A prominent disinformation scholar who left Harvard University in August has accused the school of muzzling her speech and stifling — then dismantling — her research team as it launched a deep dive in late 2021 into a trove of Facebook files she considers the most important documents in internet history. The actions impacting Joan Donovan's work coincided with a $500 million donation to Harvard by a foundation run by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan. In a whistleblower disclosure made public Monday, Donovan seeks investigations into “inappropriate influence" from Harvard's general counsel, the Massachusetts attorney general's office and the U.S. Department of Education. The CEO of Whisteblower Aid, a legal nonprofit supporting Donovan, called the alleged behavior by Harvard's Kennedy School and its dean a “shocking betrayal” of academic integrity at the elite school. "Whether Harvard acted at the company’s direction or took the initiative on their own to protect (Facebook's) interests, the outcome is the same: corporate interests are undermining research and academic freedom to the detriment of the public,” CEO Libby Liu said in a press statement. In response, the Kennedy School rejected the disclosure’s allegations of unfair treatment and donor interference. “The narrative is full of inaccuracies and baseless insinuations, particularly the suggestion that Harvard Kennedy School allowed Facebook to dictate its approach to research,” spokesman James F. Smith said in a statement. The Whistleblower Aid statement quotes Donovan accusing Dean Douglas Elmendorf of subjecting her team to “death by a thousand cuts” after she began making robust plans in October 2021 to create a research clearinghouse for the so-called Facebook Files, which were gathered by former employee Frances Haugen to highlight public harms. Following the disclosures, Zuckerberg changed Facebook's name to Meta. Meta spokesman Andy Stone said the company had no comment on the dispute between Donovan and Harvard. Despite the company's public stance that Haugen was blowing internal research out of proportion, Donovan and other independent researchers considered the documents confirmation that Facebook's design had radicalized people, its algorithms fomenting racial animosity, encouraging ethnic cleansing and damaging teen mental health. "I believed, honestly, that these were the most important documents in internet history,” Donovan said in an interview Monday. “Our role as academics is not to play favorites. It’s not to do P.R. It’s to tell the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it makes us. And unfortunately, I lost my job for it.” Donovan claimed Elmendorf “made it so that I couldn’t hire and I couldn’t start doing projects,” halting her fundraising, barring her from holding conferences with more than 30 attendees, and preventing her from launching "a podcast because he didn’t want to, quote unquote, raise my public profile.” She said that led her to halt media interviews and publish opinion pieces. “Our plan was to go at the elections in 2024," Donovan said. "I had raised. $4.5 million at one point so that we could do our work through 2024.” Donovan said that after her contract was cut short, she refused a severance package because she felt she would be complicit "if I were to take in a payoff for my silence.” Harvard hired Donovan, now an assistant professor at Boston University, in 2018, where she led the Technology and Social Change Research Project. In May 2020, she was promoted to research director of the Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center, where she lectured. In its statement, the Kennedy School denied that Donovan was fired. It said she was a staff member — not a faculty member — and all research projects at the school must be led by faculty members. The school “tried for some time to identify another faculty member who had time and interest to lead the project. After that effort did not succeed, the project was given more than a year to wind down" and most members of the research team remained in research roles. Donovan said Harvard offered to let her continue as a lecturer but without health insurance. Donovan said she was not aware of any search for someone to take over as head of the research project, which she founded and for which she said she had raised $12 million. In its statement, The Kennedy School said it “did not receive any portion of the Chan-Zuckerberg gift,” which went to Harvard University for an unrelated artificial intelligence initiative. Both Chan and Zuckerberg went to Harvard, where Facebook was first launched. Harvard ultimately did release an archive of the Facebook Files though Donovan said it was considerably less ambitious and open than she envisioned. Meta was consulted on redactions to the roughly 20,000 images in that archive and the Kennedy School team managing it decided to make about 160 of the more than 800 redactions requested by the company — in nearly every case to remove the name of low-level Meta employees or outside people for privacy reasons, Smith said. He added that the Kennedy School’s Public Interest Tech Lab gave researchers early access to the archive in May 2023 and it became more fully public in October.

