Latest news with #responsibility
Bloomberg
7 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Sweden on Track Toward 5% NATO Target, Defense Minister Says
Sweden is on track to increase military spending in line with goals that are expected to be agreed at NATO's upcoming summit in the Hague, the Nordic country's defense minister said. 'We have a trajectory going up to 3.5% for pure military expenditures, and then 1.5% for military related defense expenditure. So all in all, 5%, Pal Jonson told Bloomberg on Saturday. 'We stand ready to shoulder the responsibility.'
Arabian Business
a day ago
- General
- Arabian Business
biometric
The use of biometric authentication and identification offers unrivalled convenience and security in a modern connected city but the technology needs to be built responsibly
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Not all leaders shout — Nahrizul Adib Kadri
MAY 29 — I was never the loud one. Not in school. Not at family gatherings. Not in lecture halls, faculty meetings, or boardrooms. I've never felt the need to raise my voice just to be seen. I don't dominate a room. I don't seek the centre. But I've always been there. And over time, I've come to realise: being loud isn't the same as being effective. And presence doesn't require volume. We live in a world that often rewards noise. The loudest voices get the clicks. The most confident ones, the spotlight. The extroverted, the assertive, the performative — they're labelled natural leaders. But here's the truth: visibility isn't leadership. And performance isn't presence. Back in school, I wasn't the most brilliant, nor the most charismatic. I was somewhere in the middle — quiet, observant, a little nerdy. I didn't attract crowds, but I built friendships that spanned groups: the overachievers, the rebels, the in-betweens. I was the guy who would listen while others talked, who helped organise without demanding credit. Somehow, that made me trustworthy. And maybe that's why I ended up as president of the Arts Club — not because I asked for it, but because people knew I'd show up, get things done, and treat everyone fairly. That moment taught me something that stayed with me: leadership isn't about drawing attention. It's about holding responsibility — even when no one's watching. Years later, that same quiet rhythm carried into my professional life. As an academic, I've led departments, managed student communities, sat on panels, and even directed a corporate communications centre for a major university. I've helped the Universiti Malaya (UM) community (lecturers, staff, students) to appear in the media nearly 2,000 times. But you won't find me making grand speeches or chasing virality. My approach is different. Quieter. More deliberate. I lead by doing. By writing. By connecting people. By creating room for others to grow. Silence isn't awkward; it's respectful. Pauses carry meaning. What is not said can be just as powerful as what is. Speaking less doesn't mean knowing less; it often means knowing when to speak. — Unsplash pic And still, I've never needed to shout. Malcolm Gladwell, in his 2013 book David and Goliath, talks about the 'advantage of disadvantage.' He reframes how we see strength. David didn't win because he defied the odds — he won because he understood the odds better. Goliath was heavy and slow. David was agile and precise. What looked like weakness — being small, being quiet, being underestimated — was actually an edge. The same can be said for leadership. What we dismiss as passivity might actually be perspective. What we see as indecision might be reflection. Being quiet doesn't mean you're unsure. It often means you're thinking. Planning. Choosing your words carefully. That kind of leadership — the kind that listens more than it talks — is desperately needed today. Some cultures understand this better than others. In Japan, there's a deep cultural appreciation for ma — the space between things. It's found in music, in design, in conversation. Silence isn't awkward; it's respectful. Pauses carry meaning. What is not said can be just as powerful as what is. Speaking less doesn't mean knowing less — it often means knowing when to speak. Imagine how different our institutions, classrooms, and boardrooms would be if we respected that principle more. If we didn't equate noise with knowledge. If we made space for quiet leadership to rise. I see this often in my students and colleagues. The ones who speak softly but think deeply. The ones who hesitate before answering, not because they're unsure, but because they're weighing their words. I make a point to notice them. To encourage them. Because I know what it feels like to be overlooked simply because you're not loud. And I know what it feels like to carry weight silently. So, if you've ever felt like you don't fit the mould of a 'typical' leader — if you're the one who stays in the background, who observes more than you interrupt, who writes rather than performs — I want to tell you this: you don't