Robinhood CEO says the majority of the company's new code is written by AI, with 'close to 100%' adoption from engineers
On the 20VC podcast, Tenev said that it's become difficult to distinguish human-written from AI-generated code.
He said the company has used tools like GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and Windsurf, and nearly 100% of his engineers use an AI editor.
At Robinhood, nearly all of the engineers are vibe coders.
That's according to Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev, who said on the 20VC podcast that the company's human-written code was hard to distinguish from AI-generated code. Among the company's engineers, "close to 100%" are using AI code editors, he said.
When asked what percentage of Robinhood's new code is AI-generated, Tenev said that it was around 50%. That's a higher percentage than what Microsoft and Google have previously said, with CEOs Satya Nadella and Sundar Pichai estimating around 30%.
Tenev acknowledged that the 50% metric was imprecise, thanks to the upgrowth of "agentic" code editors.
"We've moved from GitHub Copilot, which is an autocomplete system, to Cursor, and now things like Windsurf, where nearly all of the code is written by AI," Tenev said. "It's hard to even determine what the human-generated code is."
Taking a guess, Tenev estimated the "minority" of new code at Robinhood was written by humans.
Robinhood's stock price has been on a tear, trading up over 177% since the start of the year, with multiple factors driving its recent rally. Robinhood expanded its crypto venture by launching US private-stock tokens. Retail investors on Robinhood remain active, and the company continues to roll out new products like a predictions-market hub.
On 20VC, Tenev said AI had contributed to the company's cost and efficiency stabilization, he said.
"We have been pretty mum on how much we've been using it internally," Tenev said. "The impact that it's had on internal teams, ranging from software engineering to customer support, the really big internal teams, has been huge."
Read the original article on Business Insider
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Business News
37 minutes ago
- Time Business News
Best Digital Marketing Agency in Mumbai: Why Adsmagnify.com Stands Out
Mumbai's fast-paced digital ecosystem demands more than generic strategies—it calls for a digital marketing partner who delivers measurable results and sustainable growth. At we have carved a reputation as one of the best digital marketing agencies in Mumbai by consistently driving ROI, building powerful brands, and transforming online presence for businesses across industries. We offer end-to-end digital marketing services under one roof, including: SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Boost organic traffic and secure top positions for critical keywords—like 'best digital marketing agency in Mumbai.' Boost organic traffic and secure top positions for critical keywords—like 'best digital marketing agency in Mumbai.' PPC Campaigns: Maximize ROI with expertly managed Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and more. Maximize ROI with expertly managed Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and more. Social Media Marketing: Brand storytelling, engagement, and lead generation tailored to Mumbai's vibrant audience. Brand storytelling, engagement, and lead generation tailored to Mumbai's vibrant audience. Content Marketing: High-quality blogs, videos, and visual content that connect and convert. High-quality blogs, videos, and visual content that connect and convert. Web Design & Development: Mobile-first, lightning-fast websites engineered for performance and conversions. Mobile-first, lightning-fast websites engineered for performance and conversions. Online Reputation Management: Build credibility and manage your brand's image. Mumbai's digital landscape is dynamic, fiercely competitive, and consumer-driven. Our team leverages deep market insights and cutting-edge analytics to craft data-driven digital marketing strategies optimized for Mumbai's diverse audience—whether you're a fast-growing startup in Andheri or a legacy brand in Fort. Our portfolio includes successful digital campaigns for: Real estate giants Top healthcare providers E-commerce innovators Local service-based businesses We continually set new benchmarks in organic growth, lead generation, and brand visibility. See real stories on our case studies page. At transparency isn't an add-on; it's a core value. Clients receive detailed monthly reports showing: Campaign performance Conversion metrics Actionable insights to fine-tune strategies We're based in Mumbai—your business isn't just another account to us. Expect strategic recommendations rooted in your industry, target customers, and local trends. Service Benefits for Mumbai Businesses SEO Beat local competitors on Google PPC/Ads Instant visibility in Mumbai's marketplace Social Media Marketing Engage Mumbai's diverse, active audience Content Marketing Influence local buying decisions Web Design Impression that converts and retains Unlock your business's online potential with trusted partner for digital growth in Mumbai. Contact us today for a free strategy session and discover how we can help your brand achieve new heights. Keywords integrated: Best digital marketing agency in Mumbai, digital marketing services Mumbai, Mumbai digital agency, online marketing Mumbai, TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Time Business News
37 minutes ago
- Time Business News
AVIF to JPG Online Converter Free: Your Easy Guide
Stuck with a mysterious AVIF image you can't open or use? You're not alone. The solution is simpler than you think. You need a fast and reliable AVIF to JPG online converter free. These web-based tools instantly transform your modern AVIF files into the universally compatible JPG format, allowing you to view, edit, and share them anywhere without any hassle. You downloaded an image, ready to pop it into your presentation or social media post, and… record scratch . The file ends in '.avif.' Your computer gives you a blank stare, and your favorite editing app pretends it doesn't exist. It feels like you've been handed a key for a lock you've never seen before. What is this digital witchcraft? Don't worry, it's not sorcery—it's just the next evolution in image technology. Think of it this way: if JPG is a trusty, well-loved sedan that everyone knows how to drive, AVIF is the sleek, new electric sports car. It's faster (in terms of loading), more efficient, and packed with cool new features. But, just like that electric car, not every 'gas station' (or software program) has the right 'charger' for it yet. Understanding this new format is the first step to mastering it. AVIF, which stands for AV1 Image File Format, is the cool new kid in the world of digital images. It was officially released in 2019, making it a relative newcomer compared to formats like JPG, which has been around since the early '90s. AVIF was developed by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia), a consortium of tech giants including Google, Mozilla, Microsoft, and Apple. Their goal was simple but ambitious: to create a royalty-free, open-source image format that offers significantly better compression than its predecessors without sacrificing quality. So, what does that mean for you? It means AVIF files can be much smaller than JPG files of similar visual quality. Imagine two pictures of a beautiful sunset, one saved as an AVIF and one as a JPG. Smaller file sizes mean faster website loading times, less data usage for mobile users, and more efficient storage. AVIF also supports modern features that JPG can't handle, like high dynamic range (HDR) for richer colors and transparency (like a PNG), making it incredibly versatile for web designers and digital artists. If AVIF is so new, why are you suddenly encountering it more frequently? The answer lies in its rapid adoption by the platforms that shape the web. Major web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera have already implemented full support for AVIF. This means that when a website developer uses an AVIF image on their site, millions of users can see it without any issues. Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and major e-commerce platforms like Shopify have also embraced AVIF, automatically serving these smaller, faster images to compatible browsers to improve user experience and Core Web Vitals. This creates a bit of a digital divide. The web-savvy platforms are pushing forward with this superior technology for its performance benefits. However, the offline world of desktop software, older operating systems, and even some social media platforms hasn't caught up as quickly. So, you might save an image from a cutting-edge website onto your computer, only to find that your local photo viewer or a platform you want to upload to doesn't recognize the format. This is precisely why the need for a quick conversion to the old reliable, JPG, has become so common. You're essentially bridging the gap between the future of the web and the present state of your software. In a world buzzing with new formats like AVIF and WebP, the humble JPG (or JPEG) stands tall as the undisputed king of compatibility. It's the digital image equivalent of a universal language. It might not have the fancy new vocabulary or the most efficient grammar of newer languages, but absolutely everyone, everywhere, understands it. Since its creation in 1992, JPG has become the bedrock of digital photography and web imagery. Its longevity isn't just due to being first; it's due to its brilliant balance of quality and file size, which was revolutionary for its time. It solved the problem of massive, uncompressed image files that would have been impossible to share over the slow internet connections of the past. While AVIF now does this job even better, the decades-long head start of JPG means it's woven into the very fabric of our digital lives. From the first digital cameras to the latest smartphones, from the earliest websites to today's social media giants, JPG has been the default. The single greatest strength of the JPG format is its ubiquity. Name a device with a screen, and it can almost certainly display a JPG file. Your Windows PC, your Mac, your iPhone, your Android tablet, your smart TV, your digital photo frame—they all support JPG natively, without a second thought. Every web browser, every email client, and every social media platform from Facebook to Instagram to X (formerly Twitter) is built to handle JPGs seamlessly. This universal acceptance is something no other format can currently claim. When you send a JPG to a friend, you don't have to ask, 'Hey, can your computer open this?' You know it can. When a business creates a marketing brochure, they save the images as JPGs to ensure every potential client can see them. This reliability is priceless. While AVIF offers superior technology, JPG offers something equally important: peace of mind. It's the safe, dependable choice that eliminates all guesswork and technical hurdles. For sharing, archiving, and general-purpose use, JPG remains the gold standard simply because it always works, for everyone, everywhere. Despite the technical advantages of newer formats, there are many scenarios where choosing JPG is not just easier, but smarter. The most obvious case is when you need to ensure maximum compatibility. If you're sending photos to a diverse group of people, uploading to a platform with unclear file format support, or creating content for an audience that might be using older technology, JPG is your safest bet. Think of emailing family photos—your tech-savvy cousin might have the latest Mac that opens AVIF, but your grandmother's older Windows PC almost certainly won't. Another key area is for print. The vast majority of professional printing services are standardized around the JPG and TIFF formats. Their workflows, software, and machinery are calibrated for these file types. Sending a printer an AVIF file would likely result in confusion or a polite request to resubmit the file in a recognized format. Furthermore, for most types of photography, especially those without sharp lines or text (like portraits and landscapes), JPG's compression is perfectly adequate. The subtle loss in quality is often imperceptible to the human eye, making the superior compression of AVIF a case of diminishing returns for many everyday applications. You've identified the two players: the new, efficient AVIF and the universally compatible JPG. The conflict arises when they are forced to interact—or rather, when one is expected to work in an environment built exclusively for the other. This isn't a flaw in either format; it's a simple reality of technological transition. The digital world doesn't upgrade all at once. It's a patchwork of new and old systems, all running concurrently. The core problem is one of translation. An application or operating system that only 'speaks' JPG, PNG, and GIF simply cannot understand the 'language' of AVIF. It looks at the file's data structure, which is based on the AV1 video codec, and sees nothing it recognizes. The result is an error message, a grayed-out icon, or a complete failure to display the image. This is the moment of frustration for countless users, and it's the exact problem that an AVIF to JPG converter is designed to solve. It acts as a universal translator, taking the modern format and reframing it in the classic format that everyone can understand. Let's get specific. Where does this compatibility problem most often rear its ugly head? The first and most common place is on your own computer. While the latest versions of Windows 11 and macOS Sonoma have added support for AVIF, millions of users are still running Windows 10, older Mac operating systems, or various Linux distributions that require special codecs or extensions to view these files. The default photo viewers on these systems will simply fail to open an AVIF. The second major hurdle is software. Perhaps the biggest player here is Adobe. While Adobe is a member of the Alliance for Open Media, full, native support for AVIF across its entire Creative Cloud suite, including the ever-popular Photoshop and Lightroom, has been slow to roll out and can still be inconsistent. Many other popular image editing tools, graphic design programs, and presentation software like older versions of Microsoft PowerPoint also lack native AVIF support. You might have the perfect image for your project, but your primary tool to edit or use it can't even open it. This forces a conversion before you can even begin your work, making an online tool an essential part of your workflow. That dreaded message: 'Unsupported File Format,' 'Could not complete your request because the file-format module cannot parse the file,' or simply an unhelpful 'Error.' What's really happening when you see this? When you try to open a file, the application looks at the first few bytes of data, known as the 'magic number' or file signature. This signature tells the application what