Baidu has introduced a text-to-image generator dubbed I-RAG and a no-code developer platform called Miaoda as part of its growing portfolio of artificial intelligence (AI) products that, like US-based AI companies, it eventually aims to offer its user base as part of a wide array of commercial AI offerings.

CEO Robin Li introduced the new technology in a presentation at the company’s Baidu World Conference Tuesday. I-RAG uses Baidu’s search capabilities to generate images from speech and has been designed to address the “hallucinations” issue, according to a report on Reuters. The hallucinations referred to are images generated via large language model (LLM)-based AI that deviate from what was specified in the input prompt or contain non-existent elements.

Baidu also launched Miaoda, a developer platform that uses the capabilities of LLMs to generate code, and is aimed at allowing users without extensive coding expertise to develop applications. AI companies in the US also are providing similar tools to develop applications through a visual interface, with reusable components and advanced developer assistance, noted Manukrishnan SR, practice director for Everest Group.

Indeed, like those of leading US companies such as OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, Baidu’s AI moves demonstrate its march toward the commercialization phase of the technology. The company, like others before it, has been adding AI to existing products or creating new ones that enterprise and other business users can integrate into their applications.

Follow the leader

Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft already have products similar to the ones Baidu revealed Tuesday, and the Chinese company has some catching up to do, analysts noted. The release of an AI-enhanced no-code platform in particular demonstrates Baidu’s aim to keep up with a software development trend that may one day leverage AI to replace traditional coding with software configuration.

“The pace of innovation and research in generative AI technologies and software is moving at a breakneck pace in the US,” Dave Schubmehl, research VP, AI & automation at IDC, observed. “To compete effectively on the world stage, other countries will need to adopt this same pace of innovation and research.”

He added, “many vendors are offering low code/no code/code generation capabilities in their products. Baidu’s product Miaoda is doing what other vendors like Microsoft and OpenAI have already done, which is using LLM capabilities to generate code.”

So far, however, Baidu’s AI tools do not seem to be as advanced as the ones released by OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google, Everest Group’s SR told CIO, “since these players have large existing datasets on which they can train their AI models.”

However, with “all major cloud platform players now offering some form of genAI-based programming augmentation facility,” AI-based software development may be the way forward for the enterprise, noted Bradley Shimmin, chief analyst, AI and data analytics, at Omdia.

“This is a very important area of research in that it points to an eventual state where both domain experts inside an organization and professional ISV practitioners can both use the same tooling to create full-stack apps and/or workflow automations in a declarative, no-code, conversational manner,” Shimmin said.

Still, this evolution is not without its challenges, and may not be something CIOs need to worry about quite yet, Everest Group’s SR noted.

“These tools are facing a host of challenges, including maintaining code quality, adherence to regulatory standards, and questions on ROI,” he told CIO. “Thus, while AI is set to revolutionize software development in the medium to long term, there are a lot of challenges that need to be ironed out before its potential can be fully realized.”

Don’t underestimate China

Though Baidu is still playing catch-up to US-based companies, China as a major global AI player should not be underestimated, Shimmins noted. In fact, “China and the US are really not that far apart from one another in terms of expertise and investment [in AI],” he observed.

“Already, China has produced some very strong models, particularly open source models such as Qwen2.5-Coder, which rivals some of the larger frontier models from Anthropic and OpenAI (at least in terms of published benchmarks),” he said.

The US has been doing everything it can to stymie overall technological development in China in various ways, and AI is no exception. A mere two weeks ago, the US government announced new rules restricting investments in China’s AI and other tech sectors deemed threats to national security, expanding existing technology restrictions that were so far limited to exports. China, for its part, has banned the use of OpenAI in the country.

However, despite the current friction between the US and China in terms of their technological arms race, the two countries have similar goals when it comes to AI, and may end up collaborating in some areas, Shimmin noted.

“In terms of academic research, the two nations are starting to work more closely with one another in seeking out a common ground concerning the existential threat posed by AI itself,” he said.

Source:: Computer World

As it seemingly remains focused on increasing the cost of doing business in the region, the European Commission’s (trade) war with Big Tech/America by proxy continues with a demand for Apple to stop “geo-blocking practices” on Apple Media Services, including the App Store, Apple Music, TV+, and others. 

