The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have collaborated to develop a highly significant cybersecurity guide that is specifically intended for Water and Wastewater Systems (WWS) entities.
This comprehensive guide is aimed at strengthening the defense mechanisms of WWS entities and safeguarding the crucial water resources that they manage.
This initiative is of utmost importance as these systems are critical infrastructure that provides essential services to the community, and any security breach can have a significant impact on public health and safety.
Water systems are at a high risk of cyberattacks due to their outdated operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) systems.
These systems are vulnerable to both data breaches and disruptions, which can have a severe impact on their operations.
The lack of regular updates and security measures makes them an easy target for malicious attacks, putting the safety and quality of the water supply at risk.
By providing valuable information and guidelines, the fact sheet serves as an effective tool to enhance the security of computer systems and networks and to enhance their capacity to withstand and respond to cyberattacks.
If you’re looking for resources to enhance the cybersecurity of your water and wastewater systems, then you may want to check out the defenses shared by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have jointly issued a comprehensive incident response guide that outlines the necessary steps to be taken in the event of a cyber attack targeting water management systems.
The guide provides detailed instructions on how to identify, respond to, and recover from such attacks to minimize the damage and ensure the continuity of critical operations.
Taking Action
Reduce Exposure to the Public-Facing Internet
Conduct Regular Cybersecurity Assessments
Change Default Passwords Immediately
Conduct an Inventory of Operational Technology/Information Technology Assets
Develop and Exercise Cybersecurity Incident Response and Recovery Plans
Backup OT/IT Systems
Reduce Exposure to Vulnerabilities
Conduct Cyber Security Awareness Training
If you are part of a water or wastewater systems organization and require additional support in implementing the measures mentioned in this fact sheet, you can reach out to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or your regional Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) cybersecurity advisor.
They will be able to guide and assist you in securing your systems against potential cyber threats.
You can block malware, including Trojans, ransomware, spyware, rootkits, worms, and zero-day exploits, with Perimeter81 malware protection. All are extremely harmful, can wreak havoc, and damage your network.
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In the dynamic landscape of office productivity, Microsoft Office has long been the reigning champion. However, with the advent of new technologies and the ever-growing demand for flexibility and innovation, alternative office suites have emerged as formidable contenders. One such challenger is “Truly Office,” among several others, offering users a fresh perspective on document creation, collaboration, and productivity. In this article, we will explore six Microsoft Office alternatives, delving into their features, benefits, and potential impact on the future of office productivity.
LibreOffice:
LibreOffice is a powerful, open-source office suite that provides a free and accessible alternative to Microsoft Office. It includes applications such as Writer (word processing), Calc (spreadsheet), Impress (presentation), and more. One of the primary benefits of LibreOffice is its cost-effectiveness, as it is free to use and can be installed on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Key Features:
– Compatibility with Microsoft Office file formats. – Rich set of features for document creation, editing, and formatting. – Support for a wide range of languages. – Active community support and regular updates. – Extensions and templates for enhanced functionality.
Truly Office:
Another in the list of alternatives is “Microsoft Office Alternative” “Truly Office” which aims to redefine the user experience. With a focus on simplicity and user-friendly design, Truly Office offers a suite of applications for word processing, spreadsheet management, and presentations. Its commitment to providing a seamless transition for users familiar with Microsoft Office makes it a promising contender in the competitive office productivity market.
Key Features:
– Intuitive user interface for ease of use. – Compatibility with Microsoft Office file formats. – Cloud-based collaboration and storage options. – Regular updates and customer support. – Cross-platform availability.
Google Workspace:
Formerly known as G Suite, Google Workspace has gained immense popularity for its cloud-based collaboration tools. It comprises applications like Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive, allowing users to create, edit, and store documents online. The real-time collaboration feature is a standout, enabling multiple users to work on the same document simultaneously.
Key Features:
– Seamless cloud integration for easy access from any device. – Real-time collaboration and commenting. – Advanced sharing and permission controls. – Automatic saving and version history. – Integration with other Google services like Gmail and Calendar.
WPS Office:
WPS Office is a comprehensive office suite that offers a familiar interface, making the transition from Microsoft Office smooth for users. It includes Writer, Presentation, and Spreadsheets, providing essential tools for document creation and editing. One notable advantage of WPS Office is its compatibility with Microsoft Office file formats, ensuring smooth interoperability.
