Texas to use AI scoring system to grade state-mandated exams

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Texas to use AI scoring system to grade state-mandated exams
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The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is testing Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) in its scoring system. The new grading technique will employ chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT to understand and communicate with users.

Texas will hire far fewer human evaluators this year, as it is replacing them with a new AI-powered scoring system. The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) exams could be a testbench for replacing a majority of human graders with Gen AI.

Texas training Gen AI scoring system to replace human evaluators

The Texas Education Agency has reportedly confirmed it is, “rolling out an automated scoring engine for open-ended questions on the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness for reading, writing, science and social studies”.

This year’s state-mandated exams in Texas are going to be historic. Students appearing for their STAAR exams this week will have way fewer human graders than last year. A natural language processing engine, commonly called Generative AI, will evaluate most of their answers.

The STAAR test measures students’ understanding of the state-mandated core curriculum. The state of Texas redesigned it last year. Interestingly, the test now has far fewer multiple-choice questions. Texas has replaced them with “open-ended questions” or “constructed response items”.

According to the Texas Tribune, the newly introduced open-ended questions would have, “six to seven times more constructed response items.”

Simply put, such open-ended questions have several acceptable responses, compared to just one response in a multiple-choice question. Consequentially, such questions need a lot more time and evaluators to score, stated Jose Rios, director of student assessment at the Texas Education Agency.

In other words, these questions significantly increase the complexity of grading. And this is where Gen AI truly shines. Platforms such as ChatGPT have a proven track record of answering complex queries at multiple levels of simplicity and depth.

Texas estimates Gen AI will save $15 million to $20 million each year

The TEA has trained the Gen AI scoring system using 3,000 responses. As a safety precaution, the Gen AI is exposed to answers that have undergone two rounds of human scoring. The AI scoring engine has reportedly learned the characteristics of responses, and it is programmed to assign the same scores a human would have given.

Human graders will reevaluate a quarter of all the computer-graded results. Moreover, some answers that may confuse the AI scoring system, such as slang or non-English responses, would be passed on to human evaluators.

The TEA has estimated it will save $15–20 million per year by reducing the need for temporary human scorers. Statistically speaking, Texas plans to hire less than 2,000 human graders this year. Back in 2023, the Lone Star State had hired about 6,000 evaluators for the same exam. Needless to say, several educators have expressed concern about the new evaluation technique.


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Google Photos expands many of its AI photo editing features to all Android and iOS users for free

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Google Photos expands many of its AI photo editing features to all Android and iOS users for free
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Photo editing AI tools have been the craze for some time now, and Google has been one of the main players in this arena. Cutting edge features like Photo Unblur, Magic Eraser, and Portrait Light have been built right into the Pixel experience and other devices have been able to enjoy them via the Google Photos app with a Google One subscribers. In a surprising move, though, Google today announced that it is now bringing these features to all free of charge.
Starting on May 15th, the aforementioned features will be available for all Android (v8.0 and newer) and iOS (v15 and newer) Google Photos users. Other than requiring at least 4GB of RAM, the tools will be available to all without needing a Google One subscription. Pixel tablets will also be eligible to receive this. 

Additionally, Google Photos users on Android and iOS will be able to use Magic Editor, the generative AI tool that can do more complex photo edits, for free with up to 10 saves per month. Now, if you want to go beyond those ten free Magic Editor saves a month, you’ll either need a Pixel phone or a Premium Google One Plan of 2TB and above.

To use some of these editing tools, you must first download the editing tool by going to it and tapping “Install”. This will require a Wi-Fi connection (preferably) and at least 1GB of device storage. Unfortunately, features such as Audio Eraser, Best Take, and Video Boost are still exclusive to the Pixel 8 series for now.

All of this will start to roll out gradually in mid-May in your Google Photos app. As always, keep in mind that Google uses staged rollouts, so there’s no telling exactly what day the update will reach your account or device.

