Google Unveils the Future of Artificial Intelligence

Are Google and Facebook Really Spying on You?

Privacy has become a major concern in the always-connected age of smart devices and ever-present social networks like Facebook and tech giants like Google. Most people do not want devices listening to their conversations, storing them, or worse, sending these private conversations back to social networks and developers through their apps. But this seems to be exactly what’s happening! So, are social networks like Facebook and search giants like Google really spying on you through their apps? The quick and easy answer to that is, “yes, they are”, but probably not in the way you think. There’s been many reported occasions where users have had private conversations and then had adverts relating to that specific topic turn up on Facebook or even on search engines like Google. Dutch publication VRT NWS reported that Google hires independent contractors from around the world to listen to and transcribe audio recordings from Google Assistant in order to improve the technology. Amazon has also been shown to practice this with its Alexa smart assistant. Your smartphone ‘listens’ for trigger words such as ‘Hey Google’ in order to record what you’re saying, decipher it and deliver accurate results. Without the triggers, your voice recordings are just stored on the device for a certain amount of time before being overwritten; however, the concern is that these recordings may not be out of the reach of third-party apps like Facebook or WhatsApp who use this data to target you with customised, highly specific ads. Jason Nurse, Assistant Professor in Cyber Security at the University of Kent explains this idea further, saying, “Imagine you have just started to think about where to go for your next holiday. You spend the morning visiting travel agents to discuss the latest deals and then visit your favourite restaurant, a popular Caribbean food chain in the city. Excited about your potential trip, later that night you watch mostly TV shows on the tropics. The next day, your social media feed contains flight, hotel and tour ads with deals to Barbados. Essentially, this is how data is gathered from your smart devices and then advertisers grab the opportunity to target you.” Surely by now you’re asking, ‘Is all this legal?’ It absolutely is. Remember those terms and conditions you accepted without reading? This is where you’re agreeing to let companies share your data with third parties. Even with new laws that try to protect people’s information, tech firms are constantly looking to push the boundaries of data gathering and algorithm design in ways that can feel invasive. There is a way to control what Google hears. Since it’s reliant on voice-activation when it hears the phrase ‘Hey Google’, disabling its access to your microphone would put a stop to the app listening and recording your voice. Tech website komando.com states that Google introduced a new My Account tool that lets you access your recordings and delete them if you want. You can also ask Google to permanently stop recording your voice. Here’s how to turn off the "OK Google" wake phrase: On Android, just go to Settings >> Google >> Search >> Voice and turn “OK Google” detection off. There is also a way to disable Facebook's access to your microphone. For Android users, go to Settings >> Applications >>Application Manager >> Facebook >> Permissions >> and then turn off the mic. Disabling this will affect how you use the app itself as some of its features will not be available, such as Live Video. To be fair, these tech firms listen to your conversations to train their AI to be better at understanding you and delivering accurate results. It also streamlines their advertising campaigns to deliver online ads that are relevant to you. The problem is that they haven’t been entirely honest or forthcoming about how these technologies work, which has understandably angered a lot of people. However, if targeted ads and an accurate AI are not important to you, a simple fix is to just shut off these services as described above, or you could just watch what you say in the vicinity of your smartphone!

Is Google Play Pass Worth Your Rands?

Google Play Pass is Android’s answer to a one-stop gaming shop.After first launching in the USA in 2019, it is now available in most countries, including right here in South Africa.If you enjoy playing games on your phone or utilising helpful apps, Google Play Pass seems like the ideal option, but is it really worth it? Let’s find out.The Cost FactorThe app offers curated access to a collection of Google Play content for a monthly or a single yearly fee, with the option to add additional devices and up to five family members at no extra charge.To sign-up, your device needs to run on Android 4.4 or higher, with Google Play Store on version 16.6.25 and above.Subscription gives you flexible payment options to suit your needs. You can choose a month-to-month option for R42.99, which you can cancel at any time, or pay R385.99 per year and save 20%.With the app you can install a range of premium apps and games, as well as free content with the full versions unlocked, meaning you won’t have to pay for in-app purchases.What’s more, Play Pass allows you to enjoy an ad-free experience not just for premium games and apps but free content as well.Close To 1 000 Apps and Games AvailableBut what exactly are you getting with Google Play Pass?According to the search engine giant, nearly 950 games and apps – a list that is constantly growing every month.Although Google doesn’t publish a list of all the content available, you can browse through the options on the Play Pass section in the Play Store or check out the Play Pass “about page” on Google’s website. Both places give you a good idea of what you can get as a subscriber so you can decide if it suits your needs.Some of the recently added games and apps include, Delight Games (Premium Library), Space Marshals 3, Aftermath, AudioLab Audio Editor Recorder & Ringtone Maker, PicLab - Photo Editor, and much more.Should you subscribe?Considering all of the above, is Google Play Pass worth your money? If you use a lot of app content, especially premium content, the answer is yes. By subscribing, you won’t have to pay the full price for each game and app you download, and you bypass in-app purchases. Ultimately, you will have hundreds of options at your fingertips for less than R50 a month. And if you choose to open a Google Play Family account, your family or friends can also have full access for the same monthly or annual fee. That means plenty of content for everyone to enjoy and the possibility of splitting the cost.  If you’re still not sold, you can try out the one-month free trial before you spend any of your hard-earned money, and if it isn't for you, make sure to cancel before the charge hits your account!

