The yr 2024 has been marked by some ground-breaking developments within the technological panorama. However, controversies had been inevitable. From Elon Musk to Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, tech leaders dominated the information with their views and controversial takes.
Whereas developments in Synthetic Intelligence dominated many of the yr, there have been some distinct moments within the yr that reshaped the course of know-how. We noticed generative AI instruments getting more and more subtle with outputs that rival human creativity. Certainly, this was the yr when AI-generated content material sparked issues, significantly to do with the dissemination of deepfakes and misinformation impacting elections.
Social media and censorship additionally took priority within the debate round content material moderation, hanging a steadiness between free speech and the necessity to counter hate speech, dangerous content material, and misinformation prevailed. The yr additionally noticed the talk over work-life steadiness, and layoffs by massive tech corporations redefining the narrative round tech industries worldwide.
Elon Musk – The Newsmaker
From political activism to asserting his affect, Elon Musk dominated the headlines incessantly all year long. The US elections of 2024 was among the many most eagerly awaited occasions of the yr, particularly with former President Donald Trump within the fray; this might have far-reaching penalties on the earth order. Musk performed a central position within the election, which finally noticed a landslide victory for Trump. The X proprietor inserted himself into US politics by vociferously campaigning for Trump and even opposing bipartisan spending payments. By way of his America PAC, Musk donated $75 million to increase his assist for the Republican candidates. He additionally initiated the $1 million each day sweepstakes, aimed toward swing state voters, which was adopted by a authorized probe of alleged violation of lottery legal guidelines. All through Trump’s marketing campaign, Musk positioned himself as one of many important political and influential figures, utilizing a lot of the may of X to mould public opinion.
Other than his stint with US politics, Musk clashed with the US Securities and Trade Fee over previous agreements associated to his acquisition of Twitter. As well as, Musk confronted restrictions on SpaceX launches, primarily because of his political statements. He additionally filed a lawsuit in opposition to OpenAI overtly displaying his dissatisfaction with the AI powerhouse’s governance. His spat with Brazil’s Supreme Courtroom order to droop X accounts additionally showcased his frequent run-ins with authority. Briefly, there have been questions on his safety clearances over his alleged international contacts and previous drug use.
Musk additionally made some statements about AI, which remained a hot-button subject all year long. The 52-year-old stated that finally, AI will get rid of jobs, and likewise emphasised that the coaching of AI needs to be trustworthy and clear, asking for laws. By way of the yr, on totally different events, Musk defended most of his actions, claiming that they had been aligned with the beliefs of free speech. Alongside together with his sweeping statements, he additionally criticised regulatory overreach, alleged political focusing on, and strongly opposed restrictions on his platforms and companies. His method of difficult norms was admired, but in addition drew extreme criticism.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrest
In late August, the world woke as much as the information of the arrest of Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram. The CEO was arrested over the weekend in Paris over allegations that Telegram was being sued for unlawful actions corresponding to drug trafficking and distribution of photographs of kid sexual abuse (CSA). Durov was taken into custody on the Paris-Le Bourget Airport after he landed from Azerbaijan on August 24. Following his arrest, the platform posted a press release saying that it abides by EU legal guidelines and its content material moderation was inside business requirements and has been continually bettering. The assertion additionally stated that Durov had nothing to cover and has been travelling throughout Europe incessantly.
The Russian multi-billionaire’s arrest was a part of an investigation into CSA, drug trafficking, and fraudulent transactions linked to the platform. Durov was charged with allegedly permitting legal exercise on the app. Nevertheless, he prevented jail time on the situation of a €5 million fantastic and that he report back to the police twice per week and stay in France. Durov’s arrest gave the much-needed impetus to the continuing name for regulating social media. The arrest comes at a time when Elon Musk, who has been calling any type of litigation on his platform X a crackdown on free speech, Musk, who’s a self-proclaimed ‘free speech absolutist,’ has on a number of events spoken out in assist of Durov. Across the similar time, the world witnessed a number of debates relating to the character of free speech.
