
via Tech – NBC Chicago https://ift.tt/KTD4Jbr
Americans in the Lone Star state shared how familiar they are with artifical intelligence and how much they use the rapidly evolving technology.
"I like to use ChatGPT just for stupid questions that I have or just to mess around or something like that," Gabriel, of Austin, told Fox News. "But other than that, I don't really use AI that much."
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AI has rapidly evolved in recent months, with tools like ChatGPT becoming more accessible and easier to use for the broader public. But the majority of people who spoke with Fox News said they didn't use AI technologies in their daily lives.
Some, like Khilea, said they weren't familiar enough with AI to "know what I should use it for." But Dewey was especially well-versed since his tech job required him to use AI every day.
"I design software and train programming teams, so I use it pretty frequently," he told Fox News. "We use ChatGPT and we also use Google's TensorFlow building apps and websites."
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
Cristine, who was visiting from Los Angeles, said she wasn't "in that generation of AI," she told Fox News.
"I'm a wound nurse," she said. "I would say I would never use AI for that or anything."
Khilea was more open to the technology. Even though she doesn't use AI now, she said she could see herself using AI in the coming years.
"Probably in the future since it's gonna be a more common thing," she told Fox News. "So, I feel like it could definitely be a part of my daily life eventually."
To hear the full interviews, click here.
A college student who was once suspended and subsequently banned from Twitter for posting the real-time location of Twitter owner Elon Musk is now tracking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Jack Sweeney, a 20-year-old student at the University of Central Florida, regularly posts the movements of politicians and celebrities, including former President Donald Trump, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian. He has also tracked Russian oligarchs, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He uses publicly available flight data and shares the location information with his followers on various social media outlets including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
On Monday, Sweeney posted his first tweet on a new account @DeSantisJet, sharing the movements of the state jet that DeSantis uses. The Republican governor is expected to announce a presidential bid and could officially enter a growing primary field as early as Wednesday.
FLORIDA GOV RON DESANTIS TO ANNOUNCE CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT WEDNESDAY ON TWITTER: SOURCES
Sweeney told The Associated Press that DeSantis is "just becoming someone that people want to know about."
He also said he intends to track DeSantis flights on private aircraft once he is able to verify the aircraft.
ELON MUSK POLLS USERS ON REINSTATING SUSPENDED JOURNALISTS, DEFENDS HIMSELF IN TWITTER SPACES CHAT
The college student was suspended from Twitter last year by Musk, who said the sharing of real-time location information violated the platform’s terms of service. The Twitter owner said it was also dangerous for himself and members of his family.
Musk officially called the action "doxxing" and suspended journalists who shared links to Sweeney’s platforms with the location information.
"They posted my exact real-time location, basically assassination coordinates, in (obvious) direct violation of Twitter terms of service," Musk tweeted in Dec. 2022.
HOW FLORIDA COLLEGE STUDENT TRACKED ELON MUSK'S JET
"Accounts engaged in doxxing receive a temporary 7-day suspension," he added in another tweet.
The accounts, including Sweeney’s, have been restored.
Sweeney now gets around the Twitter terms and conditions by providing a 24-hour delay in the flight information.
"A time delay on reporting location that doesn’t put people at serious risk of being killed is fine," Musk said in Dec. 2022.
DeSantis' entry into the 2024 Republican presidential primary this week comes just days after Sen. Tim Scott joined the race. Scott officially announced his bid on Monday.
DeSantis would also join the race as a frontrunner, as he is polling second behind Trump in most nationwide polls.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Carrying around a bulky wallet full of credit and debit cards is not just inconvenient, it's a security threat when it goes missing.
Apple Pay may be the solution you're looking for. This mobile payment app, introduced in 2014, has become increasingly popular, especially during the pandemic when people sought contactless payment options to avoid touching shared surfaces.
PASSKEYS VS. PASSWORD MANAGERS: WHY YOU SHOULDN'T DITCH YOUR PASSWORD MANAGER JUST YET
Before you set it up, we want to let you know four reasons why Apple Pay is considered safe to use.
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Setting up Apple Pay is a straightforward process and can make your life so much easier. First, ensure you're signed in with your Apple ID on your iPhone or iPad. Here's how to check if you are signed in:
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Once your card is verified, you're good to go. Using Apple Pay at the store is just as easy.
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One of the benefits of using Apple Pay is its widespread acceptance. Over 85% of retail locations in the U.S. accept Apple Pay, according to Apple.
Look for the contactless payment symbol or the Apple Pay logo to know if a location accepts it.
DON’T FALL FOR THIS SNEAKY NOTIFICATION THAT’S FOOLING PEOPLE ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM
You can also use Apple Pay for online purchases instead of just physical purchases by tapping Buy with Apple Pay and confirming the payment with your biometric authentication (face ID) or manually entering your password.
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One potential drawback of using Apple Pay is that not all banks or credit card issuers may support it. Before setting up Apple Pay, ensure your bank or credit card issuer is compatible.
Additionally, if your iPhone gets lost or stolen, you must protect your personal information to prevent unauthorized use. If this happens, you should first use the Find My app to remotely lock your device and display a message with your contact information.
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After your iPhone has been lost or stolen, monitoring your bank and credit card accounts closely is important to look for any unauthorized charges or suspicious activity. Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately if you notice anything unusual.
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Overall, Apple Pay is a convenient and secure way to make in-store and online payments. In some countries, like Italy, for example, contactless payment options are the preferred mode of payment.
With its easy setup process and widespread acceptance, it's worth considering if you're looking for a contactless payment option. I know it's saved me more than a few times on a night out when I left my wallet back in the car or at home. Just be sure to check with your bank or credit card issuer and take precautions to protect your personal information.
Ever lost your wallet to find that someone has stolen and used your credit card? What did you do about it? Let us know by writing us at CyberGuy.com/Contact.
For more of my tips, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to CyberGuy.com/Newsletter.
Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
We've talked repeatedly about the importance of password managers. Having a different password for each of your accounts is important, because if a hacker gets ahold of one password, it won't affect every private account you own. However, keeping track of all those passwords can be a doozy, which is why password managers are so helpful.
