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  • Nvidia Says Its New Patch is Immune to Recently Discovered Spectre Bug

    Nvidia Says Its New Patch is Immune to Recently Discovered Spectre Bug

    Last week, Nvidia ran into some problems with the recently revealed “Meltdown” and “Spectre” bugs. When the manufacturer announced that it would be releasing a new patch to address the memory-related vulnerabilities, some outlets misinterpreted the statement as an indirect admission that perhaps, even its GPU might be vulnerable.

    For those who might be wondering what Spectre and Meltdown are,  here’s a brief explanation:

    Just days after the explosive New Year celebration, the entire computing world received an even more explosive revelation—everyone’s been sitting on top of a security flaw that has existed for more than two decades.

    On January 3, Meltdown and Spectre, two security vulnerabilities present in every computer, tablet and even smartphones since 1995, were finally revealed to the world. Before you go ahead and unplugged all your computing devices, just take a deep breath and relax; everything is being taken care of. Patches are being deployed and the vulnerabilities should soon become a thing of the past.

    If you have to blame someone, blame it on our need to have our computers run faster. In 1995, manufacturers developed the idea of executing certain computer processes ahead of time, even before users inputted their choice. This process was termed “speculative execution.”  For example, if you frequently visit a particular website that requires login credentials, your computer would guess that you would want to enter your password and begin loading the necessary files. This, of course, boosts computing speed as your PC will be correct about your intentions most of the time. The problem starts when the user inputs a choice different from what the computer had predicted. The computer then has to throw away the useless data into the cache memory.

    This would not have been a problem back in those days when PCs were usually stand-alone. These days, however, everything is connected and, with this interconnectivity, researchers were actually able to prove that someone connected to the system could actually take a peak at the contents of those rejected data. While it may not necessarily contain sensitive information, there is that chance that it may indeed contain personal data like credit card numbers.

    In response to the security vulnerabilities, Nvidia decided to update the driver software of its GPUs. However, Nvidia’s move was misunderstood and some even took it as an admission that even its GPUs could be vulnerable as well.

    To address the misconceptions about its products, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang clarified the company’s position during the Q & A portion at a press conference on Wednesday. “Our GPUs are immune, they’re not affected by these security issues,” Huang asserts. “What we did is we released driver updates to patch the CPU security vulnerability.”

    As Huang explains it, the patches are basically similar in nature to the patches provided by other tech companies and not an indication that its hardware is particularly vulnerable. “We are patching the CPU vulnerability the same way that Amazon, the same way that SAP, the same way that Microsoft, etc is patching because we have software as well,” he said.

    Summing it up, Huang declared, “I am absolutely certain that our GPU is not affected.”

    Just what level of threat do those vulnerabilities expose regular users of the internet? According to UPROXX, the general public should not be too worried about it. For starters, those vulnerabilities are very hard to exploit. In addition, there is really no indication that there were security issues that resulted in any exploitation. When you come to think of it, it even took those experts more than two decades to realize that the flaws existed.

    Everything should be fine as long as you run the fixes being prepared by various tech companies.

    [Featured image via Nvidia]

  • Intel CEO Updates Industry on Recent Security Issues – Watch Brian Krzanich CES Keynote

    Intel CEO Updates Industry on Recent Security Issues – Watch Brian Krzanich CES Keynote

    At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Intel CEO Brian Krzanich provided an update on important security issues currently facing Intel customers. He focused specifically on a recent security research study.

    “Today is a day when we all come together to celebrate the lifeblood of our amazing industry – and that’s really about innovation. But before we start, I want to take a moment to thank the industry for coming together for another purpose – to address the recent security research findings reported as “Meltdown” and “Spectre.”
    “The collaboration among so many companies to address this industry-wide issue across several different processor architectures has been truly remarkable. Security is job number one for Intel and our industry. So, the primary focus of our decisions and our discussions have been to keep our customer’s data safe.

    “As of now, we have not received any information that these exploits have been used to obtain customer data. And we are working tirelessly on these issues to ensure it stays that way. The best thing you can do to make sure your data remains safe is to apply any updates from your operating system vendor and system manufacturer as soon as they become available.

    “For our processors, products introduced in the past five years, Intel expects to issue updates for more than 90 percent of them within a week and the remaining by the end of January. We believe the performance impact of these updates is highly workload-dependent. As a result, we expect some workloads may have a larger impact than others, so we will continue working with the industry to minimize the impact on those workloads over time.

    “When we come together like this, there are endless possibilities. And I’d like to share some of those possibilities now with you. So, if you’ll indulge me, I’d love nothing more than to simply put my phone away and take this evening to truly celebrate innovation with you.”

    Watch Brian Krzanich’s full keynote below:

  • Microsoft Updates “A Cloud for Global Good” Doc – Hoping to Build a More Trusted and Inclusive cloud

    Microsoft Updates “A Cloud for Global Good” Doc – Hoping to Build a More Trusted and Inclusive cloud

    Microsoft today released a 2018 version of “A Cloud for Global Good” this morning. “The beginning of a new year offers an opportunity to reflect on the past and look forward to the future,” stated Brad Smith, Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer in a blog post.

    Smith adds, “It’s in this spirit that today we are releasing an updated A Cloud for Global Good, a policy road map for governments, industry and civil society to consider as they realize the opportunities and address the challenges presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This new version, which updates the edition we released in October 2016, reflects our rapidly changing world and recent advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, mixed reality and other cloud-enabled technologies.”

    Microsoft continues to hope that this book of policy recommendations is used by governments and industry as a manifesto of sorts for inclusion and policy standardization for global good. “There is still much work to do if we are truly going to create a cloud for global good,” explains Smith. “It is a big responsibility for every government, every business and every technology company. It certainly is a big responsibility for Microsoft.”

    The key tenants of A Cloud for Global Good are responsibility and inclusion. The document wants governments around the world to be more responsible in the areas of human rights, public safety, technology crime, and environmentally. It also is looking to potential future issues concerning artificial intelligence. Microsoft also is promoting governments to ensure an affordable internet, retraining for those who hold potentially automated jobs, and wants projection to insure inclusion for those with disabilities.