All images credit: Google


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The popular custom ROM ‘Pixel Experience’ shuts down

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The popular custom ROM ‘Pixel Experience’ shuts down
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Under the most disappointing of circumstances, the widely admired Pixel Experience ROM is shutting down. It’s opting out of the Android custom ROM scene leaving users in search of alternatives. The lead developer, José Henrique, made this announcement today that he is terminating the project. He also confirmed that older builds will still be accessible.

Popular Pixel Experience custom ROM is ending development

Even so, the lack of new releases means that it’s all over for the Pixel-inspired Android experience, leaving fans disappointed. Through a short blog post, José Henrique has shared his thanks with the community without disclosing why he decided to quit developing Pixel Experience any further.

Although older builds might still be around for a while, Henrique has left those who love Pixel Experience wondering why exactly the project ended. Per the internet claims, reasons could range from possible time constraints to dwindling interest on Henrique’s part.

Nevertheless, no clear explanation leaves an aura of ambiguity around the occurrence. Users are wondering what provoked such an abrupt decision. The decision may let down people as they do not understand what will happen next and how the developers will wrap up things in a good way.

The custom ROM community might find a way to recover from this

However, there could still be other developers to take over the project or start another one that has similar objectives; thus the custom ROM community is not entirely dead. But even though for a decade now we have been seeing a decline in the world of custom ROMs, Android’s allure will keep enthusiasts looking for different firmware to try out.

For users who have said goodbye to Pixel Experience, their hopes are still high about further development of custom ROMs. The Android community remains innovative and exploring despite doubts surrounding this project’s downfall. As they say, when one door closes, another opens up. So for non-Google hardware who seek Pixel experience, the perfect custom ROM is still out there, and LineageOS comes to mind as the best alternative.


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These are what Motorola’s new earbuds will look like

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These are what Motorola’s new earbuds will look like
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A new leak has popped up that shows what the Moto Buds and Moto Buds+ will look like. Motorola makes a range of products but in the consumer space, it typically sticks to smartphones. It also releases the occasional accessory that you can pair with them, and that’s what these new earbuds appear to be. They’re true wireless earbuds and will come in two models, one being more premium with additional features.

These aren’t Motorola’s first pair of true wireless earbuds. Back in 2023, it launched the Moto Buds 600 ANC for around $150. A fairly reasonable price in the market, especially with all of the other options around the same cost. There’s no word on what the prices will be for either of these new pairs. The leak only includes images. However, they shouldn’t be much more than what last year’s earbuds were. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Moto Buds come in at around $99 while the Moto Buds+ end up around $50 – $100 more.

The Moto Buds+ will come in two colors, while the Moto Buds will come in four

The leak of the new Moto Buds and Moto Buds+ comes from Evan Blass on X, who shared a few images of each pair. There will be two colors for the Moto Buds+ while the likely more affordable Moto Buds will come with four colors. Although there aren’t any official names, the Moto Buds+ appear to come in Black and Gold options. Meanwhile, the Moto Buds will come in two different shades of Blue, one that looks more like a Navy and then another that’s sort of like the ‘Sea’ color of the Pixel 7a. The Moto Buds will also come in a bright yellow, and then a color that looks very close to the Coral option that Google has used on both its Pixel and Nest products.

In addition to the lack of price or availability, there is no information on specs. However, there is a clear distinction between the features of the two models judging from the design. The Moto Buds+ for example have what appear to be microphones on the outside of the upper part of the earbuds. Potentially for a transparency mode. In fact they look quite similar in design to the OnePlus Buds 3 that we reviewed earlier this year. Only the microphones are placed vertically instead of horizontally. They also have a slightly different shape than the Moto Buds.

Interestingly, Motorola has done something similar with the finishes on each of the two Moto Buds+ earbuds that Google did with its Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Specifically, the Black pair of earbuds has a matte finish save for a glossy ring around the top part of the earbud. While the Gold pair puts the glossy finish at the bottom. Google did this with its latest Pixel phones. The Pro model has glossy finishes on the frame with a matte back. Whereas the standard model has glossy backs with a matte frame.