type of file it is (e.g., FF D8 FF for a JPG). If the application sees the signature for AVIF (which includes the identifier ftypavif ), it then checks its internal library of codecs and parsers to see if it has the instructions to read an AVIF file. If it doesn't find those instructions, it essentially throws its hands up in the air and gives you that error message. It's not that the file is broken or corrupt; the program is simply admitting it doesn't have the key to unlock it. It's a bit like being handed a book in a language you don't speak. You can see it's a book, you can see it has pages and text, but you have no way of understanding the content. An AVIF to JPG online converter free acts as your expert translator. It reads the AVIF 'book,' understands its content perfectly, and then rewrites it for you in the familiar 'language' of JPG. When you're faced with a digital roadblock like an incompatible file, the last thing you want is a complicated, multi-step solution. You don't want to have to download and install bulky software, register for an account, or read a lengthy manual. You need a quick, immediate fix. This is where the beauty of the online converter shines through. It's a purpose-built tool designed for one thing: to solve your problem instantly, right from your web browser. These online tools are the digital equivalent of a Swiss Army knife's screwdriver—you might not need it every day, but when you do, it's an absolute lifesaver. They democratize the process of file conversion, making a previously technical task accessible to anyone with an internet connection. There's no gatekeeping, no steep learning curve. Just a simple, elegant solution to a very common problem. The rise of these browser-based utilities represents a shift towards on-demand, cloud-powered problem-solving. At its heart, an AVIF to JPG online converter is a web-based service that takes an AVIF file you upload and transforms it into a JPG file that you can then download. It's a specialized application that runs on a remote server, not on your computer. You interact with it through a simple webpage. Typically, the interface is incredibly straightforward: you'll see a large button that says 'Upload,' 'Select File,' or 'Drag and Drop Your File Here.' Once you provide your AVIF file, the converter's server does all the heavy lifting. It uses powerful image processing libraries to decode the AVIF data, read the pixel information, colors, and structure, and then re-encode that information according to the specifications of the JPG format. This process includes applying a specific level of compression (which you can sometimes adjust) to create the new JPG file. The entire operation is designed to be as seamless as possible for the user. You upload one format, and moments later, you download another. It's a perfect example of a complex process hidden behind a simple, user-friendly interface. The 'magic' of an online converter is really a well-orchestrated technological process. Let's break it down. When you upload your AVIF file, it's securely transmitted to the converter's web server. The server's backend software, often written in languages like Python, or PHP, receives the file. This software then calls upon a powerful image processing library or command-line tool. Two of the most common and robust libraries used for this are ImageMagick and FFmpeg. These libraries are the true workhorses. They contain the necessary codecs—specifically, the libavif decoder to read the AVIF file and a JPEG encoder to write the new file. The process goes like this: Decoding: The server's library reads the AVIF file, decompressing the AV1-encoded data to reconstruct the full, uncompressed image in the server's memory. This includes all pixel data, color information, and any transparency layers. Processing: If the converter offers options like resizing or quality adjustments, those transformations are applied to the in-memory image at this stage. If the original AVIF had a transparent background, this is typically filled with a solid color (usually white) since JPG does not support transparency. Encoding: The software then takes this processed image and encodes it using the JPG algorithm (based on the Discrete Cosine Transform). This is the step where the 'lossy' compression of JPG is applied, which intelligently discards some visual information to reduce file size. Delivery: Once the new JPG file is created on the server, a unique download link is generated and sent back to your browser, allowing you to save the converted file to your device. All of this happens in a matter of seconds. Alright, enough with the theory! Let's get down to brass tacks. You have an AVIF file, and you need it to be a JPG, like, yesterday. The good news is that the process is incredibly intuitive, often taking less than a minute from start to finish. We'll walk through the typical steps you'll encounter on most high-quality online converters. The beauty of these tools lies in their simplicity, designed for users of all technical skill levels. Think of it as using a self-service photo kiosk. You know what you want the final product to be, and the machine guides you through a few simple choices to get there. There are no complex menus or confusing jargon. Let's convert that first file together. Your journey begins with a simple search. You'll likely type 'AVIF to JPG online converter free' into Google, and you'll be presented with a list of options. Look for a tool with a clean, professional-looking website that emphasizes security and simplicity. A great choice to start with is a reliable and user-friendly tool like the one found at SEOMagnate. Once you've landed on the webpage, you'll immediately see the main call to action. Your goal is to get your AVIF file from your computer into the converter's system. The interface is designed to make this as obvious as possible. You don't need to sign up, log in, or provide any personal information. The tool is ready and waiting for your file. This is the most interactive part of the process. You'll generally have two easy ways to upload your file: The 'Upload' Button: Look for a prominent button labeled 'Select File,' 'Choose File,' 'Upload Image,' or something similar. Clicking this will open your computer's standard file explorer window (Finder on Mac, Explorer on Windows). From here, you can navigate to the folder where your AVIF file is saved, select it, and click 'Open.' Drag and Drop: Many modern converters offer an even simpler method. They will have a designated area on the page, often outlined with a dotted line, that says 'Drop Your Files Here.' You can simply open the folder containing your AVIF file on your desktop, click and hold the file, drag it over to that designated area in your web browser, and release the mouse button. The website will immediately register the upload, and you'll usually see a progress bar or a thumbnail of your image appear to confirm that the upload was successful. Once your file is uploaded, some advanced converters might offer you a few simple options to customize your output JPG. This step is entirely optional, but it can be useful. The most common option you might see is a 'Quality' slider or dropdown menu. This allows you to control the level of compression applied to the new JPG file. A higher quality setting (e.g., 90-100%) will result in a larger file size but with minimal visual degradation. A lower quality setting (e.g., 60-70%) will create a much smaller file, which is great for web use, but you might notice some minor artifacts if you look