United News of Bangladesh

Thousands of ChatGPT users around the world were left frustrated earlier today after the popular AI chatbot experienced a major outage. According to DownDetector, a website that tracks online service outages, over 3,000 users reported issues with ChatGPT, reports The Sun. Many users took to social media to express their frustration, with one user on X (formerly Twitter) stating: “Hey ChatGPT - wasn't expecting you to be down when I chose you. Make it quick.” Read more: AI tool capable of classifying brain tumors within hours: Australian researchers OpenAI, the developers of ChatGPT, acknowledged the outage and released a statement saying: “We are currently investigating this issue.” The outage appears to have been resolved as of this time. However, it highlights the growing reliance on AI-powered services and the disruption that can occur when these services go offline, added the report.

Nissan is urging the owners of about 84,000 older vehicles to stop driving them because their Takata air bag inflators have an increased risk of exploding in a crash and hurling dangerous metal fragments. Wednesday's urgent request comes after one person in a Nissan was killed by an exploding front-passenger inflator, and as many as 58 people were injured since 2015. “Due to the age of the vehicles equipped with defective Takata air bag inflators, there is an increased risk the inflator could explode during an air bag deployment, propelling sharp metal fragments which can cause serious injury or death,” Nissan said in a statement. Nissan said the “do not drive” warning covers certain 2002 through 2006 Sentra small cars, as well as some 2002 through 2004 Pathfinder SUVs, and 2002 and 2003 Infiniti QX4 SUVs. Owners can find out if their vehicles are affected by going to nissanusa.com/takata-airbag-recall or infinitiusa.com/takata-airbag-recall and keying in their 17-digit vehicle identification number. The company says owners should contact their dealer to set up an appointment to have inflators replaced for free. Nissan also is offering free towing to dealers, and in some locations mobile service and loaner cars are available. “Even minor crashes can result in exploding Takata air bags that can kill or produce life-altering, gruesome injuries," the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement. “Older model year vehicles put their occupants at higher risk, as the age of the air bag is one of the contributing factors.” Nissan originally recalled 736,422 of the vehicles in 2020 to replace the Takata inflators. The company said around 84,000 remain unrepaired and are believed to still be in use. Nissan said it has made numerous attempts to reach the owners with unrepaired Takata inflators. The death was reported to NHTSA in 2018, the company said. The person killed was in a 2006 Sentra, according to Nissan. The death is one of 27 in the U.S. caused by the faulty inflators, which used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. The chemical can deteriorate over time when exposed to high temperatures and humidity. It can explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister and spewing shrapnel. More than 400 people in the U.S. have been hurt. Worldwide at least 35 people have been killed by Takata inflators in Malaysia, Australia and the U.S. Potential for a dangerous malfunction led to the largest series of auto recalls in U.S. history, with at least 67 million Takata inflators involved. The U.S. government says many have not been repaired. About 100 million inflators have been recalled worldwide. The exploding air bags sent Takata into bankruptcy. Honda, Ford, BMW, Toyota and Stellantis and Mazda have issued similar “do not drive” warnings for some of their vehicles equipped with Takata inflators.

Four Bangladeshi students from engineering and science fields have won Honda Young Engineer & Scientist’s (Y-E-S) Award – 2023. The awards from Japan’s Honda Foundation were handed to the winners at a ceremony held on Sunday night in Dhaka. Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh IWAMA Kiminori was the chief guest at the ceremony while chief evaluator of Honda Y-E-S Award programme in Bangladesh, Dr. Ainun Nishat; Chairman of International Committee and Director of Honda Foundation Akira Kiminori;  Secretary of Honda Foundation Norie Arai; Managing Director and CEO of Bangladesh Honda Private Limited Shigeru Matsuzaki; actor, writer and civil engineer Abul Hayat; Chief Marketing Officer of Bangladesh Honda Private Limited Shah Muhammad Ashequr Rahman, and representatives of respective universities were present. CIPFA awards 63 OCAG officials with professional accounting certificates The winners of Honda Y-E-S Award – 2023 are: Labiba Islam Salsabil, Farsia Kawsar Chowdhury, Md. Toki Tahmid and S.M. Sakeef Sani from Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET). The objective of this award is to “foster future leaders of science and technology fields to spearhead the growth of Asian countries.” The Y-E-S Award program aims to identify and encourage students who would become future leaders to develop and implement innovative technologies that help to realize a truly humane civilization, maintaining harmony with environment. The program initially kicked off in Vietnam in 2006 and it has been also implemented in India, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. It was introduced in Bangladesh in 2019 to support the development and promotion of young leaders to spearhead the growth of these countries in the future. Digital Media Forum to announce awards for excellence in journalism The organisers informed that the program is annually selecting up to four undergraduate students of the designated universities in Bangladesh to award USD 3,000 to each student. The awardees can receive as additional award/grant up to USD 10,000 under the Honda Y-E-S Award Plus programme if they continue their study and training within four years after the receipt of the Honda Y-E-S Award either via masters, doctoral or study abroad programs in Japanese universities, or via internship programs in Japanese research organizations or private companies as approved by the Honda Foundation.