Additionally, the cases on the Moto Buds all appear to be white regardless of the color of the earbuds. The Moto Buds+ however, will have cases that match their color.


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YouTube Music promises Podcasts will get better on the platform

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YouTube Music promises Podcasts will get better on the platform
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Google Podcasts is officially dead. That has been the case for a week now, and the designated replacement – YouTube Music – is just not cutting it yet. The YouTube Music podcasting experience is rough, and users aren’t holding back on the feedback.

Thankfully, the YouTube Music Podcasts team seems to be listening. They took to Reddit to let us know they hear us and are “working on a lot more improvements,” but also shared a short list of things that have already been achieved for podcasts, such as:

  • Sorting options: You can now sort a podcast’s episodes from newest to oldest, oldest to newest, most popular, or default. It’s pretty puzzling that this wasn’t a day-one feature, though.
  • International love: Non-US users now get podcasts on their Home feed, including the new “Recommended shows” shelf that is already available to U.S. users, making new episode discovery a lot easier.
  • Search Tweaks: Improved search results, making it easier to find the podcasts you actually want.

These tweaks are a start, but it’s shocking these weren’t ready before Google Podcasts was sunsetted. YouTube Music is currently missing core features that even casual podcast fans are going to notice.

Many of the suggestions on that Reddit thread involve basic stuff that is still frustratingly absent. Having features like being able to search for an episode within a subscription, chapter navigation, and being able to mark episodes as played are some of the top ones.

Even though the transition from Google Podcasts to YouTube Music was just officially announced last year, we’ve known for quite some time that was the plan all along. Considering that timeline, it is a wonder why so many features that were previously on Google Podcasts have yet to be ported to its replacement. Hopefully, Google takes the user feedback to heart and begin to implement these improvements as soon as possible. As users were left without an alternative, many could opt to flee to other platforms like Pocket Casts or Spotify, so it is of major importance that the experience be fixed expeditiously.

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YouTube Music brought new changes for podcast listeners

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YouTube Music brought new changes for podcast listeners
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We mostly associate YouTube Music with, well, music. However, the company has been boosting its podcasting business. In a new update, YouTube Music announced some new changes coming that will make listening to podcasts even better on the platform.

Over the past couple of months, YouTube Music has been working on becoming your number one source for podcasts. Right now, iTunes and Spotify are two of the biggest podcasting platforms on the web. So, it only makes sense that YouTube ups its podcast game. Recently, YouTube Music launched a feature that will trim silence from podcasts.

In case you don’t know, you can easily access your podcasts from the platform. When you’re on the YouTube Music app, you can go to the home screen, and search for the Podcasts chip at the top of the screen.

YouTube Music launched three new changes to improve  the podcast listening experience

The first new update will change how you can sort the podcasts in your library. You now have the ability to sort podcast episodes from newest to oldest, oldest to newest, by popularity, and by default. Default will show you podcast episodes in the order that the creator chooses.

The second change was already available to users in the US, but it finally made it to users outside of the US. Users will see a new Recommended Shows shelf on their home screen. YouTube Music will curate podcast shows based on your listening habits in order to help you find your next favorite show.

The third new change isn’t quite flashy. Apparently, YouTube refined its algorithm so that users could have better search results. The search results may be more relevant to what you are searching for.

This isn’t the biggest announcement or slew of updates. However, it’s still nice to know that YouTube Music is working on being a better platform to listen to podcasts on. At this point, it’s very far behind Spotify and iTunes. So, the company has a lot of catching up to do.


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Meta’s new AI chips offer faster model training speed

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Meta’s new AI chips offer faster model training speed
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Meta’s latest custom AI chips promise major speed improvements, outpacing their predecessors in performance. Codenamed MTIA, these chips are specifically designed to accelerate the training of ranking and recommendation models. They also form the backbone of many of Meta’s core products, including media feeds and advertising systems.