closely. If you're unsure, the default setting is usually a good balance between quality and size. Other potential options could include resizing the image to specific dimensions, but for a straightforward conversion, you can typically ignore these. This is the final, rewarding step. After the upload and any customization, you'll click the main action button, which will be labeled 'Convert,' 'Start,' or 'Transform.' The server will take a few seconds to process your file. The button might change to say 'Converting…' or 'Processing…' When the conversion is complete, a new button will appear: 'Download.' Clicking this will save the newly created JPG file directly to your computer's default 'Downloads' folder. That's it! You now have a universally compatible JPG version of your original image, ready to be used anywhere you please. You've successfully bridged the format gap in just a few clicks. With a sea of options available, how do you pick the right one? While many free online converters look similar on the surface, there can be significant differences in their performance, security practices, and overall user experience. Choosing a high-quality tool isn't just about getting the job done; it's about ensuring your data is handled responsibly and that the process is as smooth as possible. Think of it like choosing a free public service. A well-maintained public park is clean, safe, and efficient, making for a pleasant experience. A neglected one might be cluttered, slow, and feel a bit sketchy. You want the digital equivalent of that clean, safe park. There are a few key features that separate the great converters from the merely functional ones. Paying attention to these details can save you time and give you peace of mind. This is, without a doubt, the most important factor to consider. When you upload an image to an online service, you are sending your data to a third-party server. A trustworthy converter will be transparent about how it handles that data. You should look for a clear and easy-to-find Privacy Policy. What are you looking for in that policy? The most critical clause is about data retention. A top-tier service will explicitly state that your uploaded and converted files are automatically and permanently deleted from their servers after a short period (e.g., a few hours). This ensures that your images, whether they are personal photos or sensitive business graphics, are not stored indefinitely or used for any other purpose. Avoid services that are vague about their data handling or lack a privacy policy altogether. Security features like using HTTPS (the little lock icon in your browser's address bar) are also non-negotiable, as they ensure your files are encrypted during the upload and download process. While security is paramount, convenience is the reason you're using an online tool in the first place. A great converter is a fast converter. This speed is determined by several factors: the power of the server's processors, the efficiency of their conversion software, and the amount of traffic they are handling. You can usually get a feel for a service's speed just by trying it out. Does the website load quickly? Does your file upload without delay? Does the conversion happen in seconds, not minutes? A slow, clunky experience can be frustrating, especially if you need to convert multiple files. Efficiency also extends to the user interface. The best tools have a clean, ad-light design that makes the process obvious. If the page is plastered with intrusive pop-ups and confusing ads, it's often a sign of a lower-quality service that prioritizes ad revenue over user experience. One of the most common questions users have when converting images is, 'Will I lose quality?' It's a valid concern. After all, you want your crisp, beautiful image to stay that way. The answer involves understanding the fundamental difference between how AVIF and JPG handle image data. The conversion process isn't just changing a file extension; it's a re-interpretation and re-compression of the image itself. This leads to an inherent trade-off that all image compression faces: the delicate balance between visual fidelity and file size. You can generally have one or the other, but pushing for the extreme of one often compromises the other. A perfect, pixel-for-pixel copy of the original would be a massive, uncompressed file. A tiny file will inevitably show signs of compression. The magic of formats like AVIF and JPG is in how cleverly they manage this compromise. When you convert from one to the other, you are essentially re-negotiating this deal. Both AVIF and JPG are 'lossy' compression formats. This means they achieve their small file sizes by permanently discarding some of the original image data. They are designed to discard information that the human eye is least likely to notice. However, AVIF's compression algorithm (based on the AV1 video codec) is far more advanced and efficient than JPG's older algorithm (based on the Discrete Cosine Transform). AVIF can throw away more data while maintaining a higher perceived quality. When you convert from AVIF to JPG, you are going from a more efficient compression scheme to a less efficient one. The server must first decompress the AVIF file into a full-quality, uncompressed version in its memory. Then, it must re-compress it using the JPG algorithm. It's in this re-compression step that a small amount of quality loss can occur. The JPG encoder has to make its own decisions about what data to discard, and this can introduce subtle artifacts, especially around sharp edges or in areas of smooth gradients. For most photos, this loss is practically invisible. However, if you convert the same file back and forth multiple times, the degradation will become more noticeable. The good news is that you have a significant amount of control over this process. The key is the 'Quality' setting offered by many online converters. This setting directly tells the JPG encoder how aggressively it should compress the image. For Maximum Quality: If your priority is preserving as much detail as possible and file size is not a major concern (e.g., for printing or archiving), set the JPG quality to a high value, like 95 or even 100. This will instruct the encoder to be very conservative, resulting in a larger JPG file but with virtually no perceptible difference from the original AVIF. If your priority is preserving as much detail as possible and file size is not a major concern (e.g., for printing or archiving), set the JPG quality to a high value, like 95 or even 100. This will instruct the encoder to be very conservative, resulting in a larger JPG file but with virtually no perceptible difference from the original AVIF. For Web and Sharing (The Balanced Approach): For most use cases, like posting on social media, using in a blog post, or sending via email, a quality setting between 75 and 85 is the sweet spot. This provides excellent compression, leading to a much smaller file that will load quickly, while the quality loss is so minimal that it would be undetectable to the vast majority of viewers on a standard screen. For most use cases, like posting on social media, using in a blog post, or sending via email, a quality setting between 75 and 85 is the sweet spot. This provides excellent compression, leading to a much smaller file that will load quickly, while the quality loss is so minimal that it would be undetectable to the vast majority of viewers on a standard screen. For Maximum Compression: If you need the absolute smallest file possible and can