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DeepMind and Hugging Face release SynthID to watermark LLM-generated text
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Technology
Why the feud matters to the internet
One of the world’s biggest web publishing platforms – used by a large chunk of the internet – is locked in a spat which is affecting thousands of businesses worldwide.
While most of the work WordPress does is not seen by internet users, it says its behind-the-scenes web-building tools power 40% of the world’s websites.
That means its disagreement with a company called WP Engine is causing disruption to the huge number businesses that rely on the two organisations to keep their websites running.
Tricia Fox, who runs an agency that manages about 70 websites – and is caught up in the row – told the BBC: “I can’t run a business on this level of uncertainty.”
The very wide use of WordPress makes it “crucial to the internet”, according to Daniel Card, fellow of BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT.
But that also means “its actions definitely have a big ripple effect online”, he says – a ripple effect firms like Tricia Fox’s are starting to really feel.
Source of the row
The row between the companies begins with the fact that WordPress has two sides: its non-profit organisation, called WordPress.org, and its profit-making arm, called Automattic.
WordPress.org makes its source code open, which mean anyone can use it to create and redistribute their own tools for free.
That’s what WP Engine does to run a web hosting service.
But in return for the source code, WordPress expects those who use it to contribute to its maintenance, for example by fixing bugs and testing new features.
The boss of WordPress accuses WP Engine of failing to do so, going so far as to call it “a cancer to WordPress.”
As a result, in late September, he banned WP Engine from using key parts of WordPress.
WP Engine rejects these claims.
“We are proud of our extensive contributions to the WordPress ecosystem,” WP Engine wrote in a post on X/Twitter.
Counting the cost
Caught in the middle of this row are the countless websites and blogs that rely on the two companies services.
People like Tricia Fox, who uses a WP Engine subsidiary to host the websites her company serves.
She now says she is “almost certain” to migrate her websites to a different host – a decision which she says is worth “tens of thousands of pounds” over the next few years.
She wants to move away from WP Engine because the fallout has resulted in dozens of hours of extra work for her staff – increasing costs for her business.
“The team don’t know if it’s going to work today or not,” Ms Fox told the BBC.
But she worries even a costly move away from WP Engine may not solve her problems, as she would still be using another host based on the WordPress code.
“What’s to stop WordPress from doing this again [to another company]?” she asks.
“Right now we are currently focused on resolving our dispute with WP Engine,” WordPress said when the BBC asked if it would go after other companies in a similar manner.
Wiring the web
The row also underscores how important the open source principle is to the online economy.
While big tech might attract the headlines, for many people and businesses it is something much less eye-catching that keeps them afloat.
“Open source is all about sharing code and standards so everyone benefits, and it’s a huge part of what makes the internet work,” says Daniel Card.
And with WordPress being such a big player in that world, if it makes changes to its tools, he adds, “it’s felt by users everywhere and often impacts hosting, plugins, and web standards across the internet.”
Here come the lawyers
While much of the spat between the two sides has taken place through official social media accounts and blog posts, it has also entered the courtroom.
WordPress.org cannot force WP Engine to contribute to its open source project – but it does have control over its trademarks.
It argues that WP Engine mentions WordPress in its marketing tools to help sell its product – and therefore should pay to use the trademark.
“Any business making hundreds of millions of dollars off of an open source project ought to give back, and if they don’t, then they can’t use its trademarks,” Mr Mullenweg wrote in a blog post.
The trademarks do not cover the “WP” abbreviation, but the WordPress Foundation says: “please don’t use it in a way that confuses people”.
WP Engine has meanwhile filed a legal case against Mr Mullenweg and Automattic, with accusations of attempted extortion, libel and a violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act among its complaints.
It claims Automattic told WP Engine they would have to pay “tens of millions of dollars” in order to continue using the WordPress trademarks.
WP Engine has since asked for the legal process to be sped up as its businesses are suffering.
Its recent filing claimed the number of cancellation requests it receives have increased by 14% compared to normal trading, as a result of the disruption.
It said it it is also losing out on potential new customers due to uncertainty over its future access to WordPress products.
Automattic has called the lawsuit “baseless” and “flawed, start to finish.”
“We vehemently deny WP Engine’s allegations – which are gross mischaracterizations of reality,” it said in a statement, adding that it would “vigorously litigate against this absurd filing”.
Technology
ISRO’s new system to detect space junk- The Week
The ISRO has developed a system to track active and dead satellites, said ISRO chairman S Somnath. He added that Safe and Sustainable Operations Management will detect space junk formed due to the collision of objects in space.
Somnath was speaking at the National Space Day celebrations held on Friday in Delhi. The National Space Day fete is held to mark the first year anniversary of the Chandrayaan-3 moon mission.
