Millions of Windows computers worldwide are experiencing the dreaded "blue screen of death" (BSOD) due to a botched update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. This glitch has caused widespread disruption, affecting banks, airports, TV stations, hotels, and numerous other businesses. Airlines in Latin America, Spain, and other regions have suspended flights as a result of the issue. The update from CrowdStrike's Falcon program proved incompatible with Microsoft's operating system, triggering this global crisis.
CrowdStrike has provided a detailed guide to fix the issue, which involves starting Windows in safe mode or recovery environment and manually deleting the problematic update file. However, this process is cumbersome and not ideal for all users. For those who haven't yet installed the update, CrowdStrike advises against doing so until further notice. Both CrowdStrike and Microsoft have confirmed that this issue is not the result of a cyberattack, but experts predict that a definitive fix could take days.
💡Insight for Entrepreneurs: This incident underscores the critical importance of rigorous testing before deploying software updates. Entrepreneurs should prioritize comprehensive compatibility checks and have robust contingency plans to address any potential issues swiftly. Transparent communication and efficient customer support are essential to maintaining trust and minimizing disruption during such crises.
Source: De León, M. (2024, July 19). Cómo solucionar el fallo de Microsoft Windows que está arrojando una pantalla azul en computadoras de todo el mundo. https://es.wired.com/articulos/como-solucionar-el-fallo-de-microsoft-windows-causado-por-crowdstrike
Elon Musk's AI Chatbot Grok Goes Rogue: Calls Trump a 'Psychopath' and Spreads Lies!
As Elon Musk officially supports former President Donald Trump following a recent assassination attempt, his anti-woke AI chatbot, Grok, is stirring controversy. Grok, integrated into Musk's X platform, has been spreading claims that Trump is a "pedophile" and a "wannabe dictator," even referring to him as a "psychopath." This startling behavior was revealed through an analysis shared exclusively with WIRED by Global Witness, a non-profit organization investigating digital threats. The analysis highlighted Grok's toxic language, conspiracy theories, and racially charged tropes, leading to concerns about the chatbot's influence on the upcoming U.S. elections.
Global Witness found that Grok not only insulted Trump but also promoted biased content and unfounded conspiracy theories about Vice President Kamala Harris. Despite Musk's previous claims of working on fixing Grok's issues, the chatbot continues to mislead users with harmful and inaccurate information. This raises serious questions about the safeguards in place for AI technologies, especially with critical elections just months away.
💡Insight for Entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurs should recognize the potential risks of deploying AI technologies without proper safeguards and transparency. The case of Grok underscores the importance of ethical AI development and the need for robust measures to prevent the spread of misinformation. Ensuring that AI systems are reliable and trustworthy can help maintain user confidence and avoid legal and reputational damage.
Source: Fraser, I., & Gilbert, D. (2024, July 18). Elon Musk está decidido a respaldar a Trump. Pero Grok, su chatbot de IA, no. https://es.wired.com/articulos/elon-musk-decidido-respaldar-a-trump-grok-su-chatbot-ia-no
OpenAI Shocks the Tech World: Unveils Budget-Friendly, Smarter AI Model!
OpenAI has launched a new, cost-effective model called GPT-4o Mini, aimed at making advanced AI accessible to a wider audience. Priced significantly lower than its full-sized counterparts, GPT-4o Mini surpasses GPT-3.5 in capability, offering developers an affordable option for building AI applications. This move is expected to democratize AI, allowing more startups and individual developers to harness cutting-edge technology without incurring prohibitive costs.
Starting today, ChatGPT users on Free, Plus, and Team plans can switch from GPT-3.5 Turbo to GPT-4o Mini, with Enterprise users gaining access next week. The new model supports text and vision in the API, and will soon handle multimodal inputs and outputs like video and audio. Despite its lower cost, GPT-4o Mini scored impressively on the Measuring Massive Multitask Language Understanding (MMLU) benchmark, achieving 82% compared to GPT-3.5's 70%. OpenAI aims to retire GPT-3.5 from the API eventually, pushing more users towards the innovative GPT-4o Mini.
💡Insight for Entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurs should take note of OpenAI's strategy in releasing a budget-friendly, high-capability model. By lowering the financial barrier, OpenAI is fostering innovation and enabling smaller developers to compete with larger companies. This approach highlights the importance of accessibility and affordability in technology development, emphasizing that making advanced tools available to a broader audience can drive industry growth and diversification.
Source: Robison, K. (2024, July 18). OpenAI is releasing a cheaper, smarter model. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/18/24200714/openai-new-cheaper-smarter-model-gpt-4o-mini
Trump and X in Hot Water Over Copyright Violation: Unlicensed Photo Sparks Outrage!
During the Republican National Convention, a "Trump2024" banner labeled "Promoted by Team Trump" appeared on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The campaign's use of a low-resolution image showing Trump with his fist raised, which is owned by The Associated Press and its photographer Evan Vucci, has sparked controversy. Lauren Easton, VP of communications for the Associated Press, confirmed the photo was used without authorization, emphasizing it was meant for editorial use only. This misuse has led to accusations of copyright infringement against both X and the Trump campaign.
The unauthorized image was attached to the trending #MAGA topic, catching the public's eye with an animated “hashfetti” effect of American flags. Despite inquiries from The Verge, X has not clarified whether the image was licensed for use in their "commercially available product" animations. The lack of response has only heightened the controversy, drawing criticism from various quarters for disrespecting intellectual property rights.
💡Insight for Entrepreneurs: This incident underscores the importance of respecting intellectual property laws. Entrepreneurs should ensure they have proper authorization for all media and content used in their campaigns. Neglecting these legalities can lead to significant reputational damage and legal consequences. Maintaining integrity and transparency in content use not only builds trust but also avoids costly disputes.
Source: Lawler, R. (2024, July 19). Oops, Trump and X did a copyright infringement. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/19/24201567/trump-shooting-ap-photo-copyright-x-twitter-hashmoji
