What is Worldcoin and what does scanning the iris involve?
04/03/2024Worldcoin was introduced in summer of 2023 as a revolutionary project with the mission of creating a 100% secure digital identity, essentially a kind of fortified "digital passport," based on the verification of a unique and non-transferable element inherent to each human being—the iris. According to its developers, World ID will help distinguish human online activity from that generated by machines. In the first phase of the project, the creation of this secure digital identity is planned for 2 billion humans. To make this possible, Worldcoin has called on the global population to scan their iris. In return, Worldcoin compensates participants with a few tokens of its successful cryptocurrency, WLD, which has quadrupled in value within a few weeks of its initial launch. The payment in WLD tokens is not coincidental; it is part of Worldcoin's strategy, aiming to leverage the new digital passports to create a comprehensive ecosystem that provides universal and equitable access to advanced financial services for the entire global population. To achieve this, they encourage "iris sellers" to use the Worldcoin cryptocurrency on its fee-free blockchain, unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other cryptocurrencies that do charge transaction fees. How does Worldcoin work? Worldcoin aims to address the issues of bots, rapid creation of fake identities, and content with artificial intelligence. It is designed, according to its developers, to provide every individual in the world with a unique digital identification. Additionally, Worldcoin promises to ensure the financial inclusion of each person in a fair and equitable ecosystem through a universal basic income. Users receive this income in exchange for allowing their iris to be scanned. To create the secure digital passport with Worldcoin, users must undergo an iris scan, which serves as proof of humanity and a unique identity on the blockchain. This process ensures that the individual on the other side of that identity is a human and not a fake profile created with artificial intelligence. In pursuit of the success of their proposal, the company offers users a small amount of their own Worldcoin tokens in exchange for iris scanning. The initial incentive of receiving free cryptocurrency, in the form of a universal basic income, is emphasized by Worldcoin advocates as the basis for the inclusive and universal nature of their initiative. This approach allows anyone to scan their iris, and the WLD tokens received in return can assist people without access to traditional financial services in starting to save and invest. How to Scan the Iris with Worldcoin? The registration process with Worldcoin involves scanning the iris with an orb, the central hardware device of Worldcoin developed by Tools for Humanity. The orb is spherical and processes all the information. Currently, Worldcoin has installed orbs in different countries, including Spain, where users can scan their iris in exchange for Worldcoins. To do this, it is necessary to download the Worldcoin mobile application, World ID, generate a QR code with it, and display it in front of the orb. The orb, upon recognizing it, will scan the user's iris, while a Worldcoin collaborator remotely oversees the operation. The orb takes less than a minute to perform the scan and validate the subject's identity. In exchange for their iris, the user receives a unique number called "IrisHash" and a cryptographic wallet with Worldcoins. "This digital passport is accepted as proof of unique humanity, which people can use in the digital world without the need to share any other data," assure its developers. What happens with my scanned iris in exchange for Worldcoins? Once the iris scan is completed, and digital identity is granted to the user, Worldcoin assures that the orb quickly eliminates the images unless the user requests their preservation. Only the set of numbers called "IrisHash" is stored for identification, without any additional biometric data. Worldcoin also commits to ensuring that users share only the necessary information they wish to share, providing verification options through linked devices or the additional facial authentication orb for high-security cases. Despite these commitments, the collection of biometric data through iris scanning for the unique proof of humanity continues to raise significant questions regarding privacy and information security. Some countries such as Brazil, France, India, or Kenya have halted Worldcoin's iris scanning. How much do you get paid for scanning your iris? Worldcoin pays 25 WLD for scanning your iris, which, according to the cryptocurrency's exchange rate in February 2024, has translated to an average of between 50 and almost €160 for iris sellers, depending on the value of Worldcoin on the day they scanned their iris. At the beginning of February, the value of each WLD unit was around two euros, and by the end of the month, it had risen to nearly seven euros. What can I spend my WLD on? 'Iris sellers' have the freedom to use their Worldcoins from the moment they receive them. They can exchange the payment for other cryptocurrencies, withdraw them in euros from a specialized ATM, or hold onto the tokens in the hope of an increase in their value. Additionally, WLD payments are already accepted on platforms such as Discord, Shopify, Minecraft, Telegram, Mercado Libre, or Reddit, among other places. Who is behind Worldcoin? Worldcoin bears the stamp of two innovative minds: Sam Altman and Alex Blania. Altman is the CEO of OpenAI and a key figure in artificial intelligence development, leading projects like ChatGPT. Blania, on the other hand, is the co-founder of Tools For Humanity, contributing his experience in creating technological tools for a more equitable economic system to this new and successful cryptocurrency.