The MTIA chips will run faster than before

Training artificial intelligence (AI) models, especially those involved in ranking and recommendation, requires massive computational power. These models sift through enormous datasets to identify patterns and connections, a process that can take days or even weeks on conventional hardware. Meta’s MTIA chips address this challenge by offering a significant performance boost.

According to Meta, the MTIA chips can train models three times faster compared to their predecessors. They come equipped with 256MB of on-chip memory clocked at 1.3GHz, a significant upgrade from the 128MB and 800GHz configuration of the first-generation chips. This increased memory bandwidth allows for faster data processing and model updates during the training process.

 

Meta will expand MTIA’s capabilities to begin training Generative AI

The latest iteration of the MTIA chip also paves the way for future advancements in Meta’s AI capabilities. While the specifics of the MTIA chip design remain under wraps, the company has hinted at plans to extend its use beyond ranking and recommendation models. Future iterations of the MTIA chips are expected to be even more powerful while being capable of tackling the intensive computational demands of generative AI models. These models can create entirely new content formats, such as hyper-realistic images or completely original compositions.

In addition to the performance enhancements in its MTIA chips, Meta is reportedly developing other custom AI chips with even further specializations. One notable project is Artemis, a chip primarily designed for inference tasks.

Meta joins the chip arena

While Meta’s MTIA chips represent a significant step forward, the company is certainly not alone in the AI hardware race. Other tech giants like Google and NVIDIA are also pouring resources into developing their own custom AI chips. This competition is ultimately beneficial for the entire AI industry, as it spurs innovation and drives down the cost of this powerful technology.


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iPhone users must be wary of this scam that tricks them into inviting thieves into their homes

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iPhone users must be wary of this scam that tricks them into inviting thieves into their homes
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A Reddit subscriber with the username “CalciteQ” revealed that a random lady had come to his front door two days in a row, ringing the doorbell, and claiming that her Apple Watch was inside his home. So far their conversations have been conducted through a Ring doorbell camera. The woman did show the homeowner through the security camera that the Find My app on her iPhone was indicating that her timepiece was inside his house which is why she doesn’t believe the Redditor when he says that there is no Apple Watch inside.  
The homeowner spent the time to go through all of the electronics inside his home and could not find the watch. Meanwhile, another Reddit subscriber posted a link to a story posted by KSAT in Texas from 2017; even though the story was more than seven years old, it sounded all too familiar. That story was about a man who “…would ring the resident’s doorbell and present a phone with the “Find my iPhone” app showing that his lost phone was inside the resident’s home.”
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Just as it was back in 2017, the woman’s goal could be to get inside the homeowner’s dwelling to get an idea of the layout of the house, figure out where the valuables might be kept, and possibly learn when the home would be unattended. More frightening is the possibility that this woman is trying to get the homeowner to let her in so that her accomplices, hidden off to the side, could race inside the home and rob the place at gunpoint. 

Even though the KSAT report is quite dated, obviously this is a scam that is still being used today. If you are ever in a situation like this, do not open the door. Call the police immediately. If a random person says that their iPhone, iPad, AirPods, or Apple Watch is inside your home and they truly believe that they are telling you the truth, there should be no objection if you tell him/her not to move, and that you are calling the police.

The woman could have told the homeowner that she would use the Find My app on her iPhone to play a pinging sound on her missing Apple Watch - iPhone users must be wary of this scam that tricks them into inviting thieves into their homes

The woman could have told the homeowner that she would use the Find My app on her iPhone to play a pinging sound on her missing Apple Watch

Another Redditor said that if the woman’s Apple Watch was inside the home of “CalciteQ” as she claimed, she could have hit the “Play sound” button when her Apple Watch appeared on her iPhone’s Find My app. This suggestion could have been made over the Ring camera and her failure to bring it up might indicate that she is working a scam.


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Match Systems report on consequences of CBDC implementation, led by CEO Andrei Kutin

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Match Systems report on consequences of CBDC implementation, led by CEO Andrei Kutin
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Match Systems, a leading authority in crypto crimes investigations and crypto AML solutions provider, has published a comprehensive analytical report examining the potential implications of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) implementation.

