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Continuity Camera as webcam

APPLE HOLICBy Jonny Evans

Apple’s new patent hints at powerful video collaboration tools

Tech Spotlight   >   Analytics [Computerworld]   >   An image of an eye with virtual surveillance.

EU privacy regulators to create task force to investigate ChatGPT


ChatGPT

Stolen ChatGPT premium accounts up for sale on the dark web

There has been an increase in discussions and trades related to ChatGPT on the dark web since March, according to Check Point.

cisco webex board whiteboard display

Cisco to offer Webex air-gapped cloud system for security, defense work

The upcoming cloud system will provide an added layer of network and data handling security for companies working on national security and defense projects and collaborating through the Webex app.

apple disassembling devices augmented reality

APPLE HOLICBy Jonny Evans

Apple accelerates use of recycled materials across all its products

Apple will use 100% recycled cobalt in batteries by 2025. It already uses large quantities of recycled rare earths and tungsten in products and has begun using AR to support disassembly.

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Massachusetts lawmakers file bill to create 4-day workweek pilot

Employers participating in the proposed two-year pilot program would transition some or all of their workers to a shortened workweek without any loss of pay or benefits.

sweep under the rug layoffs job loss fired

Down in Q1, US IT job market rebounded slightly in March: Report

The median salary for IT pros in 2023 will be 3% to 4% above 2022 salary levels, not the 7% to 8% that was budgeted for 2023, according to a Janco Associates report.

iOS 14.5 new features

APPLE HOLICBy Jonny Evans

Yet more digital spies targeting iPhones exposed by security researchers

Just weeks after President Biden signed an executive order to prevent the US from purchasing commercial spyware used to subvert democracies, researchers have identified another shameful zero-click, zero-day exploit targeting iPhone…

Android, Chrome OS

ANDROID INTELLIGENCEBy JR Raphael

Android, ChromeOS, and Google’s cloudy vision for a connected future

Android and ChromeOS are about to come closer together than ever, but Google’s latest line-blurring twist raises more questions than answers.

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US and China take first steps toward regulating generative AI

As generative AI continues to roil the tech industry, governments around the world are starting to consider regulation in order to combat its potential to aid criminality and promote bias.

Alibaba Sign

Alibaba rolls out ChatGPT rival, Tongyi Qianwen, for its business apps

Alibaba Cloud’s Tongyi Qianwen is a large language model that will act as a ChatGPT-like interface for all its business apps, including the DingTalk workplace communications app and the Tmall Genie personal assistant speaker.

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Nearly four in five employers struggle to fill job roles, a 17-year high

A plethora of job openings and dearth in available talent make an odd juxtaposition with numerous high-profile layoffs in the technology industry and elsewhere during the past six months.

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Facing weak chip sales, TSMC asks US for guidance on CHIPS Act funds

TSMC experienced a sharp drop in chip sales over the last few months, and is seeking guidance from the US on CHIPS Act subsidies for its planned manufacturing facilities in Arizona.

New M2 Pro Mac mini

APPLE HOLICBy Jonny Evans

Apple feels the bite as Mac shipments fall 40.5%

As economic malaise tanked global shipments for all major PC manufacturers in Q1 2023, Apple was worst affected of the lot, according to IDC.

arrows showing upward trend growth chart graph

How many jobs are available in technology in the US?

Tech sector unemployment remained unchanged in March, but tech hiring is up — and there are far more job openings than people to fill them.

analytics spending

Global IT spending forecast to rise 5.5%, fueled by software, services

Declines in device sales will be more than offset by growth in other areas, according to Gartner Research’s latest predictions.

Man in blue suit waiting for interview on long row of empty chairs against white wall

Tech layoffs in 2023: A timeline

Facing an uncertain global economy and slowing revenue growth, technology companies have picked up the pace of layoffs in 2023, with total staff cuts now greater than all tech company job losses last year. Here’s an updated timeline…

Windows 365 Offline

Microsoft touts Windows 365 Frontline: 1 subscription for up to 3 workers

Windows 365 Frontline is aimed at hybrid workforces that perform shift and frontline work, and whose employees may need to switch out computers as they come and go without losing customized settings and data.

cleanroom ny gf

As US moves to regain microchip leadership, some say it never left

As the US government begins to dispense tens of billions of dollars to get microchip makers to relocate manufacturing to the US, hurdles remain, including an increasingly diversified global supply chain that no one country can…

apple a12 neural engine

APPLE HOLICBy Jonny Evans

Apple wants you to upgrade your systems

Apple wants users to upgrade to the most modern versions of the OS, potentially as the company works to expand its product ecosystem.

UK fines TikTok $15.8 million for GDPR violation of children’s privacy

Chinese-owned social media sensation TikTok has been fined almost $16 million for violating provisions of the UK’s General Data Protection Regulation.