Passkeys are starting to gain more and more steam, and some of you might be wondering whether you should ditch your password managers altogether. Let's dive into why passkeys are so useful and how you can use both.
What is a passkey?
Representatives from Apple, Google and Microsoft collaborated with FIDO Alliance to conceive the concept of a passkey. With passkeys, you can sign in to apps and websites with a biometric sensor, such as a fingerprint or facial recognition, PIN or pattern, freeing you from having to remember and manage passwords.
A passkey consists of a key pair. One key is public, registered with the website or app you’re using. The other key is private, held only by your devices. Think of it like this; a passkey is like having a pair of keys. One key is like a special code that everyone can know and use, and it's registered with the website or app you're using. The other key is like a secret key that only your devices have, and it's not shared with anyone else.
Furthermore, passkeys let you sync across all your devices using a cloud service. The cloud service (iCloud, Google, etc.) keeps a copy of your credential, offering an easier way for you to log into your accounts wherever you are.
Apple Passkey
Apple introduced the idea of passkeys with its latest iOS 16 update, allowing iPhone users to save their login information when signing in to an account and then using Face ID to be able to log back in again later.
Along with Apple, earlier this month, Google also began rolling out support for passkeys across Google Accounts on all major platforms.
Should I stop using my password manager?
No, you should not stop using your password manager just yet. First, passkeys are a very new concept, and not every website accepts them yet. So, abandoning your password manager altogether would not be the best idea right now.
Besides this key reason, password managers are still the safest and most secure way to keep track of all your passwords. First, it will help you to create unique and difficult-to-crack passwords that a hacker could never guess. Second, it also keeps track of all your passwords in one place and fills passwords in for you when you're logging into an account so that you never have to remember them yourself. The fewer passwords you remember, the less likely you will be to reuse them for your accounts.
What qualities should I look for in a password manager?
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When it comes to choosing the best password manager for you, here are some of my top tips.
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What else can I do to protect myself?
Be sure to install antivirus software that will protect you from accidentally clicking malicious links that would install malware, as well as remove any existing malware from your devices.
Make sure it's difficult for anyone to easily log into any of your accounts. 2FA is just an extra shield that will prevent a hacker from getting into your accounts.
Have you tried using Passkeys yet? How do you feel about them vs. your password manager? Let us know by writing us at CyberGuy.com/Contact.
For more of my tips, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to CyberGuy.com/Newsletter.
Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Artificial intelligence can't bring back the dead, but it may be able to simulate speaking to a lost loved one in an effort to help humans through the grieving process.
The high-tech revamp of the traditional seance comes amid the wild growth of large language models, a form of AI that is trained on copious amounts of text. ChatGPT's release year has sparked discussion on how far the tech can go as the chatbot mimics human conversation and answers prompts from humans.
Jarren Rocks, product designer and manager at the Los Angeles-based software development company AE Studio, is working on a program called Seance AI, which will allow people to talk with a chatbot that mimics their dead loved ones.
"It's essentially meant to be a short interaction that can provide a sense of closure. That's really where the main focus is here," Rocks told the outlet Futurism. "It's not meant to be something super long term. In its current state, it's meant to provide a conversation for closure and emotional processing."
Humanity has long been fascinated with trying to communicate with the dead, hitting a fever pitch in the late 19th century when people flocked to attend seances and at least 4 million Americans identified as "spiritualists." Even cultural figures on the world stage, such as Mark Twain and Queen Victoria, dabbled in the occult by attending seances, according to the New Yorker.
Such activities, however, were shunned by many other Americans and Christians, with the Catholic Church issuing a decree in 1898 that condemned spiritualistic practices and another decree in 1917 that prohibited seances.
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With the planned AI seances, only a chatbot will be communicating with the living, but Rocks said he’s leaning into the "magical" aspect of the tech.
"We're trying to make it sound as magical and as mystical as possible," he told Futurism of Seance AI’s name.
Rocks told Fox News Digital that the name of the program is "intentionally striking because we're confident that we'll be able to provide real comfort to some people." He added that he and AE Studio are "greatly concerned about AI safety" and that they want "to draw attention to the potential implications of the technology" – but he said they do not want to halt AI's progress though they support "healthy regulation."
The program employs tech from OpenAI, the AI lab behind ChatGPT, and prompts users to tell the program the name of the person with whom they wish to speak, their age, personality traits and how they died, according to the outlet. Users will also upload text from their deceased loved one as a template on how the deceased person communicated when they were alive.
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Once the information is uploaded, the user is taken to a webpage that shows a flame and then can send a message to their simulated loved one. The chatbot responds based on the information it was given, simulating the deceased loved one, Futurism reported.
Rocks told Fox News Digital that he had been considering building such technology since the advent of large language models, noting that he and his co-workers at AE Studio have all experienced loss of a loved one.
"Personally, I'm not as curious about the other side as I am addressing the grief that we deal with on this side," he said. "We as people have been obsessed with understanding what is beyond death for a very long time, and while there are many grief-tech solutions for counseling, or therapy, few address personal loss so boldly."
The program, which strikes a similar tone as a "Black Mirror" episode that details the hyper-realistic synthetic recreation of a dead character, is not intended to be used on a regular basis, according to Rocks.
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"For short conversations, I think it feels decently human. I think it falls apart a little bit [when you] start to pick up on repetitions," Rocks said. "It's following a pattern, it doesn't really know exactly what's going on."
Rocks compared the program to a high-tech Ouija board that can be used for closure purposes.
"A traditional seance isn't something that lasts forever. Personally, I think the short time span helps encourage closure, a tool to help you process some unresolved emotions. That said, there are some potential long-term applications that could be viable, and we'll likely launch other features later on," he told Fox News Digital, pointing to potentially building a feature such as an "AI ghost of someone at a grave site."
"My key priority for Seance AI is that we provide people with tools to help them process loss," he added.
Artificial intelligence has gained traction among people who are grieving the loss of a loved one, including through recreating a deceased person’s voice.
