Latest news with #MetaAI
The Citizen
18 hours ago
- The Citizen
That viral WhatsApp warning is wrong – but the app does have privacy concerns
While WhatsApp does not collect message content, there are situations in which this could be exposed to third parties. For example, Knowles told us that if you chose to back up copies of your chat history to a cloud storage provider, such as Google Drive or iCloud, these might be unencrypted (or unlocked), and the contents accessible to your cloud service provider. Klosowski told Africa Check: 'I think it's important to think through how much data the company collects – everything it can – and what it uses it for – mostly to sell advertising. That broad collection of data consolidated with one company gives them a lot of power, and it's not always clear to people just how much the company collects.' Meta, with which WhatsApp shares data, mostly uses the information it collects for advertising, linking data from Whatsapp with your activity on other apps and across the web. (Meta will soon introduce ads to WhatsApp itself.) This means the company could, for example, use the information that you sent a message on WhatsApp from Johannesburg on a phone with a short battery life, along with other device information, to show you an advert for a new phone with a long battery life while you are browsing the web on your laptop. Tech outlet Futurism has also reported that Facebook has previously taken advantage of what it called 'moments of psychological vulnerability', like stress or body image issues, to target advertising at certain users, including teenagers. Knowles pointed out some other, more direct privacy concerns: 'If Meta is hacked, your unencrypted data, like your IP address or chat backups, could be exposed.' The same would be true of your personal messages if your cloud storage provider were hacked. Meta may also hand over data to governments in response to legal requests. And for sensitive communications, even a small amount of information can be extremely revealing. Klosowski said: 'With WhatsApp and chat messaging apps specifically, the metadata of who you are communicating with and when can reveal a lot about who you are, where you are, and what your needs may be.' While this kind of data may not seem important in the moment, he emphasised that this 'can be worrisome for some in the future if legal or personal situations change'. The EFF offers examples of how this might work. It could, for instance, be determined that someone 'called a gynecologist, spoke for a half hour, and then called the local abortion clinic's number later that day'. This is data that is collected from all WhatsApp users, even those who do not engage with Meta AI. But Meta's chatbot comes with additional privacy concerns.
The Hill
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
Meta settles with conservative activist over AI chatbot lawsuit
Meta Platforms settled a defamation lawsuit with Robby Starbuck, who claimed that Meta's artificial intelligence (AI) falsely accused him of participating in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. There is no publicly available information on the details of the settlement except that Robby Starbuck, a conservative activist working against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), will work with Meta to remove 'ideological and political bias' from the company's AI. 'Both parties have resolved this matter to our mutual satisfaction. Since engaging on these important issues with Robby, Meta has made tremendous strides to improve the accuracy of Meta AI and mitigate ideological and political bias,' a joint statement from Meta and Starbuck reads. 'Building on that work, Meta and Robby Starbuck will work collaboratively in the coming months to continue to find ways to address issues of ideological and political bias and minimize the risk that the model returns hallucinations in response to user queries,' he added. Meta did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. Starbuck on Friday told CNBC's 'Squawk Box' that both himself and Meta saw that this problem could impact other users of the company's platforms. 'That was always the point of my lawsuit — is fix this for everybody so this doesn't become a massive, you know, really terrible story in the future where AI affects elections in ways that no one is comfortable with,' he said. Starbuck dodged a question from host Andrew Ross Sorkin about how much money was rewarded, stating that he is still figuring out the details of the collaboration with the tech giant. 'Delivering fairness for consumers is the outcome I've always wanted and I'm pleased to do the work to make that a reality,' Starbuck wrote on social media. 'As we move into a future where AI dominates many parts of our world, now you know that you have an unshakable voice at the table to advocate for ideological fairness.' Starbuck filed the suit against Meta on April 29 and originally demanded more than $5 million from the company. On April 30, Joel Kaplan, Meta's chief global affairs officer, apologized publicly over the matter. 'Robby – I watched your video – this is unacceptable. This is clearly not how our AI should operate. We're sorry for the results it shared about you and that the fix we put in place didn't address the underlying problem,' he posted on the social media platform X.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck settles lawsuit over Meta on AI chatbot defamation
