June 2023: Unveiling the Tech Updates

Innovation knows no bounds, and the latest tech updates are a testament to this fact. Every month today, we pull back the curtain on the most cutting-edge advancements in technology, revealing how they are shaping industries, enhancing lives, and paving the way for a future where possibilities are limitless. Let’s start.

Why do the Reddit blackout protests persist and what comes next?

The continued blackout on Reddit and what it means for the site. Even though the original plan was for the shutdown to last for 48 hours, many subreddits are still unavailable and protests are still going on. Third-party apps were affected by the blackout because Reddit decided to charge developers to use its API.

Steve Huffman, the CEO of Reddit, said some controversial things about moderators, and a leaked letter made it sound like Reddit was trying to get rid of moderator teams. Reddit is still strong and hasn’t done anything to stop the protests. Reddit’s image and income have been hurt by the blackout, but the site is still confident in its plans for the API.

It speculates that Reddit’s behavior may be related to prospective intentions for an initial public offering. Users can also use the official Reddit app, but many prefer third-party apps like Apollo because they can be customized and do not have ads. Some developers are thinking about a regular membership plan to cover the costs of the new API. It’s not clear what will happen with the blackout in the future or how it will affect Reddit’s community and income goals.

Mercedes-Benz Introduces ChatGPT to Automobiles

As part of a test program in the United States, Mercedes-Benz is adding OpenAI’s ChatGPT to its MBUX Voice Assistant. The goal of the integration is to improve the voice assistant’s ability to understand normal language and give it more skills than just setting jobs and answers. With ChatGPT, people can talk to their cars more naturally, get more information about their routes, or even ask for dinner recipe ideas.

Mercedes is using Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service to make sure that security and privacy are at a corporate level. The data from the conversations will be gathered, made anonymous, and examined in the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud, but Microsoft won’t be able to see it. The trial phase will last three months.

During that time, people who are qualified to join can do so and give feedback to help improve the AI before it is released to the public. At this time, we don’t know if the final version will be available in other places and languages.

Microsoft Forces Upgrades as Official Support Ends for This Windows 10 Version

Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows 10 version 21H2, prompting users to upgrade to newer versions. The last security update, the June cumulative update, has been released for 21H2. After July’s patching, users still on 21H2 will miss out on further security fixes.

Microsoft will initiate a forced update for PCs running 21H2, pushing them to upgrade to either Windows 10 version 22H2 or Windows 11. Continuing to use an unsupported version of Windows 10 poses security risks, as no further updates will be provided. Windows 10 will no longer receive new features and will only receive security updates.

Microsoft is encouraging users to upgrade to Windows 11, although compatibility issues may arise for older CPUs or systems lacking TPM support.

Crafting Soundtracks and Tunes: Meta’s New Music AI Revolutionizes the Process

Meta has launched MusicGen, a language learning model (LLM) focused on generating AI-generated music. Similar to ChatGPT, users can input a text description of the desired music style, and MusicGen creates a 12-second track accordingly. Users can upload their songs to guide MusicGen’s structure. The tool is available on Meta’s Hugging Face website and generates instrumentals, not vocals.

While MusicGen can be useful for creating background audio, its quality and complexity are limited compared to human-made music. The Hugging Face website’s stability is unpredictable, and there may be legal concerns regarding the use of licensed music for training the LLM. Meta could potentially face lawsuits or challenges from artists and record companies.

EU Regulators Urged to Investigate Risks Associated with Generative AI by Consumer Groups

Consumer groups from 13 European countries have urged regulators to conduct urgent investigations into the risks associated with generative AI, including models like ChatGPT. They are calling for the enforcement of existing legislation to protect consumers from potential harm caused by these AI systems.

Consumer groups highlight concerns about the potential for deception, manipulation, and harm caused by generative AI, as well as the risks of spreading disinformation, perpetuating biases, and facilitating fraud. They emphasize the need for safety, data protection, and consumer protection authorities to take proactive action in investigating these risks and enforcing regulations.

The European Data Protection Board has already established a task force to examine the risks associated with ChatGPT. The consumer groups stress the importance of public scrutiny and regulatory control over all AI systems, including generative AI, to ensure consumer safety, fairness, and transparency.

Oculus Quest 2 Update: New Improvements

The latest update for Oculus Quest 2 brings significant performance improvements. The CPU of Quest 2 receives a 26% boost, while the GPU improves by 19%. The update allows the CPU and GPU to run at higher clock speeds, unlocking their full potential. Additionally, the Quest Pro also sees a boost in eye-tracking accuracy, potentially positioning it to compete with Apple’s Vision Pro headset.

The update also includes minor software enhancements, such as improved hand-tracking interactions and the launch of the full Messenger app on the Quest platform. Two new virtual environments, Futurescape, and Great Sand Sea, are also introduced in the update.

As technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, it’s essential to stay informed about the latest tech updates that are reshaping our world. Join us as we uncover the most intriguing and transformative advancements in the tech industry, offering a glimpse into the exciting future that awaits.

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