new Of course, digital protection measures such as antivirus software, secure gateways, firewalls, and virtual private networks (VPNs) remain crucial. And, incorporating advanced digital strategies such as machine learning to monitor for behavioural anomalies, provides an added layer of security. Leadership teams should also assess whether similar approaches have been applied to address any physical vulnerabilities. For example, a combination of manned entry points, locked facilities, cameras, and security alarms offers robust protection. It’s unlikely that a physical intrusion will occur simply to steal a laptop. Instead, these malicious actors commonly look for a way to access data or install malware inside the organisation’s physical perimeter where some protections may be lacking. — IT Brief New Zealand, 8h ago

new While commendable strides have been taken across various fronts in the realm of climate action, propelled by innovative solutions at our disposal, we have a clear understanding of the strategies needed to uphold our net zero ambitions. The time for action is long overdue, and COP28 certainly serves as the biggest platform and opportunity for all stakeholders to showcase what has been achieved so far and identify actions that lie ahead. It’s not just a forum for reflection but a call to action, urging all players to present evidence of their contributions, share best practices, and join global efforts to address persistent challenges. It is a collective commitment to meaningful change and progress in our shared journey toward a sustainable world. — Khaleej Times, 18h ago

new STEP ONE: The first step for organizations to solve this problem is to focus on the effective extraction of knowledge from all available sources (i.e., Harvard Business Review, European Business Review, Employee Think-Tanks, Scholars, etc.). In doing this, organizations learn important methods of observation, extraction, and application. Observation is one of the important methods of acquiring knowledge. Recent research shows that observation alone, as a means of acquiring knowledge, can only lead to the illusion of learning among learners. Thus, without extraction and application, organizations can falsely insinuate that things be done in the same way. This causes inertia. False self-confidence, limits current employees who play an important role in gathering, storing, and disseminating future knowledge. This step breaks down the silos and opens up communication to build a knowledge management database. — The European Business Review, 1d ago

new The digital landscape is filled with an abundance of content, but only a select few manage to capture the attention and admiration of users worldwide. These pieces of content, often referred to as “virals,” have the remarkable ability to spread rapidly across social media platforms, generating an overwhelming number of likes, shares, and comments Click Here. But what exactly makes users click that coveted ‘like' button? Delving into the fascinating realm of viral content, this article explores the factors behind its success, focusing on the psychological triggers, emotional appeal, storytelling techniques, visuals, controversy, and the impact of timing and trends. By understanding the mechanisms that drive users to engage with and promote viral content, we can unlock valuable insights that can be applied to our own strategies and create a greater impact in the digital world. — WriteUpCafe.com, 1d ago

new In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the need to address a comprehensive approach to risk management is crucial at all levels of an organization. This imperative becomes even more pronounced in operational technology (OT) environments where different perspectives on risk prevail. While traditional risk management practices have primarily focused on physical and financial risks, the emergence of cybersecurity threats has necessitated a paradigm shift. Collaboration with engineering teams is not just desirable but necessary to incorporate cybersecurity risks into the risk register for OT environments. — Industrial Cyber, 1d ago

new Regardless of what we call this behavior, it is clearly concerning. Deepfakes and misinformation could disrupt democratic political systems. False advertising and deceptive business practices may be used to prey on consumers. As more data is gathered on individuals, companies might use that information to manipulate people’s behaviors in violation of their privacy. Therefore, we must rise to the challenge of analyzing these risks and finding solutions to these real world problems. — Montreal AI Ethics Institute, 1d ago

new The research team conducted extensive experiments to assess the effectiveness of the ALIA data augmentation method across specialized tasks: domain generalization, fine-grained classification, and contextual bias in bird classification. By fine-tuning a ResNet50 model and employing Stable Diffusion for image editing, ALIA consistently outperformed traditional augmentation techniques and even real data addition in domain generalization tasks, showcasing a 17% improvement over the original data. In fine-grained classification, ALIA demonstrated competitive performance, maintaining accuracy even without domain shifts. ALIA excelled in in- and out-of-domain accuracy for functions involving contextual bias, although it faced challenges in image editing quality and text-only modifications. These experiments highlight ALIA’s potential in enhancing dataset diversity and model performance, albeit with some dependency on model quality and the choice of image editing methods. — MarkTechPost, 1d ago

new Employees are often the weakest link in security, not because of malicious intent, but due to a lack of awareness about potential threats and preventative actions. When it comes to bolstering your business’ cybersecurity, conducting regular employee training and education is vital. By implementing comprehensive training programs that cover key topics such as phishing, password management, and safe internet use, you can equip your team with the knowledge they need to recognize and avoid potential cyber threats. Regular updates and refreshers are essential as the cyber threat landscape continues to evolve. The more informed and vigilant your employees are, the safer your business’s online presence will be. — Better Tech Tips, 1d ago