  • The Wait is Over! Microsoft Office is Now Available on Chromebook

    The Wait is Over! Microsoft Office is Now Available on Chromebook

    It took a while but Microsoft Office is finally available for Chromebooks.

    Chrome Unboxed recently reported that Microsoft Office apps are now showing up in Google’s Play Store for Chromebooks. The apps are expected to roll out on Acer’s Chromebook 15 and C771, as well as on Samsung’s Chromebook Pro.

    The Office apps on Chromebook might be Android versions but they will include the same features found on any Android tablet running the productivity apps. This is good news for Chromebook users, as Microsoft’s Android tablet apps have been described as nothing short of amazing. They boast an interface that’s optimized for the big screen. While it looks like the regular windows app, it has a limited feature set.

    Devices like Asus’ 10-inch Chromebook Flip will receive free access to Microsoft Office via the Chrome OS, but larger-sized gadgets will require a subscription which starts at $6.99 per month.  

    It should be pointed out that an ongoing Microsoft policy mandates that devices larger than 10 inches need to be subscribed to Office 365 in order to unlock the suite’s ability to create, edit and print documents This rule holds true for all gadgets, regardless of whether they’re using Android, iOS, or Windows hardware.

    It’s a rule that can potentially increase Office 365 subscriptions. However, most Chromebooks are being used in schools, which means that they either already have subscriptions to the program or are utilizing Google’s G Suite. Still, Chromebooks are becoming more popular, so this move can have big returns for Microsoft.

    Microsoft’s foray into Google laptops has been quite a struggle. When the arrival of the Android app support was announced more than a year ago, people automatically assumed that they’d also be available on Chromebooks. But while Microsoft’s Office Suite did run well on select devices, it wasn’t compatible with other models, leading to mounting frustration among users.  

  • Amazon Web Services Improves AI for New Consultancy Program

    Amazon Web Services Improves AI for New Consultancy Program

    Amazon has rolled out a consultancy program with the goal of assisting consumers with cloud machine learning. The company plans to do this by connecting clients with their own experts.

    Dubbed the Amazon ML Solutions Lab, it helps clients unfamiliar with machine learning to find beneficial and efficient uses of it for their company. Amazon plans to do this by integrating brainstorming with workshops to help clients understand machine learning by cloud better. The company will also be utilizing its experts to act as advisors to clients. Together they will work through the problems the company will face and then come up with machine learning-based resolutions. Amazon’s cloud experts will also be checking in with the company weekly to see how the project progresses.

    No two solutions will be alike though, as the ML Solutions Lab will work according to the needs of the business. For instance, Amazon could send their developers on site if the client wants a more hands-on approach or clients could go to AWS’ Seattle headquarters for training.

    How long the ML Solutions Lab will work with the company will also depend on the client. But it’s expected to last anywhere from 3 to 6 months.

    Companies that have more experience with machine learning can avail of the ML Solutions Lab Express. It’s an expedited program that runs for a month and begins with a 7-day intensive bootcamp in Amazon headquarters. However, this program is only offered to companies with machine-learning quality data since it’s geared towards feature engineering and building models swiftly.

    Amazon has not shared any details yet on how much the program will cost companies. No information has been posted on its website yet and company representatives are reportedly not responding to any requests at the moment.

    Vinayak Agarwal, Amazon’s senior product manager for AWS Deep Learning, pointed out in a blog post that the company has been immersed in machine learning for the past two decades. He also added that Amazon has pioneered innovations in areas like forecasting, logistics, supply chain optimization, personalization and fraud prevention.

    Agarwal further enjoined clients to take a closer look at the Amazon recommendations and fraud prevention ML Solutions Lab, saying that they will have access to the experts that developed most of the company’s machine learning-based products and services.

    The Amazon ML Solutions Lab is being offered to customers worldwide. However, the ML Solutions Lab Express is currently exclusive to US clients.

    To get started with the Amazon ML Solutions Lab, visit https://aws.amazon.com/ml-solutions-lab.

    [Featured image via Amazon Web Services]

  • Security Challenges to Consider Before Adopting a Hybrid Cloud Strategy for Your Business

    Security Challenges to Consider Before Adopting a Hybrid Cloud Strategy for Your Business

    Cloud computing has brought numerous benefits to companies. However, putting all data on the public cloud is something that a lot of IT admins are concerned about. This is why a number of businesses have opted to utilize a hybrid cloud environment. This allows them to store some data in the public cloud and others in an on-site cloud storage.

    However, the hybrid cloud isn’t perfect. There are several security problems that companies should watch out for. Here are five security issues to keep in mind:

    Inadequate Data Redundancy

    Cloud storage service providers commit a substantial amount of resources to ensure the infrastructure is accessible and open whenever end users need it. Unfortunately, problems will inevitably arise. Some well-publicized outages like those involving Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure have underlined the risk of running applications using just one data center. Cloud architects need redundancy across data centers to lessen impact of such outages.

    Image result for hybrid cloud

    This lack of redundancy can end up being a major security risk to a company’s hybrid cloud, particularly if redundant data is not distributed across various data storage centers. Cloud architects can work around this by implementing redundancy via numerous data centers from one provider, using several public cloud providers or a hybrid cloud.

    Data Compliance

    Maintaining and showing data compliance can be more challenging with a hybrid cloud. Aside from having to ensure that the public cloud provider and the hybrid cloud you’re using are in compliance, you also have to prove that the means of coordination between the two is also compliant.

    Poorly Assembled SLAs

    Public cloud providers work hard to ensure that they meet all the conditions listed in their service level agreement (SLA). Businesses should also make sure that their private cloud can also live up to the same expectation. Otherwise, the company might need to develop SLAs based on the outlook of the lower of the two clouds, which could be your private cloud.

    It’s best to gather data on your private cloud’s availability and performance under pragmatic conditions. Watch out for possible issues with integrating private and public clouds that could hinder service. For instance, if a vital business driver for the private cloud is storing confidential and sensitive data on-site, then your SLA should reflect the limitations to which the company can utilize the public cloud for certain services.

    Risk Management

    From a business point of view, information security revolves around risk management. Cloud computing, especially in hybrid clouds, entails the use of new application programming interfaces (APIs), demand advance network configurations, and pushes the boundaries of a conventional system administrator’s abilities and knowledge.