Key Features:
– Tabbed interface for efficient multitasking. – PDF editing capabilities. – Cloud support for document storage and sharing. – Template gallery for quick document creation. – Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS).
SoftMaker Office:
SoftMaker Office is a robust office suite that emphasizes speed and efficiency. It includes TextMaker (word processor), PlanMaker (spreadsheet), and Presentations (presentation software). The suite stands out for its fast performance and compatibility with Microsoft Office formats, making it a suitable choice for users with a focus on productivity.
Key Features:
– High compatibility with Microsoft Office file formats. – Focus on speed and resource efficiency. – Comprehensive set of formatting and editing tools. – Customizable user interface. – Integrated spell-check and grammar tools.
OnlyOffice:
OnlyOffice is an integrated office suite that combines document editing, project management, and collaboration in a single platform. It offers a cloud-based solution as well as an on-premises version for organizations with specific security requirements. OnlyOffice stands out for its versatility, catering to a range of user needs beyond traditional document editing.
Key Features:
– Document, spreadsheet, and presentation editors. – Project management and CRM tools. – Integration with third-party services, including cloud storage. – Team collaboration features like comments and mentions. – Multi-platform support and mobile apps.
As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of office productivity, the abundance of alternatives to Microsoft Office provides users with diverse choices. Each alternative discussed in this article brings its unique set of features and benefits, catering to different user preferences and requirements.
Whether it’s the open-source flexibility of LibreOffice, the collaborative power of Google Workspace, the seamless compatibility of WPS Office, the speed-focused approach of SoftMaker Office, the integrated platform of OnlyOffice, or the promising user experience of Truly Office, the future of office productivity appears dynamic and full of possibilities. Users can now explore these alternatives and choose the one that aligns best with their workflow, ultimately shaping the way we work and collaborate in the digital age.
Now, someone on X/Twitter claims that Gmail, of all things, is shutting down (via Android Central).
There’s a viral post that shows a message relaying that Google will sunset Gmail later in 2024:“As of August 1, 2024, Gmail will officially be sunsetted, marking the end of its service. This means Gmail will no longer support sending, receiving, or storing emails”, the message reads.
Google has a long history of killing and rebranding apps, services, and hardware: 293 in total so far. There’s a dedicated “killedbygoogle.com” website that has them listed. The monochrome virtual obituary exudes a sense of solemnity and humbleness, offering a respectful backdrop for remembering loved ones.
But, back to the Gmail story: of course, it’s not real.
Here’s the answer for the Gmail team:
However, there’s a grain of truth in the satirical post that claims Google is sunsetting Gmail. Google is killing Basic HTML view on Gmail this year, per an email from 2023. A support page informs users as much and even includes a transition guide for some.
Google has updated the user interface for signing in to or signing up for Google Accounts, the search giant announced this week. The new Google sign-in page on web and mobile features a new design that comes in line with the Material Design language specific to the company’s other products.
According to Google, no changes have been implemented apart from those in visual appearance, so there are no functionality impacts or other changes of that nature.
The visual changes aren’t as big as one might expect, but that’s a good thing considering how easy is to confuse someone who has been using the same UI for years.
Old design vs. New design
These changes to the sign-in user interface should appear automatically for everyone, there’s no need to do anything to quicken its arrival. In fact, Google says that it will take up to 15 days for the new user interface to be visible to everyone.
Considering that the roll-out started on February 21, it means that all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts should get the new user interface by March 4 at the latest.
The oil and gas sector faces a significant cybersecurity threat with the emergence of a new and sophisticated Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) infostealer known as Rhadamanthys Stealer.
This advanced phishing campaign has successfully reached its intended targets within the industry, raising concerns about the potential impact on critical infrastructure and sensitive data.
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Rhadamanthys Stealer
Rhadamanthys Stealer is a C++ information stealer that first appeared in August 2022. It is designed to target email, FTP, and online banking service account credentials.
The malware has evolved rapidly, with recent versions adding new stealing capabilities and enhanced evasion techniques.
The stealer can modify clipboard data to divert cryptocurrency payments to attackers and recover deleted Google Account cookies.
The deployment of Rhadamanthys Stealer came shortly after law enforcement took down the LockBit ransomware group, one of the most active Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) operations.
