Techme101.com

The latest AI addition arriving in Google Chrome M122 is its ‘”help me write” feature, which, shockingly enough, aids users with the written word. But while other types of AI might help you with a covering letter or longer article, Google’s ‘help me write’ is very much about improving short form content. Think sales listings, short emails, and brief restaurant reviews. 
“The tool will understand the context of the webpage you’re on to suggest relevant content,” the company explained in a blog post. “For example, as an avid gardener, if I’m writing a review for garden shears, Chrome will pull out relevant details about the item from the page to support my recommendation so it’s more valuable to other hobbyists.”
However, a tool like “Help Me Write” isn’t an entirely new concept. Microsoft Edge already has its equivalent with the ‘compose’ tool, so it’s arguable that, in introducing this feature, Google is simply attempting to play catch-up.
A few disclaimers
However, Google was careful to add a few disclaimers about the software. It notes that the tool “doesn’t provide medical, legal, or financial advice” and that the tool “can be inaccurate or offensive since it’s still in an experimental status.”
Ultimately, it’s unsurprising that the company is being extra careful after what happened with the Gemini image generation tool. It was taken down after being accused of being too “woke.” This is because the software appeared to overcorrect against the risk of racism, which led to historical inaccuracies when the image generator was asked to take pictures of Native Americans or the Founding Fathers.

“Gemini’s AI image generation does generate a wide range of people. And that’s generally a good thing because people worldwide use it. But it’s missing the mark here,” Jack Krawczyk, senior director for Gemini Experiences, said in a social media post Wednesday.

The post Google adds AI writing help to Chrome appeared first on ReadWrite.

Florida is on the brink of enacting one of the nation’s most restrictive bans on social media use by minors. According to the Associated Press, the bill, aimed at prohibiting children under the age of 16 from accessing popular social media platforms regardless of parental consent, has been passed by both the Florida House and Senate. It now awaits the approval of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who has previously expressed reservations about the measure.
The House endorsed the bill with a decisive 108-7 vote, following the Senate’s approval by a 23-14 margin. Amendments made by the Senate sought to alleviate Governor DeSantis’ concerns regarding privacy, a key issue highlighted by Republican Speaker Paul Renner.
This groundbreaking legislation targets social media sites that engage in user activity tracking, allow children to post content, facilitate interactions among users, and employ addictive features designed to encourage excessive use. Proponents of the bill, such as Republican Senator Erin Grall, argue that such measures are necessary to combat the adverse effects of social media on children, including increased suicide rates, cyberbullying, and exploitation by predators.
While similar initiatives have been considered in other states, Florida’s proposal stands out for its comprehensive ban based on the addictive nature of certain social media features, such as notification alerts and autoplay videos. This approach aims to circumvent legal challenges by focusing on the platforms’ mechanisms rather than the content they host.
However, the bill has faced criticism for potentially infringing on First Amendment rights and overstepping parental authority in monitoring their children’s online activities. Critics, including Democratic state Senator Jason Pizzo, argue that the responsibility for regulating children’s social media use should rest with parents, not the government.
Governor DeSantis has acknowledged the potential harm social media can cause to teenagers but emphasized the importance of parental involvement in overseeing their children’s online presence. Despite his reservations, Speaker Renner is optimistic that the bill’s final version, which addresses concerns about user anonymity, will gain the governor’s approval.
The bill has sparked a debate among parents, with some, like Angela Perry from central Florida, supporting the intent behind the legislation but questioning its intrusion into parental rights.
If signed into law, the bill would mandate social media companies to terminate accounts believed to be operated by minors and to comply with requests from minors or their parents to close accounts and delete associated data.
The post Florida’s controversial bill to restrict social media use by minors heads to governor appeared first on ReadWrite.

