YouTube‘s algorithm has come under scrutiny after a study conducted by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) revealed that it recommended videos promoting guns, school shootings, and a movie about serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer to accounts for young gamers. The findings raise concerns about the safety of YouTube’s recommendation system and its impact on the well-being of young users.

YouTube pushed shooting and weapon-related content to young kids

The study involved creating four test YouTube accounts, two identified as nine-year-old boys and two as 14-year-old boys, who showed interest in video games by watching gaming playlists. The researchers analyzed the videos recommended by YouTube’s algorithm to these minor accounts, with some engaging with the recommendations and others not.

Contrary to YouTube’s claims of delivering responsible recommendations, the study found that YouTube pushed content related to shootings and weapons to all gamer accounts. However, the accounts that clicked on the recommended videos were exposed to a significantly higher volume of gun and shooting-related content. These recommendations included videos depicting school shootings, instructions on modifying firearms into automatic weapons, and a movie about serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.

Notably, many of these videos violated YouTube’s own policies on violence, firearms, and child safety. Despite this, YouTube appeared to take no action to age-restrict or remove the videos. This contradicts YouTube’s 2021 assertion that its recommendations do not steer viewers toward extreme content.

YouTube’s popularity among young people is evident, with a 2022 Pew Research survey revealing that 95% of surveyed individuals between the ages of 13 and 17 used the platform. Despite this, YouTube has received less scrutiny than platforms like TikTok and Instagram regarding their impact on teen development and well-being.

YouTube’s recommendation algorithm operates based on user signals, such as clicks, watch time, and video preferences. Recommendations drive a significant portion of overall viewership on the platform, emphasizing the importance of delivering engaging content and ads. While users cannot disable the recommendations feature, they can remove individual recommended videos from their feeds.

The study highlights the need for YouTube to address the issues with its recommendation system, especially concerning the exposure of minors to harmful and inappropriate content. Stricter enforcement of policies and age restrictions, along with ongoing transparency and accountability, are necessary to ensure a safer and more responsible YouTube experience for young users.

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Apple, the known smartphone maker, has bought an Edge computing based startup for a massive sum of 200 million US Dollars. A new report had surfaced after a close source to the smartphone OEM shared the information to a reporting agency called GeekWire.

Xnor.ai is an Edge computing based startup that had branched out from the nonprofit Allen Institure for AI back in 2017. Apple has confirmed the transaction of the large sum to acquire the firm. The Cupertino based giant also mentioned that it acquires smaller businesses every now and then but generally doesn’t incline in sharing the purpose or plans of the buyout.

Initially, Xnor.ai focused on machine learning with efficient algorithms being developed that could run on various low tier hardware, or IoT devices (Internet of Things). This includes electronics like a security camera which consumer low amount of power to function and had a one-track streamlined function. However, with Xnor.ai’s algorithms, these gadgets could accomplish complex tasks like object recognition; which is a task that generally requires powerful processing from cloud based computer via an internet connection.

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According to the source, the amount of 200 million US Dollars for the acquisition is just an estimate so the numbers are not concrete. Although, the numbers and investment are still ranging in tens of million which surpass any of its previous investments raised by a large margin. Xnor.ai is also expected to move to the Seattle offices of Apple which, as stated by the report.

The acquisition for an Edge computing based firm by Apple is forward thinking move from the company. Other industry giants like Google, Microsoft, and even Amazon are heavily investing in this field. With Xnor.ai, Apple plans on making its products work more independently from its cloud computing services to possibly include functions like facial recognition, natural language processing and augmented reality as well.

The implications of the field also extend towards security and privacy, since edge computing places an emphasis on local processing. Thus, Apple can make its devices more secure and even improve its imaging algorithms with machine learning. Notably, iPhones are a loose example of edge computing with local storage of biometric data (facial recognition or fingerprint scanners) and its processing.

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A new AI powered prosthetic hand has been developed that allows a person to move it with one’s mind. The latest breakthrough works in sync with an amputee’s brain waves and muscle signals to replicate the movement that one would’ve made with a real hand.

BrainCo, the company behind the prosthetic hand, unveiled the final model at CES 2020, on Monday. Notably, the firm also received a spot in one of Time Magazine’s top 100 inventions of 2019. The company is also expecting to start shipping the new prosthetic hand in the US market later this year as well.

According to Max Newlon, President of BrainCo, the company has developed a new method of understanding electrical impulses from the brain going into the residual limb of an amputee. The prosthetic hand then detects the intention of the user and translates it to real world movements.

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Reportedly, it takes just about 5 to 10 minutes to program six gestures into the prosthetic hand, which apparently gets better and more life like the more one moves the hand. Another benefit of the new AI powered prosthetic hand is the cost. Typical robotic prosthetic limbs can be priced around $60,000 (roughly 416,526 Yuan), however, the BrainCo’s new prosthetic hand could be priced between $10,000 to $15,000 (roughly 70,000 to 100,000 Yuan).

Currently, the AI powered prosthetic hand is awaiting FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval process, which means once it is cleared, BrainCo can start officially selling the product. With over hundreds of million amputees worldwide, the new invention could be a boon to many, including war veterans or those born with physical defects.

For more coverage of CES 2020 launches and events, click here.

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