Tech

They first banned facial recognition. They’re not so sure now.

Over the past few years, a number of cities and some states enacted rules banning or restricting local police use of facial-recognition software. Now, in a handful of locations around the country, the controversial technology is making a comeback.

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In recent years, several cities and states have passed laws banning or restricting the use of facial-recognition technology by local police. The controversial technology is now making a comeback in a few locations across the country.

New Orleans passed in 2020 an ordinance prohibiting its police department from using facial recognition software. However, the city decided in July that it would allow its officers to request permission from a superior to use facial recognition software in violent crime investigations. In Virginia, however, the state outlawed facial recognition technology by local police and campus police in 2021. A bill was then passed in March that allowed its use by police in certain situations. California’s law in 2020 that temporarily prohibited state and local law enforcements from using facial recognition software in body cameras expired at the end of the year. It was enacted in three years and attempts to make it permanent were unsuccessful in the state’s Senate.

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Federal laws do not govern facial-recognition technology. This has led to states, cities and counties to regulate it in their own ways, especially when it comes to how law enforcement agencies can make use of it.

There are two types of facial recognition software. One compares a photograph of a person with faces in a database looking for a match (the type of software police might use to investigate a crime such as Clearview AI), and the other compares photos of people to another image (the one you see when you open your iPhone with a face).

Although the technology has been increasingly used in the United States over the past few years, it has also been criticised by privacy and digital rights organizations over privacy issues and potential dangers. For example, the technology has been found to be less accurate in identifying people of color and several Black men have been wrongfully detained due to facial recognition.

Adam Schwartz, Senior Staff Attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, believes that the bans and subsequent changes are a “pendulum swing.”

Since 2019, there have been roughly two dozen bans on facial recognition in various types that have been enacted in American communities and some states. Many of them were enacted in 2020. Schwartz pointed out that there was a push to limit police use of surveillance technology in the wake the death of George Floyd in May that year. He said that the pendulum has been swinging in the law-and order direction over the past year.

There are swings in American politics between being afraid or worried about government surveillance and being afraid of criminality. He said that there was a short-term swing in favoring fear of crime, and that the EFF is optimistic that the overall trend toward limiting government surveillance technology use is towards limiting government use.

Six of seven council members voted for the ban on facial-recognition technology in New Orleans in late 2020. It was part of a larger ordinance to regulate surveillance technologies in the city. One member was absent. However, the ordinance that would allow police officers to use facial-recognition tech was voted down by four council members and two others when they were counted in July. One counsel member was absent.

Two years later, the turnaround is achieved after a rise of homicides following a decline in 2016 to 2019.

The new rule allows city police to request facial-recognition software in order to assist investigations into a wide range violent crimes, including murder and rape, kidnapping, and robbery.

LaToya Cantrell, New Orleans mayor, expressed her gratitude for the July 21 vote by the city council in favor facial-recognition technology.

Lesli Harris is a New Orleans council member who opposed July’s ordinance. She is concerned about how this legislation might impact civil rights in the city. Harris stated that facial recognition is difficult for her because she is a woman of colour. She pointed out that studies have shown that technology can be less accurate in recognizing people of color and women of color.

Virginia’s facial-recognition technology ban was put into effect by legislation in July. It was only allowed to be used by the state legislature. The state’s 2022 legislation, which took effect in July, basically reverses the 2021 rule and allows local and campus police to use the technology in certain situations.

Scott Surovell (a Virginia state senator) introduced the new rule. He stated that it was intended chiefly to be a “lead generator” which police would have their own confirmation before arresting a suspect. He also noted that while the 2021 legislation prohibited local police from using facial recognition software, it did not prevent Virginia state law enforcement either from using it or using it for local police.

The 2022 legislation requires police agencies to publish a report every year about their use of facial-recognition technology.

It is still unknown how often facial recognition technology is used in the United States. Clearview AI, which counts over 3,100 US agencies as its customers, has been embracing it for years. Clearview AI alone claims that it has more than 3,100 US agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and “hundreds of other local agencies”.