Google Maps Features You Didn’t Know Existed!

Before the release of Google Maps in 2005, it was quite challenging to find your way to an unknown location, even when using a printed map. In fact, many marriages were probably saved by the invention of Google Maps. Nowadays, it’s difficult to imagine a world without it. A lot of people don’t know that, aside from directing you to your destination, the Google maps app is packed with many great features and capabilities that will make your trip even easier. Here’s the best Google Maps features you should start using today: Date Many people only use Google Maps to search for directions to their destination, but the app can take it a step further by providing you with more accurate, real-time details. If you enter the date you’ll be travelling on a particular route, the system will be able to factor in traffic and other variables and provide you with the best information possible. Favourites Accessing Google Maps when you’re in a hurry can be cumbersome. You can save time by adding your favourite destinations to the app. Simply select “Your Places”, tap on the “Saved” tab and then choose “Favourites”. Press the “Add” button to save some of your favourite spots for easy access. Download for Offline Use Google Maps uses an internet connection to keep you updated with the latest traffic routes. However, if you’re going to travel to a remote area with limited or no network coverage, you can actually download the map that you need from Google Maps. All you need to do is search for your destination, scroll to the bottom of a page and click on “Directions”. You’ll now be able to swipe over and get the option to download. If you don’t see this, search for your destination, click on the menu and select “Offline Maps” and then “Custom Map”. It’s important to note that while using this feature, you won’t get any live traffic information due to the lack of an internet connection. Parking Google Maps doesn’t just help you get to your destination, it can also help you find parking once you’re there. Look for the “P” icon with a circle around it next to the estimated time it will take to get there, and it will inform you if parking is limited at that location. Sharing your Location If you’re visiting someone and want them to know what time they can expect you, simply share your live location with them and they’ll be able to see exactly where you are throughout your whole journey. To do this, click the estimated time of arrival at the bottom of your screen, select “Share Trip Progress” and you will be directed to your Contacts where you can choose the person you want to share your location with. This can be shared via text message, email or instant message.

Are Google and Facebook Really Spying on You?

Privacy has become a major concern in the always-connected age of smart devices and ever-present social networks like Facebook and tech giants like Google. Most people do not want devices listening to their conversations, storing them, or worse, sending these private conversations back to social networks and developers through their apps. But this seems to be exactly what’s happening! So, are social networks like Facebook and search giants like Google really spying on you through their apps? The quick and easy answer to that is, “yes, they are”, but probably not in the way you think. There’s been many reported occasions where users have had private conversations and then had adverts relating to that specific topic turn up on Facebook or even on search engines like Google. Dutch publication VRT NWS reported that Google hires independent contractors from around the world to listen to and transcribe audio recordings from Google Assistant in order to improve the technology. Amazon has also been shown to practice this with its Alexa smart assistant. Your smartphone ‘listens’ for trigger words such as ‘Hey Google’ in order to record what you’re saying, decipher it and deliver accurate results. Without the triggers, your voice recordings are just stored on the device for a certain amount of time before being overwritten; however, the concern is that these recordings may not be out of the reach of third-party apps like Facebook or WhatsApp who use this data to target you with customised, highly specific ads. Jason Nurse, Assistant Professor in Cyber Security at the University of Kent explains this idea further, saying, “Imagine you have just started to think about where to go for your next holiday. You spend the morning visiting travel agents to discuss the latest deals and then visit your favourite restaurant, a popular Caribbean food chain in the city. Excited about your potential trip, later that night you watch mostly TV shows on the tropics. The next day, your social media feed contains flight, hotel and tour ads with deals to Barbados. Essentially, this is how data is gathered from your smart devices and then advertisers grab the opportunity to target you.” Surely by now you’re asking, ‘Is all this legal?’ It absolutely is. Remember those terms and conditions you accepted without reading? This is where you’re agreeing to let companies share your data with third parties. Even with new laws that try to protect people’s information, tech firms are constantly looking to push the boundaries of data gathering and algorithm design in ways that can feel invasive. There is a way to control what Google hears. Since it’s reliant on voice-activation when it hears the phrase ‘Hey Google’, disabling its access to your microphone would put a stop to the app listening and recording your voice. Tech website komando.com states that Google introduced a new My Account tool that lets you access your recordings and delete them if you want. You can also ask Google to permanently stop recording your voice. Here’s how to turn off the "OK Google" wake phrase: On Android, just go to Settings >> Google >> Search >> Voice and turn “OK Google” detection off. There is also a way to disable Facebook's access to your microphone. For Android users, go to Settings >> Applications >>Application Manager >> Facebook >> Permissions >> and then turn off the mic. Disabling this will affect how you use the app itself as some of its features will not be available, such as Live Video. To be fair, these tech firms listen to your conversations to train their AI to be better at understanding you and delivering accurate results. It also streamlines their advertising campaigns to deliver online ads that are relevant to you. The problem is that they haven’t been entirely honest or forthcoming about how these technologies work, which has understandably angered a lot of people. However, if targeted ads and an accurate AI are not important to you, a simple fix is to just shut off these services as described above, or you could just watch what you say in the vicinity of your smartphone!