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South Korea-based tech firm DeepBrain AI crafted a program called "Re;memory," which allows users to upload video, audio and photos of deceased people that is then used to create a virtual version of the person that can communicate with humans. In China, tech developers are building what they dubbed as "griefbots" so people can communicate with deceased loved ones, according to Insider.
Rocks said SeanceAI will launch Tuesday, including testing a free tier level of the program as well as a paid tier for longer-term users.
If you're old enough, you might remember when going through airports was a breeze compared to today's enhanced passenger and baggage screening procedures. Back then, you didn't have to worry about full-body scanners, passenger and carry-on luggage checks, or the other airport security protocols that are now in place. It's way different from how things are now.
Get ready for possibly even more security upgrades in the future if the TSA has its way. The Transportation Security Administration is testing out its new facial recognition technology at a number of airports throughout the country. This tech identifies and verifies individuals on their unique features.
However, a few government officials are not happy. They are concerned about the risk to civil liberties, privacy rights, safety and security of biometric data, and racial discrimination. Here's what we know so far.
The way the TSA uses facial recognition is by taking pictures of passengers and comparing them with the passenger's identification. Typically, when going through the security process at a domestic airport, a passenger will hand over their driver's license, and a TSA agent will place the license into a card reader to verify if the ID is real or fake.
With this new process, your ID would still be placed into the card reader, and then the TSA agent would take a picture of your face in real-time. That picture will be processed to see if it matches the picture on your driver's license. The agent will then approve the screening once the picture is verified.
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When asked about how the trials were going thus far, the TSA stated, "the TSA has grounded the tests in scientific rigor and early results are promising across all demographics with a small sample, so TSA is expanding the sample size for statistical validity."
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The following airports are currently using this facial recognition testing at their security lines.
No, you do not have to participate. According to the TSA, the trial is completely voluntary, and you can refuse to have your photo taken by telling an officer at the Travel Document Checker podium. In my experience, there is no sign or active notice during numerous TSA screenings letting you know it's optional to have your face scanned. The TSA also states that this will not cause the passenger any delay, and they will not face any consequences for not participating.
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Once the TSA takes your picture and verifies your identity, the picture only remains in RAM memory, and it is automatically purged as soon as the TSA officer logs off their computer. The computer is also set to log off automatically after not being used for 30 minutes.
The only time your picture will be kept in the system for longer than this period is during a data collection period when the DHS Science and Technology Directorate will encrypt the photo's data for analysis. However, TSA says there are no personally identifying details held within this data, and the department deletes all its encrypted data within 24 months.
U.S. Sens. Jeffrey Merkley, Edward Markey, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have collectively penned a letter to the TSA expressing multiple concerns over this trial.
One main concern is that not many people going into these participating airports are aware of the trial, and TSA officials have not been informing passengers that the trial is voluntary, according to what Senator Merkley says he witnessed when he was at a participating airport. Another worry is that it is unclear how travelers will know that they can "opt-out", and what the consequences for travelers are if they do decide to opt-out.
DON’T FALL FOR THIS SNEAKY NOTIFICATION THAT’S FOOLING PEOPLE ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM
Their other main concern is the chance of facial recognition technology perpetuating racial bias, as studies have shown that certain racial and ethnic groups, particularly Asian and African American individuals, are more likely to be misidentified by the technology.
And the final big concern is privacy, as it has not been made totally clear if the DHS Science and Technology Directorate will be sharing any data they collect with other government agencies and what exactly they will be doing with that data. All we know is that they are telling us anything they collect will be deleted within 24 months.
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Remember, whether the TSA agent at the airport tells you or not, you have the right to refuse to go through the facial recognition technology trial. If the whole idea doesn't sit right with you, simply let the agent know that you will not participate, as they cannot penalize you for not wanting to be part of it.
Does the idea of the TSA having your facial data make you uncomfortable? Do you think this is a good security measure to use in the future? Let us know by commenting below.
Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Despite the increasing popularity of delivery services including the use of drones, it has been challenging for companies to keep these services profitable. This is because of the high costs associated with operating drones.
Factors weighing in include cost of the drone itself, maintenance, and pilot training. On top of that, delivering through drones is tightly regulated by aviation authorities, which can add to the expense and difficulty of running these services.
LA, California-based company A2Z Drone Delivery is working on changing that when it comes to flying distribution services.
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Meet the RDSX Pelican, a delivery drone designed by A2Z Drone Delivery. Unlike other drones that use control surfaces to maintain stability, the RDSX Pelican uses a multi-rotor system to balance itself. In other words, instead of relying on traditional methods, it uses more advanced technology to stay steady while making deliveries. It's the first commercial drone of its kind, making it an exciting innovation in the world of drone delivery.
It also has a pre-installed winch, known as RDS2, which has a mechanism to auto-release any box. This allows for cargo to be released from a tethered position at altitude without requiring a landing. One of the key benefits of this setup is that it safeguards the propellers against potential obstructions on the ground, such as trees, powerlines, or buildings. Also, its patent-pending hook design can automatically retract after drop-off or pickup, which means a human doesn't have to be on the receiving end of the drone delivery.
This configuration is especially useful when the delivery location has uncertain terrain. In addition, it is also ideal for conventional delivery destinations since it eliminates rotor noise and helps with privacy by delivering the payload from a higher altitude.
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Of course, drone deliveries will continue to grow in popularity when it comes to residential deliveries. Companies are saving costs on manpower and gas, plus the time it takes to deliver via normal commercial methods.
However, in addition to home deliveries, the Pelican can be used for medical and emergency deliveries, shore-to-ship deliveries, aerial mapping, infrastructure inspection, and search and rescue efforts, to name a few.
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If you're wondering how much a drone like this costs, the Pelican models start at $29,000 and are available for pre-order now. There will be multiple models available.
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Final thoughts
While the convenience of drones is a positive reason for their use, some of their capabilities are pretty creepy. There are already flying drones that can shapeshift, drones that can swim underwater, and ones that can see through walls to spy on you. There are also questions about the safety of deliveries flying through the air over yards and streets - what if one were to malfunction?
Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Delays can stack up as the day goes, so your best bet to make sure you get on the plane is to choose a flight before 3 p.m. Wednesday is one of the cheapest days to fly, so there's your plan: Wednesday before 3.
