Daily Archives: June 14, 2023

Cognitive Cloud Computing: Enhancing Cybersecurity with AI – CityLife

Posted: June 14, 2023 at 12:45 pm

Cognitive Cloud Computing: Enhancing Cybersecurity with AI

In todays digital age, cybersecurity has become a critical concern for businesses, governments, and individuals alike. As the volume and sophistication of cyber threats continue to grow, traditional security measures are no longer sufficient to protect sensitive data and systems. Cognitive cloud computing, which combines the power of artificial intelligence (AI) with the flexibility and scalability of cloud-based infrastructure, offers a promising solution to this pressing challenge.

Cognitive cloud computing refers to the integration of AI technologies, such as machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, into cloud computing platforms. This fusion enables the development of intelligent applications and services that can learn from data, adapt to changing conditions, and make informed decisions. In the context of cybersecurity, cognitive cloud computing can be harnessed to enhance threat detection, response, and prevention capabilities.

One of the key advantages of cognitive cloud computing in cybersecurity is its ability to process and analyze vast amounts of data at unprecedented speeds. As cyber threats become more complex and diverse, security analysts are often overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information they need to sift through. AI-powered cognitive systems can quickly and efficiently analyze large datasets, identifying patterns and correlations that may indicate a potential security breach. This not only helps security teams detect threats more quickly but also enables them to prioritize their response efforts based on the severity and likelihood of an attack.

Another significant benefit of cognitive cloud computing is its capacity for continuous learning and adaptation. Traditional security systems rely on predefined rules and signatures to identify threats, which can be easily bypassed by sophisticated attackers using novel techniques. In contrast, AI-driven cognitive systems can learn from past experiences and automatically update their knowledge base to stay ahead of emerging threats. By continually refining their models and algorithms, these systems can detect and respond to new attack vectors that may have gone unnoticed by conventional security tools.

Moreover, cognitive cloud computing can help organizations develop more proactive and resilient cybersecurity strategies. Instead of merely reacting to incidents after they occur, AI-powered systems can predict potential vulnerabilities and recommend appropriate countermeasures. For example, machine learning algorithms can analyze historical data on security incidents to identify trends and common attack patterns. This information can then be used to inform the development of targeted security policies and controls, reducing the likelihood of future breaches.

In addition to enhancing threat detection and prevention capabilities, cognitive cloud computing can also improve the efficiency and effectiveness of cybersecurity operations. By automating routine tasks and streamlining workflows, AI-driven systems can free up valuable time and resources for security analysts to focus on more strategic and complex issues. Furthermore, cognitive systems can facilitate collaboration and information sharing among security teams, helping to break down silos and foster a more unified approach to cybersecurity.

Despite its many advantages, the adoption of cognitive cloud computing in cybersecurity is not without challenges. Issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the potential for AI-driven systems to be exploited by malicious actors must be carefully considered and addressed. Additionally, organizations must invest in the necessary infrastructure, tools, and skills to support the effective implementation of cognitive cloud computing solutions.

In conclusion, cognitive cloud computing holds significant potential for enhancing cybersecurity in an increasingly interconnected and data-driven world. By harnessing the power of AI, organizations can better detect, respond to, and prevent cyber threats, while also improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of their security operations. As the technology continues to evolve and mature, it is likely that cognitive cloud computing will play an increasingly central role in the ongoing battle against cybercrime.

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Enhancing Cybersecurity with Generative AI and Cloud Computing – Analytics Insight

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Over the years, cybersecurity threats have evolved significantly, from simple attacks like viruses and malware to complicated hacking techniques and ransomware attacks. As the cybersecurity landscape becomes more complex, the need for equally advanced defense mechanisms becomes paramount.

However, with rapid technological advancements, there has been a significant rise in innovative solutions that offer unprecedented protection against cyber-attacks. Among these technologies, generative AI and cloud computing stand out as powerful tools that leverage artificial intelligence in enhancing cybersecurity. In this article, we will explore how generative AI and cloud computing can work together in enhancing cybersecurity and offer unparalleled protection.

The integration of generative AI, a subset of artificial intelligence, into the realm of cybersecurity has a ton of potential. One such application can be the generation of realistic honeypots. Honeypots are systems or networks designed to attract attackers, diverting their attention from actual targets. By integrating artificial intelligence into cybersecurity systems, organizations can develop authentic honeypots that mimic real systems or networks, making it harder for attackers to differentiate between real and fake ones.

