A Malwarebytes study reveals that iPhone users are more prone to online scams and exhibit riskier online behaviors than Android users, largely due to a false sense of security and complacency, highlighting the need for proactive cybersecurity practices across all devices.
A study from Pew Research Center indicates that AI Overviews in Google Search lead to fewer clicked links and reduced further searches, raising concerns about their impact on web traffic and publishers. Google disputes the findings, claiming their data shows no significant decline in outbound clicks, and highlights that users find AI features helpful. The debate continues over how AI integration affects user engagement and web traffic.
Mark Cuban criticizes Bluesky for becoming more rude and echo chamber-like, which he believes is driving users back to X, especially as the platform's lack of diversity of thought and increased hostility diminish its appeal.
Microsoft is once again attempting to push users into using its products, this time by prompting Edge users to switch their search engine to Bing. Developer Brad Sams highlighted this "anti-user behavior" in a tweet, showing a screenshot of the prompt. Microsoft has been promoting Bing and other services in a similar manner in the past. However, Bing continues to struggle against Google, with only a 3.2% market share as of November 2023. Microsoft's attempts to increase Bing's user base, including through AI initiatives, have not been successful. Users are growing tired of these prompts and hope Microsoft will reduce them in 2024.
Experts have expressed concerns that the Biden administration's plan to establish an AI safety commission may not be sufficient to address the potential risks associated with AI technology. While the commission aims to ensure the safety and trustworthiness of AI systems, experts argue that the focus should also be on user behavior and procedures. They suggest that tech providers should be required to provide safety procedures for users, similar to how banks provide KYC procedures to prevent money laundering. Critics have highlighted various pitfalls of AI, including deepfake technology, security breaches, and political bias in the safety approval process.
Researchers analyzing 100,000 chatbot conversations found that approximately 10% of users engaged in erotic exchanges. The study, conducted by researchers from Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, UC Berkeley, San Diego, and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, categorized the "unsafe" topics into three groups: explicit and erotic storytelling, explicit sexual fantasies and role-playing scenarios, and discussing toxic behavior across different identities. The researchers hope that their findings will contribute to making chatbots safer for all users.
The logout button on websites and apps has become practically defunct, as user interfaces prioritize access to content and seamless transfer of session data across devices. While some see this as a nefarious design decision to keep users logged in and sharing data, designers argue that it is a symbiotic relationship between user behavior and interface design. The sign-out process may seem confusing due to more customized and sophisticated interface designs, but developers do not prioritize logging out unless building platforms with sensitive user information. As users demand more control over their data, the internet may evolve to allow for more states than just being logged in or logged out.