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Google Integrates Gemini AI into Google Ads
29/01/2024Google has commenced the integration of Gemini's Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the conversational experience of its Google Ads service. This integration aims to assist marketing professionals in creating more effective advertising campaigns through the generation of specific content. Conversational Experience Empowered by Gemini Initially available for English-speaking advertisers in the United States and the United Kingdom in beta, this expansion will roll out globally in the coming weeks, with plans to include other languages in the near future. By providing the website's URL, the AI generates relevant advertising content, including creative pieces and keywords, facilitating the creation of optimized campaigns. Suggestions for Tailored Images in Captivating Visual Campaigns In an upcoming development, Google Ads' conversational experience will also include the ability to suggest images tailored to the campaign through the use of generative AI and materials from the advertiser's landing page. This feature, scheduled for implementation in the coming months, will provide advertisers with a comprehensive solution for creating visually appealing campaigns. Google has emphasized that all images generated by AI in Google Ads will be clearly identified, thanks to the SynthID technology that places an invisible watermark accompanied by open standard metadata.
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Proton Mail improves email tracking protecti
02/12/2022Privacy continues to be one of the areas that concentrate most attention and efforts from IT companies and Protron Mail, Proton's end-to-end encrypted mail service, developed by CERN engineers, after learning about mass surveillance of US security agencies, has announced a new level of protection in this regard. Proton will reinforce the protections against the tracking of 'emails' with the aim of offering users a highly privacy service and neutralizing any gap that may have been opened since the creation of this service nearly a decade ago. Proton Mail guarantees their clients, an encryption system that no one except the sender and receiver can access the message. The new version, which will be included by default in iPhone and iPad, also implements new functions that will allow you to schedule the sending of messages, set reminders to answer important emails, and postpone emails that can wait. Proton is also working on the possibility of replying to messages without having to open the text composer and is also finalizing the details of a faster new version for Android
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Google presents its new augmented reality search experiences
21/11/2022Google presents its new augmented reality search experiences From this week, Google users in London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco and Tokyo will be able to enjoy the new Live function on their Android and iOS terminals, View Live, an immersive augmented reality (AR) experience that offers to explore the environment that surrounds us from our mobile. With Live View, Google has explained, users will be able to use their mobile phones to discover the shops and other establishments that they have around, from which they we will receive information about their open hours, type of sale, etc. To do this, it is necessary to install the application, which will soon be available in more cities than those included in this first launch, and focus the mobile camera on the buildings and stores that we have in view. Then, the information available for each one will appear. Google has also announced the global launch of a functionality that is currently only operational in Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, which reports on accessibility to shops and other establishments and premises for people with reduced mobility. The accessible places are marked with a wheelchair icon and the users can access to relevant information is displayed, such if that place have adapted bathrooms, if interior mobility in a wheelchair is possible, or if they have accessible parking spaces. The third novelty announced by Google is a new tool for electric vehicle drivers, with real-time information on the nearest charging stations.
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Google launches ChromeOS Flex to give a second life to outdated computers
21/07/2022Google has just introduced ChromeOS Flex, a new version of their cloud-based operating system that will allow "rejuvenating" Windows and Mac computers that have become available. The system must be downloaded directly from the web and can be installed on the computer via USB or the company network. ChromeOS Flex is now ready to give outdated Windows and Mac computers a second life. At the moment, Google has already certified nearly 300 devices compatible with ChromeOS Flex, from leading brands on the market such as Apple, Acer, Dell or Microsoft. Although Google has advanced that not having the certification does not prevent the installation of the operating system on our old computer. Some of the services offered by this operating system are, the protection against ransomware and malware; background updates; remote management of applications and, of course, the possibility of giving a new life to an outdated computer. “By installing ChromeOS Flex on an older computer, you're not only getting a great experience, you're also contributing to an important cause. Every year 40 million tons of electronic waste is generated worldwide, which is equivalent to throwing away 800 laptops every second. Updating devices to ChromeOS Flex instead of completely replacing them is one way to reduce this waste.