The U.S. Navy plans to use inflatable cylinders to lift and roll a jet plane off a coral reef in Hawaii before removal from the ocean waters where the aircraft crashed on Nov. 20. Rear Adm. Kevin Lenox, the commander of Carrier Strike Group 3 who is leading the salvage effort, said Friday he is confident the operation can be carried out without further damaging the reef. The P-8A slammed into an environmentally sensitive bay about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Honolulu when it overshot the runway at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. None of the nine people on board at the time were injured. The Navy is investigating the mishap. The Navy released underwater video on Wednesday showing landing gear wheels resting on parts of crushed coral and much of the rest of the plane floating above the reef in Kaneohe Bay. A Navy team already has removed nearly all of the estimated 2,000 gallons (7,500 liters) of fuel that was on the aircraft. Lenox said he expected the removal operation to get underway on Saturday. He didn't want to commit to a date when the work would be done given the weather and other conditions that could affect the timeline. Contractors began sliding the bags under the plane on Friday. When inflated, the bags will float across the water toward the runway. When they reach land, machines will pull and roll them onto and across the runway. Read: North Korea will try again to launch a military spy satellite in the coming days Lenox said it's possible one of the bags may touch a small band of coral but that is not guaranteed. The force of the plane will be distributed across the entire area of the bags, so there will only be 3 to 5 pounds (1.3 to 2.3 kilograms) of pressure on any given point where they touch the ground, he said, noting that was significantly less than a person standing on the ground. “We have high confidence that we will be able to execute this whole thing with no further impact to the ecosystem here,” Lenox said. Hawaii state officials are due to examine the reef for damage once the plane is removed. Kaneohe Bay is home to coral reefs and a range of marine life, from sharks to octopus and fish. The area hosts an ancient Hawaiian fishpond being restored by community groups. Contractors performed a similar feat when they removed a barge weighing 1,000 tons (907 metric tons) from sensitive seagrass habitat in the Outer Banks of North Carolina after Hurricane Florence in 2015. The plane, about 60 tons (54 metric tons), is much lighter than the barge, Lenox said. Read: How are ancient Roman and Mayan buildings still standing? Scientists are unlocking their secrets The Navy considered floating the jet within range of a crane on the runway and then lifting the plane onto land. But Lenox said the inflatable cylinder option was the safer method, was expected to have little to no effect on the coral and would not impact the aircraft. The airplane is in good condition and the Navy hopes to get it flying again, Lenox said. The Navy uses the P-8A, the military’s version of a 737 jet, to search for submarines and conduct surveillance and reconnaissance. The Boeing-made plane is assigned to Patrol Squadron 4 stationed at Whidbey Island in Washington state. A separate crew from Whidbey Island has deployed to Hawaii to take over the squadron's patrol missions near Hawaii. 

Tackling Dhaka’s ongoing parking challenges just got smarter! The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) recently introduced the DNCC Smart Parking app. The exciting pilot initiative was launched on November 8 at the DNCC’s Nagar Bhaban in Gulshan 2. So, hopefully struggling to find a parking spot in North Dhaka will soon be a thing of the past with the user-friendly DNCC Smart Parking app. This innovative solution aims to make parking hassle-free and convenient for everyone in the city. With the smart on-street parking system, users can easily locate nearby available parking spaces, reserve them in advance, and manage payments seamlessly—all through a few simple clicks on the app. This app is expected to reduce parking stress and facilitate a hassle-free experience with the convenience of the new smart on-street parking system.  Key Features of the DNCC Smart Parking App The ‘DNCC Smart Parking’ app comes with several convenient features. Firstly, users can effortlessly identify available parking spaces in their neighbourhood, making it quick and easy to find a spot. Additionally, the app allows for advance reservation of parking spaces, providing users with the convenience of securing a spot ahead of time and ensuring a hassle-free arrival. Moreover, handling payments is a seamless experience, thanks to the various online payment options integrated into the app. This functionality not only simplifies the payment process but also adds a layer of convenience for users utilising the parking services. Read more: DNCC launches ‘Smart on Street Parking’ scheme to stop illegal parking How to Use DNCC Smart Parking App? If you are interested in using the app, you can easily download it from either Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Once you have downloaded and opened the app, you will find an option to ‘Create an Account.’ Simply fill in your personal and vehicle details and verify your identity through a one-time password (OTP), and you are all set to access the service. When parking your vehicle, make sure to park it either parallel or at a 60-degree angle in the designated spots marked in white on the sidewalk. To validate your parking, you can use the app or a smart parking card. Once you have completed the registration process, simply open the app and pick the street where you want to park. Tap on the ‘Parking’ button, select the duration of your parking, and choose your preferred location. The app will then display the parking fees, which you can conveniently pay using various online payment methods. Once the payment is processed, the parking service will be activated, allowing you to park your vehicle securely. This service enables users to pay for roadside parking on an hourly basis, providing up-to-the-minute information on the availability of parking spaces in Gulshan. In the beginning, the smart parking service won’t accept cash payments. Users can choose to pay through mobile banking or bank cards using the app. Read more: Car Parking Multiplayer Games: Top 10 Free Simulators for Android, iOS Alternatively, fee payments can be made at the parking slots using Point of Sale (POS) machines. For individuals without bank cards or mobile banking accounts, authorities will provide parking cards named “Smart Parking Card.” Charges for parking services will be deducted from these prepaid cards.

Huawei has launched 'HUAWEI eKit,' a robust sub-brand that provides an easy supply chain and distribution system for ICT products through local distributors in Bangladesh. The launching ceremony was held on November 20, 2023, at Huawei Bangladesh Academy. Excel Technologies LTD and Inflow Technologies Singapore Pte Ltd will work with HUAWEI eKit in the distribution process. HUAWEI eKit, Excel, and Inflow Jointly organized the launching ceremony. The event was attended by Ms. Kousalya Narayan, Vice President of South Asia Channels Management, Inflow Technologies Singapore Pte Ltd, Mr. Goutam Saha, Managing Director, Excel Technologies, Mr. Allen Liu, Vice President of Huawei South Asia and MD, Huawei South Asia Enterprise Business Group. Other high officials from Huawei, Excel, and Inflow were also present at the event. HUAWEI eKit, a sub-brand dedicated to SME customers and partners. Policies, products, solutions, services, and digital tool platforms are integrated on HUAWEI eKit to build end-to-end enterprise digital solutions. In the SME market, HUAWEI eKit intends to grows together with partners and helps thousands of enterprises go digital with its intelligent products and solutions. Ms. Kousalya Naraya, Vice President, South Asia Channels Management, Inflow Technologies Singapore Pte Ltd, said, "HUAWEI eKit launch has immense strategic significance as it will empower distributors and retailers. Together with HUAWEI eKit, we believe in collaborative growth. HUAWEI eKit aligns with Inflow Technologies' commitment to driving technological advancements and business success in the region." Mr. Goutam Saha, Managing Director of Excel Technologies Limited, said, "I am delighted to begin our partnership with HUAWEI eKit. This sub-brand aligns with our commitment to delivering cutting-edge ICT solutions. It promises to redefine the landscape of technology distribution in our country. Launching the HUAWEI eKit in the Bangladesh market provides a unique opportunity for us." Mr. Allen Liu, Vice President of Huawei South Asia and MD of Huawei South Asia Enterprise Business Group, said, "Huawei is introducing a sub-brand known as ' HUAWEI eKit'. It will bring innovative ICT products through our distribution partners in the retail sector. This sub-brand is ideal for ensuring retail business growth for the retailers. Partners and Consumers will also benefit from this platform as the HUAWEI eKit products will be available in our distributors' inventory. This sub- brand will help make significant contributions to realizing Smart Bangladesh. In the HUAWEI eKit distribution landscape, Excel Technologies will be responsible for product promotion, market availability, and after-sales services. Simultaneously, Inflow is responsible for bringing these products to Bangladesh, taking orders from local distributors and retailers, and acquiring the product from HUAWEI eKit.

