LONDON \u2014 Russian hackers were inside Ukrainian telecoms giant Kyivstar\u2019s system from at least May last year in a cyberattack that should serve as a \u201cbig warning\u201d to the West, Ukraine\u2019s cyber spy chief told Reuters.
\nThe\u00a0hack, one of the most dramatic since Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion nearly two years ago, knocked out services provided by Ukraine\u2019s biggest telecoms operator for some 24 million users for days from Dec. 12.
\nIn an interview, Illia Vitiuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine\u2019s (SBU) cybersecurity department, disclosed exclusive details about the hack, which he said caused \u201cdisastrous\u201d destruction and aimed to land a psychological blow and gather intelligence.
\n\u201cThis attack is a big message, a big warning, not only to Ukraine, but for the whole Western world to understand that no one is actually untouchable,\u201d he said. He noted Kyivstar was a wealthy, private company that invested a lot in cybersecurity.
\nThe attack wiped \u201calmost everything\u201d, including thousands of virtual servers and PCs, he said, describing it as probably the first example of a destructive cyberattack that \u201ccompletely destroyed the core of a telecoms operator.\u201d
\nDuring its investigation, the SBU found the hackers probably attempted to penetrate Kyivstar in March or earlier, he said in a Zoom interview on Dec. 27.
\n\u201cFor now, we can say securely, that they were in the system at least since May 2023,\u201d he said. \u201cI cannot say right now, since what time they had … full access: probably at least since November.\u201d
\nThe SBU assessed the hackers would have been able to steal personal information, understand the locations of phones, intercept SMS-messages and perhaps steal Telegram accounts with the level of access they gained, he said.
\nA Kyivstar spokesperson said the company was working closely with the SBU to investigate the attack and would take all necessary steps to eliminate future risks, adding: \u201cNo facts of leakage of personal and subscriber data have been revealed.\u201d
\nMr. Vitiuk said the SBU helped Kyivstar restore its systems within days and to repel new cyber attacks.
\n\u201cAfter the major break there were a number of new attempts aimed at dealing more damage to the operator,\u201d he said.
\nKyivstar is the biggest of Ukraine\u2019s three main telecoms operators and there are some 1.1 million Ukrainians who live in small towns and villages where there are no other providers, Mr. Vitiuk said.
\nPeople rushed to buy other SIM cards because of the attack, creating large queues. ATMs using Kyivstar SIM cards for the internet ceased to work and the air-raid siren – used during missile and drone attacks – did not function properly in some regions, he said.
\nHe said the attack had no big impact on Ukraine\u2019s military, which did not rely on telecoms operators and made use of what he described as \u201cdifferent algorithms and protocols\u201d.
\n\u201cSpeaking about drone detection, speaking about missile detection, luckily, no, this situation didn\u2019t affect us strongly,\u201d he said.
\nRUSSIAN SANDWORM
\nInvestigating the attack is harder because of the wiping of Kyivstar\u2019s infrastructure.
Mr. Vitiuk said he was \u201cpretty sure\u201d it was carried out by Sandworm, a Russian military intelligence cyberwarfare unit that has been linked to cyberattacks in Ukraine and elsewhere.
\nA year ago, Sandworm penetrated a Ukrainian telecoms operator, but was detected by Kyiv because the SBU had itself been inside Russian systems, Mr.. Vitiuk said, declining to identify the company. The earlier hack has not been previously reported.
\nRussia\u2019s defense ministry did not respond to a written request for comment on Vitiuk\u2019s remarks.
\nMr. Vitiuk said the pattern of behavior suggested telecoms operators could remain a target of Russian hackers. The SBU thwarted over 4,500 major cyberattacks on Ukrainian governmental bodies and critical infrastructure last year, he said.
\nA group called\u00a0Solntsepyok, believed by the SBU to be affiliated with Sandworm, said it was responsible for the attack.
\nNr. Vitiuk said SBU investigators were still working to establish how Kyivstar was penetrated or what type of trojan horse malware could have been used to break in, adding that it could have been phishing, someone helping on the inside or something else.
\nIf it was an inside job, the insider who helped the hackers did not have a high level of clearance in the company, as the hackers made use of malware used to steal hashes of passwords, he said.
\nSamples of that malware have been recovered and are being analyzed, he added.
\nKyivstar\u2019s CEO, Oleksandr Komarov, said on Dec. 20 that all the company\u2019s services had been fully restored throughout the country. Mr. Vitiuk praised the SBU\u2019s incident response effort to safely restore the systems.
\nThe attack on Kyivstar may have been made easier because of similarities between it and Russian mobile operator Beeline, which was built with similar infrastructure, Mr. Vitiuk said.
\nThe sheer size of Kyivstar\u2019s infrastructure would have been easier to navigate with expert guidance, he added.
\nThe destruction at Kyivstar began at around 5:00 a.m. local time while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was in Washington, pressing the West to continue supplying aid.
\nMr. Vitiuk said the attack was not accompanied by a major missile and drone strike at a time when people were having communication difficulties, limiting its impact while also relinquishing a powerful intelligence-gathering tool.
\nWhy the hackers chose Dec. 12 was unclear, he said, adding: \u201cMaybe some colonel wanted to become a general.\u201d \u2014 Reuters
\n", "content_text": "LONDON \u2014 Russian hackers were inside Ukrainian telecoms giant Kyivstar\u2019s system from at least May last year in a cyberattack that should serve as a \u201cbig warning\u201d to the West, Ukraine\u2019s cyber spy chief told Reuters.\nThe\u00a0hack, one of the most dramatic since Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion nearly two years ago, knocked out services provided by Ukraine\u2019s biggest telecoms operator for some 24 million users for days from Dec. 12.\nIn an interview, Illia Vitiuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine\u2019s (SBU) cybersecurity department, disclosed exclusive details about the hack, which he said caused \u201cdisastrous\u201d destruction and aimed to land a psychological blow and gather intelligence.\n\u201cThis attack is a big message, a big warning, not only to Ukraine, but for the whole Western world to understand that no one is actually untouchable,\u201d he said. He noted Kyivstar was a wealthy, private company that invested a lot in cybersecurity.\nThe attack wiped \u201calmost everything\u201d, including thousands of virtual servers and PCs, he said, describing it as probably the first example of a destructive cyberattack that \u201ccompletely destroyed the core of a telecoms operator.\u201d\nDuring its investigation, the SBU found the hackers probably attempted to penetrate Kyivstar in March or earlier, he said in a Zoom interview on Dec. 27.\n\u201cFor now, we can say securely, that they were in the system at least since May 2023,\u201d he said. \u201cI cannot say right now, since what time they had … full access: probably at least since November.\u201d\nThe SBU assessed the hackers would have been able to steal personal information, understand the locations of phones, intercept SMS-messages and perhaps steal Telegram accounts with the level of access they gained, he said.\nA Kyivstar spokesperson said the company was working closely with the SBU to investigate the attack and would take all necessary steps to eliminate future risks, adding: \u201cNo facts of leakage of personal and subscriber data have been revealed.\u201d\nMr. Vitiuk said the SBU helped Kyivstar restore its systems within days and to repel new cyber attacks.\n\u201cAfter the major break there were a number of new attempts aimed at dealing more damage to the operator,\u201d he said.\nKyivstar is the biggest of Ukraine\u2019s three main telecoms operators and there are some 1.1 million Ukrainians who live in small towns and villages where there are no other providers, Mr. Vitiuk said.\nPeople rushed to buy other SIM cards because of the attack, creating large queues. ATMs using Kyivstar SIM cards for the internet ceased to work and the air-raid siren – used during missile and drone attacks – did not function properly in some regions, he said.\nHe said the attack had no big impact on Ukraine\u2019s military, which did not rely on telecoms operators and made use of what he described as \u201cdifferent algorithms and protocols\u201d.\n\u201cSpeaking about drone detection, speaking about missile detection, luckily, no, this situation didn\u2019t affect us strongly,\u201d he said.\nRUSSIAN SANDWORM\nInvestigating the attack is harder because of the wiping of Kyivstar\u2019s infrastructure.\nMr. Vitiuk said he was \u201cpretty sure\u201d it was carried out by Sandworm, a Russian military intelligence cyberwarfare unit that has been linked to cyberattacks in Ukraine and elsewhere.\nA year ago, Sandworm penetrated a Ukrainian telecoms operator, but was detected by Kyiv because the SBU had itself been inside Russian systems, Mr.. Vitiuk said, declining to identify the company. The earlier hack has not been previously reported.\nRussia\u2019s defense ministry did not respond to a written request for comment on Vitiuk\u2019s remarks.\nMr. Vitiuk said the pattern of behavior suggested telecoms operators could remain a target of Russian hackers. The SBU thwarted over 4,500 major cyberattacks on Ukrainian governmental bodies and critical infrastructure last year, he said.\nA group called\u00a0Solntsepyok, believed by the SBU to be affiliated with Sandworm, said it was responsible for the attack.\nNr. Vitiuk said SBU investigators were still working to establish how Kyivstar was penetrated or what type of trojan horse malware could have been used to break in, adding that it could have been phishing, someone helping on the inside or something else.\nIf it was an inside job, the insider who helped the hackers did not have a high level of clearance in the company, as the hackers made use of malware used to steal hashes of passwords, he said.\nSamples of that malware have been recovered and are being analyzed, he added.\nKyivstar\u2019s CEO, Oleksandr Komarov, said on Dec. 20 that all the company\u2019s services had been fully restored throughout the country. Mr. Vitiuk praised the SBU\u2019s incident response effort to safely restore the systems.\nThe attack on Kyivstar may have been made easier because of similarities between it and Russian mobile operator Beeline, which was built with similar infrastructure, Mr. Vitiuk said.\nThe sheer size of Kyivstar\u2019s infrastructure would have been easier to navigate with expert guidance, he added.\nThe destruction at Kyivstar began at around 5:00 a.m. local time while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was in Washington, pressing the West to continue supplying aid.\nMr. Vitiuk said the attack was not accompanied by a major missile and drone strike at a time when people were having communication difficulties, limiting its impact while also relinquishing a powerful intelligence-gathering tool.\nWhy the hackers chose Dec. 12 was unclear, he said, adding: \u201cMaybe some colonel wanted to become a general.\u201d \u2014 Reuters", "date_published": "2024-01-04T14:55:26+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-01-04T14:55:26+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/hacker-cyber-crime.jpg", "tags": [ "cyber spying", "hackers", "Reuters", "Russia", "russians", "telecom", "Ukraine", "Technology", "World" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=566748", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2024/01/04/566748/filipinos-expect-data-leaks-job-losses-from-ai-this-year/", "title": "Filipinos expect data leaks, job losses from AI this year", "content_html": "\n
MAJORITY of Filipinos expect more online data leaks and growing artificial intelligence (AI) adoption to affect their jobs this year, according to global market research company Ipsos.
\nIt also found that Filipinos expect decreased use of social media platforms this year.
\nThe Ipsos Global Advisor 2024 Predictions survey showed the Philippines was one of the top countries with these expectations, with the share of respondents agreeing with these three categories at about 11% above the global average.
\nThe company surveyed 34 countries through its online platform, with 1,000 respondents coming from the Philippines.
\nThe report showed that 64% of Filipino respondents believe their personal data could be leaked on the Internet, higher than the global average of 55%.
\nThe Philippines was the second most attacked country by web threats in 2022, with 39,387,052 internet-borne threats detected, according to data from Kaspersky. It recorded 24,737 crypto-phishing cases, 15,732 mobile malware cases, and 50 mobile banking Trojan cases in 2022.
\nSam Jacoba, founding president of the National Association of Data Protection Officers of the Philippines, likewise expects more incidents of cyberattacks this year.
\n\u201cThe government, private sector, and communities of practice have to be more vigilant,\u201d he told BusinessWorld in an interview. \u201cDo not let up in awareness, education, training, certification, and consistent hardening of critical infrastructure.\u201d
\nMeanwhile, AI continued to affect the livelihood expectations of Filipinos, with 73% of respondents believing that growing adoption of the technology will likely lead to job losses versus the global average of 64%.
\nSome 48% of Filipinos said AI is unlikely to help create new jobs, above the 44% global average.
\nData and analytics firm GlobalData said generative AI job posts spiked in the third quarter of last year amid competition in the digital landscape, with medium- and long-term talent plans in development for adaptability.
\nAnalytics from the employment-focused social media platform LinkedIn also showed a 2.4 times increase in job posts mentioning AI in Southeast Asian markets from three years ago, with a 1.7 times growth in applications versus those that do not mention it.
\nIt observed that 76% of Filipino professionals expect a significant change in their jobs driven by AI, with 55% already using generative AI, citing efficiency and productivity benefits.
\nSergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr., president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, told BusinessWorld that the labor force must recognize and adapt to both challenges and opportunities presented by technological advancements.
\n\u201cJob seekers and employees need to adapt to maintain their availability for the job market,\u201d he said. \u201cKnow what areas they can skill themselves in.\u201d
\nMeanwhile, 56% of Filipinos expect to use social media less this year, higher than the 41% global average. \u2014 Miguel Hanz L. Antivola
\n", "content_text": "MAJORITY of Filipinos expect more online data leaks and growing artificial intelligence (AI) adoption to affect their jobs this year, according to global market research company Ipsos.\nIt also found that Filipinos expect decreased use of social media platforms this year.\nThe Ipsos Global Advisor 2024 Predictions survey showed the Philippines was one of the top countries with these expectations, with the share of respondents agreeing with these three categories at about 11% above the global average.\nThe company surveyed 34 countries through its online platform, with 1,000 respondents coming from the Philippines.\nThe report showed that 64% of Filipino respondents believe their personal data could be leaked on the Internet, higher than the global average of 55%.\nThe Philippines was the second most attacked country by web threats in 2022, with 39,387,052 internet-borne threats detected, according to data from Kaspersky. It recorded 24,737 crypto-phishing cases, 15,732 mobile malware cases, and 50 mobile banking Trojan cases in 2022.\nSam Jacoba, founding president of the National Association of Data Protection Officers of the Philippines, likewise expects more incidents of cyberattacks this year.\n\u201cThe government, private sector, and communities of practice have to be more vigilant,\u201d he told BusinessWorld in an interview. \u201cDo not let up in awareness, education, training, certification, and consistent hardening of critical infrastructure.\u201d\nMeanwhile, AI continued to affect the livelihood expectations of Filipinos, with 73% of respondents believing that growing adoption of the technology will likely lead to job losses versus the global average of 64%.\nSome 48% of Filipinos said AI is unlikely to help create new jobs, above the 44% global average.\nData and analytics firm GlobalData said generative AI job posts spiked in the third quarter of last year amid competition in the digital landscape, with medium- and long-term talent plans in development for adaptability.\nAnalytics from the employment-focused social media platform LinkedIn also showed a 2.4 times increase in job posts mentioning AI in Southeast Asian markets from three years ago, with a 1.7 times growth in applications versus those that do not mention it.\nIt observed that 76% of Filipino professionals expect a significant change in their jobs driven by AI, with 55% already using generative AI, citing efficiency and productivity benefits.\nSergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr., president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, told BusinessWorld that the labor force must recognize and adapt to both challenges and opportunities presented by technological advancements. \n\u201cJob seekers and employees need to adapt to maintain their availability for the job market,\u201d he said. \u201cKnow what areas they can skill themselves in.\u201d\nMeanwhile, 56% of Filipinos expect to use social media less this year, higher than the 41% global average. \u2014 Miguel Hanz L. Antivola", "date_published": "2024-01-04T00:03:55+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-01-03T18:59:24+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Ai-brain.jpg", "tags": [ "Miguel Hanz L. Antivola", "Editors' Picks", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=566745", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2024/01/04/566745/angel-investor-community-to-help-foster-philippine-startups-growth/", "title": "Angel investor community to help foster Philippine startups\u2019 growth", "content_html": "\n
PRIVATE-PUBLIC startup platform QBO Innovation Hub wants to build a community of angel investors to help foster growth for the Philippines\u2019 startup industry.
\nThe company closed last year\u2019s initiatives with its AQTIVATE angel investing short course and summit, in partnership with the United States Embassy in the Philippines and IdeaSpace Investments.
\n\u201cWe believe unlocking private capital plays a key role in fueling growth within the startup landscape in the Philippines,\u201d Katrina Rausa Chan, executive director at QBO Innovation Hub, said in a statement on Wednesday.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re committed to cultivating the next generation of local angel investors, and in doing so, significantly increasing the volume of investments and opportunities for early-stage ventures in the years ahead,\u201d she added, noting they aim to develop 1,000 angel investors through the program.
\nPauline Anderson, US Embassy deputy director for public engagement, said their initiatives with QBO \u201cpromote inclusive economic growth\u201d and \u201cestablish a globally competitive and innovative industry and services sector.\u201d
\nSecuring capital continues to be a challenge among entrepreneurs, QBO said, which is a gap that angel investors can bridge. A collaborative and knowledgeable network of people who share insights and strategies could help them tap these investors, it added.
\n\u201cNot only do angel investors seize the opportunity to yield profit, but also significantly influence the trajectory of promising startups,\u201d Ms. Chan said.
\nIn an interview with BusinessWorld during the Philippine Startup Week 2023, she said strengthening business education, funding mechanisms, mentoring programs, and international exposure opportunities are the keys to boosting the local startup industry. \u2014 M.H.L. Antivola
\n", "content_text": "PRIVATE-PUBLIC startup platform QBO Innovation Hub wants to build a community of angel investors to help foster growth for the Philippines\u2019 startup industry.\nThe company closed last year\u2019s initiatives with its AQTIVATE angel investing short course and summit, in partnership with the United States Embassy in the Philippines and IdeaSpace Investments.\n\u201cWe believe unlocking private capital plays a key role in fueling growth within the startup landscape in the Philippines,\u201d Katrina Rausa Chan, executive director at QBO Innovation Hub, said in a statement on Wednesday.\n\u201cWe\u2019re committed to cultivating the next generation of local angel investors, and in doing so, significantly increasing the volume of investments and opportunities for early-stage ventures in the years ahead,\u201d she added, noting they aim to develop 1,000 angel investors through the program.\nPauline Anderson, US Embassy deputy director for public engagement, said their initiatives with QBO \u201cpromote inclusive economic growth\u201d and \u201cestablish a globally competitive and innovative industry and services sector.\u201d\nSecuring capital continues to be a challenge among entrepreneurs, QBO said, which is a gap that angel investors can bridge. A collaborative and knowledgeable network of people who share insights and strategies could help them tap these investors, it added.\n\u201cNot only do angel investors seize the opportunity to yield profit, but also significantly influence the trajectory of promising startups,\u201d Ms. Chan said.\nIn an interview with BusinessWorld during the Philippine Startup Week 2023, she said strengthening business education, funding mechanisms, mentoring programs, and international exposure opportunities are the keys to boosting the local startup industry. \u2014 M.H.L. Antivola", "date_published": "2024-01-04T00:02:53+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-01-03T18:58:58+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/technology-default.jpg", "tags": [ "Miguel Hanz L. Antivola", "Editors' Picks", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=566646", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2024/01/04/566646/transforming-phl-banking-through-data-democratization/", "title": "Transforming PHL banking through data democratization", "content_html": "DATA democratization is like providing all team members in a basketball game with the same coach\u2019s playbook. Limiting access to only select players hinders the team\u2019s ability to execute cohesive plays and make effective decisions on the field. However, when the entire team has access to the playbook, they can understand the game plan, anticipate moves, and work together seamlessly to score more points and win the game. In banking, democratizing data empowers every employee to have a deep understanding of the business strategies and trends, leading to better collaboration and improved outcomes for the organization as a whole.
\nTHE ROLE OF DATA IN THE PHILIPPINE BANKING SYSTEM
\nToday, financial institutions must possess the capability to amass, comprehend, and exploit data effectively to secure a competitive edge and achieve success. The same holds for local banks where, as Mc-Kinsey highlights, the combined value generated by the three major fintech and digital banks in the Philippines surpassed that of all traditional banks in the country over the past two years.
For the latter to thrive, they must acquire, comprehend, and capitalize on data swiftly. According to a report by IDC, organizations with a high degree of data intelligence experience a 40% financial improvement, and a 20% enhancement to operations compared with those grappling with a lower level of data intelligence.
\nNevertheless, analyzing and acting upon organizational data has usually been confined to specific groups of employees within businesses for an extended period. This, in turn, has impeded decision-making and even led to decisions being made without robust data to substantiate them, placing organizations at a disadvantage.
\nREALIZING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF DATA
\nWant to know why democratizing data enables organizations to pivot towards data-driven practices? It\u2019s because it allows employees of all stripes to access the data they need readily, empowering them to act on insights and with greater efficacy. For instance, this can be leveraged for customized and personalized customer experiences, ultimately leading to heightened levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty.
By embracing data democratization, banks arm their employees with highly available, reliable, and secure data. Not only does this enable processes to be streamlined and bottlenecks to be overcome, it also ensures data can be used to identify and comprehend emerging market and behavioral trends.
\nDATA DEMOCRATIZATION IN A PREDOMINANTLY HYBRID LANDSCAPE
\nThe era where an organization\u2019s data resided solely in a singular location is long gone. In today\u2019s landscape, both business and technical users must possess the ability to fully harness data that spans diverse infrastructures, including cloud, distributed systems, and mainframes. When assessing data intelligence tools, organizations should prioritize solutions that not only enable data democratization within the business but also seamlessly integrate across diverse IT systems.
This need becomes increasingly critical as a growing number of organizations adopts hybrid solutions to leverage the advantages offered by both the cloud and the mainframe. In a recent survey conducted by Rocket Software, a staggering 93% of respondents strongly felt that their organizations should embrace a hybrid infrastructure model that encompasses both the mainframe and the cloud.
\nBENEFITS TO USERS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION
\nDifferent roles have different goals. Therefore, data intelligence tools must provide benefits to users across the entire organization and be user-friendly enough for employees with varying backgrounds to leverage. This requires an intuitive interface and clear visualizations.
Tools with intuitive interface and clear visualization allow users to quickly and comprehensively identify critical data, regardless of their level of expertise in data science. It also allows users to create robust plans for change, such as updating data flows and managing cloud migration, ensuring that data management is efficient and effective.
\nThis enables business users to gain a comprehensive view of the organization\u2019s data landscape and understand the trustworthiness of the data. Data teams can focus on delivering exceptional value, IT can plan for IT modernization initiatives more effectively, and lines of business can execute business reporting more efficiently.
\n\n
Praveen Kumar is the vice-president for Asia Pacific at Rocket Software.