Moreover, generative AI can help in anomaly detection in cybersecurity. By training artificial intelligence models on large datasets of normal system behavior, organizations can leverage generative AI algorithms to detect anomalies or deviations from expected patterns. These anomalies can serve as indicators of potential cyber-attacks or security breaches. Through real-time monitoring of system behavior, organizations can swiftly identify and respond to any suspicious activities, preventing threats from causing significant damage.

Cloud computing plays a vital role in enhancing cybersecurity by providing scalable and flexible infrastructures to handle the growing volume and complexity of security data. The clouds computational power and storage capabilities are crucial in processing and managing the vast amounts of data generated by security systems.

One of the significant advantages of cloud-based security solutions is the ability to share real-time threat intelligence and collaborate on defense mechanisms. By leveraging the cloud, organizations can aggregate and analyze security data from various sources, such as network logs, endpoint devices, and threat intelligence feeds. This holistic view enables the identification of patterns and correlations that would be challenging to detect with isolated, on-premises security systems. By sharing this threat intelligence across organizations and industries, collective defense strategies can be developed to proactively combat cyber threats.

Furthermore, cloud-based security solutions offer automatic updates and patch management. As cybersecurity threats constantly evolve, attackers discover new vulnerabilities and exploit them. By utilizing cloud-based security services, organizations can benefit from the expertise and resources of cloud service providers who continuously monitor and update their security systems to defend against emerging threats. This relieves organizations of the burden of manual updates and ensures they remain protected against the latest vulnerabilities.

When combined, generative AI and cloud computing can unleash unprecedented levels of cybersecurity protection. Generative AIs ability to create realistic decoys and detect anomalies, coupled with the scalability and flexibility of cloud computing, empowers organizations to effectively safeguard their sensitive data and systems.

However, it is crucial to acknowledge that the adoption of generative AI and cloud computing for cybersecurity also present new challenges and risks. The creation of realistic decoys using generative AI requires meticulous design and testing to ensure they cannot be distinguished from real systems by attackers. Additionally, the vast amount of security data processed and stored in the cloud raises concerns about data privacy and compliance with data protection regulations. Organizations must implement robust encryption and access control mechanisms to secure their cloud environments and protect sensitive data.

Cybersecurity is a critical concern in our interconnected world. The advancements in generative AI and cloud computing offer ground-breaking solutions to enhance cybersecurity measures. Generative AI enables the creation of realistic decoys and the detection of anomalies, while cloud computing provides scalable infrastructure for handling security data and enables collaborative defense strategies. Although challenges and risks exist, with proper implementation and security measures, the combination of generative AI and cloud computing can lead to unparalleled protection against cyber threats. By leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and the capabilities of the cloud, organizations can fortify their defenses and ensure a safer digital environment for all.

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Cloud Computing in Education Market 2023 Growth Opportunities … – The Bowman Extra

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New Jersey, United States,-Mr Accuracy Reportspublished new research on GlobalCloud Computing in Educationcovering micro level of analysis by competitors and key business segments (2022-2029). The Global Cloud Computing in Education explores comprehensive study on various segments like opportunities, size, development, innovation, sales and overall growth of major players. The research is carried out on primary and secondary statistics sources and it consists both qualitative and quantitative detailing.

Some of the Major Key players profiled in the study areAdobe Systems, Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc., Ibm Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Nec Corporation, Netapp, Vmware, Inc., Amazon Web Services, Inc., Ellucian Company L.P.

Get PDF Sample Report + All Related Table and Graphs @:https://www.mraccuracyreports.com/report-sample/214173

Various factors are responsible for the markets growth trajectory, which are studied at length in the report. In addition, the report lists down the restraints that are posing threat to the global Cloud Computing in Education market. This report is a consolidation of primary and secondary research, which provides market size, share, dynamics, and forecast for various segments and sub-segments considering the macro and micro environmental factors. It also gauges the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers, threat from new entrants and product substitute, and the degree of competition prevailing in the market.

Global Cloud Computing in Education Market Segmentation:

Cloud Computing in Education Segmentation by Type:

.

Cloud Computing in Education Segmentation by Application:

K-12, Higher Education

Key market aspects are illuminated in the report:

Executive Summary:It covers a summary of the most vital studies, the Global Cloud Computing in Education market increasing rate, modest circumstances, market trends, drivers and problems as well as macroscopic pointers.