new ...“One thing I’d like to make clear is that climate change is real. It’s serious, and it deserves urgent attention to both mitigation and adaptation,” Pielke said. “But I’ve come to see, across my career, that the importance of climate change is held up by many people as a reason for why we can abandon scientific integrity. This talk is about climate and scientific integrity, how we maintain it, and how we use it in decision-making. Reasonable people can disagree about policies and different directions that we want to go, but none of us are going to benefit if we can’t take expertise and bring it to decision-making to ground policymaking in the best available knowledge. Overall, climate science and policy have a narrative problem.”... — Science Matters, 2d ago

new The use of AI-based systems to “produce targets at a fast pace” represents a grave example of digital dehumanisation raising serious concerns around the violation of human dignity and compliance with international humanitarian law. Additionally, the potential reduction of people to data points based on specific characteristics like ethnicity, gender, weight, gait, etc. raises serious questions about how target profiles are created and in turn how targets are selected. — Stop Killer Robots, 2d ago

new The sensor fusion market for automotive in Europe is anticipated to experience heightened demand, primarily driven by stringent safety regulations. The EU has set a targeted goal to reduce fatalities and injuries by 50% by the year 2030. As part of this strategic initiative, the EU has mandated the inclusion of major safety features, including lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and drowsiness and attention detection, in new vehicles. These regulations came into effect in July 2022, reflecting a comprehensive approach to enhance automotive safety. Several European countries, including Germany, France, and the UK, have already granted approval for the utilization of automated vehicles on specific roadways. Notably, Germany took a pioneering step in July 2021 by enacting the Autonomous Driving Act, positioning itself as the first country globally to permit sensor fusion-based level 4 automated vehicles to operate on public roads without the requirement for a human driver as a backup control. In 2015, the French government declared its intention to mandate the installation of automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane departure warning (LDW) systems in all new heavy trucks, contributing to an increased demand for safety systems within the country. Furthermore, the support from OEMs and the burgeoning presence of numerous startups dedicated to the development of sensor fusion technology are expected to be pivotal factors propelling market growth in the European region. — marketsandmarkets.com, 2d ago

new Yet the initial excitement surrounding AI has given way to genuine and growing concerns—including about the spread of misinformation that disrupts democracy and destabilises economies, threats to jobs across the skills spectrum, a widening of the gulf separating the haves and have-nots, and the proliferation of biases, both human and computational. — interest.co.nz, 2d ago

new Background The growing interest in analysis of surgical video through machine learning has led to increased research efforts; however, common methods of annotating video data are lacking. There is a need to establish recommendations on the annotation of surgical video data to enable assessment of algorithms and multi-institutional collaboration. Methods Four working groups were formed from a pool…... — MashupMd, 2d ago

new In 2022, over £1.2 billion was stolen through fraud in the UK. Yet, organisations increasingly recognise that fraud is a security issue rather than a cost of doing business. Many UK players, especially in the financial services industry, will be looking to adopt end-to-end online fraud prevention solutions, counting on multi-layered tools and technologies. One key development to watch within these ‘layers of defence’ is the addition of so-called risk signals. Leading digital identity experts have already started to incorporate more behavioural biometrics, such as typing patterns or mouse movements. These patterns from historic interactions with users will start to impact fraud prevention positively, with device signals or template signals of fraudulent ID documents making it much harder for fraudsters to get away with their crimes. — Financial IT, 2d ago

new Building on the research findings, the study identified five key areas of focus for MDBs that would help scale up their investment for urban climate finance. Recommendations put forward include increasing volumes and share of urban climate finance in the total climate finance mix of MDBs while maintaining their steadfast commitment to prioritizing adaptation, with a specific focus on cities that are most vulnerable to climate change; leveraging existing MDB concessional funding and partnering with international climate funds to develop operating modes and instruments tailored to subnational investment needs; provision of technical assistance aimed at supporting national policy reform and closing cities’ planning-to-investment gaps; and promoting risk-mitigation instruments to increase private sector engagement, among others. — CPI, 2d ago

new In 2024, cybersecurity evolves amidst increased AI integration and a focus on data protection. AI-driven automation prompts the need for AI-centric security solutions to combat emerging threats and comply with strict privacy regulations. With rising concerns about AI-generated attacks and the democratization of AI, secure data sharing becomes pivotal. Anticipate a surge in cyber attacks through deepfake technology, necessitating a delicate balance between AI adoption, strong cybersecurity measures, and employee awareness for robust defense strategies. Moreover, expect increased Board expertise in cyber to reinforce these initiatives. — Thinkers360 | World’s First Open Platform For Thought Leaders, 2d ago

