Latest news with #CarmiLevy
20 hours ago
- Business
AOL to end dial-up internet services, a '90s relic still used in some remote areas
AOL is discontinuing its dial-up service, which helped millions of households connect to the web during the internet's formative years and was instantly recognizable for its beep-laden, scratch-heavy ring tone in the 1990s and early 2000s. The company, which once dominated as the world's largest internet provider, confirmed the move to CBC News on Sunday, saying it would discontinue dial-up as a subscription option on Sept. 30 as we innovate to meet the needs of today's digital landscape. Dial-up services were a mainstay of the early internet — as famously depicted in the 1998 romantic comedy You've Got Mail — and involved using a phone line to connect devices to the web. Those of a certain age will recall that this meant choosing between your landline and your internet access. The company, which offered the service to customers in Canada and the U.S., didn't offer details about its existing dial-up clients. With much-speedier broadband internet access now the standard for web connection in North America, the end of dial-up service raises the question of who was still using it. There are many parts of rural Canada that still do not have reliable access or any access to high-speed internet connectivity. And for them, dial-up is their only alternative, said technology analyst Carmi Levy in an interview with CBC News. There are a number of regional or local players across the country that still provide low-cost dial-up access. The problem here is that the base, the internet as we know it, is no longer built for dial-up access. And so it's a technology that time really has passed by, Levy said. According to a CRTC report published (new window) earlier this year, 95 per cent of Canadians have access to high-speed internet. But broadband coverage in the country's three territories, as well as in rural areas and on First Nations reserves, is still catching up with the rest of Canada. CBC News reached out to the CRTC to ask how many Canadians are still making use of dial-up services, which falls under the fixed internet umbrella that the regulator tracks. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau estimated (new window) that about 163,000 households were using dial-up exclusively for internet service in 2023. This isn't gonna affect a lot of people, but if you're one of those people who simply never transitioned off, it's pretty seismic, added Levy. It means that at the end of September, you're losing the only access to the internet that you've ever known. Canada's major telecoms are scaling up fibre-optic networks for internet connectivity because they're capable of transferring data at high speeds and tend to be cost-effective. Satellite services — including SpaceX's Starlink — are also sometimes used for high-speed internet in rural and remote areas. Dana Ditomaso, a technology analyst in Victoria says satellite coverage isn't always reliable or fulsome in less populated areas. Especially if it's mountainous or there's a lot of trees, even satellite internet isn't going to work all that well because you need a clear line to the satellite, she noted. That's where the gap filled by dial-up services might exist — but Ditomaso doesn't expect any nostalgia-fuelled revival of the technology. It's not gonna be like vinyl records, and people are like, 'I really want that dial-up experience,' you know? she said. It's people who have to have dial-up, not because they want to have dial-up. Jenna Benchetrit (new window) · CBC News · Journalist Jenna Benchetrit is the senior business writer for CBC News. She writes stories about Canadian economic and consumer issues, and has also recently covered U.S. politics. She was part of the team that won a silver Digital Publishing Award in best news coverage for covering the 2024 U.S. election. A Montrealer based in Toronto, Jenna holds a master's degree in journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University. You can reach her at With files from Anis Heydari
CBC
5 days ago
- CBC
Peel police considering drones as first responders to some 911 calls
Police in Peel Region may soon deploy drones to certain 911 calls, something the deputy chief says could reduce response times. While drones have increasingly been used by services around the country for a variety of police work, Deputy Chief Anthony Odoardi said in a statement Thursday that the new initiative would make Peel Regional Police "one of, if not the first police service in Canada to deploy drones in this capacity." The intention is to reduce response times and give officers real-time information from the scene before they arrive, Odoardi said in the statement. Exactly what types of calls drones will be assigned to is still being determined, he said, but they could possibly be used for "in-progress incidents" like break-and-enters, missing vulnerable persons and auto thefts. "At this time, we are in the planning and regulatory review phase and will begin with a limited pilot to assess operational value, cost, and community impact," Odoardi said. "Privacy protections, including a Privacy Impact Assessment and community consultations, will guide implementation." Drones will not be used for general surveillance and will not incorporate facial recognition technology, Odoardi said. Transparency should be priority, says tech analyst Carmi Levy, an Ontario-based technology analyst and journalist, says communication with the public on how drones are being used is key. "If I'm walking down the street and I see a [police] drone zipping over my head, as a citizen, I want to understand why it's up there, what it's being used for," Levy told CBC Radio's Metro Morning last week. The public should know what information drones are able to gather, how it's used and where it ends up, he said. WATCH | As more police services use