Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Latest Tech News

OpenAI has officially announced GPT-4 - the latest version of its incredibly popular large language model powering artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots (among other cool things).

If you’ve heard the hype about ChatGPT (perhaps at an incredibly trendy party or a work meeting), then you may have a passing familiarity with GPT-3 (and GPT-3.5, a more recent improved version). GPT is the acronym for Generative Pre-trained Transformer, a machine learning technology that uses neural networks to bounce around raw input information tidbits like ping pong balls and turn them into something comprehensible and convincing to human beings. OpenAI claims that GPT-4 is its "most advanced AI system" that has been "trained using human feedback, to produce even safer, more useful output in natural language and code."

GPT-3 and GPT-3.5 are large language models (LLM), a type of machine learning model, from the AI research lab OpenAI and they are the technology that ChatGPT is built on. If you've been following recent developments in the AI chatbot arena, you probably haven’t missed the excitement about this technology and the explosive popularity of ChatGPT. Now, the successor to this technology, and possibly to ChatGPT itself, has been released.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? GPT-4 is the latest version of the large language model that's used in popular AI chatbots
  • When is it out? It was officially announced March 14, 2023
  • How much is it? It's free to try out, and there are subscription tiers as well

When will ChatGPT-4 be released?

GPT-4 was officially revealed on March 14, although it didn’t come as too much of a surprise, as Microsoft Germany CTO, Andreas Braun speaking at the AI in Focus - Digital Kickoff event, let slip that the release of GPT-4 was imminent. 

It had been previously speculated that GPT-4 would be multimodal, which Braun also confirmed. GPT-3 is already one of the most impressive natural language processing models (NLP models), models built with the aim of producing human-like speech, in history. 

GPT-4 will be the most ambitious NLP we have seen yet as it will be the largest language model in existence.

A man in a suit using a laptop with a projected display showing a mockup of the ChatGPT interface.

ChatGPT is about to get stronger. (Image credit: Shutterstock)

What is the difference between GPT-3 and GPT-4?

The type of input Chat GPT (iGPT-3 and GPT-3.5) processes is plain text, and the output it can produce is natural language text and code. GPT-4’s multimodality means that you may be able to enter different kinds of input - like video, sound (e.g speech), images, and text. Like its capabilities on the input end, these multimodal faculties will also possibly allow for the generation of output like video, audio, and other types of content. Inputting and outputting both text and visual content could provide a huge boost in the power and capability of AI chatbots relying on ChatGPT-4.

Furthermore, similar to how GPT-3.5 was an improvement on GPT-3’s chat abilities by being more fine-tuned for natural chat, the capability to process and output code, and to do traditional completion tasks, GPT-4 should be an improvement on GPT-3.5’s understanding.  One of GPT-3/GPT-3.5’s main strengths is that they are trained on an immense amount of text data sourced across the internet. 

Bing search and ChatGPT

(Image credit: Rokas Tenys via Shutterstock)

What can GPT-4 do?

GPT-4 is trained on a diverse spectrum of multimodal information. This means that it will, in theory, be able to understand and produce language that is more likely to be accurate and relevant to what is being asked of it. This will be another marked improvement in the GPT series to understand and interpret not just input data, but also the context within which it is put. Additionally, GPT-4 will have an increased capacity to perform multiple tasks at once.

OpenAI also claims that GPT-4 is 40% more likely to provide factual responses, which is encouraging to learn since companies like Microsoft plan to use GPT-4 in search engines and other tools we rely on for factual information. OpenAI has also said that it is 82% less like to respond to requests for 'disallowed' content.

Safety is a big feature with GPT-4, with OpenAI working for over six months to ensure it is safe. They did this through an improved monitoring framework, and by working with experts in a variety of sensitive fields, such as medicine and geopolitics, to ensure the replies it gives are accurate and safe.

These new features promise greater ability and range to do a wider variety of tasks, greater efficiency of processing resources, the ability to complete multiple tasks simultaneously, and the potential for greater accuracy, which is a concern among current AI-bot and search engine engineers.

