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Microsoft has unveiled its latest addition to the Phi series of generative AI models, named Phi-4. This new model brings notable improvements over its predecessors, especially in solving mathematical problems, which Microsoft attributes to enhanced training data quality. Currently, Phi-4 is accessible only for research purposes through Microsoft’s Azure AI Foundry development platform, under a research license agreement. The platform provides limited access to the model, which was made available starting Thursday night. Phi-4 is the newest member of Microsoft’s small language model lineup, featuring 14 billion parameters. It enters a competitive market alongside other compact models such as GPT-4o…
The European Union has introduced new cybersecurity regulations aimed at enhancing the safety of connected devices. These rules, outlined in the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), require manufacturers to provide ongoing security updates and address vulnerabilities in their products. While the act officially came into force recently, manufacturers have until December 11, 2027, to fully comply with its requirements. The CRA was initially proposed over two years ago with the aim of strengthening the security of various connected devices, including smartwatches, internet-enabled toys, and app-controlled home appliances. The rapid growth of such devices has raised concerns about increasing hacking risks, highlighted…
Yelp has unveiled a range of new features to close out the year, including AI-powered review insights, a personalized home feed with diverse content types, and a revamped inbox for business owners. For consumers, Yelp is now categorizing reviews into themes like food quality, service, and ambiance. Each theme is accompanied by a sentiment score ranging from 1 to 100 and classified as positive, neutral, or critical. Tapping on a specific category brings up relevant reviews, making it easier to understand a restaurant or nightlife spot’s strengths and weaknesses. These AI-powered insights are currently available for restaurant, food, and nightlife…
Meta has unveiled its latest generative AI model, Llama 3.3 70B, which aims to deliver the performance of its predecessor, Llama 3.1 405B, but with significantly reduced costs. This marks a major step forward in Meta’s efforts to optimize the efficiency of its AI technologies. In a post shared on X, Ahmad Al-Dahle, Meta’s Vice President of Generative AI, highlighted how advancements in post-training techniques, such as online preference optimization, have allowed Llama 3.3 to achieve superior results without requiring extensive computational resources. Meta provided a detailed performance comparison, showcasing Llama 3.3 70B outshining competitors like Google’s Gemini 1.5 Pro,…
If you’re stuck at work but want to embrace the holiday spirit, Festivitas, a delightful macOS app, can bring festive cheer to your computer screen. This creative app decorates your Mac with twinkling holiday lights that dangle from your menu bar and illuminate your dock. The app was developed by Simon B. Støvring, a software creator known for crafting popular tools like the text editor Runestone, the scripting app Scriptable, and JSON editor Jayson. In the days leading up to the release of Festivitas, Støvring teased its features on social media, showcasing its customization options. Festivitas allows users to personalize…
A Russian programmer has accused the Federal Security Service (FSB) of installing spyware on his Android phone after being detained in Moscow earlier this year. Cybersecurity experts confirmed the presence of spyware, which was likely installed when authorities physically accessed the device and coerced him into providing the password. Kirill Parubets, a systems analyst of Ukrainian descent, detailed the frightening ordeal. Living in Ukraine since 2020 and identifying as an opposition activist, Parubets has supported Ukrainians financially and with humanitarian aid following Russia’s invasion in 2022. His return to Russia in 2023 was solely to handle paperwork related to obtaining…
A coalition of Canadian media companies, including the Toronto Star, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), and the Globe and Mail, has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging copyright infringement and unjust enrichment. The suit claims OpenAI used content from their platforms to train its AI models without consent or compensation. The plaintiffs argue that the content used to train ChatGPT reflects significant investment in terms of time, effort, and financial resources from their journalists, editors, and staff. The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI bypassed proper channels to access this information, stating, “Rather than acquiring the content legally, OpenAI has chosen to exploit…
The platform X is rife with accounts mimicking public figures, from politicians to athletes and entertainers. While some explicitly state “Parody” in their display names, others only include it in their bios, often leading to confusion among users who mistake these accounts for genuine ones—even seasoned professionals like news anchors. Recent findings by app reverse engineers suggest that X is working on a new label specifically for parody or fan commentary accounts. This label could make it easier to identify parody accounts, reducing the risk of users confusing them with authentic profiles. If implemented, the label would appear below the…
North Korean hackers have been employing deceptive tactics to infiltrate multinational corporations, posing as venture capitalists, recruiters, and remote IT workers, according to cybersecurity researchers. At the annual Cyberwarcon conference in Washington, D.C., experts revealed that these efforts have generated billions of dollars in stolen cryptocurrency, funding the regime’s nuclear weapons program despite international sanctions. James Elliott, a security researcher, explained that North Korean operatives have successfully infiltrated hundreds of organizations globally. They use fabricated identities and U.S.-based facilitators to manage company-issued devices and circumvent financial restrictions. These hackers often work collectively, with various groups using different methods but sharing…
Google is enhancing its Lens tool to provide real-world shopping assistance, enabling users to access product insights, compare prices, and check local inventory while visiting physical stores. These updates complement Google’s existing online shopping tools and arrive just in time for the holiday season. Additionally, the company is introducing new features in Maps and expanding Google Pay’s capabilities. Building on its Google Shopping platform, the enhanced Lens feature aims to help shoppers make informed decisions in brick-and-mortar stores. For example, if you spot a toy at a store like Target, you can snap a picture using Google Lens. The tool…