drones, privacy concerns arise: Police across Canada are using drones. Here's why that's raising privacy concerns 2 years ago "It all comes down to context," Levy said. "Potentially, this can be a game-changer when it comes to addressing crime and allowing the resources that we devote to law enforcement to cover more ground and keep us safer," he said. "I think we can realistically assume that's something we all want, but the devil is always in the details." In Hamilton, where police began using drones in 2021, people in the city have voiced concerns in recent years over privacy and a lack of transparency from police over how drones were being used. More recently, in Kingston, the use of drones this spring to catch and ticket distracted drivers drew immediate backlash from the public and legal experts, who said it was an invasion of privacy that may have violated drivers' Charter rights. The use of drones is increasingly a part of police work across the country, often aiding in investigations, ground searches and collision reconstruction. Last year, the Chatham-Kent Police Service said it was able to find a man wanted on several warrants with the help of a police drone after the man had fled into a wooded, swampy area about 100 kilometres southwest of London, Ont. Deputy Chief Odoardi said in his statement that Peel Regional Police's planned use of drones on 911 calls is intended "to better support our communities and equip officers with the tools needed to enhance emergency response efforts."
CTV News
12-07-2025
- CTV News
Tips from a tech expert on spotting AI-generated fakes
With the upsurge in deepfakes and how easy it is to create them we talk spotting fakes and how you can stay vigilant. The widespread availability and ease of use of image and video generators powered by artificial intelligence (AI) means what you see on the internet may not be what it seems. These programs and apps can create increasingly realistic-looking pictures, videos, and sound with only a few simple text prompts. In one recent example, a popular indie rock band that had more than a million monthly listeners on Spotify turned out to be AI-generated. In another case, officials in the U.S. warned of attempts to use AI tools to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre also recently warned about a rise in AI-generated voice messages being used to impersonate high-profile figures to extort victims for money and personal data. Even CTV News Ottawa was subject to impersonation using these kinds of tools. Following a report about an online scam that affected a local family, a fake version of our report circulated online, changing the words our anchors said to make it sound like they were advertising the scam in a positive light. Technology analyst and journalist Carmi Levy told CTV Morning Live that, for now, most AI-generated images and videos have imperfections that can give the game away. 'The two words that we usually use that seem to work for now are 'lean in.' So, when you're watching a video, slow it down, lean in and watch for what we like to call 'tells' that give away the fact that it's not real, it is synthetically generated, AI-created,' he said. Some things to watch out for include how the subject of the video moves. 'The movement might not be as smooth, it might be kind of stop-and-start,' said Levy. 'There might be little hitches here and there; sometimes the lips, the audio doesn't quite match what you're seeing on the individual's face.' The lighting or shading of the video might not look natural, or there might be other artefacts that seem out of place, Levy says. 'For example, if someone puts their arm around the back of somebody, there might be a placement issue or extra pieces; sometimes there are additional fingers or not enough fingers.' Levy warns, however, that these tools are becoming more sophisticated and are better able to replicate a realistic scene. 'With each new generation of these video generator apps, they get better and so it gets even harder to tell that something was AI-created. In fact, the new version of Veo, Veo 3, is so good that for a lot of people, even if they lean in, it's increasing difficult to tell,' he said. The federal government says rapid advances in AI have underscored the risks associated with the technology. 'The Government is taking actions to ensure that AI is developed in a safe and responsible manner,' a spokesperson for Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa. 'Just last November, the Government of Canada launched the Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute with the mandate to advance scientific understanding of the risks associated with the most advanced AI systems, develop measures to reduce those risks, and build trust to foster AI innovation. 'In addition, the government also launched a Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Responsible Development and Management of Advanced Generative AI Systems in September of 2023. The Code calls on AI developers and managers to take risk-mitigation measures such as developing and implementing reliable and freely available methods to detect content generated by their AI system. Greater transparency on AI generated content can help protect Canadians against AI-enabled scams and fakes. The Government is protecting Canadians from fraud and impersonation, including cases involving AI, and will continue to explore all options to strengthen these protections.' Levy says when you see something online, before sharing it, ask questions and make sure it's coming from a trustworthy source. 'How do you tell if it's real or not real? You check the source. You make sure it's coming from a legitimate source that you can trust. In many cases, if you can't trace it back to its origin, you should start with the assumption that it's not real,' he said. 'That's what I do; I start cynically and require the content to prove to me that it is, in fact, real.'