It’s a new European front in a battle dominated so far by Apple’s struggles to bring its business in line with the Digital Markets Act in the region. However, to some degree it reflects efforts to give consumers free access to markets across all EU states. But when combined with the myriad challenges Apple already faces in the region, the demand will impose yet  another set of legal headaches and require the company to invest in yet more expensive developer time.  

What’s this all about?

Europe argues that the geo-blocking restrictions Apple employs on its media platforms unlawfully discriminate against European customers based on their place of residence. In Europe, people should be able to purchase goods and services from any EU state.

Further, Europe’s Services Directive requires that general conditions of access to a service don’t “contain discriminatory provisions relating to the nationality or place of residence of the service recipient, unless directly justified by objective criteria.”

So far, so good. But I have a sense that some of the territorial licensing restrictions some copyright holders still keep in place might act as a brake on what Apple can achieve. There was a day not so long ago when music streaming services had to reach a separate distribution deal for each EU member state, and while that has relaxed significantly, it may also be why Apple’s media services evolved that kind of licensing model. But that was then, this is now. (I do suspect Europe and Apple will find these problems aren’t completely within their own control.)

What does Europe want?

What regulators want is for Apple to make a series of changes to how it offers up media services in the EU. “The discrimination of consumers based on their nationality or place of residence is against Union law, therefore unacceptable,” said Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders.

“Consumers must be able to reap the full benefits of the Single Market and should not face any obstacles while using a specific service and traveling around the EU,” he explained. “The Commission urges Apple to bring its practices in line with EU rules against the unjustified geo-blocking of consumers.”

Europe wants Apple to:

Make it possible to access its media services via any country interface a consumer wants to use. 

Allow consumers to pay for things using any means of payment from any country they have available to them. For example, if you have bank accounts in France and in Germany but are registered for your Apple Account in France, you can use either bank to pay your bill. At present you can only use a French bank, as that is where your account is registered.

The bloc also wants consumers to be able to download the version of an app offered in another EU/EEA country. “Consumers should be able to download apps offered in other EU/EEA countries when they travel to or temporarily stay in that country,” the EU states.

Google has already done it

Apple may be in the Commission’s sights (again) now, but the bloc reached a deal with Google for similar practises last year. Under those arrangements, Google “committed to clarify” how to browse different country versions of the Google Play Store.

It also reminded Android developers that they should make their apps accessible EU-wide and accept means of payment from any EU country on the Google store.

That Google could only remind developers suggests that even when Apple finds some way to bring itself in line with these demands, some developers might still decline to join the ball game. Even the act in question (passed in 2018), notes in Article 3 section 5 some circumstances in which some categories of goods — books — are sold at different prices in certain territories. 

What happens next?

Apple now gets a month to look at what is being asked of it, develop a response, and come up with a set of proposals and commitments to address these criticisms.

The way the Commission phrases how it will respond to Apple’s reply is interesting, “Depending on Apple’s reply, the CPC Network may enter into a dialogue with the company,” it says.

The use of conditionals in that sentence suggests that even if Apple does attempt to being itself into compliance, the CPC Network (Consumer Protection Cooperation Network) might decide to move to enforcement all the same.

If Apple fails to address the concerns or is found to have failed to address them, national authorities can take enforcement measures to ensure compliance, the Commission explains.

You can follow me on social media! You’ll find me on BlueSky,  LinkedIn, Mastodon, and MeWe. 

Source:: Computer World

By Nick Godt Waymo and road safety AI firm Nexar now offer the largest dataset in the U.S. to inform automated vehicles

Source:: Digital Trends

By Siôn Geschwindt In 1991, Sony brought the first rechargeable lithium-ion battery to market. The unique chemistry proved a game-changer in energy storage. Today everything from EVs to smartphones depends on it, with demand skyrocketing.  But lithium is rare, most of it comes from unstable markets outside Europe, and its extraction can cause extensive pollution. We need more lithium to enable the green transition and yet, currently, its use is unsustainable — both environmentally and economically. We’re stuck in a paradox. Munich-based startup Tozero believes that battery recycling offers a way out. Recycling batteries is far from a new concept, but the German venture…This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

By Deepti Pathak HP recently introduced the OMEN 35L Desktop in India, bringing a powerful and customizable gaming experience…
The post HP Introduces OMEN 35L Desktop in India appeared first on Fossbytes.