Is Google Play Pass Worth Your Rands?

Google Play Pass is Android’s answer to a one-stop gaming shop.After first launching in the USA in 2019, it is now available in most countries, including right here in South Africa.If you enjoy playing games on your phone or utilising helpful apps, Google Play Pass seems like the ideal option, but is it really worth it? Let’s find out.The Cost FactorThe app offers curated access to a collection of Google Play content for a monthly or a single yearly fee, with the option to add additional devices and up to five family members at no extra charge.To sign-up, your device needs to run on Android 4.4 or higher, with Google Play Store on version 16.6.25 and above.Subscription gives you flexible payment options to suit your needs. You can choose a month-to-month option for R42.99, which you can cancel at any time, or pay R385.99 per year and save 20%.With the app you can install a range of premium apps and games, as well as free content with the full versions unlocked, meaning you won’t have to pay for in-app purchases.What’s more, Play Pass allows you to enjoy an ad-free experience not just for premium games and apps but free content as well.Close To 1 000 Apps and Games AvailableBut what exactly are you getting with Google Play Pass?According to the search engine giant, nearly 950 games and apps – a list that is constantly growing every month.Although Google doesn’t publish a list of all the content available, you can browse through the options on the Play Pass section in the Play Store or check out the Play Pass “about page” on Google’s website. Both places give you a good idea of what you can get as a subscriber so you can decide if it suits your needs.Some of the recently added games and apps include, Delight Games (Premium Library), Space Marshals 3, Aftermath, AudioLab Audio Editor Recorder & Ringtone Maker, PicLab - Photo Editor, and much more.Should you subscribe?Considering all of the above, is Google Play Pass worth your money? If you use a lot of app content, especially premium content, the answer is yes. By subscribing, you won’t have to pay the full price for each game and app you download, and you bypass in-app purchases. Ultimately, you will have hundreds of options at your fingertips for less than R50 a month. And if you choose to open a Google Play Family account, your family or friends can also have full access for the same monthly or annual fee. That means plenty of content for everyone to enjoy and the possibility of splitting the cost.  If you’re still not sold, you can try out the one-month free trial before you spend any of your hard-earned money, and if it isn't for you, make sure to cancel before the charge hits your account!

Google Maps Features You Didn’t Know Existed!