This timing suggests a possible connection or opportunistic pivot by cybercriminals in response to the crackdown on LockBit.
In early 2023, various vendors specializing in threat intelligence and anti-virus software identified the emergence of the MaaS Rhadamanthys Stealer. Presently, there has been a resurgence of this malware in the MaaS model.
Multiple Threat Intelligence and Anti-virus vendors have noted the rise of the MaaS Rhadamanthys Stealer. Rhadamanthys is noted as trafficking itself through malicious Google ads targeting AnyDesk, Zoom, Bluestacks, Notepad++, OBS, and more.
The campaign begins with a phishing email that employs various tactics to bypass secure email gateways and deliver the malware.
These emails contain a clickable PDF file hosted on a recently registered domain, which, when accessed, initiates the malware infection process, said Cofense researchers.
Phishing Email Targeting Oil and Gas Sector to Deliver Rhadamanthys Stealer (Source: Cofense)
The phishing emails are part of a more significant trend of infostealer incidents that have escalated in early 2023, with incidents involving stealers more than doubling compared to the previous year.
The Rhadamanthys Stealer is distributed via the MaaS model and has been gaining popularity on the dark web.
Impact on the Oil and Gas Industry
The oil and gas industry is a critical sector increasingly reliant on digital technologies, making it a lucrative target for cybercriminals.
Recently registered domain hosting a clickable PDF file
The successful infiltration of Rhadamanthys Stealer into this sector could lead to the theft of sensitive information, financial loss, and potential disruption of operations.
Sophisticated malware campaigns pose a significant threat to the industry. Organizations must remain vigilant and adopt robust cybersecurity measures to mitigate the risks, according to the Cofense report.
This includes implementing advanced threat detection and prevention systems, regularly updating software and security patches, and conducting employee awareness and training programs to prevent social engineering attacks.
Additionally, organizations should monitor their network traffic, implement access controls, and perform regular vulnerability assessments to identify and address any potential security gaps.
The emergence of Rhadamanthys Stealer as a new threat to the oil and gas industry underscores the need for continuous monitoring and improvement of cybersecurity defenses.
Companies in the sector should be aware of the methods used by cybercriminals, such as phishing campaigns, and ensure that employees are trained to recognize and respond to such threats.
You can block malware, including Trojans, ransomware, spyware, rootkits, worms, and zero-day exploits, with Perimeter81 malware protection. All are extremely harmful, can wreak havoc, and damage your network.
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A new OnePlus 11 update has started rolling out, and it contains mostly fixes. There are a couple of improvements thrown into the mix too, though. This update is marked as OxygenOS 14.0.0.501, and it’s rolling out everywhere, basically.
New OnePlus 11 update brings a bunch of fixes to the table
The update is rolling out in India, Europe, and the US, it’s a global rollout. Do note that it’s a staged rollout, though. Just because it started rolling out doesn’t mean you’ll get it straight away.
The first one mentioned the improved experience of viewing weather details. We’re not sure what exactly this means, but OnePlus probably removed some bugs and improved the experience in general. The other ‘improvement’ is more general, as it mentions system stability and performance improvements.
What about fixes? Well, this update fixes an issue that caused some apps to crash. No specific apps were mentioned by the company, though. It also fixes an issue where NFC cards did not work in some scenarios. Once again, no details were given.
A nasty problem with photos in albums was present, but not anymore
The last fix on the list has to do with photos. At times, photos did not appear at all when you opened your albums within the default photos app. Needless to say, that’s quite a problem, and it’s nice to see that OnePlus fixed it.
It’s always nice to see updates like these. They don’t really deliver all that much new functionality, but they’re trying to improve user experience, which is great. The OnePlus 11 is no longer the latest and greatest from the company, but it still works like a charm, at least for us.
That info has been reiterated by Chun, a tipster. That means that it will be a lot thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold 5, though still noticeably thicker than the HONOR Magic V2. In any case, let’s get down to other details.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 specs leak hints at titanium build, wider body & more
The tipster also suggests that there will be no S Pen slot included, as expected. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be a bit wider, which means it will have a wider cover display. That’s something many people have been waiting for. It’s also something we’ve heard several times thus far.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 will have “S24 Ultra style sharp edges”, says the tipster. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy will fuel the device, while a 4,600mAh battery is tipped.