Conservative firebrand Robby Starbuck and Meta have agreed to a settlement after he sued the company alleging its AI chatbot defamed him. As part of the settlement, Starbuck will serve as a consultant to Meta, working with its Product Policy team to bolster their existing efforts to combat political bias in its AI models and reduce the risk of 'hallucinations' – made-up information – generated by the chatbot. Advertisement 'Both parties have resolved this matter to our mutual satisfaction. Since engaging on these important issues with Robby, Meta has made tremendous strides to improve the accuracy of Meta AI and mitigate ideological and political bias. Building on that work, Meta and Robby Starbuck will work collaboratively in the coming months to continue to find ways to address issues of ideological and political bias and minimize the risk that the model returns hallucinations in response to user queries,' Meta and Starbuck said in a joint statement. 'I'm extraordinarily pleased with how Meta and I resolved this issue. Resolving this is going to result in big wins that I believe will set an example for ethical AI across the industry. I look forward to continuing our engagement as a voice for conservatives to ensure that we're always treated fairly by AI,' Starbuck told Fox News Digital. Starbuck filed suit in Delaware Superior Court against Meta in April after its chatbot allegedly falsely accused him of being a 'White nationalist' who was arrested on Jan. 6 and claimed he had been sued for defamation. The chatbot allegedly recommended that the right-wing influencer lose custody of his children, saying he was a danger to them. Advertisement 3 Anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck and Meta have settled in court after he sued the company, William DeShazer for NY Post The anti-DEI activist was first made aware of the AI chatbot's smears against him in August 2024, when an X user posted several instances of Meta AI spreading misinformation about him online. The chatbot falsely claimed Starbuck was present at the Jan. 6 riot, was linked to the Q-Anon conspiracy, and was anti-vaccine. Starbuck proceeded to investigate for himself whether Meta AI was spreading lies about him and uncovered additional falsehoods from the chatbot. Advertisement He decided to file a lawsuit but not before he tried to resolve the issue with Meta. Woke bias has been a concern across multiple AI platforms produced by different companies. 3 Starbuck filed suit against Meta in April after its chatbot allegedly falsely accused him of being a 'White nationalist' who was arrested on Jan. 6. REUTERS Google Gemini faced backlash after its platform claimed that Memorial Day is a controversial holiday, and generated racially inaccurate images of historical figures. Advertisement ChatGPT, the chatbot pioneered by OpenAI, had previously been found to refuse requests to praise Donald Trump, but would accept requests to praise Kamala Harris or Joe Biden. OpenAI subsequently implemented programs designed to combat bias in its models. Meta claimed that addressing political bias in its AI models has been a longstanding goal for the company. 'It's well-known that all leading LLMs have had issues with bias—specifically, they historically have leaned left when it comes to debated political and social topics. This is due to the types of training data available on the internet, our goal is to remove bias from our AI models and to make sure that Llama can understand and articulate both sides of a contentious issue.' Meta wrote on their blog in April. The conservative activist told Fox News Digital he intends to use his new role with Meta to ensure that no American of any political stripe is subject to ideological bias. He's optimistic that his work with Meta will resonate across the AI industry as it continues to become an increasing presence in Americans' daily lives. 3 As part of the settlement, Starbuck will serve as a consultant, working with Meta's Product Policy team to bolster their existing efforts to combat political bias in its AI models. Ana Gioia/NY POST DESIGN 'I think a tech leader like Meta working with me is a critically important step to producing a product that's fair to everyone. I think what we do to improve AI training could become an industry standard and I also think we'll set an example for the entire industry when it comes to ensuring fairness. I'm laser focused on that and ensuring that the highest quality training materials are used,' Starbuck told Fox News Digital. Meta has attempted to address areas of perceived anti-conservative bias within its company since President Donald Trump returned to office. In January, the social media behemoth announced it was ending its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies. Advertisement The company also brought on former Republican political consultant Joel Kaplan, who worked as deputy chief of staff in the George W. Bush administration, to serve as its chief global affairs officer. Kaplan told Fox News Digital in January that eliminating DEI would ensure the company builds teams with 'the most talented people.'
