Unlocking Ancient Secrets & Navigating the New Search Age - Spotlight #485
Unlocking Ancient Secrets & Navigating the New Search Age - Spotlight #485
Tech news for the rest of us
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It’s February 12th. Spotlight is off next week for President’s Day and back with you on February 26.
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Today’s Spotlight is 928 words, about 5 minutes to read.
3 Headlines to Know
The FCC banned AI-generated voices in robocalls to target the rise of sophisticated voice scams. This rule follows a hoax using President Biden’s voice that discouraged voting in New Hampshire.
Meta also announced that Instagram and Threads will reduce the amount of political content users see from accounts that they don’t follow.
Ransomware attacks surged in 2023, with victims paying a record $1.1 billion. Hospitals, schools, and major companies were targeted in a global wave of cybercrime, doubling the ransom payments from 2022 as hacking tactics become increasingly more sophisticated.
YouTube TV has reached 8 million subscribers, showcasing its strength in the streaming market despite a pricey $73 monthly fee. CEO Neal Mohan emphasized the shift towards living room entertainment, highlighted by the exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket for an additional $350.
Spotlight on Navigating Google’s New Search
Google's search technology is visibly evolving, with AI advancements and antitrust trial revelations shedding light on Google's strategies.
A big antitrust trial has exposed Google's nuanced use of clicks in rankings, challenging previous denials and supporting what many, including us, have observed about their impact.
We’re also learning that the significance of external links is waning, diverging from their once paramount status in determining website visibility. Gary Illyes from Google encapsulated this change, saying at a major conference last fall, "I think they are important, but I think people overestimate the importance of links. I don’t agree it’s in the top three. It hasn’t been for some time.”
Introducing Google Gemini
Google's Gemini, previously known as Bard, is stepping up the game against ChatGPT by adding voice to its AI search tools. It aims to turn simple searches into conversations, making the experience more like talking to a friend. Along with voice, features like "Circle to Search" and improvements to Google Lens are making searches smarter and more intuitive, using gestures and pictures to find information. Gemini will also work with Google's other tools like Docs and Gmail, changing how we use digital content by making everything more connected and easier to use.
SEO's New Frontier
With Google's new updates, they're advising website managers and content creators to focus more on what their audience wants to see, rather than just following old SEO rules. Google recently updated its SEO Starter Guide to emphasize understanding and targeting your audience's interests over traditional SEO tactics, rules, and best practices.
Looking ahead: Google's updates are making searches smoother and more user-friendly, while at the same time, making the rules for website rankings more complex and less clear. This approach aims to keep searches fair and harder to game.
Practical AI: OpenAI to Add Hidden Watermarks
OpenAI's DALL-E 3 will soon mark images with special watermarks to show they're made by AI, part of a big move to make sure we know when content is created by computers. This includes a hidden tag and a clear symbol on the image. It's happening as more companies, including giants like Meta, Adobe and Microsoft, push for these kinds of ID marks.
Even though it's a step forward in telling real images from AI-made, there's a catch: these marks can be easily lost or removed, especially on social media, making it tricky to always know what's what. This effort ties into bigger plans to keep the internet honest, especially with elections coming up and fake content being a big worry.
Debunking Junk: IRS Scam Alert
The FTC is warning about a phishing scam mimicking the IRS , offering fake tax refund links via email and text. Don't click—the IRS doesn't use email or text when contacting taxpayers. Report scams to the Treasury Inspector General and FTC, and verify refunds only through the official IRS site.
Protip: Exploring Battery Myths
Insights reveal that overnight phone charging and using unofficial chargers can be detrimental, while maintaining a charge between 20-80% optimizes battery health. Here’s a look at battery myths to help make your devices do their thing longer.
Screening Room: Nationwide (UK) featuring Dominic West
Science Fiction World: Self Scanning at the Airport
CNET explores exciting new technology at the airport. A virtual reality system allows you to privately scan yourself and luggage in a single step when you reach security.
Tech for Good: AI Unlocks Ancient Text
Researchers have digitally deciphered the Herculaneum scrolls, precious texts buried by Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Previously unreadable due to their extreme fragility, these ancient scrolls offer a new window into Roman philosophy, untouched for nearly two millennia.
Coffee Break: Compare How Much Big Macs Cost
McDonald’s franchisees set their own prices as shown by this map showing the sandwich’s price at every U.S. location. In Stigler, Oklahoma (pop. 2,685) residents can chow down for only $3.49 while Lee, Massachusetts diners pay more than double that.
Sign of the Times