Microsoft wants laptop users to get so comfortable with its artificial intelligence chatbot that it will remember everything you’re doing on your computer and help figure out what you want to do next. The software giant on Monday revealed a new class of AI-imbued personal computers as it confronts heightened competition from Big Tech rivals in pitching generative AI technology that can compose documents, make images and serve as a lifelike personal assistant at work or home. The announcements ahead of Microsoft’s annual Build developer conference centered on fusing its AI assistant, called Copilot, into the Windows operating system for PCs, where Microsoft already has the eyes of millions of consumers. The new features will include Windows Recall, giving the AI assistant what Microsoft describes as “photographic memory” of a person’s virtual activity. Microsoft promises to protect users’ privacy by giving them the option to filter out what they don’t want tracked, and keeping the tracking on the device. “We’re entering this new era where computers not only understand us, but can actually anticipate what we want and our intent,” Nadella said at an event at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington. “Her”? OpenAI to remove ChatGPT voice over Scarlett Johansson resemblance The conference that starts Tuesday in Seattle follows big AI announcements last week from rival Google, as well as Microsoft’s close business partner OpenAI, which built the AI large language models on which Microsoft’s Copilot is based. Google rolled out a retooled search engine that periodically puts AI-generated summaries over website links at the top of the results page; while also showing off a still-in-development AI assistant Astra that will be able to “see” and converse about things shown through a smartphone’s camera lens. ChatGPT-maker OpenAI unveiled a new version of its chatbot last week, demonstrating an AI voice assistant with human characteristics that can banter about what someone’s wearing and even attempt to assess a person’s emotions. The voice sounded so much like Scarlett Johansson playing an AI character in the sci-fi movie “Her” that OpenAI dropped the voice from its collection Monday. OpenAI also rolled out a new desktop version of ChatGPT designed for Apple’s Mac computers. Next up is Apple’s own annual developers conference in June. Apple CEO Tim Cook signaled at the company’s annual shareholder meeting in February that it has been making big investments in generative AI. Some of Microsoft’s announcements Monday appeared designed to blunt whatever Apple has in store. The newly AI-enhanced Windows PCs will start rolling out on June 18 on computers made by Microsoft partners Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Samsung, as well as on Microsoft’s Surface line of devices. But they’ll be reserved for premium models starting at $999. AI tool capable of classifying brain tumors within hours: Australian researchers While Copilot is rooted in OpenAI’s large language models, Microsoft said the new AI PCs will also rely heavily on its own homegrown “small language models” that are designed to be more efficient and able to more easily run on a consumer’s personal device. Powered by Qualcomm chips, many of the computers will end up in the hands of workers at big organizations looking to refresh their inventory, said Gartner analyst Jason Wong. AI applications from graphics production to language translation “can now run locally without having to go back to the cloud to process it,” said Wong. “That’s going to help with what you can do without connected internet, and make it that much more high-performing.”

