#big tech companies

[lasseling]

UK Gov’t Admits Embedding ‘Anti-Free Speech Agents’ Inside Social Media Companies

Recently released minutes from the British government’s Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) reveals that ‘anti-free speech agents’ were embedded in all the major social media companies during the pandemic.

[dyst8pian]

So, you get on Facebook because your friends are there, but you don’t leave because you can’t take your friends with you.

If there was interoperability, those switching costs would come down. If you could leave Facebook but continue to stay in touch with the communities, the customers, the family members, and the friends that you value there, then Facebook would, first of all, have to work to keep your business.

[educationisimp0]

What are the factors, causes, and consequences of Tech Layoffs 2023?

The employment market is always changing, with certain occupations becoming outdated as technology and automation improve. However, new opportunities are opening. However, in today's competitive economy, it is critical to be adaptable and up to date on the latest advancements. While sectors have a long way to go in terms of justice in the tech sector, the present layoffs force them to take a significant step back. Recruitment teams have become redundant as hiring freezes and IT businesses opt for mass layoffs. This also suggests that jobs are starting to be mechanised. The layoffs were caused in part by tech companies' plans to invest in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. 

[ohnoitsz1m]

Postcanon alyx yayyy

She doesn't like the civilian clothes or what's left of the CP uniforms. Her hoodie and jacket are way better. And she's probably the last person on earth to own low rise jeans like this. Not that she doesn't have other clothes this is just objectively superior

[reasonsforhope]

"Major technology companies signed a pact on Friday to voluntarily adopt "reasonable precautions" to prevent artificial intelligence (AI) tools from being used to disrupt democratic elections around the world.

Executives from Adobe, Amazon, Google, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and TikTok gathered at the Munich Security Conference to announce a new framework for how they respond to AI-generated deepfakes that deliberately trick voters. 

Twelve other companies - including Elon Musk's X - are also signing on to the accord...

The accord is largely symbolic, but targets increasingly realistic AI-generated images, audio, and video "that deceptively fake or alter the appearance, voice, or actions of political candidates, election officials, and other key stakeholders in a democratic election, or that provide false information to voters about when, where, and how they can lawfully vote".

The companies aren't committing to ban or remove deepfakes. Instead, the accord outlines methods they will use to try to detect and label deceptive AI content when it is created or distributed on their platforms. 

It notes the companies will share best practices and provide "swift and proportionate responses" when that content starts to spread.

Lack of binding requirements

The vagueness of the commitments and lack of any binding requirements likely helped win over a diverse swath of companies, but disappointed advocates were looking for stronger assurances.

"The language isn't quite as strong as one might have expected," said Rachel Orey, senior associate director of the Elections Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center. 

"I think we should give credit where credit is due, and acknowledge that the companies do have a vested interest in their tools not being used to undermine free and fair elections. That said, it is voluntary, and we'll be keeping an eye on whether they follow through." ...

Several political leaders from Europe and the US also joined Friday’s announcement. European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova said while such an agreement can’t be comprehensive, "it contains very impactful and positive elements".  ...

[The Accord and Where We're At]

The accord calls on platforms to "pay attention to context and in particular to safeguarding educational, documentary, artistic, satirical, and political expression".

It said the companies will focus on transparency to users about their policies and work to educate the public about how they can avoid falling for AI fakes.

Most companies have previously said they’re putting safeguards on their own generative AI tools that can manipulate images and sound, while also working to identify and label AI-generated content so that social media users know if what they’re seeing is real. But most of those proposed solutions haven't yet rolled out and the companies have faced pressure to do more.

That pressure is heightened in the US, where Congress has yet to pass laws regulating AI in politics, leaving companies to largely govern themselves.

The Federal Communications Commission recently confirmed AI-generated audio clips in robocalls are against the law [in the US], but that doesn't cover audio deepfakes when they circulate on social media or in campaign advertisements.

Many social media companies already have policies in place to deter deceptive posts about electoral processes - AI-generated or not... 

[Signatories Include]

In addition to the companies that helped broker Friday's agreement, other signatories include chatbot developers Anthropic and Inflection AI; voice-clone startup ElevenLabs; chip designer Arm Holdings; security companies McAfee and TrendMicro; and Stability AI, known for making the image-generator Stable Diffusion.

Notably absent is another popular AI image-generator, Midjourney. The San Francisco-based startup didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

The inclusion of X - not mentioned in an earlier announcement about the pending accord - was one of the surprises of Friday's agreement."

-via EuroNews, February 17, 2024

--

Note: No idea whether this will actually do much of anything (would love to hear from people with experience in this area on significant this is), but I'll definitely take it. Some of these companies may even mean it! (X/Twitter almost definitely doesn't, though).

Still, like I said, I'll take it. Any significant move toward tech companies self-regulating AI is a good sign, as far as I'm concerned, especially a large-scale and international effort. Even if it's a "mostly symbolic" accord, the scale and prominence of this accord is encouraging, and it sets a precedent for further regulation to build on.

[lurafita]

Suuuuuuuuper random (au, mundane)

Magnus, to Alec: "Would you like to go out with me sometime? And before you answer, I realize that I'm in a bit of a power position here, what with just having hired your sister to work for my company, so I would just like to make this clear. Your answer has no bearing whatsover over the employment and career status of Miss Isabelle. You can absolutely say no. I will not hold your sister as leverage or anything like that. In fact, Raphael would shoot me should I ever succumb to this level."