Pro tip: You can check where your plane is to get an idea of whether your upcoming flight will be delayed. The airline you’re flying might display this in the app, or you can use Flight Aware. Enter your flight number to get details on the aircraft and its status.
Mobile Passport Control is a free U.S. Customs and Border Protection app that lets you get back home faster. Unlike CLEAR or TSA PreCheck, you don’t need any pre-approval.
All you have to do is download the app and fill out the forms when you land, then go to the "Mobile Passport Control" lane at the airport. Sweet.
Download for iPhone or Android.
You always need to carry identification when traveling, but having a digital backup is wise, too. Worst case scenario, you lose your wallet. Getting home will be much smoother if you have photos of all your important documents.
The easiest way to do that on an iPhone is to use the handy document scanner built into the native Notes app.
On an Android, snap some photos and mark them as favorites in your picture gallery or scan them in with the Google Drive app.
Pro tip: Save your identifying documents as PDF files to send them to another device or two, like an iPad or Kindle. Download to access them offline beforehand and send a copy to your travel partner.
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If you’re not already doing this, you’ll thank me. Stop fumbling around with a printed board pass and access a digital version.
You can log in to the airline’s website and have them email your boarding pass or download your airline’s app to access it. From there, you can add it to your phone’s digital wallet.
Keep your tech-know going
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My popular podcast is called "Kim Komando Today." It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions like you from all over the country. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, hit the link below for a recent episode.
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Plus, will ChatGPT take your job? I speak with Matt Schlicht, CEO of Octane AI and a leader in the chatbot space, about the future of AI in the workplace and how to get it to work for you. Child predators target kids' webcams, Hawaiian tourists' GPS blunder and make sure your security cam doesn't break the law.
Check out my podcast "Kim Komando Today" on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.
Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, "Komando."
Sound like a tech pro, even if you’re not! Award-winning popular host Kim Komando is your secret weapon. Listen on 425+ radio stations or get the podcast. And join over 400,000 people who get her free 5-minute daily email newsletter.
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You may think a visit to your local library isn't worth your time now with devices like Kindles to read all our favorite books. The truth is that if you are strolling through life without a library card, you may be missing out on some incredible free digital perks.
It costs you absolutely nothing to get a library card in most cases and having one could actually save you lots of money in the long run. Take a look at all the perks you could be getting below.
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at the time of publishing)
Android: 4.7 stars (at the time of publishing)
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There are a number of apps that let you hook up your library card to borrow books, audiobooks, comic books, and even movies or TV shows for free. One of those apps is Libby, which is an incredible resource for any book fan because it’s free to download and connects with the Kindle app and even your actual Kindle if you have one.
Libby works with about 90% of the libraries around the U.S., and it has both books and audiobooks. Plus, it works just like a library does, only virtually. You can even get on waiting lists ahead of a big book release, and while it may be a little bit of a wait for a popular book, you’ll be able to read it eventually for no charge.
Note: Different apps around the country have partnered with other ebook lending services, so be sure to reach out to your local library to see if there’s another app getting priority.
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iPhone: 4.8 stars (at the time of publishing)
Android: 4.7 stars (at the time of publishing)
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Hoopla is a platform that offers fewer new and popular releases and a ton of niche and hard-to-find content. However, it still offers ebooks, audiobooks, music, movies, TV shows and over 25,000 comic books, all free with your library card. Hoopla offers streaming through your library card as well, and you can instantly stream or download for offline reading, watching and listening. It's available 24/7 and has no late fees for borrowed ebooks. There's even a kids mode so that your child can enjoy family-friendly content.
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at the time of publishing)
Android: 4.3 stars (at the time of publishing)
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Kanopy partners with public libraries and universities to give library cardholders access to free movies, documentaries, foreign films, classic cinema, independent films and educational videos. You can watch everything completely ad-free and for no additional cost. You can also browse Kanopy Kids for unlimited age-appropriate shows and movies with access to parental controls.
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iPhone: 4.6 stars (at the time of publishing)
Android: 4.5 stars (at the time of publishing)
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Some libraries also give free access to the PressReader app with a library card. PressReader gives access to thousands of magazine and newspaper titles so that you can stay up-to-date with the latest news. It has over 7,000 publications from all over the globe, and you can have unlimited reading on up to five devices. You can toggle between the original print view and a mobile-optimized text view. Plus, you can bring all your reading to life with listening mode, one-touch translation and dynamic commenting.
Another common offering at most libraries is free tutoring for learning a foreign language. Some offer both online and in-person classes for a variety of languages, and all you have to do is show your library card to sign up. And aside from foreign languages, lots of libraries also offer tutoring in school subjects like math and science. Contact your local library and see if they offer this service.
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Many libraries will offer free courses with LinkedIn Learning online to help with career advice, such as developing a business, learning technological skills, and even creative skills. Depending on the library, you might even find options for more specialized job training. Contact your local library and see if they offer this service.
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Many libraries also have free financial services like getting legal forms and even receiving coaching for tax season and other financial endeavors. You likely can also get access to investment research, learn about your genealogy, and more. Contact your local library and see if they offer this service.
Don't miss out on the free digital perks of having a library card, from borrowing ebooks and audiobooks with apps like Libby and Hoopla to accessing free movies and career advice through Kanopy and LinkedIn Learning. Contact your local library to see what other free services and resources they offer.
Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
In this fast-digital era we live in, protecting ourselves from online dangers has sadly become an important part of our everyday lives. Also, with the ever-changing landscape of social media platforms, we find ourselves confronting a relentless barrage of cunning schemes and crafty ploys designed to fool folks just like you and me. I'm on a mission to identify these ongoing cyber concerns and let you know how to stay safe from danger on the rise.
Recently, one of our vigilant readers, Claire from Roswell, Georgia, reached out to us to share a phishing scam that she received. Here's what she had to say.
"There is a new trend on Facebook and Instagram where a message shows up in your notifications. It looks like a real message from FB or IG because it’s in your notifications (and this was in my organization’s page notifications.) But it appears to be phishing. It’d be great to see a section on your website dedicated exclusively to warnings of these sneaky social media tricks. Thanks for all you do and your protection software. I signed up today!"