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By Kirstie McDermott New data from LinkedIn on the most in-demand jobs on the platform in the third quarter of this year reveals that software engineering is in second place. Just pipped to the post by sales roles, it is clear that software engineering and development pros are in high demand. Additionally, full stack engineers and application developers feature in the top ten in-demand roles at places eight and ten respectively. Software roles are in such high prominence because software powers pretty much everything. According to McKinsey, these days, “Every company is a software company.” Traditional bricks and mortar businesses are now increasingly…This story continues at The Next Web

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By Nick Godt Regulators are concerned that Tesla’s use of social media and of its website makes false promises about the automaker’s full-self driving (FSD) software.

Source:: Digital Trends

In a significant escalation of US efforts to limit China’s access to advanced technology, the Department of Commerce has reportedly mandated Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) to cease shipments of high-performance AI chips to Chinese customers.

The directive, effective Monday, restricts the export of TSMC’s 7-nanometer and more advanced processors, which are widely used in AI applications, Reuters reported.

The US Commerce Department’s latest move specifically targets chips that can power AI accelerators and GPUs, with a particular focus on halting indirect access to restricted technology by Chinese companies like Huawei, which the US considers a national security threat.

This directive, marking a new chapter in US-China tech tensions, applies to several key players in China’s AI ecosystem, potentially impacting companies beyond Huawei.

TSMC declined to comment on the said matter citing “market rumor.”

“TSMC is a law-abiding company and we are committed to complying with all applicable rules and regulations, including applicable export controls,” the chip maker said.

A query to the US Commerce Department did not elicit any response.

In another distantly related development, the Taiwanese government has said that the country’s law prevents TSMC from producing its 2nm chips — TSMC’s hitherto most advanced chip —  abroad.

“Since Taiwan has related regulations to protect its own technologies, TSMC cannot produce 2-nanometer chips overseas currently,” Taipei Times said quoting Minister of Economic Affairs J W Kuo.

Kuo made the remarks while addressing concerns that TSMC may have to accelerate 2-nm chip production in its Arizona fabs following Donald Trump’s re-election as US president.

TSMC is the main supplier of chips, including its most advanced one, for Nvidia and Apple and the US largely depends on the Taiwanese firm to further its technological advancements in the AI space.

TSMC’s involvement: The Huawei incident

This stringent order follows a recent finding that a TSMC-manufactured chip had been integrated into Huawei’s Ascend 910B, an advanced AI processor released in 2022.

A teardown analysis by research firm, Tech Insights, revealed the presence of TSMC technology within Huawei’s product, hinting at an export control violation and triggering the US crackdown.

The revelation prompted TSMC to inform the Commerce Department, shedding light on Huawei’s use of intermediaries to potentially bypass US trade restrictions.

The US directive mandates that any advanced product containing over 25% American technology require an export license — a requirement Huawei circumvented by procuring chips indirectly through third parties.

Impact on Chinese tech giants and the semiconductor market

The directive impacts numerous other entities in China’s technology landscape. In addition to Huawei, major AI-driven companies such as Alibaba and Baidu, which design and use similar processors, will face increased scrutiny.

Although the US regards them as competitors to Huawei, the move aims to curb any potential diversion of restricted technology for unauthorized AI applications in China.

Moreover, the order raises questions about TSMC’s ability to navigate US-imposed restrictions while continuing to serve clients in one of its largest markets.

Reports initially suggested that TSMC’s decision to halt chip shipments was voluntary, but it has since become clear that it was a response to direct US government orders.

However, the restriction on AI chips excludes automotive and consumer-grade chips, signaling that China’s AI and defense-related developments are the primary targets.

Growing tensions and US commitment to export control

The US has steadily intensified its stance against the use of American technology by companies that the government deems a security threat. By tightening export controls, the US aims to prevent China from leveraging AI and semiconductor advancements in ways that could counter US interests.

This latest directive follows broader efforts to restrict China’s technological capabilities, underscoring the US commitment to export control enforcement amidst ongoing geopolitical friction.

As the implications of the US directive continue to unfold, TSMC and other semiconductor producers may face a complex path ahead in balancing regulatory compliance with business needs in the Asia-Pacific region.

Source:: Computer World

Using the Monarch personal finance program, I went through my finances recently and found that I pay $510 every month on various subscriptions. (That’s not counting things such as my Internet bill, $120 a month for AT&T 2Gbps fiber.) I’m talking about Netflix, Google One, The Wall Street Journal, and other services and publications I actually want. 

But there were also over $100 worth of subscriptions that, frankly, I’d forgotten about  and no longer wanted or needed. That’s real money.