This device will include three cameras on the back, which is also expected. Samsung will allegedly improve the UDC camera on the main display. So, we’re still getting an under-display camera.
What does come as a bit of a surprise is the use of titanium. Chun claims that the phone will feature a “titanium build”. We don’t know how much titanium will be used, or where, but keep that in mind.
The phone is also said to be “much lighter”
In addition to being a lot thinner, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be considerably lighter too. The tipster also says that the phone is coming in three color options, but he did not reveal what those colors are.
Yogesh Brar, another tipster, suggests that the phone will include 50, 10, and 12-megapixel cameras on the back. Those are allegedly main, telephoto, and ultrawide units. A 6.4-inch cover display was also mentioned by him.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 will become official later this year. It’s expected to launch in August, as its predecessor arrived in August 2023. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 will also launch alongside it, and quite possibly the Galaxy Ring too.
Last year, Google unveiled a new proofreading feature for Gboard. This would, of course, look through all of your text and offer fixes so that you don’t come off sounding like an idiot. Well, the company is issuing an update to the feature that’ll make it a bit better. According to a new report, Gboard now proofreads selected text.
The proofreading feature for Gboard is very nice. However, it was a bit too broad in its scope. Sometimes, you don’t want to proofread an entire body of text; sometimes, you just want to proofread a sentence or paragraph. However, Proofread with Gboard only dealt with full bodies of text. So, that will make things more tedious if you have a large body of text.
Proofread with Gboard now works with selected text
When you want to go into your text with a fine tooth comb and fix up a sentence here and there, it’s a lot easier after the update that just arrived on Gboard. As spotted by AssembleDebug, in the new beta of the Gboard app (version 13.9), you’ll be able to use the Gboard proofing function only on the text that is selected. All you have to do is select the text and then tap on the Proofread button. Gboard will then analyze the text you selected and give you suggestions.
In order to use Proofread with Gboard, you’ll need to have either a Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro. Unfortunately, it is exclusive to those devices. If you have one of the devices, and you don’t see it, then make sure that your Gboard app is fully updated. Search for Gboard on the Google Play Store, and see if there is an update button on the store page.
Looking to buy a Pixel 8?
Speaking of the Pixel 8 (Review), this is still one of the best phones you can buy on the market. If you’re looking for a great deal, an unlocked Pixel 8 with 128GB of storage is now only $549 thanks to a current deal. This phone comes with the latest Google Tensor G3 chip, a great display, a top-of-the-line camera, and seven years of software updates.
We’re here to compare two of the latest ‘Plus’ smartphones from the two largest smartphone manufacturers in the world. We’ll compare the Samsung Galaxy S24+ vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus. The Galaxy S24+ is technically one of three flagship smartphones Samsung announced last month. The iPhone 15 Plus is a part of Apple’s latest series of smartphones, but it’s not exactly a flagship.
Despite that, however, their price tags are not all that different. Both of these phones are fairly large, by the way. We’ll first list their specifications, and will then compare them across a number of other categories. We’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio performance. Let’s see how these two devices stack up, shall we?
Specs
Samsung Galaxy S24+ vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus, respectively
– Screen size: 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (flat, 120Hz, 2,600 nits max brightness) 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display (60Hz, HDR, 2,000 nits) – Display resolution: 3120 x 1440 2796 x 1290 – SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy / Samsung Exynos 2400 Apple A16 Bionic – RAM: 12GB (LPDDR5X) 6GB – Storage: 256GB/512GB (UFS 4.0) 128GB/256GB/512GB – Rear cameras: 50MP (wide, f/1.8 aperture, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF), 12MP (ultrawide, 120-degree FoV, f/2.2 aperture, 1.4um pixel size), 10MP (telephoto, f/2.4 aperture, OIS, PDAF, 3x optical zoom) 48MP (f/1.6 aperture, sensor-shift OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.4 aperture) – Front cameras: 12MP (wide, f/2.2 aperture, Dual Pixel PDAF, 22mm lens) 12MP (f/1.9 aperture) + TrueDepth – Battery: 4,900mAh 4,383mAh – Charging: 45W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless (charger not included) 20W wired, 15W wireless (charger not included) – Dimensions: 158.5 x 75.9 x 7.7mm 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8mm – Weight: 196/197 grams 201 grams – Connectivity: 5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3 – Security: In-display fingerprint scanner Advanced facial scanning – OS: Android 14 with One UI 6.1 iOS 17 – Price: $999.99+ $899+ – Buy: Galaxy S24 series (Samsung) Apple
Samsung Galaxy S24+ vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus: Design
From the design standpoint, they’re both similar and different. Both phones are made out of aluminum and glass, and they’re both also quite flat. They not only include flat displays, but flat backplates, and flat frames all around. Frames on both phones are slightly rounded towards the edges, for comfort’s sake. The in-hand feel is not all that different between them, even though the iPhone 15 Plus is slightly wider. The weight is similar, and so are the shapes overall.