In a landscape where the debate between cryptocurrency proponents and CBDC advocates intensifies, Kutin’s report offers a balanced perspective on the advantages and drawbacks of transitioning to a digital currency framework.

The report delves into the nuanced dynamics surrounding CBDC adoption, shedding light on its multifaceted impacts on financial systems, governments, businesses, and individuals.

Kutin’s insights come at a critical juncture, as the rise in crypto fraud and the sophistication of asset theft methods prompt a reevaluation of traditional stances. While crypto activists often oppose CBDC implementation, Kutin’s analysis highlights the shifting attitudes within the industry towards embracing regulatory measures for enhanced safety and accountability.

“The dichotomy between free cryptocurrencies and centralized CBDCs presents society with two extremes,” remarks Andrei Kutin. “The optimal solution likely lies in a middle ground, where governments establish unified global standards for cryptocurrency circulation, safeguarding individuals while preserving economic autonomy.”

The full analytical report, titled “Analyzing the Prospects for CBDC Implementation,” is now available for public access on the Match Systems website.

About Match Systems:

Match Systems is a company specializing in AML services, blockchain investigations, and implementation of compliance procedures for cryptocurrency projects around the world.

Contact

Joseph Anderson
Match Systems
[email protected]


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Google tweaks haptic feedback and status bar icons in Android 15

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Google tweaks haptic feedback and status bar icons in Android 15
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Google has tweaked icons for Android 15, including the ones for the Android smartphone’s status bar. They are visible in the second “Developer Preview” version of Android 15.

Google is making multiple UI changes in Android 15. Interestingly, the company appears to be experimenting with icons to deploy the most optimum or appealing visual aspects. Some testers even suggest that Google could be borrowing design elements from Samsung.

Android 15 Developer Preview 2 packs new icons for status bar

Google has released two experimental versions of the upcoming Android 15 OS update. This gives testers and developers ample material to analyze.

The search giant rolled out Android 15 Developer Preview 2 late last month. It includes a redesigned volume adjustment panel and a new Private Space, a virtually detached area on a smartphone. A recent report uncovered subtle but noticeable design changes in Android 15.

The Android 15 Developer Preview 2 contains new icons for the status bar. These new icons seem to be the polar opposite of the smooth, flowing design and a completely white or black color scheme Google implemented in Android 14.

Icons visible in Android 14 seem very similar to Android 5.0, also called Lollipop. This design philosophy isn’t surprising primarily because Google remained loyal to the Material Design language, which the company introduced in Android 5.0.

However, the new icons for the status bar in Android 15 bear a very distinct and segmented design. They have a subtler white and grey color scheme, which is a lot easier on the eyes. These icons adhere to the Material You design language, which Google introduced in Android 12. Some reports suggest these icons bear a striking resemblance to Samsung’s One UI 6 icons.

What has changed in Android 15 icons?

According to several testers, Google may have looked at Android versions before Android 5.0 for inspiration. Hence, the new status bar icon designs for the Wi-Fi signal strength, mobile data signal strength, and battery in Android 15 are segmented.

Specifically speaking, Google has ditched the triangle network indicator and opted for signal bars for cellular data and Wi-Fi strength. The battery indicator is now horizontal instead of vertical. This allows Google to place the battery level percentage inside the indicator as opposed to placing it alongside.

Google has also managed to place the lightning bolt (which confirms the device is charging) inside the battery indicator. It is not clear how and where Google will place the double lightning bolt which indicates fast charging.

Besides these visual changes, Google has also added haptic feedback in new areas. Android 15 users could soon experience this while using the Quick Settings panel.

Long-pressing on any Quick Setting tile will now make the phone vibrate as the tile expands to offer detailed, or granular settings. Google has even added a reassuring haptic feedback to the volume slider. This gets activated when a user presses any one of the physical volume keys or slides the virtual slider.


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