You are not logged in.
- Topics: Active | Unanswered
#1 Re: Off-topic » Google in trouble again » 2024-02-29 08:05:49
I won't bother with the Bloomberg link as it requires you to register but here's the gist of it:
Google parent company Alphabet lost over $70 billion in market value, with stock prices falling as much as 4.4 percent on Monday following the pause on Google Gemini’s AI image creator and posts surfaced of Gemini’s responses in the chat feature.
According to Bloomberg, Melius Research analyst Ben Reitzes warned in a research note that problems that have arisen with Gemini may fuel the perception that Google is “an unreliable source for AI,” as many companies try to launch their own AI platforms.
“We have been arguing that Search behavior is about to change – with new AI-infused features,” said Reitzes. “This ‘once in a generation’ change by itself creates opportunities for competitors, but even more if a meaningful portion of users grow concerned about Google’s hallucinations and bias.”
Images generated by the feature included a female pope, a black George Washington, and other racially diverse recreations of historic figures.
#2 Re: Off-topic » The Joke Thread » 2023-10-28 12:07:53
The same skeleton walked into a bar and said. "Gimme a beer...
... and a mop."
#3 Re: Off-topic » The Joke Thread » 2023-10-26 20:24:41
Why did the skeleton burp?
Because he didn't have the guts to fart.
#5 Re: Off-topic » Google in trouble again » 2023-09-23 09:07:12
$5 billion Google lawsuit over ‘Incognito mode’ tracking moves a step closer to trial
And,
From a mailing list:
1. Which of the following reasons did Judge Gonzalez Rogers use to justify her decision deny Google’s request for a summary judgement in its Incognito mode case?
A. Google never explicitly told its users it still collects data in Incognito mode
B. Google can “uniquely identify a user with a high probability of success” even if they use Incognito mode
C. Google implied that it would not collect users’ data while they browsed privately
D. All of the above
Answer: D
#6 Re: Off-topic » AI on mainstream media » 2023-06-16 06:59:45
LU344928 wrote:Not imagining - simply my experience.
More like your interpretation of incoming data which humans tend to distort with their emotional prejudices. That is what makes us human and it is a fatal design flaw!
By experience I mean I've heard quite a few express that view.
#7 Re: Off-topic » AI on mainstream media » 2023-05-30 11:27:55
Do you have some kind of emotional attachment to AI or Simulation Theory?
Like I said, 'Not that I'm saying I accept it, but I do find it interesting'
If not, then why do you imagine and insinuate that those who have different ideas are motivated by strong emotions?
Not imagining - simply my experience.
#8 Re: Off-topic » AI on mainstream media » 2023-05-27 02:21:56
Firstly, to anyone who tends to deride AI by claiming it can never equal human intelligence, if you subscribe to the Simulation Theory (or argument, as its author calls it) then we humans could very well be AI. Not that I'm saying I accept it, but I do find it interesting and it's certainly got more 'appeal' than anything offered by any religious doctrine I've encountered, although it does have parallels in the ancient world.
I am aware that humans are unable to have true peace
If you accept the above theory then that's part of the plan. Humans are programmed not to strive for peace.
Lets face it, if you're outside looking in, which is what Simulation Theory is fundamentally about, then peace is boring whereas conflict is interesting.
Of course the corollary, and irony, of this means that if peace breaks out over the entire world, that would indeed spell the end of this very world.
Or if not the actual end, then the director(s) of the simulation could rewind it and start again from a certain point.
#9 Re: Off-topic » Anybody here use swisscows email service? » 2023-05-20 07:12:50
I wonder if anyone still wants to know...
I'm doing freelance work for Swisscows and they told me that Protonmail has a master key to unlock any encrypted data...
How did they find out about that?
#10 Re: Off-topic » Google in trouble again » 2022-12-21 10:46:54
Can you set ublock to *pretend* to allow ads, but not actually show them on your screen? It's an option I would like to have if I need to use a site that blocks access to people who are using ad blockers. The idea is that ads get downloaded but not shown, so the advertisers can't tell they are paying for nothing.
Don't think it can do that but you might like to look at AdNauseam which is built on uBlock Origin.
Google banned it so it must be good! 
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/g … n-all-ads/
'By making it appear as if the user is interested in everything, AdNauseam makes it hard for observers to construct a profile of that person.'
#11 Re: Off-topic » We all aware the interweb is problematic, deranged, imbalanced. » 2022-11-04 07:01:44
. . .
I vote for extinction . . .
No need for that now with the covid vaccines:
#12 Re: Off-topic » Google in trouble again » 2022-11-02 11:51:14
LU344928 wrote:right, did you check page source? well : "Some search results derived from Microsoft. Privacy Policy"
so, they're just using Bing (=M$) which is more relaxed to "resellers" and collects same amount of data as google.
Never used Bing, tbh.
#13 Re: Off-topic » Google in trouble again » 2022-11-02 11:49:43
LU344928 wrote:A search engine should not decide what we see. It should display everything and let us decide.
But the whole point of the search engine is to rank the results in some way, isn't it?
That's the thing. Google ranks sites, in many areas, not according to relevance or popularity but according to its policy. At least, that's my understanding...
#14 Re: Off-topic » Google in trouble again » 2022-11-02 11:45:30
LU344928 wrote:I'm not far right. I'm Dem Soc leaning
Hmm, my apologies.
No sweat.
But why the links to Murdoch's media empire? Seems a bit weird. Not that it matters.
No it doesn't matter. All the corporate media networks ... (also off-topic)
#15 Re: Off-topic » Google in trouble again » 2022-10-30 07:49:27
I have to say that this article makes me like Google more:
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/free- … buries-gop
@OP: I find your links to far-right propaganda websites disturbing.
