Newsletter Archives

• Apple owns ‘AI’

  Posted on June 17, 2024 at 02:42 CDT by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums

  APPLE

  

  By Will Fastie

  Its marketing skills are legend, but the Spaceship has taken it to a new galaxy.

  Everything is about AI now. It’s getting to the point that a loaf of bread at the grocery will be marked “Baked in AI-enhanced ovens!”

  We all know that “AI” is an abbreviation for “artificial intelligence.” But in the keynote address for Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference last week, presenters announced “Apple Intelligence.” No one specifically suggested that Apple would co-opt the abbreviation “AI” — just consider it a fait accompli. And also consider it a spectacularly brilliant marketing move.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.25.0, 2024-06-17).

  Apple AI, Apple Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, macOS Sequoia, Newsletters

• MS-DEFCON 2: Continuous dribbles

  Posted on June 6, 2024 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.23.1 • 2024-06-06

  

  By Susan Bradley

  When will it stop raining?

  Remember the old Star Trek episode titled “The Trouble with Tribbles?” Well, we’ve got trouble with dribbles, leading me to raise the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

  Changes are coming to Windows, both 10 and 11, but not necessarily to everyone. I find this to be the most annoying part of recent updates to Windows. This “you may see it; you may not see it” is part of nearly all recent changes. If you want to trigger this after installing the June updates, you’ll just have to be patient.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (21.23.1, 2024-06-06).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON AI, Alerts, Dribbled updates, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Patch Lady Posts, Siri, Snipping Tool, Windows 10, Windows 11

• Protecting yourself from AI deepfakes

  Posted on May 20, 2024 at 02:44 CDT by Max Stul Oppenheimer • Comment in the Forums

  LEGAL BRIEF

  

  By Max Stul Oppenheimer, Esq.

  It has been apparent for some time that developments in generative artificial intelligence present serious potential for harm.

  A recent example has made the problem concrete.

  On January 17, 2024, the Baltimore Sun broke the news with the headline “Baltimore County Public Schools investigating Pikesville High principal’s alleged ‘highly offensive’ recording.”

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.21.0, 2024-05-20).

  Legal Brief AI, Deepfakes, Generative AI, Legal, Newsletters, Privacy, Revenge, Security

• Artificial minds

  Posted on May 13, 2024 at 02:42 CDT by Michael Covington • Comment in the Forums

  COMMENTARY

  

  By Michael A. Covington

  Artificial intelligence changes the ethics and computing scene.

  In my previous article, Ethics and computing, I discussed how the rise of personal computing created a break in our natural understanding of ethics.

  Now, the rise of AI adds further complications. Let’s delve into that a bit.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.20.0, 2024-05-13).

  Commentary AI, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Ethics, Newsletters

• Ethics and computing

  Posted on May 6, 2024 at 02:45 CDT by Michael Covington • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.19 • 2024-05-06

  COMMENTARY

  

  By Michael A. Covington

  Computer ethics and AI ethics are easier than you think, for one big reason.

  That reason is simple: if it’s wrong to do something without a computer, it’s still wrong to do it with a computer.

  See how much puzzlement that principle clears away.

  Consider, for example, the teenagers in several places who have reportedly used generative AI to create realistic nude pictures of their classmates. How should they be treated? Exactly as if they had been good artists and had drawn the images by hand. The only difference is that computers made it easier. Computers don’t change what’s right or wrong.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.19.0, 2024-05-06).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Commentary Accuracy, AI, Authority, Ethics, Mass Communication, Newsletters

• Can you detect AI deepfake images with your own eyes?

  Posted on April 8, 2024 at 02:44 CDT by B. Livingston • Comment in the Forums

  PUBLIC DEFENDER

  

  By Brian Livingston

  Artificial-intelligence image generators now produce such lifelike output — and the AI apps are improving their accuracy every day — that we’re seeing an increasing number of surprising, enraging, and manipulative videos and stills. All this forces us to ask, “Is it real, or is it AI?”

  The answers will be crucial to us, as AI bots unstoppably expand into all aspects of our day-to-day lives. Phony images — often called deepfakes or fauxtography — are scrambling free elections around the world. And AI-generated videos that overlay women’s faces onto the nude bodies of porn stars can ruin the mortified victims’ lives and even cause suicides.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.15.0, 2024-04-08).

  Public Defender AI, Deepfakes, Generative AI, Newsletters

• Get ready for AI

  Posted on February 26, 2024 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.09 • 2024-02-26

  ON SECURITY

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Not a day goes by that we don’t hear about some new technology using AI.

  Whether we like it or not, vendors are going to be slapping a coat of AI on just about everything to ensure it gets in front of us.

  We already know that many in our readership do not want AI in their technology. But what if you do want to embrace it? What are some things you need to concern yourself about, or at least be aware of before you start using it?

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.09.0, 2024-02-26).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  On Security AI, AI Policies, Copilot, Copilot Pro, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft Graph, Microsoft Purview, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts

• Use Copilot now — and for free

  Posted on January 29, 2024 at 02:44 CST by Peter Deegan • Comment in the Forums

  MICROSOFT 365

  

  By Peter Deegan

  There’s no need to pay for Microsoft’s Copilot when there are now various ways to use it together with Microsoft Office (any version) — and without paying a cent.

  I’m urging everyone to try out the five main and relatively simple uses of AI: writing, rewriting, summarizing, making images, and research. I’ll focus on Microsoft’s Copilot. However, much the same features are available in other AI products such as ChatGPT/Dall-E (which is the basis for Copilot), Google Bard, and other smaller services.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.05.0, 2024-01-29).

  Microsoft 365 AI, Copilot, Newsletters, Windows Copilot
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