The ousted leader of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI is returning to the company that fired him late last week, the latest in a saga that has shocked the artificial intelligence industry. San Francisco-based OpenAI said in a statement late Tuesday: “We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam Altman to return to OpenAI as CEO with a new initial board" made of former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo. OpenAI’s previous board of directors, which included D'Angelo, had refused to give specific reasons for why it fired Altman on Friday, leading to a weekend of internal conflict at the company and growing outside pressure from the startup's investors. Read: ChatGPT-maker OpenAI fires CEO Sam Altman Microsoft, which has invested billions of dollars in OpenAI and has rights to its technology, quickly moved to hire Altman on Monday, as well as another co-founder and former president, Greg Brockman, who had quit in protest after Altman's removal. That emboldened a threatened exodus of nearly all of the startup's 770 employees who signed a letter calling for the board's resignation and Altman's return. Microsoft Chief Technology Officer Kevin Scott put out a call to the startup’s employees Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter: “Know that if needed, you have a role at Microsoft that matches your compensation and advances our collective mission.” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also made clear in a series of interviews Monday that he was still open to the possibility of Altman returning to OpenAI, so long as the startup's governance and board problems are solved. Read: ChatGPT's chief to testify before US Congress as concerns grow about artificial intelligence's risks “We are encouraged by the changes to the OpenAI board,” Nadella posted on X late Tuesday. “We believe this is a first essential step on a path to more stable, well-informed, and effective governance.” In his own post, Altman said that “with the new board and (with) Satya's support, I'm looking forward to returning to OpenAI, and building on our strong partnership with (Microsoft)." Co-founded by Altman as a nonprofit with a mission to safely build so-called artificial general intelligence that outperforms humans and benefits humanity, OpenAI later became a for-profit business but one still run by its nonprofit board of directors. It's not clear yet if the board's structure will change with its newly appointed members. Nadella said Brockman, who was OpenAI's board chairman until Altman's firing, will also have a key role to play in ensuring OpenAI “continues to thrive and build on its mission.” Hours earlier, Brockman returned to social media as if it were business as usual, touting a feature called ChatGPT Voice that was rolling out for free to everyone who uses the chatbot. Read: What can Bard, Google’s answer to ChatGPT, do?  “Give it a try — totally changes the ChatGPT experience,” Brockman wrote, flagging a post from OpenAI's main X account that featured a demonstration of the technology playfully winking at recent turmoil. “It’s been a long night for the team and we’re hungry. How many 16-inch pizzas should I order for 778 people,” the person asks, using the number of people who work at OpenAI. ChatGPT's synthetic voice responded by recommending around 195 pizzas, ensuring everyone gets three slices. As for OpenAI's short-lived interim CEO Emmett Shear, the second interim CEO in the days since Altman's ouster, he posted on X that he was “deeply pleased by this result, after (tilde)72 very intense hours of work.” “Coming into OpenAI, I wasn't sure what the right path would be,” Shear wrote. “This was the pathway that maximized safety alongside doing right by all stakeholders involved. I'm glad to have been a part of the solution.”

