March 30, 2024
Tech News
MLCommons, an artificial intelligence benchmarking group, released new tests measuring the speed of AI applications in responding to user queries. The benchmarks focus on the performance of AI chips and systems, particularly in question-and-answer scenarios and text-to-image generation. Nvidia’s H100 chips excelled in these tests, highlighting the importance of balancing performance with energy consumption in AI deployment.
The US State Department is offering up to $10 million for information on the “Blackcat” ransomware gang responsible for attacking UnitedHealth Group’s tech unit, causing significant disruptions in insurance payments. The attack led to a backlog of over $14 billion in medical claims, with UnitedHealth reportedly paying a $22 million ransom to recover its systems.
Google is shutting down its Podcasts app in the U.S. soon, urging users to migrate their subscriptions to YouTube Music by April 2. The move is part of Google’s broader strategy to centralize its audio services under YouTube. Despite the shutdown, users will have additional time to save their subscriptions using the app’s export feature through July 2024.
GXBank, Malaysia’s first digital bank, is offering a promotional 5% interest per annum for deposits kept under its Saving Pockets feature in conjunction with Hari Raya. The promotion runs from April 10 to May 9, 2024, aiming to attract more customers with higher interest rates. GXBank also supports DuitNow QR for payments and offers a GX Card with cashback benefits.
Hippocratic AI, an American healthcare startup, is partnering with Nvidia to develop a virtual healthcare agent powered by generative artificial intelligence. The goal is to create a reliable and empathetic virtual assistant that can support patients in various ways, such as post-operation check-ins or explaining test results. This initiative aims to address the global shortfall in healthcare workers by leveraging AI technology.
Tech Explained
Artificial Intelligence – Artificial intelligence refers to the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, particularly computer systems. These processes include learning, reasoning, and self-correction.
Ransomware – Ransomware is a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system or data until a sum of money is paid. It is a form of cyber extortion that can cause significant disruptions to businesses and individuals.
Digital Bank – A digital bank is a financial institution that operates solely online without physical branches. Digital banks offer services such as online account opening, digital payments, and automated customer support.
Generative Artificial Intelligence – Generative artificial intelligence refers to AI systems that can create new content, such as images, text, or audio, based on patterns and data it has been trained on. This technology is often used in creative applications and content generation.