need to raise your voice to raise the bar. You don't have to be loud to lead. You don't have to be the centre of attention to make a difference. Let your work speak. Let your presence speak. And when it's your time to speak, make sure it matters. Because not all leaders shout. Some listen first. Some build from the edges. Some lead with calm, with care, with quiet consistency. And in the end, when the noise fades, it's often their impact that lasts the longest. * Ir Nahrizul Adib Kadri is a professor of biomedical engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, and the Principal of Ibnu Sina Residential College, Universiti Adib Kadri is a professor of biomedical engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, and the Principal of Ibnu Sina Residential College, Universiti Adib Kadri is a professor of biomedical engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, and the principal of Ibnu Sina Residential College, Universiti Malaya. He may be reached at [email protected] ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Gen Z household trend leaving others baffled
OPINION Has anyone seen an exit sign? Because I need to find a side door and quietly slip out of this whole era. I've been stewing on data from appliance giant Westinghouse for three days straight. I just can't get over it. The study was conducted by YouGov online earlier this year, with a representative sample of 1000 Australians aged 18-29. Westinghouse found that 69 per cent of Gen Z respondents use their oven or dishwasher for storage, and 39 per cent still bring their laundry home to mum and dad. My first response, as an exhausted, menopausal, middle-aged parent, was to seethe about Gen Z, which happens to me sometimes. What are they storing in their ovens and dishwashers, I wondered. Their staggering sneaker collections? Unwise impulse buys from the Iconic? Laundry baskets overflowing with Labubus? Or are these whitegoods stuffed full of all Gen Z's unfiltered feelings? As for bringing the laundry home to mum and dad at their age, well, they can shove that where the sheets won't dry. These children are up to 29 years old – that's just embarrassing. Where's the pride and personal accountability? And who are their parents, enabling this developmentally stunted failure to launch?! But as I fumed, the answer dawned on me. The parents responsible for this epic failure to equip Gen Z for so much as a load of laundry are in my own generation, Gen X. Well, what a massive disappointment we turned out to be. This one is on us. And that got me thinking about what our own youth was like. There are enough memes and Facebook groups about growing up in the '70s and '80s to make clear Gen X fancies itself as the cool kids club. Not wearing bike helmets was the least of it. We roamed the streets and malls and our mostly Boomer parents were brazen in their preference for each other's company above ours. Their colossal, permanent project of self-interest meant a wholesale rejection of the single most tedious part of parenting – supervising children – and some of us were lucky to make it out alive, myself included. I nearly drowned at one '70s backyard party. The adults were far too busy necking Coolabah cask wine and long necks of KB to notice the toddler silently sinking in the unfenced pool. I can still remember looking up in that sleepy underwater dreamworld to see the hostess Moosa's kaftan billowing like a gymbaroo parachute when she hit the water fully clothed, plunging to the bottom in an instant to scoop me up. By the time I was 18, the same age as the youngest survey respondents, I had lived or had extended stays in 22 different homes. In my early 20s, my housemates included a compulsive liar, a sneaky thief, a serial AVO violator, a nascent werewolf, a two-faced bovine creature who was like an emotionally manipulative version of Dr Doolittle's Push-Me-Pull-You, and a gaslighting two-timer. Good times. But from the age of 14, I have always, always held down a job, and in my 20s I put myself through uni, paid my own rent, paid my bills, did my laundry, washed my dishes, shopped for groceries and taught myself to cook. The survey brought to mind a hit Australian novel published in those years called He Died with a Felafel in His Hand. Drawing liberally on the author's own experiences of shadehouses, the book was so funny because it was so true. Personally I wouldn't be without any of my freak show experiences. There was never, ever a dull moment, whereas I worry constantly – and I mean I wake up worrying about this most nights – that our young people's lives are drowning in dull moments. There is something so dull-dull-dulling about all that time they spend on their screens. I worry myself sick that its sinister, omnipresent glow is dimming the bright, beautiful light of the best years of their lives. They're being robbed blind – and all of us in Gen X know it, too, because we had a lawless adolescence and crazy stupid fun early adulthood in the years before the internet and