19 of The World's Largest Tech Companies ORDERED to REVEAL Algorithms Behind Their Latest AI Developments....

The European Commission is making 19 tech giants, including Amazon, Google, TikTok, and YouTube, reveal their AI algorithms under the Digital Services Act. This is a significant step towards making AI more transparent and accountable, and ultimately, improving our lives.

As we know, AI is expected to impact every aspect of our lives, from healthcare to education, to even how well we write. However, it also generates fear, such as concerns about machines becoming smarter than us or causing harm inadvertently. To avoid these risks, transparency and accountability will be crucial for AI to benefit us positively.

The EU Artificial Intelligence Act aims to achieve this goal. By sharing commercial information with regulators before using AI for sensitive practices such as hiring, companies can be held accountable for the outcomes of their algorithms. EU rules could quickly become the global standard, making this a significant development in AI regulation.

However, there's always a balance to strike when it comes to regulation. The major tech companies view AI as the next big thing, and innovation in this field is now a geopolitical race. Too much regulation could stifle progress, but at the same time, we need to make sure that companies are accountable for their algorithms' outcomes.

Companies will also need to answer any questions the commission members have about their AI projects.

\This is a significant development for AI regulation that will benefit everyone. By making AI more transparent and accountable, we can ensure that it improves our lives and avoids the potential risks.

Will They Even Have The Answers?

Interestingly, AI researchers are increasingly devoting time to understanding what AI is doing. Sometimes they can dig into the data and identify particular parameters on which the AI relies heavily. However, explaining why AI did or said something can be like explaining a magic trick without knowing the secret. 

This may be the most alarming revelation from these hearings – the creators don't always understand their creations.

-----------
Author: Trevor Kingsley
Tech News CITY // New York Newsroom

Read More

Cool or CREEPY?! Amazon Alexa will Soon Be Able To 'Imitate the Voice of Dead Loved Ones'...

Soon, you'll be able to ask Alexa to imitate the voice of a friend or family member, and it will do so. This will bring back fond memories. The company believes that the new feature of Alexa will 'bring back fond memories' and 'enable enduring personal interactions'.

Video Courtesy of CBS Mornings

Read More

Amazon's 'Record Breaking' Holiday: BILLIONS Of Packages Delivered...

 

Amazon said it delivered billions of orders during the holiday season, including over 1.5 billion toys, home products, electronics, and beauty and home care products. The retailer also said small and medium-sized businesses within the US sold nearly 1 billion products via Amazon, adding that third-party businesses on Amazon saw worldwide sales grow 50% over the holiday season compared with 2019.

Amazon is taking a glance back at a number of its highlights from 2020, a year when it saw huge profits amid the coronavirus pandemic. during a blog post on Monday, the web retail giant said it had a "record-breaking holiday season" with its "biggest-ever customer savings, small business growth, and community giving."

Amazon Sales Since 2017

In addition, Amazon touted its efforts to continue deliveries flowing during the pandemic, saying it "invested over $10 billion to assist keep employees safe and deliver products to customers." reps said it made onsite COVID-19 testing available for lots of employees within the US, noting that an Amazon worker is tested for coronavirus every 10 seconds.

Monday's blog post paints a rosy picture, but the corporate also has faced criticism from some warehouse workers over working conditions and lack of protections during the pandemic. In October, Amazon revealed that almost 20,000 US employees had contracted COVID-19. reps said it planned on pay $500 million in bonuses to workers most exposed to the pandemic.

_______
Stewart Reese
Silicon Valley Newsroom

Read More

Amazon's Echo Dot *4TH GENERATION* Reviewed...

Amazon may get more attention for its higher-end Echo speakers, like the Echo Studio and therefore the new 4th Gen Echo, but the standard Echo Dot is far and away the foremost popular speaker within the lineup. The 3rd Gen model was released in 2018, and has proven to be a superb little smart speaker, and with Amazon’s frequent and aggressive sales, you'll pick one up for a song, making it easy to place the Alexa voice assistant in every room of your home.

So it’s no surprise that alongside the large redesign to the 4th Gen Echo, Amazon has also redesigned the Echo Dot. The new 4th Gen Dot shares the new spherical design of its larger sibling, just on a smaller scale. It’s immediately available in three different variations: the quality model for $49.99, a version with a built-in LED clock for $59.99

Video Courtesy of CNET

Read More