So, how do I get rid of them? Today, I have to dig into every last lousy one of them and jump through numerous hoops to cancel — but that may not be the case for much longer. 

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last month announced a “click-to-cancel” rule aimed at making it easier for you and me to end recurring subscriptions and memberships. The new regulation requires sellers to make canceling services as simple as when you initially signed up for them.

As FTC Commission Chair Lina M. Khan explained: “Too often, businesses make people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription. The FTC’s rule will end these tricks and traps, saving Americans time and money. Nobody should be stuck paying for a service they no longer want.”

Amen, sister!

The new regulations aren’t going to affect just Disney+ subscribers and the like. Businesses that rely on Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) — as either users or providers — are going to be affected as well. 

The new rule, which goes into effect six months after being published in the Federal Register, will have significant implications, for example, for providers like Google One and Microsoft 365. 

Here’s how it’s likely to affect these services.

For example, practices like requiring phone calls or in-person visits to cancel will no longer be allowed. If you think that’s an exaggeration, by the way, you clearly haven’t had a Planet Fitness subscription, which required snail-mail or an in-person visit to close out your membership.

Additionally, SaaS providers must provide clear and conspicuous disclosures about subscription terms: For example, automatic renewal information must be clearly stated and cancellation deadlines by which customers must cancel to avoid charges must also be spelled out. 

Under these regulations, you can no longer automatically resubscribe customers. They must consent before automatic renewals take place. Clearly, businesses that use automatic renewals will have to change how they’ll handle subscription renewals.

If your business gets customers by offering free trials that convert to paid subscriptions, you’ll also need to clearly disclose the trial’s terms, including when the trial ends and what charges will occur. And, of course, canceling after a free trial must be as simple as signing up for the trial.

All of this means, of course, that your company will have to update its terms and conditions. You’re going to have to pay your lawyers (as well as your programmers) to address these new rules. 

On the plus side, while none of this will be cheap, the FTC argues that customers will be happier and more likely resubscribe. And new transparent practices could even lead to  stronger customer relationships.

Not everyone is happy about the new regulations. Business organizations such as the Internet & Television Association (NCTA), the Interactive Advertising Bureau, and the US Chamber of Commerce oppose them. They have three major arguments: that the FTC doesn’t have the legal authority to implement the rules; the change will cost companies money; and they’ll force industries to change current cancellation processes that protect consumers or offer better deals.

In other words, it’s exactly what you’d expect them to say. 

Given the click-to-cancel rule is part of the Biden administration’s efforts to combat “junk fees,” you might think it’s dead as a doornail. Usually, I’d agree. But while Kahn has been a lightning rod for both Democrats and Republicans, she has one ally you probably didn’t expect; Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, who said: “I look at Lina Khan as one of the few people in the Biden administration that I think is doing a pretty good job,”

In addition, overall, the rule appears to be quite popular among consumers and consumer advocates. Let’s get real. People are sick of perpetual subscriptions. Their budgets are tight. Even if the FTC regulation costs companies some coin, it’ll be worth it in the long run.

Source:: Computer World

By Deepti Pathak Google Photos helps store your photos and videos by backing them up automatically, making it easier…
The post How to Stop Google Photos Backup on Android and iPhone? appeared first on Fossbytes.

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By Deepti Pathak Over time, your Mac’s downloads folder can fill up with files you no longer need, taking…
The post How to Delete Downloads on Mac? appeared first on Fossbytes.

Source:: Fossbytes

By The Conversation In the ambitious pursuit to tackle the harms from false content on social media and news websites, data scientists are getting creative. While still in their training wheels, the large language models (LLMs) used to create chatbots like ChatGPT are being recruited to spot fake news. With better detection, AI fake news checking systems may be able to warn of, and ultimately counteract, serious harms from deepfakes, propaganda, conspiracy theories and misinformation. The next level AI tools will personalise detection of false content as well as protecting us against it. For this ultimate leap into user-centered AI, data science needs…This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

By Chris Chinchilla Ruby’s creator, Yukihiro Matsumoto (Matz), released the first public version of the programming language in December 1995, making Ruby just shy of its 30th birthday. It spread across Japanese-language Usenet newsgroups, a popular way of exchanging conversation and media before the World Wide Web, and then reached broader communities throughout the late 1990s. This was thanks to Ruby’s friendly community and, in no small part, thanks to Matz. (The community has a motto, “Matz is nice, and so we are nice.”) At this year’s annual European Ruby Konferenze — EuRoKu — in Sarajevo, Matz said he created Ruby because he…This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

By Nick Godt BYD appears to be backtracking from plans to sell EVs in Canada

Source:: Digital Trends

By Nick Godt There are already 48,000 pre-orders for the Range Rover Electric, the brand’s first fully electric vehicle to be launched before year end.