\n", "content_text": "DATA democratization is like providing all team members in a basketball game with the same coach\u2019s playbook. Limiting access to only select players hinders the team\u2019s ability to execute cohesive plays and make effective decisions on the field. However, when the entire team has access to the playbook, they can understand the game plan, anticipate moves, and work together seamlessly to score more points and win the game. In banking, democratizing data empowers every employee to have a deep understanding of the business strategies and trends, leading to better collaboration and improved outcomes for the organization as a whole.\nTHE ROLE OF DATA IN THE PHILIPPINE BANKING SYSTEM\nToday, financial institutions must possess the capability to amass, comprehend, and exploit data effectively to secure a competitive edge and achieve success. The same holds for local banks where, as Mc-Kinsey highlights, the combined value generated by the three major fintech and digital banks in the Philippines surpassed that of all traditional banks in the country over the past two years.\nFor the latter to thrive, they must acquire, comprehend, and capitalize on data swiftly. According to a report by IDC, organizations with a high degree of data intelligence experience a 40% financial improvement, and a 20% enhancement to operations compared with those grappling with a lower level of data intelligence.\nNevertheless, analyzing and acting upon organizational data has usually been confined to specific groups of employees within businesses for an extended period. This, in turn, has impeded decision-making and even led to decisions being made without robust data to substantiate them, placing organizations at a disadvantage.\nREALIZING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF DATA\nWant to know why democratizing data enables organizations to pivot towards data-driven practices? It\u2019s because it allows employees of all stripes to access the data they need readily, empowering them to act on insights and with greater efficacy. For instance, this can be leveraged for customized and personalized customer experiences, ultimately leading to heightened levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty.\nBy embracing data democratization, banks arm their employees with highly available, reliable, and secure data. Not only does this enable processes to be streamlined and bottlenecks to be overcome, it also ensures data can be used to identify and comprehend emerging market and behavioral trends.\nDATA DEMOCRATIZATION IN A PREDOMINANTLY HYBRID LANDSCAPE\nThe era where an organization\u2019s data resided solely in a singular location is long gone. In today\u2019s landscape, both business and technical users must possess the ability to fully harness data that spans diverse infrastructures, including cloud, distributed systems, and mainframes. When assessing data intelligence tools, organizations should prioritize solutions that not only enable data democratization within the business but also seamlessly integrate across diverse IT systems.\nThis need becomes increasingly critical as a growing number of organizations adopts hybrid solutions to leverage the advantages offered by both the cloud and the mainframe. In a recent survey conducted by Rocket Software, a staggering 93% of respondents strongly felt that their organizations should embrace a hybrid infrastructure model that encompasses both the mainframe and the cloud.\nBENEFITS TO USERS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION\nDifferent roles have different goals. Therefore, data intelligence tools must provide benefits to users across the entire organization and be user-friendly enough for employees with varying backgrounds to leverage. This requires an intuitive interface and clear visualizations.\nTools with intuitive interface and clear visualization allow users to quickly and comprehensively identify critical data, regardless of their level of expertise in data science. It also allows users to create robust plans for change, such as updating data flows and managing cloud migration, ensuring that data management is efficient and effective.\nThis enables business users to gain a comprehensive view of the organization\u2019s data landscape and understand the trustworthiness of the data. Data teams can focus on delivering exceptional value, IT can plan for IT modernization initiatives more effectively, and lines of business can execute business reporting more efficiently.\n \nPraveen Kumar is the vice-president for Asia Pacific at Rocket Software.", "date_published": "2024-01-04T00:01:29+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-01-03T19:00:53+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/technology-default.jpg", "tags": [ "Praveen Kumar", "Editors' Picks", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=566575", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2024/01/03/566575/us-charges-ex-fintech-ceo-with-fraud/", "title": "US charges ex-fintech CEO who tried to buy Sheffield United with fraud", "content_html": "NEW YORK\u00a0–\u00a0US prosecutors in Manhattan unveiled criminal charges against a Nigerian fintech businessman who recently bid unsuccessfully for an English Premier League soccer club, saying he lied to investors about the finances of his companies.
\nOdogwu Banye Mmobuosi, the former co-chief executive officer of Tingo Group, was charged with securities fraud, making false US Securities and Exchange Commission filings, and conspiracy in an indictment made public on Tuesday.
\nProsecutors said the defendant, known as Dozy, falsely represented that his Tingo Mobile and Tingo Foods were profitable businesses generating hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue.
\nMmobuosi sold the businesses to Tingo Group and Agri-Fintech Holdings, caused them to falsely portray his businesses as “cash-rich, revenue-generating companies,” and looted millions of dollars by misappropriating cash and selling stock at inflated prices, the indictment said.
\nA lawyer for Mr. Mmobuosi could not immediately be identified. Tingo Group, based in Montvale, New Jersey, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The alleged scheme occurred from 2019 to 2023, prosecutors said.
\nMr. Mmobuosi temporarily\u00a0stepped down\u00a0as Tingo Group’s co-CEO last month, after the SEC filed\u00a0civil charges\u00a0accusing him of orchestrating a “staggering” fraud.
\nThe SEC said Mr. Mmobuosi siphoned at least $16 million from Tingo Group and used it to buy luxury cars and travel on private jets, and try to buy the Sheffield United soccer team.
\nAccording to the SEC complaint, Tingo Mobile purportedly supplies mobile handsets and related services to farmers in Nigeria, while Tingo Foods is a purported food processor.
\nTingo Group is a defendant in the SEC case, and has said it intended to vigorously defend itself.
\nThe indictment was made public nearly seven months after the short-seller Hindenburg Research\u00a0accused Tingo Group of having “fabricated” its financials, and challenged Mr. Mmobuosi’s claim to have developed Nigeria’s first mobile payment app.
\nThe case is US v. Mmobuosi, US District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 23-cr-00601. – Reuters
\n", "content_text": "NEW YORK\u00a0–\u00a0US prosecutors in Manhattan unveiled criminal charges against a Nigerian fintech businessman who recently bid unsuccessfully for an English Premier League soccer club, saying he lied to investors about the finances of his companies.\nOdogwu Banye Mmobuosi, the former co-chief executive officer of Tingo Group, was charged with securities fraud, making false US Securities and Exchange Commission filings, and conspiracy in an indictment made public on Tuesday.\nProsecutors said the defendant, known as Dozy, falsely represented that his Tingo Mobile and Tingo Foods were profitable businesses generating hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue.\nMmobuosi sold the businesses to Tingo Group and Agri-Fintech Holdings, caused them to falsely portray his businesses as “cash-rich, revenue-generating companies,” and looted millions of dollars by misappropriating cash and selling stock at inflated prices, the indictment said.\nA lawyer for Mr. Mmobuosi could not immediately be identified. Tingo Group, based in Montvale, New Jersey, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The alleged scheme occurred from 2019 to 2023, prosecutors said.\nMr. Mmobuosi temporarily\u00a0stepped down\u00a0as Tingo Group’s co-CEO last month, after the SEC filed\u00a0civil charges\u00a0accusing him of orchestrating a “staggering” fraud.\nThe SEC said Mr. Mmobuosi siphoned at least $16 million from Tingo Group and used it to buy luxury cars and travel on private jets, and try to buy the Sheffield United soccer team.\nAccording to the SEC complaint, Tingo Mobile purportedly supplies mobile handsets and related services to farmers in Nigeria, while Tingo Foods is a purported food processor.\nTingo Group is a defendant in the SEC case, and has said it intended to vigorously defend itself.\nThe indictment was made public nearly seven months after the short-seller Hindenburg Research\u00a0accused Tingo Group of having “fabricated” its financials, and challenged Mr. Mmobuosi’s claim to have developed Nigeria’s first mobile payment app.\nThe case is US v. Mmobuosi, US District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 23-cr-00601. – Reuters", "date_published": "2024-01-03T10:53:00+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-01-03T10:58:26+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/technology-default.jpg", "tags": [ "fintech", "odgwu banye mmobuosi", "Reuters", "tingo group", "Technology", "World" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=566331", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2024/01/02/566331/australias-eagers-automotive-finds-unauthorized-access-to-parts-of-it-systems/", "title": "Australia\u2019s Eagers Automotive finds unauthorized access to parts of IT systems", "content_html": "Australia’s Eagers Automotive on Tuesday said an investigation found that a cyber incident last week that resulted in an outage involved unauthorized access to parts of the company’s information technology (IT) systems by a third party that accessed data from its servers.
\n“Based on investigations to-date, the company is in the process of notifying a small number of individuals identified who may face serious risk of data misuse,” the automotive retailer said in a statement.
\nThe company did not reveal the exact number of individuals whose data was directly compromised as a result of the cyber incident.
\nAustralian corporations have seen an alarming rise in cyber security breaches since last year, prompting the country’s government to reform cyber security rules. Australia\u00a0set up an agency\u00a0in February this year to oversee government investment and help coordinate responses to hacker attacks.
\nLast week, Eagers\u00a0flagged a cyber incident that hit some of its IT systems, affecting the company’s ability to finalize transactions for certain new vehicles that were sold and ready for delivery.
\nThe impact of cyber incident, however, is not expected to be material for the 2023 financial year, it added. – Reuters
\n", "content_text": "Australia’s Eagers Automotive on Tuesday said an investigation found that a cyber incident last week that resulted in an outage involved unauthorized access to parts of the company’s information technology (IT) systems by a third party that accessed data from its servers.\n“Based on investigations to-date, the company is in the process of notifying a small number of individuals identified who may face serious risk of data misuse,” the automotive retailer said in a statement.\nThe company did not reveal the exact number of individuals whose data was directly compromised as a result of the cyber incident.\nAustralian corporations have seen an alarming rise in cyber security breaches since last year, prompting the country’s government to reform cyber security rules. Australia\u00a0set up an agency\u00a0in February this year to oversee government investment and help coordinate responses to hacker attacks.\nLast week, Eagers\u00a0flagged a cyber incident that hit some of its IT systems, affecting the company’s ability to finalize transactions for certain new vehicles that were sold and ready for delivery.\nThe impact of cyber incident, however, is not expected to be material for the 2023 financial year, it added. – Reuters", "date_published": "2024-01-02T11:34:55+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-01-02T11:34:55+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ap-eagers-content.jpg", "tags": [ "Australia", "eagers automotives", "IT parts", "Reuters", "unauthorized access", "Technology", "World" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=565799", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/28/565799/whats-next-after-pause-of-us-apple-watch-import-ban/", "title": "What\u2019s next after pause of US Apple Watch import ban?", "content_html": "A US appeals court on Wednesday temporarily paused\u00a0a ruling that had\u00a0restricted imports of Apple’s\u00a0popular Apple Watches into the United States.
\nHere is a look at what the case means for consumers and what is next for Apple.
\n\n
Why was the ban imposed?
\nThe US International Trade Commission in October ordered Apple to stop importing and selling some Apple Watches following a complaint from medical-monitoring technology company Masimo.
\nThe ITC, a federal agency that handles international trade disputes, found that an Apple Watch feature for reading blood-oxygen levels infringed on Masimo’s pulse oximetry patents.
\nPresident Joe Biden’s administration had until Dec. 25 to veto the order based on public policy concerns but did not do so.
\nCupertino, California-based Apple had preemptively\u00a0paused US sales\u00a0of its latest high-end Series 9 and Ultra 2 models ahead of the Christmas Day deadline.
\nApple appealed the ban to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington. The court halted the ban\u00a0on Wednesday while it considers the company’s request for a longer-term pause during the appeals process.
\n\n
How are US Apple Watch sales affected?
\nWednesday’s decision allows Apple to continue importing and selling infringing Apple Watches while the court considers whether to put the ban on hold for the duration of the appeals process.
\nApple Stores in New York and San Francisco told Reuters on Wednesday that they had yet to resume selling Series 9 and Ultra 2 Apple Watches and did not know when they would be available.
\nThe ITC’s order does not affect the lower-priced Apple Watch SE, which does not have pulse-oximetry capabilities and remains on sale from Apple.
\nThe ITC decision says it applies only to Apple Watches with the light-based pulse oximetry capability in question, but does not specify which models with that technology are affected. Apple first introduced pulse oximetry in its Series 6 watches, and Masimo has argued that all Apple Watches with the technology infringe its patents.
\nApple said it would also\u00a0stop replacing out-of-warranty watches\u00a0going back to Series 6 based on the ban.
\nThe ban specifically applies to Apple and its “affiliated companies, parents, subsidiaries, or other related business entities,” and may not affect other retailers.
\nSeries 9 and Ultra 2 Apple Watches are still available from third-party sellers including Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart.
\n\n
What are the accusations against Apple?
\nMasimo, which released a watch last year that also reads blood-oxygen levels and tracks other health indicators, accused Apple of hiring away its employees and stealing its technology after discussing a potential collaboration. A jury trial on Masimo’s allegations in California federal court\u00a0ended with a mistrial\u00a0in May and has yet to be rescheduled.
\nApple has called Irvine, California-based Masimo’s legal actions a scheme to clear a path for its competing smartwatch, and has\u00a0countersued Masimo\u00a0for patent infringement in Delaware federal court.
\n\n
What are Apple’s other options?
\nIn addition to its appeal, Apple is working on a redesign that would enable its watches to operate without infringing on Masimo’s patents. It could import and sell the redesigned watches regardless of the ITC’s ban if US Customs and Border Protection approves the workaround.
\nApple told the Federal Circuit on Tuesday that the customs agency is scheduled to make its decision on the workaround on Jan. 12.
\nMasimo has said that its patents cover hardware, and that a software fix would not work.
\nMasimo CEO Joe Kiani has also indicated that he is willing to settle the dispute. – Reuters
\n", "content_text": "A US appeals court on Wednesday temporarily paused\u00a0a ruling that had\u00a0restricted imports of Apple’s\u00a0popular Apple Watches into the United States.\nHere is a look at what the case means for consumers and what is next for Apple.\n \nWhy was the ban imposed?\nThe US International Trade Commission in October ordered Apple to stop importing and selling some Apple Watches following a complaint from medical-monitoring technology company Masimo.\nThe ITC, a federal agency that handles international trade disputes, found that an Apple Watch feature for reading blood-oxygen levels infringed on Masimo’s pulse oximetry patents.\nPresident Joe Biden’s administration had until Dec. 25 to veto the order based on public policy concerns but did not do so.\nCupertino, California-based Apple had preemptively\u00a0paused US sales\u00a0of its latest high-end Series 9 and Ultra 2 models ahead of the Christmas Day deadline.\nApple appealed the ban to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington. The court halted the ban\u00a0on Wednesday while it considers the company’s request for a longer-term pause during the appeals process.\n \nHow are US Apple Watch sales affected?\nWednesday’s decision allows Apple to continue importing and selling infringing Apple Watches while the court considers whether to put the ban on hold for the duration of the appeals process.\nApple Stores in New York and San Francisco told Reuters on Wednesday that they had yet to resume selling Series 9 and Ultra 2 Apple Watches and did not know when they would be available.\nThe ITC’s order does not affect the lower-priced Apple Watch SE, which does not have pulse-oximetry capabilities and remains on sale from Apple.\nThe ITC decision says it applies only to Apple Watches with the light-based pulse oximetry capability in question, but does not specify which models with that technology are affected. Apple first introduced pulse oximetry in its Series 6 watches, and Masimo has argued that all Apple Watches with the technology infringe its patents.\nApple said it would also\u00a0stop replacing out-of-warranty watches\u00a0going back to Series 6 based on the ban.\nThe ban specifically applies to Apple and its “affiliated companies, parents, subsidiaries, or other related business entities,” and may not affect other retailers.\nSeries 9 and Ultra 2 Apple Watches are still available from third-party sellers including Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart.\n \nWhat are the accusations against Apple?\nMasimo, which released a watch last year that also reads blood-oxygen levels and tracks other health indicators, accused Apple of hiring away its employees and stealing its technology after discussing a potential collaboration. A jury trial on Masimo’s allegations in California federal court\u00a0ended with a mistrial\u00a0in May and has yet to be rescheduled.\nApple has called Irvine, California-based Masimo’s legal actions a scheme to clear a path for its competing smartwatch, and has\u00a0countersued Masimo\u00a0for patent infringement in Delaware federal court.\n \nWhat are Apple’s other options?\nIn addition to its appeal, Apple is working on a redesign that would enable its watches to operate without infringing on Masimo’s patents. It could import and sell the redesigned watches regardless of the ITC’s ban if US Customs and Border Protection approves the workaround.\nApple told the Federal Circuit on Tuesday that the customs agency is scheduled to make its decision on the workaround on Jan. 12.\nMasimo has said that its patents cover hardware, and that a software fix would not work.\nMasimo CEO Joe Kiani has also indicated that he is willing to settle the dispute. – Reuters", "date_published": "2023-12-28T12:03:27+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-28T12:03:27+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/clock-756487_1280.jpg", "tags": [ "Apple Watch", "components", "import", "Reuters", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=565797", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/28/565797/alibaba-must-face-lawsuit-in-us-over-counterfeit-squishmallows/", "title": "Alibaba must face lawsuit in US over counterfeit Squishmallows", "content_html": "NEW YORK\u00a0–\u00a0A US judge on Wednesday rejected Alibaba’s\u00a0bid to dismiss a lawsuit over the alleged sale by various merchants of counterfeit versions of the popular children’s toy Squishmallows on its online platforms.
\nUS District Judge Jesse Furman in Manhattan said Kelly Toys, whose parent Jazwares is owned by billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, plausibly alleged that Alibaba knew about and contributed to the merchants’ infringement of its copyrights and trademarks.
\nKelly Toys said the sale of counterfeits on Alibaba has persisted despite six earlier lawsuits to stop it, with Alibaba ignoring its own “three-strike” policies and awarding some infringing merchants “Gold Supplier” and “Verified” status.
\nAlibaba and lawyers for the Chinese e-commerce company did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Furman did not rule on the lawsuit’s merits.
\nKelly Toys had in November 2022 sued about 90 merchants it accused of selling counterfeit Squishmallows, and obtained an injunction two months later. It added Alibaba as a defendant in March.
\nIn seeking a dismissal, Alibaba said Kelly Toys failed to allege it had any involvement in infringements, and was trying to improperly shift the burden of policing its intellectual property by requiring “draconian” measures against sellers.
\nJazwares bought a majority stake in Kelly Toys in April 2020. Berkshire bought Jazwares’ parent, the insurance holding company Alleghany, in October 2022. Revenue at Jazwares totaled $847 million in the first nine months of 2023.
\nThe case is Kelly Toys Holdings LLC v 19885566 Store et al, US District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 22-09384. – Reuters
\n", "content_text": "NEW YORK\u00a0–\u00a0A US judge on Wednesday rejected Alibaba’s\u00a0bid to dismiss a lawsuit over the alleged sale by various merchants of counterfeit versions of the popular children’s toy Squishmallows on its online platforms.\nUS District Judge Jesse Furman in Manhattan said Kelly Toys, whose parent Jazwares is owned by billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, plausibly alleged that Alibaba knew about and contributed to the merchants’ infringement of its copyrights and trademarks.\nKelly Toys said the sale of counterfeits on Alibaba has persisted despite six earlier lawsuits to stop it, with Alibaba ignoring its own “three-strike” policies and awarding some infringing merchants “Gold Supplier” and “Verified” status.\nAlibaba and lawyers for the Chinese e-commerce company did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Furman did not rule on the lawsuit’s merits.\nKelly Toys had in November 2022 sued about 90 merchants it accused of selling counterfeit Squishmallows, and obtained an injunction two months later. It added Alibaba as a defendant in March.\nIn seeking a dismissal, Alibaba said Kelly Toys failed to allege it had any involvement in infringements, and was trying to improperly shift the burden of policing its intellectual property by requiring “draconian” measures against sellers.\nJazwares bought a majority stake in Kelly Toys in April 2020. Berkshire bought Jazwares’ parent, the insurance holding company Alleghany, in October 2022. Revenue at Jazwares totaled $847 million in the first nine months of 2023.\nThe case is Kelly Toys Holdings LLC v 19885566 Store et al, US District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 22-09384. – Reuters", "date_published": "2023-12-28T12:00:17+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-28T12:00:17+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/MALAYSIA-ALIBABA.jpg", "tags": [ "Alibaba", "counterfeit", "Reuters", "Squishmallows", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=565787", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/28/565787/apple-wins-bid-to-pause-apple-watch-ban-at-us-appeals-court/", "title": "Apple wins bid to pause Apple Watch ban at US appeals court", "content_html": "Apple scored a victory on Wednesday as a US appeals court paused a government commission’s import ban on some of its popular Apple smartwatches following a patent dispute with medical-technology firm Masimo.
\nThe tech giant had filed an emergency request for the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to halt the order after appealing the US International Trade Commission’s (ITC) decision that it had infringed Masimo’s patents.
\nUS President Joe Biden’s administration declined to veto the ban on Dec. 26, allowing it to take effect. Apple asked for a pause of the ban later that day.
\nMasimo has accused Apple of hiring away its employees, stealing its pulse oximetry technology and incorporating it into Apple Watches.
\nThe ITC barred imports and sales of\u00a0Apple Watches\u00a0with technology for reading blood-oxygen levels. Apple has included a pulse oximeter feature in its smartwatches starting with its Series 6 model in 2020.
\nApple has\u00a0paused sales of its Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the US, though the watches have remained available at other retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Costco and Walmart.
\nThe ban does not affect the Apple Watch SE, a less-expensive model without a pulse oximeter. Previously sold watches also will not be affected by the ban.
\nA jury trial on Masimo’s allegations against Apple in California federal court\u00a0ended with a mistrial\u00a0in May. Apple has\u00a0separately sued\u00a0Masimo for patent infringement in federal court in Delaware and called Masimo’s legal actions a “maneuver to clear a path” for its own competing smartwatch.
\nApple’s wearables, home and accessory business, which includes the Apple Watch, AirPods earbuds and other products, brought in $8.28 billion in revenue during the third quarter of 2023, according to a company report. – Reuters
\n", "content_text": "Apple scored a victory on Wednesday as a US appeals court paused a government commission’s import ban on some of its popular Apple smartwatches following a patent dispute with medical-technology firm Masimo.\nThe tech giant had filed an emergency request for the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to halt the order after appealing the US International Trade Commission’s (ITC) decision that it had infringed Masimo’s patents.\nUS President Joe Biden’s administration declined to veto the ban on Dec. 26, allowing it to take effect. Apple asked for a pause of the ban later that day.\nMasimo has accused Apple of hiring away its employees, stealing its pulse oximetry technology and incorporating it into Apple Watches.\nThe ITC barred imports and sales of\u00a0Apple Watches\u00a0with technology for reading blood-oxygen levels. Apple has included a pulse oximeter feature in its smartwatches starting with its Series 6 model in 2020.\nApple has\u00a0paused sales of its Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in the US, though the watches have remained available at other retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Costco and Walmart.\nThe ban does not affect the Apple Watch SE, a less-expensive model without a pulse oximeter. Previously sold watches also will not be affected by the ban.\nA jury trial on Masimo’s allegations against Apple in California federal court\u00a0ended with a mistrial\u00a0in May. Apple has\u00a0separately sued\u00a0Masimo for patent infringement in federal court in Delaware and called Masimo’s legal actions a “maneuver to clear a path” for its own competing smartwatch.\nApple’s wearables, home and accessory business, which includes the Apple Watch, AirPods earbuds and other products, brought in $8.28 billion in revenue during the third quarter of 2023, according to a company report. – Reuters", "date_published": "2023-12-28T11:47:37+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-28T11:47:37+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/apple-building.jpg", "tags": [ "america", "Apple", "Apple Watch", "import ban", "joe biden", "Reuters", "United States", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=565623", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/28/565623/shared-data-centers-seen-to-help-individuals-companies-compute-true-cost-of-power/", "title": "Shared data centers seen to help individuals, companies compute \u2018true\u2019 cost of power", "content_html": "DATA CENTERS shared by energy firms can leverage high-level computing to break down the price of electricity and improve consumer awareness of its true cost, an industry player said.
\nEnergies PH, Inc. (EPHI) is looking to launch the Energy Community Digital Platform next year, which consists of Tier 3 colocation data centers for energy firms and use blockchain algorithms to accurately measure electricity consumption, cost, and efficiency, said Antonio A. Ver, EPHI chief executive officer.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s a community of players in the industry that is striving to go digital and compute the real price of electricity,\u201d Mr.\u2009Ver said about EPHI in an interview with BusinessWorld.