How GPT-4 will be presented is yet to be confirmed as there is still a great deal that stands to be revealed by OpenAI. We do know, however, that Microsoft has exclusive rights to OpenAI’s GPT-3 language model technology and has already begun the full roll-out of its incorporation of ChatGPT into Bing. This leads many in the industry to predict that GPT-4 will also end up being embedded in Microsoft products (including Bing). 

We have already seen the extended and persistent waves caused by GPT-3/GPT-3.5 and ChatGPT in many areas of our lives, including but not limited to tech such as content creation, education, and commercial productivity and activity. When you add more dimensions to the type of input that can be both submitted and generated, it's hard to predict the scale of the next upheaval. 

The ethical discussions around AI-generated content have multiplied as quickly as the technology’s ability to generate content, and this development is no exception.

GPT-4 is far from perfect, as OpenAI admits. It still has limitations surrounding social biases - the company warns it could reflect harmful stereotypes, and it still has what the company calls 'hallucinations', where the model creates made-up information that is "incorrect but sounds plausible."

Even so, it's an exciting milestone for GPT in particular and AI in general, and the pace at which GPT is evolving since its launch last year is incredibly impressive.



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OpenAI, the creator of chatbot sensation ChatGPT, on Tuesday said it is beginning to release a powerful artificial intelligence model known as GPT-4, setting the stage for even more human-like technology to proliferate. The startup, funded by Microsoft, said in a blog post that its latest technology is "multimodal", meaning images as well as text prompts can spur it t...

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On Thursday, March 16, Microsoft is planning to reveal more of its grand scheme for implementing AI chatbot ChatGPT’s features into yet more aspects of our lives - specifically, how the tech firm has big plans to “reinvent productivity with AI”.

Besides being utterly meaningly corporate marketing jargon, this notion of ‘reinventing productivity’ is concerning at best, especially since we don’t know what it actually entails yet. Speculation is rife that Microsoft plans to integrate ChatGPT into the Microsoft 365 (formerly Office) software suite, along with the Dynamics 365 suite for enterprise use.

This comes hot on the heels of Microsoft shoving the chatbot into almost everything it owns. Starting out with the integration of ChatGPT into Bing and following rapidly with AI-powered additions to Skype and the Windows 11 taskbar, Microsoft has been going hard when it comes to AI in its software.

We had already speculated about the ways in which ChatGPT could transform Microsoft’s consumer software suite, so it’s not like this is a huge surprise. However, I’m worried about the whole prospect; Microsoft is rushing into its AI implementation plan, and it’s going to cause more problems than it solves.

The AI arms race

Microsoft’s apparent desire to shoehorn AI features into yet more of its products is likely a response to competitor Salesforce’s own moves in partnering up with ChatGPT creator OpenAI to bring the chatbot to Slack (as well as Snapchat introducing its own AI chatbot) This sort of reactionary decisionmaking is rarely a wise move, especially when it involves AI.

ChatGPT has already proven itself to be, well, problematic. Whether it’s being used to commit cybercrime or create spurious photography competition entries, AI poses some very serious risks. Many of these problems are caused by human abuse of AI software, but tools like ChatGPT have their own failings too.

We’re witnessing a real-time arms race to cram AI tech into every aspect of our lives, and I wouldn’t trust Microsoft (or any huge tech company, like Google or Meta) to be the harbingers of this chatbot renaissance. Right now, Microsoft is demonstrating a lack of caution when it comes to ChatGPT and AI in general, especially since it’s a space yet to see serious regulation from major governments.

I will admit that AI coming to the 365 suite is actually a much less horrible idea than, say, letting ChatGPT make video content. The ability to ask ChatGPT something simple like ‘add some animations to my PowerPoint presentation’ or ‘reformat this text document as a letter’ is both useful and relatively non-threatening - though the potential for Microsoft Word to simply write content for you is a bit concerning, especially for the academic space.

I’m not saying that ChatGPT being added to these tools is going to ruin our lives, but it has issues - and I’m definitely not convinced that Microsoft is taking all the right precautions here. This is a situation where caution will be rewarded; Google isn’t letting people get up close and personal with its new AI just yet, and Microsoft themselves had to limit the Bing chatbots replies after a whole load of weirdness from the AI. Charging ahead with more AI tools right now? Not a good look.



