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AI scrapers are increasingly facing hostile online environments as data sources dry up.
Crawling for data, also known as scraping, previously meant vast troves of text, images, and videos could be pulled from the internet without too much trouble. AI models could be trained on the seemingly infinite source but that is no longer the case.
A study from AI research thinktank Data Provenance Initiative, named “Consent In Crisis” has found a hostile environment now awaits website scrapers, especially those for the development of generative AI.
Researchers probed the domains utilized in three of the most important datasets used for training AI models and that data is now more restricted than ever.
14,000 web domains were assessed with the discovery of an “emerging crisis in consent” as online publishers have reacted to the presence of crawlers and the harvest of data. The researchers outlined in the three data sets – known as C4, RefinedWeb, and Dolman – that around 5% of all data, and 25% of content from the best sources had enforced restrictions.
In particular, OpenAI’s GPTBot and Google-Extended crawlers provoked a reaction from websites to change their robot.txt restrictions. The study found between 20 and 33 percent of the top web domains have introduced extensive restrictions on scrapers, compared to a much lesser figure at the start of last year.
Hard crawls resulting in full bans
Over the whole base of domains, 5-7% have enforced restrictions, up from just 1% across the same period.
It was noted that many websites had changed their terms of service to completely prohibit crawling and lifting content for use in generative AI, but not to the extent of the restrictions on robot.txt.
AI companies have possibly wasted time and resources due to excessive crawling that was likely not required. The researchers showed that while around 40% of the top sites used across the three datasets were related to news, over 30% of ChatGPT inquiries were for creative writing, compared to just 1% that featured news.
Other notable requests included translation, coding help, and sexual roleplay.
Image credit: Via Ideogram
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Chipmaker giant Nvidia is generating vast sums from the sale of its advanced semiconductors, but the company has been fired a warning on the need for profit to provide stable foundations for the future. 
As reported by The Korea Times, SK Group CEO and chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Chey Tae-Won sounded a reminder of the precarious nature of supply and demand, required to underpin any successful business.
“Without making money, the AI boom could vanish, just as the gold rush disappeared,” said Chey, as he harked back to the California gold rush period in the mid-19th century. When the gold became scarce, the pickaxe sellers no longer had a market. 
Nvidia is currently soaring from the insatiable demand for its AI-focused chips from companies such as OpenAI, Microsoft, Meta, and Google-owner, Alphabet. It was recently named the world’s most valuable company before some market adjustments but it currently boasts a market cap of $2.9 trillion.
Factors which could affect Nvidia’s profits
Chey advised caution on the AI sector and the need to nurture profit, as much as there is no immediate prospect of demand for the chips to diminish. That is offset by the vast costs Nvidia and other companies need to absorb to provide their products, as highlighted by Venture capital firm Sequoia Capital. It was recently estimated that the tech industry needs to rake in $600 billion annually to break even on AI investment.
There is also the rise of Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta – all are taking further steps to develop their own chips.
If these endeavors progress to a significant level of performance to disrupt their reliance on external providers, there will be an immediate consequence for Nvidia. There is also the presence of existing competitors such as AMD which could narrow the gap.
Image credit: Via Ideogram
The post Nvidia sent profit warning amid uncertainty of AI boom appeared first on ReadWrite.

In the United States, new Samsung smartphones will no longer come with Samsung Messages installed as standard. 
The native app has long been a feature on the South Korean brand’s Galaxy range, but change is coming. 
Samsung is fully embracing Google Messages, which has been previously likened to Apple’s iMessage, thanks to greater support for RCS Messages in recent times. The move does not come as a surprise as the basic message app has been moved toward the fringes since the introduction of the S22 in 2022. 
Google Messages will be the default option moving forward but any Samsung Messages aficionados will be relieved to know the app will still be available for download via the Galaxy Store, but “some features will be excluded”.
This development was outlined in the Samsung Members app, outlined by Market Research analyst Max Weinbach: 
“Starting with Flip6, Fold6, and newer models, the Samsung Messages app will no longer be preloaded.”
“Instead, Google Messages will provide a new and enhanced experience to express your emotions, making communication safe and fun.”

Samsung Messages is no longer pre-loaded! Google Messages (with RCS enabled by default) only pic.twitter.com/GoMqyM2p4Z
— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) July 20, 2024

 
When will users notice the change?
With the rollout of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6, Samsung Messages will be absent from the lineup of apps, with prominence given to Google’s offering.
There was no explicit confirmation of which markets will first receive the update or if a global rollout will be applied immediately, but 9to5 Google claims Canadian and European devices will still support Samsung Messages.
The Samsung Messages app remains available for download through the Galaxy Store, though Samsung says “some features will be excluded.”
What is RCS messaging?
Rich communication services (RCS) is a next-generation message standard between mobile carriers for instant communication. Think of the evolution of SMS with support for files and hi-res photos, group chats, audio, and video. 
RCS is largely designed to replace SMS and MMS with Google in the driving seat to control its direction. The robustness, simplicity, and ubiquitous nature of SMS, from the most rudimentary mobile to the latest must-have device means it will likely be around for some time yet.
Image credit: Via Ideogram
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