- Claire, Roswell, GA
Scammers have begun using social media regularly to trick people into giving them money, private information, and more. This is a relatively new scam that's showing up regularly on people's social media. There are some red flags within these screenshots that I want to point out.
So, let's go over what to look over, how to know if you're being tricked, and how to protect yourself.
What to look out for:
Understanding community guidelines
Every social media platform has community guidelines to ensure the safety and security of those using the platform. There are rules about impersonating others, posting violent or offensive content, and more that would fall under the violation of those guidelines. However, if something you post or a page you run violates the guidelines, the post or page will typically be taken down immediately.
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If you notice in the second screenshot above, the fake notification states, "If we do not hear from you in the next 24 hours, we may permanently delete your page, and the decision will be irreversible." If this notification were really from Facebook, they would not have sent this person a warning and given them 24 hours to respond.
Also, phishing messages often contain grammatical errors, misspellings, or use generic greetings.
Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc., will take a post or page down immediately as soon as they recognize that it violates the guidelines. They may send you a message after the fact to explain why they took the post down, but they will never give you the chance to explain yourself before they delete a post.
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Pay close attention to the hyperlinks
If you notice again in that second screenshot above, the scammer provided a link for the person to click on to "request a review" of their page and save it from being taken down.
That link is likely a malicious link that if clicked may very well lead to you downloading malware don't your device or take you to a fake page that would ask you to give over tons of personal information. Make sure you're always double-checking an entire link before clicking on it. Do not click on links or download files from unfamiliar sources, especially if they are sent to you through private messages or notifications. Hover over the link to see the URL preview, but refrain from clicking if you have doubts.
Look at who is sending you the notification
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If you're getting an urgent notification from Facebook, then it would make sense for the page sending you the notification to at least have Facebook's logo as the profile picture, right? Notice how the "urgent notification" comes from a page that just has an orange exclamation point as its profile photo. This is just another scare tactic that a scammer uses to make the notification look urgent so that the victim takes immediate action. Always verify first that a notification is coming directly from the social media platform itself.
How to protect yourself
Enable 2-factor authentication
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your social media accounts to add an extra layer of security. This way, even if someone obtains your password, they would still need that second means of verifying it’s your account (e.g., a unique code sent to your phone) to access your account.
Keep software up to date
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Ensure that you regularly update your devices and apps with the latest security patches. This helps protect against known vulnerabilities that scammers may exploit.
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Have good antivirus software on all your devices
Keeping hackers out of your devices can be prevented if you have good antivirus software installed. Having antivirus software on your devices will make sure you are stopped from clicking on any potential malicious links which may install malware on your devices, allowing hackers to gain access to your personal information.
See my expert review of the best antivirus protection for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices by heading to CyberGuy.com/LockUpYourTech
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Final thoughts
I want to thank Claire for bringing this phishing scam to our attention. As you can see, social media platforms have become a breeding ground for tricksters seeking to deceive unsuspecting users. It is crucial to stay vigilant and be aware of the warning signs. From scrutinizing notifications and hyperlinks to verifying the source and having robust antivirus software, taking proactive measures is key to safeguarding your online presence and personal information.
Should the government be doing more to protect Americans from these types of hackers? Let us know by writing us at CyberGuy.com/Contact
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Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
When the Roomba was first released, I was ecstatic. The idea of having this cute little robot do a chore that I absolutely hated was such a treat. I even gave it a name so that whenever it missed a spot, I could yell at it to express my frustration. Silly, I know. Luckily, we can soon add a member to the family tree, and I might have an opportunity to yell at yet another little robot who does my chores for me.
The LawnMeister is essentially a Roomba, although it mows your lawn instead of vacuuming your rooms. With this nifty gadget, you can finally say goodbye to noisy gas mowers and the hassle of lawn mowing companies. The yard bot is helping homeowners everywhere take back their weekends, their summers, and their lawns. This breakthrough technology takes hands-free lawn care to a whole new level, providing an all-in-one solution for your lawn care needs - plus, it looks super cool.
The LawnMeister robot is fully autonomous and is equipped with the Heisenberg Pilot System (HPS). This revolutionary system uses robot vision and AI to improve route planning and the accuracy of obstacle avoidance. This means it can easily navigate your lawn, avoiding any obstacles in its path and trimming every blade of grass with precision.
Powered by a 3D navigation system and "robot vision," the bot can see every bump, remember every edge, and avoid items in real-time. It can recognize all types of objects, whether moving or still, so it won't run into your pets or drive through dog poop, keeping your loved ones safe and your lawn mess-free.
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That's just some of it - LawnMeister also adjusts its mowing schedule based on the season, weather, and location to predict your grass's needs and offer a tailored mowing schedule. This means you'll always have a perfectly manicured lawn, no matter the time of year. Alternatively, you can program the bot to your preferred mowing schedule to have the perfect lawn on your time.
One of the best things about LawnMeister is that it's 100% wire-free, so you don't have to worry about setting up any boundary wires. Instead, it uses virtual boundaries keeping the bot from exiting your lawn and ending up in the street. Unlike other "smart mowers," the LawnMeister can also mow with straight lines, keeping your lawn as beautiful as ever.
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Also, you can even program "no-go zones" for places you are trying to secure, like a garden or your dog and kid's favorite play spot. By setting these zones up, the bot will avoid particular areas and continue mowing where needed.
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It's not just a lawn mower, either. Thanks to its AI-powered vision, the bot can identify yellow spots in your lawn and spray fertilizer on the areas where it's needed.
If grass clippings are on your driveway, the LawnMeister can sweep it clean and blow away any pesky leaves or tree trimmings.
Plus, it comes with an easy-to-use mobile app where you can set up the boundaries, no-go zones, set its schedule, the length you wish to cut your grass, and even track the bot while it's actively on the job.
The Heisenberg LawnMeister comes with a charging dock, a power adapter with an extension cord, six mounting screws, and three sets of cutting blades.