Elon Musk’s social media company X filed a lawsuit against liberal advocacy group Media Matters for America on Monday, saying it manufactured a report to show advertisers’ posts alongside neo-Nazi and white nationalist posts in order to “drive advertisers from the platform and destroy X Corp.” Media Matters, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit, called the lawsuit “frivolous.” Advertisers have been fleeing the site formerly known as Twitter over concerns about their ads showing up next to pro-Nazi content — and hate speech on the site in general — while billionaire owner Musk has inflamed tensions with his own posts endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory. IBM, NBCUniversal and its parent company Comcast said last week that they stopped advertising on X after the Media Matters report said their ads were appearing alongside material praising Nazis. It was a fresh setback as the platform tries to win back big brands and their ad dollars, X’s main source of revenue. READ: Elon Musk's refusal to have Starlink support Ukraine attack in Crimea raises questions for Pentagon The Media Matters report pointed to ads from Apple and Oracle that also were placed next to antisemitic material on X. On Friday, it said it also found ads from Amazon, NBA Mexico, NBCUniversal and others next to white nationalist hashtags. But San Francisco-based X says in its complaint filed in federal court in Fort Worth, Texas, that Media Matters “knowingly and maliciously” portrayed ads next to hateful material “as if they were what typical X users experience on the platform.” X's complaint claims that Media Matters manipulated algorithms on the platform to create images of advertisers' paid posts next to racist, incendiary content. The juxtapositions, according to the complaint, were "manufactured, inorganic and extraordinarily rare." It says Media Matters did this by using X accounts that just followed X users known to produce “extreme fringe content” and accounts owned by X’s major advertisers. This, the complaint says, led to a feed aimed at producing side-by-side placements that Media Matters could then screen shot in an effort to alienate X's advertisers. READ: Elon Musk reveals new black and white X logo to replace Twitter's blue bird Media Matters said Monday that it stands by its reporting and expects to prevail in court. “This is a frivolous lawsuit meant to bully X’s critics into silence," the non-profit's president, Angelo Carusone, said in a prepared statement. Advertisers have been skittish on X since Musk's takeover more than a year ago. Musk has also sparked outcry this month with his own posts responding to a user who accused Jews of hating white people and professing indifference to antisemitism. “You have said the actual truth,” Musk tweeted in a reply last Wednesday. READ: Twitter users run into service issues after Elon Musk imposes daily limits on reading tweets Musk has faced accusations of tolerating antisemitic messages on the platform since purchasing it last year, and the content on X has gained increased scrutiny since the war between Israel and Hamas began. X CEO Linda Yaccarino said the company's “point of view has always been very clear that discrimination by everyone should STOP across the board.” “I think that’s something we can and should all agree on,” she wrote on the platform last week.  

TECNO, a global pioneer in mobile imaging technology, unveiled its latest groundbreaking leap in camera technology, TECNO Universal Tone–the most advanced AI-Powered multi-skin tone imaging technology that integrates the industry's newest spectral database and insights recently. Self-developed by TECNO, the technology was enhanced through joint research and development in cooperation with color science academics from leading global universities, with newly collected and analyzed data from scientific research integrated into the system. The Universal Tone technology made its debut in the captivating 'Portrait For Everyone' short film produced by BBC StoryWorks on October 2, said a media release. Created to deliver precise representations of skin tones, TECNO Universal Tone embodies inclusivity and customization. Jack Guo, General Manager of TECNO, highlighted the brand's commitment to fostering a positive mindset through technological development. The technology employs a rigorous scientific, data-based approach to ensure an accurate reflection of the diverse beauty of users worldwide. TECNO Universal Tone technology incorporates three engines: the Multi-Skin Tone Restoration Engine, the Local-Tuning Engine, and the AI-Powered Computational Portrait Engine. The Multi-Skin Tone Restoration Engine utilises a scientific approach, featuring the industry's largest diversified spectral database. It covers frequently overlooked skin colors, eliminating bias in technology. This engine allows for the creation of an inclusive skin tone scale and precise representation. The Local-Tuning Engine tailors solutions for diverse real-world scenarios, considering local environments, lighting conditions, and color temperatures to achieve a harmonious output, it reads. The AI-Powered Computational Portrait Engine delivers a personalized and localized portrait imaging experience. It considers aesthetic preferences, facial features, and skin tones unique to each region, ensuring enhanced accuracy, texture, and personalized beauty enhancements. In synergy, these engines optimize TECNO Universal Tone. The Multi-Skin Tone Restoration Engine calibrates skin tones, the Local-Tuning Engine restructures facial tones and analyzes the environment, and the AI-Powered Computational Portrait Engine applies a personalized algorithm aligned with regional preferences. Dr. Kaida Xiao, Associate Professor at the University of Leeds, emphasizes the data-based approach in developing accurate color cards for each skin tone. TheUniversal Tone technology ensures accurate identification and optimization of individual skin tones, setting a new standard for diversity and true-to-life portraits. TECNO, guided by its user-centric philosophy and "Stop At Nothing" strategy, continues to pursue innovation. The development of TECNO Universal Tone marks a significant milestone in creating a more inclusive smartphone industry, emphasizing the brand's commitment to enhancing user lifestyles globally.

