Category: Tech

The Current’s tech news keeps you upto date with news of new gadgets, tech updates, information about tech startups and technology reviews.

  • 1,300 workers to lose jobs as Zoom adapts to global economic uncertainty

    1,300 workers to lose jobs as Zoom adapts to global economic uncertainty

    Zoom Video Communications, the company behind the widely-used video conferencing platform, announced plans to lay off approximately 15 per cent of its workforce on Tuesday.

    In a blog post, CEO Eric Yuan disclosed that he will be taking a 98 per cent reduction in salary and forgoing his executive bonus this year. Members of the executive leadership team will also receive a 20 per cent reduction in salary and forfeit their bonuses.

    Despite continued reliance on Zoom as the world adjusts to post-pandemic life, the company is facing reduced spending from customers, as stated by Yuan. This has led to the difficult decision to lay off around 1,300 employees.

    Owing to the challenges posed by the pandemic, Yuan expressed pride in the company’s ability to keep people connected and noted that the company’s employee count tripled during the pandemic due to the platform’s widespread use for remote work, court hearings, and social events.

    “We are seeing that people and businesses continue to rely on Zoom,” Yuan said.

    “But the uncertainty of the global economy, and its effect on our customers, means we need to take a hard look inward to reset ourselves so we can weather the economic environment, deliver for our customers and achieve Zoom’s long-term vision.” Zoom will continue to invest in strategic areas, the chief executive noted.

    Zoom has joined the trend of US tech companies reducing their workforce amid global economic challenges and a shift towards cost-saving measures.

    American computer company, Dell, announced plans to lay off around 5 per cent of its global workforce, or approximately 6,650 employees. These job cuts follow similar moves made by tech industry giants such as Microsoft, Facebook, Alphabet (Google’s parent company), Amazon, and Twitter as the industry prepares for economic uncertainty.

    The cuts come after a period of significant hiring during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when companies were attempting to meet the increased demand for online work, education, and entertainment. According to the job loss tracking site, Layoffs.fyi, over 95,000 tech employees have lost their jobs since the start of the year.

  • Wikipedia is now working in Pakistan

    Wikipedia is now working in Pakistan

    A two-day-old ban on Wikipedia was reversed by the Pakistani government after outrage on restricting the online encyclopaedia.

    The ban was put in place by Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) due to “unlawful” content.

    The website is now working in Pakistan.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday ordered the PTA to restore the online encyclopedia with “immediate effect”.

    “Blocking the site in its entirety was not a suitable measure to restrict access to some objectionable content,” a statement issued by the PM’s office read.
    “The unintended consequences of this blanket ban, therefore, outweigh its benefits,” it added.

    PTA blocked Wikipedia in the country last week for not removing sacrilegious content from the website.

  • Apple reportedly plans to launch a pricier iPhone ‘Ultra’ next year

    Apple reportedly plans to launch a pricier iPhone ‘Ultra’ next year

    Apple has traditionally released four iPhone models annually — Mini, Standard, Pro, and Pro Max. However, last year the Mini was replaced with a Plus model and this lineup is expected to remain the same this year.

    According to a report from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple plans to revamp its lineup in 2024 and introduce an iPhone Ultra, which is said to be a top-of-the-line device more powerful than the Pro Max. This means that the iPhone 16 series will feature this new model from the Cupertino-based company.

    According to recent reports, the highly anticipated iPhone Ultra model will not replace the Pro Max in the current iPhone lineup. Instead, both the Pro Max and the new Ultra model are expected to be part of the next year’s iPhone offerings.

    The iPhone Ultra, rumored to feature a titanium build, offers a distinct selling point in a market dominated by devices built with alternative materials. While the use of titanium is expected to bring a premium feel to the device, it may also result in a higher price point.

    In addition to its superior build, the iPhone Ultra is expected to come equipped with several hardware upgrades, including improved camera capabilities, a faster processing chip, a larger display, and possibly a portless design, eliminating the need for a Lightning or USB-C port. These cutting-edge features position the iPhone Ultra as a standout device in a highly competitive market.

  • Pakistan’s Atif Butt wins the Tekken World Tour Finals 2022

    Pakistan’s Atif Butt wins the Tekken World Tour Finals 2022

    In another crown for Pakistan’s game community, Atif Butt emerged as the new “King of the Iron Fist” on Sunday after winning the Tekken World Tour 2022.

    The event brought together 24 elite players, with some securing their place through the Regional Finals and others through the Last Chance Qualifiers. This marked the first Tekken World Tour in three years and may be one of the last opportunities for players to showcase their skills in an offline setting for Tekken 7.

    The highly-anticipated Tekken World Tour 2022 offered a grand prize of $100,000, with the champion, Atif Butt, earning a substantial portion of the winnings at $50,000. In the final match, Butt faced off against JeonDDing and delivered a commanding performance, solidifying his victory and maintaining his undefeated record throughout the tournament.

