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Sunday, 1 November · updated 12 min ago

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AI News

Hard terms in each story, explained in plain English.

Security

Researchers Show a Way to Take Over ChatGPT Accounts

Security researchers at Parameter Labs describe a weakness they found in ChatGPT's feature that shows interactive custom web pages inside a chat. The feature was earlier called Canvas and is now called HTML previews. The team's write-up explains how they used the flaw to take over ChatGPT accounts, which puts users' personal chats and data at risk.

Quick glossaryChatGPT, exploit, HTML previews
ChatGPT
A chatbot made by OpenAI, a US company best known for ChatGPT and its other AI tools.
exploit
A method that takes advantage of a mistake in software so someone can do things they should not be allowed to do.
HTML previews
A feature that shows small web pages or apps directly inside a chat window so users can interact with them.
Simon Willison's Weblog
Burning Potato score: 73%
Jobs

Critical Software Lays Off 200 as It Rebuilds Around AI

Critical Software, based in Coimbra, Portugal, is rebuilding itself around artificial intelligence. About 200 people are being laid off as part of the change. The move shows how AI is reshaping work inside software firms, so staff and readers in the tech sector may want to follow how the company's new direction plays out.

Quick glossaryCritical Software
Critical Software
Critical Software is a software company based in Coimbra, Portugal, as described in the story's source link.
ai.pt
Burning Potato score: 72%
Security

Scottish MSPs Launch AI and Cyber Group Amid Data Warning

A new group of Scottish MSPs has been launched to focus on AI and cyber issues. An expert has warned that Scotland does not yet have laws covering stolen data. The story comes from The Herald, and the full report may give more details on what the group will do.

Quick glossaryMSPs, cyber
MSPs
Members of the Scottish Parliament, the elected politicians who represent local areas in Scotland's national law-making body.
cyber
Relating to computers, the internet and protecting digital systems from attacks by hackers or criminals.
The Herald
Burning Potato score: 72%
Jobs

Microsoft Offers Voluntary Severance to 60,000 Staff

Microsoft is offering voluntary severance packages to about 60,000 employees, roughly a quarter of its workforce. This is the second such programme this year. Its headcount has stayed flat at around 223,000 since 2022, even as it plans to spend about $170 billion on AI infrastructure while protecting teams critical to AI work.

Quick glossaryMicrosoft, voluntary severance, AI infrastructure
Microsoft
An American software giant best known for Windows, the Office apps and its Azure cloud computing service.
voluntary severance
A payment package offered to employees who agree to leave their jobs, rather than being forced out.
AI infrastructure
The physical computers, chips and data centres needed to build and run artificial intelligence systems.
The Decoder
Burning Potato score: 72%
Jobs

Will AI Take Your Job? Why You Have More Control Than You Think

A new Vox article asks whether AI will take your job. Its main message is that workers have more agency than they might think in how AI changes their work. The piece has been shared on Hacker News, where it has drawn little discussion so far.

Quick glossaryVox, agency
Vox
A US news website best known for explainer articles on politics, technology, and culture.
agency
The ability to make your own choices and actively shape what happens to you in your work and life.
vox.com
Burning Potato score: 71%
Privacy

OpenAI Will Train on Some Cyber Session Data Even After Opt-Out

OpenAI says that from November 29 it will use data from Daybreak Blue cybersecurity sessions to train its models, even for users who have turned off training. After public backlash, a follow-up email promised a separate opt-out option. The move revives concerns from an earlier dispute with mathematicians.

Quick glossaryOpenAI, Daybreak Blue, opt-out, training
OpenAI
OpenAI is a San Francisco company behind ChatGPT, best known for its popular AI chatbot and language models.
Daybreak Blue
A name for cybersecurity sessions whose data OpenAI plans to use to teach its AI models in the future.
opt-out
A way for users to refuse something by choosing not to take part in it, such as data use.
training
Teaching an AI system by feeding it large amounts of examples so it learns patterns and gets better at tasks.
The Decoder
Burning Potato score: 71%
Jobs

NatWest to Cut 1,000 More Jobs After AI Drive

UK bank NatWest has announced 1,000 more job cuts. The cuts come after its drive to work more efficiently with AI. For bank staff, this means their roles are at risk, and it shows how AI is reshaping work in big banks.

Quick glossaryNatWest, efficiency drive
NatWest
NatWest is a large British bank, best known for its high street branches and online banking services.
efficiency drive
A push to get more work done from the same staff, time and money, usually by cutting waste.
independent.co.uk
Burning Potato score: 70%
Jobs

Is AI Actually Cheap Enough to Replace Software Developers?

A post on Hacker News asks whether artificial intelligence costs less than the people who write software. The discussion is at an early stage, with only one point and no comments so far, so the question is still open.

Quick glossaryHacker News, developers
Hacker News
A tech discussion website where people share and talk about technology stories, run by the startup accelerator Y Combinator.
developers
A person who builds computer programs and software for apps, websites, and other digital tools used by people daily.
zyvop.com
Burning Potato score: 69%
Business

Chinese Markets Lose Trillions in US-China AI Race

Chinese stock markets have lost trillions of dollars as the race with the United States for AI supremacy takes its toll. The report links the sharp losses to the wider contest with the US over artificial intelligence leadership.

Quick glossaryThe Guardian, AI supremacy
The Guardian
A British newspaper known for its news reporting and opinion writing, based in London.
AI supremacy
Being the leading country in artificial intelligence, ahead of all rivals in building and using the technology.
theguardian.com
Burning Potato score: 69%
Tools

How to Use Claude Duet When It Reaches You

Anthropic's Claude Duet is set to roll out to users, but for now people must first join a waitlist. Engadget's short guide explains the basics of using it. Since access starts with a waitlist, the first step is signing up for one and waiting for your turn.

Quick glossaryAnthropic, roll out, waitlist
Anthropic
An AI company based in the US, best known for its Claude chatbot, which people use to write, search and answer questions.
roll out
When a new feature is made available gradually to users over time, rather than all at once for everyone.
waitlist
A list you join to wait your turn, so you get access to a product once there is room for you.
Engadget AI
Burning Potato score: 69%
Jobs

Goldman Says AI Layoffs Could Leave a Lasting Scar

Goldman Sachs says AI-linked layoffs could leave a long-lasting scar on workers, comparing it to the effects of past tech changes over the last 40 years. For people who lose jobs, the impact may last far beyond the layoffs themselves, the bank argues.

Quick glossaryGoldman Sachs, Layoffs, Scar
Goldman Sachs
A large US investment bank, best known for banking, trading, and advising companies on deals and large financial transactions.
Layoffs
Layoffs are job cuts, where a company removes staff from its payroll, often to save money or reduce costs during hard times.
Scar
A lasting effect that remains after a hard event, like a setback that keeps hurting someone's career or income for many years.
fortune.com
Burning Potato score: 69%
Research

Nearly Two in Three Teens Now Use AI Chatbots

New research finds that nearly two out of three teens and tweens use AI chatbots. The findings were reported by NPR and show how common these tools have become for young people. They raise questions about how young users are using the tools.

Quick glossarychatbots
chatbots
A computer program you chat with by typing or speaking, which replies like a person.
npr.org
Burning Potato score: 68%

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