Surovell hopes that more rules will be passed in order to regulate technology in other states. This is similar to how law enforcement uses technologies like radar, breath testing and substance analysis.

He stated, “I believe it’s important that the public have faith in law enforcement’s ability to do their job. That these technologies be regulated is essential and that there be transparency about their use so people are able to assess for themselves if it’s accurate or being abused.”

However, recent developments suggest that it may not be an easy ride.

An amendment that Harris and two other council members supported that would have established guidelines regarding how facial-recognition technology is used by the city’s police force — such as requiring court approval for each use and monthly reports on how it was used — failed to pass in July. Chris Kaiser, the advocacy director for ACLU of Louisiana, stated that he was concerned about the changes in the city’s rules regarding facial-recognition software.

He said, “We don’t understand why your objection to these safeguards.”

On Thursday, the trio of New Orleans councilmembers tried again. Their amendment was amended in several ways. It removed the need for judicial approval before using the technology and required quarterly reports rather than monthly regarding its use. It passed this time.

Tech

IBM misses first quarter revenue estimates; cuts growth forecast to 6%-8%

IBM, a US-based technology giant, announced on Thursday that its revenue for the first-quarter (Q1) 20 The revenue figures were lower than Wall Street’s estimates of $14.35billion, but the earnings per share (EPS IBM’s targets were met in the first quarter as both its software and consulting businesses grew by 6% and 8.2% Big Blue also reiterated their full-year forecast of free cash flow of $10.5 billion.

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp cut its 2022 forecast in November due to a decline in contracts. IBM’s “We are heavily reliant on our teams, particularly our global innovation centers. Granger said that India has never been about labour arbitrage, but rather a talent play. IBM Consulting contributed to This segment was rebranded in 2021 from IBM Global Business Services prior to IBM’s separation with Kyndryl.

Analysts say that the offering is in direct competition with IT services giants Accenture and TCS when it comes to large Keep up with the latest technology and startup news.

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Crypto firms scramble to find banking partners as willing lending partners dwindle

After the collapse of Silvergate Capital Corp., Signature Bank, and Silicon Valley Bank, U.S. regulators expressed concern about the safety and soundness business models of banks that are heavily focused on crypto clients. U.S. regulators also warned banks to be on the lookout for any liquidity risks posed by crypto-related deposits. These deposits could be subjected to rapid outflows if clients try to redeem their crypto-assets for real money. “Crypto- and Web3-start-ups tell us they cannot get a bank account for their business,” said Marcus Foster. He is the head of crypto policy at Coadec. Foster said that the issue has gotten “significantly worse” in recent months.

This has forced digital asset companies to look for smaller financial institutions located in remote corners of the global finance. Discover the stories that interest youBlockchain5 StoriesCyber safety7 StoriesFintech9 StoriesEcomm9 StoriesML8 StoriesEdtech6 StoriesA FV Bank spokesperson said the bank has seen a rise in inquiries in recent weeks despite not being insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. A spokesperson for Bank Frick in Liechtenstein said that it had also seen a “significant” increase in account requests, with the majority of inquiries coming from companies in Europe, Singapore, and Australia.

However, the bank is not purely focused on crypto and has a broadly diversified business model, the spokesperson said.Switzerland-based Arab Bank told Reuters in March it had seen an increase in U.S. firms, mostly crypto funds or those involved in crypto venture capital, seeking to open accounts, but that the bank was unlikely to accommodate all of them. While ZA Bank, a Hong Kong digital bank, reported that it had received four times as many enquiries from crypto firms after Silicon Valley Bank collapsed, it stated that it would only accept firms with a license to trade virtual assets. Nikki Johnstone is a partner with Allen and Overy in London.

She said that the “concentration risks” that come from a growing clientele seeking business from smaller firms are the “biggest challenges” of having fewer crypto banking options. She said that this increased expectation places more pressure on the firm to manage and monitor risks at a higher level. Cryptocurrency firms need banks to hold their customers’ dollar deposits, and to conduct day-to-day operations. “Of course, the motto of crypto says ‘we’re going to replace banks’. But first, we’re not there yet and I don’t think we’ll be there ever,” said Paolo Ardoino. He is the chief technology officer at Tether, which is the largest stablecoin in terms of market capitalisation.