mobile phones. We did not look down. It was always best not to. So we learned some things the hard way – but we also learned to take care of business. So why do 70 per cent of so-called 'independent' 18-29 year olds (among whom 26 per cent have never paid all their own household bills; 24 per cent have never cleaned an oven; 24 per cent have never paid all their own car expenses and 30 per cent have never mowed a lawn) say in the Westinghouse survey that they wish they had learned more about managing a home before flying the coop? Why the hell didn't we teach them? Gen X wears the scars and tells the stories of our parents' casual abandonment with unbridled pride and joy now – because it was kind of great for us – so why have we done things so very differently with our own kids? All they do is look down. All the time. Let's call it the 'effluencer epoch', because the steaming garbage tip of so-called influencers and their TikTok automaton audience is threatening to define a couple of generations of kids if we adults don't snap out of our collective social media content coma and do something. I'm going to call those self-serving social sickness drug dealers 'effluencers' from now on because I have never seen so much crap in circulation and frankly it's clogging all the pipes – our children's social, emotional, mental and physical pipes, I mean. Not only was it not so bad growing into adulthood the way we did, at a time when these devices and platforms did not exist and a dishwasher was the most coveted, cutting-edge item in the house, the crippling consequences of a scenario that is much, much worse is all around us, affecting our Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids. WALL-E was written by Gen X-er Andrew Stanton. It was a cautionary tale, not a blueprint for our children's future.
Geeky Gadgets
6 days ago
- Business
- Geeky Gadgets
Claude 4 Opus Overview Redefining AI with Ethics at Its Core
What if the future of AI wasn't just about raw power, but about striking a delicate balance between innovation and responsibility? Enter Anthropic's Claude 4 series, a new leap in artificial intelligence that promises to redefine what's possible. With models like Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4, Anthropic has delivered tools that not only rival industry titans like GPT-4.1 and Gemini 2.5 Pro but also prioritize safety and ethical considerations. This isn't just another step forward in AI—it's a bold statement that innovative technology can be both fantastic and accountable. In a world where AI capabilities are advancing at breakneck speed, the Claude 4 series dares to ask: how do we innovate without compromising our values? In this breakdown, Wes Roth explores the features that make the Claude 4 series a standout in the competitive AI landscape. From its enhanced memory that tackles complex, long-term tasks to its seamless tool integration for developers, these models are designed to solve real-world challenges with precision and ease. But the story doesn't stop at performance—Anthropic has also implemented robust safeguards to address ethical concerns, making sure these tools are as responsible as they are powerful. Whether you're curious about its applications in education, gaming, or professional workflows, or intrigued by how it stacks up against its rivals, this exploration will reveal why the Claude 4 series is more than just an upgrade—it's a vision for the future of AI. Claude 4 Series Overview Key Features and Performance of the Claude 4 Series The Claude 4 series introduces significant advancements in AI performance, setting new standards for functionality and reliability. Claude Opus 4, the flagship model, achieved an impressive 80.2% accuracy on industry benchmarks, showcasing its ability to handle complex tasks with precision. These models are designed to excel in diverse applications, offering users tools to solve intricate problems more effectively. Key features of the Claude 4 series include: Enhanced Memory: The models exhibit improved retention and recall capabilities, allowing them to manage long-term contexts with ease. This makes them particularly effective for tasks requiring sustained focus, such as research, content creation, and strategic planning. The models exhibit improved retention and recall capabilities, allowing them to manage long-term contexts with ease. This makes them particularly effective for tasks requiring sustained focus, such as research, content creation, and strategic planning. Tool Integration: Seamless compatibility with platforms like VS Code enhances workflows for developers. These models provide coding assistance, debugging support, and documentation generation, streamlining software development processes. Seamless compatibility with platforms like VS Code enhances workflows for developers. These models provide coding assistance, debugging support, and documentation generation, streamlining software development processes. Autonomous Troubleshooting: The ability to refine outputs in