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Monday, March 13, 2023

For These Personal Finance Influencers, Infertility Wasn't Part of the Plan - CNET

Ali and Josh Lupo are using their platform to encourage conversation about the staggering cost of IVF treatment in America.

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Wireless speakers from brands like Sonos, Apple, and others make it incredibly easy to stream music using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other protocols. But if you have an existing hi-fi system that uses wired speakers, making wireless music magic happen can be an expensive upgrade, with many dedicated streaming components priced at $1,000 and up.

Vinyl LPs and compact discs continue to be viable media formats, but the best music streaming services can match them quality-wise, with Tidal, Amazon Music Unlimited, Apple Music, and Qobuz offering high-res audio along with lossless CD-quality offerings. Any music aficionado would understandably want to add that capability to their system, and with the new WiiM Pro music streamer, they can now do so at a very affordable $149 (around £122 / AU$225) cost.

How low is that price? To put things in perspective, it’s considerably less than what you’ll pay for step-up options such as the Bluesound Node ($600) or its sister company’s less-expensive sibling, the NAD CS1 Endpoint Network Streamer ($349).

With support for up to 24-bit/192kHz audio, the WiiM Pro is ready to handle just about any high-res track available on streaming services. You can use it to stream over both Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet network connections, and it also handles AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Alexa Casting, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect. Along with an analog stereo output for hooking up to your receiver or integrated amplifier’s input, both optical and coaxial digital outputs are provided, and there are also analog stereo and optical and coaxial digital inputs.

That last feature is worth commenting upon, because it means you can connect other sources such as a CD player or turntable to the WiiM Pro for streaming to other systems or speakers in a multiroom setup. The WiiM Pro app steps you through grouping multiple WiiM Pros for whole-house playback, and you can also use it to wirelessly group Nest, Echo, and Apple HomePod speakers for streaming. It works with Alexa, Hey Google, and Siri, so you’ll have your choice of assistant for voice commands and control.

Music services that can be configured in the WiiM Pro app include Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music Unlimited, Pandora, Deezer, TuneIn radio and more.

WiiM Pro streamer on white background

The WiiM Pro provides analog and digital outputs along with inputs to add sources to a multiroom audio setup. (Image credit: WiiM)

Analysis: The WiiM Pro brings high-res audio streaming to the masses

At $149, the WiiM Pro is the least expensive option I know of for adding wireless high-res audio streaming to an existing stereo system. I’ve been looking for a streamer like this one, both for myself and to recommend to friends who want to finally stop having to connect their laptop to their stereo for streaming – something that was regularly done when music services first launched, but now is an archaic practice.

The block to making that upgrade previously for many has been cost. At $349, the NAD CS1 is an affordable option, but it omits the HDMI eARC port, analog stereo input, and, most important, app-based multiroom control that the more expensive Bluesound Node offers. That last feature is one you’ll find throughout the Sonos speaker family, and it makes grouping various speakers for whole-home music playback, as well as playback of different music sources in different zones, a snap.

The interesting thing about the new WiiM Pro is that it offers app-based multiroom playback in a $149 streamer, and it also supports the big three voice assistants for controlling things like playback, music selection, and volume level. (The company says it will soon be launching a remote accessory that will provide a more traditional hardware control option.)

Is there anything that the WiiM Pro isn’t giving you for its $149 cost? There’s no built-in  Apple Music support in the control app for one, and that means Apple Music subscribers will instead have to use AirPlay 2 to wirelessly cast tracks from that service to the WiiM Pro. The downside there is that you won’t be able to listen to music in high-res format (AirPlay 2 doesn’t support high-res audio) and there’s also no support for Apple Music Spatial Audio – a feature that Sonos has announced for its new Era 300 speaker, as well as its current Arc and Beam (Gen 2) soundbars.