Telegram is likely one of the well-liked messaging platforms that permits particular person and group chats together with massive channels that enable individuals to broadcast messages to their subscribers. Not like WhatsApp, which has a restrict of 1,024 members in group chats, Telegram permits as many as 2 lakh customers in a single group, sparking issues across the spate of misinformation. Whereas the app gives encryption, the characteristic shouldn’t be on by default, and customers are required to manually change it on in the event that they want to encrypt their chats. Additionally, this characteristic doesn’t work with group chats. In distinction, Sign and Fb Messenger chats are end-to-end encrypted by default.
Brazil’s ban on X
In September this yr, Brazil’s Supreme Courtroom upheld the choice to ban X nationwide. The judgement got here after Elon Musk, who’s the proprietor of X Corp, the corporate that runs X (previously Twitter), failed to call a authorized consultant for the platform in Brazil. In keeping with the ruling, X was to stay blocked till Musk names a authorized consultant and pay a fantastic of round $5 million for ignoring orders to dam person accounts. The Supreme Courtroom additionally froze the belongings of Musk’s satellite tv for pc firm, Starlink, which gives web entry to just about 2,50,000 individuals within the distant elements of the nation. On the time, reportedly 10 per cent of the nation’s inhabitants, roughly 20 million individuals had been energetic on X.
The whole episode was mired in politics, as following the defeat of former president Jair Bolsonaro, his supporters started questioning the electoral system. Owing to the spate of misinformation and polarisation on the platform, Justice Alexandre de Moraes, focused a number of person accounts demanding X to dam them.
Consequentially, Musk defied the orders and in flip accused de Moraes of stifling free speech. Nevertheless, on October 9, the Supreme Courtroom lifted the ban on X. Following the choice, de Moraes stated that he allowed the ban to be lifted after X paid ‘hefty fines’ and blocked accounts accused of spreading misinformation. Elon Musk’s platform reportedly paid $5.1 million in fines and had additionally agreed to nominate an area consultant, as required by the legislation in Brazil.
OpenAI vs Scarlett Johansson
In Might, OpenAI confirmed off its conversational voice mode, claiming that it may detect totally different tones of voice and even reply when interrupted identical to people. Sam Altman’s AI powerhouse showcased a brand new AI mannequin, GPT-4o, with audio capabilities permitting customers to talk to the chatbot and procure real-time responses. This has been seen as a major development amongst realistic-sounding AI conversations. Nevertheless, hours after the demo of voice referred to as Sky was showcased to the world, it was severely criticised by some researchers who claimed that such AI chatbots had been pandering to the sexist stereotypes about feminine assistants who’re compliant and flirty.
Following criticism from a number of quarters, OpenAI took it down. Later, Johansson accused OpenAI of making a voice for ChatGPT that sounded “eerily comparable” to her. The actress stated that she had declined to voice the chatbot when Altman had approached her 9 months in the past. Altman had, in a press release, stated that the voice of Sky was not an imitation of Johansson’s voice and that it belonged to a distinct actress. “The voice of Sky shouldn’t be Scarlett Johansson’s, and it was by no means meant to resemble hers. We solid the voice actor behind Sky’s voice earlier than any outreach to Ms. Johansson,” Altman stated, including that out of respect for the Hollywood star, the corporate determined to pause utilizing Sky’s voice in any of its merchandise. The incident passed off at a time when a battle for the rights of actors’ voices and pictures within the period of AI was teeming in Hollywood. The spat between OpenAI and Johansson additionally underscored the authorized and moral issues round AI and AI-generated content material.
Australia bans social media for under-16 customers
Firstly of the yr, CEOs of a number of social media platforms, together with Meta and TikTok, testified earlier than the US Senate Judiciary Committee relating to the position of their platforms in on-line baby exploitation. The hearings highlighted the challenges tech corporations confronted whereas moderating content material and safeguarding weak customers. On-line baby security and the influence of social media on younger customers have been fixed discourses all year long. The most important growth on this route passed off in November, when Australia determined to approve a ban on social media for youngsters underneath 16. The choice, which is seen as a benchmark for jurisdictions, is bringing a number of the hardest laws focusing on massive tech corporations.