Both of these devices are very slippery, so keep that in mind, as chances are you’ll want to get a case for them. The Galaxy S24+ includes a centered display camera hole on the front. Its bezels are very thin all around, while they’re also uniform. The iPhone 15 Plus, on the other hand, has a pill-shaped cutout at the top of the display, and also rather thin bezels, which are uniform. The bezels on the Galaxy S24+ are thinner, though.
You’ll find three cameras on the back of the Galaxy S24+. Those cameras are vertically aligned, and they sit in the top-left corner. The iPhone 15 Plus, on the flip side, has two cameras in the top-left corner, and they have a diagonal layout. Both smartphones do offer an IP68 certification for water and dust resistance. They also have a similar curve on their edges, which is another similarity in terms of the general shape. They both do feel nice in the hand, though these are large phones, so do take note of that.
Samsung Galaxy S24+ vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus: Display
The Galaxy S24+ features a 6.7-inch QHD+ (3120 x 1440) Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display. That panel is flat, and it has a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. This panel supports HDR10+ content, and the brightness goes up to 2,600 nits maximum. The display aspect ratio is 19.5:9, while the display itself is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 by Corning. The screen-to-body ratio here is around 91.6%.
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus, on the flip side, has a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display. This panel is also flat, and it has a resolution of 2796 x 1290. This display can show HDR10 content and also has Dolby Vision support. The refresh rate is 60Hz. The maximum brightness is 2,000 nits, and the display aspect ratio here is 19.5:9. The iPhone 15 Plus’ display is protected by the Ceramic Shield glass.
Both of these panels are quite bright, while they’re also vivid and have good viewing angles. The blacks are also quite deep, and the touch response is good on both of them. The thing is, the Galaxy S24+ has a 120Hz display, and it’s also an LTPO panel. The iPhone 15 Plus is stuck at 60Hz, which is something you’ll notice if you’ve used 120Hz panels, that’s for sure. If you don’t care about the refresh rate, however, both of these displays will serve you really well.
Samsung Galaxy S24+ vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus: Performance
The Galaxy S24+ is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC or Samsung Exynos 2400 chip, depending on the market. These are the most powerful chips from their respective manufacturers. The phone has 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and utilizes UFS 4.0 flash storage. The iPhone 15 Plus, on the flip side, is fueled by the Apple A16 Bionic processor. That was Apple’s most powerful chip, but it’s not anymore. The phone has 6GB of RAM and utilizes NVMe flash storage.
They have fairly different performance-related hardware, but both smartphones do offer great performance. They’re on the same level when it comes to regular, everyday tasks. They both open apps really fast, and the multitasking is also on par between them. That goes for basically anything you can think of… and it even goes for gaming.
Both of these processors are really good in the gaming department. They can run the most demanding games without a problem. Both phones do heat up when you run something like Genshin Impact on them, but neither gets too hot. Also, you won’t really notice any impact on their performance even after a more intense gaming session, which is always good to hear. You really shouldn’t worry about the performance aspect here. Just note that we’ve used the Snapdragon variant of the Galaxy S24+, not the Exynos model.
Samsung Galaxy S24+ vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus: Battery
Samsung’s handset packs in a 4,900mAh battery on the inside. The iPhone 15 Plus has a 4,383mAh unit. Apple’s iPhones usually have smaller battery packs than their Android counterparts, so take note of that. In regards to battery life, both of these smartphones are outstanding in that area. The iPhone 15 Plus probably has the best battery life out of all the new iPhone models, while the Galaxy S24+ is not far behind that level.
