Notices by Ars Technica (arstechnica@mastodon.social), page 18

In ironic twist, Midjourney bans rival AI firm employees for scraping its image data

Midjourney pins blame for 24-hour outage on "bot-net like" activity from Stability AI employee.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/03/in-ironic-twist-midjourney-bans-rival-ai-firm-employees-for-scraping-its-image-data/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Study finds that we could lose science if publishers go bankrupt

A scan of archives shows that lots of scientific papers aren't backed up.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/03/study-finds-that-we-could-lose-science-if-publishers-go-bankrupt/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Microsoft says Kremlin-backed hackers accessed its source and internal systems

Midnight Blizzard is now using stolen secrets in follow-on attacks against customers.

https://arstechnica.com/security/2024/03/microsoft-says-kremlin-backed-hackers-accessed-its-source-and-internal-systems/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Tesla drivers lose class-action bid in case over exaggerated EV range

Judge upholds arbitration agreement but says Tesla can still face injunction.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/03/tesla-drivers-lose-class-action-bid-in-case-over-exaggerated-ev-range/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

visionOS 1.1 tries to make Personas less unsettling, plus other Apple OS updates

Apple starts picking low-hanging fruit in visionOS; other OSes see minor improvements.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/03/visionos-1-1-tries-to-make-personas-less-unsettling-plus-other-apple-os-updates/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

“Disgraceful”: Messy ToS update allegedly locks Roku devices until users give in

Users are opted in automatically unless they write a letter to Roku by March 21.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/03/disgraceful-messy-tos-update-allegedly-locks-roku-devices-until-users-give-in/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

41 states tell Meta that it’s time to do something about account takeovers

“Dramatic and persistent spike” in account takeovers is "substantial drain" on resources.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/03/41-states-tell-meta-that-its-time-to-do-something-about-account-takeovers/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Review: Apple’s efficient M3 MacBook Airs are just about as good as laptops get

For Intel or even M1 upgraders, there’s a lot to like about the M3 Air.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/03/review-apples-efficient-m3-macbook-airs-are-just-about-as-good-as-laptops-get/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Some teachers are now using ChatGPT to grade papers

New AI tools aim to help with grading and lesson plans—but they may have serious drawbacks.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/03/some-teachers-are-now-using-chatgpt-to-grade-papers/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Apple and other firms don’t have to compensate victims of forced child labor

Buying cobalt doesn't make US firms liable for abuses in DR Congo, court rules.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/03/apple-and-other-firms-dont-have-to-compensate-victims-of-forced-child-labor/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Hackers exploited Windows 0-day for 6 months after Microsoft knew of it

Technically, Microsoft doesn't consider such bugs as vulnerabilities. It patched it anyway.

https://arstechnica.com/security/2024/03/hackers-exploited-windows-0-day-for-6-months-after-microsoft-knew-of-it/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Carmakers must bring back buttons to get good safety scores in Europe

In 2026, Euro NCAP points will be deducted if some controls aren't physical.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/03/carmakers-must-bring-back-buttons-to-get-good-safety-scores-in-europe/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Researchers create AI worms that can spread from one system to another

Worms could potentially steal data and deploy malware.

https://arstechnica.com/ai/2024/03/researchers-create-ai-worms-that-can-spread-from-one-system-to-another/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

HDMI Forum to AMD: No, you can’t make an open source HDMI 2.1 driver

Linux users can't hit the same resolutions and speeds as Windows—or DisplayPort.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/02/hdmi-forum-to-amd-no-you-cant-make-an-open-source-hdmi-2-1-driver/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Wikipedia downgrades CNET’s reliability rating after AI-generated articles

Futurism report highlights the reputational cost of publishing AI-generated content.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/02/wikipedia-downgrades-cnets-reliability-rating-after-ai-generated-articles/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

That moment when you land on the Moon, break a leg, and are about to topple over

"We hit harder than expected and skidded along the way."

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/02/that-moment-when-you-land-on-the-moon-break-a-leg-and-are-about-to-topple-over/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Meta will start collecting “anonymized” data about Quest headset usage

Info on hand/eye tracking, "physical environment," and more could be included.

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/02/meta-will-start-collecting-anonymized-data-about-quest-headset-usage/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

RTO doesn’t improve company value, but does make employees miserable: Study

Data are consistent with bosses using RTO to reassert control and scapegoat workers.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/02/rto-doesnt-improve-company-value-but-does-make-employees-miserable-study/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

British comedian inspires linguistic study of slang synonyms for getting drunk

"Drunkonyms fit in well with English linguistic and humorous traditions.”

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/02/british-comedian-inspires-linguistic-study-of-slang-synonyms-for-getting-drunk/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Google launches “Gemini Business” AI, adds $20 to the $6 Workspace bill

Google's AI features add a 3x increase over the usual Workspace bill.

https://arstechnica.com/google/2024/02/google-launches-gemini-business-ai-adds-20-to-the-6-workspace-bill/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social