We strive to inform readers not only about events in the bitcoin industry but also to talk about what is happening in related technological areas – cybersecurity and the world of artificial intelligence (AI).
Crypto Minnie has collected the most important news from the AI world over the past week.
- Russian banks collect biometric data that does not meet EBS standards.
- In Chicago, they demanded a ban on the ShotSpotter shot detection system.
- In the UK, they supported the idea of scanning users’ smartphones for the presence of CSAM materials.
- Meta will increase the number of recommendations in the Facebook and Instagram home feeds from accounts to the user is not following.
- Enthusiasts have created a Keanu Reeves deepfake with realistic facial expressions.
- Scientists have turned dead spiders into robots.
- The most important transactions in the field of AI.
Media: Russian banks collect low-quality biometrics
90% of the data collected by Russian banks do not meet the Unified Biometric System (UBS) standards.
According to Kommersant, the main problem is with the Quality Control Library (QCL). The system is designed to filter data, and its current version allows only 10-30% of the biometrics provided by banks to pass through, and they need to delete the rest of the samples.
The type of information is also essential. EBS requires photographs and voice casts, while commercial biometric systems (BBS) collect fingerprints, retinal images, palm vein patterns, and other data.
Today, CBS stores up to 70 million face casts, less than 50 million unique, and 20 million voice recordings. Only 4-5 million samples will get into the EBS.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation is discussing the preservation of biometrics that have not passed the BPC check, “taking into account the need to comply with information security requirements.”
Chicago demanded to ban the system of recognition of shots
Human rights activists sued the authorities of Chicago (USA) because of the use of ShotSpotter shot detection technology.
Representatives of the MacArthur Center for Justice called the AI system “inaccurate and unreliable.” They accused the city police of “blind faith” in the technology in the case of Michael Williams, who spent 11 months in jail over ShotSpotter’s false evidence. The document says that law enforcement officers did not even investigate other versions of the murder.
According to activists, 89% of alerts generated by the system do not contain evidence of any crime. In two years, the AI sent more than 40,000 unverified notifications to the police, they added.
ShotSpotter called the allegations “absolutely false.” The company noted that the verification carried out by independent experts showed that the technology’s accuracy is 97%.
The plaintiffs seek damages for Williams and a ban on using ShotSpotter in Chicago.
New Orleans police to resume using facial recognition
The New Orleans City Council (USA) has partially lifted a ban on using facial recognition technology by police.
Now law enforcement officers can request access to biometric identification systems to identify suspects or witnesses in investigating crimes.
The police department said lifting the ban would give the city’s “exhausted forces” more tools to find and arrest the perpetrators of the murders and other acts of violence.
Human rights activists called the city council’s decision a “mistake.” They noted that the police did not provide any evidence of the “importance” of AI systems in solving crimes.
A ban on facial recognition technology in New Orleans went into effect in 2020 amid mass protests.
The UK supported the idea of scanning users’ smartphones
The UK’s National Cybersecurity Center (NCSC) and the General Directorate of Government Communications (GCHQ) have backed a plan to scan citizens’ smartphones for CSAM material.
The project involves tech companies like Facebook and Apple using an AI tracking system for user messages to detect images of child abuse. According to NCSC and GCHQ, such software will protect minors and privacy.
Child advocacy groups supported the plan, calling it “an important and credible intervention.”
Critics have said the project undermines the benefits of end-to-end encryption. Instead, they added that the focus should be on non-technological ways to detect child abuse.
Media: Google can transfer data from Nest devices to the police without a warrant
Google may transfer user data from Nest devices at the request of the police without the consent of customers and a warrant.
According to Google’s policy, where it has the potential to prevent someone’s death or severe harm, the tech giant may provide the necessary information to government agencies.
A Nest spokesperson noted that the company is trying to notify its users about the transfer of data but reserves the right to disclose the information without a warrant in emergencies.
In the UK, they will create a fighter that “reads the minds” of pilots
In 2027, a working prototype of the Tempest jet fighter, capable of reading pilots’ minds, will be presented in the UK.
Pilot helmets are equipped with sensors to monitor brain signals and other medical data to train AI. The technology will help pilots fly the fighter jet in unforeseen or stressful situations.
According to the developers, a demonstration combat aircraft will be created at the plant in Lancaster. The fighter will be a test bed for a variety of technologies.
The project involves British defense developer BAE Systems, automaker Rolls-Royce, European missile systems company MDBA, and engineering holding Leonardo.
Meta will strengthen the role of recommendation algorithms on Facebook and Instagram.
Until the end of 2023, Meta will increase the number of recommendations for new accounts on Instagram and Facebook.
According to the head of the company Mark Zuckerberg, artificial intelligence can find the content of interest to users, which increases the involvement and quality of platforms. He added that meta would start using AI to recommend everything people share on social media, including photos and links.
Zuckerberg noted that today, Facebook’s algorithms offer 15% of the content, and this figure is even higher on Instagram.
AMD Introduces AI Noise Cancellation
AMD has released Noise Suppression, an intelligent noise reduction tool. The feature is available in Radeon Adrenalin Graphics Driver Update version 22.7.1.
The plugin uses AI algorithms to remove background sounds and improve the clarity of the user’s speech in real-time. The tool works for input and output devices, which allows you to minimize the noise from the interlocutor’s microphone.
Noise Suppression works on computers with a Ryzen 5000 series processor or later, or a Radeon RX 6000 and later graphics card.
Enthusiasts have created a realistic deepfake Keanu Reeves
AI developers have created a digital copy of Keanu Reeves with realistic facial expressions.
Enthusiasts used the Metahuman tool to render 3D models on Unreal Engine 5. They also used the DeepFaceLab deepfake application.
Scientists create robots from dead spiders.
Researchers at Rice University have turned dead spiders into robots capable of grasping small objects. Necrobots can lift 130% more than their weight.
The researchers inserted a needle into the spider’s prosoma and fixed it with a drop of superglue. Using a syringe, they filled or evacuated air from the cephalothorax chamber, causing the limbs to move. Such a necro but can perform up to 1000 “open and close” cycles.
According to scientists, robot spiders will help assemble microelectronics or trap insects in the future.
