AI
Cracking the Code: Faster Self-Attention with Tree Attention, Up to 8x Speed Boost! (~1 min.) : Researchers have uncovered the theoretical underpinnings of self-attention in transformer architectures, revealing that it can be computed using a scalar energy function and automatic differentiation techniques. This discovery enables the development of an efficient Tree Attention algorithm, which parallelizes attention computation across multiple GPUs and outperforms existing approaches like Ring Attention by up to 8x in terms of decoding speed. The new algorithm also requires less communication volume and peak memory usage. The code for this approach is publicly available for use.
Cybersecurity
CrowdStrike’s Epic Fail: When a Software Update Goes Wrong! (~2 min.) : CrowdStrike President Michael Sentonas accepted the “Most Epic Fail” award at Def Con’s Pwnie Awards for the company’s software update that caused a global IT outage last month. The update led to Windows machines crashing worldwide, causing significant outages at airlines like Delta and prompting Microsoft to call for changes to Windows. In his acceptance speech, Sentonas acknowledged the failure, saying it was “super important to own it when you do things horribly wrong.” He plans to display the award at CrowdStrike’s headquarters as a reminder of the importance of learning from mistakes.
Vanguard Awards: Celebrating Excellence in Cybersecurity Research and Vendor Innovation (~7 min.) : The Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) will award its inaugural Vanguard Awards at Black Hat USA 2024 to recognize outstanding researchers and vendors who have made significant contributions to the field of vulnerability research and disclosure. The awards will be given in five categories: Best Use of RF Enclosure, Most Prolific Researcher, Most Likely to Keep Incident Responders Awake, Best Use of AI, and Most In-Depth Submissions. For vendors, there are five categories: Best Security Advisories, Most Transparent Communication, Most Collaborative Vendor, Most Improved Vendor, and Fastest to Patch. The awards ceremony will take place at the Trend Micro booth on the show floor and will also be livestreamed online.
Token Terror: Top Tech Giants Left Exposed by GitHub Leak (~1 min.) : A vulnerability has been discovered in several high-profile open-source projects that could potentially compromise user security. The issue arises from the use of GitHub Actions artifacts in continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) workflows, which can leak authentication tokens from Google, Microsoft, AWS, and Red Hat projects. This vulnerability allows unauthorized access to sensitive information, putting users at risk. Remediation efforts are underway to address this issue and ensure the integrity of open-source software development.
Privacy
Chrome’s New Policy Shift: Goodbye uBlock Origin, Hello uBlock Origin Lite? (~3 min.) : Google’s Chrome browser is set to impact popular ad blocker uBlock Origin, which will be automatically disabled by upcoming updates. The change is part of Chrome’s shift from Manifest V2 to V3, aimed at improving extension safety and efficiency. While uBlock Origin still works for now, users will soon need to find a new ad blocker or switch browsers. The developer has created a Lite version with reduced features, but notes it’s not an automatic replacement, leaving users to seek alternatives.
Justice Minister Greenlights Dotcom’s US Exile: Battle for Justice Continues! (~3 min.) : New Zealand Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has approved the extradition of Kim Dotcom, founder of Megaupload, to the United States to face charges of criminal copyright infringement, racketeering, and money laundering. The decision marks the end of a nearly 12-year legal battle, during which Dotcom’s co-defendants had opted for plea deals. Dotcom himself has vowed to “fight on” and has hinted at having a plan in place, stating he doesn’t intend to leave New Zealand. The extradition order is expected to be challenged by Dotcom’s team.
Signal Blocked in Russia: Kremlin Cracks Down on Encrypted Chats (~1 min.) : Russia’s telecommunications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has restricted access to Signal, an encrypted messaging service, citing violations of the country’s anti-terrorism and anti-extremism laws. The move is reportedly in response to concerns that Signal was being used to disseminate extremist or terrorist content. This development marks another instance of the Russian government cracking down on online services perceived as threats to its national security. As a result, users in Russia may no longer be able to access Signal’s secure messaging features.
BIG BROTHER WATCH: EU Advocates Slam X for Training AI on Sensitive User Data! (~1 min.) : European privacy advocacy group NOYB (None of Your Business) has filed nine GDPR complaints against X, a social media company, for allegedly using personal data from over 60 million users in Europe to train its large language model, Grok. The complaint claims that X failed to obtain valid consent from users before processing their personal data. This marks the latest example of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) being used to hold tech companies accountable for their handling of user data.
Tools
Face Off! Revolutionizing Real-Time Face Swapping & Video Deepfakes with Deep Live Cam (~4 min.) : Deep Live Cam is an AI-powered tool that enables high-quality real-time face swapping and video deepfakes with just a single image. This state-of-the-art technology allows for accurate and fast processing, supporting multiple platforms including CPU, NVIDIA CUDA, and Apple Silicon. The tool features instant preview capabilities, one-click video deepfakes, and built-in checks to prevent the processing of inappropriate content. With its open-source nature, active community, and optimized algorithms, Deep Live Cam is poised to revolutionize the creative industry and beyond.
Stapling the Past: A New Take on an Old Concept (~4 min.) : The author has created a modern macOS app called Stapler, inspired by classic Macintosh apps from the 1990s that allowed users to collect and launch related files, folders, and documents with ease. The new app adds features like drag-and-drop functionality and zero-click auto-launch, making it more efficient than its predecessors. Users can create “Stapler Documents” containing lists of aliases that can be managed, inspected, and launched, saving time by opening multiple items at once. The app is available on GitHub and offers a unique task-based approach to working on a computer.