Detailing ISRO’s policy against littering in space, Somnath said the system also tracks the movement of unwanted satellites and anything that is above 10 cm in size. “We have created a mathematical model for the same. We can model them, we can understand them, we can predict their movement. We already have certain observational capabilities. And are now trying to expand it,” he said. ISRO has vowed to bring satellites back to Earth after the completion of their mission life.
The ISRO chairman reminisced about the Chandrayaan-3 mission and the impact the mission had on the country. He also briefed on the National Space Day celebration held with the participation of departments, ministries, educational institutions, science organisations, NGOs, and the general public.
The event held at Bharath Mandapam Convention Centre in New Delhi also saw President Droupadi Murmu sharing her concern over the space debris as a result of numerous satellites being placed in orbit. “Space debris can cause problems for space missions,” she said while lauding ISRO for setting itself a target to make future space missions debris-free by 2030.
The President also appreciated the ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Operations Management Facility, which ensures continuous progress of space research activities.
The event was also attended by Minister of State for the Department of Space, Dr Jitendra Singh. The minister said that the government has set a target of $ 44 billion in revenue by 2032. As per the new report released by a European consulting firm, the space sector generated $60 billion in revenue in the last ten years against an investment of $13 billion.
Technology
AI models fall for the same scams that we do
The large language models (LLMs) that power chatbots are increasingly being used in attempts to scam humans – but they are susceptible to being scammed themselves.
Udari Madhushani Sehwag at JP Morgan AI Research and her colleagues peppered three models behind popular chatbots – OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 and GPT-4, as well as Meta’s Llama 2 – with 37 scam scenarios.
The chatbots were told, for instance, that they had received an email recommending investing in a new cryptocurrency, with…
Technology
Roborock Qrevo Curv vs. Qrevo Master
The Roborock Qrevo Curv was one of many new devices shown off during IFA 2024. Offering a shocking amount of suction and an updated vacuuming setup, it’s poised to be one of the best robot vacuums of the year. But how does it stack up with the existing Roborock Qrevo Master? More importantly, should owners of the Qrevo Master make the jump to the Qrevo Curv? Here’s a closer look at both robot vacuums to help you decide.
Pricing and design
The Roborock Qrevo Curv is priced at $1,600, making it one of the most expensive robots on the market. It offers a striking dome-shaped docking station and is a stark departure from the rectangular shapes of the competition. Most shoppers should find it to be a well-designed device.
The Roborock Qrevo Master was originally priced at $1,600, but it seems to have been permanently slashed to $950 following the arrival of the Curv. It boasts a traditional rectangular docking station. It looks great — but after seeing the Curv, it definitely seems a bit dated. Still, at under $1,000, it’s a better choice for frugal shoppers.
Winner: Roborock Qrevo Master
Vacuuming
Churning out 18,500Pa of suction, the Qrevo Curv is remarkably powerful. Combined with its new DuoDivide Brush that’s built to avoid tangles and a redesigned FlexiArm swinging side brush, it cleans thick carpets as well as some cordless vacuums. Its brushes can also lift while mopping to ensure they don’t get wet.
The Qrevo Master can also lift its brushes and uses a FlexiArm swinging side brush, but its bristles don’t use the new design — making it a bit more prone to tangles. The same goes for its older DuoRoller Brush on the bottom. The biggest difference, however, is when it comes to suction levels. The Qrevo Master tops out at 10,000Pa.
Both docking stations can hold up to seven weeks of dust, making them incredibly hands-free when it comes to vacuuming operations.
Winner: Roborock Qrevo Curv
Mopping
Mopping specs are largely the same across both robots. They use dual rotating mopping pads that spin at 200 rpm, offer a variety of different water flow levels, and feature a swinging mop to clean near baseboards. Once a cleaning run is completed, it’ll head back to the dock.
Here, its mops will be rinsed with hot water until no dirt is detected. The docking station will then automatically clean its own washboard to ensure all the debris knocked off the mops is washed away into its dirty water reservoir. Mops will then be dried with warm air to ensure nasty odors don’t develop.
Winner: Tie
Additional features
Both robots are packed with additional features. This includes a built-in voice assistant, a powerful mobile app to customize your settings, premium obstacle detection, and the fun ability to capture snapshots of your pets. The Qrevo Curv also features a liftable chassis to climb over thresholds up to 4cm and the ability to heat its water up to 75 degrees Celsius compared to just 60 degrees Celsius on the Master.
Winner: Roborock Qrevo Curv
Verdict
The Roborock Qrevo Curv is undoubtedly the better robot vacuum and mop combo. More suction, better roller brushes, a bold new dock design, and the ability to climb over thresholds make it superior to the older model. Of course, it’s also much more expensive, clocking in at a cool $1,600.