Study Analysis:Covers major companies, vital market segments, the scope of the products offered in the Global Cloud Computing in Education market, the years measured and the study points.

Company Profile:Each Firm well-defined in this segment is screened based on a products, value, SWOT analysis, their ability and other significant features.

Manufacture by region:This Global Cloud Computing in Education report offers data on imports and exports, sales, production and key companies in all studied regional markets

Market Segmentation: By Geographical Analysis

The Middle East and Africa(GCC Countries and Egypt) North America(the United States, Mexico, and Canada) South America(Brazil etc.) Europe(Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.) Asia-Pacific(Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia)

The cost analysis of the Global Cloud Computing in Education Market has been performed while keeping in view manufacturing expenses, labor cost, and raw materials and their market concentration rate, suppliers, and price trend. Other factors such as Supply chain, downstream buyers, and sourcing strategy have been assessed to provide a complete and in-depth view of the market. Buyers of the report will also be exposed to a study on market positioning with factors such as target client, brand strategy, and price strategy taken into consideration.

Key questions answered in the report include:

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Table of Contents

Global Cloud Computing in Education Market Research Report 2022 2029

Chapter 1 Cloud Computing in Education Market Overview

Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact on Industry

Chapter 3 Global Market Competition by Manufacturers

Chapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by Region

Chapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions

Chapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type

Chapter 7 Global Market Analysis by Application

Chapter 8 Manufacturing Cost Analysis

Chapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers

Chapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders

Chapter 11 Market Effect Factors Analysis

Chapter 12 Global Cloud Computing in Education Market Forecast

If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want. you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.

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Cognitive Cloud Computing Market 2023 by Keyplayers and … – The Bowman Extra

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New Jersey, United States,-Mr Accuracy Reports , Cognitive Cloud Computing marketreport contains detailed information on factors influencing demand, growth, opportunities, challenges, and restraints. It provides detailed information about the structure and prospects for global and regional industries. In addition, the report includes data on research & development, new product launches, product responses from the global and local markets by leading players. The structured analysis offers a graphical representation and a diagrammatic breakdown of the Cognitive Cloud Computingmarketby region.

The global market size of Cognitive Cloud Computing will reach (2028 Market size $$) million $ in 2027 with a CAGR of % from 2022-2027.

Some of the Major Key players profiled in the study areGoogle, Inc., Clarifai, Inc, Apple, Inc., IBM Corporation, BMC Software, Inc., Amazon Web Services, Inc., IPsoft Inc., Baidu, Inc., Attivio, Inc., CognitiveScale

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Market Overview

In the past few years, the Cognitive Cloud Computing market experienced a huge change under the influence of COVID-19, the global market size of Cognitive Cloud Computing reached (2021 Market size $$) million $ in 2021 from (2016 Market size $$) in 2016 with a CAGR of 7% from 2016-2021 is. As of now, the global COVID-19 Coronavirus Cases have exceeded 200 million, and the global epidemic has been basically under control, therefore, the World Bank has estimated the global economic growth in 2021 and 2022. The World Bank predicts that the global economic output is expected to expand 4 percent in 2021 while 3.8 percent in 2022. According to our research on Cognitive Cloud Computing market and global economic environment, we forecast that the global market size of Cognitive Cloud Computing will reach (2026 Market size $$) million $ in 2026 with a CAGR of % from 2021-2026.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to World Bank statistics, global GDP has shrunk by about 3.5% in 2020. Entering 2021, Economic activity in many countries has started to recover and partially adapted to pandemic restrictions. The research and development of vaccines has made breakthrough progress, and many governments have also issued various policies to stimulate economic recovery, particularly in the United States, is likely to provide a strong boost to economic activity but prospects for sustainable growth vary widely between countries and sectors. Although the global economy is recovering from the great depression caused by COVID-19, it will remain below pre-pandemic trends for a prolonged period. The pandemic has exacerbated the risks associated with the decade-long wave of global debt accumulation. It is also likely to steepen the long-expected slowdown in potential growth over the next decade.

The world has entered the COVID-19 epidemic recovery period. In this complex economic environment, we published the Global Cognitive Cloud Computing Market Status, Trends and COVID-19 Impact Report 2021, which provides a comprehensive analysis of the global Cognitive Cloud Computing market , This Report covers the manufacturer data, including: sales volume, price, revenue, gross margin, business distribution etc., these data help the consumer know about the competitors better. This report also covers all the regions and countries of the world, which shows the regional development status, including market size, volume and value, as well as price data. Besides, the report also covers segment data, including: type wise, industry wise, channel wise etc. all the data period is from 2015-2021E, this report also provide forecast data from 2021-2026.