eBay has announced a dedicated Pokémon auction, a rare chance to pick up valuable cars and collectibles.
Dubbed Catch 151 – a play on Pokémon’s slogan of ‘Gotta catch ’em all’ and the first generations of 151 Pokémon – eBay is celebrating the annual Pokémon Day with a special action. The one-day event will feature ultra-rare cards and collectibles at supposedly accessible price points.
eBay is known for being a ripe market for niche collectibles and has already delivered for many in the world of Pokémon. Some of the most expensive purchases in 2023 included a PSA 10 GEM MINT Charizard Base Set 1st Edition Shadowless Pokémon Card 4/102 ZM1 that went for $217,500 and a 1999 Pokémon CGC 8 NM-MT Charizard Disco Holo Test Print Shadowless Base Set 4 that sold for $125,000.
At Catch 151, the prices appear to be much more accessible to the average shopper, with prices starting from $1.51.
“Pokémon Day has become an iconic moment for the community to come together and celebrate their fandom – for many Pokémon trainers, hunting down and ‘catching’ cards and collectibles on eBay is all part of the experience,” said Gene Cook, VP of Global Collectibles at eBay. “The ‘Catch 151’ event celebrates that dedication by offering one of the most incredible collections of rare, high-end collectibles in a single event.”
What Pokémon items are on offer at Catch 151?
As suggested by the name, the Pokémon auction is intended to pay homage to the first generation of Pokémon, meaning a lot of the collectibles featured will come from those early favorites. That includes rare Charizard cards, one of the most searched characters from the franchise on the secondhand marketplace.
In addition, shoppers will be able to browse other rare finds, such as a collection of cards from the game’s first trading card release that includes Blastoise, Venusaur, Mewtwo, Zapdos, and more; alternate issues of the game’s most popular creatures, such as Dark Charizard, Sabrina’s Gengar, and Shining Tyranitar; and one-of-a-kind promo cards, from Corocoro Mew to last year’s “Pikachu with Gray Felt Hat,” initially released in partnership with the Van Gogh Museum.
Outside of Pokémon cards, there will also be fashion and sporting goods products, like a Fendi x FRGMNT x Pokémon Peekaboo ISeeU Petite bag featuring Dratini and the Tiffany x Arsham Studio x Pokémon Diamond Necklace with Pikachu Pendant.
EBay Authenticity Guarantee backs every trading card in the auction, ensuring buyers get the real deal. Catch 151 will occur on February 27, starting at 12.01 am EST. You can also watch the eBay live stream at the same time — offering a teleshopping-style look at some of the items.
Featured image: eBay
The post eBay celebrates Pokémon Day with “Catch 151” auction of rare cards and collectibles appeared first on ReadWrite.

Leaked files reveal a variety of services available for purchase, including information obtained from targets across the globe. According to a significant data leak from a Chinese cybersecurity company, state security agents are paying tens of thousands of pounds to gather data on targets, including foreign governments. Meanwhile, hackers are gathering massive amounts of data on any individual or organization that could be of interest to their potential clients.
It’s believed that over 500 files have been leaked worldwide
Cybersecurity experts believe the cache of over 500 leaked files from the Chinese company I-Soon, which was uploaded on the Github developer website, to be authentic. NATO and the UK Foreign Office are a couple of the suggested targets.
More than a year ago, in an unprecedented joint address, the FBI and MI5 leaders warned about the issue of Chinese spying, asking for upgraded security measures. At that time, the two agencies said that they were voicing a new concern about the Chinese government and informing corporate executives that Bejing was intent on stealing their technology in order to obtain a competitive advantage.
The files, a collection from chat logs, business prospectuses, and data samples, show the scope of China’s intelligence-collecting activities and the challenges that the nation’s commercial hackers face in the competitive market. China is currently experiencing a downturn in its economy.
i-SOON
I-Soon and Chengdu 404 have been in dispute over one company using the other company’s tools to hack
I-Soon seems to have collaborated with Chengdu 404, another Chinese hacking group, and became involved in a business dispute with them later. The US Department of Justice has charged Chengdu 404’s hackers for using their tools to launch cyberattacks against US companies and pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, among other targets.
The other targets mentioned in the I-Soon disclosures are the British research tank Chatham House, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries’ foreign affairs ministries, and public health bureaus. While some of this data appears to have been collected indiscriminately, other instances involve specific contracts with the Chinese Public Security Bureau to collect particular kinds of data.
“We are aware of this data coming to light and are naturally concerned,” a Chatham House spokeswoman stated. We have precautions in place to protect you, including technological ones that are regularly examined and updated.
“The alliance faces persistent cyberthreats and has prepared for this by investing in extensive cyber defenses,” a NATO official stated. NATO examines each allegation of a cyberthreat. However, the UK Foreign Office chose not to respond,
I-Soon provides a wide range of services. In one instance, Shandong City’s public security department paid about £44,000 to gain a year’s worth of access to the email accounts of ten targets. The I-Soon business also asserted that it could breach many operating systems, including Mac and Android, access personal data from Facebook, hijack accounts on X, and obtain data from corporate databases.
Featured Image Credit: Photo by Yaroslav Shuraev; Pexels
The post China’s hired hackers: a massive cybersecurity breach exposing China’s operations appeared first on ReadWrite.