tolerate some minor artifacts (e.g., for a tiny thumbnail), you can lower the quality setting further. By consciously choosing the appropriate quality level, you can effectively manage the trade-off and ensure the final JPG meets the specific needs of your project. For the casual user, a simple upload-convert-download process is all that's needed. But for web developers, marketers, or anyone who works with a large volume of images, efficiency is key. A few advanced features can transform a simple utility into a powerful workflow tool, saving you significant time and effort. These features are designed for power users who need more than just a one-off conversion. They are a sign of a mature, well-developed service that understands the needs of a professional audience. When you find a converter that offers these capabilities, it's often a good indication that the underlying technology is robust and reliable. Let's explore a couple of the most impactful advanced features you might encounter. Imagine you've just received a folder containing 50 product images from a photographer, and they're all in AVIF format. Converting them one by one would be a tedious, soul-crushing task. This is where batch conversion comes to the rescue. A converter with this feature allows you to upload multiple AVIF files at once. You can typically drag and drop an entire group of files or select multiple files in the file explorer window. The tool will then process the entire queue of images, converting each one to JPG. Once the process is complete, it will usually provide a single, convenient '.zip' file containing all of your converted JPGs. This is an enormous time-saver. Instead of 50 individual upload-and-download cycles, you perform one batch upload and one batch download. For anyone managing a website, an e-commerce store, or a large photo gallery, this feature is not just a convenience; it's an absolute necessity. It streamlines the workflow and lets you focus on the creative aspects of your work rather than the mundane task of file conversion. This is the ultimate feature for tech-savvy users, web developers, and businesses. An API (Application Programming Interface) allows different software applications to communicate with each other. A converter that offers API access is providing a way for you to integrate their conversion service directly into your own websites, applications, or automated scripts. For example, a developer could write a script that automatically watches a folder for new AVIF uploads. When a new file appears, the script uses the API to send the file to the converter, gets the converted JPG back, and then places it in the correct directory on a web server. This entire process happens automatically, with no manual intervention required. An e-commerce platform could use an API to allow its users to upload AVIF images for their products, and the platform's backend would automatically convert them to JPG and WebP to serve to different browsers. API access turns the converter from a manual tool into a programmable, automated component of a larger system, enabling incredible efficiency and scalability. In an age of data breaches and privacy concerns, it's natural to be cautious about uploading your files to an unknown website. The question 'Is this safe?' is one you should always ask. The internet is filled with myths and legitimate concerns about online tools, and it's important to separate fact from fiction. The reality is that the safety of an online converter depends entirely on the provider. Reputable, professional services take security and privacy very seriously, as their business reputation depends on it. Disreputable or poorly managed sites, on the other hand, can pose a risk. By learning what to look for, you can confidently use these incredibly helpful tools without putting your data in jeopardy. Let's address some of the most common concerns. We touched on this earlier, but it's worth a deeper dive. The Privacy Policy is your contract with the service. While most of us are guilty of scrolling past these long legal documents, when it comes to a file converter, there are two sentences that matter more than all the others. You want to find the section on 'Data Retention' or 'File Handling.' A trustworthy policy will state something like: 'All uploaded and converted files are automatically deleted from our servers within 1-2 hours of processing.' This is the gold standard. It means the service has an automated script that purges files regularly. This protects you in two ways: it prevents the service provider from ever accessing or using your files for other purposes, and it means that even if the service were to suffer a security breach, your files wouldn't be there to be stolen. If a service's policy is vague, stating they 'may' delete files or doesn't mention a specific timeframe, it's a red flag. No privacy policy at all is a deal-breaker. Always choose a service that is upfront and clear about its file deletion practices. The commitment to delete your files is only as good as the technical implementation behind it. How can you be sure your files are truly gone? While you can't inspect their servers yourself, there are indicators of a professional operation. The first is the use of HTTPS, indicated by https:// in the URL. This encrypts the connection between your browser and their server, preventing anyone from snooping on the file while it's in transit. Reputable services run on secure, modern cloud infrastructure (like Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud) that has its own robust security features. While the core promise of deletion relies on trusting the provider, choosing services that are transparent and follow best practices significantly minimizes the risk. Think of it this way: a professional service has everything to lose from a privacy scandal and everything to gain by being a trustworthy resource. They are financially and reputationally motivated to keep their promises. In contrast, a hobbyist site or a site plastered with spammy ads may not have the same incentives or technical resources to ensure your privacy. We know that AVIF is newer and more efficient, but what does that mean on a technical level? For those who are curious about the 'why' behind the performance, understanding the different technologies at play can be fascinating. It's like looking under the hood to see why one engine outperforms another. This comparison isn't just academic; it helps explain why the conversion is necessary and why certain artifacts might appear. The fundamental difference lies in the compression algorithms and the feature sets that each format supports. JPG was designed for a different era of technology, and while brilliant for its time, AVIF was built from the ground up to leverage the last three decades of progress in video and image compression. The heart of any image format is its compression algorithm. This is the set of rules that decides how to shrink the file size. JPG uses a Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT)-based algorithm. DCT works by breaking the image into 8×8 pixel blocks and then analyzing the frequency of changes within that block. It's very good at compressing smooth gradients and photographic textures but can struggle with sharp lines or complex details, which is where you sometimes see those blocky or fuzzy artifacts, especially at low quality settings. It's a technology from the late 1980s and, while effective, it's relatively simple by today's standards. DCT works by breaking the image into 8×8 pixel blocks and