Region Segmentation North America (United States, Canada, Mexico) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Other) Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, Korea, Southeast Asia) Europe (Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy) Middle East and Africa (Middle East, Africa)

Cognitive Cloud Computing Segmentation by Type:

.

Cognitive Cloud Computing Segmentation by Application:

Healthcare, IT&telecom, Government(Defense), Banking Financial Services, Insurance(BFSI), Retail, Other

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What is the goal of the report?

The market report presents the estimated size of the ICT market at the end of the forecast period. The report also examines historical and current market sizes. During the forecast period, the report analyzes the growth rate, market size, and market valuation. The report presents current trends in the industry and the future potential of the North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa markets. The report offers a comprehensive view of the market based on geographic scope, market segmentation, and key player financial performance.

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How Multicloud Management Platforms are Revolutionizing Cloud … – CityLife

Posted: at 12:45 pm

Exploring the Impact of Multicloud Management Platforms on Cloud Computing Evolution

The cloud computing landscape has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, with the emergence of multicloud management platforms taking center stage. These platforms are revolutionizing the way businesses and organizations manage their cloud infrastructure, providing a comprehensive solution for managing multiple cloud environments. As more enterprises adopt multicloud strategies, the impact of multicloud management platforms on the evolution of cloud computing is becoming increasingly apparent.

One of the most notable impacts of multicloud management platforms is the way they have streamlined the management of cloud resources. In the past, managing multiple cloud environments was a complex and time-consuming process, often requiring IT teams to juggle multiple tools and interfaces. Multicloud management platforms have simplified this process by providing a single, unified interface for managing resources across multiple cloud environments. This not only saves time and effort for IT teams but also reduces the risk of errors and misconfigurations that can lead to security vulnerabilities and performance issues.

Another significant impact of multicloud management platforms is the increased visibility they provide into cloud environments. With the ability to monitor and manage resources across multiple clouds, IT teams can gain a comprehensive view of their entire cloud infrastructure. This enables them to identify potential issues and bottlenecks more quickly, as well as optimize resource usage and costs. Additionally, the increased visibility provided by multicloud management platforms can help organizations better understand their cloud spending and make more informed decisions about resource allocation and budgeting.

Multicloud management platforms also play a crucial role in enhancing security and compliance in cloud environments. By providing a centralized platform for managing security policies and configurations across multiple clouds, these platforms help ensure that organizations maintain consistent security practices across their entire cloud infrastructure. This is particularly important in the age of stringent data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which require organizations to implement robust security measures to protect sensitive data.

In addition to improving security and compliance, multicloud management platforms also facilitate greater collaboration between IT teams and other business units. By providing a single platform for managing resources across multiple clouds, these platforms enable IT teams to work more closely with other departments to ensure that cloud resources are being used effectively and efficiently. This can lead to better alignment between IT and business objectives, as well as improved overall organizational performance.

Finally, multicloud management platforms are driving innovation in the cloud computing industry by encouraging the development of new tools and technologies. As organizations increasingly adopt multicloud strategies, the demand for solutions that can simplify and streamline the management of multiple cloud environments is growing. This has led to a surge in innovation in the multicloud management space, with new platforms and tools being developed to help organizations manage their cloud infrastructure more effectively.

In conclusion, multicloud management platforms are playing a pivotal role in the evolution of cloud computing, driving significant improvements in the way organizations manage their cloud infrastructure. By streamlining the management of multiple cloud environments, providing increased visibility into cloud resources, enhancing security and compliance, facilitating greater collaboration between IT teams and other business units, and driving innovation in the cloud computing industry, these platforms are revolutionizing the way businesses and organizations leverage the power of the cloud. As multicloud strategies continue to gain traction, the impact of multicloud management platforms on the evolution of cloud computing is likely to become even more pronounced in the coming years.

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This new tool ‘cleans’ annoying satellite trails from Hubble telescope photos – Space.com

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Despite the alarming regularity with which artificial satellites intrude on photos snapped by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, the science done with data from the telescope has not suffered, a new study reports.

"To date, not one Hubble science program has been affected by satellite trails," representatives of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Maryland, which carries out science operations for Hubble and conducted the latest study, wrote in a statement published Monday (June 5).