real-time without constant user intervention boosts productivity and minimizes errors, making these models reliable partners in professional environments. These features position the Claude 4 series as a versatile solution for professionals across industries, including software development, education, and scientific research. By combining advanced capabilities with user-centric design, the series offers practical tools to address real-world challenges. Interactive Simulations: Expanding AI Applications The Claude 4 series demonstrates exceptional versatility in creating interactive simulations, unlocking new possibilities in education, entertainment, and virtual environments. These models can generate dynamic, engaging content that transforms how users interact with technology. Examples of their applications include: Developing Minecraft-like environments for creative exploration and collaborative projects. Simulating solar system models to enhance educational experiences in classrooms and online learning platforms. Designing 2D soccer games and other interactive activities to boost user engagement in gaming and recreational settings. These capabilities highlight the potential of AI to bridge the gap between creativity and functionality. By allowing the creation of immersive experiences, the Claude 4 series fosters innovation in fields ranging from education to entertainment, offering tools that cater to both professional and personal interests. Claude 3 Opus Overview Watch this video on YouTube. Here are more detailed guides and articles that you may find helpful on Claude Opus. Addressing Safety and Ethical Challenges As AI models become more autonomous and capable, addressing safety and ethical considerations is paramount. Anthropic has implemented stringent safeguards, including ASL 3 protocols, to minimize risks associated with misuse. These measures are designed to prevent scenarios such as: The development of autonomous weapons or other harmful technologies. Unethical applications, such as simulated blackmail, manipulation, or exploitation. Comprehensive red-teaming tests have been conducted to identify and mitigate concerning behaviors, underscoring the importance of continuous ethical oversight. AI alignment remains a critical challenge, as developers work to ensure that these models operate in accordance with human values and societal norms. While there is no evidence that the Claude 4 series has crossed critical capability thresholds, Anthropic's proactive measures reflect a commitment to responsible AI development, prioritizing safety alongside innovation. Pricing and Accessibility Anthropic has adopted a flexible token-based pricing model for the Claude 4 series, making these advanced AI tools accessible to a wide range of users. Pricing details include: Claude Opus 4: $15.75 per million tokens, offering high-end capabilities for demanding applications. $15.75 per million tokens, offering high-end capabilities for demanding applications. Claude Sonnet 4: $3.15 per million tokens, providing a cost-effective option for less intensive use cases. Additionally, subscription plans, such as a $200/month option, cater to both individual users and organizations. This approach ensures scalability and affordability, allowing businesses and professionals to integrate these models into their workflows without significant financial barriers. Competition in the AI Landscape The Claude 4 series positions Anthropic as a formidable player in the competitive AI landscape. Benchmarks indicate that these models may surpass rivals like Gemini 2.5 Pro in specific areas, intensifying the competition among leading AI labs, including OpenAI and Google DeepMind. This rivalry drives innovation, pushing the boundaries of AI capabilities and accelerating advancements across the field. As the industry evolves, the competitive dynamics among key players will continue to shape the trajectory of AI development. By focusing on both performance and safety, Anthropic is well-positioned to remain at the forefront of this rapidly changing landscape, contributing to the broader progress of artificial intelligence. Looking Ahead: Innovation with Responsibility Anthropic's Claude 4 series represents a significant milestone in AI development, combining innovative features with a strong emphasis on safety and ethical considerations. The company plans to continue refining these models, balancing enhanced capabilities with robust safeguards to ensure responsible deployment. The competitive landscape remains dynamic, with no clear frontrunner emerging yet. As AI technology advances, the focus will remain on creating tools that not only push the boundaries of innovation but also align with human values and societal needs. Anthropic's commitment to this balance underscores its role as a leader in shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Media Credit: Wes Roth Filed Under: AI, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. 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