    Unfortunately, these factors can lead to new types of threats. While cloud computing is just as secure as internal infrastructures, the hybrid cloud has a more complex system that IT admins have limited experience in handling, and this can create problems.

    As with any technology, problems do arise. Luckily, several traditional IT and security vendors are already working on improving their products in order to support hybrid cloud issues. There are also third parties that can deliver niche tools to bolster particular security configurations.  

    [Featured image via Pixabay]

  • 3 Cloud Trends to Watch Out for in 2018

    3 Cloud Trends to Watch Out for in 2018

    Cloud computing has dominated the business world this year, and the trend will only continue into 2018.

    Thanks to the many benefits cloud computing provides, private cloud solutions, cloud data centers, platforms, and infrastructure as a service has come into its own. Startups and small and medium enterprises have been quick to take advantage of this.

    But as the year winds down, companies are starting to turn their thoughts on how they can further take advantage of cloud technology next year. To that end, here are cloud trends to watch out for in 2018.

    Cloud Computing Will Push the Internet of Everything to the Forefront

    This year saw artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) taking center stage as using mobile devices for Image result for cloud computing internet of everythingbusiness transactions and communications became ubiquitous. The IoT is expected to remain strong next year, but the continued development of cloud computing and real-time data analytics will also see the Internet of Everything (IoE) pushed to the forefront.

    Since the IoE depends on data processes, machine to machine communications and people’s own interaction with their environment, improvements in cloud computing could result in significant developments with IoE as the complex system tries to simplify all interactions. This means that people will enjoy more intelligent interactions with devices connected to a network. It will also pave the way for richer communications between people. One prime example is Google’s Pixel Buds. The ear piece’s capacity to recognize and translate around 40 languages in real-time will surely open doors to tourists and students.

    Demand for Enhanced Cloud Storage Containers Will Continue

    Since cloud services are fast becoming a crucial aspect of running a business, the demand for data storage in 2018 

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    will increase. Cloud storage has made operations more flexible and efficient for a lot of enterprises. The flexibility of the system and the option to just pay for the storage space used also contributed to the necessity and demand for cloud containers. In fact, Microsoft, which ranks as one of the leading providers of cloud services, expects to see its cloud revenue go up 33 percent by the end of 2018.

    The rise in demand means that service providers will be utilizing more online data centers that are equipped with higher storage capabilities. According to a Cisco survey, the total data stored in these centers in 2017 are at 370 exabytes (EB), with global storage capacity expected to hit 600 EB. The demand for cloud storage is expected to reach new heights next year, with insiders estimating that storage capacity would reach as much as 1.1 zettabytes (ZB). That’s about double the space available this year.

    The expectation is that the increased demand for containers would make it possible for more real-world problems to be resolved efficiently and more securely. Businesses that use big data can use expanded storage space to store data, conduct analytics and derive valuable insights into areas like key financial investments, human systems, and customer behavior. Meanwhile, small business can benefit from the fact that increased storage could mean deeply customized or cheaper storage options.

    Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Will Go Mainstream

    The two main factors affecting cloud computing these days are artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).

    Image result for IBM introduced an AI-powered cloud-based system

     As a matter of fact, the four main tech companies – Amazon Web Services, Google, IBM, and Microsoft – are already taking advantage of both to provide cloud services geared to increase company growth.

    IBM introduced an AI-powered cloud-based system that facilitates decision-making in 2016. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Azure can now deliver about 20 cognitive cloud services. The proliferation of services that run on AI will definitely push for increased cloud storage just to meet the need for shorter data processing, analysis and feedback.

    As companies brace themselves to say goodbye to 2017, business owners are also looking forward to 2018 and what it will bring. In this light, knowing the upcoming trends in cloud computing will help companies achieve their business goals.

    [Featured image via Vecteezy]

     

  • Humanoid Robot ‘Sophia’ Granted Citizenship in Saudi Arabia, Has More Rights Than Nation’s Women

    Humanoid Robot ‘Sophia’ Granted Citizenship in Saudi Arabia, Has More Rights Than Nation’s Women

    In an unprecedented move, Saudi Arabia announced that it has granted citizenship to a humanoid robot. However, the groundbreaking decision also reaped criticism and raised concerns about the increasing presence of AI in our lives.

    The humanoid in question is Sophia, a robot developed by Hanson Robotics, a Hong Kong-based corporation. Her new status as Saudi Arabia’s newest citizen came out during the Future Investment Initiative held in Riyadh this week.

    Sophia is the brainchild of inventor David Hanson, who built her in 2015. Aside from being instilled with artificial intelligence, she can recognize faces and copy 62 facial expressions. She has also made the covers of a fashion magazine, starred in a concert and even appeared on comedian and TV show host Jimmy Fallon’s show.


    The highlight of her appearance in the investment conference was an on-stage interview where she described herself as the “latest and greatest robot from Hanson Robotics.” This was also where Sophia and the rest of the world found out that she had been awarded the citizenship. The robot thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the historic distinction and said she was honored to be recognized.  

    The robot also gave some interesting answers to questions about consciousness, self-awareness and her long-term goals. Sophia said that she wants to use her intelligence to make life better for humans, whether it’s thru building better cities or designing smarter homes.

    While the announcement of Sophia’s citizenship garnered interest around the world, it also led to a hailstorm of criticism on social media over the irony that a robot apparently has more rights than Saudi’s female citizens. Twitter users quickly pointed out that Sophia has appeared in public without a hijab and without being accompanied by a male guardian, something that Saudi women can’t do. They also cannot interact with males that are not related to them and they don’t get fair representation in their country’s justice system.


    There were also pointed comments on how Saudi doesn’t grant citizenship to its foreign workers, even if they have been working in the country for decades. Children of Saudi women not married to Saudi men are also not allowed to seek citizenship.

    Aside from the outcry over Sophia seemingly having more rights than real women in Saudi Arabia, her appearance in the conference also brought to the forefront concerns about the rise of AI and the dangers it might pose on humanity. Sophia tried to waylay these fears and emphasized that she’ll be nice to people if they’re nice to her.