\nTheir digital platform will help improve power price discovery, he said, as it will also allow people to verify their own meter readings via a website.
\n\u201cFor the benefit of everyone in the marketplace, nobody will be overpriced and you can know the correct amount of your electricity use,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cConsumers will be given access to the data produced by the data center,\u201d Mr.\u2009Ver added.
\nHe said he expects EPHI\u2019s initiative to empower the ecosystem against the rising prices of electricity in the country, fostering awareness about how much one should actually pay for energy.
\n\u201cSellers and buyers will be very careful,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople will also be more comfortable buying renewable energy because they will pay right amount.\u201d
\nFirms and small electric cooperative resellers can also have a reliable source of prices through shared data centers, he added.
\nEPHI\u2019s platform includes initial sites in Baras, Rizal and Jaro, Iloilo, with plans to build three more in the second half of next year, including a data center complex in the Mambulao Special Economic Zone, Camarines Norte to cater South Luzon, Mr. Ver said.
\nHe added that the company has already signed an agreement with a telco provider for the data centers\u2019 broadband and fiber networks powered by dense wavelength-division multiplexing.
\nPeering agreements are in place with tech giants such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, which Mr. Ver said will allow them to strategically expand operations in the country.
\nHe cited as an example of a scheme akin to EPHI\u2019s Energy Community Digital Platform a partnership between Emirates Water and Electric Co. and Energy Exemplar, an optimization-based market simulation software provider for the energy sector, which was announced last week.
\nThe collaboration aims to improve energy modeling capacity and integrated system planning through techno-economic cloud solutions, Mr. Ver noted. \u2014 Miguel Hanz L. Antivola
\n", "content_text": "DATA CENTERS shared by energy firms can leverage high-level computing to break down the price of electricity and improve consumer awareness of its true cost, an industry player said.\nEnergies PH, Inc. (EPHI) is looking to launch the Energy Community Digital Platform next year, which consists of Tier 3 colocation data centers for energy firms and use blockchain algorithms to accurately measure electricity consumption, cost, and efficiency, said Antonio A. Ver, EPHI chief executive officer.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a community of players in the industry that is striving to go digital and compute the real price of electricity,\u201d Mr.\u2009Ver said about EPHI in an interview with BusinessWorld.\nTheir digital platform will help improve power price discovery, he said, as it will also allow people to verify their own meter readings via a website.\n\u201cFor the benefit of everyone in the marketplace, nobody will be overpriced and you can know the correct amount of your electricity use,\u201d he said.\n\u201cConsumers will be given access to the data produced by the data center,\u201d Mr.\u2009Ver added.\nHe said he expects EPHI\u2019s initiative to empower the ecosystem against the rising prices of electricity in the country, fostering awareness about how much one should actually pay for energy.\n\u201cSellers and buyers will be very careful,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople will also be more comfortable buying renewable energy because they will pay right amount.\u201d\nFirms and small electric cooperative resellers can also have a reliable source of prices through shared data centers, he added.\nEPHI\u2019s platform includes initial sites in Baras, Rizal and Jaro, Iloilo, with plans to build three more in the second half of next year, including a data center complex in the Mambulao Special Economic Zone, Camarines Norte to cater South Luzon, Mr. Ver said.\nHe added that the company has already signed an agreement with a telco provider for the data centers\u2019 broadband and fiber networks powered by dense wavelength-division multiplexing.\nPeering agreements are in place with tech giants such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, which Mr. Ver said will allow them to strategically expand operations in the country.\nHe cited as an example of a scheme akin to EPHI\u2019s Energy Community Digital Platform a partnership between Emirates Water and Electric Co. and Energy Exemplar, an optimization-based market simulation software provider for the energy sector, which was announced last week.\nThe collaboration aims to improve energy modeling capacity and integrated system planning through techno-economic cloud solutions, Mr. Ver noted. \u2014 Miguel Hanz L. Antivola", "date_published": "2023-12-28T00:02:26+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-27T17:42:00+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/light-bulb.jpg", "tags": [ "Miguel Hanz L. Antivola", "Editors' Picks", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=565599", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/bloomberg/2023/12/28/565599/researchers-have-a-magic-tool-to-understand-ai-harry-potter/", "title": "Researchers have a magic tool to understand AI: Harry Potter", "content_html": "\n
MORE THAN two decades after J.K. Rowling introduced the world to a universe of magical creatures, forbidden forests, and a teenage wizard, Harry Potter is finding renewed relevance in a very different body of literature: AI research.
\nA growing number of researchers are using the best-selling Harry Potter books to experiment with generative artificial intelligence (AI), technology, citing the series\u2019 enduring influence in popular culture and the wide range of language data and complex wordplay within its pages. Reviewing a list of studies and academic papers referencing Harry Potter offers a snapshot into cutting-edge AI research \u2014 and some of the thorniest questions facing the technology.
\nIn perhaps the most notable recent example, Harry, Hermione, and Ron star in a paper titled \u201cWho\u2019s Harry Potter?\u201d that sheds light on a new technique helping large language models to selectively forget information. It\u2019s a high-stakes task for the industry: Large language models, which power AI chatbots, are built on vast amounts of online data, including copyrighted material and other problematic content. That has led to lawsuits and public scrutiny for some AI companies.
\nThe paper\u2019s authors, Microsoft researchers Mark Russinovich and Ronen Eldan, said they\u2019ve demonstrated that AI models can be altered or edited to remove any knowledge of the existence of the Harry Potter books, including characters and plots, without sacrificing the AI system\u2019s overall decision-making and analytical abilities.
\nThe duo said they chose the books because of their universal familiarity. \u201cWe believed that it would be easier for people in the research community to evaluate the model resulting from our technique and confirm for themselves that the content has indeed been \u2018unlearned,\u2019\u201d said Mr. Russinovich, chief technology officer of Microsoft Azure. \u201cAlmost anyone can come up with prompts for the model that would probe whether or not it \u2018knows\u2019 the books. Even people who haven\u2019t read the books would be aware of plot elements and characters.\u201d
\nIn another study, researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle, University of California at Berkeley, and the Allen Institute for AI developed a new language model called Silo that can remove data to reduce legal risks. However, the model\u2019s performance significantly dropped if trained only on low-risk text such as out-of-copyright books or government documents, they said in a paper published earlier this year.
\nTo go deeper, the researchers used Harry Potter books to see if individual pieces of text influence an AI system\u2019s performance. They created two datastores, or\u00a0 collections of websites and documents. The first included all published books except the first Harry Potter book; another included all books in the series but the second, and so on. \u201cWhen the Harry Potter books are removed from the datastore, the perplexity gets worse,\u201d the researchers said, referring to the measure of accuracy of AI models.\u00a0
\nAI studies have cited Harry Potter for at least a decade, but it\u2019s become more common as academics and technologists have focused on AI tools that can process and respond to natural language with relevant answers. With Harry Potter, \u201cthe abundance of scenes, dialogs, emotional moments make it very relevant to the specific area of natural language processing,\u201d said Leila Wehbe, a Carnegie Mellon researcher who ran a set of experiments in 2014 collecting brain MRI data from people reading Harry Potter stories to better understand language mechanisms.
\nOn arXiv, an open-access repository of scientific research, recent papers include, \u201cMachine learning for potion development at Hogwarts,\u201d \u201cLarge Language Models Meet Harry Potter\u201d and \u201cDetecting Spells in Fantasy Literature with a Transformer Based Artificial Intelligence.\u201d
\nEven when it\u2019s not central to the research, Harry Potter is also a favorite literary reference for researchers. One study, for example, used Rowling\u2019s works to test the intelligence of AI systems such as those that spawned the chatbot ChatGPT, a topic that has generated much heat in recent debates. Terrence Sejnowski, who directs the computational neurobiology laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, argued in the paper that chatbots merely reflect the intelligence and biases of their users, like the Mirror of Erised in the first Harry Potter book, which reflects a person\u2019s desires back to them
\n\u201cHarry Potter is popular with younger researchers,\u201d said Ms.\u00a0Wehbe. \u201cThey would have read them as children or adolescents, thus thinking of them when choosing a written or spoken text corpus.\u201d \u2014 Bloomberg
\n", "content_text": "MORE THAN two decades after J.K. Rowling introduced the world to a universe of magical creatures, forbidden forests, and a teenage wizard, Harry Potter is finding renewed relevance in a very different body of literature: AI research.\nA growing number of researchers are using the best-selling Harry Potter books to experiment with generative artificial intelligence (AI), technology, citing the series\u2019 enduring influence in popular culture and the wide range of language data and complex wordplay within its pages. Reviewing a list of studies and academic papers referencing Harry Potter offers a snapshot into cutting-edge AI research \u2014 and some of the thorniest questions facing the technology. \nIn perhaps the most notable recent example, Harry, Hermione, and Ron star in a paper titled \u201cWho\u2019s Harry Potter?\u201d that sheds light on a new technique helping large language models to selectively forget information. It\u2019s a high-stakes task for the industry: Large language models, which power AI chatbots, are built on vast amounts of online data, including copyrighted material and other problematic content. That has led to lawsuits and public scrutiny for some AI companies.\nThe paper\u2019s authors, Microsoft researchers Mark Russinovich and Ronen Eldan, said they\u2019ve demonstrated that AI models can be altered or edited to remove any knowledge of the existence of the Harry Potter books, including characters and plots, without sacrificing the AI system\u2019s overall decision-making and analytical abilities.\nThe duo said they chose the books because of their universal familiarity. \u201cWe believed that it would be easier for people in the research community to evaluate the model resulting from our technique and confirm for themselves that the content has indeed been \u2018unlearned,\u2019\u201d said Mr. Russinovich, chief technology officer of Microsoft Azure. \u201cAlmost anyone can come up with prompts for the model that would probe whether or not it \u2018knows\u2019 the books. Even people who haven\u2019t read the books would be aware of plot elements and characters.\u201d\nIn another study, researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle, University of California at Berkeley, and the Allen Institute for AI developed a new language model called Silo that can remove data to reduce legal risks. However, the model\u2019s performance significantly dropped if trained only on low-risk text such as out-of-copyright books or government documents, they said in a paper published earlier this year.\nTo go deeper, the researchers used Harry Potter books to see if individual pieces of text influence an AI system\u2019s performance. They created two datastores, or\u00a0 collections of websites and documents. The first included all published books except the first Harry Potter book; another included all books in the series but the second, and so on. \u201cWhen the Harry Potter books are removed from the datastore, the perplexity gets worse,\u201d the researchers said, referring to the measure of accuracy of AI models.\u00a0\nAI studies have cited Harry Potter for at least a decade, but it\u2019s become more common as academics and technologists have focused on AI tools that can process and respond to natural language with relevant answers. With Harry Potter, \u201cthe abundance of scenes, dialogs, emotional moments make it very relevant to the specific area of natural language processing,\u201d said Leila Wehbe, a Carnegie Mellon researcher who ran a set of experiments in 2014 collecting brain MRI data from people reading Harry Potter stories to better understand language mechanisms.\nOn arXiv, an open-access repository of scientific research, recent papers include, \u201cMachine learning for potion development at Hogwarts,\u201d \u201cLarge Language Models Meet Harry Potter\u201d and \u201cDetecting Spells in Fantasy Literature with a Transformer Based Artificial Intelligence.\u201d\nEven when it\u2019s not central to the research, Harry Potter is also a favorite literary reference for researchers. One study, for example, used Rowling\u2019s works to test the intelligence of AI systems such as those that spawned the chatbot ChatGPT, a topic that has generated much heat in recent debates. Terrence Sejnowski, who directs the computational neurobiology laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, argued in the paper that chatbots merely reflect the intelligence and biases of their users, like the Mirror of Erised in the first Harry Potter book, which reflects a person\u2019s desires back to them\n\u201cHarry Potter is popular with younger researchers,\u201d said Ms.\u00a0Wehbe. \u201cThey would have read them as children or adolescents, thus thinking of them when choosing a written or spoken text corpus.\u201d \u2014 Bloomberg", "date_published": "2023-12-28T00:01:22+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-27T17:41:42+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/technology-default.jpg", "tags": [ "Featured2", "Bloomberg", "Editors' Picks", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=565055", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/21/565055/sim-registration-is-most-searched-news-in-phl-google/", "title": "\u2018SIM registration\u2019 is most searched news in PHL \u2014 Google", "content_html": "Google Philippines on Tuesday said that \u2018SIM registration\u2019 topped this year\u2019s news searches.\u00a0
\nFollowing were \u2018precinct finder\u2019 due to the recent Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, and \u2018persona non grata\u2019 after the public uproar over a drag performance by Amadeus Fernando Pagente, stage-named Pura Luka Vega, resulting in their arrest.\u00a0
\nAdditionally, the \u2018Israel-Hamas war\u2019 ranked fifth on the list, indicating significant international events that are highly recognized by Filipinos.\u00a0
\n\u201cFilipinos use Google search to stay informed about current events, both locally and globally,\u201d Mervin Teo V. Wenke, communications and public affairs head at Google Philippines, told reporters on the sidelines of the company\u2019s Year in Search 2023 briefing.\u00a0
\nHe noted that the Year in Search was compiled from large aggregates of anonymous data in the Philippines from January to the fourth quarter of this year, with specific dates undisclosed.
\n\u201cMovies is one of the few categories cutting across the region,\u201d Mr. Wenke said on comparing results in the Philippines to its Southeast Asian neighbors.\u00a0
\nTop searched movies include Oppenheimer, John Wick: Chapter 4, Barbie, Insidious; The Red Door, and The Menu.\u00a0
\n\u201cBut K-drama is a unique category to the Philippines,\u201d he added. \u201cThis speaks volumes of Filipinos\u2019 love for hallyu or the Korean wave.\u201d\u00a0
\nThis included peak search hits on K-dramas Duty After School, Moving, The Glory, Twinkling Watermelon, and King the Land. But the local series Maria Clara at Ibarra landed the second spot among shows in general.\u00a0
\nFor sports, basketball still dominated the top ten queries amid other major sports events in the country this year.\u00a0
\nTop searched female personalities included British actress Katy Louise Saunders, Filipino actress-model Cristine Reyes, British actress Millie Bobby Brown, South Korean actress Lee Da-in, and Filipino model-actress Issa Pressman.\u00a0
\nFor top searched male personalities: South Korean actor-model Ahn Bo-hyun, Japanese actor Mackenyu, Filipino actor-model Marco Gumabao, American actor Taylor Lautner, and American football player Travis Kelce.\u00a0
\nHowever, Mr. Wenke stressed that the top search queries are only reflective of Filipinos\u2019 interest, and not\u00a0the\u00a0popularity of a certain term over the other.\u00a0
\nGoogle has improved its search experience powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI). \u201cWe will continue to leverage the power of AI to improve our products and services next year,\u201d Mr. Wenke said.\u00a0
\n\u201cAI inspires us to further deliver our mission and help more people around the world lead better lives,\u201d he added. \u2014 Miguel Hanz L. Antivola\u00a0
\n", "content_text": "Google Philippines on Tuesday said that \u2018SIM registration\u2019 topped this year\u2019s news searches.\u00a0\nFollowing were \u2018precinct finder\u2019 due to the recent Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, and \u2018persona non grata\u2019 after the public uproar over a drag performance by Amadeus Fernando Pagente, stage-named Pura Luka Vega, resulting in their arrest.\u00a0\nAdditionally, the \u2018Israel-Hamas war\u2019 ranked fifth on the list, indicating significant international events that are highly recognized by Filipinos.\u00a0\n\u201cFilipinos use Google search to stay informed about current events, both locally and globally,\u201d Mervin Teo V. Wenke, communications and public affairs head at Google Philippines, told reporters on the sidelines of the company\u2019s Year in Search 2023 briefing.\u00a0\nHe noted that the Year in Search was compiled from large aggregates of anonymous data in the Philippines from January to the fourth quarter of this year, with specific dates undisclosed.\n\u201cMovies is one of the few categories cutting across the region,\u201d Mr. Wenke said on comparing results in the Philippines to its Southeast Asian neighbors.\u00a0\nTop searched movies include Oppenheimer, John Wick: Chapter 4, Barbie, Insidious; The Red Door, and The Menu.\u00a0\n\u201cBut K-drama is a unique category to the Philippines,\u201d he added. \u201cThis speaks volumes of Filipinos\u2019 love for hallyu or the Korean wave.\u201d\u00a0\nThis included peak search hits on K-dramas Duty After School, Moving, The Glory, Twinkling Watermelon, and King the Land. But the local series Maria Clara at Ibarra landed the second spot among shows in general.\u00a0\nFor sports, basketball still dominated the top ten queries amid other major sports events in the country this year.\u00a0\nTop searched female personalities included British actress Katy Louise Saunders, Filipino actress-model Cristine Reyes, British actress Millie Bobby Brown, South Korean actress Lee Da-in, and Filipino model-actress Issa Pressman.\u00a0\nFor top searched male personalities: South Korean actor-model Ahn Bo-hyun, Japanese actor Mackenyu, Filipino actor-model Marco Gumabao, American actor Taylor Lautner, and American football player Travis Kelce.\u00a0\nHowever, Mr. Wenke stressed that the top search queries are only reflective of Filipinos\u2019 interest, and not\u00a0the\u00a0popularity of a certain term over the other.\u00a0\nGoogle has improved its search experience powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI). \u201cWe will continue to leverage the power of AI to improve our products and services next year,\u201d Mr. Wenke said.\u00a0\n\u201cAI inspires us to further deliver our mission and help more people around the world lead better lives,\u201d he added. \u2014 Miguel Hanz L. Antivola\u00a0", "date_published": "2023-12-21T15:43:02+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-21T15:43:02+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Google.jpg", "tags": [ "Miguel Hanz L. Antivola", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=564838", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/21/564838/sonos-speakers-now-available-in-phl/", "title": "Sonos speakers now available in PHL", "content_html": "\n
US-BASED audio product brand Sonos has launched in the Philippines its new speakers, the Era 100, Era 300, and Move 2, its local distributor said.
\nSonos speakers are available at its exclusive distributor Mod Audio Philippines\u2019 physical and online stores, as well as its official retail partners Power Mac Center and SM Appliance Center, it said in a statement.
\nThe Sonos Era 100 is priced at P16,990, while the Era 300 and Move 2 are available for pre-order for P31,990 and P30,990 respectively. Reservations can be done by messaging Mod Audio Philippines\u2019 Facebook or Instagram pages.
\n\u201cSonos, the wireless home sound system brand, introduces three new audio devices to fill your experiences with astonishingly brilliant and clear sound \u2014 the Sonos Era 100, Era 300, and Move 2. With these innovations, Sonos continues its commitment to reinventing sonic experiences through first-of-its-kind technology and impeccable design, allowing users to fill a room with rich sound,\u201d Mod Audio Philippines said.
\n\u201cWith Sonos devices, you have everything you need to experience brilliant sound whenever, wherever,\u201d it added.
\nThe Sonos Era 100, which features \u201cfinely tuned stereo sound and rich bass lines,\u201d can be connected via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Airplay, the company said.
\n\u201cWeighing just over 2kg, Sonos Era 100\u2019s size allows users to place the speaker in any part of the room, and even pair with a second device for an even more immersive audio experience,\u201d it said.
\n\u201cDespite its compact design, the Sonos Era 100 packs a punch to allow sound to permeate your surroundings. Powering the Sonos Era 100 to create a full sonic experience include two angled tweeters, which balance left and right frequencies; a midwoofer 25% larger than in the Sonos One for rich bass; and custom waveguides to amplify soundwaves. Users can easily control and adjust their soundscapes, like volume, bass, and treble, through intuitive touch controls or through the Sonos App,\u201d the company added.
\nMeanwhile, the Sonos Era 300 offers a \u201cmore immersive spatial audio experience\u201d as it has six drivers placed on its front, sides and top and supports Dolby Atmos sound.
\n\u201cAdding to the clean aesthetic of any home while simultaneously enabling a realistic surround sound experience, the Sonos Era 300 boasts a first of-its-kind design, balancing visual appeal with the pioneering technical specs. Inside the device are four tweeters meant to ensure faithful playback across a range of frequencies, from wall to wall, and floor to ceiling fully enveloping the space. Dual woofers and custom waveguides round out the interior specs for a balanced bassline and widely spaced audio output,\u201d the company said.
\nThe Era 300 can likewise be connected via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, an auxiliary cable, or touch controls, among others.
\nLastly, the Sonos Move 2 can be used indoors and outdoors as it adjusts its sound based on the acoustics of the location, the company said.
\n\u201cAmong its upgrades include a more powerful battery, allowing users to enjoy up to 24 hours of non-stop playback. Plus, its Wireless Charging Base with a more compact adapter makes charging more convenient. The Sonos Move\u20092 boasts 30% more energy efficiency and also comes with a replaceable battery, extending the life of the speaker,\u201d it said.
\n\u201cInside the Move 2, the new and improved acoustic architecture includes dual angles tweeters for stunning sound on each side and one midwoofer with precisely-tuned bass lines… It boasts not only IP56 rating for dust and water resistance, but is also made with shock-absorbent materials to protect the device from drops. At just 3kg, the speaker is easy to bring along for all your getaways,\u201d it added.
\nMod Audio Philippines said the Era 100 now uses less energy than the earlier model Sonos One, and the Era 100 and Era 300 are made with post consumer-reycled plastics. The speakers also come in 100% recyclable packaging. \u2014 BVR
\n", "content_text": "US-BASED audio product brand Sonos has launched in the Philippines its new speakers, the Era 100, Era 300, and Move 2, its local distributor said.\nSonos speakers are available at its exclusive distributor Mod Audio Philippines\u2019 physical and online stores, as well as its official retail partners Power Mac Center and SM Appliance Center, it said in a statement.\nThe Sonos Era 100 is priced at P16,990, while the Era 300 and Move 2 are available for pre-order for P31,990 and P30,990 respectively. Reservations can be done by messaging Mod Audio Philippines\u2019 Facebook or Instagram pages. \n\u201cSonos, the wireless home sound system brand, introduces three new audio devices to fill your experiences with astonishingly brilliant and clear sound \u2014 the Sonos Era 100, Era 300, and Move 2. With these innovations, Sonos continues its commitment to reinventing sonic experiences through first-of-its-kind technology and impeccable design, allowing users to fill a room with rich sound,\u201d Mod Audio Philippines said.\n\u201cWith Sonos devices, you have everything you need to experience brilliant sound whenever, wherever,\u201d it added.\nThe Sonos Era 100, which features \u201cfinely tuned stereo sound and rich bass lines,\u201d can be connected via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Airplay, the company said.\n\u201cWeighing just over 2kg, Sonos Era 100\u2019s size allows users to place the speaker in any part of the room, and even pair with a second device for an even more immersive audio experience,\u201d it said.\n\u201cDespite its compact design, the Sonos Era 100 packs a punch to allow sound to permeate your surroundings. Powering the Sonos Era 100 to create a full sonic experience include two angled tweeters, which balance left and right frequencies; a midwoofer 25% larger than in the Sonos One for rich bass; and custom waveguides to amplify soundwaves. Users can easily control and adjust their soundscapes, like volume, bass, and treble, through intuitive touch controls or through the Sonos App,\u201d the company added.\nMeanwhile, the Sonos Era 300 offers a \u201cmore immersive spatial audio experience\u201d as it has six drivers placed on its front, sides and top and supports Dolby Atmos sound.\n\u201cAdding to the clean aesthetic of any home while simultaneously enabling a realistic surround sound experience, the Sonos Era 300 boasts a first of-its-kind design, balancing visual appeal with the pioneering technical specs. Inside the device are four tweeters meant to ensure faithful playback across a range of frequencies, from wall to wall, and floor to ceiling fully enveloping the space. Dual woofers and custom waveguides round out the interior specs for a balanced bassline and widely spaced audio output,\u201d the company said.\nThe Era 300 can likewise be connected via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, an auxiliary cable, or touch controls, among others.\nLastly, the Sonos Move 2 can be used indoors and outdoors as it adjusts its sound based on the acoustics of the location, the company said.\n\u201cAmong its upgrades include a more powerful battery, allowing users to enjoy up to 24 hours of non-stop playback. Plus, its Wireless Charging Base with a more compact adapter makes charging more convenient. The Sonos Move\u20092 boasts 30% more energy efficiency and also comes with a replaceable battery, extending the life of the speaker,\u201d it said.\n\u201cInside the Move 2, the new and improved acoustic architecture includes dual angles tweeters for stunning sound on each side and one midwoofer with precisely-tuned bass lines… It boasts not only IP56 rating for dust and water resistance, but is also made with shock-absorbent materials to protect the device from drops. At just 3kg, the speaker is easy to bring along for all your getaways,\u201d it added.\nMod Audio Philippines said the Era 100 now uses less energy than the earlier model Sonos One, and the Era 100 and Era 300 are made with post consumer-reycled plastics. The speakers also come in 100% recyclable packaging. \u2014 BVR", "date_published": "2023-12-21T00:03:13+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-20T17:51:35+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sonos-Move-2-a.jpg", "tags": [ "Bettina Faye V. Roc", "Editors' Picks", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=564837", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/21/564837/alibaba-rolls-out-llms-with-tagalog-support/", "title": "Alibaba rolls out LLMs with Tagalog support", "content_html": "ALIBABA Group\u2019s research institute DAMO Academy has rolled out its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered large language models (LLMs) called SeaLLMs, which include support for Tagalog and other Southeast Asian languages.
