In today’s business news, covering the period from 1-7 April, we’ll share updates in the technology, gadgets, and security sectors. From Elon Musk’s call for a pause on advanced AI development to Apple’s patent application for a new iPod-like device, there’s plenty to talk about. Plus, we’ll be discussing the recent security vulnerability discovered in the Throne concierge wishlist service. So, let’s dive into the latest news and see what’s been happening in the business world.
Technology
Elon Musk, along with business leaders, called for a pause in advanced AI development
An open letter signed by thousands of tech leaders, such as Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, and AI experts, has called for suspending the development of large language models like ChatGPT due to concerns about the potential harm they could cause society. However, some experts in the industry doubt the practicality of a 6-month suspension of development and suggest it may be more like a fairy tale than a realistic solution.
The letter only addressed stopping the development of new AI models and did not guide what to do with existing models like GPT-4, which has drawn criticism from some developers. They argue that a moratorium would primarily impact newer players in the industry while established companies like OpenAI would continue to dominate the market. While the open letter highlights valid concerns about the development of powerful AI, whether a suspension of development will be feasible or effective in the long run remains to be seen.
What do you think about the concerns raised by tech leaders regarding the development of large language models like ChatGPT?
Gadgets
Back to the future: Did Apple reinvent iPod?
According to recent news, Apple has submitted a patent application for a pocket-sized device that could revolutionize how people consume digital content on the go. The device, which resembles the iconic iPod in design, will be capable of playing music, videos, books, and more.
What sets this device apart from previous Apple products is the addition of a nook designed explicitly for charging wireless earbuds. This feature suggests that Apple is continuing to invest in its AirPods line and plans to integrate it even further into its ecosystem of products.
Although the patent application has been submitted, it is still unclear whether Apple will actually develop this device beyond the application stage. As with many patent filings, there is always the possibility that the product may not come to fruition.
As of now, Apple has not released any official statements regarding the potential development of this product. However, many fans and tech enthusiasts eagerly await to see if the tech giant will bring this patent to life and add another innovative device to its impressive portfolio.
Security
Throne addresses security flaw that revealed private home addresses of creators
Throne, a concierge wishlist service founded in 2021, acts as an intermediary between creators and their fans while fully protecting the creators’ privacy. It claims to support over 200,000 creators by shipping out thousands of their wish list items daily. To use the service, creators can publish a wish list of gifts that supporters can buy, and Throne handles the rest, ensuring that payments are processed, items are sent, and private information remains confidential.
However, hackers recently found a vulnerability in Throne’s security and exposed the private home addresses of its creator users.
Zerforschung, a German group of security researchers, found that Throne had misconfigured its database hosted on Google’s Firebase, which allows anyone on the internet to access the data inside.
Using the Amazon session cookies, the researchers could access Throne’s Amazon account without needing a password. Anyone with the same session cookies could log in and view thousands of orders and the associated creators’ names and addresses.
The researchers notified Throne of the bug, and Throne fixed it momentarily. In a blog post, the company confirmed the security lapse, thanking Zerforschung for their findings.