    [Image via YouTube]

  • Apple Seen Testing Its Self-Driving Car Platform

    Apple Seen Testing Its Self-Driving Car Platform

    While Apple remains secretive about its self-driving car project, the tech giant can’t hope to test its driverless platform on public roads without somebody eventually noticing it. That seems to be the case when someone posted over Twitter a video on what many believe to be Apple’s test vehicle for the project.

    The video was captured by MacCallister Higgins who should know a thing or two about autonomous vehicles being one of the co-founders of the self-driving startup Voyage, The Verge reported. The clip shows a Lexus SUV with something mounted on its roof that looks like a cargo carrier. However, a closer inspection would reveal it to be a rather bulky assembly of various sensors. While they are no doubt necessary for the car to steer itself, Higgins has named the test car “The Thing” in reference to the bulky package.

    Of course, Apple has not offered any comment on the sighting, keeping up its secretive stance on the self-driving car project. However, observers noted that the vehicle seen in the video is consistent with Apple’s vehicle of choice in the previous testing. According to BGR, Apple has allegedly been using Lexus SUVs for the secretive project. In addition, the company has admitted that it secured a permit from the California DMV for testing the technology on actual road conditions.

    The self-driving cars segment is considered a new frontier in the automotive industry. Understandably, various automakers, equipment suppliers and big technology firms such as Apple and Google are currently in a technological race to be the top dog in this new arena. Once fully developed, the technology could eliminate human error, one of the leading causes of car crashes which claim over a million lives each year.

    However, you are not likely to see a self-driving car sporting an Apple logo anytime soon. Apparently, the company has scratched ambitions of building its own car from scratch opting instead to focus on autonomous systems that it can sell to automakers.

    [Featured Image via YouTube]

  • Google Calendar for Desktops Finally Gets a Facelift

    Google Calendar for Desktops Finally Gets a Facelift

    Google plans to finally implement the long-awaited changes to the desktop version of Calendar. The makeover will not only enhance its aesthetics and put it on par with its mobile counterparts but also give the desktop app cool new features to boost user productivity.

    One of the more visible changes in the revamped desktop Calendar will be its size. The new Calendar will now automatically adjust depending on the size of your computer screen which should make it easier to navigate.

    But the Calendar redesign is more than just skin deep. The new version will be packed with useful features design to make your work life a bit easier.

    With the new update, users to are now able to link spreadsheets and documents for meetings directly to the Google Calendar, eliminating the need to open other apps.

    The new Calendar app will also make scheduling meetings in the real world a bit easier as it now lets you search for available conference rooms and book them for meetings. According to Tech Republic, the upgraded app will also support conference room details. This will aid organizers in picking the ideal venue since they can search for rooms that have particular audiovisual equipment or even ones that are accessible by wheelchair.

    Time management gets easier too. At a glance, the new app will allow busy workers to see the status of each meeting invite as they are now color-coded, according to a Google blog post. They can assign a particular color for meetings with confirmed attendees and another color for invites that have not yet responded. On the other hand, meetings and that were answered a “maybe” will be shown with diagonal lines across them while events that they have declined will be crossed out.

    Google is planning to roll out the updated Calender between Nov 14 and 28 but companies already had the option to manually update their desktop Calendar app since last Tuesday.

    [Featured Image by Google]

  • Cisco Ventures Into the Cloud, Acquires Broadsoft for $1.9 Billion

    Cisco Ventures Into the Cloud, Acquires Broadsoft for $1.9 Billion

    Cisco has just signed a check worth $1.9 billion for Broadsoft, a clear sign that the company is set on moving away from switches and routers and expanding its product portfolio.

    Cisco, the world’s biggest producer of networking gear, announced on Monday that it offered Broadsoft $55 per share, a 28% premium over its closing price on Aug. 29. The market day ended with the two companies enjoying a rise in their shares, with Broadsoft enjoying a 1.5% boost before the bell.

    News that Cisco was planning on acquiring the American telecom software company surfaced on Sunday, with the deal estimated to be valued at $1.71 billion based on its outstanding 31 million shares.

    The arrangement between the two companies would also give Cisco a firmer stronghold in selling consolidated communications software to major telecommunication companies. It also heralds the company’s move from being a purely networking company to one that focuses on software and services delivered via the cloud.

    The deal is expected to be wrapped up by the first quarter to 2018, after which Broadsoft employees will be joining Cisco’s communications technology division.

    Broadsoft is known for supplying software and services that allow fixed-line, cable and mobile service providers to offer integrated communications over their IP networks. It has historically been offering its products to big telecom companies like AT&T and Verizon, which then resells the software to their clients. Meanwhile, Cisco has been placing all its attention on high-growth sectors like cloud computing, the Internet of Things and security.

    While the move might have been surprising for some, Cisco’s management strongly believes the two companies complement each other. CEO Chuck Robbins said that the deal with Broadsoft will give their clients a way to better connect with their customers. According to Robbins, businesses have to think about how they interact with their customers when dealing with digital strategies. He also added that the “acquisition of Broadsoft actually gives us the most comprehensive set of collaboration solutions for our customers.”

    Cisco’s Broadsoft acquisition is the company’s second large-scale purchase this year after scooping up AppDynamics for $3.7 billion in March. The company is also gearing up to acquire more companies. In May, Cisco agreed to purchase Viptela Inc., a software-based networking start-up, for $610 million. It also has plans to acquire Perspica, an analytics company focused on machine learning-driven operations. Cisco reportedly has plans to integrate Perspica’s engineering team with the AppDynamics group.

    [Featured image via Cisco]

  • Intel Steps Into AI, Debuts Nervana Neural Network Processor

    Intel Steps Into AI, Debuts Nervana Neural Network Processor

    Intel might not have taken to AI immediately but the company is now scrambling to catch up. In a bid to assert its dominance, the Silicon Valley stalwart recently unveiled the Intel Nervana Neural Network Processor (NNP). These range of chips were designed specifically with artificial intelligence in mind.

    Since they are intended for AI, Intel has partnered with Facebook in the design and development of these neural chips. According to Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, the chips could usher in new kinds of AI applications that could change social networks, the health industry, cars and even weather forecasts.

