal PCs. These features are expected to rise as adoption increases.


“Currently, use cases include features like hyper-personalisation – be it drafting emails or gauging downtime of users. Secondly, AI PCs are able to carry out a lot of tasks on the local PC, without relying on Cloud. A lot of data thus remains on the host PC which improves efficiency. Third is improved security, since a lot of the data remains of the host PC,” he added.


The PC maker had, in June last year, declared plans to invest $1 billion over three years in expansion of infrastructure solutions. This is in partnership with tech majors like Microsoft, Nvidia, Intel and Qualcomm, in a bid to accelerate AI deployment for businesses around the world.


“Some of the long-term bets we have taken, in the form of gaming and AI PCs, are very promising. We are seeing a lot of growth across the $500-800 and over $800 price bands. Most of these are our gaming and AI PCs. Going forward, we are confident that a large part of the market growth will come from gaming and AI PCs,” he said.


The company is also expecting its gaming portfolio to drive much of its growth this financial year.


“The current market growth for gaming is pegged at 15-20 per cent. We are aiming to grow our gaming portfolio twofold of the market growth in the current financial year. We have witnessed a 400 per cent growth in sales of our gaming portfolio, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 50 per cent over the last five years,” Sikka said.

Chart


Sikka added that the company’s two gaming sub-brands – Legion and LOQ – have seen strong traction among Indian gamers. “People interested in content creation and high-performance laptops are also looking at gaming PCs,” he said.


India’s PC market — desktops, notebooks, and workstations — shipped 3.07 million units in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024. This is up 2.6 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y), according to data from the International Data Corporation (IDC).


A year ago in Q1 2023, Lenovo stood second behind market leader HP in terms of share.


While Lenovo’s shipments declined just 1.3 per cent Y-o-Y in Q1 this year, the brand was pipped by both Dell and Acer. These now occupy the second and third spots, in terms of overall market share.


This year, while Lenovo was second behind HP in the consumer segment with a share of 13.5 per cent, it stood fourth in the commercial segment with a share of 16.3 per cent, IDC data showed.


The vendor struggled in the government segment but fared well in the small and medium businesses category.


“The decline in market share is more of an inventory correction. We wanted to make sure that, as we enter this financial year, we have the right levels of inventory across the board. Our strategy remains the same, going forward,” Sikka said.

First Published: Jun 16 2024 | 10:41 PM IST



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Apple Meta platforms likely to face charges for violating EU digital law

Apple Meta platforms likely to face charges for violating EU digital law

by | Jun 15, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : Jun 15 2024 | 9:39 AM IST


Apple and Meta Platforms are likely to be charged for non-compliance with landmark European Union (EU) regulations designed to limit their dominance, according to a report in Moneycontrol.


The European Commission, which began investigating Apple, Meta, and Alphabet’s Google in March this year under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), considers Apple and Meta to be priority cases, the report cited sources as saying.


The DMA mandates that major tech companies create opportunities for smaller competitors and facilitate user mobility across various online services, such as social media platforms, internet browsers, and app stores.


EU regulators will issue preliminary findings, akin to antitrust charges, before the August summer break, with Apple being charged first, followed by Meta, the report further said.


Following this, Apple, referring to a statement issued by it in March this year, said its plan complies with the DMA and its ongoing constructive engagement with the Commission.


Companies can propose remedies to address the concerns raised in the findings before a final decision is made, which is anticipated before EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager leaves office in November. Penalties for violations could include fines up to 10 per cent of a company’s global annual revenue, the report said.


The EU investigation into Apple focuses on its steering rules, which allegedly restrict app developers from informing users about free offers outside its App Store, and new fees imposed on app developers.


EU regulators are expected to charge Apple regarding this issue, with a secondary investigation into its Safari web browser’s choice screen likely to take longer.


The preliminary finding on Meta concerns its recent pay-or-consent model, where users must either pay a subscription fee for an ad-free experience on Facebook and Instagram or consent to ads, the report said.


Japan passes law on sale of third-party apps


In a separate move, Japan passed a new law that prevents Apple and Google from restricting third-party developers from selling their apps on the App Store and Google Play Store. This legislation aims to give users more choices and potentially boost competition.


The law prevents Apple and Google from limiting third-party companies to selling and operating apps exclusively through their app stores. Additionally, it requires these platform providers to allow app developers to use their chosen payment systems for user charges, rather than forcing them to use the default option.

First Published: Jun 15 2024 | 9:39 AM IST



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