\n\u201cThe models represent a technological leap forward in terms of inclusivity, offering optimized support for local languages in the region including Tagalog, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, Malay, Khmer, Lao, and Burmese,\u201d Alibaba said in a statement late last week.
\n\u201cThe conversational models, SeaLLM-chat, exhibit great adaptability to the unique cultural fabric of each market, aligning with local customs, styles, and legal frameworks, and emerging as an invaluable chatbot assistant for businesses engaging with SEA markets,\u201d it added.
\nLLMs are a type of generative AI meant to help produce and predict text content.
\nAlibaba said SeaLLMs have 13-billion-parameter and 7-billion-parameter versions and are meant to cater to the \u201clinguistic diversity\u201d of Southeast Asia. SeaLLMs are now open-sourced on AI community Hugging Face and can be used for research and commercial purposes.
\n\u201cIn our ongoing effort to bridge the technological divide, we are thrilled to introduce SeaLLMs, a series of AI models that not only understand local languages but also embrace the cultural richness of Southeast Asia,\u201d Lidong Bing, director of the Language Technology Lab at Alibaba DAMO Academy, said. \u201cThis innovation is set to hasten the democratization of AI, empowering communities historically underrepresented in the digital realm.\u201d
\n\u201cAlibaba\u2019s strides in creating a multi-lingual LLM are impressive. This initiative has the potential to unlock new opportunities for millions who speak languages beyond English and Chinese. Alibaba\u2019s efforts in championing inclusive technology have now reached a milestone with SeaLLMs\u2019 launch,\u201d said Luu Anh Tuan, assistant professor at the School of Computer Science and Engineering at Nanyang Technological University, which is a partner of Alibaba in multi-language AI study.
\nThe SeaLLM-base models went through pre-training on a data set including Southeast Asian languages to ensure understanding of local nuances and native communication contexts, Alibaba said.
\n\u201cThis foundational work lays the groundwork for chat models, SeaLLM-chat models, which benefit from advanced fine-tuning techniques and a custom-built multilingual dataset. As a result, chatbot assistants based on these models can not only comprehend but respect and accurately reflect the cultural context of these languages in the region, such as social norms and customs,\u00a0stylistic\u00a0preferences,\u00a0and\u00a0legal\u00a0considerations,\u201d it added.
\n\u201cA notable technical advantage of SeaLLMs are their efficiency, particularly with non-Latin languages. They can interpret and process up to 9 times longer text (or fewer tokens for the same length of text) than other models like ChatGPT for non-Latin languages such as Burmese, Khmer, Lao, and Thai. That translates into more complex task execution capabilities, reduced operational and computational costs, and a lower environmental footprint,\u201d Alibaba said. \u2014 BVR
\n", "content_text": "ALIBABA Group\u2019s research institute DAMO Academy has rolled out its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered large language models (LLMs) called SeaLLMs, which include support for Tagalog and other Southeast Asian languages.\n\u201cThe models represent a technological leap forward in terms of inclusivity, offering optimized support for local languages in the region including Tagalog, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, Malay, Khmer, Lao, and Burmese,\u201d Alibaba said in a statement late last week.\n\u201cThe conversational models, SeaLLM-chat, exhibit great adaptability to the unique cultural fabric of each market, aligning with local customs, styles, and legal frameworks, and emerging as an invaluable chatbot assistant for businesses engaging with SEA markets,\u201d it added.\nLLMs are a type of generative AI meant to help produce and predict text content.\nAlibaba said SeaLLMs have 13-billion-parameter and 7-billion-parameter versions and are meant to cater to the \u201clinguistic diversity\u201d of Southeast Asia. SeaLLMs are now open-sourced on AI community Hugging Face and can be used for research and commercial purposes.\n\u201cIn our ongoing effort to bridge the technological divide, we are thrilled to introduce SeaLLMs, a series of AI models that not only understand local languages but also embrace the cultural richness of Southeast Asia,\u201d Lidong Bing, director of the Language Technology Lab at Alibaba DAMO Academy, said. \u201cThis innovation is set to hasten the democratization of AI, empowering communities historically underrepresented in the digital realm.\u201d\n\u201cAlibaba\u2019s strides in creating a multi-lingual LLM are impressive. This initiative has the potential to unlock new opportunities for millions who speak languages beyond English and Chinese. Alibaba\u2019s efforts in championing inclusive technology have now reached a milestone with SeaLLMs\u2019 launch,\u201d said Luu Anh Tuan, assistant professor at the School of Computer Science and Engineering at Nanyang Technological University, which is a partner of Alibaba in multi-language AI study.\nThe SeaLLM-base models went through pre-training on a data set including Southeast Asian languages to ensure understanding of local nuances and native communication contexts, Alibaba said.\n\u201cThis foundational work lays the groundwork for chat models, SeaLLM-chat models, which benefit from advanced fine-tuning techniques and a custom-built multilingual dataset. As a result, chatbot assistants based on these models can not only comprehend but respect and accurately reflect the cultural context of these languages in the region, such as social norms and customs,\u00a0stylistic\u00a0preferences,\u00a0and\u00a0legal\u00a0considerations,\u201d it added.\n\u201cA notable technical advantage of SeaLLMs are their efficiency, particularly with non-Latin languages. They can interpret and process up to 9 times longer text (or fewer tokens for the same length of text) than other models like ChatGPT for non-Latin languages such as Burmese, Khmer, Lao, and Thai. That translates into more complex task execution capabilities, reduced operational and computational costs, and a lower environmental footprint,\u201d Alibaba said. \u2014 BVR", "date_published": "2023-12-21T00:02:13+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-20T17:51:31+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/MALAYSIA-ALIBABA.jpg", "tags": [ "Bettina Faye V. Roc", "Featured2", "Editors' Picks", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=564814", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/21/564814/filipinos-are-credit-hungry-but-are-they-credit-ready/", "title": "Filipinos are credit-hungry, but are they credit-ready?", "content_html": "LOCAL interest in credit continues to grow, and TransUnion\u2019s Credit Perception Index Study published earlier this year indicated an increasing desire among Filipinos to use credit-based products in the future. The study highlighted that installment payments and personal loans were the two credit products that respondents were most likely to use in the next year.
\nHIGH INTEREST, LOW FOLLOW THROUGH
\nA growing appetite for credit products is an encouraging sign for those of us already in the formal financial sector. After all, credit can open opportunities for people to enhance their quality of life by enabling access to money for their immediate and long-term goals. While I believe that Filipinos are credit-ready, there is more we can do to convert interested consumers into active, responsible credit users.
Additional findings from the study showed that while 60% of respondents intend to use a greater range of financial products and services in the next year, only 21% are considering borrowing or using credit products in that same period. These figures hint at consumers\u2019 caution about using credit products.
\nUNPACKING WHY FILIPINOS STAY CREDIT-HUNGRY
\nOne way to understand why Filipinos are reluctant to use credit is to analyze how they see themselves and their finances. Despite 79% of the study respondents claiming to have a strong understanding of their finances and 69% claiming to be knowledgeable on the general definition of credit, 51% said that they have limited money at the end of the month.
Additional findings showed that only one third (33%) of Filipinos believe that users of credit-based financial products save more money \u2014 a stark contrast to those who believe that users of credit-based financial products overspend (57%), and those who see users of such products as financial risk-takers (65%).
\nWith 90% of people expressing a desire to save more in the next year, these findings imply a gap in Filipinos\u2019 knowledge about credit and how it can support their plans for the future. When used wisely and responsibly, credit can help people save money. Certain credit products offer perks and benefits such as redeemable rewards points and cashbacks, for example. Regularly paying off credit balances also helps build a good credit score, which helps secure lower rates on future credit products such as loans for houses or cars.
\nThis gap in knowledge is also compounded by a long-standing stigma in the country that paints the act of seeking credit products as a gateway to bad debt and financial irresponsibility.
\nREADYING FILIPINOS TO EMBRACE THE LIFE-CHANGING POWER OF CREDIT
\nI believe we can bridge the gap to help more Filipinos see the value in using credit wisely and diversifying the credit products they use. One way we can do this is to keep working with the formal financial sector to educate consumers about how the responsible use of credit can impact their lives beyond just giving them the ability to borrow money.
When told how having a credit score can positively influence loan approvals, job applications, and help achieve their financial goals, 90% of study respondents expressed how that information may influence their likelihood to use credit-based products in the future.
\nAcross the formal financial sector, we must focus our efforts to connect the benefits of credit with important life events such as buying a house or securing the funds needed to start a business. Alongside the continued promotion of healthy financial habits to improve and maintain a good credit score, we can help more Filipinos to dismiss the negative stigma surrounding credit.
\nCredit can help Filipinos save more money, be better prepared in the event of an emergency, and gain access to more opportunities that make their lives better. More Filipinos stand to benefit from being empowered to use credit responsibly, and, on a larger scale, responsible credit use can also serve as a wider catalyst for economic growth.
\nFor more information and insights, please view the full report of the TransUnion Credit Perception Index study.
\n\n
Pia Arellano is the president and CEO of TransUnion Philippines and has over 28 years of industry experience across banking, payment solutions, telecommunications, and remittance services. She has been instrumental in establishing TransUnion as a leading private consumer credit reference agency and an information and insights partner of banks, fintech companies, and other institutions in the Philippine financial system. You can e-mail questions to tuphcomms@transunion.com.
\n", "content_text": "LOCAL interest in credit continues to grow, and TransUnion\u2019s Credit Perception Index Study published earlier this year indicated an increasing desire among Filipinos to use credit-based products in the future. The study highlighted that installment payments and personal loans were the two credit products that respondents were most likely to use in the next year.\nHIGH INTEREST, LOW FOLLOW THROUGH\nA growing appetite for credit products is an encouraging sign for those of us already in the formal financial sector. After all, credit can open opportunities for people to enhance their quality of life by enabling access to money for their immediate and long-term goals. While I believe that Filipinos are credit-ready, there is more we can do to convert interested consumers into active, responsible credit users. \nAdditional findings from the study showed that while 60% of respondents intend to use a greater range of financial products and services in the next year, only 21% are considering borrowing or using credit products in that same period. These figures hint at consumers\u2019 caution about using credit products.\nUNPACKING WHY FILIPINOS STAY CREDIT-HUNGRY\nOne way to understand why Filipinos are reluctant to use credit is to analyze how they see themselves and their finances. Despite 79% of the study respondents claiming to have a strong understanding of their finances and 69% claiming to be knowledgeable on the general definition of credit, 51% said that they have limited money at the end of the month.\nAdditional findings showed that only one third (33%) of Filipinos believe that users of credit-based financial products save more money \u2014 a stark contrast to those who believe that users of credit-based financial products overspend (57%), and those who see users of such products as financial risk-takers (65%).\nWith 90% of people expressing a desire to save more in the next year, these findings imply a gap in Filipinos\u2019 knowledge about credit and how it can support their plans for the future. When used wisely and responsibly, credit can help people save money. Certain credit products offer perks and benefits such as redeemable rewards points and cashbacks, for example. Regularly paying off credit balances also helps build a good credit score, which helps secure lower rates on future credit products such as loans for houses or cars.\nThis gap in knowledge is also compounded by a long-standing stigma in the country that paints the act of seeking credit products as a gateway to bad debt and financial irresponsibility.\nREADYING FILIPINOS TO EMBRACE THE LIFE-CHANGING POWER OF CREDIT\nI believe we can bridge the gap to help more Filipinos see the value in using credit wisely and diversifying the credit products they use. One way we can do this is to keep working with the formal financial sector to educate consumers about how the responsible use of credit can impact their lives beyond just giving them the ability to borrow money.\nWhen told how having a credit score can positively influence loan approvals, job applications, and help achieve their financial goals, 90% of study respondents expressed how that information may influence their likelihood to use credit-based products in the future.\nAcross the formal financial sector, we must focus our efforts to connect the benefits of credit with important life events such as buying a house or securing the funds needed to start a business. Alongside the continued promotion of healthy financial habits to improve and maintain a good credit score, we can help more Filipinos to dismiss the negative stigma surrounding credit.\nCredit can help Filipinos save more money, be better prepared in the event of an emergency, and gain access to more opportunities that make their lives better. More Filipinos stand to benefit from being empowered to use credit responsibly, and, on a larger scale, responsible credit use can also serve as a wider catalyst for economic growth.\nFor more information and insights, please view the full report of the TransUnion Credit Perception Index study.\n \nPia Arellano is the president and CEO of TransUnion Philippines and has over 28 years of industry experience across banking, payment solutions, telecommunications, and remittance services. She has been instrumental in establishing TransUnion as a leading private consumer credit reference agency and an information and insights partner of banks, fintech companies, and other institutions in the Philippine financial system. You can e-mail questions to tuphcomms@transunion.com.", "date_published": "2023-12-21T00:01:44+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-20T17:51:39+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/technology-default.jpg", "tags": [ "Featured2", "Opinion", "Pia Arellano", "Editors' Picks", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=563616", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/14/563616/philippines-faces-surge-in-info-stealer-attacks-report/", "title": "Philippines faces surge in info stealer attacks \u2014 report", "content_html": "By Miguel Hanz L. Antivola, Reporter
\nThe Philippines needs to address the growing threat of info stealers and phishing scams, according to experts.
\nA report by the threat intelligence firm Cyberint found that the Philippines is the third most targeted in the Asia Pacific by info stealers, a growing special type of malware, with 523,561 recorded cases.
\n\u201cInfostealers work by harvesting sensitive data from a compromised computer or server, then sending it to attackers,\u201d Adrianne Chester Camat, threat intelligence lead at Cyberint, said in the study.\u00a0
\n\u201c[It] can lead to breaches of access credentials, financial information, personal information, website cookies, offline wallets, operating system details, and even screenshots of the machine\u2019s desktop and file structure,\u201d he added.\u00a0
\nMr. Camat noted that info stealer families operate similarly to a legitimate company, \u201ccomplete with a CEO, support staff, technical staff, research and development, and so on.\u201d
\nTop families in the APAC region include RedLine (51.4%), Aurora (39%), and Raccoon (9.52%), the study said.
\nThe study also observed the growth of social media impersonations in the region, which is more prominent in the Philippines, where threat actors first monitor the comments section of institutional pages online, such as banks.\u00a0
\n\u201cThen, they contact those users, claiming to be representatives of the bank and using fake social media profiles to make themselves appear legitimate,\u201d Mr. Camat said.\u00a0
\n\u201cThis approach allows them to trick users into sharing credentials or clicking links,\u201d he added. \u201cAttackers may also be able to coordinate [multi-factor authentication] logins using this method since they can interact with customers in real-time.\u201d\u00a0
\n\u201cWe don\u2019t see any sign that sophisticated phishing attacks like these will slow down. [It] remains very profitable, and advanced attack techniques make it all the more lucrative by increasing the rate of successful attacks.\u201d\u00a0
\n\u201cThe best way to stop social media impersonations is to monitor social platforms for signs of impersonation.\u201d\u00a0
\nAssessing the awareness and proactiveness of Filipinos in cybersecurity is complex, yet many are still duped, Ronald B. Gustilo, national campaigner for Digital Pinoys, told\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0in a Viber message.
\n\u201c[This] highlights the need for the government to increase its efforts in digital literacy programs and awareness campaigns,\u201d he said.\u00a0
\n\u201cBusinesses and institutions should intensify its monitoring of social media impersonators and see that these fake pages are reported,\u201d he added, suggesting their premium subscription to social media services for verification.\u00a0
\n\u201cThey should prioritize employee training on cybersecurity, implement multi-factor authentication, and regularly update security measures to mitigate the risk of social media impersonations and info stealers.\u201d\u00a0
\nAdditionally, Mr. Gustilo said the government must enforce and strengthen cybersecurity regulations and foster collaboration between industry experts and authorities to curb the growing issue.
\nSam Jacoba, founding president of the National Association of Data Protection Officers of the Philippines, urged the government to secure the country\u2019s critical infrastructure by the first quarter of next year, and sign the National Cybersecurity Plan 2023-2028 as an executive order.\u00a0
\n\u201cGive a deadline to all government agencies to comply within 12 months of the EO being signed,\u201d he said.\u00a0
\n\u201cAssign a person to be accountable per government unit, and allocate budget and resources to ensure that they succeed; form a team that will monitor this through quarterly reviews,\u201d he added.
\n", "content_text": "By Miguel Hanz L. Antivola, Reporter\nThe Philippines needs to address the growing threat of info stealers and phishing scams, according to experts.\nA report by the threat intelligence firm Cyberint found that the Philippines is the third most targeted in the Asia Pacific by info stealers, a growing special type of malware, with 523,561 recorded cases.\n\u201cInfostealers work by harvesting sensitive data from a compromised computer or server, then sending it to attackers,\u201d Adrianne Chester Camat, threat intelligence lead at Cyberint, said in the study.\u00a0\n\u201c[It] can lead to breaches of access credentials, financial information, personal information, website cookies, offline wallets, operating system details, and even screenshots of the machine\u2019s desktop and file structure,\u201d he added.\u00a0\nMr. Camat noted that info stealer families operate similarly to a legitimate company, \u201ccomplete with a CEO, support staff, technical staff, research and development, and so on.\u201d\nTop families in the APAC region include RedLine (51.4%), Aurora (39%), and Raccoon (9.52%), the study said.\nThe study also observed the growth of social media impersonations in the region, which is more prominent in the Philippines, where threat actors first monitor the comments section of institutional pages online, such as banks.\u00a0\n\u201cThen, they contact those users, claiming to be representatives of the bank and using fake social media profiles to make themselves appear legitimate,\u201d Mr. Camat said.\u00a0\n\u201cThis approach allows them to trick users into sharing credentials or clicking links,\u201d he added. \u201cAttackers may also be able to coordinate [multi-factor authentication] logins using this method since they can interact with customers in real-time.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cWe don\u2019t see any sign that sophisticated phishing attacks like these will slow down. [It] remains very profitable, and advanced attack techniques make it all the more lucrative by increasing the rate of successful attacks.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cThe best way to stop social media impersonations is to monitor social platforms for signs of impersonation.\u201d\u00a0\nAssessing the awareness and proactiveness of Filipinos in cybersecurity is complex, yet many are still duped, Ronald B. Gustilo, national campaigner for Digital Pinoys, told\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0in a Viber message.\n\u201c[This] highlights the need for the government to increase its efforts in digital literacy programs and awareness campaigns,\u201d he said.\u00a0\n\u201cBusinesses and institutions should intensify its monitoring of social media impersonators and see that these fake pages are reported,\u201d he added, suggesting their premium subscription to social media services for verification.\u00a0\n\u201cThey should prioritize employee training on cybersecurity, implement multi-factor authentication, and regularly update security measures to mitigate the risk of social media impersonations and info stealers.\u201d\u00a0\nAdditionally, Mr. Gustilo said the government must enforce and strengthen cybersecurity regulations and foster collaboration between industry experts and authorities to curb the growing issue.\nSam Jacoba, founding president of the National Association of Data Protection Officers of the Philippines, urged the government to secure the country\u2019s critical infrastructure by the first quarter of next year, and sign the National Cybersecurity Plan 2023-2028 as an executive order.\u00a0\n\u201cGive a deadline to all government agencies to comply within 12 months of the EO being signed,\u201d he said.\u00a0\n\u201cAssign a person to be accountable per government unit, and allocate budget and resources to ensure that they succeed; form a team that will monitor this through quarterly reviews,\u201d he added.", "date_published": "2023-12-14T16:32:45+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-14T16:41:24+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/makati-skyline-buildings.jpg", "tags": [ "malware", "phishing scams", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=563400", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/14/563400/agile-regulation-necessary-amid-firms-growing-adoption-of-ai/", "title": "Agile regulation necessary amid firms\u2019 growing adoption of AI", "content_html": "By Miguel Hanz L. Antivola, Reporter
\nTHE ADOPTION of artificial intelligence (AI) among Philippine organizations is expected to grow next year, prompting the need for focused and agile regulation amid privacy concerns, industry officials said.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve let the genie out of the bottle already, so it\u2019s going to be a matter of course,\u201d Peachy Pacquing, managing director at creative business school Hyper Island, told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of an event.
\n\u201cSome industries are more prepared than others, but by and large, we\u2019re not prepared yet,\u201d she added. \u201cWe need to talk about it, and more than that, act on it.\u201d
\nRonald B. Gustilo, national campaigner for Digital Pinoys, said AI adoption in the country is expected to increase next year amid continued infrastructure improvement, especially in the governance, healthcare, finance, and education sectors.
\n\u201cThis integration is poised to play a crucial role in advancing the nation\u2019s technological landscape,\u201d he added.
\nThe Trade department earlier said that AI could contribute as much as $90 billion to the Philippine economy by 2030.
\nInternational Data Corp. said the Philippines ranked 12th out of 14 economies in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of AI adoption for business and consumer transactions.
\nMeanwhile, a report released by technology firm Cisco this month said only 17% of Philippine organizations are ready to utilize and deploy AI, with the majority of them raising concerns about the impact of not adopting these advances.
\nIt added that about 44% of Philippine organizations consider themselves chasers or are only moderately prepared, while 35% are followers with limited levels of preparedness and about 4% are laggards, or those not prepared to leverage AI at all.
\nA thoughtful and strategic approach is needed when adopting AI, Mr. Gustilo said.
\n\u201cLeveraging insights from nations that have successfully implemented AI, nurturing public-private partnerships, and allocating resources to AI education are pivotal steps that can elevate the Philippines\u2019 standing in the region,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cA focused strategy is imperative to navigate the diverse landscape of progress and ensure a seamless assimilation of AI advancements across different sectors,\u201d Mr. Gustilo added.