Its reserves were previously the subject of investor scrutiny. ‘TOP TEN’ Several top banks have told Reuters they are turning away most crypto-related clients, while others say they only work with top-tier companies – policies they maintain are unchanged since their past positions. According to a source with knowledge of the situation, JPMorgan Chase does not accept any crypto-related clients anywhere in the globe, except for Coinbase which has revealed that it deposits its customers’ funds with the bank. This policy has been in place for a long time. Circle, the principal US Dollar Coin issuer, has a portion its reserves held by BNY Mellon.

A spokesperson for ING stated that the bank does “not target or focus actively on cryptocurrency firms” and therefore its exposure is “very low.” Allen and Overy’s Johnstone, a lawyer with the firm, said that banks are often cautious because of the increased money-laundering risks in the crypto sector and the lack of robust crypto regulations. Circle, the principal USD Coin issuer, holds a portion its reserves at Customers Bank. Gemini, on the other hand, says it holds reserves for its stablecoins at State Street Bank and Goldman Sachs. Coinbase has revealed that it deposits funds for its customers at Cross River Bank, in addition to JPMorgan Chase.

Ricardo Mico is the U.S. CEO at Banxa. Banxa provides payment and compliance infrastructure for crypto. “There is a concern over the lack of banking partners in the market, especially for smaller and less-proven enterprises,” he said. (Reporting from Elizabeth Howcroft in London, Hannah Lang in Washington, with additional reporting by Mehnaz Yassin and Georgina Le; editing by ElisaMartinuzzi and Sharon Singleton.) Stay on top of the latest technology and startup news.

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The National Quantum Mission, approved by the Union Cabinet under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will accelerate quantum-technology-led economic growth in India and nurture the ecosystem. Singh joked that the NQM will give India a quantum leap in this area. CP Gurnani, CEO ofTechMahindratweeted, “A welcome move! The National Quantum Mission is expected to accelerate India’s tech progress, increasing India’s credibility and ability in quantum computing. @tech_mahindra We are deeply invested in Quantum and it’s encouraging that the government is putting so much focus on this technology.

“Singh said that the mission will develop magnetometers and atomic clocks for precise timing, communication and navigation. The deep ocean mission, Space, drones, and remote sensing policies, supercomputing, cyber-physical missions, the Thirty Meter Telescope and LIGO, as well as the impending NRF will advance fundamental research in the coming year. “Raman Research Institute in Bengaluru tweeted: “RRI is thrilled at the launch of National Quantum Mission. We look forward in continuing to work for the nation on pathbreaking quantum technology”. Urbasi Sinha, who heads the Quantum Information and Computing Laboratory (QuIC) at RRI, tweeted: “RRI is at the forefront of India’s quantum technology research.” I personally worked on the DPR, and am excited about the prospects it holds for me as a scientist, for the institute, and for the nation.

The mission can bring the technology development eco-system in the country up to a global competitive level. The mission will benefit the communication, health, financial, energy, drug design, and other space applications. It will also provide a boost to National Priorities like Digital India. Make in India. Skill India. Stand-up India. Self-reliant India. “We know that quantum keys that use quantum principles are secure and can withstand attacks from hackers. There needs to be fundamental changes at the network level, for infrastructure and hardware devices which generate these keys. He said that this is an area that must be investigated for defence-based installation.

Quantum machine learning can be used for satellite placements – with the increasing debris and satellites orbiting Earth, quantum optimization techniques are helpful in satellite placements – and weather analysis. He said that precise quantum hardware could be used to detect earthquakes and other geological phenomena. Malhotra, who spoke about quantum education, said that in order to make India a hub for quantum, it is important to focus on improving and imparting education at all levels.