India.com
3 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Then vs Now: How AI Visualizes 50 Years Of Urban Transformation – From Shanghai To Gurugram
photoDetails english 2943284 Urban life has undergone a dramatic transformation in fifty years. What were once compact, low-rise cities with limited infrastructure have grown into sprawling metropolises powered by technology, global commerce, and rapid development. The shift from manual to digital, local to global, and traditional to tech-driven lifestyles has reshaped how people live, work, and connect. Public transport systems, high-rises, smart homes, and digital economies have replaced old marketplaces, narrow roads, and slower routines. Here is how AI reimagines these major cities from around the world 50 years ago vs now: Updated:Aug 08, 2025, 03:31 PM IST Gurugram, India 1 / 8 In the 1950s, it was a slow-moving city; today, Gurugram is a tech and corporate hub dotted with skyscrapers. Singapore 2 / 8 Singapore has transformed into a global model for smart, sustainable urban living. Tokyo, Japan 3 / 8 Rebuilding after conflict, Tokyo has become one of the most technologically advanced megacities on the planet. New York, USA 4 / 8 From gritty streets to becoming a symbol of global finance, culture, and diversity, New York City has lived every moment. London, UK 5 / 8 London is now a dynamic blend of modernity and innovation. Paris, France 6 / 8 Once slower-paced and artistic, today's Paris balances its charm with cutting-edge fashion, tech, and tourism. Shanghai, China 7 / 8 Shanghai is now a gleaming giant with a futuristic skyline. Credits 8 / 8 Photo Credit: All images generated by Meta AI when given the prompt: "Generate image of 'XYZ city' 50 years ago vs now"
India.com
3 days ago
- India.com
Indias Rail Gems: Unveiling 7 Unique Stations, Including One Step From The Arabian Sea
photoDetails english 2943201 India's railway network is one of the largest in the world, with numerous stations in different locations, connecting remote villages to bustling cities by train. It is the lifeline of the nation, carrying millions of passengers daily. Railway stations are the biggest pillars of the rail network, and some have unique excellence. From historic architectural marvels like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus to engineering feats like Gorakhpur's world's longest platform, they showcase diversity, heritage, and progress. Together, they reflect India's unity, cultural richness, and commitment to connectivity. Updated:Aug 08, 2025, 01:52 PM IST Kanyakumari Railway 1 / 7 Kanyakumari Railway Station is located in Tamil Nadu and is one of the railway stations situated very close to the sea, just 1 kilometre from Kanyakumari Beach. It is the last railway station in South India. (Image: Meta AI) New Delhi Railway Station 2 / 7 New Delhi Railway Station plays a vital role in connecting the national capital with various states and cities. This station is also known as the highest earner in the 2023–24 fiscal year. (Image: ANI) Dudhsagar Railway Station 3 / 7 This railway station is located near the famous Dudhsagar Falls in the Sonaulim area of India. It serves as a crucial point for both passengers and goods, connecting various parts of Goa and beyond. The station boasts enormous natural beauty, attracting not only travellers but also featuring in movies like Chennai Express. (Image: Social Media/ X) Ghum Railway Station 4 / 7 Ghum Railway Station is located in West Bengal at an altitude of approximately 2,258 meters (7,407 feet), is the highest railway station in India. It is part of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as noted in current affairs. (Image: Pixabay) Gorakhpur Junction 5 / 7 Gorakhpur Junction is located in Uttar Pradesh and holds the record for the world's longest railway platform, measuring about 1.3 km in length. (Image: Social Media/ X) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus 6 / 7 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its stunning Victorian Gothic architecture. (Image: UNESCO website) Howrah Junction 7 / 7 Howrah Junction, located in West Bengal near the Hooghly River, is considered one of the busiest railway stations, with 23 platforms. It is also known for its historic architecture. (Image: Eastern Railway Official site)