\nAI is still \u201cvery conceptual, unless it is being offered to the B2B (business-to-business) and corporate sector for execution,\u201d Donald Lim, chief innovation officer at holding company Udenna Corp., said in an interview.
\n\u201cOnce AI is [more] consumerized like ChatGPT, you\u2019ll see more and more discussions on the consumer segment,\u201d he said.
\nThere are already some applications of AI in the Philippine setting, he said, like in call centers.
\n\u201cIf they call, track, or text you, you are already more known and targeted, which is why privacy becomes more important,\u201d he said.
\nSpeed and scale should be taken into account by organizations and regulators when discussing AI, Mr. Lim said.
\n\u201cJust make it open. Don\u2019t clock down when it shouldn\u2019t be. We really need AI to push us forward and move us onto the next level,\u201d he said.
\nStill, ethical considerations must precede all other considerations as the technology intersects with data privacy issues, Mr. Gustilo noted.
\n\u201cCollaborating with industry experts, adhering to international standards, and maintaining policy adaptability to accommodate evolving AI technologies are indispensable elements for ensuring responsible AI use,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cStriking a delicate balance between fostering innovation and implementing safeguards is paramount as the Philippines charts its course through the intricate terrain of artificial intelligence in 2024,\u201d he added.
\nMr. Lim said the Philippines is far from being a leading producer of AI solutions in the region.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re not creators of technology or software solutions, but that\u2019s okay. We\u2019re not the creator of TikTok or Facebook, but we became the primary users of it globally,\u201d he added.
\nAs for regulating the use of AI, there is a need to push against the narrative that policy will always trail behind technology, Ms. Pacquing noted.
\n\u201cIf you\u2019re a regulator or policy writer, you have every opportunity to be just as agile as a technologist… I only hear excuses. There must be speed, but very calculated intentional speed, in creating these policies,\u201d she said, citing Singapore, where she is based, as an example, noting that policies there related to technology evolve in real time.
\n\u201cMy fearless forecast is all bets are off\u2026 It really depends on us as individuals to say this is important and therefore, we will invest in and develop our ability to work alongside AI,\u201d Ms. Pacquing added.
\n", "content_text": "By Miguel Hanz L. Antivola, Reporter\nTHE ADOPTION of artificial intelligence (AI) among Philippine organizations is expected to grow next year, prompting the need for focused and agile regulation amid privacy concerns, industry officials said.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve let the genie out of the bottle already, so it\u2019s going to be a matter of course,\u201d Peachy Pacquing, managing director at creative business school Hyper Island, told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of an event.\n\u201cSome industries are more prepared than others, but by and large, we\u2019re not prepared yet,\u201d she added. \u201cWe need to talk about it, and more than that, act on it.\u201d\nRonald B. Gustilo, national campaigner for Digital Pinoys, said AI adoption in the country is expected to increase next year amid continued infrastructure improvement, especially in the governance, healthcare, finance, and education sectors.\n\u201cThis integration is poised to play a crucial role in advancing the nation\u2019s technological landscape,\u201d he added.\nThe Trade department earlier said that AI could contribute as much as $90 billion to the Philippine economy by 2030.\nInternational Data Corp. said the Philippines ranked 12th out of 14 economies in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of AI adoption for business and consumer transactions.\nMeanwhile, a report released by technology firm Cisco this month said only 17% of Philippine organizations are ready to utilize and deploy AI, with the majority of them raising concerns about the impact of not adopting these advances.\nIt added that about 44% of Philippine organizations consider themselves chasers or are only moderately prepared, while 35% are followers with limited levels of preparedness and about 4% are laggards, or those not prepared to leverage AI at all.\nA thoughtful and strategic approach is needed when adopting AI, Mr. Gustilo said.\n\u201cLeveraging insights from nations that have successfully implemented AI, nurturing public-private partnerships, and allocating resources to AI education are pivotal steps that can elevate the Philippines\u2019 standing in the region,\u201d he said.\n\u201cA focused strategy is imperative to navigate the diverse landscape of progress and ensure a seamless assimilation of AI advancements across different sectors,\u201d Mr. Gustilo added.\nAI is still \u201cvery conceptual, unless it is being offered to the B2B (business-to-business) and corporate sector for execution,\u201d Donald Lim, chief innovation officer at holding company Udenna Corp., said in an interview.\n\u201cOnce AI is [more] consumerized like ChatGPT, you\u2019ll see more and more discussions on the consumer segment,\u201d he said.\nThere are already some applications of AI in the Philippine setting, he said, like in call centers.\n\u201cIf they call, track, or text you, you are already more known and targeted, which is why privacy becomes more important,\u201d he said.\nSpeed and scale should be taken into account by organizations and regulators when discussing AI, Mr. Lim said.\n\u201cJust make it open. Don\u2019t clock down when it shouldn\u2019t be. We really need AI to push us forward and move us onto the next level,\u201d he said.\nStill, ethical considerations must precede all other considerations as the technology intersects with data privacy issues, Mr. Gustilo noted.\n\u201cCollaborating with industry experts, adhering to international standards, and maintaining policy adaptability to accommodate evolving AI technologies are indispensable elements for ensuring responsible AI use,\u201d he said.\n\u201cStriking a delicate balance between fostering innovation and implementing safeguards is paramount as the Philippines charts its course through the intricate terrain of artificial intelligence in 2024,\u201d he added.\nMr. Lim said the Philippines is far from being a leading producer of AI solutions in the region.\n\u201cWe\u2019re not creators of technology or software solutions, but that\u2019s okay. We\u2019re not the creator of TikTok or Facebook, but we became the primary users of it globally,\u201d he added.\nAs for regulating the use of AI, there is a need to push against the narrative that policy will always trail behind technology, Ms. Pacquing noted.\n\u201cIf you\u2019re a regulator or policy writer, you have every opportunity to be just as agile as a technologist… I only hear excuses. There must be speed, but very calculated intentional speed, in creating these policies,\u201d she said, citing Singapore, where she is based, as an example, noting that policies there related to technology evolve in real time.\n\u201cMy fearless forecast is all bets are off\u2026 It really depends on us as individuals to say this is important and therefore, we will invest in and develop our ability to work alongside AI,\u201d Ms. Pacquing added.", "date_published": "2023-12-14T00:06:31+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-14T06:10:40+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/artificial-intelligence-4694502_1280-1.jpg", "tags": [ "Miguel Hanz L. Antivola", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=563398", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/14/563398/suspected-fraudulent-online-transactions-rose-during-thanksgiving-holiday/", "title": "Suspected fraudulent online transactions rose during Thanksgiving holiday", "content_html": "THE NUMBER of e-commerce transactions in the Philippines suspected to be fraudulent rose by 19% during the holiday shopping season.
\nAt least 12.8% of e-commerce transactions in the country were suspected to be fraudulent during the Black Friday or Thanksgiving holiday period in the United States from Nov. 23 to 27, a study by TransUnion Philippines found.
\nThis was higher than the 10.7% suspected fraudulent transactions seen during the rest of the year.
\nIt was also higher than the 12.2% recorded in the same holiday period last year but lower than the 17.2% seen in 2021.
\nBlack Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the US. It has become a big retail event globally and is seen as the start of the holiday shopping season.
\n\u201cJust as the holiday season drives consumers online to begin shopping for gifts for their loved ones, so does it become a destination for fraudsters seeking to take advantage of this time for their financial gain,\u201d TransUnion Philippines Chief Commercial Officer Yogesh Daware said.
\n\u201cOnline retailers must ensure that consumers shopping their sites for the best deals are at the same time protected from fraud in the most seamless and friction-right way possible,\u201d he added.
\nThe report showed that highest digital fraud rate in the Philippines during this holiday period was recorded on Nov. 24 or Black Friday itself at 14.7% of transactions, followed by Nov. 23 or Thanksgiving Day at 13%. Meanwhile, Nov. 27 or Cyber Monday saw the third highest digital fraud rate at 12.5% of transactions, followed by Nov. 25 at 11.7% and Nov. 26 at 11.3%.
\nThe strongest indicator of a fraudulent transaction was a high volume of activity coming from a single Internet Protocol address to a customer\u2019s site during a short period, TransUnion said.
\nAn \u201cunusual\u201d volume of activity from a single device to a customer\u2019s site in a short period was also a top indicator of a possible fraud attempt.
\n\u201cThe days leading up to the Christmas holidays mark the biggest shopping season of the year for retailers in the Philippines, but equipping themselves with the proper tools to detect fraud at the first warning sign is a year-round priority,\u201d Mr. Daware said.
\n\u201c A critical way to minimize fraudulent transactions while at the same time protecting legitimate ones involves implementing holistic fraud solutions that can verify customer identity and authenticity at the very beginning of a transaction, including both account creation and login,\u201d he added.
\nTransUnion Philippines\u2019 Consumer Pulse Survey for the fourth quarter also found that 93% of Filipinos are extremely, very or moderately concerned about being victimized by online fraud during the holidays.
\nThe Philippines recorded the highest percentage of consumers worried about fraud among the countries studied. It was followed by India at 88% and South Africa at 84%.
\nThe survey was conducted from Sept. 25 to Oct. 18 among 13,706 adults living in the Philippines, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the US. \u2014 AMC
\n", "content_text": "THE NUMBER of e-commerce transactions in the Philippines suspected to be fraudulent rose by 19% during the holiday shopping season.\nAt least 12.8% of e-commerce transactions in the country were suspected to be fraudulent during the Black Friday or Thanksgiving holiday period in the United States from Nov. 23 to 27, a study by TransUnion Philippines found.\nThis was higher than the 10.7% suspected fraudulent transactions seen during the rest of the year.\nIt was also higher than the 12.2% recorded in the same holiday period last year but lower than the 17.2% seen in 2021.\nBlack Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the US. It has become a big retail event globally and is seen as the start of the holiday shopping season.\n\u201cJust as the holiday season drives consumers online to begin shopping for gifts for their loved ones, so does it become a destination for fraudsters seeking to take advantage of this time for their financial gain,\u201d TransUnion Philippines Chief Commercial Officer Yogesh Daware said.\n\u201cOnline retailers must ensure that consumers shopping their sites for the best deals are at the same time protected from fraud in the most seamless and friction-right way possible,\u201d he added.\nThe report showed that highest digital fraud rate in the Philippines during this holiday period was recorded on Nov. 24 or Black Friday itself at 14.7% of transactions, followed by Nov. 23 or Thanksgiving Day at 13%. Meanwhile, Nov. 27 or Cyber Monday saw the third highest digital fraud rate at 12.5% of transactions, followed by Nov. 25 at 11.7% and Nov. 26 at 11.3%.\nThe strongest indicator of a fraudulent transaction was a high volume of activity coming from a single Internet Protocol address to a customer\u2019s site during a short period, TransUnion said.\nAn \u201cunusual\u201d volume of activity from a single device to a customer\u2019s site in a short period was also a top indicator of a possible fraud attempt.\n\u201cThe days leading up to the Christmas holidays mark the biggest shopping season of the year for retailers in the Philippines, but equipping themselves with the proper tools to detect fraud at the first warning sign is a year-round priority,\u201d Mr. Daware said.\n\u201c A critical way to minimize fraudulent transactions while at the same time protecting legitimate ones involves implementing holistic fraud solutions that can verify customer identity and authenticity at the very beginning of a transaction, including both account creation and login,\u201d he added.\nTransUnion Philippines\u2019 Consumer Pulse Survey for the fourth quarter also found that 93% of Filipinos are extremely, very or moderately concerned about being victimized by online fraud during the holidays.\nThe Philippines recorded the highest percentage of consumers worried about fraud among the countries studied. It was followed by India at 88% and South Africa at 84%.\nThe survey was conducted from Sept. 25 to Oct. 18 among 13,706 adults living in the Philippines, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the US. \u2014 AMC", "date_published": "2023-12-14T00:04:47+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-13T18:23:59+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/technology-default.jpg", "tags": [ "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=563328", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/14/563328/how-ai-will-change-the-way-developers-work/", "title": "How AI will change the way developers work", "content_html": "By Laurent Doguin
\n1. Investments in WebAssembly will continue to grow.
\nWhile getting less attention next to the popular and trending large language models (LLMs), WebAssembly (WASM) is one to look out for. WASM is still evolving and has experienced recent advancements with companies continuing to invest in the future of this technology alongside the Bytecode Alliance.
\nWASM is making its way into databases, cloud platforms, edge devices, various SaaS technologies and more. Today, there are new technologies being developed to increase WASM interoperability, to create even more value around it. That said, as WASM continues to mature and more companies invest in this technology, we will see a usage increase both in and out of the browser, especially as new runtimes and compilers are developed.
\n2. Developers will brush up on their Python skills to keep up with LLMs.
\nWhile it was fairly easy to skip the Kubernetes hype and other infrastructure-related trends, AI and the focus on LLMs will be nearly impossible for developers to ignore.
\nFor example, improving developer productivity is critical to the success of any technology organization. Each developer has different tasks, different stacks to work with and requires different things from various LLMs. As a result, developers will need to start fine-tuning LLMs to their specific needs, and Python is the default programming language to achieve that.
\n3. Generating code with artificial intelligence (AI) will be easily accessible through low-code/no-code.
\nEverybody\u2019s talking about generative AI and LLMs and for good reason. However, there are still many unanswered questions about regulation, privacy, security, intellectual property and more.
\nDevelopers\u2019 natural response to these challenges often mirror a curious and entrepreneurship-like approach, with many developers taking the \u201cI\u2019m going to build my own thing to solve this problem\u201d route. But as developers\u2019 interests grow around a particular area, the general level of knowledge rises, tooling improves, and abstractions move up so that it becomes easier to tackle a particular problem.
\nIf we look at the most optimal way to fine-tune models, it\u2019s often well-suited to a chain of tasks, and this can be easily represented graphically with low-/no-code tooling. As such, we can expect low-/no-code and generative AI to work hand-in-hand in facilitating everyone\u2019s productivity.
\n4. Federated learning will be a key player in the future of AI, especially in a privacy-challenged world.
\nWhile it\u2019s true that we might be done with the traditional learning set when it comes to AI, there are still many untapped sources of data. Anything we do on our devices syncs to a server to either train LLMs or fine-tune LLMs to a specific usage.
\nThat\u2019s where federated learning comes in. With the recent popularity of generative AI, there has been more buzz around adopting a decentralized approach to training AI models, also known as federated learning.
\nBy having the ability to secure training models and support privacy-sensitive applications, federated learning will be a critical player in unlocking the future of AI, while addressing crucial concerns around data privacy and security.
\n\n
Laurent Doguin is the director of developer relations and strategy at Couchbase, the cloud database platform company. Previously, he was a developer advocate at Couchbase where he focused on helping Java developers. Prior to Couchbase, Laurent held developer roles at Clever Cloud and Nuxeo.
\n", "content_text": "By Laurent Doguin\n1. Investments in WebAssembly will continue to grow.\nWhile getting less attention next to the popular and trending large language models (LLMs), WebAssembly (WASM) is one to look out for. WASM is still evolving and has experienced recent advancements with companies continuing to invest in the future of this technology alongside the Bytecode Alliance.\nWASM is making its way into databases, cloud platforms, edge devices, various SaaS technologies and more. Today, there are new technologies being developed to increase WASM interoperability, to create even more value around it. That said, as WASM continues to mature and more companies invest in this technology, we will see a usage increase both in and out of the browser, especially as new runtimes and compilers are developed.\n2. Developers will brush up on their Python skills to keep up with LLMs.\nWhile it was fairly easy to skip the Kubernetes hype and other infrastructure-related trends, AI and the focus on LLMs will be nearly impossible for developers to ignore.\nFor example, improving developer productivity is critical to the success of any technology organization. Each developer has different tasks, different stacks to work with and requires different things from various LLMs. As a result, developers will need to start fine-tuning LLMs to their specific needs, and Python is the default programming language to achieve that.\n3. Generating code with artificial intelligence (AI) will be easily accessible through low-code/no-code.\nEverybody\u2019s talking about generative AI and LLMs and for good reason. However, there are still many unanswered questions about regulation, privacy, security, intellectual property and more.\nDevelopers\u2019 natural response to these challenges often mirror a curious and entrepreneurship-like approach, with many developers taking the \u201cI\u2019m going to build my own thing to solve this problem\u201d route. But as developers\u2019 interests grow around a particular area, the general level of knowledge rises, tooling improves, and abstractions move up so that it becomes easier to tackle a particular problem.\nIf we look at the most optimal way to fine-tune models, it\u2019s often well-suited to a chain of tasks, and this can be easily represented graphically with low-/no-code tooling. As such, we can expect low-/no-code and generative AI to work hand-in-hand in facilitating everyone\u2019s productivity.\n4. Federated learning will be a key player in the future of AI, especially in a privacy-challenged world.\nWhile it\u2019s true that we might be done with the traditional learning set when it comes to AI, there are still many untapped sources of data. Anything we do on our devices syncs to a server to either train LLMs or fine-tune LLMs to a specific usage.\nThat\u2019s where federated learning comes in. With the recent popularity of generative AI, there has been more buzz around adopting a decentralized approach to training AI models, also known as federated learning.\nBy having the ability to secure training models and support privacy-sensitive applications, federated learning will be a critical player in unlocking the future of AI, while addressing crucial concerns around data privacy and security.\n \nLaurent Doguin is the director of developer relations and strategy at Couchbase, the cloud database platform company. Previously, he was a developer advocate at Couchbase where he focused on helping Java developers. Prior to Couchbase, Laurent held developer roles at Clever Cloud and Nuxeo.", "date_published": "2023-12-14T00:02:58+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-13T18:21:58+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/zievelivminerth/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b32fbfdef56dafe9033e030c6a656bfb?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/zievelivminerth/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b32fbfdef56dafe9033e030c6a656bfb?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/technology-default.jpg", "tags": [ "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=561934", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/07/561934/more-tools-regulations-key-to-addressing-deepfake-crimes/", "title": "\u200bMore tools, regulations key to addressing deepfake crimes", "content_html": "By Miguel Hanz L. Antivola, Reporter
\nTHE CREATION of tools and regulations to address the proliferation of deepfakes is expected to become a priority in the Philippines next year, according to experts.
\nDeepfakes refer to media that have been digitally manipulated through artificial intelligence to create misrepresentations of people and events.
\n\u201cUntrained eyes and ears cannot discern what is fake,\u201d Jonathan Dixon, vice-president and managing director at Cloudflare Asia Pacific, Japan, and China, said in an e-mailed statement to reporters on Monday.
\n\u201cWith today\u2019s versions more realistic than ever, trained eyes and ears also fail to identify deepfakes,\u201d he added,
\nMr. Dixon said he expects that there will be an increased demand for \u201cthe next cutting-edge security technology\u201d targeting the issue of deepfakes in 2024.
\nRonald B. Gustilo, national campaigner for Digital Pinoys, likewise said more tools and regulations are needed to address the increase in crimes involving deepfakes.
\nThe Philippines must foster a resilient defense against deepfake threats through technological innovation, legal frameworks, and community education, he said in a Viber message to BusinessWorld.
\n\u201cEnhancing detection algorithms will empower platforms to identify and mitigate the spread of deceptive content,\u201d Mr. Gustilo noted.
\n\u201cSimultaneously, enacting and enforcing robust regulations will serve as a deterrent, discouraging malicious actors from engaging in deepfake activities,\u201d he added.
\nPublic education is also equally important \u201cas raising awareness about the existence and potential harm of deepfakes equips individuals to discern authentic content from manipulated media,\u201d Mr.\u00a0Gustilo said.
\nDeepfakes have already captured the attention of Congress, with proposed laws and potential investigations under discussion among lawmakers, he said.
\n\u201cAlthough specific instances within the Philippines might not have garnered widespread attention, the need for a comprehensive strategy is evident,\u201d Mr. Gustilo said.
\n\u201cCombating the deepfake dilemma requires a multifaceted approach, incorporating advancements in detection algorithms, the implementation of stringent legislative measures, and proactive public awareness initiatives,\u201d he added.
\nA memorandum from the Justice department in October said deepfakes may be categorized as violations of computer-related fraud, computer-related identity theft, or misuse of devices, which are punishable under the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
\nMeanwhile, House Bill No. 9425 filed last month seeks to define deepfakes and what kinds of deepfakes are deemed harmful and subject to legal consequences.
\nThe bill defines deepfake as \u201cany audio, visual or audio-visual recording created or altered through technical means, such as video recording, motion-picture film, sound recording, electronic image, or photograph, which are so convincing that a reasonable person would mistake it for an authentic representation of an individual\u2019s speech or conduct.\u201d
\nMeanwhile, it defines \u201charmful deepfakes\u201d as those created without consent, for no artistic purpose and used for defamation, sexual harassment, the exploitation of children, fraud, deceptive transactions, copyright infringement, election offenses, and terrorism.
\n\u201cThe penalty to be imposed for offenses committed through the use of deepfake technology shall be one degree higher than those prescribed in the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and relevant special laws,\u201d the bill said.
\n", "content_text": "By Miguel Hanz L. Antivola, Reporter\nTHE CREATION of tools and regulations to address the proliferation of deepfakes is expected to become a priority in the Philippines next year, according to experts.\nDeepfakes refer to media that have been digitally manipulated through artificial intelligence to create misrepresentations of people and events.\n\u201cUntrained eyes and ears cannot discern what is fake,\u201d Jonathan Dixon, vice-president and managing director at Cloudflare Asia Pacific, Japan, and China, said in an e-mailed statement to reporters on Monday.\n\u201cWith today\u2019s versions more realistic than ever, trained eyes and ears also fail to identify deepfakes,\u201d he added,\nMr. Dixon said he expects that there will be an increased demand for \u201cthe next cutting-edge security technology\u201d targeting the issue of deepfakes in 2024.\nRonald B. Gustilo, national campaigner for Digital Pinoys, likewise said more tools and regulations are needed to address the increase in crimes involving deepfakes.\nThe Philippines must foster a resilient defense against deepfake threats through technological innovation, legal frameworks, and community education, he said in a Viber message to BusinessWorld.\n\u201cEnhancing detection algorithms will empower platforms to identify and mitigate the spread of deceptive content,\u201d Mr. Gustilo noted.\n\u201cSimultaneously, enacting and enforcing robust regulations will serve as a deterrent, discouraging malicious actors from engaging in deepfake activities,\u201d he added.\nPublic education is also equally important \u201cas raising awareness about the existence and potential harm of deepfakes equips individuals to discern authentic content from manipulated media,\u201d Mr.\u00a0Gustilo said.\nDeepfakes have already captured the attention of Congress, with proposed laws and potential investigations under discussion among lawmakers, he said.\n\u201cAlthough specific instances within the Philippines might not have garnered widespread attention, the need for a comprehensive strategy is evident,\u201d Mr. Gustilo said.\n\u201cCombating the deepfake dilemma requires a multifaceted approach, incorporating advancements in detection algorithms, the implementation of stringent legislative measures, and proactive public awareness initiatives,\u201d he added.\nA memorandum from the Justice department in October said deepfakes may be categorized as violations of computer-related fraud, computer-related identity theft, or misuse of devices, which are punishable under the Cybercrime Prevention Act.\nMeanwhile, House Bill No. 9425 filed last month seeks to define deepfakes and what kinds of deepfakes are deemed harmful and subject to legal consequences.\nThe bill defines deepfake as \u201cany audio, visual or audio-visual recording created or altered through technical means, such as video recording, motion-picture film, sound recording, electronic image, or photograph, which are so convincing that a reasonable person would mistake it for an authentic representation of an individual\u2019s speech or conduct.\u201d\nMeanwhile, it defines \u201charmful deepfakes\u201d as those created without consent, for no artistic purpose and used for defamation, sexual harassment, the exploitation of children, fraud, deceptive transactions, copyright infringement, election offenses, and terrorism.\n\u201cThe penalty to be imposed for offenses committed through the use of deepfake technology shall be one degree higher than those prescribed in the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and relevant special laws,\u201d the bill said.", "date_published": "2023-12-07T00:03:50+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-06T17:54:26+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/head-g99b1b8841_1280.jpg", "tags": [ "Miguel Hanz L. Antivola", "Editors' Picks", "Technology" ], "summary": "THE CREATION of tools and regulations to address the proliferation of deepfakes is expected to become a priority in the Philippines next year, according to experts." }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=561933", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/07/561933/innocare-looks-to-bring-portable-x-ray-machines-to-southeast-asia/", "title": "InnoCare looks to bring portable x-ray machines to Southeast Asia", "content_html": "TAIPEI CITY \u2014 Taiwan-based company InnoCare Optoelectronics Corp. (InnoCare) seeks to distribute in Southeast Asia its portable x-ray flat panel detectors that can store and generate multiple images to help improve accuracy in detecting diseases, one of its top officials said.