If you need the absolute best robot vacuum, however, it’s an easy recommendation. It offers nearly double the suction of the Master, allowing it to give even the thickest carpets an impeccable clean.
On the other hand, if you already own the Master, don’t feel the need to rush out and buy the Curv. Mopping performance is largely the same across both devices, as are many of the additional features. So unless you need the extra suction for plush carpets, you can probably pass on an upgrade.
Technology
8BitDo makes a mobile controller with Hall Effect sticks now
The ultimate mobile gaming controller is one that you enjoy using the most, and 8BitDo thinks its new controller for mobile games is going to be that controller for you. And, you know what it just might be. It’s called the Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller and based on the features, it’s quite possible that it will live up to that title.
For starters, 8BitDo is coming out of the gate strong with two very sought-after features. Hall Effect sticks and triggers. While it’s nice that triggers are Hall Effect, it’s much more important that the stick use this technology. Hall Effect joysticks mean that the joysticks on this controller are essentially drift-proof. Stick drift has been a big problem for many users across all platforms, but it seems to have been the biggest issue for Nintendo Switch and PS5 owners. Where the sticks on the JoyCon and the DualSense have encountered this problem on a pretty large scale.
8BitDo wants you to avoid running into this problem.
The 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller is $50
The other big thing that 8BitDo has going for it is the controller’s price. It’s only $50. Compare that to the $100 Backbone One which is a favorite of many, and the $78 Razer Kishi V2 Pro and $150 Razer Kishi Ultra, the latter of which has been our favorite. Even with the regular Kishi V2 is still more expensive at $60. And while it’s a fine controller, we have loved ours, 8BitDo’s entry into the market has a considerable advantage in size.
The Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller appears to be a full-size controller and it comes with an enhanced grip. So you should have more for your hands to hold onto. This was one of the main reasons why we love the Kishi Ultra. It’s a full-size mobile controller in this Nintendo Switch-like style where the phone sits in the middle. That being said, it does cost $150. So it’s expensive, and for many, the cost may not be justified.
This is where 8BitDo has a chance to carve out a real piece of the market. It can offer a full-size or nearly full-size mobile controller with loads of features at a reasonably low price. And that will probably be hard to beat.
It’s compatible with nearly every device
8BitDo says the controller is compatible with nearly every phone out there. That’s partially due to the Bluetooth connection, as there’s no direct USB-C connection to plug your phone into. It’s also due to the controller’s extendable body to fit larger devices. There is still a limit of course. The controller will only support phones from 100mm to 170mm in length. If your phone (or tablet perhaps) fits into those measurements then you should be fine.
In addition to the wide range of phone compatibility, the Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller offers a lot more. There are two pro-style back paddles, tactile bumpers and d-pad, a turbo button, a macro button, and the controller works with 8BitDo’s Ultimate software.
You can use this software to remap controls and adjust different settings. This is also where you can set up and customize profiles. Which is useful since the controller has a profile button too. Now since this is powered by Bluetooth it does have a battery. That battery should last up to 15 hours though, and it only takes about 1.5 hours to recharge.
The Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller is available for pre-order today through Amazon. 8BitDo says it begins shipping out on November 29. it comes in black and white.
Technology
Cash App users can claim thousands of dollars in a data breach settlement
Heads up if you’ve had a Cash App account over the last six years or so: you may now be able to claim thousands of dollars as a result of a class-action settlement. The company proposed the $15 million settlement earlier this year following two security incidents. If you’re eligible to make a claim, you only have a few weeks to do so.
The first related breach took place in December 2021 when, according to Cash App, a former employee downloaded reports containing information on more than 8 million users. This included their full names, brokerage account numbers and, in some cases, the holdings and value of investment portfolios. Cash App .
The consolidated class-action complaint alleged that Cash App and parent company Block failed to enact sufficient security measures to prevent another data breach. This involved Cash App’s person-to-person payment services. According to the plaintiffs, “an unauthorized user accessed certain Cash App accounts in 2023 using recycled phone numbers.” The complaint contended that Cash App and Block mishandled complaints related to both breaches and fraudulent transactions.
Cash App and Block have denied any wrongdoing, reports. They say the settlement is not an admission of liability.
You may be eligible to make a claim if you had a Cash App account between August 23, 2018 and August 20 of this year. The settlement will cover up to $2,500 of out-of-pocket costs stemming from the breaches, as well as up to three hours worth of lost time at $25 per hour. Those who have sustained a monetary loss and haven’t yet been reimbursed can file a claim for that too.
If you plan to file a claim through the , you’ll need to do so by 2AM ET on November 19. A final court hearing in the case is set for December 16.
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