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The use of magnetic tapes to store data is growing
11/05/2022Although cloud storage continues to be a growing resource for many companies to promote hybrid work environments, for security reasons, many other companies have decided not only to return to hard drives, SD cards or pen drives, but even to magnetic tapes. According to the Swedish firm Sweclockers, storage on this format skyrocketed in 2021 and grew, compared to the data recorded in the previous year, by 35%. Being a format that is not connected to the internet and therefore free from the threats of ransomware and malware, magnetic tapes are increasing their popularity again and companies such IBM, HP or Seagate/Quantum have already launched updated versions of these tapes on the market that include Linear Tape-Open (LTO) technology and high storage capacity, according to the current needs of companies. The main difference from other digital storage media is that magnetic tapes can only read and write data sequentially, and this cannot be done simultaneously.
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Google Maps will use AI to update store hours
14/04/2022Google Maps will update the hours of more than 20 million businesses around the world in the next six months. To do this, they will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a self-developed machine learning model, which identifies shop hours that are not updated. Through this system, the AI will update the hours according to itsel predictions based on parameters such the last update of the shop's profile, the hours of nearby stores and the busiest hours in that location. In addition, the algorithm will take datas from Google Business, information from the store's website, if it has one, and images from Street View. In some countries, Google will also use Google Duplex conversational AI technology to make calls with the quality of a human voice to the stores and confirm their opening hours. In this list of countries, France will be the only European country where the telephone verification will be carried out. The rest of the countries are Argentina, Australia, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru and the United States.
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5G Automotive Association tests real-time safety notifications for vehicles and pedestrians
08/04/20225G Automotive Association, the organization that brings together technology companies and car manufacturers with the common goal of creating and applying vehicle solutions to make future mobility a reality, have tested a new safety concept for drivers and pedestrians. The innovation is based on real-time safety notifications for vehicles and pedestrians using high-speed 5G mobile technology and multi-access computing, so the car can communicate its position to nearby infrastructure to alert pedestrians and other vehicles, as well as receive emergency notifications from the mobile network. The 5GAA connected car concept uses fixed on-site cameras and sensors to collect detailed data. This information is a plus for what the vehicle can “see” using its on-board systems. With a high-speed 5G mobile connection, the system can quickly make decisions where the data is collected, for example in a pedestrian crossing, to communicate safety risks to oncoming pedestrians and vehicles. The tests have been carried out in Blacksburg, Virginia with a team installed in a Jeep Wrangler 4xe hybrid. Some companies that have participated in the testing are, Intel, Verizon, Stellentins, American Tower, CapGemini, Telus, Harman, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the Virginia Department of Transportation.
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Google will install its Fuchsia operating system to more devices
13/10/2021Google wants to roll out its Fuchsia operating system to more devices in the near future. Fuchsia that Google started using on its Nest Hub smart displays earlier this year is not based on Linux as Android. Fuchsia uses the Zircon development kernel and also Flutter, a language that allow the use of apps from different platforms, including Android. Google has been working on its next-gen operating system for five years, and now has just posted a job offer for engineers to expand Fuchsia to new devices.
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Google launches its very own VPN service in Spain
30/08/2021Google has just introduced its very own VPN service in Spain. This VPN is available through the Google One app. It aims to increase the online security of its customers and it is only available for Google One members on 2 TB plans or higher. Google's VPN service hides your IP address so that your online activity can't be tracked and protects your device against hackers when you're on an unsecured network, such as a public Wi-Fi network. However, unlike other VPNs, this one only works in Google's "supported countries" (Spain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States). At present, Google's VPN service is only available on Android devices. Nevertheless, on the VPN's site, Google notes that it plans to expand the service to iOS, Windows, and Mac in the near future.
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