\n\u201cMost of the Southeast Asian countries are in the developing phase, so our idea is to promote our products to be able to go to tier two and tier three cities where we can let more and more people use [the flat panel detector] in the x-ray,\u201d Raunak Joshi, business development manager for the InnoCare\u2019s Asia-Pacific region, told BusinessWorld in the sidelines of the Healthcare+ Expo in Taipei City, Taiwan last week.
\nInnoCare is currently in talks with a potential distributor in the Philippines, he said.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve yet to find a partner in Philippines. So, hopefully after this [event], we can find a partner in Philippines,\u201d Mr.\u00a0Joshi added.
\nThe new flat panel detectors would lessen the time to get an x-ray image to 10 seconds from the usual five minutes, he said.
\nThe portable panel detectors can save multiple x-ray images that can be viewed through another gadget like a tablet, Mr. Joshi said. It is also powered by chargeable batteries.
\n\u201cYou [can] take this to a village, take a lot of scans, and then bring it back. At the end of the day, doctors can see a lot of images,\u201d he said. \u201cThis has storage [compared to] the previous one.\u201d
\nThe flat panel detectors, through artificial intelligence, can also generate full images of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, tuberculosis, and pneumonia with 90% accuracy.
\nInnoCare has distributed its handheld flat panel detectors in India, Vietnam, Nepal, Bangladesh, America, and Europe.
\nIt also seeks to develop flat panel detectors to get longer x-ray images that would cover a person\u2019s full spine or lower limbs, Mr. Joshi said. \u2014 Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
\n", "content_text": "TAIPEI CITY \u2014 Taiwan-based company InnoCare Optoelectronics Corp. (InnoCare) seeks to distribute in Southeast Asia its portable x-ray flat panel detectors that can store and generate multiple images to help improve accuracy in detecting diseases, one of its top officials said.\n\u201cMost of the Southeast Asian countries are in the developing phase, so our idea is to promote our products to be able to go to tier two and tier three cities where we can let more and more people use [the flat panel detector] in the x-ray,\u201d Raunak Joshi, business development manager for the InnoCare\u2019s Asia-Pacific region, told BusinessWorld in the sidelines of the Healthcare+ Expo in Taipei City, Taiwan last week.\nInnoCare is currently in talks with a potential distributor in the Philippines, he said.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve yet to find a partner in Philippines. So, hopefully after this [event], we can find a partner in Philippines,\u201d Mr.\u00a0Joshi added.\nThe new flat panel detectors would lessen the time to get an x-ray image to 10 seconds from the usual five minutes, he said.\nThe portable panel detectors can save multiple x-ray images that can be viewed through another gadget like a tablet, Mr. Joshi said. It is also powered by chargeable batteries.\n\u201cYou [can] take this to a village, take a lot of scans, and then bring it back. At the end of the day, doctors can see a lot of images,\u201d he said. \u201cThis has storage [compared to] the previous one.\u201d\nThe flat panel detectors, through artificial intelligence, can also generate full images of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, tuberculosis, and pneumonia with 90% accuracy.\nInnoCare has distributed its handheld flat panel detectors in India, Vietnam, Nepal, Bangladesh, America, and Europe.\nIt also seeks to develop flat panel detectors to get longer x-ray images that would cover a person\u2019s full spine or lower limbs, Mr. Joshi said. \u2014 Beatriz Marie D. Cruz", "date_published": "2023-12-07T00:02:48+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-07T13:29:12+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/InnoCare-Optoelectronics.jpg", "tags": [ "Beatriz Marie D. Cruz", "Featured2", "Editors' Picks", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=561932", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/07/561932/manageengines-top-five-predictions-for-the-enterprise-it-space-for-2024/", "title": "ManageEngine\u2019s top five predictions for the enterprise IT space for 2024", "content_html": "TECHNOLOGICAL development is often the result of aspiring to augment the experiences of its consumers. Over the past few years, this notion has only been reaffirmed, with tech powering users through lockdowns, recessions, and other crises. The year 2023 has been a transformational year, with both existing technologies and novel innovations revolutionizing the way organizations work. In 2024, enterprises will continue to embrace further updates to technological measures that design a better digital environment for everyone.
\n\u201cAlthough the need to implement a digital-first experience has been constant, the ways by which it can be realized vary periodically. In 2024, we believe that your organization would benefit from a unified approach of deploying new tech, focusing on demanding aspects of business, such as privacy, LLMs (large language models), and orchestration,\u201d said Rajesh Ganesan, President at ManageEngine.
\nHere are ManageEngine\u2019s top five predictions for trends in 2024 that will help organizations root themselves in the bedrock of this new age of work:
\n1. Privacy and AI governance will become top business priorities.
\nAlthough 2023 has witnessed numerous artificial intelligence (AI) guidelines across geographies, including the Philippines\u2019 National AI Strategy Roadmap, these are indicators that a further inflow of similar policies is imminent. According to an IDC report, the region leveraged its favorable regulatory environment to tap into the potential of Gen-AI, with two-thirds of Asia-Pacific organizations exploring potential novel applications or already investing in the technology. With AI being integrated into every aspect of business, disruptive technologies (such as deepfakes and augmented reality) threaten privacy and pose significant risks. These technologies should be placed under a keen watch for both public and private use. As an effort to ensure ethical, transparent, and fair use of technology, AI governance will become of paramount importance to businesses. We also believe that privacy will be the core of every business going forward and protecting it will become the responsibility of every individual in the organization.
\n2. Enterprises will be keen to adapt to purpose-built LLMs rather than general-purpose LLMs.
\nEver since the advent of AI, businesses have leveraged their capabilities to fulfill predictive analysis and automate low-skill tasks. However, AI\u2019s narrow applications and its immense engineering difficulties call for AI training models that can cater to all aspects of a business. Enterprise-focused LLMs help both employees and customers alike achieve deep-nested conversations with the enterprise\u2019s offerings and align better with evolving software tools. By adapting such models, enterprises will be better able to deploy their vast amount of knowledge to address both their creative and redundant workloads. It will also empower organizations to protect their data, reduce biases in their data, and provide detailed audit reports to understand AI decisions.
\n3. The power of orchestration will span the entire enterprise.
\nIn recent times, many businesses have turned to digital transformation to carry out their core functions online. This transition has presented the challenge of fragmentation or splitting data into organizational silos and hampering the flow of information. Enterprises are likely to overcome the issue of fragmentation by harnessing the power of orchestration, which allows for the construction of interconnected digital pipelines that lead to workflow automation and streamlined operations. By adopting this user-friendly and accessible technology, organizations will be prepared to make complex tasks achievable and survive in the digital realm.
\n4. The digital-first experience will evolve to the secure digital-first experience.
\nHaving moved on from traditional work methodologies, we will observe organizations integrate contemporary information technology (IT) management tools to provide a holistic and safe digital journey. In 2024, we believe enterprises will also adopt an identity-centric approach, ensuring that only authorized individuals are granted access and permissions, therefore safeguarding their identities and data. Going a step further, cloud infrastructure and entitlement management will be implemented to increase granular visibility and minimize threats by providing a comprehensive view of identities and entitlements across diverse cloud environments. Together, such solutions will bolster security and enable a worry-free digital experience for the end users.
\n5. Cyber resilience will become a strong business differentiator.
\nToday\u2019s technological landscape presents a series of challenges for modern companies that stunt progress. These challenges include the geopolitical climate, technological disruption, cyberthreats, competitive pressure, and many other factors, all of which could be more easily faced when strategic plans are in place. Analyst firm IDC indicated that spending on security hardware, services and software in Asia-Pacific is expected to reach $36 billion in 2023, an increase of 16.7% over the previous year. In 2024, we will see companies actively invest in such plans that bring the tools, solutions, and culture necessary to enhance their overall cyber resiliency. Consequentially, cyber resilience will emerge as a key business differentiator, enabling organizations to succeed in the complex global market.
\nAt ManageEngine, we envision that these IT forecasts will help organizations seamlessly pace themselves with an imminent transformation in their work cultures. By staying attuned to emerging trends and technologies, organizations will be able to capitalize on opportunities and remain competitive in this ever-evolving digital ecosystem.
\n\n
Rajesh Ganesan is the president at ManageEngine.
\n", "content_text": "TECHNOLOGICAL development is often the result of aspiring to augment the experiences of its consumers. Over the past few years, this notion has only been reaffirmed, with tech powering users through lockdowns, recessions, and other crises. The year 2023 has been a transformational year, with both existing technologies and novel innovations revolutionizing the way organizations work. In 2024, enterprises will continue to embrace further updates to technological measures that design a better digital environment for everyone. \n\u201cAlthough the need to implement a digital-first experience has been constant, the ways by which it can be realized vary periodically. In 2024, we believe that your organization would benefit from a unified approach of deploying new tech, focusing on demanding aspects of business, such as privacy, LLMs (large language models), and orchestration,\u201d said Rajesh Ganesan, President at ManageEngine. \nHere are ManageEngine\u2019s top five predictions for trends in 2024 that will help organizations root themselves in the bedrock of this new age of work:\n1. Privacy and AI governance will become top business priorities.\nAlthough 2023 has witnessed numerous artificial intelligence (AI) guidelines across geographies, including the Philippines\u2019 National AI Strategy Roadmap, these are indicators that a further inflow of similar policies is imminent. According to an IDC report, the region leveraged its favorable regulatory environment to tap into the potential of Gen-AI, with two-thirds of Asia-Pacific organizations exploring potential novel applications or already investing in the technology. With AI being integrated into every aspect of business, disruptive technologies (such as deepfakes and augmented reality) threaten privacy and pose significant risks. These technologies should be placed under a keen watch for both public and private use. As an effort to ensure ethical, transparent, and fair use of technology, AI governance will become of paramount importance to businesses. We also believe that privacy will be the core of every business going forward and protecting it will become the responsibility of every individual in the organization. \n2. Enterprises will be keen to adapt to purpose-built LLMs rather than general-purpose LLMs.\nEver since the advent of AI, businesses have leveraged their capabilities to fulfill predictive analysis and automate low-skill tasks. However, AI\u2019s narrow applications and its immense engineering difficulties call for AI training models that can cater to all aspects of a business. Enterprise-focused LLMs help both employees and customers alike achieve deep-nested conversations with the enterprise\u2019s offerings and align better with evolving software tools. By adapting such models, enterprises will be better able to deploy their vast amount of knowledge to address both their creative and redundant workloads. It will also empower organizations to protect their data, reduce biases in their data, and provide detailed audit reports to understand AI decisions. \n3. The power of orchestration will span the entire enterprise.\nIn recent times, many businesses have turned to digital transformation to carry out their core functions online. This transition has presented the challenge of fragmentation or splitting data into organizational silos and hampering the flow of information. Enterprises are likely to overcome the issue of fragmentation by harnessing the power of orchestration, which allows for the construction of interconnected digital pipelines that lead to workflow automation and streamlined operations. By adopting this user-friendly and accessible technology, organizations will be prepared to make complex tasks achievable and survive in the digital realm. \n4. The digital-first experience will evolve to the secure digital-first experience.\nHaving moved on from traditional work methodologies, we will observe organizations integrate contemporary information technology (IT) management tools to provide a holistic and safe digital journey. In 2024, we believe enterprises will also adopt an identity-centric approach, ensuring that only authorized individuals are granted access and permissions, therefore safeguarding their identities and data. Going a step further, cloud infrastructure and entitlement management will be implemented to increase granular visibility and minimize threats by providing a comprehensive view of identities and entitlements across diverse cloud environments. Together, such solutions will bolster security and enable a worry-free digital experience for the end users. \n5. Cyber resilience will become a strong business differentiator.\nToday\u2019s technological landscape presents a series of challenges for modern companies that stunt progress. These challenges include the geopolitical climate, technological disruption, cyberthreats, competitive pressure, and many other factors, all of which could be more easily faced when strategic plans are in place. Analyst firm IDC indicated that spending on security hardware, services and software in Asia-Pacific is expected to reach $36 billion in 2023, an increase of 16.7% over the previous year. In 2024, we will see companies actively invest in such plans that bring the tools, solutions, and culture necessary to enhance their overall cyber resiliency. Consequentially, cyber resilience will emerge as a key business differentiator, enabling organizations to succeed in the complex global market. \nAt ManageEngine, we envision that these IT forecasts will help organizations seamlessly pace themselves with an imminent transformation in their work cultures. By staying attuned to emerging trends and technologies, organizations will be able to capitalize on opportunities and remain competitive in this ever-evolving digital ecosystem.\n \nRajesh Ganesan is the president at ManageEngine.", "date_published": "2023-12-07T00:01:47+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-06T17:52:33+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/female-business-owner-is-using-laptop.jpg", "tags": [ "Featured2", "Opinion", "Rajesh Ganesan", "Editors' Picks", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=561600", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/05/561600/china-issues-safety-guidelines-for-autonomous-public-transport-vehicles/", "title": "China issues safety guidelines for autonomous public transport vehicles", "content_html": "BEIJING\u00a0–\u00a0China on Tuesday issued safety guidelines for the use of autonomous vehicles in public transport, the latest in a series of measures preparing for the increased use of driverless cars.
\nThe guidelines apply to autonomous vehicles for passengers including taxis as well as for freight transportation, the Ministry of Transport said in a statement.
\nThe guidelines cover vehicles of various degrees of automation and mandate they carry at least one driver or security inspector.
\nThey also require companies using autonomous vehicles for public transport to be qualified and licensed and state that companies can work together with automakers on such operations.
\nThe world’s largest auto market has been mapping out standards and regulations for autonomous driving. It aims to formulate a\u00a0system\u00a0that will support assisted and autonomous driving functions by 2025 and introduce standards that will support the development of autonomous driving applications and establish a safety assurance system by 2030.
\nChina said last month it would allow\u00a0road trials of intelligent connected vehicles. In October, it issued guidelines for highway engineering facilities to support autonomous driving technology. And in July, it issued guidelines on the standardization of intelligent connected vehicles. – Reuters
\n", "content_text": "BEIJING\u00a0–\u00a0China on Tuesday issued safety guidelines for the use of autonomous vehicles in public transport, the latest in a series of measures preparing for the increased use of driverless cars.\nThe guidelines apply to autonomous vehicles for passengers including taxis as well as for freight transportation, the Ministry of Transport said in a statement.\nThe guidelines cover vehicles of various degrees of automation and mandate they carry at least one driver or security inspector.\nThey also require companies using autonomous vehicles for public transport to be qualified and licensed and state that companies can work together with automakers on such operations.\nThe world’s largest auto market has been mapping out standards and regulations for autonomous driving. It aims to formulate a\u00a0system\u00a0that will support assisted and autonomous driving functions by 2025 and introduce standards that will support the development of autonomous driving applications and establish a safety assurance system by 2030.\nChina said last month it would allow\u00a0road trials of intelligent connected vehicles. In October, it issued guidelines for highway engineering facilities to support autonomous driving technology. And in July, it issued guidelines on the standardization of intelligent connected vehicles. – Reuters", "date_published": "2023-12-05T12:16:24+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-05T12:16:24+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/dashboard-2653315_1280.jpg", "tags": [ "AI", "Artificial intelligence", "autonomous vehicles", "China", "intelligent vehicles", "Reuters", "smart cars", "Technology", "World" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=561012", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/01/561012/people-centric-approach-needed-in-adoption-of-ai-experts/", "title": "People-centric approach needed in adoption of AI \u2014 experts", "content_html": "By Miguel Hanz L. Antivola, Reporter
\nPhilippine organizations should prioritize a people-centric approach when adopting artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies for growth, according to experts.
\n\u201cThe biggest challenge in [harnessing] new technology is understanding human beings and how humans make choices,\u201d Vivienne L\u2019Ecuyer Ming, neuroscientist and founder of policy think tank Socos Labs, said during a discussion hosted by creative business school Hyper Island on Friday.
\nShe noted that AI is only a tool that can enable everyone to take part in the economy. \u201cIt is in our own interest to pull as many of us in the transformed world.\u201d
\n\u201cIt will soon be very hard to cross the growing chasm between routine and the \u2018creative\u2019 economy,\u201d she added on the capacity of AI to generate adaptive problem explorers.
\nThe International Data Corp. said the Philippines ranked 12th out of 14 economies across the Asia-Pacific region in terms of AI adoption for business and consumer transactions.
\nThe Trade department projected that AI could contribute as much as $90 billion to the country\u2019s economy by 2030.
\nA report released by technology firm Cisco this month said only 17% of Philippine organizations are ready to utilize and deploy AI, with the majority of them raising concerns about the impact of not adopting these advances.
\nIt added that about 44% of Philippine organizations consider themselves chasers or are only moderately prepared; 35% are followers with limited levels of preparedness; and about 4% are laggards, not prepared to leverage AI at all.
\nHowever, AI adoption must not be unbounded to avoid unintended consequences, Ms. Ming said, urging leaders to start by observing the problems they aim to solve with AI personally, and not through a dataset or algorithm.
\nLeah Camilla R. Besa-Jimenez, chief data privacy officer at PLDT, Inc., noted AI having increased the company\u2019s customer service productivity by 33% over the last six months.
\n\u201cIt is a tool that requires us to govern it properly and be critical about the amount of data it accesses,\u201d she said. \u201cIt requires a lot of scrutiny. For us, we even went down to the call path to ensure that we are not creating biases with how we respond.\u201d
\nJack Madrid, IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines president, said AI can be a disruptive and powerful tool, yet \u201cit does not have the judgment-sensitive and creative prowess of a human.\u201d
\n\u201cThere is no one size fits all,\u201d he added on advocating lifelong learning in the industry through short vocational domain knowledge courses to leverage AI.
\nAngie Tijam-Tohid, executive creative director at communications solutions agency Havas Ortega Group, noted how her company is trying to build an open-to-learning approach to AI use.
\n\u201cThe best scenario [for the industry] is a hybrid where humans work with AI and policies that will support its ethics,\u201d she added.
\nPLDT\u2019s Ms. Jimenez said policy creation is urgent as AI allows potential intrusion and surveillance into people\u2019s lives, adding that it is also incumbent on users to govern themselves properly.
\n\u201cIf it was me being assessed [by AI], how would I want to be treated?\u201d she said on promoting self-governance while policy is catching up.
\n\u201cA company needs to make sure every solution it makes has traceability to immediately see potential missteps and make the proper corrections if ever,\u201d she added.
\nDonald Lim, chief innovation officer at holding company Udenna Corp., noted speed and scale as integral to the country\u2019s overall AI adoption strategy.
\n\u201cGet the fundamentals correct first. Start with basic excellence,\u201d he said to organizations which find it hard to figure out emerging technologies.
\n\u201cAI is an amplifier, but it will not solve your problem,\u201d he added. \u201cIf you focus on what AI will do, then you will lose focus on what you should be doing.\u201d
\n\u201cGarbage in, garbage out,\u201d Ms. Jimenez said as a general principle to AI\u2019s mechanism and adoption. \u201cYou cannot expect a tool to solve your problems.\u201d
\n\u201c[AI] could democratize and be the leveler of the playing field, but we need to move fast,\u201d IBPAP\u2019s Mr. Madrid said.
\nMr. Lim said AI can catapult the Philippines into the global stage if each sector cultivates the capacities of the country\u2019s great minds.
\n\u201cWe just have to start doing it now,\u201d he added.
\n", "content_text": "By Miguel Hanz L. Antivola, Reporter\nPhilippine organizations should prioritize a people-centric approach when adopting artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies for growth, according to experts.\n\u201cThe biggest challenge in [harnessing] new technology is understanding human beings and how humans make choices,\u201d Vivienne L\u2019Ecuyer Ming, neuroscientist and founder of policy think tank Socos Labs, said during a discussion hosted by creative business school Hyper Island on Friday.\nShe noted that AI is only a tool that can enable everyone to take part in the economy. \u201cIt is in our own interest to pull as many of us in the transformed world.\u201d\n\u201cIt will soon be very hard to cross the growing chasm between routine and the \u2018creative\u2019 economy,\u201d she added on the capacity of AI to generate adaptive problem explorers.\nThe International Data Corp. said the Philippines ranked 12th out of 14 economies across the Asia-Pacific region in terms of AI adoption for business and consumer transactions.\nThe Trade department projected that AI could contribute as much as $90 billion to the country\u2019s economy by 2030.\nA report released by technology firm Cisco this month said only 17% of Philippine organizations are ready to utilize and deploy AI, with the majority of them raising concerns about the impact of not adopting these advances.\nIt added that about 44% of Philippine organizations consider themselves chasers or are only moderately prepared; 35% are followers with limited levels of preparedness; and about 4% are laggards, not prepared to leverage AI at all.\nHowever, AI adoption must not be unbounded to avoid unintended consequences, Ms. Ming said, urging leaders to start by observing the problems they aim to solve with AI personally, and not through a dataset or algorithm.\nLeah Camilla R. Besa-Jimenez, chief data privacy officer at PLDT, Inc., noted AI having increased the company\u2019s customer service productivity by 33% over the last six months.\n\u201cIt is a tool that requires us to govern it properly and be critical about the amount of data it accesses,\u201d she said. \u201cIt requires a lot of scrutiny. For us, we even went down to the call path to ensure that we are not creating biases with how we respond.\u201d\nJack Madrid, IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines president, said AI can be a disruptive and powerful tool, yet \u201cit does not have the judgment-sensitive and creative prowess of a human.\u201d\n\u201cThere is no one size fits all,\u201d he added on advocating lifelong learning in the industry through short vocational domain knowledge courses to leverage AI.\nAngie Tijam-Tohid, executive creative director at communications solutions agency Havas Ortega Group, noted how her company is trying to build an open-to-learning approach to AI use.\n\u201cThe best scenario [for the industry] is a hybrid where humans work with AI and policies that will support its ethics,\u201d she added.\nPLDT\u2019s Ms. Jimenez said policy creation is urgent as AI allows potential intrusion and surveillance into people\u2019s lives, adding that it is also incumbent on users to govern themselves properly.\n\u201cIf it was me being assessed [by AI], how would I want to be treated?\u201d she said on promoting self-governance while policy is catching up.\n\u201cA company needs to make sure every solution it makes has traceability to immediately see potential missteps and make the proper corrections if ever,\u201d she added.\nDonald Lim, chief innovation officer at holding company Udenna Corp., noted speed and scale as integral to the country\u2019s overall AI adoption strategy.\n\u201cGet the fundamentals correct first. Start with basic excellence,\u201d he said to organizations which find it hard to figure out emerging technologies.\n\u201cAI is an amplifier, but it will not solve your problem,\u201d he added. \u201cIf you focus on what AI will do, then you will lose focus on what you should be doing.\u201d\n\u201cGarbage in, garbage out,\u201d Ms. Jimenez said as a general principle to AI\u2019s mechanism and adoption. \u201cYou cannot expect a tool to solve your problems.\u201d\n\u201c[AI] could democratize and be the leveler of the playing field, but we need to move fast,\u201d IBPAP\u2019s Mr. Madrid said.\nMr. Lim said AI can catapult the Philippines into the global stage if each sector cultivates the capacities of the country\u2019s great minds.\n\u201cWe just have to start doing it now,\u201d he added.", "date_published": "2023-12-01T16:18:44+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-01T16:18:44+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/artificial-intelligence-4694502_1280-2.jpg", "tags": [ "Miguel Hanz L. Antivola", "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=560978", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/01/560978/starting-at-60990-teslas-cybertruck-is-priced-50-higher-than-initial-estimate/", "title": "Starting at $60,990, Tesla\u2019s Cybertruck is priced 50% higher than initial estimate", "content_html": "Tesla’s\u00a0long-delayed\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0will be\u00a0priced\u00a0starting\u00a0at $60,990, over\u00a050%\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a0what CEO Elon Musk had touted in 2019 and a cost analysts have said will draw select, affluent buyers.