Microsoft announced Monday that it has hired Sam Altman and another co-founder of ChatGPT maker OpenAI after they unexpectedly departed the company days earlier in a corporate shakeup that shocked the artificial intelligence world. Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella also tweeted that the major investor in OpenAI — behind the chatbot that kicked off the generative AI craze — looked “forward to getting to know” OpenAI's new chief executive, former Twitch leader Emmett Shear, and the rest of the management team. Nadella wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Microsoft was “extremely excited to share the news that Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, together with colleagues, will be joining Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team.” Altman said “the mission continues,” in reply to Nadella on X. OpenAI said Friday that Altman was pushed out after a review found he was “not consistently candid in his communications” with the board of directors, which had lost confidence in his ability to lead OpenAI. Altman catapulted ChatGPT to global fame while serving as company CEO and in the past year has become Silicon Valley’s sought-after voice on the promise and potential dangers of artificial intelligence. OpenAI last week had announced co-founder Brockman would step down as board chairman but remain onas president. Brockman followed with a post on X reprinting a message he sent to OpenAI employees in which he wrote, “based on today’s news, i quit.” In another X post Friday night, Brockman said Altman was asked to join a video meeting with the company’s board members, when co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever informed Altman he was being fired. Brockman added that he was informed of his removal from the board in a separate call with Sutskever a short time later. “Sam and I are shocked and saddened by what the board did today,” Brockman wrote on X.

The OpenAI board is reportedly "in discussion" with Sam Altman regarding his potential return as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after he was suddenly fired on Friday (November 17, 2023), according to The Verge. Quoting sources close to the matter, The Verge reported that Altman is “ambivalent” about coming back and would want significant governance changes. Also read: ChatGPT-maker OpenAI fires CEO Sam Altman Earlier, many staffers of OpenAI, the US-based AI research and deployment company that developed ChatGPT, gave an ultimatum to the OpenAI board to resign and bring back Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, chairman of OpenAI who resigned in protest of firing Altman. As per The Verge, the board has initially reached an agreement to resign, making way for Altman and Brockman to return. However, there seems to have been a change in their stance since then. A source close to Altman told Verge that if he decides to start a new company, those staffers will go with him, which could lead OpenAI towards a state of free-fall. Also read: ChatGPT-4: All you need to know Following Altman’s termination as CEO, a string of senior researchers of the organisation have resigned from their posts at OpenAI. Meanwhile, in a memo sent to OpenAI staffers, one executive member of the company has reportedly said "we remain optimistic" about bringing back Sam Altman, The Verge reports, quoting The Information. The Verge, however, couldn't confirm whom the executive was referring to with the term "we."

Luna Shamsuddoha, a pioneer in Bangladesh’s ICT sector, was posthumously honoured with the ‘Meritorious Achievement Award-2023’ by Portugal for her contributions to ICT. The award ceremony organized by the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies (ICPS) and the National Electoral Commission of Portugal was held in Lisbon on November 15. The award was conferred on Luna Shamsuddoha in recognition of her invaluable contributions and lifetime dedication to electoral management including the formulation of fingerprint and photograph-based voter lists in Bangladesh alongside her contribution to electoral management in different countries of the world. Her remarkable legacy in the realm of electoral affairs has left an indelible mark, the organisers said. The ‘Meritorious Achievement Award’ was handed over to Reem Shamsuddoha, daughter of the late Luna Shamsuddoha, at the function which was attended by dignitaries from electoral commissions from around the world. Soreto de Barros, president of the National Electoral Commission of Portugal, officials of election commissions of various countries, and former chief election commissioner of India Nasim Zaidi, were present, among others, on the occasion. Luna Shamsuddoha breathed her last on February 17, 2021. The ICPS mentioned that Luna Shamsuddoha was conferred the prestigious award due to her invaluable contributions to the electoral management of various countries of the world including Bangladesh through the use of ICT. Regarding the award, AKM Shamsuddoha, husband of the late Luna Shamsuddoha, said the ‘Meritorious Achievement Award’ conferred posthumously on Luna is a matter of great pride. He also recalled the tireless efforts of the engineers and officials of Dohatec New Media towards the achievement.