Latest news with #ArsTechnica
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Forbes
The Wiretap: OpenAI Agent Checks Box Confirming It's Not A Bot
The Wiretap is your weekly digest of cybersecurity, internet privacy and surveillance news. To get it in your inbox, subscribe here . getty O ne of the constant bits of friction in navigating the modern internet is proving to the site you're browsing that you are, in fact, human. Often you can prove it by simply checking a box saying so. But in the brave new world of agentic AI, such basic checks won't be enough to catch AI agents wandering around the internet to do tasks on their owners' behalf. Ars Technica reports that OpenAI's new agent, which uses its own browser to access the internet and perform tasks, was observed by a Reddit user checking one of those 'I am not a robot' boxes. As it did so, it provided the following narration: 'I'll click the 'Verify you are human' checkbox to complete the verification on Cloudflare. This step is necessary to prove I'm not a bot and proceed with the action." In this particular case, the assistant didn't face one of the common puzzles aimed at catching bots–the ones that ask you to identify all the pictures with a bicycle or to move pieces of an image around to have it the right way up. But it's just a matter of time before agents can solve those too. When the bots get so sophisticated they act like humans, the premise of web 'captchas' starts to break down. How do you then protect websites from unwanted, malicious bot traffic? And how do you design sites so that agents representing real people can navigate them effectively? Let's just hope a web designed for bots isn't that much more annoying for us lowly humans to navigate. Got a tip on surveillance or cybercrime? Get me on Signal at +1 929-512-7964 . Eric Millette P eople are often the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain. Just last week, cleaning product giant Clorox claimed a cyberattack that may have caused as much as $380 million in damages was the result of a contracted service desk staffer resetting a password for a hacker pretending to work for the company. IT departments are aware of the risk of human error, of course, and try to address it with education. Usually, this means a few emails and some simple training. But the advice in these types of training is generalized and only rarely tailored to the specific needs of staff. It's no wonder people never bother to read those emails. This is the problem that cybersecurity startup Fable wants to tackle with a personalized approach. Founded in 2024 by Nicole Jiang, 31, and Dr. Sanny Liao, 42, who spent years at $5.1 billion cybersecurity company Abnormal, Fable claims its AI helps determine which employees need help improving their security practices and offers custom tips and guidance to them. Read more at Forbes . Stories You Have To Read Today Pro-Ukrainian hacker group Silent Crow took credit for a cyberattack that crippled IT systems of Russian airline Aeroflot, which led to dozens of flights being grounded. The viral app Tea, which enabled women to anonymously post images and comments about men they dated, suffered a cyberattack that exposed data about thousands of users. Researchers found security vulnerabilities in door-to-door luggage service Airportr that would enable hackers to access users' flight itineraries and personal information. The bugs could also grant would-be cybercriminals the ability to redirect the final destination of someone's luggage. Winner of the Week Google will be launching new security features for its Workspace apps designed to prevent an exploit that allows hackers to use cookies to take over accounts. The new feature will bind cookies to specific devices, preventing remote hacks. Loser of the Week Apple's latest version of iOS, due this fall, will include more features to filter text spam out of your messaging app. That could have outsized impact for political groups, which worry that this may also filter out their often aggressive fundraising texts. More On Forbes Forbes How The World's Second-Richest Person And His Son Pulled Off The $8 Billion Paramount Deal By Phoebe Liu Forbes Trump Has Spent About One-Third Of His Presidency Visiting His Own Properties By Dan Alexander Forbes Inside Robinhood's Crypto-Fueled Plan For World Domination By Nina Bambysheva
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Netflix's wild new show used AI to create special effects: Why it matters