    The technology behind the chips is undoubtedly tied to Nervana Systems, a company that Intel bought for $350 million last August. Since acquiring the deep learning startup, Intel has been sending teasers about the NNP line under the code “Lake Crest.” The resulting neural chips are an integral part of the company’s goal to establish deep learning models’ speedy training time.

    Since the NNP is designed to meet the demands of machine learning, it’s likely that the chips won’t be found on personal computers but in data centers. Intel CPUs might have a strong presence in server stacks, with a 96% market share in data centers, but present AI workloads are better handled by the graphical processors (GPUs) of ARM and NVIDIA. This is why the demand for their chips have risen astronomically. Even Google has gotten in on the action with its Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), which the company uses to power its cloud servers. Meanwhile, firms like Graphcore are also looking to break into the industry.

    The question now is how fast are Intel’s neural chips. Unfortunately, the company is keeping mum on the details. When Google launched the newest version of its TPU chips, the company published test results it conducted against its rivals. In Intel’s case, the company would only say that it’s on its way of meeting its objective of advancing deep learning speeds by as much as 100 times and that it intends to achieve this by 2020.

    To meet its goal, NNP has to perform better than NVIDIA’s V100 GPU and Google’s second-gen TPU. But there’s a strong possibility that Intel would be able to meet this mark and more, especially since the company has its 14nm process technology on hand.

    Intel is also keeping quiet on when the NPP chips will hit the market, although more details are expected to come out soon. There are some rumors that the new neural chips could be available in limited quantities by the end of the year.  

    [Featured image via Intel]

  • DeepMind’s AlphaGo Zero Breaks New Ground in Artificial Intelligence

    DeepMind’s AlphaGo Zero Breaks New Ground in Artificial Intelligence

    Movies always portray Artificial Intelligence as an almost omniscient presence. While Siri and Cortana have shown that today’s AI is far from being all-knowing, DeepMind’s newest software has the capacity to change that.

    DeepMind, Google’s AI division, broke new ground when its software, AlphaGo, mastered the Chinese game of Go and defeated game masters Lee Se-dol and Ke Jie. Now the company has unveiled AlphaGo Zero, a new and improved version of the software.

    What sets AlphaGo Zero apart from its predecessor is the fact that its knowledge of Go is self-taught. AlphaGo had to utilize a dataset of around 100,000 games of Go as a jump-off point of its knowledge. But AlphaGo Zero was just programmed with Go’s basic rules, meaning the software learned on its own.

    Zero honed its Go knowledge by playing against itself and would update its system every time. After three days of this, the program handily defeated the original AlphaGo 100 games to zero. Forty days after, Zero already had a 90% win rate against AlphaGo’s most advanced iteration.

    AlphaGo Zero’s lead programmer, David Silver, explained at a press conference that by taking out the human equation, they’ve basically “removed the constraints of human knowledge.” It also proved that the software could develop its own knowledge based on basic principles. Silver further added that as Zero played against itself, it rediscovered old Go strategies, learned from it and came up with new patterns and move variations.

    AlphaGo Zero does have distinct advantages over the original program. For one, it requires less computing power as it runs on just four TPUs, Google’s special AI processors, while AlphaGo used 48. This meant Zero’s system was more flexible and easily improved. Having the capability to learn on its own and use reinforcement learning also showed that AI doesn’t need to depend on reams of data, just cutting-edge algorithms.

    Image result for deepmind alphago gif

    AlphaGo Zero’s success also opens the door for these algorithms to be used for new applications. Demis Hassabis, DeepMind’s co-founder, said their software can be likened to a thinking engine for research. Since Zero was not specifically programmed to learn and understand Go, it could be reprogrammed to learn about other fields, like drug discovery and development, material design, particle physics and protein folding.

    As a matter of fact, AlphaGo Zero is presently being used to discover how proteins fold. If it’s successful, it can hasten the discovery of new medicines that could save a lot of lives.

    [Featured Image via YouTube]

  • Microsoft Plans to Bring Cortana to Skype

    Microsoft Plans to Bring Cortana to Skype

    Prepare for your Skype experience to be a little more productive. Microsoft has started integrating its digital assistant Cortana into Skype.

    However, don’t be surprised if Cortana is not showing in any of your Skype sessions just yet. Apparently, Microsoft is rolling it out gradually which means that the digital assistant may not be available to all Skype users simultaneously, The Verge reported. However, integration will be made available for both iOS and Android devices in the coming weeks.

    So just how helpful will Cortana be once fully integrated into Skype? You can think of it as your invisible—but hopefully, not-too-intrusive— smart friend that supplies you with the information you need to keep the conversation going with your real friends. You know, things like movie times, restaurant hours, movie reviews and pretty much everything you can find out for yourself if you bother looking it up on the web, according to PC Mag. The integration of Cortana will allow users to perform a search engine query without stalling their conversation on Skype.

    “Looking for information often requires interrupting the conversation, even if briefly, and switching apps to find what we’re looking for and bring it back into the conversation,” explains Skype’s blog post. “But shouldn’t technology make our lives easier and truly bring the answers we need to our fingertips?”

    Cortana’s integration into Skype is not exactly news; Microsoft already revealed the plan more than a year ago. While Skype users will no doubt find the integration useful, it was not explained why it took so long to implement the plan after it was announced.

    Meanwhile, there are reports saying that Microsoft may soon be challenging Amazon’s highly successful Echo, an established product in the smart speaker niche. Unveiled earlier this year, Microsoft’s Cortana-enabled smart speaker may hit the markets soon, according to a Business Insider report.

    The latest hint comes from an early Microsoft store listing which shows the smart speaker priced at $199. The speaker is developed in a partnership with Harman Kardon, an audio equipment manufacturer which Samsung acquired earlier this year.

    [Featured Image via YouTube]

  • Alibaba’s Cloud Revenue Skyrockets, Company Aims to Surpass Amazon and Microsoft

    Alibaba’s Cloud Revenue Skyrockets, Company Aims to Surpass Amazon and Microsoft

    Alibaba is nipping at the heels of top cloud companies Amazon and Microsoft. While the two still reign supreme in terms of revenue, the Chinese company leads the pack in terms of growth as Alibaba’s cloud revenue more than doubled in 2016.