then analyzing the frequency of changes within that block. It's very good at compressing smooth gradients and photographic textures but can struggle with sharp lines or complex details, which is where you sometimes see those blocky or fuzzy artifacts, especially at low quality settings. It's a technology from the late 1980s and, while effective, it's relatively simple by today's standards. AVIF uses a compression algorithm derived from the AV1 video codec. This is a massive leap forward. The AV1 codec is the result of a collaborative effort by the biggest names in tech to create the next generation of video compression. Because modern video codecs are incredibly good at predicting what a frame will look like based on the previous one, the same principles can be applied within a single image. AVIF uses advanced techniques like variable block sizes (not just 8×8), sophisticated intra-prediction, and various filtering methods to represent the image data far more efficiently than DCT. This is why it can achieve the same visual quality as a JPG at a fraction of the file size. For more technical details, the Wikipedia page on AVIF is an excellent resource. Beyond compression, AVIF supports a range of modern features that JPG simply cannot. Color Depth: JPG is traditionally limited to 8-bit color depth, which means it can represent 16.7 million colors. This sounds like a lot, but for high-end photography and HDR content, it can lead to 'banding' in smooth gradients (like a clear blue sky). AVIF supports 10-bit and even 12-bit color depth, allowing for over a billion colors. This results in smoother gradients, richer tones, and is essential for displaying HDR images properly. JPG is traditionally limited to 8-bit color depth, which means it can represent 16.7 million colors. This sounds like a lot, but for high-end photography and HDR content, it can lead to 'banding' in smooth gradients (like a clear blue sky). AVIF supports 10-bit and even 12-bit color depth, allowing for over a billion colors. This results in smoother gradients, richer tones, and is essential for displaying HDR images properly. Transparency: This is a simple but critical difference. JPG does not support transparency. If you need a logo with a transparent background, you have to use a format like PNG or GIF. AVIF, however, has a full alpha channel, meaning it supports transparency just like a PNG. This makes AVIF a potential replacement for both JPG and PNG, as it can handle photographic images and graphics with transparency in one highly efficient format. This is a simple but critical difference. JPG does not support transparency. If you need a logo with a transparent background, you have to use a format like PNG or GIF. AVIF, however, has a full alpha channel, meaning it supports transparency just like a PNG. This makes AVIF a potential replacement for both JPG and PNG, as it can handle photographic images and graphics with transparency in one highly efficient format. Animations: AVIF can even support animated sequences, much like a GIF. This makes it a potential 'do-it-all' format for the web, capable of handling static images, transparent graphics, and simple animations within a single specification. Just when you thought you had a handle on AVIF vs. JPG, another name often enters the conversation: WebP. Developed by Google and released in 2010, WebP was another attempt to create a more efficient successor to JPG. For a long time, it was the primary 'next-gen' format, offering significant file size savings over JPG. WebP sits somewhere between JPG and AVIF in terms of both age and efficiency. It's more advanced than JPG but generally less compressive than the newer AVIF format. It gained widespread browser support before AVIF, so it's very common to find WebP images across the web today. Understanding its place in the ecosystem is helpful for any web creator. Many of the same compatibility issues that plague AVIF can also apply to WebP, though to a lesser extent due to its age. This is a common question among web developers. The general consensus, based on numerous studies, is that AVIF offers superior compression. For a given level of visual quality, an AVIF file will typically be smaller than a WebP file. The difference can be anywhere from 20% to 30% or more, depending on the image content. This makes AVIF the top choice for performance-obsessed developers looking to squeeze every last kilobyte out of their page weight. However, the decision isn't always that simple. WebP has been around longer and enjoys slightly more universal support, especially in older versions of some software and browsers. You can check the current browser support status for both formats on a site like Can I use…. For developers, the best strategy is often to serve multiple formats. A modern web server can be configured to check what formats the user's browser supports. If it supports AVIF, it serves the AVIF file. If not, it checks for WebP support and serves that. If neither is supported, it falls back to the universally compatible JPG. This ensures the fastest possible experience for everyone. For the end-user, though, both AVIF and WebP present the same potential problem: you might save an image you can't open locally, reinforcing the need for a good online converter. While online converters are fantastic for their convenience and accessibility, there might be situations where you'd prefer an offline solution. Perhaps you're working without an internet connection, you have a very large batch of files to convert and don't want to deal with upload times, or you have strict privacy requirements that prevent you from uploading files to any third-party service. In these cases, you can turn to traditional desktop software. Many image editing and viewing applications have been updated to support the AVIF format. This allows you to open AVIF files directly and then use the software's 'Save As' or 'Export' function to save them in the JPG format. This method gives you a high degree of control over the conversion process and keeps all your data entirely on your local machine. For those who already have powerful image editing software installed, this is often the easiest offline route. Adobe Photoshop: Newer versions of Photoshop have started to add support for AVIF. You may need to ensure your Creative Cloud subscription is up to date. Once supported, the process is simple: open the AVIF file, go to File > Save a Copy , and then select 'JPEG' from the format dropdown menu. This will bring up Photoshop's standard JPG options dialog, where you can fine-tune the quality setting before saving. Newer versions of Photoshop have started to add support for AVIF. You may need to ensure your Creative Cloud subscription is up to date. Once supported, the process is simple: open the AVIF file, go to , and then select 'JPEG' from the format dropdown menu. This will bring up Photoshop's standard JPG options dialog, where you can fine-tune the quality setting before saving. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program): GIMP is a powerful, free, and open-source alternative to Photoshop. It has excellent support for a wide range of file formats, including AVIF (as of version 2.10.22). The process is nearly identical to Photoshop's. You open your AVIF file directly in GIMP. Then, you navigate to File > Export As... . In the export dialog, you can either type .jpg at the end of your filename or select 'JPEG Image' from the file type list. Clicking 'Export' will present you with options to control the JPG quality before the final file is saved. GIMP is a powerful, free, and open-source alternative to Photoshop. It has excellent support for a wide range of file formats, including AVIF (as of version 2.10.22). The process is nearly identical to Photoshop's. You open your AVIF file directly in GIMP. Then, you navigate to . In the export dialog, you can either type at the end of your filename or select 'JPEG Image' from the file type list. Clicking 'Export' will present you with options to control the JPG quality before the final file is saved. Other Tools: Many other image viewers and editors, like XnView MP (a fantastic free image browser and converter) and IrfanView (for Windows), also support AVIF and have robust batch conversion capabilities, making them excellent offline alternatives. With all these technologically superior formats like AVIF and WebP gaining ground, it's natural to wonder about the fate of the venerable JPG. Will it eventually go the way of the floppy disk or the dial-up modem—a relic of a bygone era? The answer is complex. Reports of JPG's death are likely greatly exaggerated, at least for the foreseeable future. Technology transitions take time, especially when a standard is as deeply entrenched as JPG. While the 'front end' of the web—the part users see in their browsers—is rapidly adopting newer formats for performance, the 'back end' and the ecosystem of user devices and software will continue to rely on JPG for years to come. The key driver for the adoption of new image formats is browser support. If browsers can't display it, web developers won't use it. For AVIF, the news is incredibly positive. As of mid-2025, all major evergreen browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) offer broad support for AVIF. This means a huge percentage of the global internet audience can now view AVIF images natively. This is the catalyst that encourages websites to serve AVIF files. However, JPG's role will likely shift from being the primary format to being the ultimate fallback. The standard practice for web developers is becoming 'content negotiation,' where the server provides the best possible format the browser can handle. So, a user with the latest Chrome gets AVIF, a user with a slightly older browser might get WebP, and a user with a very old or obscure browser gets the safe, reliable JPG. In this sense, JPG isn't disappearing; it's becoming the universal safety net that guarantees the content is always accessible to everyone, which is a critical role. For website owners, bloggers, and digital marketers, the choice of image format is not just a technical decision—it's an SEO decision. Search Engine Optimization is all about making your site as friendly as possible to search engines like Google, and images play a surprisingly large role in this. Google has made it clear that page speed is a critical ranking factor. Faster websites provide a better user experience, and Google rewards them with higher visibility in search results. This is where the whole discussion about image formats comes full circle. The primary benefit of AVIF is its smaller file size, which directly translates to faster loading times. Google's Core Web Vitals are a specific set of metrics used to measure a webpage's user experience. One of the most important of these is the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), which measures how long it takes for the largest piece of content on the screen (often a hero image or banner) to load. Using a highly optimized image format like AVIF can dramatically improve your LCP score. By serving smaller AVIF images to compatible browsers, you reduce the total amount of data that needs to be downloaded, allowing the page to render more quickly. This can lead to a direct improvement in your Core Web Vitals report, which can, in turn, positively impact your search rankings. Therefore, a modern SEO strategy for images involves using a element in HTML to serve AVIF, with a fallback to WebP, and a final fallback to JPG. This ensures you get the performance benefits of AVIF where possible, without sacrificing compatibility, which is the best of all worlds from an SEO perspective. While online converters are generally reliable, you might occasionally run into a snag. A cryptic error message or a failed conversion can be frustrating, but the cause is usually one of a few common issues. Understanding these can help you quickly resolve the problem and get your conversion back on track. Most of these problems aren't the fault of the converter itself but are related to the input file or the limitations of the service. A little bit of troubleshooting can almost always solve the issue. Let's look at the most frequent hiccups and how to handle them. You drag and drop your beautiful, high-resolution AVIF file, and you're met with an error: 'File exceeds the maximum upload size.' Many free online services have a limit on the size of the file you can upload. This is to prevent a single user with a massive file from hogging all the server's resources and slowing down the service for everyone else. These limits can range from 5MB to 100MB or more, depending on the service. If you hit this limit, you have a couple of options. First, you could try a different online converter that offers a higher upload limit. Second, if your AVIF file is exceptionally large because it has a very high resolution (e.g., 8000×6000 pixels), you could use an offline image editor (like GIMP) to first resize the AVIF to more manageable dimensions. By reducing the resolution, you will dramatically reduce the file size, likely bringing it under the upload limit of the online converter. Sometimes, a file will upload successfully, but the conversion process itself will fail. This can happen for a few reasons: Corrupt or Non-Standard File: The most common reason is that the AVIF file you are trying to convert is corrupted or doesn't fully adhere to the format's specifications. This can sometimes happen during the download process. The first step is to try downloading the original file again. If it still fails, the file itself may be the problem. Unsupported AVIF Features: AVIF is a complex format that can include features like animations or specific HDR profiles. A simpler online converter might not support every single feature of the AVIF specification. If you have a very complex AVIF (like an animation), the conversion to a static JPG might fail. In this case, you might need to find a more advanced converter or use a desktop application that can handle that specific feature. Temporary Server Issues: Occasionally, the problem might be on the service's end. The server might be overloaded, undergoing maintenance, or experiencing a temporary glitch. If your file seems fine and you've had success with the site before, the best solution is often the simplest: wait a few minutes and try again. Navigating the ever-evolving landscape of digital formats doesn't have to be a headache. The emergence of the AVIF format represents a significant leap forward for web performance and image quality, but its newness inevitably creates a temporary gap in compatibility with older software and systems. This is where the humble AVIF to JPG online converter free proves its immense value. These simple, browser-based tools act as the perfect bridge between the future of web imagery and the universal accessibility of the present. They empower anyone, regardless of technical skill, to solve the 'unsupported file format' problem in seconds. By understanding what these tools do, how to choose a safe and efficient one, and how to manage