Netflix is taking a bold step into artificial intelligence by using video-generating AI for special effects in its new Argentine science fiction series, 'El Eternauta.' This development comes as the company, among many others, looks for faster and cheaper ways to create detailed visual effects and bring stories to life on screen. Ted Sarandos, the co-CEO of Netflix, explained that the company wants AI to help creators improve the quality of films and shows, not just to save money or reduce production time. For 'El Eternauta,' a key sequence shows a building collapsing in Buenos Aires. Instead of using traditional visual effects methods, the team tried AI-powered tools. According to Sarandos, this made the process much faster, finishing the sequence in a small fraction of the time it would usually take, Ars Technica reported. How AI will help Netflix Shows like 'El Eternauta' require massive amounts of VFX work, and using AI promises an easier way to manage tight budgets and deadlines. Complex shots, once reserved for big-budget films, are now possible for shows that would not have been able to afford them before. Netflix hopes the technology will open up new creative options for filmmakers and give more projects access to advanced effects. Also read Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Still, the rise of AI in TV and films has caused concern within the industry. Actors, writers, and artists are asking for clear rules to protect their jobs as studios adopt AI tools. Last year's extended strikes by performers and game voice actors were signs of growing anxiety about how this technology could change work across entertainment. Some viewers and critics are also wary. AI-generated effects do not always look natural and have attracted criticism for disrupting the feel of a film or show. There have been recent complaints about the quality of AI visuals in several big projects, sparking debates about the artistic value of computer-created images. Netflix has tested AI's potential in other areas before. Past documentaries have used AI to recreate voices or manipulate images, drawing both attention and controversy. Amazon and other major platforms are exploring similar paths, adding AI features for recapping shows or creating new language dubs. Sarandos says the aim remains to give storytellers more tools. He believes AI can stretch what is possible in television without limiting creative vision or replacing human ideas. The effect of these changes is still playing out, but Netflix's experiment with 'El Eternauta' suggests that AI is becoming an important part of TV and movie production.
Economic Times
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Economic Times
Tesla's reputation tanks: Survey ranks it the least-trusted car brand in US - this Japanese brand scores big
Tesla, once hailed as the face of the electric vehicle revolution, is now facing a steep decline in public trust and popularity among American consumers, as per a report. According to the latest Electric Vehicle Intelligence Report (EVIR), the company now holds the lowest net trust and brand perception scores of all major automakers in the US, as reported by Ars Technica. Meanwhile, Toyota, a relatively late entrant in the EV race, has emerged as the most positively viewed brand in the survey, according to the numbers paint a concerning picture for Tesla as just 26% of respondents said they have a somewhat or very positive view of Tesla, as per the Ars Technica report. In contrast, 39% reported a somewhat or very negative view, according to the report. That gives Tesla a net-positive score of -13, as reported by Ars Technica. The deeper worry for the EV maker is that Tesla's "view intensity score", which measures those with strong opinions has dropped to -16, indicating far more people strongly dislike the brand than those who strongly support it, as per the Ars Technica report. ALSO READ: Tyrann Mathieu retires from NFL: A look back at his career and legacyToyota, on the other hand, topped the charts despite having only one EV model, the bZ4X, in the market, the Japanese automaker scored the highest in both net-positive perception and intensity, according to the fall from grace appears to be accelerating, as per the survey. In April, the company still had a net score of -7, now it's nearly double that in the negative, and the downward trend spans every major demographic, according to the report. Whether urban or suburban, wealthy or working class, and especially among Americans over the age of 65, Tesla is viewed unfavorably, as per the Ars Technica report. ALSO READ: Ozzy Osbourne's memoir 'Last Rites' to reveal his untold story that he penned before his death Only one other brand apart from Tesla, the Vietnamese automaker VinFast, scored a negative net-positive rating, as per the report. But unlike Tesla, 92% of people said they had never heard of it or had no opinion at all, as per the Ars Technica report. When it comes to trust, the results are no better as Tesla received the lowest net trust score in the EVIR, and a trust integrity score of -19, meaning significantly more people say they 'distrust Tesla a lot' than those who trust it 'a lot,' according to the Ars Technica report. Despite Tesla CEO Elon Musk frequently touting Tesla's safety credentials, public opinion is no longer buying it, as per the report. After numerous fatal accidents, many linked to Tesla's semi-autonomous driving features, only 52% of survey participants believe Teslas are safe, as per the Ars Technica report. That's the second-worst safety score in the survey, behind only VinFast, according to the report. ALSO READ: Ozzy Osbourne Family: What we know about the Black Sabbath lead vocalist's wife Sharon and children Aimee, Kelly, Jack, Jessica, Louis, Elliot Musk's ambitious robotaxi dream also appears to be faltering in the court of public opinion, because out of over 8,000 people surveyed, only 1% had ridden in a robotaxi and said they would do it again, as per the Ars Technica report. Meanwhile, the survey found that 46% said they would never consider riding in a robotaxi and more than half believe the technology should not be legal, reported Ars does Tesla rank in public trust now?Tesla has the lowest trust and brand perception score among all EV makers surveyed in the US. Is Tesla seen as a safe car brand? Only 52% of survey respondents believe Tesla cars are safe, which is the second worst in the survey.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Tesla's reputation tanks: Survey ranks it the least-trusted car brand in US - this Japanese brand scores big