Skywatchers, professional astronomers and the International Astronomical Union have long sounded alarm bells about the rising number of artificial satellites significantly brightening the night sky and photobombing telescope images. Those unwelcome guests glide in orbits higher than Hubble's decaying one, which is now at a sensitive spot some 334 miles (538 kilometers) above Earth, and appear in the telescope images as bright streaks, thanks to sunlight reflecting off their bodies. They outshine faint stars and galaxies in deep space and ultimately endanger precious data about the cosmos, astronomers have argued.

Related: The best Hubble Space Telescope images of all time!

Findings from the latest study disagree on the acuteness of those concerns, however, at least for images captured by Hubble. The study does not mention the impact on research due to satellite trails cropping up in observations by ground-based telescopes.

"The good news is, in the vast majority of cases, satellite trails do not appear to threaten our ability to do science with the Hubble Space Telescope," David Stark, a staff scientist at STScI and an author of the new study, said on Monday at the 242nd meeting of the American Astronomical Society being held in Albuquerque and online. "Cosmic rays are a much bigger issue when you look at individual exposures."

A typical satellite trail is "relatively thin," taking up some five to 10 pixels in a Hubble image about 0.5% of the photo's total pixel count, according to Stark. In comparison, ubiquitous cosmic rays, particles traveling at extremely high speeds that show up as satellite-like streaks in telescope images, affect three to six times more pixels and can render entire exposures useless.

The standard practice for Hubble observations is to snap multiple exposures of the same slice of the night sky where a celestial target resides. If a few images are contaminated, other similar exposures are usually combined to effectively erase the impacts of satellite trails or cosmic rays and recover a snapshot of the pristine night sky, Stark said during his presentation.

There are about 9,700 active and dormant satellites in orbit right now, with over 4,000 launched by SpaceX as part of its Starlink megaconstellation and a smaller contribution by OneWeb, which had flown a total of 582 satellites into orbit by early March. By the time 2030 rolls in, more than 100,000 satellites are expected to crowd low Earth orbit, according to a report by Astronomy Magazine's Nathaniel Scharping.

Despite the predicted spike, scientists behind the new research say it is possible to identify and erase satellites' pencil-like presence from telescope images without impacting the quality of research. One way to do so would be using a newly developed algorithm, whose image analysis technique sums up the light from every straight path across an image to flag contaminated pixels betraying satellite trails, scientists say.

"When we flag them, we should be able to recover the full field of view without a problem, after combining the data from all exposures," Stark said in the same statement.

To test out its efficiency, he and his colleagues applied the algorithm to the past 20 years of Hubble data, specifically images captured by the telescope's workhorse instrument called the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). The team then plotted the number of satellite trails per hour and the fraction of individual exposures by Hubble polluted by satellite trails.

While the brightness of the trails remained about the same across those two decades, the rate at which streaks showed up in images doubled: from once ever three to four hours in 2002 to every one to two hours in 2022, the team found.

The software which is five to 10 times more sensitive than its predecessor, also built by STScI is efficient at "digging into the weeds" of Hubble images and erasing effects of even weak trails that are hard to see with the naked eye, Stark told reporters on Monday.

The algorithm did miss satellite streaks and at times even found false trails in image corners, where the straight lines it was trained to trace are shorter than the rest of the image, making the tool less sensitive, according to the study.

Despite the drawbacks, even if satellite contamination in telescope images mushrooms as expected from the current rate of one bright streak in every 10 pictures to one in every image, "we are still pretty confident that we can remove their effect," he said.

Follow Sharmila Kuthunur on Twitter @skuthunur. Follow us @Spacedotcom, or on Facebook and Instagram.

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Opinion | Big Tech Is Bad. Big A.I. Will Be Worse. – The New York Times

Posted: at 12:43 pm

Tech giants Microsoft and Alphabet/Google have seized a large lead in shaping our potentially A.I.-dominated future. This is not good news. History has shown us that when the distribution of information is left in the hands of a few, the result is political and economic oppression. Without intervention, this history will repeat itself.

In just a few months, Microsoft broke speed records in establishing ChatGPT, a form of generative artificial intelligence that it plans to invest $10 billion into, as a household name. And last month, Sundar Pichai, C.E.O. of Alphabet/Google, unveiled a suite of A.I. tools including for email, spreadsheets and drafting all manner of text. While there is some discussion as to whether Metas recent decision to give away its A.I. computer code will accelerate its progress, the reality is that all competitors to Alphabet and Microsoft remain far behind.