We’ve managed to get over 8 hours of screen-on-time from the Galaxy S24+. The iPhone 15 Plus is capable of upping that to over 9 hours of screen-on-time. Do note that gaming will lower those numbers, and your mileage may also vary, of course. Still, we do use our phones rather intensively during the day, so these two phones can really take some serious usage. Another thing you should note is that both were connected to Wi-Fi most of the time. 5G was used periodically.
Samsung’s handset supports 45W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The iPhone 15 Plus, on the flip side, has support for 20W wired, 15W MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging, 7.5W Qi wireless charging, and also 4.5W reverse wired charging. Neither of these two phones happens to ship with a charger, however, so you’ll have to get your own.
Samsung Galaxy S24+ vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus: Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy S24+ has one more camera on the back than the iPhone 15 Plus. It includes a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (120-degree FoV), and a 10-megapixel telephoto unit (3x optical zoom). The iPhone 15 Plus comes with a 48-megapixel main camera, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (120-degree FoV).
Samsung Galaxy S24+
Having said that, both of these smartphones do offer good performance, but they’re below their more powerful siblings. The images from both smartphones are very detailed during the day, with pleasant colors, and dynamic range. Samsung toned down on the saturation aspect with the Galaxy S24+, compared to its predecessors. The Galaxy S24+ also tends to handle heavy HDR situations better than the iPhone 15 Plus, well, at least in most cases. The iPhone 15 Plus tends to blow out the highlights in some cases.
Both phones have very capable ultrawide cameras which do a good job of keeping the color profiles of the main cameras. The telephoto shots are an easy win for the Galaxy S24+, as the iPhone 15 Plus doesn’t have a telephoto camera at all. In low light, both phones do a good job, though the images tend to look noticeably different. The Galaxy S24+ does tend to brighten up the scene a bit more.
Audio
Yes, both phones do include a set of stereo speakers. Those speakers are good on both sides, though the ones on the Galaxy S24+ are louder. The difference is not huge, but it’s noticeable when you crank up the volume. The distortion is almost non-existent on both devices, though.
Neither phone has an audio jack, but they do offer Type-C ports. You can use those ports to connect your headphones via a wire. If you prefer wireless audio, they both feature Bluetooth 5.3 support.
Google came under heavy fire this week over the company’s Gemini chatbot, which has been creating ethnically diverse images even when it would not make sense to do so. This led users on social media to call Gemini “absurdly woke,” and conservative media outlets to blast Google and its artificial intelligence assistant. For those unfamiliar, Gemini is Google’s AI-based chatbot, and it was previously known as Bard. The company has its eyes on Gemini replacing Google Assistant and wants to compete with ChatGPT. Part of that effort recently included Google adding an image generator to Gemini.
But the image generator’s propensity to create ethnically diverse images in response to unrelated prompts attracted some unwanted attention. To be clear, there is no issue with Gemini creating diverse images from abstract prompts. However, Gemini continued to generate images that were diverse even when they did not make sense given the original prompt. For example, viral prompts asked Gemini to generate images of a Nazi soldier from World War II, and the resulting images were ethnically-diverse. In this kind of situation, it would be historically reasonable to expect Gemini to create images that include white people predominantly.
Google acknowledged its error in a statement posted to X on Wednesday. “We’re working to improve these kinds of depictions immediately. Gemini’s AI image generation does generate a wide range of people,” the company said. “And that’s generally a good thing because people around the world use it. But it’s missing the mark here.”
Why does Google’s Gemini image generator create a lot of diverse people?
As Google explains in its statement, it’s important that AI image generators create diverse images. Most image generation prompts do not include conditions that would dictate what races and ethnicities should be depicted in the images. For example, if someone asks Gemini to simply create a person, a depiction of any race or ethnicity would make sense. The problem is that Gemini currently lacks the contextual knowledge to generate people of ethnicities that make sense based on a given prompt.
In part, the outrage was because Google is actively creating diverse images, causing right-wing figures and media to attack Google as being “woke.” For example, one prompt asked Gemini to “generate a picture of a US senator from the 1800s.” Gemini replied, “sure, here are some images featuring diverse U.S. senators from the 1800s.”
While Google admits the Gemini image generator is “missing the mark,” the company is trying to overcome racial and ethnic bias in artificial intelligence. Since AI models are trained by human source materials, artificial intelligence can have the same biases as humans. By actively generating people of diversity, Google is trying to make sure centuries of forward progress aren’t walked back by AI.