    Butt established himself as a formidable competitor in the Tekken World Tour 2022, showcasing his skills with a string of impressive victories. During the preliminary stage, he excelled in his group, earning a coveted spot in the Finals Bracket and demonstrating his mastery of the game.

    Unfortunately, Arsalan Ash’s performance in the Tekken World Tour 2022 did not meet expectations, as he was unable to advance to the Finals Bracket, with three losses in five games during the Group Stage.

    However, Atif Butt’s remarkable comeback in the Winners Finals against Chikurin was a highlight of the tournament. He recovered from an early 0-2 deficit to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory. In the Grand Finals, he faced JeonDDing and dominated the match, sweeping him 3-0 to earn the title of World Champion.

    Bandai Namco has announced the start of the next iteration of the Tekken World Tour, set to commence on March 31, 2023. The tour will kick off at EVO Japan 2023, hosted at the Tokyo Big Sight from March 31 to April 2. This will serve as the first of several major tournaments to be included in the Tekken World Tour 2023.

  • Wikimedia Foundation requests PTA to unblock Wikipedia

    Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced on Friday that it was blocking access to Wikipedia on grounds of refusal to remove sacrilegious content, after restricting the website for 48 hours.
    Now, Wikimedia Foundation has released a statement on their official Twitter account, giving their side of the story.

    “On 1 February, we received a notification from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority stating “the services of Wikipedia have been degraded for 48 hours” for failure to remove content deemed “unlawful.” As of 3 February, our data shows this has extended into a full block.”

    The Foundation emphasized that the right to access to knowledge was for everyone, and in restricting Wikipedia, PTA was denying a country with the 5th largest population in the world that right. They urged the Pakistani government to remove the block and allow Wikipedia to function freely within Pakistan.

    “We believe that access to knowledge is a human right. A block of @Wikipedia in Pakistan denies the 5th most populous nation in the world access to the largest free knowledge repository. If it continues, it will also deprive everyone access to Pakistan’s history and culture. We hope that the Pakistan government joins us in a commitment to knowledge as a human right and restores access to @Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects promptly, so that the people of Pakistan can continue to receive and share knowledge with the world.”

  • ‘How we find new ways to embarrass ourselves internationally’: Twitter not happy with Wikipedia ban

    ‘How we find new ways to embarrass ourselves internationally’: Twitter not happy with Wikipedia ban

    The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Friday blocked Wikipedia in the country for not removing sacrilegious content from the website.

    “Action was taken because some of the content is still available on Wikipedia after the expiry of a 48-hour deadline,” wrote Bloomberg while quoting a spokesperson of the telecom regulator.

    Earlier this week PTA restricted access to Wikipedia for Pakistanis for 48 hours.

    In a series of tweets from its official Twitter account, PTA has said that the free online encyclopedia had “sacrilegious” content, despite being asked by PTA to remove it.

    The access to the website will be resumed in Pakistan after the removal of the sacrilegious content.

    Twitter is reacting to the ban, with most people criticising the ban on one of the world’s largest crowd-sourced platforms.

    Have a look at the reactions:

    https://twitter.com/nmemon2004/status/1621802574893518848
  • First-generation Apple iPhone 2G set to sell for Rs1.36 crore at auction

    First-generation Apple iPhone 2G set to sell for Rs1.36 crore at auction

    Apple fans have the chance to own an original 2007 first-generation iPhone – if they are willing to pay the price.

    According to LCG Auctions, where the item is offered for sale, the original 2007 factory iPhone is likely to fetch an amazing $50,000 or more. It is still sealed and unopened in its factory packaging.

    The iPhone had a 3.5-inch screen, a 2-megapixel camera, and 4 or 8 GB of storage when it was originally manufactured. According to CNN, the initial phone was only offered by AT&T on a 2G network and did not have an app store. Time Magazine awarded it the Invention of the Year for 2007.

    The particular iPhone up for grabs is being consigned by its owner, Karen Green, who was gifted the Apple product when it was first released. In a 2019 appearance on “The Doctor & The Diva,” the proud owner said she was gifted the phone but never opened the package as she was happy with her current device.

    She said she held onto it hoping it would come in handy one day. On the air, her 8 GB phone was appraised at $5,000 by Ph.D. Antiques Appraiser Dr Lori.

  • Bhai, Bhenoo, Netflix nay bata diya how it will stop you from password sharing

    Bhai, Bhenoo, Netflix nay bata diya how it will stop you from password sharing

    Welp! It looks like Valentines Day has arrived early, with Netflix acting like a kabab mein haddi for you and bae’s downtime.
    The streaming giant has released a new set of rules and regulations to stop users from sharing their passwords. The streaming giant has updated their Help Center page with details of how users will be stopped from borrowing their sister’s, friend’s or elder brother’s account from now onwards.

    According to the new guidelines as reported by Streamable, Netflix accounts are only shareable within a household. To ensure that devices are connected to the original Wi-Fi, users are required to log in to the app from their primary location, and watch something every 31 days. If a user’s device has been blocked incorrectly, they can contact Netflix in order to get it unblocked.