To get your hands and green thumbs on one, you'll need to wait until August, and you'll need to pledge at least $1,000 on kickstarter.com.
For more of my favorite gardening gadgets, visit CyberGuy.com/GardeningGadgets
Would you trust your precious lawn with one of these grass terminators? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Since Apple acquired Dr. Dre's Beats headphones line for a whopping $3 billion in 2019, the tech company has significantly advanced its audio hardware. The Apple AirPods are one of my favorite pieces of tech to date. The quality of sound is superb, the battery life is impressive, the mag charging case is convenient, and the fit of the earphones is so comfy.
Unfortunately, I had yet to learn I was missing out on several features that can further enhance the experience when using these incredible sound machines. Here's how to get the most from your Apple AirPods.
Your AirPods hold the key to a powerful ally: Siri. Want to send a text or check the weather without lifting a finger? Utter the magical incantation, "Hey Siri," followed by your request, and watch as your wish comes true - sometimes.
To use Siri with your AirPods, ensure that Siri is enabled on your iPhone.
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Gone are the days of fumbling with your phone. Harness the power of customization and tailor your AirPods' controls to your liking. Each one can have its own special ability or feature. It's like giving them superpowers, making them unique and special in their own way.
To customize your AirPods' controls:
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The ability to share your audio with friends is no longer impossible. With Audio Sharing, connect two sets of AirPods to a single device, and embark on a shared listening journey without needing an archaic splitter.
To use Audio Sharing: Ensure both sets of AirPods are connected to the same device.
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Got multiple Apple devices? No problem. Your AirPods can effortlessly switch between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, ensuring a smooth transition as you move from one device to another. Just select your AirPods in the audio output options, and you're good to go.
To switch between devices with your AirPods: Make sure your AirPods are connected across all devices via Bluetooth Settings.
How to swap your AirPods from your iPhone to your Mac
How to swap your AirPods from your Mac to your iPhone or iPad
Open the Control Center. For devices without a Home button, swipe down from the top-right corner; if your device has a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
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The dreaded misplacement of AirPods is a modern-day tragedy. But don't worry. The Find My app is here to help. You can use the app to play a sound on your missing AirPods or find its last known location. No more searching high and low.
To use Find My for locating lost AirPods:
Want the best sound quality from your AirPods Pro? The Ear Tip, Fit Test feature is designed just for that. It analyzes the sound in your ears and suggests the perfect ear tip size for the ultimate audio quality and comfort.
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Need to stay aware of your surroundings while jamming out to your favorite tunes? Transparency Mode on your AirPods Pro lets you do just that.
To enable Transparency Mode on AirPods Pro:
Put your AirPods Pro in your ears.
Press and hold the force sensor on the stem of either AirPod until you hear a chime. This toggles between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode.
You can also enable Transparency Mode by tapping the "i" icon next to your AirPods Pro in the list of devices under your Bluetooth settings.
Then swipe to turn on or off Transparency Mode under the Noise Control Setting
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Preserve your AirPods' battery life by enabling "Optimized Battery Charging."
Tap the "i" icon next to your AirPods in the list of devices again
Toggle on "Optimized Battery Charging"
This feature learns your charging routine and slows down battery aging by reducing the time your AirPods spend fully charged.
These hidden AirPods features can truly transform the way we interact with our devices and elevate how we experience our audio content.
Now that you've unlocked the full potential of your AirPods, which feature do you find most useful or exciting? Let us know by writing us at CyberGuy.com/Contact
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Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
You are likely at least somewhat familiar with 3D printing by now. However, did you know that it is capable of making prosthetics for people? Yes, you read that right. A Nebraska man has gotten a brand-new prosthetic finger, all from 3D printing.
Here's how it was done.
To give some background, Nebraska native Adam Cutshall was building a mini golf course for his son about 20 years ago at their home. Unfortunately, Adam was using the power tools while intoxicated and ended up cutting off his pinky finger.
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Adam had attempted to get a prosthetic for his finger multiple times over the years, however, the cost could be as high as $20,000, and he was never able to get insurance coverage. This is all too common for most people who need prosthetics, as many are not covered by insurance and are too expensive for most people to afford.
That's when Adam found New York City-based artist, photographer, and IT engineer Paul Hodara through a Reddit post asking for any skilled users in 3D printing. After hearing Adam's story, Paul was kind enough to offer to make Adam a prosthetic finger via 3D printing, all free of charge.
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Paul used a Prusa i3 MK3S printer to make the device. Throughout his process, he posted videos of the finger's development, testing its flexibility and durability, and would even show Adam some of his failed attempts.
After making about 20 different prototypes over 4 months, Paul completed the final version. Adam is now able to curl his finger for the first time in years, and the finger even features texturing on the tip for gripping. The finger is expected to last for the next couple of years.
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I sure hope it means that 3D printing can be incorporated into the medical field, as it seems to be a safe, cost-effective way to help people in need of prosthetics. Paul does not have a medical background, however, he has certainly proven that 3D printing could be a super helpful tool for medical professionals in the future, and maybe people will not have to rely on hoping their insurance companies will cover the costs anymore.
What do you think of 3D printing in the medical field? Let us know by writing us at CyberGuy.com/Contact
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Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
New York City is reversing course after restricting the use of OpenAI's artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT in public schools.
David Banks, the chancellor of the Big Apple's school system, announced the shift in a Thursday op-ed in Chalkbeat.
He said that while the technology had initially caught educators off guard, the school system is now determined to embrace its potential.
"While initial caution was justified, it has now evolved into an exploration and careful examination of this new technology’s power and risks," Banks explained.
Since the move to place ChatGPT on the New York City Public Schools’ list of restricted websites following potential misuse and concerns raised by educators, the chancellor said that teams had begun discussions with tech industry leaders about the platforms and the future use of AI in schools.
In addition, they consulted citywide educators, many of whom had already started teaching about the future and ethics of AI and used generative AI to enhance their teaching.
Banks said the school system is creating a repository and community to share findings across schools, as well as providing educators with resources – including some developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – and real-life examples of successful AI implementation in schools. It will also continue to collect information from experts in both schools and the field of AI going forward.