Even with that limitation, the WiiM Pro looks to be an excellent deal, and a great way for listeners to inexpensively dive into the world of high-res audio streaming. It’s something we hope to get our hands on in the near future, so keep an eye out for a review.



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Family life can be fast-paced. The ever-growing need for a two-income household means people are always looking towards tech for solutions to keep the household clean and tidy. The trusty bucket and mop are increasingly a luxury for people who have time for such arduous chores. Thankfully advances and innovations in cleaning technology mean products like the Narwal Freo can take the headache out of maintaining a clean home, and do all the chasing around after dirt and spills for you.

Narwal Freo

(Image credit: Narwal)

Coming home to clean and shiny floors is one of life’s simple pleasures, and the Narwal Freo promises to deliver this by not only tackling both carpets and hard surfaces with a combination of vacuuming and superior mopping skills, but by cleaning itself when it’s done. Here is  a closer look at all of Narwal Freo’s smart cleaning functions.

A truly mind-free mopping experience

The true innovation of the Narwal Freo lies in the end-to-end mopping service it provides for your floors. Kitchen floors can be victim to the most unforgiving of messes, from food crumbs to toddlers bounding in and out of the garden. The Narwal Freo will assess the mess so you don’t have to. The included Narwal app even shows rooms in a darker shade that required a more thorough cleaning so you can see where its labor was most needed.

The unit holds two high-speed rotating micro-fibre mop pads that not only scrub anything from paw prints to wine spills, but they adapt to the surface type. The Freo knows that a lighter pressure is required on a wooden floor, but it can give ceramic surfaces that little extra elbow grease. Specifically the robot is able to apply up to 12N of pressure depending on the mess and flooring type. The “DirtSense” feature is also smart enough to detect exactly how dirty your floors are, and adjust its frequency of cleaning, humidity, and delicately scented cleanser to get the job done.

Narwal Freo does it all

(Image credit: Narwal)

A perennial problem with automatic cleaning solutions is the inevitable displaced dirt around the edges of the room, and the Narwal Freo knows to use its brain power and adapt to these blind spots with its Smart-Swing wiggle action. When gliding along walls and maneuvering around corners with its patented Corner Trap technology, the Freyo performs a 45-degree rotation of itself three times to ensure no surface is left untouched.

From hardwood to soft carpet

Most homes with wooden or ceramic flooring will have rugs in certain areas and this robot is built with some nifty features to handle different textures and the cleaning required. Whether you choose to program the Narwal Freo to avoid carpeted areas or clean them simultaneously is up to you and your needs, but with combination vacuum mops it’s essential that the robot be able to assess which of its two functions it needs to engage. The mop pads lift up intuitively when the Narwal Freo comes in contact with carpeted areas, and it simply vacuums with its rubber and nylon brush head and solid suction. This built-in intuition means the robot can be left to its work with less micromanagement from you.

Narwal Freo at work

(Image credit: Narwal)

It lifts its mopping pads off carpet effectively and doesn’t use too much or too little water when mopping.

A robot with its own personal hygiene standards

In between cleaning your surfaces, the robot keeps its own mop pads clean with its innovative cleaning system. The pads are kept fresh and dry between sessions, and the drying feature especially means you needn’t worry about any mold or mildew in the base. The patented cleaning solution used to keep your floors sparkling is also used in the required dose to clean the mop pads when the Freo is housed in its sleek and attractive base.

Fits in with your family
Despite its boasts of powerful cleaning capabilities, the Narwal Freo is unassuming in appearance and sound. In a bustling household, the Narwal Freo goes about its business surprisingly quietly. It’s not likely to disturb your pets and gives out less noise to overload your senses over the thunderous sound of children messing up your home. Speaking of children, the handy LCD display on the base unit features a child lock to keep the Freo from being misguided by tiny prying hands.

The base unit itself is of the exquisite minimalistic design we’ve come to expect from Narwal products and should fit into most decor with ease.

Narwal Freo

(Image credit: Narwal)

While the LCD display on the unit is a handy detail that means you’re not always fumbling for your smartphone, you’ll still want to check in with the app for its more detailed features. You can adjust the level of suction, waterflow and set your own preferred schedule for it to get to work. Your level of involvement is up to you, the Narwal Freo is largely self-sufficient, needing your input only to occasionally empty and refill the water tanks and a large capacity dustbin.