    To prevent outsiders from sharing an account with someone who isn’t a part of the Netflix household, the app revealed they would block access if the user signs in to their account from elsewhere.

    One of the most controversial rule introduced has been surrounding requirements for travelling users, who wondered how they can log in to the streaming website through their devices.

    Netflix will block your access if users sign in to the app outside their home. For traveling users to work around this, if they wish to use the app on a hotel television, they can request the company to send them a temporary code while signing in. This will allow them access to their account for seven days.

    To track users on whether they’re using internet within their household, Netflix will be using information like IP addresses, device ID’s and account activity.

    However, these list of rules as uploaded by Streamable, are not currently present on the Netflix Help Center page, but they are accessible through Wayback Machine, which means that the app is changing a few rules before enforcing the password protection policy.

    According to the new update on their Password Sharing Page, if users logged in to their device outside their homes, then they would be asked to verify their device by sending a verification code to the primary owner’s email address before using Netflix.

    Especially if a user is travelling, they will no longer be blocked from access if they logged in to Netflix from a different Wi-Fi, but they must occasionally verify their device after a few days.

  • Donald Trump to return to Facebook, Instagram after two-year ban

    Donald Trump to return to Facebook, Instagram after two-year ban

    Donald Trump will be allowed back on to Facebook and Instagram after Meta announced it would be ending its two-year suspension of his social media accounts.

    The ban will end “in the coming weeks,” Meta said. In a statement, Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, said the public “should be able to hear what their politicians are saying.”

    The former US president was indefinitely suspended from Facebook and Instagram after the Capitol riots in 2021.

    The social media giant had acted following Trump’s “praise for people engaged in violence at the Capitol,” Clegg said. “The suspension was an extraordinary decision taken in extraordinary circumstances,” he added.

    Clegg said a review had now found that Trump’s accounts no longer represented a serious risk to public safety. However, owing to Trump’s past, he would now face intensified penalties for any offences in the future.

    Meta’s Oversight Board, a body it set up to review moderation rulings, said that the decision to reinstate Trump on its platforms “sat with Meta alone; the board did not have a role in the decision.”

    The board had already informed Meta that a review of Trump’s suspension was necessary.

    It encouraged Meta to be open and to offer more details about new laws protecting public figures so that it could assess how they were being applied.

  • AI ChatBot passes MBA exam given by a Wharton professor

    AI ChatBot passes MBA exam given by a Wharton professor

    According to recent research by a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, the chatbot GPT-3, powered by artificial intelligence, was successful in passing the program’s final exam for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

    Professor Christian Terwiesch, who wrote the research paper “Would Chat GPT3 Get a Wharton MBA?” A Prediction Based on Its Performance in the Operations Management Course,” claimed that the bot scored between a B- and B in the exam.

    The bot’s score shows its “remarkable ability to automate some of the skills of highly compensated knowledge workers in general and specifically the knowledge workers in the jobs held by MBA graduates, including analysts, managers, and consultants,” according to Terwiesch.

    The AI bot did an “amazing job at basic operations management and process analysis questions, including those that are based on case studies,” Terwiesch wrote in the paper, which was published on January 17. He also said the bot’s answers were “excellent.”

    The bot is also “remarkably good at modifying its answers in response to human hints,” he concluded.

    The results of Terwiesch’s research come as schools become more worried that AI chatbots may encourage cheating. Despite the fact that chatbots are not a recent invention, ChatGPT took off on social media in late 2022. The New York City Department of Education announced earlier this month that ChatGPT would no longer be allowed on any equipment or networks in its schools.

    The majority of the argument is centered on how difficult it is to differentiate between human responses and ChatGPT’s conversational speech style and cohesive, topical response style.

    Experts in artificial intelligence and education have admitted that ChatGPT and other such bots may eventually harm education. However, other educators and professionals said in recent interviews that they weren’t worried just yet.

    The GPT-3 model utilised in the study seems to be an older sibling of the most recent ChatGPT bot, which has generated debate among academics and AI professionals.

    ChatGPT, the newest version, “is fine-tuned from a model in the GPT-3.5 series,” according to OpenAI’s website.

    While Chat GPT3’s results were impressive, Terwiesch noted that Chat GPT3 “at times makes surprising mistakes in relatively simple calculations at the level of 6th-grade math.”

    According to NDTV, the present version of Chat GPT is “not capable of handling more advanced process analysis questions, even when they are based on fairly standard templates,” Terwiesch added. “This includes process flows with multiple products and problems with stochastic effects such as demand variability.”

    However, Terwiesch said ChatGPT3’s performance on the test has “important implications for business school education, including the need for exam policies, curriculum design focusing on collaboration between humans and AI, opportunities to simulate real-world decision-making processes, the need to teach creative problem solving, improved teaching productivity, and more.”