Big Tech news and reports on Federal Newswire

In a recent episode recorded live at the NVIDIA GTC global AI conference, Curtis Northcutt, the cofounder and CEO of Cleanlab, and Steven Gawthorpe, senior data scientist at Berkeley Research Group, shared insights on combating corruption using AI-powered investigative analytics. Speaking with Noah Kravitz, host of NVIDIA’s AI Podcast, the experts delved into Cleanlab's innovative approach to data curation.Northcutt highlighted Cleanlab's commitment to enhancing data reliability and trustworthiness through advanced error identification and correction algorithms. He...

The American Prospect: The Final Act on Government Surveillance

In response to proposed amendments that would expand Section 702 of the base text on government surveillance, Chris Baumohl, a law fellow at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), expressed strong concerns. Baumohl highlighted the potential implications of these amendments, stating, “As if the base text wasn’t bad enough, these amendments would all significantly expand Section 702. In particular, the weaponization of a post-9/11 warrantless surveillance authority to search for immigrants traveling to the U.S.—with no suspicion of wrongdoing whatsoever—is deeply...

The Building Blocks of AI: Decoding the Role and Significance of Foundation Models

On April 10, 2024, the importance of foundation models in the realm of artificial intelligence was highlighted in a post from the AI Decoded series. The post aimed to shed light on the core concepts of AI technology, making it more accessible to a wider audience.Foundation models, described as the fundamental building blocks for AI applications, were emphasized as crucial components for developing advanced technologies. These models are neural networks trained on vast amounts of raw data through unsupervised learning, enabling them to understand and generate human-like...

Republicans Split on Whether FBI Should Be Able To Snoop Without a Warrant

A new piece of legislation, the Reasonable Intelligence Surveillance Authorization Act (RISAA), has sparked debate among Republicans regarding the FBI's ability to conduct surveillance without a warrant. The bill, which is positioned as a compromise between two existing bills, has raised concerns about its actual implications.According to sources, RISAA is perceived as a compromise between the Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act and the FISA Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2023. However, there are doubts about the true nature of this compromise, with...

ITI Calls on EU Council to Take Balanced Approach to GDPR Following Parliament Vote

The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) has expressed concerns following the European Parliament's plenary vote on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Procedural Regulation. ITI's Policy Manager for Europe, Laura Wiesenfeld, highlighted the potential consequences of the vote on GDPR enforcement mechanisms, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach.Wiesenfeld stated, "Unfortunately, today’s vote threatens the viability of the GDPR’s essential One-Stop-Shop mechanism, reduces confidentiality protections, restricts rights of investigated parties, and...

Start Up Your Engines: NVIDIA and Google Cloud Collaborate to Accelerate AI Development

NVIDIA and Google Cloud have joined forces in a new collaboration aimed at accelerating the development of generative AI applications and services for startups worldwide. The collaboration, announced at the Google Cloud Next ‘24 event in Las Vegas, seeks to provide support and resources for startups through programs offered by both companies.Qualified members of NVIDIA Inception, a program supporting over 18,000 startups globally, will now have access to Google Cloud infrastructure with credits of up to $350,000 for those focusing on AI. Additionally, high-growth software...

NVIDIA Joins $110 Million Partnership to Help Universities Teach AI Skills

The Biden Administration has announced a new $110 million AI partnership between Japan and the United States that includes an initiative to fund research through a collaboration between the University of Washington and the University of Tsukuba. NVIDIA is committing $25 million in a collaboration with Amazon that aims to bring the latest technologies to the University of Washington, in Seattle, and the University of Tsukuba, which is northeast of Tokyo."This collaboration between the University of Washington, University of Tsukuba, Amazon, and NVIDIA will help provide the...

Colin Farrell to Star in Edward Berger's 'The Ballad of a Small Player' for Netflix

Colin Farrell has been announced as the lead in Edward Berger's upcoming film, "The Ballad of a Small Player," set to be produced for Netflix. The movie, based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Lawrence Osborne, will see Farrell take on the role of Lord Doyle. The plot revolves around a high-stakes gambler in Macau whose past and debts begin to catch up with him, leading him to cross paths with a mysterious figure who could potentially change his fate.The film, which is set to be shot on location in Asia in Summer 2024, will mark the first project under Berger's...

Broadcasting Breakthroughs: NVIDIA Holoscan for Media Revolutionizes Live Media With Easy AI Integration

NVIDIA has introduced a groundbreaking software-defined platform for the media industry, known as Holoscan for Media. This platform aims to transform live media applications by seamlessly integrating AI technologies and deploying them across various media platforms.According to the article, Holoscan for Media offers a new approach to application development in live media, providing developers with a cloud-native architecture that is not limited by dedicated hardware or specific locations. By incorporating open-source technologies, the platform simplifies application...

Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing: FISA Amendment Proposes Largest Expansion in Over 15 Years

House Intelligence Committee leads Mike Turner and Jim Himes have proposed an amendment to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that would significantly expand warrantless surveillance. This amendment, falsely portrayed as a minor definitional tweak, is actually being labeled as the largest expansion of FISA since its inception in 2008.Last December, the House Intelligence Committee introduced a plan to broaden the definition of "electronic communication service provider" in the FISA 702 bill, prompting concerns from various organizations...

CCIA to testify at House AI hearing Wednesday

Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) is set to testify at a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property on Wednesday, as reported on April 9, 2024. CCIA's senior counsel for innovation policy, Joshua Landau, will be presenting insights to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet regarding potential issues surrounding AI-generated intellectual property.During the hearing, Landau will emphasize the importance of maintaining AI as a complement to human creativity rather...

Top 10 Week of Apr. 1: ‘3 Body Problem’ Holds Strong at #1

"3 Body Problem, the epic drama series from David Benioff, D. B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo, continued its dominance by claiming the top spot on the English TV List for another week, garnering 8.3M views and making its presence felt in 92 countries.""Testament: The Story of Moses and Guy Ritchie’s aristocratic gangster series The Gentlemen retained their positions in second and third place respectively.""Files of the Unexplained, Sex and the City, Is It Cake?, and the limited series Ripley, starring Andrew Scott, made impressive debuts on the list.""The South African...

GDPR Enforcement: Industry Calls For Balanced European Parliament Position

Brussels, BELGIUM – Ahead of the European Parliament Plenary vote on the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) procedural rules, industry associations are urging the European Parliament to take a practical approach. The focus is on maintaining the balance of public interests and upholding basic GDPR principles.In a joint letter issued by six industry associations, concerns were raised about potentially undermining fundamental GDPR principles during the upcoming vote. Claudia Canelles Quaroni, CCIA Europe’s Senior Policy Manager, emphasized the importance of...

The Register: US legislators propose American Privacy Rights Act – and it looks quite good

The Register: US legislators propose American Privacy Rights Act – and it looks quite goodApr 9 2024Americans may soon live under a federal privacy law – a mere two decades after the US Federal Trade Commission urged Congress to regulate online data collection.On Monday, US representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and US senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced the American Privacy Rights Act [PDF], which aims to provide a comprehensive set of rules governing how citizens’ data is used."Today, there are 15 state privacy laws – 14 of which, according to Maryland...

New ADA Rule Is a Much-Needed Step Toward More Accessible Government Services

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Justice Department recently announced a final rule clarifying state and local governments' obligations under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act to make their websites and mobile applications accessible for people with disabilities.In response to this development, ITIF Vice President Daniel Castro emphasized the importance of the new rule, stating, "This new rule is an important step forward in creating a more inclusive digital society." Castro further highlighted the critical need for state and local governments to ensure full...

Behind the Scenes: Inside the Immersive Universe of ‘Parasyte: The Grey’

Just three days after Parasyte: The Grey premiered on Friday, the latest Korean series became the most watched non-English TV Netflix show globally, clocking 6.3 million viewing hours last week.One of the most talked about moments in the series is when a person’s head splits open to reveal the parasite within. To make it look realistic, director Yeon Sang-ho focused not only on how the parasite’s movements looked in CGI but also how they should affect the physical environment.“When the parasite head moves by, elements like hair should move naturally. We even tried...

The Washington Post: Hundreds of groups urge Big Tech CEOs to step up fight against AI-fueled lies

WASHINGTON (Apr 9, 2024) - More than 200 civil advocacy groups have united in urging major tech companies to intensify their efforts in combating artificial intelligence-driven misinformation ahead of global elections. In a letter exclusively obtained by The Technology 202, the coalition of activists called on the CEOs of prominent tech firms, including Meta, Reddit, Google, and others, to implement more robust strategies to counter the spread of harmful political propaganda.Highlighting the urgency of the situation, the groups emphasized the need for proactive measures...

Gizmodo: Concerns Raised Over Federal Data Privacy Bill

Caitriona Fitzgerald, the deputy director at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, has expressed concerns regarding the new federal data privacy bill. In a statement, Fitzgerald highlighted the issue of preemption of state-level regulation, emphasizing the need for a robust law.“From our perspective—in an ideal world—it would not preempt state laws, it would allow states to pass stronger laws,” Fitzgerald stated. She further emphasized the importance of ensuring that if the bill preempts state laws, it must be stronger than existing regulations.“We recognize that...

Deprecating Third-Party Cookies: Google Takes a Step Towards a More Private Web

Google has proposed to deprecate third-party cookies in its Chrome browser while providing alternative methods for online advertising tools in efforts to enhance privacy on the web. According to a recent article, the move towards deprecation is seen as a positive step towards a more private online ecosystem that respects user privacy.In response to the deprecation of third-party cookies, a spokesperson mentioned, "Using technical measures in browsers to directly limit abusive online tracking is necessary, and, in the most widely used web browser, Google Chrome, long...