Tesla , once hailed as the face of the electric vehicle revolution, is now facing a steep decline in public trust and popularity among American consumers, as per a report. According to the latest Electric Vehicle Intelligence Report (EVIR), the company now holds the lowest net trust and brand perception scores of all major automakers in the US, as reported by Ars Technica. Meanwhile, Toyota , a relatively late entrant in the EV race, has emerged as the most positively viewed brand in the survey, according to the report. Americans Turning Away from Tesla The numbers paint a concerning picture for Tesla as just 26% of respondents said they have a somewhat or very positive view of Tesla, as per the Ars Technica report. In contrast, 39% reported a somewhat or very negative view, according to the report. That gives Tesla a net-positive score of -13, as reported by Ars Technica. The deeper worry for the EV maker is that Tesla's "view intensity score", which measures those with strong opinions has dropped to -16, indicating far more people strongly dislike the brand than those who strongly support it, as per the Ars Technica report. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category PGDM Cybersecurity others healthcare Finance Leadership Project Management Degree MBA Data Science Operations Management Management Data Science Technology CXO Artificial Intelligence Others Design Thinking Healthcare Data Analytics Digital Marketing MCA Product Management Public Policy Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis & Decision Making Quantitative & Analytical Skills Organizational Management & Leadership Innovation & Entrepreneurship Duration: 24 Months IMI Delhi Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Online) Starts on Sep 1, 2024 Get Details ALSO READ: Tyrann Mathieu retires from NFL: A look back at his career and legacy Is Toyota Winning the EV Popularity Race? Toyota, on the other hand, topped the charts despite having only one EV model, the bZ4X, in the market, the Japanese automaker scored the highest in both net-positive perception and intensity, according to the report. Tesla's Worsening Decline Across All Demographics Tesla's fall from grace appears to be accelerating, as per the survey. In April, the company still had a net score of -7, now it's nearly double that in the negative, and the downward trend spans every major demographic, according to the report. Whether urban or suburban, wealthy or working class, and especially among Americans over the age of 65, Tesla is viewed unfavorably, as per the Ars Technica report. Live Events ALSO READ: Ozzy Osbourne's memoir 'Last Rites' to reveal his untold story that he penned before his death VinFast Also Struggles, but Is Largely Unknown Only one other brand apart from Tesla, the Vietnamese automaker VinFast, scored a negative net-positive rating, as per the report. But unlike Tesla, 92% of people said they had never heard of it or had no opinion at all, as per the Ars Technica report. Trust Issues Plague Tesla's Image When it comes to trust, the results are no better as Tesla received the lowest net trust score in the EVIR, and a trust integrity score of -19, meaning significantly more people say they 'distrust Tesla a lot' than those who trust it 'a lot,' according to the Ars Technica report. Despite Tesla CEO Elon Musk frequently touting Tesla's safety credentials, public opinion is no longer buying it, as per the report. After numerous fatal accidents, many linked to Tesla's semi-autonomous driving features, only 52% of survey participants believe Teslas are safe, as per the Ars Technica report. That's the second-worst safety score in the survey, behind only VinFast, according to the report. ALSO READ: Ozzy Osbourne Family: What we know about the Black Sabbath lead vocalist's wife Sharon and children Aimee, Kelly, Jack, Jessica, Louis, Elliot Is Elon Musk's Robotaxi Dream Falling Apart? Musk's ambitious robotaxi dream also appears to be faltering in the court of public opinion, because out of over 8,000 people surveyed, only 1% had ridden in a robotaxi and said they would do it again, as per the Ars Technica report. Meanwhile, the survey found that 46% said they would never consider riding in a robotaxi and more than half believe the technology should not be legal, reported Ars Technica. FAQs How does Tesla rank in public trust now? Tesla has the lowest trust and brand perception score among all EV makers surveyed in the US. Is Tesla seen as a safe car brand? Only 52% of survey respondents believe Tesla cars are safe, which is the second worst in the survey.