Entertainment
Blast from the Past: ‘Alien: Romulus’ Delivers Fresh Horror with a Familiar Twist (~6 min.) : The new Alien film, Romulus, almost premiered on Hulu instead of theaters. The movie boasts stunning practical effects and intricate set design, making it visually impressive. However, the story feels like a compilation of greatest hits from previous Alien films rather than a unique tale. The film follows a group of workers on a mining colony who are forced to labor for decades before they can earn their freedom. As they plan to escape, they unknowingly trigger a Xenomorph infestation on a decommissioned space station. While the film’s atmosphere and practical aliens are excellent, its story falls flat with too many familiar beats and unconvincing character relationships.
Gadgets
Prong-tastic Solution: Anker’s Thin 65W Charger Squeezes into Crowded Outlets! (~2 min.) : Anker has designed a new 65W charger that’s thin enough to fit between larger adapters on a power strip, making it ideal for crowded outlets. The charger features folding prongs that pivot from side to side, allowing it to be plugged into both wall and outlet spaces without fear of it slowly unplugging itself. This slim solution is currently only listed on Anker Japan’s website with a release date in winter 2024 and a price tag of around $47 USD. The charger shares up to 65W of power between two USB-C ports, making it a convenient option for charging multiple devices at once.
Snap to It: iPhone 16’s Revolutionary Capture Button Revealed (~5 min.) : The upcoming iPhone 16 models are rumored to feature an all-new “Capture Button” on the right side of the device, allowing for more intuitive photo and video capture. The button will support multiple gestures, including autofocus with a light press, taking photos with a harder press, and zooming in and out by swiping left or right. Apple plans to release the iPhone 16 series in September, featuring slightly larger displays, new A18 chip, and 8GB RAM for all models.
Charging Up: Realme’s 320W SuperSonic Speeds! (~2 min.) : Realme has unveiled its new 320W SuperSonic Charge technology, which can fully charge a smartphone with a 4,420mAh battery in just 4 minutes and 30 seconds. The tech features two key innovations: an upgraded charger that boosts power output without increasing size, and a new battery design with four individual cells that can be charged simultaneously. This marks the latest development in the fast charging arms race, following Redmi’s announcement of 300W charging technology earlier this year. However, Realme has not revealed which smartphone will feature this new tech or when it will be available.
Quest for Big Screen: Meta’s HDMI Link App Turns VR Headsets into Consoles-Ready Displays (~2 min.) : Meta has released the Meta Quest HDMI Link app for Quest 3, 2, and Pro headsets, allowing users to turn their devices into screens for consoles, laptops, or any device with video out capabilities. To use the app, you’ll need additional hardware - specifically a USB Video Class (UVC) and USB Audio Class (UAC) compatible capture card - which can be found for under $20. Once installed, the app allows users to view video from connected devices on a floating resizable screen with near-zero latency, although resolution is limited to 1080p at 60fps.
Science
Unlocking the Secrets of the Universe: New Measurements Reveal Clues to Resolving the Hubble Tension (~15 min.) : The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has enabled three separate methods for measuring the Hubble constant (H0), which describes the rate of expansion of the universe. The measurements yield values ranging from 67.96 to 75.4 km/s/Mpc, with an overall average value of 69.96 km/s/Mpc and a 4% uncertainty. Notably, JWST data suggests that supernovas in nearby galaxies may be brighter than those in distant galaxies, which could impact H0 estimates. To resolve the long-standing “Hubble tension” between different estimates of H0, astronomers will need to continue tracking down systematic errors and improving data quality.
From Failure to Success: How Sound Waves Helped Crack the Code on Non-Invasive Blood Pressure Monitoring (~9 min.) : Researchers at California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have developed a noninvasive, continuous blood pressure monitoring device called Esperto. The device uses resonance sonomanometry to measure the frequency at which an artery resonates when struck by sound waves, allowing for accurate blood pressure readings without invasive methods. After years of refining their idea and overcoming initial setbacks, the team successfully created a small, affordable, and automated device that can locate a patient’s blood vessel without repositioning. The Esperto device has the potential to revolutionize blood pressure monitoring in remote or low-resource settings.
Water, Water Everywhere: Scientists Stumble Upon Oceans of Liquid H2O Deep Within Mars’ Outer Crust! (~3 min.) : Scientists have discovered evidence of liquid water deep beneath the Martian surface, contrary to previous theories that most of Mars’ ancient water was lost to space. The finding comes from analyzing data from NASA’s Mars Insight Lander, which detected ground motions indicating fractured igneous rocks saturated with liquid water in the planet’s mid-crust. This suggests that similar underground water reservoirs exist throughout Mars, enough to form a layer half a mile deep. While reaching these water reservoirs will be challenging, the discovery could have significant implications for future human exploration and potential colonization of the Red Planet.
Misc
Unlocking Hacker News Insights: How Metaflow’s Magic Unfolds Sentiment Analysis in a Snap! (~14 min.) : Researchers used large language models (LLMs) to analyze sentiment and topics in Hacker News comments, processing over 370 million input tokens. They leveraged Metaflow, an open-source workflow management platform, to streamline their computations, ensuring scalability, high availability, and organization. The project demonstrated the feasibility of using LLMs for natural language processing and data analysis tasks, with potential applications in various fields. Additionally, the Outerbounds Platform was highlighted as providing additional benefits for large-scale computations.
Thank you for joining me in this week’s exploration of the tech universe. Amidst the endless stream of information, I strive to bring you news that is not only relevant but also thought-provoking. Your thoughts and feedback are always welcome. Don’t forget to spread the word about the Friday Tech Focus Newsletter and stay tuned for more curated insights next week!