the trade-offs between quality and file size, you can confidently handle any image format that comes your way. Whether you're a web developer optimizing a site for speed, a designer needing compatibility, or just someone trying to open a downloaded photo, a reliable online converter is an essential tool in your digital toolkit. Yes, absolutely. The vast majority of online converters, including the reputable ones, offer their core AVIF to JPG conversion service completely free of charge. They are typically supported by advertising or offer premium features (like API access or larger file size limits) for paying customers, but for standard, everyday conversions, you should not have to pay anything. Potentially, yes, but it's controllable. Both are 'lossy' formats, but AVIF is more efficient. The conversion process requires re-compressing the image using the JPG algorithm, which can introduce a very small amount of quality loss. However, most converters allow you to set the JPG quality to a high level (90% or above), which makes any degradation practically invisible to the open eye. 3. Are my images safe when I upload them to an online converter? This depends on the service you choose. A trustworthy converter will have a clear privacy policy stating that your files are automatically deleted from their servers after a short period (usually a few hours). Always choose a service that uses HTTPS encryption (the lock icon in your browser) and is transparent about its data handling practices. Avoid services without a clear privacy policy. Yes! Because these converters are web-based, they work on any device with a modern web browser, including iPhones, Android phones, and tablets. The process is the same: simply navigate to the converter's website in your phone's browser, upload the AVIF file from your phone's storage, and download the converted JPG. 5. What is the main advantage of AVIF over JPG? The primary advantage is superior compression. An AVIF file can be about 50% smaller than a JPG file of the same visual quality. This leads to faster website loading times, lower data usage, and more efficient storage. AVIF also supports modern features that JPG lacks, such as HDR, higher color depth, and transparency. 6. Can I convert more than one file at a time? Many of the best online converters offer a 'batch conversion' feature. This allows you to upload multiple AVIF files simultaneously. The tool will process them all and then typically let you download them together in a single, convenient ZIP file. This is a huge time-saver for anyone working with multiple images. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Microsoft Is an AI Darling, but Its Core Businesses Are Booming Too
Microsoft's blockbuster earnings last week cemented its status as one of the biggest winners of the artificial-intelligence boom. Investors should draw additional comfort from what is happening with less fanfare elsewhere in its business. Outside the AI race, Microsoft is minting money from corporate customers spending on regular technology—long a sweet spot for the company. AI Is Coming for the Consultants. Inside McKinsey, 'This Is Existential.' Millennials Are Richer Now. So Why Can't They Stop Worrying? Unemployed Americans Endure Longer Job Searches in a Cooling Market The AI Boom's Hidden Risk to the Economy Many companies are shifting from buying their own IT equipment to renting it from Microsoft through its cloud-computing service. They are also renting more standard-issue computing stuff—hard drives for data storage, for example—to support their AI efforts. A large chunk of the recent strong growth in Microsoft's cloud business, called Azure, stems from that. More than half of Azure's 33% revenue jump in the company's March quarter came from non-AI services. While the company didn't give a comparable breakdown of the cloud unit's 39% growth in its June quarter, it said the 'core infrastructure business'—Microsoft lingo for its non-AI cloud business—was the driver. And that isn't the only non-AI area in which Microsoft is growing. The company's Microsoft 365 Commercial cloud business, which houses remotely accessed versions of its Word, Excel and other productivity software for companies, grew 16% from a year earlier in the June quarter, an acceleration versus the previous period. Revenue from productivity software for consumers grew 20%, its best uptick in years. In one sense, investors might prefer to see AI businesses driving growth. That, after all, is what has driven the company's valuation through the roof. But tech companies' stocks arguably hinge too much on AI; to the extent that they can keep increasing other revenue streams, they are on more solid financial ground. Microsoft's non-AI business also benefits from a symbiosis with its AI efforts. The company's Copilot AI assistants for software products like Word and Excel brought in a record number of new users in the June quarter, Chief Executive Satya Nadella said Wednesday. Many of those users are likely to stick around and use its non-AI software even if Copilot turns out to be a dud. There is another silver lining for Microsoft: non-AI sales can be substantially more lucrative than AI ones. Non-AI gross margins within Azure were around 73% in Microsoft's March quarter, Bernstein Research analyst Mark Moerdler estimated. That compared with a 30% to 40% gross margin for AI, he estimated, because of the huge cost of setting up AI infrastructure. Luckily for Microsoft, demand for lucrative non-AI services appears to be reasonably strong. Measures of broad IT spending were fairly muted at the start of the year as companies pondered the impact of President Trump's tariffs and concerns bubbled about the health of the global economy. Attitudes appear to have improved somewhat in the second quarter, though. A UBS survey of cloud-computing customers in July showed a 'clear improvement in tone' about spending. Most were moving forward with efforts to migrate computing work to the cloud, it said, a reversal from an April survey that showed trepidation. In the longer term, there is little question that cloud computing is going to grow in ways that play to Microsoft's strengths. Its rivals—mainly and Google—are growing quickly too, but don't have all of Microsoft's broad corporate software offerings that enhance its cloud footprint, even outside AI. Amazon on Thursday said its cloud unit grew 17.5% in the June quarter, disappointing investors and forcing Chief Executive Andy Jassy to answer to Azure's outperformance. Recent quarterly swings in Azure's favor were 'really just moments in time,' he said. The company's stock fell around 8% on Friday. The question for Microsoft's investors, then, is less about its prospects than its valuation. The company's stock is up nearly 40% since the beginning of April, pushing its forward price/earnings multiple above 33. That is a bit richer than Amazon and a large margin above Google's parent, Alphabet, which is trading at a multiple of roughly 18 times forward earnings. That should be easier for investors to digest because while Microsoft's AI growth is real, it is far from the only thing going right at the software giant. Write to Asa Fitch at A Librarian Wants to Retire Early and Live in a Continuing-Care Community. Can She Afford to? Berkshire's Quarterly Earnings Drop on Insurance Results, Currency Moves Seven Ways to Track Your Risk of Falling—and Prevent an Injury A Generation Is Turning to 'Buy Now, Pay Later' for Botox and Concert Tickets Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