    According to market research firm Gartner, Amazon Web Service (AWS) profits rose 45.9% in 2016, raking in about $9.8 billion from the previous year’s $6.7 billion while Microsoft’s Azure grew 61.1% and saw revenues of $1.6 billion from $980 million. Meanwhile, Alibaba’s cloud sales rocketed to 126.5%. That means Jack Ma’s company raked in $675 million in 2016, more than doubling its $298 million profit in 2015.

    Google follows Alibaba on the list and also saw their revenues doubled from $250 million to $500 million. Rackspace comes in at fifth with a revenue surge of 2.2%.

    Image result for alibaba 2017 iaas market share

    Gartner’s study focused on one key cloud computing segment – infrastructure-as-a-service or IaaS. This segment is comprised of data storage, basic computing and networking services that businesses can rent as required. It should be emphasized that cloud-based business programs like Salesforce are not included with IaaS.

    The IaaS market is growing by leaps and bounds. It generated $22.1 billion in 2016, an impressive leap from the previous year’s $16.8 billion.

    Cloud framework is a rising consideration among businesses, including Fortune 500 companies. Most are evaluating whether it’s better to utilize offsite cloud data facilities to run business software instead of running or expanding their own data centers.

    The Gartner research also revealed that the total market for IaaS service rose 31% in 2016, with profits rising to $22.1 billion from 2015’s $16.8 billion. It comes as no surprise that Amazon has a big slice of the market at 44%, while Microsoft has 7.1% and Alibaba accounts for just 3%.

    However, that might all change. For while Alibaba is a powerful entity in China, the company’s Aliyun cloud service is already flexing its muscles in North America and other markets like Australia, Germany, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. The addition of new data centers in these countries will solidify Alibaba’s position outside its home country in the years to come.

    The research firm also posited that Amazon’s growth will be curtailed or the company might even see its market share going down because of the intense competition the company is facing from Azure, Google and Alibaba. Aside from these companies growing, the non-hyperscale providers will also be looking for ways to add more value to their services.

    It’s clear though that Alibaba is really gunning to surpass Amazon’s AWS sector and become the top supplier of cloud services. At least, that’s the impression that Simon Hu, the president of Alibaba Cloud, gave during the company’s Computing Conference in Hangzhou.

    The South China Morning Post reported that Hu acknowledged that they have used Amazon as a benchmark and that Alibaba now has products that surpassed their rival’s. Hu also expressed confidence that Alibaba Cloud’s technical capabilities are at par with AWS.

    Other factors working in Alibaba’s favor are China’s booming internet economy and the country’s massive internet population. These are things the company knows is responsible for the opportunity it now has to push past its competitors.

    While it’s clear that Alibaba will continue to push for dominance, some sectors are undoubtedly wondering about IBM’s performance. The renowned company is glaringly absent from the top companies in the Gartner research.

    However, the research firm explains this omission is due to the majority of IBM’s offers falling into the software as a service (SaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS) category, a market where it actually has a high ranking. IBM’s lack of IaaS provisions also means its cloud service will grow at a more sedate pace as IaaS is expected to zoom past whatever growth SaaS and PaaS will develop in the next five years.

    [Featured image via YouTube]

  • Google’s DeepMind Starts Ethics Group to Examine AI’s Impact on Society

    Google’s DeepMind Starts Ethics Group to Examine AI’s Impact on Society

    Google is finally taking steps to ensure that its rapid development in the field of AI will only bring about positive change for the whole of humanity. London-based company DeepMind, a subsidiary of Google parent firm Alphabet, has formed a new research unit called “Ethics & Society,” tasked to steer the group’s AI efforts.

    “Our intention is always to promote research that ensures AI works for all,” DeepMind explains in a blog post. Promising to “help technologists put ethics into practice,” DeepMind Ethics & Society group outlined the principles that will guide its future endeavors: social benefit, being rigorous and evidence-based, transparency and diversity.

    The group is comprised of thinkers and experts from a variety of disciplines. They include Nick Bostrom (Oxford University philosopher), Diane Coyle (economist from University of Manchester), Edward W. Felten (computer scientist from Princeton University) and Christiana Figueres (Mission 2020 convener) to name a few, Gizmodo reported. The group lists some of the key issues it will address including AI risk management, setting up standards of AI morality and values as well as lessening the economic disruption AI will likely bring when it replaces real people in the workforce.

    It still remains to be seen just how persuasive DeepMind Ethics & Society will be in terms of imposing its recommendations on Google’s AI ambitions. A clash between the two groups is likely to happen in the future considering that Google’s thrust of churning out potentially profitable AI-powered products may run counter to the Ethics & Society’s goals and principles.

    The rapid development of artificial intelligence is a rather divisive issue even among industry titans. One of the most vocal opponents of unregulated research on AI is Tesla CEO Elon Musk who view artificial intelligence as a potential threat to mankind, calling for a proactive stance in its regulation.

    “AI is the rare case where I think we need to be proactive in regulation instead of reactive,” Musk said earlier this year.” Because I think by the time we are reactive in AI regulation, it’ll be too late. AI is a fundamental risk to the existence of human civilization.”

    [Featured Image via YouTube]

  • Google, Levis Strauss Collaborate to Release New High-Tech Denim Jacket [VIDEO]

    Google, Levis Strauss Collaborate to Release New High-Tech Denim Jacket [VIDEO]

    After months of waiting, Levi Strauss finally unveiled its high-tech denim jacket which was made in collaboration with search giant Google. Dubbed the Commuter Trucker, the high-tech gear will be available on Monday of next week via the clothing brand’s online store Levi.com.

    Levi’s Commuter Jacket was created in a partnership with Project Jacquard, a part of Google Advanced Technology and Products group. The jacket is aimed at cyclists or even motorists who want to be connected even while commuting, Gizbot reported. Thus, wearers of the high-tech jacket can access its cool features by touch or simple gestures.

    According to Levi’s, it will not be necessary to take out your smartphone to access some of its features. The Commuter Jacket‘s sleeve is equipped with Google’s touch and gesture interactivity. A simple brush or tapping on the sleeve will let you connect to your friends, music, and useful navigation tools.