Underneath Australia’s Social Media Minimal Age invoice, platforms from Instagram and Fb to TikTok shall be compelled to cease minors from logging into their platforms. They’d be fined $32 million in the event that they fail to adjust to the legislation. Reportedly, a path of strategies to implement the brand new legislation will begin in January, and the ban is about to take impact in a yr. The legislation has been more and more seen as a take a look at case for a number of governments around the globe which have been working to legislate age restrictions on social media. It must be famous that the widespread minimal age throughout platforms is at the moment 13, and with the push for stricter age verification and holding tech giants accountable, Australia is setting a benchmark for the remainder of the world. It’s believed that different nations could quickly observe swimsuit amid a broader debate on youngsters’s rights on-line. Specialists view it as not a mere nationwide measure however a pacesetter for world digital governance.
AI Overview misfire
Amid the continuing issues round AI and misinformation, Google launched its AI Overviews characteristic in Might 2024. Instantly after its rollout, Google’s AI Overviews courted controversy over its inaccurate and absurd solutions. Reportedly, the overview confirmed responses asking individuals to place glue on pizza, suggesting customers drink urine to cross kidney stones, and it additionally claimed that Barack Obama was the primary Muslim president of america.
The incident highlighted how AI techniques are inherently unreliable. Following the gaffe, Google introduced that it was making technical enhancements to the system to make the characteristic much less prone to generate inaccurate solutions. As a precaution, Google additionally stated that it was limiting satirical, humorous, and user-generated content material in responses. AI Overview makes use of AI to generate content material that seems when a person searches for info. In keeping with Google, AI overviews provide simplified, AI-generated solutions to queries with hyperlinks to sources. It is part of Google’s Search Generative Expertise that was introduced at Google I/O 2023.
Coding is a factor of the previous
Within the final three years, we noticed the unprecedented tempo at which AI has been progressing. Whereas AI continued to give you new use circumstances, the fears of job displacements continued, with a number of research displaying how AI has been distressing professionals worldwide. In February, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang predicted the demise of coding, claiming that AI will do the work and there’s no want for youngsters to study it. Whereas talking on the World Authorities Summit in Dubai, Huang asserted that since AI is making fast developments, studying to code shouldn’t be a precedence for anybody wishing to enter the tech sector.
Studying to code is seen as an important ability that has been advocated by a number of business leaders. Nevertheless, Huang’s assertion triggered a debate. Curiously, it’s not the primary time that Huang made such a remark. The CEO had earlier stated that pursuing a profession in coding won’t be definitely worth the effort with the tempo of developments in AI; nonetheless, he beneficial biology, training, manufacturing, and even agriculture as potential profession choices for the youth. Huang’s assertion whereas highlighting the deserves of superior AI, nonetheless, didn’t allay the fears amongst professionals and job seekers who’re rising anxious with the emergence of AI.
The work-life conundrum
The pandemic modified the best way we work by introducing work-from-home, hybrid, and distant choices to the collective conscience. With the ever-changing panorama of labor, there was extra emphasis on reaching work-life steadiness, and the necessity for structured work preparations. This yr, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy sparked discussions after he advocated for a 70-hour workweek. The 78-year-old emphasised the necessity for onerous work to enhance India’s productiveness and world competitiveness. The billionaire had additionally expressed his disappointment over India transferring from a six-day to a five-day workweek in 1986; such adjustments, in line with him, impede progress. The businessman cited his expertise of working 14 hours a day for six-and-a-half days per week till his retirement.
Murthy’s statements triggered sturdy reactions, with most critics claiming that this proposition of prolonged work hours may finally result in worker burnout and adversely influence work-life steadiness. Regardless of his phrases stirring an argument, Murthy asserted that he didn’t imagine in work-life steadiness. “I’ve not modified my view; I’ll take this with me to my grave,” he stated. Murthy’s views had been closely criticised, with 1000’s sharing memes on social media and lots of calling out tech corporations which have been underpaying their employees. On the same tangent, Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO of Ola, kicked the hornet’s nest after he stated that weekends had been a ‘western idea.’ Equally, 22-year-old CEO of tech startup Zepto, Aadit Palicha, stirred the web after his views on work-life steadiness. Palicha’s feedback got here after a put up on Reddit by a Zepto worker claiming poisonous work tradition went viral.
By the way, on 20 July 2024, a 26-year-old worker of EY, Anna Sebastin Perayil, died allegedly from overwork. Her demise sparked nationwide outrage and debate on working situations within the company world.
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