Tech Spotlight   >   Analytics [Computerworld]   >   An image of an eye with virtual surveillance.

UK data regulator issues warning over generative AI data protection concerns

The UK’s Information Commission’s Office reminds organizations that data protection laws still apply to unfiltered data used to train large language models.

Chip China

China to probe Micron over cybersecurity, in chip war’s latest battle

The Chinese government will investigate US-based Micron as a potential cyberthreat, in the latest move in an ongoing semiconductor trade dispute that is disrupting the chip supply chain.

M2 MacBook Air

APPLE HOLICBy Jonny Evans

Has the PC market slowdown finally hit the Mac?

A report from Korea claims Apple in January suspended production of the M2 series processors it uses in the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac mini.

artificial intelligence ai brain digital

Should we fear the rise of artificial general intelligence?

AI is on a path to more than double in computational capacity every year — and that, some say, could lead to a self-perpetuating intelligence, the impact of which remains unknown.

Aspects of employment / communication / networking / partnership / collaboration / teams / hiring

Legislation to rein in AI’s use in hiring grows

States and municipalities are eyeing restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence-based bots to find, screen, interview, and hire job candidates because of privacy and bias issues. Some states have already put laws on the books….

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APPLE HOLICBy Jonny Evans

Researchers warn of Wi-Fi security flaw affecting iOS, Android, Linux

The vulnerability could let attackers hijack network traffic; iOS, Linux, and Android devices may be affected.

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Microsoft offers to change cloud licensing practices to avoid EU antitrust probe, says report

After European cloud vendors filed a formal complaint with the European Commission in 2022, Microsoft is reportedly seeking to reach an agreement before an investigation is launched.

wwdc 2023 logo

APPLE HOLICBy Jonny Evans

Apple’s WWDC is coming — what should enterprise users expect?

Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, promised a lot when she said, “WWDC23 is going to be our biggest and most exciting yet.” Will Apple live up to the hype?

Digital bugs amid binary code. [security threats / malware / breach / hack / attack]

3CX DesktopApp compromised by supply chain attack

3CX will be releasing an update for the DesktopApp in the next few hours; meanwhile, users are urged to use the PWA Client instead.

Artificial intelligence and digital identity

Tech bigwigs: Hit the brakes on AI rollouts

In an open letter, more than 1,100 tech luminaries have warned about a possible ‘loss of control of our civilization’ from unchecked AI.

iOS 16.4 beta interface

APPLE HOLICBy Jonny Evans

What’s new for IT in the latest Mac, iPhone, and iPad updates?

The latest patches shouldn’t be judged by the dozens of new emoji they include; they also carry significant tweaks for IT admins managing fleets of devices.

UK | United Kingdom  >  England  >  London  >  cityscape / Big Ben / Parliament

UK government’s AI strategy to rely on existing regulations instead of new laws

In its white paper outlining its policy on AI regulation, the UK government has called for “responsible use” while avoiding the introduction of what it calls innovation-stifling “heavy-handed legislation.”

frustrated tired bored unhappy worker productivity

Asana launches prediction-based AI tools to improve decision making

Work management platform Asana has announced a host of self-described “pre-AI” tools that focus on predictive AI, staying clear of generative AI capabilities associated with ChatGPT.

bing chat

Is Microsoft worried about smaller search engines surging ahead of Bing?

The company fears that smaller search engines might replicate features of the ChatGPT-driven chatbot in Bing to create their own products — using data they get from licensing agreements with Microsoft, eating into Bing’s market share….

videoconferencing review 2021 microsoft teams together mode

Microsoft rearchitects Teams to make it faster and smarter

Microsoft said the collaboration platform — notorious for its high CPU usage — will be “twice as fast while using half the system resources.”

Zoom Contact Center

Zoom adds generative AI to Zoom IQ; partners with OpenAI

Zoom announced a new host of AI-backed capabilities for its “smart companion” tool, doubling down on its CEO’s promise of helping customers benefit from the technology.

ChatGPT

OpenAI’s ChatGPT gets support for a dozen application plug-ins

The plug-ins will enable companies to offer the AI-based natural language processor for their products, allowing users to ask detailed questions and get human-like answers.

CSO > Microsoft Azure backups / cloud computing / binary code / data transfer

Microsoft customers locked out of Azure and M365 services due to geolocation error

Microsoft was forced to apologize on Thursday after implementing a change that saw customers around the globe unable to access its services.

team / teamwork / collaboration / communication / discussion / meeting

Microsoft launches collaboration app Loop

After almost a year in beta testing, Microsoft has made Loop publicly available, with new Copilot integration available in private preview.