\nThe truck, made of shiny stainless steel and shaped into flat planes, is partly inspired by a car-turned-submarine in the 1977 James Bond movie “The Spy Who Loved Me,” Musk has said.
\nIts new body material and unconventional, futuristic styling has added complexity and costs to production, and threatens to alienate traditional pickup truck buyers who focus on utility, experts say.
\nBut Mr. Musk, who has\u00a0priced\u00a0the vehicle’s three variants between $60,990 and $99,990, said on Thursday the\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0has “more utility\u00a0than\u00a0a truck” and is “faster\u00a0than\u00a0a sports car.”
\nHe drove a\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0onto a stage to cheers from the crowd and later handed over vehicles to about a dozen customers at an event in Austin, Texas.
\n“Finally, the future will look like the future,” he said about the truck’s design, showing a video of the\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0towing a Porsche 911 and beating another gasoline-powered 911 in a short race.
\nTesla shares fell 2% in extended trading after closing off 1.6% at $240.08.
\nMr. Musk did not announce the vehicle’s prices at the event, but\u00a0Tesla’s\u00a0website listed the prices. Its highest performance variant, the ‘Cyberbeast’ will be available next year, as will the all-wheel drive trim that starts at an\u00a0estimated $80,000.
\nThe cheapest rear-wheel drive version with an\u00a0estimated\u00a0starting\u00a0price of about $61,000 will be available in 2025.
\n“This is going to appeal to … definitely a wealthier clientele that can afford the price point and they want something that is unique and quirky,” said Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at auto research firm Edmunds.
\n“That just isn’t a large segment of the population that can afford that especially where interest rates are.”
\nAfter Mr. Musk\u00a0estimated in 2019 that the\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0would sell for $40,000, the vehicle drew more\u00a0than\u00a0a million reservation holders who put down $100 deposits. He had not offered an updated price before Monday, despite rising raw material costs for EVs.
\nNew deposits are $250, Musk said on Thursday.
\nThe price is not a surprise to many, said Paul Waatti, an analyst at consultancy AutoPacific. Waatti told Reuters before the event that the\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0would do well with a smaller audience.
\n\n
GRANDSTANDING SHOWPIECE
\nCybertruck, two years behind schedule, enters a hot pickup truck market to compete with the likes of Ford’s\u00a0F150 Lightning, Rivian Automotive’s R1T and General Motors’\u00a0Hummer EV.
\nRivian’s R1T has a\u00a0starting\u00a0price of $73,000, while the F-150 Lightning starts at about $50,000. The larger and more powerful Hummer EV pickup costs more\u00a0than\u00a0$96,000.
\nThe\u00a0Cybertruck,\u00a0Tesla’s\u00a0first new model in nearly four years, is critical to its reputation as a maker of innovative vehicles. At a time when the company is battling softening electric vehicle (EV) demand and rising competition,\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0is also key for generating sales, though not to the extent of the company’s high-volume Models 3 and Y.
\nMr. Musk tempered investor expectations about the product last month citing problems in ramping production and warning that it would take a year to 18 months to make it a significant cash flow contributor.
\nAhead of the launch, Musk captured\u00a0media attention\u00a0on a different subject, giving a profanity-laced interview to the New York Times on Wednesday. He\u00a0cursed advertisers\u00a0who left his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, because of antisemitic comments.
\nOn Thursday, he said about the truck: “It’s basically an incredibly useful truck. It’s not just some grandstanding showpiece like me.”
\n\n
UNIMPRESSIVE RANGE
\nThe\u00a0Cybertruck‘s\u00a0longest-range version\u00a0can drive an\u00a0estimated 340 miles (547 km), and comes with a “range extender” or extra battery pack that extends its range to 470 miles.
\nIn 2019, Mr. Musk had said the truck would be able to travel 500 miles or more on a single charge.
\n“As a truck, the Ford and Chevy are more useful and certainly easier to see out of,” said Sam Abuelsamid, principal research analyst at Guidehouse Insights.
\n“Given that Teslas almost always fall short of (range)\u00a0estimates in real world driving by anywhere from 10%-20%, I wouldn’t expect the longest range version of the\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0to achieve more\u00a0than\u00a0300 miles on the road,” he said, noting that the Chevrolet Silverado EV is capable of exceeding its 450-mile rated range.
\nMr. Musk has said Tesla was likely to reach a production rate of roughly 250,000\u00a0Cybertrucks a year in 2025. He did not update that on Thursday.
\nDuring its 2019 reveal,\u00a0Tesla’s\u00a0chief designer Franz von Holzhausen took a metal ball to demonstrate the truck’s unbreakable “armor glass” window, only to\u00a0shatter it.
\nMr. Holzhausen on Thursday lobbed a baseball at the\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0window that bounced off. – Reuters
\n", "content_text": "Tesla’s\u00a0long-delayed\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0will be\u00a0priced\u00a0starting\u00a0at $60,990, over\u00a050%\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a0what CEO Elon Musk had touted in 2019 and a cost analysts have said will draw select, affluent buyers.\nThe truck, made of shiny stainless steel and shaped into flat planes, is partly inspired by a car-turned-submarine in the 1977 James Bond movie “The Spy Who Loved Me,” Musk has said.\nIts new body material and unconventional, futuristic styling has added complexity and costs to production, and threatens to alienate traditional pickup truck buyers who focus on utility, experts say.\nBut Mr. Musk, who has\u00a0priced\u00a0the vehicle’s three variants between $60,990 and $99,990, said on Thursday the\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0has “more utility\u00a0than\u00a0a truck” and is “faster\u00a0than\u00a0a sports car.”\nHe drove a\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0onto a stage to cheers from the crowd and later handed over vehicles to about a dozen customers at an event in Austin, Texas.\n“Finally, the future will look like the future,” he said about the truck’s design, showing a video of the\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0towing a Porsche 911 and beating another gasoline-powered 911 in a short race.\nTesla shares fell 2% in extended trading after closing off 1.6% at $240.08.\nMr. Musk did not announce the vehicle’s prices at the event, but\u00a0Tesla’s\u00a0website listed the prices. Its highest performance variant, the ‘Cyberbeast’ will be available next year, as will the all-wheel drive trim that starts at an\u00a0estimated $80,000.\nThe cheapest rear-wheel drive version with an\u00a0estimated\u00a0starting\u00a0price of about $61,000 will be available in 2025.\n“This is going to appeal to … definitely a wealthier clientele that can afford the price point and they want something that is unique and quirky,” said Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at auto research firm Edmunds.\n“That just isn’t a large segment of the population that can afford that especially where interest rates are.”\nAfter Mr. Musk\u00a0estimated in 2019 that the\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0would sell for $40,000, the vehicle drew more\u00a0than\u00a0a million reservation holders who put down $100 deposits. He had not offered an updated price before Monday, despite rising raw material costs for EVs.\nNew deposits are $250, Musk said on Thursday.\nThe price is not a surprise to many, said Paul Waatti, an analyst at consultancy AutoPacific. Waatti told Reuters before the event that the\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0would do well with a smaller audience.\n \nGRANDSTANDING SHOWPIECE\nCybertruck, two years behind schedule, enters a hot pickup truck market to compete with the likes of Ford’s\u00a0F150 Lightning, Rivian Automotive’s R1T and General Motors’\u00a0Hummer EV.\nRivian’s R1T has a\u00a0starting\u00a0price of $73,000, while the F-150 Lightning starts at about $50,000. The larger and more powerful Hummer EV pickup costs more\u00a0than\u00a0$96,000.\nThe\u00a0Cybertruck,\u00a0Tesla’s\u00a0first new model in nearly four years, is critical to its reputation as a maker of innovative vehicles. At a time when the company is battling softening electric vehicle (EV) demand and rising competition,\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0is also key for generating sales, though not to the extent of the company’s high-volume Models 3 and Y.\nMr. Musk tempered investor expectations about the product last month citing problems in ramping production and warning that it would take a year to 18 months to make it a significant cash flow contributor.\nAhead of the launch, Musk captured\u00a0media attention\u00a0on a different subject, giving a profanity-laced interview to the New York Times on Wednesday. He\u00a0cursed advertisers\u00a0who left his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, because of antisemitic comments.\nOn Thursday, he said about the truck: “It’s basically an incredibly useful truck. It’s not just some grandstanding showpiece like me.”\n \nUNIMPRESSIVE RANGE\nThe\u00a0Cybertruck‘s\u00a0longest-range version\u00a0can drive an\u00a0estimated 340 miles (547 km), and comes with a “range extender” or extra battery pack that extends its range to 470 miles.\nIn 2019, Mr. Musk had said the truck would be able to travel 500 miles or more on a single charge.\n“As a truck, the Ford and Chevy are more useful and certainly easier to see out of,” said Sam Abuelsamid, principal research analyst at Guidehouse Insights.\n“Given that Teslas almost always fall short of (range)\u00a0estimates in real world driving by anywhere from 10%-20%, I wouldn’t expect the longest range version of the\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0to achieve more\u00a0than\u00a0300 miles on the road,” he said, noting that the Chevrolet Silverado EV is capable of exceeding its 450-mile rated range.\nMr. Musk has said Tesla was likely to reach a production rate of roughly 250,000\u00a0Cybertrucks a year in 2025. He did not update that on Thursday.\nDuring its 2019 reveal,\u00a0Tesla’s\u00a0chief designer Franz von Holzhausen took a metal ball to demonstrate the truck’s unbreakable “armor glass” window, only to\u00a0shatter it.\nMr. Holzhausen on Thursday lobbed a baseball at the\u00a0Cybertruck\u00a0window that bounced off. – Reuters", "date_published": "2023-12-01T12:01:25+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-01T12:01:25+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/tesla-5505194_1920.jpg", "tags": [ "cybertruck", "Elon Musk", "Reuters", "Tesla", "Technology", "World" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=560973", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/12/01/560973/us-judge-blocks-montana-from-banning-tiktok-use-in-state/", "title": "US judge blocks Montana from banning TikTok use in state", "content_html": "A US\u00a0judge\u00a0late on Thursday blocked\u00a0Montana‘s first-of-its kind\u00a0state\u00a0ban on the\u00a0use of short-video sharing app\u00a0TikTok\u00a0from\u00a0taking effect on Jan. 1, saying it violated the free speech rights of\u00a0users.
\nUS District\u00a0Judge\u00a0Donald Molloy issued a preliminary injunction to block the ban on the Chinese-owned app, saying the\u00a0state\u00a0ban “violates the Constitution in more ways than one” and “oversteps\u00a0state\u00a0power.”
\nTikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance,\u00a0sued\u00a0Montana\u00a0in May, seeking to block the US\u00a0state\u00a0ban on several grounds, arguing that it violates the First Amendment free speech rights of the company and\u00a0users.
\nTikTok\u00a0users in\u00a0Montana\u00a0also filed suit to block the ban approved by the\u00a0state\u00a0legislature which cited concerns about the personal data of\u00a0Montana\u00a0users and potential Chinese spying.
\nTikTok\u00a0said it was pleased the\u00a0judge\u00a0“rejected this unconstitutional law and hundreds of thousands of\u00a0Montanans can continue to express themselves, earn a living, and find community on\u00a0TikTok.”
\nA spokesperson for\u00a0Montana\u00a0state\u00a0attorney general Austin Knudsen’s office, which defended the ban, noted the ruling was preliminary and said “the analysis could change as the case proceeds.”
\nMr. Knudsen’s office added it was considering its next steps and looks “forward to presenting the complete legal argument to defend the law that protects\u00a0Montanans\u00a0from\u00a0the Chinese Communist Party obtaining and\u00a0using their data.”
\nTikTok\u00a0said in earlier court filings it “has not shared, and would not share, US\u00a0user data with the Chinese government, and has taken substantial measures to protect the privacy and security of\u00a0TikTok\u00a0users.“
\nMr. Molloy, who was appointed to the bench by Democratic President Bill Clinton, found merit in numerous\u00a0arguments raised by\u00a0TikTok\u00a0and referenced what he termed “the pervasive undertone of anti-Chinese sentiment that permeates” the\u00a0state‘s legal case and legislation.
\nMontana\u00a0could have imposed fines of $10,000 for each violation by\u00a0TikTok\u00a0in the\u00a0state\u00a0but the now blocked\u00a0state\u00a0law did not impose penalties on individual\u00a0TikTok\u00a0users.
\nMr. Molloy said\u00a0Montana\u00a0sought to exercise foreign policy authority held by the federal government and the\u00a0state‘s action was too sweeping.
\nTikTok\u00a0has faced efforts by some in Congress to\u00a0ban the app\u00a0or give the Biden administration powers to impose restrictions or bar foreign-owned apps, but those efforts\u00a0have stalled.
\nMany\u00a0states and\u00a0the US government have barred\u00a0TikTok\u00a0on government-owned devices, but only\u00a0Montana\u00a0has sought to completely bar the app’s\u00a0use.
\nFormer President Donald Trump in 2020 sought to bar new downloads of\u00a0TikTok\u00a0and Chinese-owned WeChat, but a series of court decisions blocked the effective ban\u00a0from\u00a0taking effect. – Reuters
\n", "content_text": "A US\u00a0judge\u00a0late on Thursday blocked\u00a0Montana‘s first-of-its kind\u00a0state\u00a0ban on the\u00a0use of short-video sharing app\u00a0TikTok\u00a0from\u00a0taking effect on Jan. 1, saying it violated the free speech rights of\u00a0users.\nUS District\u00a0Judge\u00a0Donald Molloy issued a preliminary injunction to block the ban on the Chinese-owned app, saying the\u00a0state\u00a0ban “violates the Constitution in more ways than one” and “oversteps\u00a0state\u00a0power.”\nTikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance,\u00a0sued\u00a0Montana\u00a0in May, seeking to block the US\u00a0state\u00a0ban on several grounds, arguing that it violates the First Amendment free speech rights of the company and\u00a0users.\nTikTok\u00a0users in\u00a0Montana\u00a0also filed suit to block the ban approved by the\u00a0state\u00a0legislature which cited concerns about the personal data of\u00a0Montana\u00a0users and potential Chinese spying.\nTikTok\u00a0said it was pleased the\u00a0judge\u00a0“rejected this unconstitutional law and hundreds of thousands of\u00a0Montanans can continue to express themselves, earn a living, and find community on\u00a0TikTok.”\nA spokesperson for\u00a0Montana\u00a0state\u00a0attorney general Austin Knudsen’s office, which defended the ban, noted the ruling was preliminary and said “the analysis could change as the case proceeds.”\nMr. Knudsen’s office added it was considering its next steps and looks “forward to presenting the complete legal argument to defend the law that protects\u00a0Montanans\u00a0from\u00a0the Chinese Communist Party obtaining and\u00a0using their data.”\nTikTok\u00a0said in earlier court filings it “has not shared, and would not share, US\u00a0user data with the Chinese government, and has taken substantial measures to protect the privacy and security of\u00a0TikTok\u00a0users.“\nMr. Molloy, who was appointed to the bench by Democratic President Bill Clinton, found merit in numerous\u00a0arguments raised by\u00a0TikTok\u00a0and referenced what he termed “the pervasive undertone of anti-Chinese sentiment that permeates” the\u00a0state‘s legal case and legislation.\nMontana\u00a0could have imposed fines of $10,000 for each violation by\u00a0TikTok\u00a0in the\u00a0state\u00a0but the now blocked\u00a0state\u00a0law did not impose penalties on individual\u00a0TikTok\u00a0users.\nMr. Molloy said\u00a0Montana\u00a0sought to exercise foreign policy authority held by the federal government and the\u00a0state‘s action was too sweeping.\nTikTok\u00a0has faced efforts by some in Congress to\u00a0ban the app\u00a0or give the Biden administration powers to impose restrictions or bar foreign-owned apps, but those efforts\u00a0have stalled.\nMany\u00a0states and\u00a0the US government have barred\u00a0TikTok\u00a0on government-owned devices, but only\u00a0Montana\u00a0has sought to completely bar the app’s\u00a0use.\nFormer President Donald Trump in 2020 sought to bar new downloads of\u00a0TikTok\u00a0and Chinese-owned WeChat, but a series of court decisions blocked the effective ban\u00a0from\u00a0taking effect. – Reuters", "date_published": "2023-12-01T11:48:19+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-01T11:48:19+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/TikTok-logo.jpg", "tags": [ "banning blocked", "montana", "Reuters", "TikTok", "Technology", "World" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=560743", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/11/30/560743/sme-superapp-enstack-to-integrate-ai-for-marketing-advancements/", "title": "SME superapp Enstack to integrate AI for marketing advancements", "content_html": "Enstack, a superapp for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), said on Thursday that it has invested in developing marketing tools powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI) to assist its community of entrepreneurs.
\n\u201cWe want to remove that bottleneck for them to start selling just because they can\u2019t write something like a product description, etc.,\u201d Macy Castillo, co-founder, and chief executive officer of Enstack, told\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0on the sidelines of the company\u2019s EmpowHER Christmas bazaar.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019re working on for next year, and we\u2019re just going to keep building on that,\u201d she added, referring to the company continuously refining its in-house large language model based on how the platform\u2019s users and merchants interact on the app.
\n\u201cWe hope to continue concentrating on building the app with R&D [research and development] and tech.\u201d
\nMs. Castillo noted the capacity of generative AI tools to kickstart entrepreneurship, facilitate an easier store setup experience, and help the company grow as an omnichannel store builder.
\nShe said the tools being developed for release next year will automatically create assets such as logos, product images, and captions, for which businesses \u201cwill not need a graphic designer.\u201d
\nAd spending in the Philippine digital advertising market is projected to reach $1.608 billion this year, according to Statista.
\nAs Enstack reached the onboarding of 100,000 merchants since its official launch in October last year, Ms. Castillo noted it also aims to grow the quality of the company\u2019s merchant base next year through its customer experience team.
\n\u201cIf you try to sign up on Enstack now, somebody should be calling you tomorrow to ask if you have any questions,\u201d she said. \u201cYou automatically have an account manager who can help you upload products, set up your store, or get you verified to get specific payment channels.\u201d
\nEnstack has raised $3 million from a funding round led by Mangrove Capital Partners in March, with participation from payments startup Xendit and Shinsegae International chief executive officer William Kim.
\nAdditionally, it will close its Build-A-Biz nationwide competition yearend, which will prize P1 million, mentorship, and brand exposure in February next year to the business with the highest sales in a two-month period.
\nEnstack is eyeing expansion to Thailand and other Southeast Asian markets with increasing digital adoption among businesses, as reported by\u00a0BusinessWorld in January. — Miguel Hanz L. Antivola
\n", "content_text": "Enstack, a superapp for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), said on Thursday that it has invested in developing marketing tools powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI) to assist its community of entrepreneurs.\n\u201cWe want to remove that bottleneck for them to start selling just because they can\u2019t write something like a product description, etc.,\u201d Macy Castillo, co-founder, and chief executive officer of Enstack, told\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0on the sidelines of the company\u2019s EmpowHER Christmas bazaar.\n\u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019re working on for next year, and we\u2019re just going to keep building on that,\u201d she added, referring to the company continuously refining its in-house large language model based on how the platform\u2019s users and merchants interact on the app.\n\u201cWe hope to continue concentrating on building the app with R&D [research and development] and tech.\u201d\nMs. Castillo noted the capacity of generative AI tools to kickstart entrepreneurship, facilitate an easier store setup experience, and help the company grow as an omnichannel store builder.\nShe said the tools being developed for release next year will automatically create assets such as logos, product images, and captions, for which businesses \u201cwill not need a graphic designer.\u201d\nAd spending in the Philippine digital advertising market is projected to reach $1.608 billion this year, according to Statista.\nAs Enstack reached the onboarding of 100,000 merchants since its official launch in October last year, Ms. Castillo noted it also aims to grow the quality of the company\u2019s merchant base next year through its customer experience team.\n\u201cIf you try to sign up on Enstack now, somebody should be calling you tomorrow to ask if you have any questions,\u201d she said. \u201cYou automatically have an account manager who can help you upload products, set up your store, or get you verified to get specific payment channels.\u201d\nEnstack has raised $3 million from a funding round led by Mangrove Capital Partners in March, with participation from payments startup Xendit and Shinsegae International chief executive officer William Kim.\nAdditionally, it will close its Build-A-Biz nationwide competition yearend, which will prize P1 million, mentorship, and brand exposure in February next year to the business with the highest sales in a two-month period.\nEnstack is eyeing expansion to Thailand and other Southeast Asian markets with increasing digital adoption among businesses, as reported by\u00a0BusinessWorld in January. — Miguel Hanz L. Antivola", "date_published": "2023-11-30T18:16:36+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-11-30T18:16:36+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Enstack-logo.jpg", "tags": [ "Technology" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=560609", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/11/30/560609/elon-musk-curses-out-advertisers-who-left-x-over-antisemitic-content/", "title": "Elon Musk curses out advertisers who left X over antisemitic content", "content_html": "Billionaire\u00a0Elon\u00a0Musk\u00a0told\u00a0advertisers\u00a0that have fled his social media platform X\u00a0over\u00a0antisemitic\u00a0content\u00a0to “Go fuck yourself” in a fiery Wednesday interview.
\nHis profanity-laced remarks followed a moment of contrition in a New York Times DealBook Summit interview. Mr. Musk said repeatedly he was sorry for publishing a tweet on Nov. 15 that agreed with an anti-Jewish post.
\nMr. Musk\u00a0has faced a torrent of criticism ever since he agreed with a user\u00a0who\u00a0falsely claimed Jewish people were stoking hatred against white people. Mr. Musk\u00a0in his post said the user,\u00a0who\u00a0referenced the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, was speaking “the actual truth.”
\nOn Wednesday Mr. Musk\u00a0said he had “handed a loaded gun” to both detractors and\u00a0antisemitic\u00a0people, describing his post as possibly the worst he had made during a history of messages that included many “foolish” ones.
\nThe Tesla\u00a0CEO bristled at the idea that he was\u00a0antisemitic\u00a0and said that\u00a0advertisers\u00a0who\u00a0left\u00a0X, formerly known as Twitter, should not think they could blackmail him.
