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- Microsoft brings back controversial feature
Microsoft brings back controversial feature
+ Google's AI can end YouTube clickbait
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Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan was inspired by a death row inmate. The final words of a convicted criminal became one of the most iconic taglines in sneaker history. Yep, your sneakers have a dark origin story.
What’s in store:
Microsoft has an AI that knows everything you’ve seen.
No more rewatching videos—NotebookLM’s got your back.
Around the web: Brian Williams in talks to host Amazon Prime's non-partisan election night special with guest discussions.
Guidde is the best productivity tool around!
Read Time: 5 minutes
MICROSOFT
Microsoft has responded to concerns about its new tool, Recall, after privacy issues were raised when it was first introduced in May 2024.
The AI tool, which takes screenshots of users' activity, caused worries about how much private data it might collect… and what it might see.
Recall was originally planned for release with Microsoft’s CoPilot+ computers in June, but this has now been delayed to November 2024.
Microsoft has made changes to make the tool more secure and user-friendly. This is the third time Microsoft has tried to launch the feature.
Here’s the new plan:
Recall is now opt-in, rather than being turned on automatically.
Screenshots taken by Recall are encrypted, and sensitive details like credit card information won’t be captured.
Biometric login is needed to access screenshots, and some diagnostic data may be shared based on privacy settings.
Your online shopping spree remains a secret
The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) got involved after the initial backlash and has been working with Microsoft to make sure privacy issues are addressed.
They will continue to monitor the tool.
Recall is designed as a kind of "photographic memory," using AI to help users find files, emails, or anything they’ve viewed before by searching through desktop screenshots taken every few seconds.
Despite the improvements, privacy experts are still concerned about the tool’s ability to gather sensitive data.
Microsoft has reassured users that additional security measures will be in place.
Microsoft Vice President Pavan Davuluri said Recall is an opt-in feature, giving users control over what gets saved.
However, some technical blogs noted that certain diagnostic data may still be shared with Microsoft, depending on individual settings.
The tool will only be available on CoPilot+ laptops, which feature high-performance AI chips.
Cybersecurity expert Professor Alan Woodward noted that while security improvements are welcome, he recommends waiting until the tool has been tested further before opting in.
This is like “don’t forget to clear your browser history” on steroids.
Would you use Recall? |
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On This Day
September 29th 2004 - The asteroid 4179 Toutatis passes within four lunar distances of Earth.
AI Image Or Real? The Results
Looks delicious, although what’s that pretzel doing there?
54% said AI…
46% said real…
It was real! Go make it! (sans pretzel, please).
Free Resources
Having the right tools can help you take your marketing game to the next level. So we gathered the best tools in the market to help your business thrive!
Google's AI-powered note-taking app, NotebookLM, now makes it easier to summarise and explore YouTube videos by looking at the transcripts, including autogenerated ones.
It gives users a quick summary of the main topics covered in a video. This means you can get summaries without watching the whole thing.
And skip past the clickbait intro!
When users add a YouTube link, NotebookLM provides a brief overview of key topics.
Each topic can be clicked on for more details, and users can ask follow-up questions with suggestions from the app if needed.
Citations link directly to the transcript, making it easy to find the exact moment in the video.
The key features:
Summarises YouTube transcripts with clickable topics for more detail.
Offers AI-generated Audio Overviews in a podcast-style format.
Supports audio recordings, allowing transcript searches and study guide creation.
Goodbye endless YouTube loops
NotebookLM also works with audio recordings, allowing users to search through the transcripts of conversations and create study guides.
The Audio Overview feature creates a podcast-like discussion hosted by AI for a new way to engage with content.
AI that makes my endless YouTube rabbit holes sound productive, yes please.
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Don’t Miss - Former NBC news anchor Brian Williams is reportedly in talks to host a non-partisan Amazon Prime election night special. The programme would feature discussions with guests as election results come in, without breaking news or calling the race. The deal is not yet final, and it doesn’t indicate that Amazon plans to offer regular news programming.
AI Art
Our Image of the Day
Artwork submitted by Mindstream reader Bethany C: “Digital glitch art in a gallery”
Daily Image Prompt
Grandmas in a car race
Yesterday’s Poll
“Should AI get the credit for these discoveries?”
No, give credit to the humans who built it! - 52% ✅
Yes, AI is basically an archaeologist now. - 48%
Your Views:
“AI is a tool that is used to achieve an end. In biological research we acknowledge all kits with manufacturers’ name, etc. If someone assists by developing a reagent system, they are typically credited as an author. While AI is a tool, it is a self-developed tool and becomes a creator. Both AI and the AI developer(s) should be acknowledged as essential to the work” - don.leigh
“It is just a technology, guys. Other detection devices never got credited for the use of them.” - joerg_narr
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