No Australian News is Good News for Facebook
Digest
This episode of Tech Stuff dives into several tech news stories. First, it discusses Meta's potential news block in Australia, a situation reminiscent of a 2021 law requiring companies like Meta and Google to negotiate with news media for content inclusion. The episode then explores Instagram's AI chatbot rollout, which allows creators to create AI versions of themselves for messaging. The episode also covers a recent hacker attack targeting the US auto industry, where hackers exploited software used by many dealerships to distribute malware. Moving on, the episode discusses YouTube's upcoming launch of new premium tiers, offering additional features like picture-in-picture capabilities for YouTube Shorts and a conversational AI assistant. Finally, the episode touches on NASA's plans to deorbit the International Space Station in 2030, with SpaceX contracted to design a deorbiting vehicle. The episode concludes with a reading recommendation of Elizabeth Lopato's article in The Verge titled "Perplexity's Grand Theft AI," which explores a startup AI company's copyright infringement concerns.
Outlines
Introduction
This Chapter introduces the podcast and its host, Jonathan Strickland, and sets the stage for the tech news segment.
Meta's Potential News Block in Australia
This Chapter discusses Meta's potential news block in Australia, stemming from a 2021 law requiring companies like Meta and Google to negotiate with news media for content inclusion. The chapter explores the arguments for and against the law and Meta's stance on the issue.
Instagram's AI Chatbot Rollout
This Chapter examines Instagram's AI chatbot rollout, which allows creators to create AI versions of themselves for messaging. The chapter discusses the potential benefits and drawbacks of this feature for both creators and users.
Hackers Targeting the US Auto Industry
This Chapter covers a recent hacker attack targeting the US auto industry, where hackers exploited software used by many dealerships to distribute malware. The chapter explains the method used by the hackers and the potential impact on dealerships.
YouTube's New Premium Tiers
This Chapter discusses YouTube's upcoming launch of new premium tiers, offering additional features like picture-in-picture capabilities for YouTube Shorts and a conversational AI assistant. The chapter explores the potential benefits and drawbacks of these new tiers.
Keywords
Meta
Meta is a technology company that owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other social media platforms. It is known for its focus on social networking and its use of artificial intelligence (AI).
AI Chatbot
An AI chatbot is a computer program that simulates conversation with human users. It uses natural language processing (NLP) to understand user input and generate responses. AI chatbots are increasingly used in customer service, marketing, and other applications.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim's data and demands a ransom payment in exchange for decryption. It is a serious threat to businesses and individuals, as it can lead to data loss, downtime, and financial losses.
YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium is a paid subscription service that offers ad-free access to YouTube videos, as well as other features such as offline viewing, background playback, and YouTube Music Premium.
International Space Station (ISS)
The International Space Station (ISS) is a habitable artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. It is a joint project of five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada). The ISS is used for scientific research and serves as a platform for international cooperation in space.
Perplexity AI
Perplexity AI is a startup AI company that is developing a large language model (LLM) that can generate text, translate languages, write different kinds of creative content, and answer your questions in an informative way. It is known for its ambition and its potential to disrupt the AI landscape.
Q&A
What is the main issue surrounding Meta's potential news block in Australia?
The main issue is a 2021 law that requires companies like Meta and Google to negotiate with news media for content inclusion on their platforms. Meta argues that news is not a major driver of user engagement and that they are not obligated to pay for it, while the Australian government is considering enforcing the law.
What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of Instagram's AI chatbot rollout?
The potential benefits include increased engagement for creators without having to personally respond to every message. However, concerns include the possibility of inaccurate or inappropriate responses from the chatbot, and the potential for users to feel less connected to creators if they are interacting with an AI copy.
How are hackers targeting the US auto industry?
Hackers are targeting software used by many car dealerships, specifically CDK Global's software, which is a fundamental component of their operations. By compromising the software, hackers can distribute malware to multiple dealerships simultaneously.
What are some of the new features coming to YouTube Premium?
New features include picture-in-picture capabilities with YouTube Shorts and a conversational AI assistant. The AI assistant aims to help users find interesting and safe video essays, avoiding potentially harmful content.
What are NASA's plans for the International Space Station?
NASA plans to deorbit the International Space Station in 2030, with SpaceX contracted to design a deorbiting vehicle. NASA is also exploring the possibility of relying on commercial space stations for future research.
Show Notes
Meta says it may start blocking links to Australian news sites on Facebook -- again. Hackers create a massive headache for US automobile dealerships. An Arkansas attorney general argues that China's Temu app is malware in disguise. And much more!
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