Tech

PlanSource Celebrates its continued growth in India

PlanSource, the leading provider of US employee benefit technology, shared exciting updates on their plans for 2023, as well as recent recognitions regarding their operations in India. PlanSource has offices in several cities in the United States, as well as in Bengaluru in India. The India operations deliver an exceptional customer experience by scaling processes and providing coverage around the clock. PlanSource’s rapid expansion, increased product investment and market momentum led to more than 750 employer groups choosing PlanSource in 2022 as their benefits engagement platform.

The company now has more than 4,000 clients, five million employees and eight million users. PlanSource has grown rapidly under the leadership of Tom Signorello. This includes: A plus 47 NPS score for customers, and up-time metrics and call center metrics that exceeded SLAs. Launching new products, including ‘The Source,’ an employee engagement tool that increases benefit usage, improves the overall employee experience, and puts everything employees need in one convenient place, their mobile device.

PlanSource is expanding its industry-leading integrations portfolio by adding new HCM partners, such as Paylocity and SAP, carrier integrations like Aetna and a partner marketplace with 80+ valuable add-ons. Our values are based on implementing measurable ESG and DEI initiatives to create a sustainable future, a healthier planet and inclusive community. Establishing a Women in Tech and Leaders program globally PlanSource launched its Bengaluru operations in 2020.

The India office has made a significant contribution to product development and customer support. PlanSource, founded in 2008, employs 800 employees with more than 200 based in India. Tom Signorello said during his recent trip to India that “it is an exciting time for the benefits technology industry, as automation creates increased efficiency and the opportunity for a better end-user experience.” PlanSource is well positioned to continue to lead the industry, and we remain committed in furthering our mission to deliver the best customer experience. PlanSource encourages employees to be innovative and open. This can be done at many levels.

Process innovation extends beyond development to include Marketing, Sales and Operations, Finance and Human Resources. I am therefore excited by the contributions of India operations in developing industry leading products. Our India-based leadership team and talent contributed significantly to the launch of IQ decision support, which gives our customers measurable ROI (8x-12x). Recently, our India team developed Chatbot and Personalized Communication capabilities. I am excited to see these launched this week.

In our India operations, we have created a culture that is outstanding and focuses on diversity/inclusion. In 2023, we were awarded the “Great Place to Work” certification in India. Vista Private Equity recognized our India Center of Excellence for being the best CoE among their 70+ portfolio companies. We plan to continue to grow and look forward to the continued contributions from our India operation.” PlanSource is a trademark of PlanSource, Inc., as well as other trademarks owned by PlanSource.

Tech

Elon Musk announces he will launch a rival to Microsoft’s ChatGPT

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He also accused Larry Page, co-founder of Google, of not taking AI safety seriously. Musk said, “I’m starting something that I call ‘TruthGPT,’ or a maximum truth seeking AI that tries understand the nature of universe,” in an interview aired Monday on Fox News Channel. He said TruthGPT was “likely the best path to security” and would not “annihilate human beings”. It’s just starting late. Musk registered a Nevada-based company named X.AI Corp last month, according to a filing with the state. Musk was listed as the sole director, and Jared Birchall as the managing director of Musk’s family office as secretary.

‘Civilizational devastation’ The move came after Musk and a team of artificial intelligence experts, including industry executives, called for a 6-month pause on developing systems that are more powerful than OpenAI GPT-4. They cited potential risks to the society. Musk reiterated his AI warnings during the interview with Carlson. According to the excerpts, “AI is more harmful than, for example, mismanaged airplane design, production maintenance, or bad car production.” “It could lead to civilizational destruction,” Musk said. He said that an AI super intelligent could write extremely well and manipulate public opinion. Musk co-founded OpenAI back in 2015.

He stepped down from its board in 2018. In 2019, Musk tweeted that he was leaving OpenAI to focus on Tesla, SpaceX and other projects. He also tweeted that he left OpenAI because he had to focus on Tesla and SpaceX. Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter, has become CEO of Twitter. He bought the social media platform for $44 billion in 2013. Musk told Fox News that he valued Twitter recently at “less than 50%” of its acquisition price.

Microsoft Corp announced in January that it would invest a further multi-billion dollars in OpenAI. This investment will intensify the competition with Google and fuel the race for AI funding in Silicon Valley.