Top 10 Tech News of the Week

1. France’s Ambitious Plan to Secure the Internet

This week, France unveiled a comprehensive plan featuring around twenty measures aimed at making the internet a safer space. This initiative largely builds on recent European regulations like the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which seek to curb abuses by major platforms regarding consumer rights and competition. A key proposal is an “anti-scam filter,” designed to protect less tech-savvy users from online fraud, which is a significant concern given that half of all French citizens have reportedly experienced attempted scams via email or SMS. This filter would likely manifest as pop-up warnings when users encounter malicious websites, emails, or SMS, with a blacklist maintained by operators and overseen by the CNIL, France’s data protection authority. This is particularly timely with the 2024 Olympic Games approaching, a known breeding ground for ticketing fraud. While some experts question the filter’s effectiveness due to the transient nature of scam sites, it marks a crucial step in combating online threats.

2. Tackling Online Hate Speech with New Regulations

Beyond fraud, the French government’s plan also targets online hate speech. In addition to existing fines, new penalties will include banning cyberbullies and malicious individuals from platforms for periods ranging from six months to a year. This covers a broad spectrum of offenses, including the dissemination of violent images, child pornography, incitement to terrorism, homophobia, transphobia, and Holocaust denial. A major point of contention and criticism, however, is the mechanism for preventing banned individuals from simply creating new accounts. Platforms would be held responsible for enforcing these bans, facing fines up to 75,000 euros for non-compliance. Yet, with email addresses and phone numbers easily circumvented, and IP address blocks potentially penalizing entire households, the practical implementation remains highly uncertain. The regulatory authority, ARCOM, will see its powers reinforced to act more swiftly, especially against pornographic sites accessible to minors.

3. The Advent of AI in French Public Services

Starting this September, artificial intelligence will make its way into French public services. Two hundred agents across various “France Services” branches will pilot a chatbot, akin to a specialized version of ChatGPT for administrative tasks. The primary goal is to provide rapid and accurate answers to user queries, thereby enhancing the efficiency of administrative processes. The confidentiality of user data is a guaranteed priority, and an initial assessment of the pilot program is slated for February 2024. This move highlights a growing trend of leveraging AI to streamline public services, emphasizing improved access to information and reduced administrative burden for citizens. The aim is to make public information more accessible and less daunting to navigate, reflecting a broader governmental push towards digital transformation and citizen-centric services.

4. Google’s AI-Powered Revolution at I/O Conference

This week, Google showcased its deep commitment to artificial intelligence at its annual I/O conference, unveiling a plethora of new AI-driven services. From automatic email drafting to hyper-sophisticated photo retouching, AI is now central to Google’s product strategy. A standout announcement was the evolution of Google Bard, its AI-powered search engine. Bard will now run on the next-generation advanced language model, PaLM 2. This model, divided into four variants—Gecko, Otter, Bison, and Unicorn—each tailored for specific needs, promises enhanced capabilities. PaLM 2 is designed for ultra-performance, boasting advanced knowledge in mathematics and medicine, potentially enabling it to interpret X-rays. Developers will also benefit, with features for debugging multiple lines of code and translating comments into various languages, underscoring Google’s global reach.

5. Bard’s Global Rollout and Enhanced Interconnectivity

Google’s strategy is clear: integrate Bard across its entire ecosystem. With this new iteration, possibilities appear limitless. Coupled with Search, Bard will soon be able to associate images with queries, while Lens will analyze and understand images for search integration. Google Docs and Gmail will also see streamlined result exports, and Google Maps will enhance user experience based on specific needs. Future integrations include Adobe Suite and extensions for travel sites or shopping apps like Instagram. This focus on interconnectivity is paramount, allowing Bard to recognize voice commands and operate seamlessly across different platforms. While Bard aims to rectify its initial, less-than-stellar presentation, its deployment is still staggered. Although the waiting list is gone and it’s immediately available in 180 countries (including English, Japanese, and Korean versions), France and the rest of Europe are still awaiting access, likely due to regulatory hurdles.