new The forum concluded with Dr. Tan Wee Liang, Vice Chairman of IAAS, sharing his thoughts on the impact of ESG on agriculture and engaging the audience in a discussion about its potential benefits. In conclusion, the influence of ESG on agriculture is highly contingent on factors such as the responder’s position in the supply chain, the scale of the operation, and the state of ESG implementation. Recognizing that embracing ESG will be a journey, not a quick fix, is crucial, and the process may disrupt financial projections. Ultimately, progress will depend on collaborative efforts from businesses, government, and society, requiring responsible behaviors to navigate the complexities of sustainable agricultural practices. — Eco-Business, 2d ago

new Among the lowest-hanging fruit for AI in government involves press releases and other forms of communication from agencies to residents. Zencity, for example, debuted a ChatGPT tool that writes what amounts to a first draft of a press release — including potential quotes from public officials. That could save significant time for city managers, among other advantages, according to the company.Municipal budgeting, too, could serve as fertile ground for generative AI.A new AI tool from ClearGov takes in past budgeting data and future estimates to produce what officials sometimes call a budget narrative. Such narratives, which put spending figures into context, often help those officials sell the budget to peers and voters. AI could bring more efficiency to the process, usually the most difficult and contentious work undertaken by local and state governments.Generative AI also gained more of a presence in higher education in 2023. The technology can help with essays, math problems and lesson plans, with work completed within seconds. But fears of plagiarism and other abuses have led to a more cautious welcome for AI in universities and colleges than in city halls, with large school districts such as the one in New York City initially placing restrictions on ChatGPT.College deans and local school boards continue to grapple with the full implications of AI. So are other governmental bodies as the technology hogged more of the spotlight as 2023 progressed. Maine imposed a six-month ban on the use of AI for state employees using state devices or conducting state business. Officials said they needed time to study the privacy, bias and misinformation concerns sparked by ongoing deployment of AI-based products. Executive orders started to emerge at a regular clip as fall rolled around, with Pennsylvania, Virginia, Oklahoma and New Jersey governors all issuing guidance within a few weeks of each other. Their missives were followed within weeks by an AI Executive Order from the White House in late October. Each official action recognized both the potential and the risk, with many calling for outside help to develop appropriate policies for safe use in service of their residents.It’s almost impossible, however, to imagine a gov tech future without much more artificial intelligence. Evidence for that comes from every corner of the industry.For instance, industry giant Tyler Technologies touted its growing ability to use AI for quicker and more accurate court filings, whose complex coding and redaction requirements often force judicial employees to perform manual data entry. Klir’s new AI-backed offering is designed to improve water management and compliance, with what the company calls “holistic” views of utility systems delivered via a chatbot fueled by artificial intelligence.Startups, of course, have also embraced AI, as shown by the most recent cohort from CivStart’s gov tech accelerator program, which provides at least some foreshadowing of the tools public agencies might be using a few years from now. One of the program participants is using artificial intelligence to help local officials — many of them new to the grunt work of government — write and manage legislation. — GovTech, 2d ago

new ...“In coming years, the citizen will use the Internet to build a relationship with government that is personal, custom-built for each user with features that are accessible. Digital government will be easy to use, consistent in its appearance and functionality, offer a complete selection of services that are unified across agencies, and available around the clock. Citizens will be aware of their rights to privacy and able to control governmental use of their personal information.”Current NASCIO President and Tennessee CIO Stephanie Dedmon set out to assess progress against the goals outlined in that paper, publishing a companion report this year. It points to a catalog of citizen-facing digital accomplishments recognized by NASCIO in the intervening years, including Tennessee’s MyTN App, which offers users more than 60 services from many different departments accessible with single sign-on. The updated report also includes evidence of how the personalized, user-focused, cyber- and privacy-aware aspirations have matured in the real world, creating new challenges along the way. The larger goals of effective technology that is focused on the user, however, remain largely the same.A recent report from KPMG, Tomorrow’s Government Today, surveyed residents and government leaders at the state and federal levels, acknowledging some of the challenges ahead for CIOs. Government executives view deploying new technology as a challenge — 72 percent say it will be “moderately difficult” while almost 25 percent say it will be “very difficult.”... — GovTech, 2d ago

new It’s imperative to think about the working conditions of infectious disease (“ID”) specialists if we’re serious about sustaining a pipeline. ID doctors are renowned in the medical education world for their meticulous history-taking and comprehensive review of medical records. Given their pivotal role in antibiotic stewardship, infection control, and diverse diagnostic challenges, it is not uncommon to witness ID pvractitioners tirelessly working long hours, even on weekends and holidays. Although this isn’t universally applicable to all ID physicians, the exposure of the field to trainees, including me, significantly shapes our perception of ID specialists — often depicted as overworked, burdened with bureaucratic tasks, and inadequately compensated. — STAT, 2d ago