Izzy, whispering to Raphael: "He is kidding, right?"

Raphael: "No. He had that condition put into my contract."

Izzy: "Seriously?"

Raphael: "You get used to his brand of crazy eventually."

[darewolfcreates]

Big run results are in.

@crazy-fox2 got 140 and gold was 141

[britsyankswheels24]

🇺🇸 As we approach Chrysler's 100th anniversary, Frank B. Rhodes Jr., great-grandson of company founder Walter P. Chrysler, is raising concerns about the brand’s future and wants to take action to rescue it. In a recent open letter to “investors and workers,” Rhodes announced his plan to revitalize Chrysler and its related brands—Dodge, Ram, and Jeep—under new “American” ownership.

🚗 Stellantis, the current parent company of Chrysler, has come under criticism from Rhodes for its management of the brand, which he claims has been severely neglected. The Chrysler brand currently offers only one vehicle, the Pacifica minivan, while several promising concept cars, such as the Chrysler Airflow, were shelved before reaching production. Rhodes highlighted Stellantis’ focus on European brands like Citroën and Peugeot, arguing that Chrysler has been left behind.

💼 Rhodes, who has been a Chrysler ambassador for over 40 years, points to his family’s legacy and his own ownership of the final Chrysler 300C as reasons for his dedication to the brand. He submitted a 17-page proposal to Stellantis executives, inviting them to a confidential discussion on reviving Chrysler. His plan includes giving equity stakes to employees, echoing the worker-centered vision of his great-grandfather, who founded the company on principles of American ingenuity and innovation.

📉 Rhodes also expresses concern about the future of Dodge, which has focused heavily on electric vehicles (EVs) despite its core customer base being more interested in American muscle and performance cars. He argues that Stellantis’ push toward an all-electric lineup by 2028 for Chrysler is out of step with market trends, where hybrids are gaining popularity. The all-electric path, Rhodes warns, could be disastrous for the brand’s future.

🔧 Despite these challenges, Rhodes remains optimistic about the potential to rebuild Chrysler as a symbol of blue-collar luxury and innovation. He is calling for a return to American-designed and built products, and greater autonomy for Chrysler and Dodge within Stellantis. Rhodes’ ultimate goal is to rescue the brand from what he sees as poor management and ensure that Chrysler survives to celebrate its next century.

🚨 As Chrysler fans prepare for the 100th anniversary celebrations next summer, including a large event in Pennsylvania, Rhodes is urging action to prevent the brand from fading into obscurity. Without intervention, he warns, Chrysler’s future looks bleak.

[ahalliance]

what even is an AI-powered google search . what even is an AI-chat . I’ll kill you

[lasseling]

RFK Jr: ‘Democrats Are Now the Party of Surveillance and Censorship’

"Robert F. Kennedy Jr. criticizes the Democratic Party’s shift towards corporate interests and elitism."

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivers a stark assessment of the Democratic Party’s transformation, explaining his decision to leave the party and support Donald Trump for President of the United States.

[zvaigzdelasas]

tech interview today, coded up a little minesweeper app...now im just playing the game i made.....how do people code up games without getting distracted by them

[choppedcowboydinosaur]

Leftists talk about big tech being bad and point to the low interest rates the Federal Reserve set after the 2008 recession boosting the stock market and tech companies. But they make no further connection to the Federal Reserve as whole. Perhaps the Federal Reserve should not have this kind of power. Basically, I mean this:

[aslightaddity]

It is unnerving how AI has been advertised to just let people be worse

The Google Gemini or whatever it’s called has an Ad that’s going round that has a girl trying to find an excuse to cancel dinner with her friends which like?? Just tell them straight up and don’t AI Google it INFRONT OF THEM. Also the Google generative search answers can be notoriously horrible such as the instance where it suggested adding glue to your cheese if it wasn’t sticking to a pizza

And then there was one for an Essay writing which— again still academic fraud and worsens peoples writing and typing stamina and for some reason is making people feel bad for actually doing their work??— in the ad the essay was like 2,000 words and the dude was like “yeah it’s gonna take like 2 hrs” which is more or less accurate and then the other dude just hijacks it and makes AI finish it

There was another I believe from Apple with fashion/creative design and they weren’t even trying to make it seem like the designs looked good, honestly it looked exactly how you’d imagine AI generated interesting fashion would look, and it basically advertised to help get more done and faster. What’s the point of going into a creative industry if you’re going to out source it to Ai

These Ai aren’t helping most anyone and the ones they are ‘helping’ are helping them exploit their workers, be dishonest on important life skills, and avoid being held accountable honestly. It’s fucking infuriating and disgusting

Anyways it’s like 6 am rn and I am having feelings about Ai.

[queer-reader-07]

the worst thing about me being a Gen Z with a Gen X father is that i routinely use Gen Z slang & internet lingo around him to the point that he's able to accurately parse what it all means. AND THEN HE GOES AND USES IT AT WORK TO IMPRESS HIS TWENTY SOMETHING COWORKERS