CTV News
08-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘It's a brilliant strategy': Tech analyst on Amazon extending Prime Day sales
'It's a brilliant strategy': Tech analyst on Amazon extending Prime Day sales Tech analyst Carmi Levy on why Amazon is extending Prime Day sales to four days and if trade tensions will impact prices.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Man who survived a stroke in his 40s says it was caused by a 'seemingly harmless' turn of the head: 'Awareness is survival'
Carmi Levy was enjoying a bike ride on a sunny day in 2013 when a seemingly harmless turn of the neck caused a tear in his artery. Later that evening, he became paralyzed on one side and unable to speak clearly. Levy's wife — recognizing he was having a stroke — had their kids call 9-1-1 immediately. 'I probably wouldn't be here today if my wife hadn't known what was happening right when I collapsed,' Levy says. 'She knew about FAST from her training as a teacher, and she routinely discussed it at home so we were prepared if we suspected a stroke.' This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. This article was originally published in 2024. Many people aren't as lucky as Levy whose wife knew the critical importance of calling for medical help without delay. In the months after his stroke, he had many conversations with stroke survivors who had brushed off their symptoms and refused offers of medical assistance. Fears of long wait times at the ER even led one victim to ignore their partner's pleas to call 9-1-1. 'You should never fear a wasted trip to the hospital,' says Levy. 'It's better to be safe now than sorry later. With something as irreversible as a stroke, you don't want to take that risk.' June is Stroke Awareness Month in Canada. Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability in Canada, with one stroke occurring roughly every five minutes. According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, approximately one million Canadians are living with stroke, with 108,000 strokes occurring each year. Knowing the signs of stroke can help increase your chances of a better recovery and even save your or someone else's life. Heart & Stroke launched its FAST campaign in 2014 to provide people with a simple tool for recognizing the most common signs of stroke: Face – is it drooping? Arms – can you raise both? Speech – Is it slurred or jumbled? Time to call 9-1-1 right away. Since the introduction of FAST 10 years ago, awareness has greatly increased, with a 2024 showing the number of Canadians who can name at least two FAST signs of stroke has doubled. However, new data reveals that only seven out of 10 Canadians know what a stroke can look like. According to Katie White, director of health systems at Heart & Stroke, reducing the time between the onset of stroke and arrival at a hospital can mean the difference between life and death, and also lower the chance of a lifelong disability. 'Anyone witnessing or experiencing the signs of stroke should call 9-1-1 or local emergency medical services (EMS) right away,' White tells Yahoo Canada. 'Lifesaving treatment begins the second you make that call." While awareness of FAST has increased, there are still gaps, with Heart and Stroke's poll showing disparities depending on gender, age, place of birth and race or ethnicity. "Many ethnically diverse communities are less likely to be familiar with the FAST signs of stroke," says White. 'We don't know for sure why these differences exist, but we're exploring targeted strategies to address these inequities.' This includes translating FAST materials into multiple languages and developing toolkits specifically for First Nations communities. The poll also showed that older Canadians are more familiar with the signs of stroke and more likely to take action, perhaps due to the belief that only older adults can be affected by stroke. As a stroke survivor in his 40s, Levy is no stranger to this misconception. 'At least one member of my medical team said she was surprised to see someone so young and healthy present as a stroke victim,' he says. 'There were a lot of raised eyebrows and a lot of discussion around the root cause of my stroke, because of my age.' White says that with three out of 10 Canadians unable to recognize the most common signs of stroke, there's still a lot of work to do. 'There are still not enough Canadians who recognize the signs and know to call 9-1-1 right away if they witness or experience them,' she says. Levy's experience underscores the importance of stroke awareness for everyone, regardless of age or health status. "I never had 'stroke' on my bingo card before it happened to me," he reflects. "I realize how easily things could have gone the other way if I hadn't been surrounded by a family that knew what to look for – and what to do when they saw it.' 'If so much as one person hears my story, learns, and acts, then that's everything to me,' he adds. 'Awareness is survival.'