From its looks to its impressive functionality, it’s clear the Narwal Freo will make cleaning floors less of a chore. With daily use you can enjoy freshly mopped floors without any of the arduous work that normally entails. What you choose to do with that spare time is up to you, but at least when it comes to your floors you won’t need to lift a finger.  

For more information on the Narwal Freo and to order one for your home at a substantial discount, head over to the Narwal website. Enter code techradar at checkout to save $250 off the final cost before March 26, 2023. 



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Best Multivitamins for Women in 2023 - CNET

The multivitamins contain all the essential nutrients women need to stay healthy.

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Best 5G Phones to Buy in 2023 - CNET

Want the fastest data? These are the best 5G-ready phones you can buy.

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Enterprise cloud investments are on the rise despite growing anxieties about their cost, according to a survey from cloud optimization company Flexera.

Its 2023 ‘State of the Cloud’ report, published in March, notes that cutting cloud costs has overtaken security as the main concern for businesses embracing the technology. 

This is natural given the current economic climate, but Flexera predicts that the number of companies moving to the cloud will only increase as things improve.

The survey also found that AWS is the favoured cloud storage provider for small businesses, which Flexera defines as those with less than 1,000 employees. 

71% of respondents preferred Amazon Web Services (AWS), while 51 percent preferred Microsoft Azure. Google Cloud Platform use has actually decreased from 43% to 28% year-on-year.

Flexera’s 2022 report noted that Azure adoption rates overall had actually exceeded those of AWS for the first time, and so the latest report indicates a close race between the two. This time, 47% percent of general respondents preferred AWS for their workloads, whereas 41% opted for Azure. 

Oracle, IBM and Alibaba adoption rates have seen little growth and, as a result, it appears that, in the eyes of many, enterprise cloud solutions are very much a two-horse race.

Cloud security concerns haven’t completely fallen by the wayside, though, with multicloud implementations (businesses spreading their cloud investments over multiple services and providers) to augment security continuing to be one of the top implementations of the cloud overall.

The biggest takeaway remains the tension between companies investing in cloud to reduce the cost burden of on-prem solutions such as servers, while being mindful of the cost of a cloud stack. 

Despite the prevalence of multicloud, Flexera’s 2023 report noted that multi-cloud use has decreased by 2% since 2022, while single public cloud usage has risen by the same amount in the same period. With no end to the financial downturn in sight, it can be safely assumed that this trend will continue.



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Sunday, March 12, 2023

Latest Gadgets News

iQoo Z7i has been unveiled in China as the company's latest smartphone in the Z series. It is powered by the new MediaTek Dimensity 6020 SoC and carries a dual rear camera unit. The smartphone offers up to 8GB of RAM and up to 128GB of onboard storage.

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Motorola Razr 2023 live images have leaked online, suggesting that the company's next clamshell foldable phone could debut soon. The smartphone is tipped to feature a dual-colour external design and feature two horizontally aligned rear cameras.

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Facebook-parent Meta Platforms Inc said on Saturday that it would end availability of news content for Canadians on its platforms if the country's Online News Act passes in its current form. A legislative framework that compels us to pay for links or content that we do not post, and which are not the reason the vast majority of people use our platforms, is neither sus...

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March Madness 2023: Selection Sunday, Tournament Schedule, Bracket, How to Watch and More - CNET

College basketball's biggest tournament tips off this week.

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Oreo Taste-Test: I Rank Every Flavor I Could Find - CNET

Let's see which Oreo flavor takes the cake.

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Saturday, March 11, 2023

Do I Need to File Income Taxes if I Receive Social Security Benefits? - CNET

Some Social Security beneficiaries may want to file a tax return, even if it isn't required.

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Heat Domes and Surging Grid Demand Threaten US Power Grids with Blackouts

A new report shows a sharp increase in peak electricity demand, leading to blackout concerns in multiple states. Here's how experts say ...