Source:: Digital Trends

By Nick Godt Mazda is working on hybrid CX-5 and electric SUV

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By Nick Godt Hyundai’s 2025 Ioniq 5 is priced under $44,000, with extended driving range and a NACS port.

Source:: Digital Trends

French tech company Mistral AI has launched a new online moderation tool based on the AI ​​model Ministral 8B that can detect and remove offensive or illegal posts automatically. (There is still a risk of some misjudgments, however.)

According to Techcrunch, for example, some studies have shown that posts about people with disabilities can be flagged as “negative” or “toxic” even though that’s not the case.

Initially, Mistral’s new moderation tool will support Arabic, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and German, with more languages ​​are on the way later. Mistral in July launched a large language model that can generate longer tranches of code faster than other open-source models.

Source:: Computer World

Did you know that Apple’s macOS 15.1 Sequoia now lets you install and use applications acquired from the Mac App Store directly onto an external drive? This enhancement is actually particularly useful if your workflow requires you to handle a space-devouring application.

Here’s what you need to know about it and how it works.

What’s changed?

While anyone who is paying attention should already be impressed by the sheer speed and performance of Apple’s new Macs, that performance also means pro users will push the platform to its limits, banging into any inherent challenges to how Macs work.

One of these challenges is the need to optimize the space you have on your Mac when running larger applications — and given the cost of installing additional space on most Apple hardware, there was demand for a lower-cost way to do just that. The solution comes with macOS Sequoia 15.1.

Wait, is this really new?

So you’ve spotted that many Mac apps (downloaded from outside the App Store) allow users to install and use them on external drives. This is not automatically the case for applications downloaded and installed from the Mac App Store,however — these insist on being hosted on the Mac’s own drive. You have always been able to run most apps and macOS from an external drive, but now you can do the same with App Store apps, including Pro Apple apps.

What are the limitations?

There are some limits to the new feature tweak. 

The biggest is that you’ll only be able to install applications larger than 1GB in size, which is great for games and pro apps, less great for users of smaller apps, who may just want to manage storage their own way. We can hope Apple lifts the 1GB restriction eventually.

The second limitation is the speed of the external SSD; obviously, the speedier it is, the better the offloaded application will perform.

The final — and most inconvenient — limitation is that once it is enabled it is not optional. In the future, you’ll need to install any application of 1GB or more on external storage unless you turn the setting off. 

What do you need?

You need to be running macOS 15.1 and have a suitable connected drive. The drive must also be formatted to APFS. To check that this is so, with the drive connected to your Mac, right-click the drive icon in Finder and select “Get Info.”

How to begin installing Mac apps on external drives

Before you use the feature, you need to open the Mac App Store on your Mac.

Go to App Store>Settings in the Menu bar.

Check the box beside the “Download and install large apps to a separate disk” item in Settings.

When you have enabled that setting, you can select the external drive you want to save your applications to.

After that, when you want to install a large application from the Mac App Store, you will need to ensure the external SSD you want to use is connected to your computer.

How to use a Mac app on an external drive

At the risk of sounding obvious, you do need to connect the drive your application is stored on to your Mac to use the application you have hosted there. It is relatively seamless after that — the app will be visible in your Applications folder, opens with a double click and can be used just like any other app. (One thing it does not do is appear in Launchpad.)

Why does it matter?

Cost is the biggest reason this is important. Additional storage in Macs isn’t cheap; it will cost you an additional $600 to slot 2TB of storage inside the base model MacBook Pro, while a good and speedy external SSD should cost you around two-thirds of that, or less if you’re a little more flexible. That cost increases if you are provisioning multiple seats, so in some cases this feature could help you stretch purchasing budgets a little further. Consumer users can also use this to enable them to better explore and learn about professional applications without needing to worry about having enough space on their Mac.

Please follow me on LinkedIn, Mastodon, or join me in the AppleHolic’s bar & grill group on MeWe.

Source:: Computer World

By Nick Godt Rivian’s R2 electric SUV will be powered by LG cylindrical batteries made in the U.S.

Source:: Digital Trends