6. The World’s First Edible Battery Unveiled

In a groundbreaking innovation, researchers have developed a digestible battery that can be ingested safely. This minuscule, edible battery was created by Italian scientists at the Italian Institute of Technology, with support from the European Research Council. Composed of everyday products, it uses riboflavin (vitamin B2) for the anode and quercetin (found in capers) for the cathode, separated by algae and encapsulated in beeswax, with a touch of gold leaf for contacts. This breakthrough could revolutionize miniature electronic medical devices, making them ingestible without invasive surgery. Another significant advantage is its safety for children, addressing the growing concern over accidental ingestion of small button batteries, which pose serious health risks. Currently a prototype, this edible battery produces a modest 0.65 volts and can deliver 48 amps for about twelve minutes, but its potential for future medical and safety applications is immense.

7. BlackBerry’s Resurgence in a New Film

The iconic Canadian brand BlackBerry, once a global phenomenon, is back in the spotlight with a new film chronicling its rise and fall. Released this week in Canada, the movie recounts the journey of Research In Motion (RIM) and the revolutionary BlackBerry device. Founded in 1984, RIM launched BlackBerry 15 years later, forever changing mobile communication. The film, which is not yet available in France, offers a nostalgic dive into an era when the BlackBerry, with its distinctive physical keyboard and groundbreaking push email capabilities, was a must-have for professionals and a status symbol. Its secure messaging, BBM, also captivated younger audiences, marking the early days of mobile addiction. The film vividly portrays the company’s early struggles, the unique vision of its founders, and the eventual challenge posed by the iPhone, which ultimately led to BlackBerry’s decline despite its loyal user base.

8. TED Conference 2023 Highlights: An AI-Centric Future

The recent TED conference in Vancouver, Canada, served as a major platform for discussions on technological innovation and the future, heavily dominated by artificial intelligence. Speakers like Greg Brockman, co-founder of OpenAI, presented the latest advancements in ChatGPT, particularly its ability to integrate with external services like restaurant booking platforms or ride-sharing apps, demonstrating its exponential potential for real-world applications. The conference also featured Tom Graham, a deepfake expert, who showcased real-time deepfake technology, raising profound questions about truth and deception in the digital age. Another fascinating presentation by researcher Karen Baker explored how AI could bridge communication between humans and animals, citing examples of AI translating dolphin and bat vocalizations into human language. The prevailing sentiment was that AI’s capabilities are far from fully realized, hinting at a future where it reshapes communication, information, and interaction on a global scale.

9. AI and the Ethics of Defense Development

A particularly thought-provoking discussion at TED Vancouver centered on AI’s role in defense. An AI specialist argued that future conflicts would be predominantly driven by AI, with autonomous systems piloting missiles, military vehicles, and other advanced weaponry. His controversial but compelling argument was that halting or slowing AI development, despite ethical concerns and potential risks, would be detrimental. If Western nations pause their AI research, other global powers would inevitably continue, gaining a strategic advantage not just economically but militarily. This imbalance could destabilize global power dynamics. While acknowledging the valid concerns about AI’s potential dangers, the speaker emphasized the imperative to continue innovation in AI for national security, underscoring the complex ethical dilemmas at the intersection of technology and warfare. This perspective highlights the high-stakes geopolitical implications of AI leadership.

10. Sven: The TikTok of News for the Youth

Sven, an innovative French application, aims to be the “TikTok of news” for younger generations. Targeting users under 35, Sven adopts the highly engaging, vertical video format and infinite scroll characteristic of TikTok to deliver news content. Unlike typical social media feeds, Sven aggregates video news from over 80 media partners, ranging from general news outlets like TF1 and AFP to specialized platforms covering science, women’s issues, and more. The goal is to provide a curated, high-quality information ecosystem that leverages familiar social media mechanics. Sven also innovates with its “video reactions” feature, allowing users to record and share 10-second video responses to news items with their friends, fostering deeper engagement than traditional text comments. Breaking from the “filter bubble” effect common in other social platforms, Sven’s algorithms actively promote diversity in content and media sources, ensuring users are exposed to varied perspectives and encouraged to form their own informed opinions. This approach seeks to empower young people with unbiased and comprehensive news.