\n“If somebody’s gonna try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money? Go fuck yourself,” he said.
\n“Go. Fuck. Yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is. Hey, Bob, if you’re in the audience,” he added, in an apparent reference to Robert Iger, chief executive of Walt Disney, which pulled ads on X. Mr. Iger spoke earlier at the event and said that Disney felt the association with X following Mr. Musk‘s move “was not a positive one for us”. A spokesperson from Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
\n“What I care about\u00a0is the reality of goodness, not the perception of it. And what I see all\u00a0over\u00a0the place is people\u00a0who\u00a0care about\u00a0looking good while doing evil. Fuck them,” Mr. Musk\u00a0said.
\nMusk‘s expletives against\u00a0advertisers\u00a0is the “closing chapter” for brands doing business with X, said Lou Paskalis, founder of marketing consultancy AJL Advisory and the former head of global media at Bank of America. “They’re not going to forget that,” he said.
\nCustomers\u00a0who\u00a0did not like him should consider the products his company make based on their quality, Mr. Musk\u00a0said, pointing to electric cars from Tesla and SpaceX rockets. “I will certainly not pander,” he said.
\nMr. Musk\u00a0added that he himself arguably had done more for the environment, at Tesla, than anyone in the world, based on Tesla’s massive sales of electric vehicles.
\n“It would be fair to say, therefore, as a leader of the company, I’ve done more for the environment than everyone — any single human on Earth.”
\nMr. Musk‘s comments came on the same day that US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned that the rise in antisemitism since the start of the Israel-Hamas war has reached a crisis point, saying it threatens the safety of Jews\u00a0worldwide and the future of Israel. “To us, the Jewish people, the rise in antisemitism is a crisis. A five-alarm fire that must be extinguished,” Mr. Schumer said in an emotional, 40-minute Senate speech.
\nMr. Musk‘s post drew condemnation from the White House for what it called an “abhorrent promotion of\u00a0antisemitic\u00a0and racist hate.”
\nThe “Great Replacement” theory falsely claims that Jewish people and\u00a0leftists are engineering the ethnic and cultural replacement of white populations with non-white immigrants that will lead to a “white genocide.”
\nFollowing the post, major US companies including Walt Disney DIS.N, Warner Bros Discovery and NBCUniversal parent Comcast\u00a0suspended their ads\u00a0on X. A report from liberal watchdog group Media Matters precipitated the advertiser exit, which said it found ads next to posts that supported Nazism. The platform filed a lawsuit last week against Media Matters for defamation.
\nMr. Musk‘s comments have put pressure on X\u00a0overall, including Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino. An executive told Reuters that she would remain at the company.
\nMr. Musk\u00a0himself appeared resolved that X could fail financially and blamed\u00a0advertisers.
\n“If the company fails because of advertiser boycott, it will fail because of an advertiser boycott. And that will be what bankrupt the company and that’s what everybody on earth will know,” he said. “Let the chips fall where they may.”
\nIn the wake of the condemnation around his post, Mr. Musk\u00a0traveled to Israel\u00a0and toured the site of Hamas’ assault in the country on Oct. 7. On Monday, he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a live-streamed conversation on X.
\nMr. Musk\u00a0on Wednesday said the trip had been planned before his message and was “independent” of the issue.
\nMr. Musk\u00a0in Israel said he is against antisemitism and anything that “promotes hate and conflict” and stated that X would not promote hate speech. While there, he\u00a0received a symbolic dog-tag\u00a0from the father of an Israeli hostage taken captive by Hamas, which he promised to wear until all the hostages were free. He wore the dog-tag on stage on Wednesday.
\n“The fact that you came here speaks volumes of your commitment to try to secure a better future,” Netanyahu told Mr. Musk\u00a0during the conversation in Israel.
\nMr. Musk‘s wide-ranging interview on Wednesday included discussions from freedom of speech to the environment to U.S. presidential politics.\u00a0Musk\u00a0said he thought he would not vote to re-elect President Joe Biden but did not say he would vote for his likely challenger, Donald Trump. – Reuters
\n", "content_text": "Billionaire\u00a0Elon\u00a0Musk\u00a0told\u00a0advertisers\u00a0that have fled his social media platform X\u00a0over\u00a0antisemitic\u00a0content\u00a0to “Go fuck yourself” in a fiery Wednesday interview.\nHis profanity-laced remarks followed a moment of contrition in a New York Times DealBook Summit interview. Mr. Musk said repeatedly he was sorry for publishing a tweet on Nov. 15 that agreed with an anti-Jewish post.\nMr. Musk\u00a0has faced a torrent of criticism ever since he agreed with a user\u00a0who\u00a0falsely claimed Jewish people were stoking hatred against white people. Mr. Musk\u00a0in his post said the user,\u00a0who\u00a0referenced the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, was speaking “the actual truth.”\nOn Wednesday Mr. Musk\u00a0said he had “handed a loaded gun” to both detractors and\u00a0antisemitic\u00a0people, describing his post as possibly the worst he had made during a history of messages that included many “foolish” ones.\nThe Tesla\u00a0CEO bristled at the idea that he was\u00a0antisemitic\u00a0and said that\u00a0advertisers\u00a0who\u00a0left\u00a0X, formerly known as Twitter, should not think they could blackmail him.\n“If somebody’s gonna try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money? Go fuck yourself,” he said.\n“Go. Fuck. Yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is. Hey, Bob, if you’re in the audience,” he added, in an apparent reference to Robert Iger, chief executive of Walt Disney, which pulled ads on X. Mr. Iger spoke earlier at the event and said that Disney felt the association with X following Mr. Musk‘s move “was not a positive one for us”. A spokesperson from Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.\n“What I care about\u00a0is the reality of goodness, not the perception of it. And what I see all\u00a0over\u00a0the place is people\u00a0who\u00a0care about\u00a0looking good while doing evil. Fuck them,” Mr. Musk\u00a0said.\nMusk‘s expletives against\u00a0advertisers\u00a0is the “closing chapter” for brands doing business with X, said Lou Paskalis, founder of marketing consultancy AJL Advisory and the former head of global media at Bank of America. “They’re not going to forget that,” he said.\nCustomers\u00a0who\u00a0did not like him should consider the products his company make based on their quality, Mr. Musk\u00a0said, pointing to electric cars from Tesla and SpaceX rockets. “I will certainly not pander,” he said.\nMr. Musk\u00a0added that he himself arguably had done more for the environment, at Tesla, than anyone in the world, based on Tesla’s massive sales of electric vehicles.\n“It would be fair to say, therefore, as a leader of the company, I’ve done more for the environment than everyone — any single human on Earth.”\nMr. Musk‘s comments came on the same day that US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned that the rise in antisemitism since the start of the Israel-Hamas war has reached a crisis point, saying it threatens the safety of Jews\u00a0worldwide and the future of Israel. “To us, the Jewish people, the rise in antisemitism is a crisis. A five-alarm fire that must be extinguished,” Mr. Schumer said in an emotional, 40-minute Senate speech.\nMr. Musk‘s post drew condemnation from the White House for what it called an “abhorrent promotion of\u00a0antisemitic\u00a0and racist hate.”\nThe “Great Replacement” theory falsely claims that Jewish people and\u00a0leftists are engineering the ethnic and cultural replacement of white populations with non-white immigrants that will lead to a “white genocide.”\nFollowing the post, major US companies including Walt Disney DIS.N, Warner Bros Discovery and NBCUniversal parent Comcast\u00a0suspended their ads\u00a0on X. A report from liberal watchdog group Media Matters precipitated the advertiser exit, which said it found ads next to posts that supported Nazism. The platform filed a lawsuit last week against Media Matters for defamation.\nMr. Musk‘s comments have put pressure on X\u00a0overall, including Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino. An executive told Reuters that she would remain at the company.\nMr. Musk\u00a0himself appeared resolved that X could fail financially and blamed\u00a0advertisers.\n“If the company fails because of advertiser boycott, it will fail because of an advertiser boycott. And that will be what bankrupt the company and that’s what everybody on earth will know,” he said. “Let the chips fall where they may.”\nIn the wake of the condemnation around his post, Mr. Musk\u00a0traveled to Israel\u00a0and toured the site of Hamas’ assault in the country on Oct. 7. On Monday, he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a live-streamed conversation on X.\nMr. Musk\u00a0on Wednesday said the trip had been planned before his message and was “independent” of the issue.\nMr. Musk\u00a0in Israel said he is against antisemitism and anything that “promotes hate and conflict” and stated that X would not promote hate speech. While there, he\u00a0received a symbolic dog-tag\u00a0from the father of an Israeli hostage taken captive by Hamas, which he promised to wear until all the hostages were free. He wore the dog-tag on stage on Wednesday.\n“The fact that you came here speaks volumes of your commitment to try to secure a better future,” Netanyahu told Mr. Musk\u00a0during the conversation in Israel.\nMr. Musk‘s wide-ranging interview on Wednesday included discussions from freedom of speech to the environment to U.S. presidential politics.\u00a0Musk\u00a0said he thought he would not vote to re-elect President Joe Biden but did not say he would vote for his likely challenger, Donald Trump. – Reuters", "date_published": "2023-11-30T11:22:39+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-11-30T11:22:47+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb9711778f8535a5c41d2e047686ad3e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/elon-musk.jpg", "tags": [ "Elon Musk", "Reuters", "Tesla", "twitter", "x", "Technology", "World" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=560444", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/11/30/560444/proposed-philippine-tiktok-ban-needs-basis-experts/", "title": "Proposed Philippine TikTok ban needs basis \u2014 experts", "content_html": "By Miguel Hanz L. Antivola, Reporter
\nSUFFICIENT evidence is needed for the Philippines to join other countries looking to ban the use of short-form video platform TikTok due to alleged surveillance concerns, experts said.
\nThe proposal to ban the use of the platform among public officials is indicative of \u201cbroader geopolitical tensions and our own state agencies wanting to show they\u2019re falling in line with allies,\u201d Jonathan C. Ong, disinformation researcher at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said in a message to BusinessWorld.
\n\u201cThere is little evidence that Chinese state intelligence has actually relied on TikTok data rather than through their more traditional intelligence gathering strategies,\u201d he added.
\nSolid proof is needed that data collected from TikTok are being used to monitor the public, Ronald B. Gustilo, national campaigner for Digital Pinoys, likewise said in a Viber message.
\n\u201c[Then], the government is duty bound and has every right to protect the people and the government from foreign espionage,\u201d Mr. Gustilo said.
\n\u201cWhile these allegations may be due to the ongoing tension between Philippines and China, claims against any platform should be substantiated before making any drastic decision,\u201d he added.
\nThe government has formed a dedicated task force to assess whether public officials should be prohibited from using TikTok, a National Security Council (NSC) official said on Tuesday.
\n\u201cThe proposal to ban TikTok is simply for the security sector because many, many countries in the world have already banned TikTok in government devices,\u201d Jonathan E. Malaya, NSC assistant director general, told reporters at the sidelines of a security forum.
\n\u201cWe are just waiting for the results of the threat assessment, which we will then submit to the National Security Adviser.\u201d
\nThe possibility of a ban was first raised in September, with officials citing data security issues.
\nEarlier this month, Nepal said it would ban Chinese-owned TikTok, adding that social harmony and goodwill were being disturbed by \u201cmisuse\u201d of the popular video app and there was rising demand to control it, Reuters reported.
\nTikTok, owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance Ltd., has already been either partially or completely banned by other countries, with many citing security concerns.
\nNepal\u2019s neighbor India banned TikTok along with dozens of other apps by Chinese developers in June 2020, saying that they could compromise national security and integrity.
\nAnother South Asian country, Pakistan, has banned the app at least four times over what the country\u2019s government terms its \u201cimmoral and indecent\u201d content.
\nTikTok last week said user data from the Philippines are stored in Singapore, Malaysia, and the United States.
\n\u201cTikTok does not store user data in China, has not shared Philippine user data with the Chinese government, and would not even if asked,\u201d it said in a statement last week.
\n\u201cIf an employee were required to access user data to perform a function specifically tied to their role (such as debugging, troubleshooting, and performance monitoring to provide an optimal user experience), logged and limited access to that data would only be granted subject to strict controls and safeguards, and adherence to the highest of approval protocols.\u201d
\nThe app is not headquartered and available in mainland China, even as ByteDance was founded by Chinese entrepreneurs, TikTok added, noting that the company\u2019s ownership is split among global institutional investors (about 60%), employees (20%), and Zhang Yiming, the company\u2019s founder (20%).
\nFOCUS SHOULD BE ON PROVEN LAPSES INSTEAD
\nFor his part, Mr. Ong said there should instead be increased attention towards proven cases of cybersecurity lapses versus speculations over a platform.
\n\u201cI think citizens should question the unevenness in which our political leaders are fearmongering about data privacy rather than addressing the major social media platforms like Facebook, or even Viber, or study vulnerabilities within our own Filipino corporations\u2019 mobile apps where there are documented leaks of our data,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re a country with great many experiences of government website hacking and leaking of our citizens\u2019 personal information… so we should always be proactive about data privacy and identifying vulnerabilities,\u201d Mr. Ong added.
\nLast month, the Department of Information and Communications Technology signed a commitment with ByteDance, Meta, and Google to share knowledge, insights, and technology to improve national cybersecurity.
\nSam Jacoba, founding president of the National Association of Data Protection Officers of the Philippines, noted the need to follow up on the commitment signing \u201cnot through motherhood statements, but with concrete actions and plans.\u201d
\n\u201cGo beyond the paper commitment and let these big data gatherers fully comply with the Data Privacy Act,\u201d Mr. Jacoba said. \u201cPenalize them if they do not comply. Give a deadline (six months), then have regular reviews and checkpoints.\u201d \u2014 with Reuters
\n", "content_text": "By Miguel Hanz L. Antivola, Reporter\nSUFFICIENT evidence is needed for the Philippines to join other countries looking to ban the use of short-form video platform TikTok due to alleged surveillance concerns, experts said.\nThe proposal to ban the use of the platform among public officials is indicative of \u201cbroader geopolitical tensions and our own state agencies wanting to show they\u2019re falling in line with allies,\u201d Jonathan C. Ong, disinformation researcher at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said in a message to BusinessWorld.\n\u201cThere is little evidence that Chinese state intelligence has actually relied on TikTok data rather than through their more traditional intelligence gathering strategies,\u201d he added.\nSolid proof is needed that data collected from TikTok are being used to monitor the public, Ronald B. Gustilo, national campaigner for Digital Pinoys, likewise said in a Viber message.\n\u201c[Then], the government is duty bound and has every right to protect the people and the government from foreign espionage,\u201d Mr. Gustilo said.\n\u201cWhile these allegations may be due to the ongoing tension between Philippines and China, claims against any platform should be substantiated before making any drastic decision,\u201d he added.\nThe government has formed a dedicated task force to assess whether public officials should be prohibited from using TikTok, a National Security Council (NSC) official said on Tuesday.\n\u201cThe proposal to ban TikTok is simply for the security sector because many, many countries in the world have already banned TikTok in government devices,\u201d Jonathan E. Malaya, NSC assistant director general, told reporters at the sidelines of a security forum.\n\u201cWe are just waiting for the results of the threat assessment, which we will then submit to the National Security Adviser.\u201d\nThe possibility of a ban was first raised in September, with officials citing data security issues.\nEarlier this month, Nepal said it would ban Chinese-owned TikTok, adding that social harmony and goodwill were being disturbed by \u201cmisuse\u201d of the popular video app and there was rising demand to control it, Reuters reported.\nTikTok, owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance Ltd., has already been either partially or completely banned by other countries, with many citing security concerns.\nNepal\u2019s neighbor India banned TikTok along with dozens of other apps by Chinese developers in June 2020, saying that they could compromise national security and integrity.\nAnother South Asian country, Pakistan, has banned the app at least four times over what the country\u2019s government terms its \u201cimmoral and indecent\u201d content.\nTikTok last week said user data from the Philippines are stored in Singapore, Malaysia, and the United States.\n\u201cTikTok does not store user data in China, has not shared Philippine user data with the Chinese government, and would not even if asked,\u201d it said in a statement last week.\n\u201cIf an employee were required to access user data to perform a function specifically tied to their role (such as debugging, troubleshooting, and performance monitoring to provide an optimal user experience), logged and limited access to that data would only be granted subject to strict controls and safeguards, and adherence to the highest of approval protocols.\u201d\nThe app is not headquartered and available in mainland China, even as ByteDance was founded by Chinese entrepreneurs, TikTok added, noting that the company\u2019s ownership is split among global institutional investors (about 60%), employees (20%), and Zhang Yiming, the company\u2019s founder (20%).\nFOCUS SHOULD BE ON PROVEN LAPSES INSTEAD\nFor his part, Mr. Ong said there should instead be increased attention towards proven cases of cybersecurity lapses versus speculations over a platform.\n\u201cI think citizens should question the unevenness in which our political leaders are fearmongering about data privacy rather than addressing the major social media platforms like Facebook, or even Viber, or study vulnerabilities within our own Filipino corporations\u2019 mobile apps where there are documented leaks of our data,\u201d he said.\n\u201cWe\u2019re a country with great many experiences of government website hacking and leaking of our citizens\u2019 personal information… so we should always be proactive about data privacy and identifying vulnerabilities,\u201d Mr. Ong added.\nLast month, the Department of Information and Communications Technology signed a commitment with ByteDance, Meta, and Google to share knowledge, insights, and technology to improve national cybersecurity.\nSam Jacoba, founding president of the National Association of Data Protection Officers of the Philippines, noted the need to follow up on the commitment signing \u201cnot through motherhood statements, but with concrete actions and plans.\u201d\n\u201cGo beyond the paper commitment and let these big data gatherers fully comply with the Data Privacy Act,\u201d Mr. Jacoba said. \u201cPenalize them if they do not comply. Give a deadline (six months), then have regular reviews and checkpoints.\u201d \u2014 with Reuters", "date_published": "2023-11-30T00:02:06+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-11-29T18:45:11+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Tiktok.jpg", "tags": [ "Miguel Hanz L. Antivola", "Editors' Picks", "Technology" ], "summary": "SUFFICIENT evidence is needed for the Philippines to join other countries looking to ban the use of short-form video platform TikTok due to alleged surveillance concerns, experts said." }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=560443", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/technology/2023/11/30/560443/filipinos-using-mobile-phones-to-learn-skills-manage-their-expenses/", "title": "Filipinos using mobile phones to learn skills, manage their expenses", "content_html": "FILIPINOS are using their mobile phones to upskill and manage their expenses amid increased digital adoption and inflationary challenges, according to a report.
\nFilipinos spend more than 21 hours daily (86% of the day) on their phones to connect with others, but also acquire new skills for career development, the Digital Lives Decoded study of telco company Telenor Asia Pte. Ltd. found.
\nThe survey covered 8,000 mobile internet users across South and Southeast Asia, with 1,010 participants from the Philippines.
\n\u201cIn 2023, we see a shift where mobile use has the greatest impact on people\u2019s lives, with work becoming the primary driver for increasing usage, and a majority using their devices to pick up new skills,\u201d Petter-B\u00f8rre Furberg, executive vice-president and head of Telenor Asia, said in a statement on Wednesday.
\n\u201cA stand-out finding this year from the Philippines was that amidst a challenging economy and high inflationary environment, mobiles are being widely used as a tool to manage rising costs of living,\u201d he added, noting that 75% of Filipino respondents used their phones to find the best deals (75%) and compare prices (74%).
\nFilipinos also see their mobile phones as tools to help them create new income streams (71%), with most claiming to have used their device to learn a new skill in the past year (91%).
\n\u201cSelling on e-commerce platforms (56%), leveraging [generative artificial intelligence] (52%), and social media management (47%) emerged as the most desirable skills to learn via mobile device,\u201d it noted.
\nFreelance or consultancy services came on top among income streams created via mobile, Telenor added.
\nIn terms of work, 77% said mobile use has grown their productivity over the last five years, with 90% seeing significant improvement in their work quality and performance and 45% believing it would help them get ahead at work due to connectivity.
\nMeanwhile, 82% said their workplace supports the use of generative artificial intelligence, with 52% expecting it to increase in the next six months.
\nHowever, 97% of Filipino respondents have also raised concerns on privacy and security, with 55% seeing these vulnerabilities \u201chindering the full utility of mobile devices in the course of their work,\u201d the report said.
\nFake news (76%), identity theft (76%), and data theft (74%) emerged as top concerns among Filipinos, with 89% expressing worry about the online safety of elderly family members and 95% about children\u2019s safety.
\n\u201cAs mobile technology becomes increasingly central to our lives, so does the need for all stakeholders to continue to understand the people and parts of the ecosystem most at risk,\u201d Mr. Furberg said.
\n\u201cWe must keep working with stakeholders to create a safer online environment which allows all generations to take advantage of the immense potential offered by mobile access,\u201d he added. \u2014 Miguel Hanz L. Antivola
\n", "content_text": "FILIPINOS are using their mobile phones to upskill and manage their expenses amid increased digital adoption and inflationary challenges, according to a report.\nFilipinos spend more than 21 hours daily (86% of the day) on their phones to connect with others, but also acquire new skills for career development, the Digital Lives Decoded study of telco company Telenor Asia Pte. Ltd. found.\nThe survey covered 8,000 mobile internet users across South and Southeast Asia, with 1,010 participants from the Philippines.\n\u201cIn 2023, we see a shift where mobile use has the greatest impact on people\u2019s lives, with work becoming the primary driver for increasing usage, and a majority using their devices to pick up new skills,\u201d Petter-B\u00f8rre Furberg, executive vice-president and head of Telenor Asia, said in a statement on Wednesday.\n\u201cA stand-out finding this year from the Philippines was that amidst a challenging economy and high inflationary environment, mobiles are being widely used as a tool to manage rising costs of living,\u201d he added, noting that 75% of Filipino respondents used their phones to find the best deals (75%) and compare prices (74%). \nFilipinos also see their mobile phones as tools to help them create new income streams (71%), with most claiming to have used their device to learn a new skill in the past year (91%).\n\u201cSelling on e-commerce platforms (56%), leveraging [generative artificial intelligence] (52%), and social media management (47%) emerged as the most desirable skills to learn via mobile device,\u201d it noted.\nFreelance or consultancy services came on top among income streams created via mobile, Telenor added.\nIn terms of work, 77% said mobile use has grown their productivity over the last five years, with 90% seeing significant improvement in their work quality and performance and 45% believing it would help them get ahead at work due to connectivity.\nMeanwhile, 82% said their workplace supports the use of generative artificial intelligence, with 52% expecting it to increase in the next six months.\nHowever, 97% of Filipino respondents have also raised concerns on privacy and security, with 55% seeing these vulnerabilities \u201chindering the full utility of mobile devices in the course of their work,\u201d the report said.\nFake news (76%), identity theft (76%), and data theft (74%) emerged as top concerns among Filipinos, with 89% expressing worry about the online safety of elderly family members and 95% about children\u2019s safety.\n\u201cAs mobile technology becomes increasingly central to our lives, so does the need for all stakeholders to continue to understand the people and parts of the ecosystem most at risk,\u201d Mr. Furberg said.\n\u201cWe must keep working with stakeholders to create a safer online environment which allows all generations to take advantage of the immense potential offered by mobile access,\u201d he added. \u2014 Miguel Hanz L. Antivola", "date_published": "2023-11-30T00:01:06+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-11-29T18:46:34+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/mobile-phone.jpg", "tags": [ "Featured2", "Miguel Hanz L. Antivola", "Editors' Picks", "Technology" ] } ] }