Minister Assures Stricter Rules on Deepfakes Following Sachin Tendulkar's Concerns

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:19pm on 15 Jan 2024,Monday Tech Today

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar pledges tighter rules under the Information Technology (IT) Act after Sachin Tendulkar raises alarm over a deepfake video promoting an online game. Tendulkar emphasizes the rampant misuse of technology and calls for reporting such content. Chandrasekhar acknowledges the threat of deepfakes and misinformation fueled by Artificial Intelligence to Indian users' safety and trust. The minister appreciates Tendulkar's tweet and vows to notify stricter IT Act rules for platform compliance. Deepfake incidents involving celebrities, including Bollywood actor Rashmika Mandanna, highlight the need for regulations to address this emerging threat.

Read More at India Today

AI Set to Impact 40% of Jobs, Worsening Inequality, Warns IMF

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:07pm on 15 Jan 2024,Monday Tech Today

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that artificial intelligence (AI) will influence nearly 40% of jobs, potentially exacerbating overall inequality. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva emphasizes the need for policymakers to address this concerning trend to prevent AI from fueling social tensions. In advanced economies, around 60% of jobs could be affected, with AI enhancing productivity in some instances and replacing human tasks in others. However, low-income countries may experience less impact, highlighting the potential for AI to worsen inequality among nations. Georgieva urges comprehensive social safety nets and retraining programs to ensure an inclusive AI transition.

Read More at BBC

Sachin Tendulkar Raises Alarm Over Misleading Deepfake Video Promoting Online Game

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:27pm on 15 Jan 2024,Monday Tech Today

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar flags concern as a deepfake video circulates on social media, falsely endorsing a gaming app. In the manipulated video, Tendulkar appears to promote the game using his daughter's example. Disturbed by the "rampant misuse of technology," he urges people to report such instances, emphasizing the need for vigilance. Tendulkar's alert sparks action from Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, pledging tighter IT Act rules. Deepfake threats grow globally, with India combatting the issue. Tendulkar joins a rising list of personalities affected by deepfake identity fraud.

Read More at India Today

AI Impact: IMF Chief Warns 40% of Global Jobs Face Change Amid Challenges and Opportunities

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:09am on 15 Jan 2024,Monday Tech Today

Global job markets face significant changes as artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to impact 40% of jobs worldwide, warns International Monetary Fund (IMF) Chief Kristalina Georgieva. In an interview, she highlighted the dual nature of AI, posing risks to job security while presenting a "tremendous opportunity" for increased productivity. The IMF report suggests 60% job impact in advanced economies, with developing countries expecting a milder effect. Georgieva stressed the importance of assisting low-income nations to harness AI opportunities. Despite challenges, she expressed optimism for a soft landing in the global economy, emphasizing the need for AI-driven productivity growth.

Read More at India Today

AI Challenges Fingerprint Uniqueness: Columbia Study Shows Significant Similarities

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:34pm on 14 Jan 2024,Sunday Tech Today

Columbia University's study challenges the uniqueness of fingerprints, revealing an AI model's ability to determine with 75-90% accuracy if prints belong to the same person. Conducted by an undergraduate student, Gabe Gua, and co-authors, the study employed a deep contrastive network to analyze 60,000 fingerprints. It discovered significant similarities in fingerprints from different fingers on the same person, upending the conventional belief in fingerprint distinctiveness. The AI tool focused on ridges' direction rather than minutiae, presenting potential applications in cold cases but requiring further comprehensive research for real forensic use.

Read More at NDTV

OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere Engage in Secret AI Safety Talks with Chinese Experts

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:26pm on 13 Jan 2024,Saturday Tech Today

OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere, major US AI companies, engage in confidential discussions with Chinese AI experts in Geneva. The meetings, supported by the White House and governments, focus on shared concerns about AI's impact on misinformation and social cohesion. Talks, facilitated by Shaikh Group, explore AI safety risks and aim to establish international standards. Notable Sino-US collaboration amid AI competition. Future discussions planned to align AI systems with legal codes and societal norms. Chinese firms like ByteDance, Tencent, Baidu, and Google DeepMind not involved. Calls for global cooperation on AI challenges and regulations intensify.

Read More at First Post

Over 100 Deepfake Ads of Rishi Sunak on Facebook Raise Election AI Concerns

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:58pm on 13 Jan 2024,Saturday Tech Today

Research reveals 100+ deepfake video ads impersonating Rishi Sunak on Facebook in the past month, potentially reaching 400,000 viewers. Costing £12,929 and originating from 23 countries, the fakes breach Facebook policies. One ad fabricates a scandal involving Elon Musk and a fake government decision, leading to a scam investment. Former Downing Street official Marcus Beard warns of heightened AI-generated falsehoods impacting elections, citing lax ad moderation. Meta, owner of Facebook, faces criticism. Government emphasizes readiness to combat threats with the Online Safety Act, as regulators push for electoral system updates before the expected November general election.

Read More at The Guardian

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Raises Concerns Over Muslim and Arab Tech Professionals Facing Retaliation

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:32pm on 05 Jan 2024,Friday Tech Today

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expresses worry about Muslim and Arab tech professionals, especially Palestinians, feeling hesitant to speak up due to fear of retaliation and damaged career prospects. Altman, also acknowledging rising antisemitism, emphasizes the need for empathy within the tech industry. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has heightened tensions, leading to increased discrimination and bias. Altman's observations shed light on the challenges faced by affected communities and underscore the importance of awareness and support in the tech sector and society at large.

Read More at The Times of India

Virtual Gang Rape of 16-Year-Old's Avatar Triggers Police Probe into Metaverse Crime

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:10am on 03 Jan 2024,Wednesday Tech Today

A 16-year-old girl's avatar was allegedly gang-raped by male avatars in a metaverse game, causing psychological trauma although she was not physically harmed. The incident occurred as the British teenager was using a VR headset in an immersive metaverse platform. Police are investigating the virtual sexual assault. Authorities stressed the seriousness of such acts and their impact on victims. The case highlights concerns around user safety and the need for platforms to enhance protections, especially for younger users. It also underscores the importance of developing legal policies and support services to address virtual crimes.

Read More at India Today

Online Gaming Self-Regulation Faces Setback, Meity Mulls Direct Control

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:21pm on 01 Jan 2024,Monday Tech Today

Efforts to establish self-regulatory bodies for online gaming in India have stalled, prompting the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) to consider direct control over game approvals. Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar revealed a lack of progress in appointing such bodies, with only one application received and rejected. The proposed group of ministers for a regulatory framework also faces delays. Meity aims to prevent industry dominance in self-regulation and is weighing the government's direct involvement in determining permissibility. The decision, yet to be finalized, comes after amendments to IT rules in April sought self-regulation for online gaming.

Read More at Mint

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