The fact that these companies are attempting to outpace each other, in the absence of externally imposed safeguards, should give the rest of us even more cause for concern, given the potential for A.I. to do great harm to jobs, privacy and cybersecurity. Arms races without restrictions generally do not end well.

History has repeatedly demonstrated that control over information is central to who has power and what they can do with it. At the beginning of writing in ancient Mesopotamia, most scribes were the sons of elite families, primarily because education was expensive. In medieval Europe, the clergy and nobility were much more likely to be literate than ordinary people, and they used this advantage to reinforce their social standing and legitimacy.

Literacy rates rose alongside industrialization, although those who decided what the newspapers printed and what people were allowed to say on the radio, and then on television, were hugely powerful. But with the rise of scientific knowledge and the spread of telecommunications came a time of multiple sources of information and many rival ways to process facts and reason out implications. Access to facts about the outside world weakened and ultimately helped to destroy Soviet control over Poland, Hungary, East Germany and the rest of its former sphere of influence.

Starting in the 1990s, the internet offered even lower-cost ways to express opinions. But over time the channels of communication concentrated into a few hands including Facebook, whose algorithm exacerbated political polarization and in some well-documented cases also fanned the flames of ethnic hatred. In authoritarian regimes, such as China, the same technologies have turned into tools of totalitarian control.

With the emergence of A.I., we are about to regress even further. Some of this has to do with the nature of the technology. Instead of assessing multiple sources, people are increasingly relying on the nascent technology to provide a singular, supposedly definitive answer. There is no easy way to access the footnotes or links that let users explore the underlying sources.

This technology is in the hands of two companies that are philosophically rooted in the notion of machine intelligence, which emphasizes the ability of computers to outperform humans in specific activities. Deep Mind, a company now owned by Google, is proud of developing algorithms that can beat human experts at games such as chess and Go.

This philosophy was naturally amplified by a recent (bad) economic idea that the singular objective of corporations should be to maximize short-term shareholder wealth. Combined together, these ideas are cementing the notion that the most productive applications of A.I. replace humankind. Doing away with grocery store clerks in favor of self-checkout kiosks does very little for the productivity of those who remain employed, for example, while also annoying many customers. But it makes it possible to fire workers and tilt the balance of power further in favor of management.

We believe the A.I. revolution could even usher in the dark prophecies envisioned by Karl Marx over a century ago. The German philosopher was convinced that capitalism naturally led to monopoly ownership over the means of production and that oligarchs would use their economic clout to run the political system and keep workers poor.

Fortunately, Marx was wrong about the 19th-century industrial age that he inhabited. Industries emerged much faster than he expected, and new firms disrupted the economic power structure. Countervailing social powers developed in the form of trade unions and genuine political representation for a broad swath of society. And governments developed the ability to regulate industrial excesses. The result was greater competition, higher wages and more robust democracies.

Today, those countervailing forces either dont exist or are greatly weakened. Generative A.I. requires even deeper pockets than textile factories and steel mills. As a result, most of its obvious opportunities have already fallen into the hands of Microsoft, with its market capitalization of $2.4 trillion, and Alphabet, worth $1.6 trillion.

At the same time, powers like trade unions have been weakened by 40 years of deregulation ideology (Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, two Bushes and even Bill Clinton). For the same reason, the U.S. governments ability to regulate anything larger than a kitten has withered. Extreme polarization and fear of killing the golden (donor) goose or undermining national security mean that most members of Congress would still rather look away.

To prevent data monopolies from ruining our lives, we need to mobilize effective countervailing power and fast.

Congress needs to assert individual ownership rights over underlying data that is relied on to build A.I. systems. If Big A.I. wants to use our data, we want something in return to address problems that communities define and to raise the true productivity of workers. Rather than machine intelligence, what we need is machine usefulness, which emphasizes the ability of computers to augment human capabilities. This would be a much more fruitful direction for increasing productivity. By empowering workers and reinforcing human decision making in the production process, it also would strengthen social forces that can stand up to big tech companies. It would also require a greater diversity of approaches to new technology, thus making another dent in the monopoly of Big A.I.