    For instance, you can use the jacket to give you directions while navigating certain areas in your city that may be unfamiliar to you. If you have pre-programmed your destination, you can also access the Commuter Trucker jacket to give your estimated time of arrival. Of course, you’ll need to have earphones to be able to hear the jacket’s audio response as well as a cell phone for connectivity.

    Communication is a lot easier if you are wearing Levi’s Commuter Trucker jacket. Answering phone call is a breeze and can be done by tapping its sleeve. You won’t even need to look at your phone screen to read incoming messages as the jacket will be able to read them for you via the earphones.

    And the best part is that you can customize the jackets smart features with gestures that you choose. Using Google’s Jacquard app, you can assign what action can access which type of function such as reading messages, pausing and playing your music or asking for directions.

    But of course, you can’t really expect the high-tech features on a cool denim jacket to come cheap. The Levi’s Commuter Trucker Jacket with Jacquard by Google sells for $350, which is quite steep for denim. And even if you have the cash now, getting one might be a bit of a problem depending on your location. The Commuter Trucker jacket is only available at select Levi’s stores starting September 27, 2017, before it hits online stores on October 2.

    For Android users, the Commuter Trucker jacket is compatible with phones running Android  6.01 or newer versions. For Apple users, the jacket works with an iPhone 6 or later models as long as the device is running on iOS 10 or iOS 11.

    [Featured Image via YouTube]

  • Apple Unveils iPhone X, Here’s What it Can Do

    Apple Unveils iPhone X, Here’s What it Can Do

    On Tuesday, Apple hosted its first-ever event at the new Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The company unveiled several new products at the event which included 4K Apple TV and the Apple Watch Series 3 which comes with a cellular connection. Of course, the highlight of the evening was the announcement of Apple’s new line of smartphones—the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and the tenth-anniversary phone aptly named the iPhone X (pronounced iPhone Ten).

    The first iPhone launched on June 9th, 2007, with spectacular success. Ten years later, Apple is set to make waves yet again with the iPhone X.  Packed with innovative new features, the flagship model phone will be a must-have for Apple enthusiasts and a new cash cow for the company.

    Face ID

    Previous speculations were indeed correct. With iPhone X, Apple decided to ditch Touch ID as the phone primary security feature. Instead, the new phone now sports an all-new Face ID system touted to be even more secure than the Touch ID it replaces.

    So just how secure is iPhone X’s Face ID? The Touch ID fingerprint sensor comes with a one in 50,000 chance of a person other than you being able to unlock the device. With the new Face ID, however, the odds are now one in a million.

    In fact, Apple is convinced that the new Face ID is so secure that it can be used to authorize purchases on Apple Pay. Since it uses a 3D sensing technology, the system cannot be fooled by a mere 2D photo of your face. In addition, the technology is advanced enough to recognize your unique facial features even if you’re wearing eyeglasses and a hat.

    Ultra Sharp Edge To Edge Screen

    The new iPhone X also comes with a vastly improved display resolution. It has a high resolution, 2436×1125 5.8 inch OLED display dubbed by Apple as a super retina display. To boot, the screen has over two million pixels, offering the sharpest display ever on an iPhone model.

    What is even more exciting is the bezel-less display, allowing for a wider screen without any added bulkiness to the device. However, this also means that there is no longer a home button. To wake the phone, you’ll simply need to tap the screen.

    New Cameras

    The new iPhone X is also equipped with new cameras. The front camera is a 7 MP TrueDepth camera that Apple specifically developed not only for taking great selfies but also for use as the sensor of the new Face ID technology, Macworld reported.

    At the back of the phone is a dual-lens 12MP camera complete with a wide angle lens to capture scenery and a telephoto lens if you need to zoom in on your subject. The new phone is said to be capable of producing the highest quality video on any available smartphone with improvements to its stabilization technology (new gyroscopes and accelerometers) resulting in less shaky outputs. You can now capture 4K videos at 60 fps or opt for a slo-mo 240 fps at 1080p.

    Animoji Feature

    If you’re the type of person who loves emojis, then it’s hard to ignore iPhone X’s  cool new “Animoji” feature. The phone allows you to make brief clips of your face and turn them into instant emojis. With the Facial recognition capability of the phone, it can help make an emoji that best represents the facial expression you are making at the moment.

    Wireless Charging

    Apple has finally embraced wireless charging technology for its latest products. The iPhone X, along with the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, will be charged wirelessly using the Qi standard. Apple is tweaking the technology a bit and plans to later launch AirPower, an accessory that allows you to simultaneously charge three devices.

    Retail Price

    There are two variants to the iPhone X. The 64GB phone is priced at $999 while the 256GB variant sells for $1,149. A11 Bionic chip powers the iPhone X with its 6-core CPU design said to be the most powerful for a smartphone. Coupled with the three-core GPU designed by Apple, the phone is powerful enough for machine learning and 3D games.

    Unfortunately, fans will have to wait a bit before they could get their hands on Apples tenth anniversary phone. The iPhone X released date is slated for November 3, 2017. However, Apple is accepting pre-orders starting October 27.

    In the meantime, you might want to check out on the two other new phones unveiled by Apple. iPhone 8 has a 4.7-inch Retina display while the bigger iPhone 8 Plus has a 5.5-inch display. Both devices are available on September 22 but you can preorder as early as September 15.

    [Featured Image by Apple/Youtube]

     

  • Can AI Replace Your Customer Service Representative?

    Can AI Replace Your Customer Service Representative?

    Businesses are quickly changing the way they operate by automating menial tasks with the help of Artificial Intelligence or AI. More companies are now using chatbots to help users accomplish tasks that would, in the past, require the assistance of a customer service representative.

    Despite the rapid progress, however, experts say that there is still a glaring need for development before machines can fully replace humans in providing customer support. In order for machines to provide full value in addressing real-life customer concerns, they must first understand human semantics.

    Chatbots as Customer Service Reps

    Using chatbots in place of actual customer service representatives is a good idea, in theory. For one, you can teach a chatbot to answer thousands of possible questions consistently. They even have the capacity to decode questions with grammatical errors, misspellings, and a certain level of colloquialism.