A search engine should not decide what we see. It should display everything and let us decide.
This was posted in the book thread some months ago. Re-posting as a case in point.
And I'm not far right. I'm Dem Soc leaning.
Moreover, I find censorship by Big Tech (and Big Pharma) to be deplorable.
#16 Re: Off-topic » Google in trouble again » 2022-10-30 07:35:56
Personally, I don't trust any search engines developed in the West.
Oh I know, but Yandex can be a bit of a pita sometimes as after 4 or 5 searches I have to prove I'm not a robot. Probably only a temporary measure but still.
#17 Off-topic » Google in trouble again » 2022-10-29 04:00:51
- LU344928
- Replies: 66
Incidentally, some may not know about this new search engine. It seems to me better than Ducky, YMMV, and when it comes to delivering uncensored news and reports it may even compete with Yandex, though I realise the latter's popularity may have waned somewhat due to current events.
THE FREESPOKE STORY
We exist because the search results you’re looking for shouldn’t be buried on page 6, if they’re allowed to appear at all.
Google, Amazon, and Facebook have too much power over the information we see. We can hardly search, buy a product, or send a message without their influence. Unfortunately, we’re seeing the world as they want us to see it, not the way it actually is.
#18 Re: Off-topic » Music » 2022-10-18 10:40:07
#19 Re: Off-topic » Music » 2022-10-11 19:21:39
You're welcome!
For multiple file types, use something like this (edit/remove/add file types if needed)...
for f in *.{mp3,m4a,aac,ogg,flac,wav} ; do ffplay -nodisp -autoexit "$f" ; doneIt will play all of the music file types in the order that they are listed in the command. If it doesn't find a file type, it moves on to the next type until it does find one.
Also, for a parent folder that contains sub-folders of music (again, edit/remove/add file types if needed). Open your terminal in the parent folder, and enter...
for f in */*.{mp3,m4a,aac,ogg,flac,wav} ; do ffplay -nodisp -autoexit "$f" ; doneThat will play through each of the sub-folders one at a time and also use the same as above...playing each file type as they are listed in the command.
I add the -nodisp flag, because I don't care for the visualization window that pops up.
EDIT: I have aliases in my .bashrc file for both of those commands...
Good to know, thanks.
#20 Re: Off-topic » Music » 2022-09-09 19:28:28
#21 Re: Off-topic » Anybody here use swisscows email service? » 2022-03-22 13:15:10
LU344928 wrote:Last July Protonmail underwent and passed an independent security audit so presumably security should not be such a worry.
last august : https://arstechnica.com/information-tec … thorities/
Now you mention it I do recall hearing about that.
Thing is, if Protonmail can be forced to reveal a client's IP then so can Swisscows. But that's not an everyday scenario: an order must be issued by a Swiss court.
For the average user who just wants some measure of privacy then it seems to me it's a better choice than Gmail, Yahoo, etc., which I believe scan all emails as a matter of routine.
If someone is engaged in activities which are bound to attract the authorities' attention, in this case it was an environmental activist, then in addition to encrypted email they really should be using tor browser or a vpn or even both.
#22 Re: Off-topic » Anybody here use swisscows email service? » 2022-03-21 12:11:12
disclaimer, haven't used any of these, just read their features/faq since "can't read user email" drove my curiosity. so, from a fast glimpse,
swisscows seems to use mailvelope addon for browsers for their roundcube webmail (gpg encryption), so both sending/receiving parties need to exchange keys first.. not very user friendly, but they might have good documentation/guides about it, don't know.
good thing, encryption is done on user's machine, not on swisscows, bad thing, it uses javascript opengpg which is not considered very secure by what i've been reading around.
protonmail uses server encryption (inhouse AES or dovecot mail_crypt perhaps? not sure) and also has gpg support, so bad thing they have the encryption keys for the server (if i understand it correctly), good thing -if you trust them- everything is encrypted by default.. they also have these encrypted attachments links which is interesting.. and also encrypted messages expirations.both based in CH, both use FOSS, both supposedly care about privacy.
communication wise i think they both will be using latest secure ciphers for smtp/imap/pop3, and tbh i think everything else is pretty much the same.
so, i'd say protonmail has a more user friendly encryption scheme (but maybe limited to paying customers only?), while swisscows gives the opportunity to use gpg.. but not out of the box (?).just 2c.
Last July Protonmail underwent and passed an independent security audit so presumably security should not be such a worry.
This security audit was carried out by Securitum, a leading European security auditing company. Securitum currently oversees more than 300 security testing projects every year, including for many top European banks.
#23 Re: Off-topic » Anybody here use swisscows email service? » 2022-03-21 12:06:01
LU344928 wrote:I wonder how it compares with Protonmail.
That's my biggest wonder as Protonmail is what I currently use.
Interesting... why are you thinking about switching? Security concerns? Not enough storage on the basic account?
I say interesting because I also use Protonmail.
#24 Re: Off-topic » Anybody here use swisscows email service? » 2022-03-20 14:20:54
I wonder how it compares with Protonmail.
#25 Re: Off-topic » What are you reading/want to read ? » 2022-03-08 09:10:25
. . . Trust Us, We're Experts
Indeed. As Bud Relman, former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine said, "The medical profession is being bought by the pharmaceutical industry, not only in terms of the practice of medicine, but also in terms of teaching and research. The academic institutions of this country are allowing themselves to be the paid agents of the pharmaceutical industry. I think it’s disgraceful."
Board footer