We also need regulation that protects privacy and pushes back against surveillance capitalism, or the pervasive use of technology to monitor what we do including whether we are in compliance with acceptable behavior, as defined by employers and how the police interpret the law, and which can now be assessed in real time by A.I. There is a real danger that A.I. will be used to manipulate our choices and distort lives.

Finally, we need a graduated system for corporate taxes, so that tax rates are higher for companies when they make more profit in dollar terms. Such a tax system would put shareholder pressure on tech titans to break themselves up, thus lowering their effective tax rate. More competition would help by creating a diversity of ideas and more opportunities to develop a pro-human direction for digital technologies.

If these companies prefer to remain in one piece, the elevated tax on their profits can finance public goods, particularly education, that will help people cope with new technology and support a more pro-human direction for technology, work and democracy.

Our future should not be left in the hands of two powerful companies that build ever larger global empires based on using our collective data without scruple and without compensation.

Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson are professors at M.I.T. They are the authors of Power and Progress: Our 1,000-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com.

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Denmark to curb children’s data collection by tech giants – Verdict

Posted: at 12:43 pm

Denmark is looking to implement a measure to limit the collection of childrens data by major technology companies, reported Reuters, citing Denmark Business Minister Morten Bodskov

The Danish government intends to raise the minimum age to between 15 and 16 years at which children can provide permission to share personal information with technology companies. Currently, the minimum age limit is 13 years.

Additionally, in order to use data from children younger than that, the companies will need parental approval.

The tech giants must take greater responsibility, Bodskov was quoted by the news agency as saying.

We must put an end to their opaque algorithms, which use crazy methods to keep children and adults in front of the screen and harvest unimaginable amounts of personal information.

The move comes as several European nations from Hungary to Lithuania and the Netherlands are working on laws with a similar intent.

Germany has already established 16 years as the minimum age.

Meanwhile, the US is working on an online privacy bill to ban the unauthorised collection of personal data on users aged 16 years or younger.

Additionally, businesses would have to give young people the option to delete their personal data.

Denmarks efforts are based on suggestions made by an expert council and are expected to become law later this year.

The business ministry stated that they would also strive to implement age-verification methods on websites and applications to keep kids away from sensitive information.

Recently, Microsoft and Amazon agreed to pay millions in penalties to settle US Federal Trade Commissions charges of alleged violations of childrens privacy law.

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Companies get aggressive with return-to-office policies – Axios

Posted: at 12:43 pm

Illustration: Ada Amer/Axios

The push to get employees into the office on a hybrid schedule is getting more aggressive.

Why it matters: As the labor market softens, especially in tech, employers are pushing harder on in-person attendance.

The big picture: Tech companies were once outspoken remote work boosters. That changed after layoffs rocked the industry swinging the balance of power in favor of management.

What's happening: In a company-wide email last week, Google chief people officer Fiona Cicconi told staff that office attendance will be considered in their performance reviews, the WSJ first reported.

State of play: Google, a unit of tech giant Alphabet, had already asked employees to come in three days a week back in April. Many ignored the request, according to the Washington Post.

Zoom in: The law firm Davis Polk and banking giant JPMorgan also consider in-office attendance as a component of performance reviews.

Yes, but: The push by tech companies to get employees into offices has been driven by Silicon Valley giants. Smaller tech firms have been more likely to stick with remote work policies.

What to watch: How workers react. Recall, hundreds of Amazon employees walked out of the job over return-to-office mandates last month.

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Companies get aggressive with return-to-office policies - Axios

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Meta and Microsoft join AI standards group on "synthetic media" – Axios

Posted: at 12:43 pm

Illustration: Ada Amer/Axios

Meta and Microsoft joined a group working on a framework to promote responsible practices in the development, creation and sharing of media created by AI, per an announcement Wednesday shared first with Axios.

Driving the news: The two tech giants, both pushing forward with respective generative AI projects, are joining the Partnership on AI group working on the framework, with plans to meet later this month to discuss recommendations and case studies.

What they're saying: "Meta and Microsoft reach billions of people daily with creative content that is rapidly evolving," Claire Leibowicz, head of AI and media integrity at the Partnership on AI, said in a statement.

Be smart: Founding members of the framework, first launched in February, include Adobe, Bumble, OpenAI, TikTok, BBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Company and WITNESS, a human rights and technology group.

Our thought bubble: Tech industry groups generally gather together to establish best practices and guidelines to head off the imposition of more formal regulation.

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Meta and Microsoft join AI standards group on "synthetic media" - Axios

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