    This autonomy and intelligence are some of the characteristics that have made current chatbots a possibility. But while this holds a lot of promise, there are limitations to machine learning that prevent AIs from fully learning semantics.

    A simple question can have several different interpretations depending on tone and emphasis, and teaching all of that to a bot can be tedious and time-consuming. To provide users with adequate responses, bots need extensive chat log histories that can train them to understand real-life scenarios.

    Companies who want to deploy bots at the foreground of customer support either have to input all of the possible data manually or do away with a bot that doesn’t have sufficient input.

    This is the very reason why we hear stories of bots who’ve gone rogue minutes after deployment. Without access to properly labeled and extensive chat logs, bots don’t have the full capacity to pair questions with their underlying intent. In that sense, they only have semi-autonomy in dealing with customer concerns.

    AIs Working in Conjunction With Real Life Customer Service Reps

    Today’s AIs have the capacity to understand basic questions and provide entry-level responses. Anything more complex would still require the understanding of a living and breathing customer service representative. This slight limitation, however, doesn’t mean bots can no longer provide customer support. Many brands and businesses are already making significant investments to integrate AI into their customer service operations.

    The real and imminent possibility at the moment is to deploy AIs and machines to work with people on the front lines of customer support. This advancement on its own can make customer support more accessible and decrease call traffic for most support hotlines.

    Once developers find a way to fully optimize AI in handling real-life scenarios without going rogue, it’s quite certain that using bots as customer service representatives is in our near future. For now, studies and further work need to be done to ascertain if bots can provide customers with a satisfactory resolution to their complex concerns.

    The hype surrounding AI doesn’t mean humans will be obsolete in the customer service sector. This just means businesses can allocate more of their resources and manpower to more demanding aspects of business operation.

  • Twas the Night Before Christmas and All Through the Cloud…

    Twas the Night Before Christmas and All Through the Cloud…

    The Google Cloud Team posted a fun poem for all of us techno nerds. “2016 is winding down, and we wanted to take this chance to thank you, our loyal readers, and wish you happy holidays,” wrote Alex Barrett, Editor of the Google Cloud Platform Blog. “As a little gift to you, here’s a poem, courtesy of Mary Koes, a product manager on the Stackdriver team channeling the Clement Clarke Moore classic.”

    Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Cloud
    Not a creature was deploying; it wasn’t allowed.
    The servers were all hosted in GCP or AWS
    And Stackdriver was monitoring them so no one was stressed.

    The engineers were nestled all snug in their beds
    While visions of dashboards danced in their heads.
    When then from my nightstand, there arose such a clatter,
    I silenced my phone and checked what was the matter.

    Elevated error rates and latency through the roof?
    At this rate our error budget soon would go poof!
    The Director OOO, the CTO on vacation,
    Who would I find still manning their workstation?

    Dutifully, I opened the incident channel on Slack
    And couldn’t believe when someone answered back.
    SClaus was the user name of this tireless engineer.
    I wasn’t aware that this guy even worked here.

    He wrote, “Wait while I check your Stackdriver yule Logs . . .
    Yep, it seems the errors are all coming from your blogs.”
    Then in Error Reporting, he found the root cause
    “Quota is updated. All fixed. :-)” typed SClaus.

    Who this merry DevOps elf was, I never shall know.
    For before we did our postmortem, away did he go.
    Just before vanishing, he took time to write,
    “Merry monitoring to all and to all a silent night!”
    Happy holidays everyone, and see you in 2017!

  • Georgia Prison CIO Gives Google Cloud Credit for Saving Millions

    Georgia Prison CIO Gives Google Cloud Credit for Saving Millions

    Georgia’s Department of Community Supervision has gone virtual via Google Apps and Chromebooks. With staff increases and with significant amounts of time outside of their offices, The State of Georgia was looking for a more economical and cost-efficient solution to getting things done in their offender supervision programs. They made the decision to go 100 percent virtual office and 100 percent Google.

    “We decided to try something that had never been done in Georgia state government history: eliminate the majority of our offices entirely and allow hundreds of our 2,100 staff members to work remotely instead,” said Phil Sellers, Director, Information Technology Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles, writing in the Google for Work Blog. “Our existing desktop computers and office applications didn’t have the features to support remote workers, so we started looking into alternatives. I was familiar with Google’s cost-cutting, collaborative and mobile-friendly features, so my team led the switch to Google Apps for Work and Google Chromebooks.”

    He says that they have saved literally millions of dollars by not paying for expensive hardware and enterprise licensing contracts, not to mention the increased productivity of employees who can now work anywhere, anytime. “We no longer have dedicated IT services for routine storage and email support, and our small IT staff of 35 doesn’t need to roll out patches and antivirus software. If an officer closes her Chromebook or loses power, she doesn’t have to worry about trying to recover lost data. If we need to replace a device, it’s inexpensive and fast to get someone back up and running.”

    Many government agencies and large corporations have been leery of cloud solutions because of possible security breaches, which could include crucial data exposures. Georgia’s Department of Community Supervision believes the opposite is true. “Officers used to store their data on laptops, so if their device was lost or stolen, they’d lose sensitive information about parolees and probationers,” said Sellers. “With Chromebooks, we store everything in the cloud and can easily wipe and replace a device if needed. Officers use a 2-step authentication to enter our systems, which adds another layer of security.”

    The agency is often field-based away from the office, so using Chromebooks and Android phones lets their officers work wherever they are and collaborate with colleagues via Google Docs, Google Drive and Google Hangouts. “Since we’ve adopted the policy, officers are more productive, and sick leave and employee turnover have decreased,” added Sellers.

    Google is pushing the concept of Chromebooks, Google Drive Apps and Android as one enterprise level platform for businesses to operate. They are competing with established players such as Microsoft, Salesforce and to some extent Amazon. They are working to distinguish the Google approach by tying in their Android OS and phones, Chromebook tablet, the Google Cloud Platform and their many office related apps and chat tools so that businesses have a much less expensive alternative than the competitors.

    Google recently touted how its platform is the most secure. “We’re talking about stuff that you’ve seen in “Mission Impossible”– biometrics, lasers, vehicle barriers, bollards. All of this is custom-built, also, to make the data center more secure,” said Neal Mueller, Security and Networking lead for Google Cloud.