Before the release of Google Maps in 2005, it was quite challenging to find your way to an unknown location, even when using a printed map. In fact, many marriages were probably saved by the invention of Google Maps. Nowadays, it’s difficult to imagine a world without it. A lot of people don’t know that, aside from directing you to your destination, the Google maps app is packed with many great features and capabilities that will make your trip even easier. Here’s the best Google Maps features you should start using today: Date Many people only use Google Maps to search for directions to their destination, but the app can take it a step further by providing you with more accurate, real-time details. If you enter the date you’ll be travelling on a particular route, the system will be able to factor in traffic and other variables and provide you with the best information possible. Favourites Accessing Google Maps when you’re in a hurry can be cumbersome. You can save time by adding your favourite destinations to the app. Simply select “Your Places”, tap on the “Saved” tab and then choose “Favourites”. Press the “Add” button to save some of your favourite spots for easy access. Download for Offline Use Google Maps uses an internet connection to keep you updated with the latest traffic routes. However, if you’re going to travel to a remote area with limited or no network coverage, you can actually download the map that you need from Google Maps. All you need to do is search for your destination, scroll to the bottom of a page and click on “Directions”. You’ll now be able to swipe over and get the option to download. If you don’t see this, search for your destination, click on the menu and select “Offline Maps” and then “Custom Map”. It’s important to note that while using this feature, you won’t get any live traffic information due to the lack of an internet connection. Parking Google Maps doesn’t just help you get to your destination, it can also help you find parking once you’re there. Look for the “P” icon with a circle around it next to the estimated time it will take to get there, and it will inform you if parking is limited at that location. Sharing your Location If you’re visiting someone and want them to know what time they can expect you, simply share your live location with them and they’ll be able to see exactly where you are throughout your whole journey. To do this, click the estimated time of arrival at the bottom of your screen, select “Share Trip Progress” and you will be directed to your Contacts where you can choose the person you want to share your location with. This can be shared via text message, email or instant message.

Are Google and Facebook Really Spying on You?

Privacy has become a major concern in the always-connected age of smart devices and ever-present social networks like Facebook and tech giants like Google. Most people do not want devices listening to their conversations, storing them, or worse, sending these private conversations back to social networks and developers through their apps. But this seems to be exactly what’s happening! So, are social networks like Facebook and search giants like Google really spying on you through their apps? The quick and easy answer to that is, “yes, they are”, but probably not in the way you think. There’s been many reported occasions where users have had private conversations and then had adverts relating to that specific topic turn up on Facebook or even on search engines like Google. Dutch publication VRT NWS reported that Google hires independent contractors from around the world to listen to and transcribe audio recordings from Google Assistant in order to improve the technology. Amazon has also been shown to practice this with its Alexa smart assistant. Your smartphone ‘listens’ for trigger words such as ‘Hey Google’ in order to record what you’re saying, decipher it and deliver accurate results. Without the triggers, your voice recordings are just stored on the device for a certain amount of time before being overwritten; however, the concern is that these recordings may not be out of the reach of third-party apps like Facebook or WhatsApp who use this data to target you with customised, highly specific ads. Jason Nurse, Assistant Professor in Cyber Security at the University of Kent explains this idea further, saying, “Imagine you have just started to think about where to go for your next holiday. You spend the morning visiting travel agents to discuss the latest deals and then visit your favourite restaurant, a popular Caribbean food chain in the city. Excited about your potential trip, later that night you watch mostly TV shows on the tropics. The next day, your social media feed contains flight, hotel and tour ads with deals to Barbados. Essentially, this is how data is gathered from your smart devices and then advertisers grab the opportunity to target you.” Surely by now you’re asking, ‘Is all this legal?’ It absolutely is. Remember those terms and conditions you accepted without reading? This is where you’re agreeing to let companies share your data with third parties. Even with new laws that try to protect people’s information, tech firms are constantly looking to push the boundaries of data gathering and algorithm design in ways that can feel invasive. There is a way to control what Google hears. Since it’s reliant on voice-activation when it hears the phrase ‘Hey Google’, disabling its access to your microphone would put a stop to the app listening and recording your voice. Tech website komando.com states that Google introduced a new My Account tool that lets you access your recordings and delete them if you want. You can also ask Google to permanently stop recording your voice. Here’s how to turn off the "OK Google" wake phrase: On Android, just go to Settings >> Google >> Search >> Voice and turn “OK Google” detection off. There is also a way to disable Facebook's access to your microphone. For Android users, go to Settings >> Applications >>Application Manager >> Facebook >> Permissions >> and then turn off the mic. Disabling this will affect how you use the app itself as some of its features will not be available, such as Live Video. To be fair, these tech firms listen to your conversations to train their AI to be better at understanding you and delivering accurate results. It also streamlines their advertising campaigns to deliver online ads that are relevant to you. The problem is that they haven’t been entirely honest or forthcoming about how these technologies work, which has understandably angered a lot of people. However, if targeted ads and an accurate AI are not important to you, a simple fix is to just shut off these services as described above, or you could just watch what you say in the vicinity of your smartphone!

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Google Unveils the Future of AI

Staff Writer / 23-05-2019 / News

TECH NEWS

Are Google and Facebook Really Spying on You?

Is Google Play Pass Worth Your Rands?

Google Maps Features You Didn’t Know Existed!

Are Google and Facebook Really Spying on You?

Is Google Play Pass Worth Your Rands?

Google Maps Features You Didn’t Know Existed!

Are Google and Facebook Really Spying on You?