"Our nation is potentially on the brink of a significant societal shift driven by generative artificial intelligence. We must make sure that this technology’s benefits are equitably distributed to prevent further widening of socioeconomic gaps in our country," Banks continued.
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"We will educate our students about the significant ethical concerns that many leaders in tech and government are contemplating, which both educators and students are already discussing in their classes. However, we will also ensure our students are supported by AI’s opportunities and prepared for the jobs of today and the future," he said. "Many of those opportunities will be built on technological innovations — both AI and innovations we do not yet know."
ChatGPT was introduced to the public in November, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warning in December that it would be a "mistake" to rely on it for "anything important right now."
"Due to concerns about negative impacts on student learning, and concerns regarding the safety and accuracy of content, access to ChatGPT is restricted on New York City Public Schools’ networks and devices," Education Department spokesperson Jenna Lyle told Chalkbeat in January. "While the tool may be able to provide quick and easy answers to questions, it does not build critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for academic and lifelong success."
Banks said the move didn't prohibit its use entirely but required schools to request access for staff and students.
"The knee-jerk fear and risk overlooked the potential of generative AI to support students and teachers, as well as the reality that our students are participating in and will work in a world where understanding generative AI is crucial," he said.
ChatGPT is a sophisticated artificial intelligence chatbot developed by AI research company OpenAI. The AI technology was added to Microsoft products including Bing, the corporation’s search engine.
ChatGPT is a generative AI that is capable of producing content from text to images, having conversations with humans, suggesting edits to computer programming code and more. The chatbot has the ability to answer questions or assist humans in queries or tasks through its vast training using social media, websites, articles, datasets, books and other forms of text on the internet.
ChatGPT is set to be one of the most disruptive forces in Big Tech, specific industries like education and business, and for the future of the human workforce in coming years.
The second half of the name, GPT, stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer. Transformers are specialized algorithms for finding long-range patterns in sequences of data. A transformer learns to predict not just the next word in a sentence but also the next sentence in a paragraph and the next paragraph in an essay. This is what allows it to stay on topic for long stretches of text.
The chatbot learns to mimic grammar, punctuation, writing structure and other essential components of human intelligence and output conversation, answers, information, etc. back to a user.
ChatGPT is not intended to be a tried and trusted source as it currently poses many potential risks like spewing misinformation and infringing on intellectual property. Additionally, it has serious limitations. Currently, most industries are using the chatbot to test the accuracy of information they're already experts on vs the answers provided by ChatGPT.
There are, however, several professional industries already leveraging AI to assist in completing tasks more quickly and efficiently, though ChatGPT and other chabots are being used with skepticism.
In the medical field, doctors are testing the precision of diagnostics provided by ChatGPT and patients are employing the chatbot to acquire information about diseases, medications and other health-related topics.
"The suggestions generated by AI were found to offer unique perspectives and were evaluated as highly understandable and relevant, with moderate usefulness, low acceptance, bias, inversion and redundancy," the researchers from a preliminary study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center wrote in the study findings. Dai noted that doctors can enter medical records from a variety of sources and formats — including images, videos, audio recordings, emails and PDFs — into large language models like ChatGPT to get second opinions.
Experts in the legal field are using ChatGPT to experiment with will and testament development, decide on court rulings and answer law-related questions.
Reporters and writers are leveraging the chatbot to assist with writer’s block and content creation. Media companies including BuzzFeed and the publisher of Sports Illustrated have announced plans to generate content such as quizzes and articles with ChatGPT.
Students are using the fresh wave of so-called generative AI to write their essays and complete homework assignments. Some schools have blocked access to the service on their networks to prevent cheating, while others are actively encouraging students to use the tools ethically.
While there are numerous advantages to using ChatGPT for business, education and more, it’s pertinent to recognize the tech isn’t always accurate. Sources used to train ChatGPT aren’t fact-checked, generative AI is susceptible to bias and it relies on human feedback to improve accuracy.
"They absolutely do have bias," expert Flavio Villanustre told Fox News Digital. "Unfortunately, it is very hard to deal with this from a coding standpoint. It is very hard to prevent bias from happening."
The technology is also prone to "hallucinations." Hallucinations, with respect to ChatGPT, occur when the AI provides a response that seems factual, formally correct, and includes proper language, but is completely bluffed.
Beyond the level of inaccuracy, there is the concern that generative AI like ChatGPT could become too human-like. There are four levels of development for AI; Reactive Machines, Limited Memory, Theory of Mind and Self-Awareness.
ChatGPT has passed a theory of mind test commensurate with 9-year-old ability, as of February 2023.
"The one thing I tell people is computers don't get tired. Computers don't have to turn off," said Dr. Chris Mattmann, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Chief Technology and Innovation Officer to Fox News Digital.
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"Does that mean all those people all of a sudden should be dependent on the government and lose their jobs? No," Mattmann said. "We sometimes know this five, ten years in advance. We should be considering what types of subject matter expertise, what types of different activities, what are the prompts that those workers should be putting their subject matter data and all their knowledge into, because that's where we're going to be behind and we're going to need to help those automation activities."
The angst people feel in regard to AI advancements are well-founded since an April 2023 report acknowledged that ChatGPT alone could put nearly 5 million US jobs at risk.
Though large language model – L.L.M. – ChatGPT may initially frighten some with its capabilities or intimidate first time users, it is fairly simple to understand.
You’ll need to sign up for an OpenAI account to begin using ChatGPT. Next, you’ll need to agree to the terms of use. Then, you’ll ask the AI model questions and receive answers in return. It’s as simple as that.
Some of the latest features of ChatGPT include the following:
ChatGPT was developed by OpenAI as part of a strategy to build AI software. On November 30, 2022, ChatGPT was officially launched by OpenAI.
Microsoft, OpenAI’s strategic partner, unveiled a $10 billion investment into OpenAI in January 2023. In February 2023, ChatGPT was available for users on Bing’s search engine.
Elon Musk, though said to be developing his own chatbot "TruthGPT," previously invested $100 million into OpenAI in 2015, according to Business Today. Musk’s massive investment likely played a role in the evolution of ChatGPT.