WIRED
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- WIRED
Italian YouTuber Faces Jail Time for Showing Android Handhelds With Emulated Games
Ryan Whitwam, Ars Technica The games on the devices shown by the content creator may not be entirely legal. That was enough for Italian law enforcement to ding him for 'promotion of pirated copyrighted materials.' Photo-Illustration: WIRED Staff; Photograph:There are countless Android-powered gaming handhelds, but they go beyond the usual slate of Android games by offering console emulation support. The problem is the game ROMs on these devices, which are not entirely legal. Italian YouTuber Once Were Nerd is learning how seriously some rights holders are taking game piracy after agents from the country's Guardia di Finanza showed up to confiscate his consoles. He now says the investigation could lead to criminal charges and the end of his channel. Once Were Nerd has produced YouTube content covering a plethora of gaming topics, including Android-based handheld game machines from the likes of Powkiddy and TrimUI. These devices usually run an older version of Android that has been heavily modified for gaming, featuring built-in emulation support for retro consoles like SNES, Nintendo 64, PlayStation Portable, GameCube, and more. They've become quite popular as the cost of mobile hardware has come down, making it possible to buy what is essentially an updated PSP or Game Boy Advance for $100 or less. Recently, Once Were Nerd attracted the attention of Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance, which is tasked with policing copyright in the country. In the video first spotted by Android Authority (which has an AI-generated English language track), the YouTuber explains that Guardia di Finanza appeared at his door in April with a search warrant. Agents accused the creator of promoting pirated copyrighted materials stemming from his coverage of Anbernic handheld game consoles. While emulation software is not illegal, a surprising number of these devices ship chock-full of preloaded ROMs—the channel showed multiple Sony and Nintendo games running on the device. Once Were Nerd is far from the only channel posting about these devices, though. Officials seized more than 30 handheld consoles and demanded copies of Once Were Nerd's correspondence with the companies making these devices. Once Were Nerd says he has cooperated fully with investigators and contends that he has done nothing wrong. Legal Gray Area The firms making these handhelds all operate out of China, which is beyond the reach of Western copyright law. They still sell the devices internationally, sticking to vague language about the inclusion of game ROMs. For example, Anbernic offers bundles with microSD cards marked as "compatible 7000+ games." That makes this approach to revisiting retro games a legal gray area at the very least. Authorities believe Once Were Nerd's activities may still run afoul of Article 171 in Italy's copyright law, which allows for up to three years imprisonment for violations. It is unclear who made the original complaint against the channel. Once Were Nerd has seen documents that cite copyrighted material from Nintendo and Sony, but Guardia di Finanza doesn't need to reveal that detail until the preliminary investigation is finished, and cases can be brought by the agency itself. (Nintendo, for one, is particularly litigious when it comes to defending its intellectual property.) When the investigation is complete, the government will either file charges or dismiss the case. Current law also gives officials the power to shut down the Once Were Nerd channel while the investigation is ongoing. Italy has a history of heavy-handed copyright enforcement—the country's internet regulator recently demanded that Google poison DNS to block illegal streams of soccer. So it's not hard to believe investigators would pursue a case against someone who posts videos featuring pirated games on YouTube. This story originally appeared on Ars Technica.