OpenAI, a San Francisco based AI research lab, created ChatGPT and Microsoft Corp added it to their products including Bing. Search engine giant competitors Google and Baidu are pushing to launch similar tools. Google’s chatbot Bard was released in a limited capacity in March 2023. Baidu launched Ernie bot also in March 2023.
Alibaba, Chinese multinational tech company, released its own chatbot Tongyi Qianwen in April 2023.
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The short answer is that ChatGPT is free. However, there is a paid version of the chatbot, ChatGPT Plus.
ChatGPT Plus was released in February 2023 and costs $20 per month and includes access to the chatbot during periods of high demand and peak usage times. If you have gone to use the chatbot and been frustrated or restricted by the error message "ChatGPT is at capacity right now," ChatGPT Plus might be a subscription to consider. The message appears when ChatGPT is receiving an influx in queries and communications through the chatbot.
You can easily update from the free version of ChatGPT to ChatGPT Plus by clicking on the "Upgrade to Plus" button and completing your purchase.
ChatGPT subscribers also receive early access to new features and improvements and faster response times from the conversational application.
Currently, ChatGPT Plus is only available in the US but OpenAI has expressed availability to users in other countries in the future.
ChatGPT and other chatbots are extremely advanced technologies and have somewhat overwhelming capabilities. While this is the case, ChatGPT has limitations.
OpenAI has acknowledged chatbot limitations, specifically for GPT-4, and that it has "social biases, hallucinations, and adversarial prompts."
GPT-4 is capable of providing recipes after receiving photos of food items and ingredients. It can generate, edit and iterate tasks with and for users with datasets including both images and text. It can give analysis, create content, converse and more. However, ChatGPT can still dispatch false and biased information. It also makes mistakes with mathematical, grammatical and factual information which OpenAI calls "hallucinations."
The chatbot also lacks common sense and emotions. ChatGPT is limited in a number of ways and while responses seem plausible, they are sometimes inaccurate. Your secrets are also not safe using ChatGPT or any other chatbot including Google Bard.
ChatGPT and Bard record your search history by default. You can ask ChatGPT not to keep your searches, but know they will still be saved for a month and then deleted.
Fox News Digital's Melissa Rudy contributed to this article.
Bard is one of the newest artificial intelligence chatbots. The AI chatbot, created by Google, was released in March 2023, after an initial announcement in February. The software was released to a limited amount of users for testing.
The chatbot comes on the heels of the release of one of its major competitors, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and has very similar functions to that model.
Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about the new AI chatbot and how it functions.
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Google Bard is an AI chatbot that creates answers to questions and responses to prompts given by the user.
Because the AI software is in its initial stages, there isn’t much information available about it on the website.
On the Google Bard website, you can find a link to join the waitlist for the program and two short quotes about the AI software. One of the quotes describes Bard and what its goal is.
"Meet Bard: your creative and helpful collaborator, here to supercharge your imagination, boost your productivity, and bring your ideas to life," the website states.
There is also a disclaimer that reminds users that this it is in the experimental stages, and the accuracy of Bard’s answers could be flawed.
"Bard is an experiment and may give inaccurate or inappropriate responses. You can help make Bard better by leaving feedback," the website explains.
Already since its release, there has been a major controversy in regard to an inaccuracy in one of Bard’s answers.
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In its short time in user’s hands, Google Bard has already been no stranger to controversy.
Google released a video on social media showing an example of how Bard works in February.
In the video, Bard is asked "What new discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope can I tell my 9-year-old about?"
Bard then provided a list of three facts, one of which was factually incorrect.
One of the "facts" provided about the telescope was that it was the first to take a picture of an "exoplanet," which is a planet outside our solar system, according to Dictionary.com. The fact is that the first photos of this nature were taken in 2004 by the Very Large Telescope (VLT), which was operated by the European Southern Observatory, according to NASA.
After the video went public, Google Bard's parent company, Alphabet, lost a hundred billion dollars in market value in just a single day, according to Search Engine Journal.
When chatbots get things wrong, these errors are often known as "hallucinations."
Google Bard is powered by Language Model for Dialogue Applications, or LaMDA. The AI "draws information from the web to provide fresh, high-quality responses," Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said in a Google blog post.
Google Bard uses both public dialogue and web data in order to answer questions, according to Search Engine Journal.
Since Google Bard is still in the experimental phase, its release has started on a small scale and access has been limited.
In order to gain access to Google Bard since its March 2023 release, individuals have been required to join a waitlist through the website.
Based on the information provided on the Google Bard site, there is yet to be an official release and the waitlist is still the only way to gain access to the software.
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The original release that is currently available is a "lightweight" and "smaller" model, Pichai said in the post, as it is for testing purposes and to gain feedback from users.
In addition to Bard, Google is home to a slew of other AI software. One of these is MusicLM, which was announced by the company In January 2023. MusicLM is an AI tool that takes text descriptions and turns them into music. This tool is still in its experimental phases.
Other AI services under Google are Vertex AI and Vertex AI Workbench. These are mainly for developers to help them create machine learning models. Several other AI services Google provides for developers in particular are AutoML, Cloud Natural Language, Dialogflow, Media Translation, Speech-to-Text, Text-to-Speech, Timeseries Insights API, Translation AI, Video AI and Vision AI.
The Google Cloud site also highlights some tools that can be used for AI Infrastructure such as Deep Learning Containers, Deep Learning VM Image, GPUs, TensorFlow Enterprise and TPUs.
Google also has AI services businesses can use to help their workflow. One of these is Contact Center AI. This service allows companies to create virtual AI contact centers to assist human agents in call center environments. There is also AI that improves customer experience by helping them shop for products and increasing the quality of Google searches.
For those who need assistance with AI, Google also provides solutions to those inquiries with its AI Readiness Program. This program helps businesses establish how AI can be incorporated into their business model.
When Google Bard was first launched, the number of people who had access to it was limited. Launching in March allowed it to be competitive with ChatGPT, while still developing the software in its experimental phases. At its start, it was only available to users in the United States and Britain.