A team of researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to more quickly and accurately classify brain tumors. In a study published on Friday, the team demonstrated that their deep learning model - DEPLOY - can accurately classify brain tumors into 10 major subtypes. The AI tool analyzes microscopic pictures of a patient's brain tissue to make its classification. Danh-Tai Hoang, the co-lead of the project from the Biological Data Science Institute at ANU, said that the current gold standard for diagnosing and categorizing brain tumors - a process called DNA methylation-based profiling - can take several weeks and is not widely available. By comparison, the AI tool can deliver results within hours. "Remarkably, DEPLOY achieved an unprecedented accuracy of 95 percent," Hoang said in a media release. "Furthermore, when given a subset of 309 particularly difficult to classify samples, DEPLOY was able to provide a diagnosis that was more clinically relevant than what was initially provided by pathologists." DEPLOY was trained and validated on a dataset of approximately 4,000 patients from the United States and Europe. Hoang said it could be used in the future to add to a pathologist's initial diagnosis or even prompt a re-evaluation when it finds disparities. The researchers believe it could eventually be used to help classify other types of cancer.

They appear like ghosts in the night, standing outside your house, one holding up an antenna while the other crouches next to the car parked on the driveway. Within seconds, your car is gone, yet another victim amid a surge in auto theft enabled by the technology designed to make it easier to unlock and start vehicles. Auto technology has evolved and many newer cars use wireless key fobs and push-button starters instead of traditional metal keys. The fob sends a short-range signal, so when the driver approaches the car, it automatically unlocks the door. This saves you the hassle of digging out your keys when you've got your hands full with groceries. But that technology also makes things easier for thieves. The wireless fob will continue to emit a signal even if you're not using it. Thieves prowl neighborhoods at night looking for cars parked outside so they can carry out so-called relay attacks. Using portable equipment that can pick up the faint signal from a fob inside the house or parking lot, they relay it back to a transmitter that can clone the signal. Officials have urged carmakers to reduce the security vulnerabilities and warn owners about the risks. TikTok to start labeling AI-generated content as technology becomes more universal So what can you do to reduce the odds that your car will be gone in 60 seconds? “It’s relatively easy for drivers to protect themselves,” said Steve Launchbury, principal engineer of automotive security at Thatcham Research, a U.K.-based automotive risk intelligence company. Here are some tips: USE A SIGNAL BLOCKER A simple but effective way to stop auto bandits from purloining your key fob signal is to use a Faraday bag or pouch. They're lined with a conductive metal mesh that blocks the transmission of electromagnetic signals. The pouches aren't expensive, and you can also get boxes that do the same thing. But experts advise testing to make sure they work. Just put the key fob inside and approach your car. If the doors don't automatically unlock, then the signal is being blocked. It's also important to remember to use it whenever you leave your vehicle, and don't forget to put all of your key fobs inside, including any spares. But ignore some advice making the rounds on the internet telling you to put your fob in the microwave or freezer. It doesn't have the same effect as a Faraday bag, and you risk damaging your key. realme launches C65 with various technological safeguards GET AN OLD-FASHIONED LOCK Try an old-school solution by using a physical lock. Some police forces advise car owners to use them to make your vehicle look less tempting to steal. The reasoning is that a would-be thief might be deterred by the effort needed to cut through the lock and instead turn their attention to an easier target. Locks, in the shape of a disk or a long bar, clamp onto the steering wheel and make it difficult to steer. There are also versions that prevent the car from being put in gear. The downside is you'll need extra time to attach or remove it whenever you aren't driving. CHANGE UP YOUR SETTINGS For many cars, it's possible to deactivate the wireless setting so that you can't open the door remotely. For Fords, Hondas and Audis, use the touchscreen menus. If you own a Toyota, you can temporarily disable the signal by holding down the fob's lock button and at the same time pressing the unlock button twice. If you've done it correctly, the fob's indicator light should blink four times. Be aware that the next time you press any button, remote unlocking will be reactivated. The method will vary depending on make and model so consult your owner’s manual for the exact process. If it sounds complicated, there are YouTube videos that walk you through it. Don't forget that in most cases you’ll now have to manually press the fob's unlock button. Automakers have started adding motion sensors to key fobs. If the sensor doesn't detect recent movement because it's been, say, left on the kitchen counter after you come home, the fob goes into sleep mode and stops transmitting. If it lacks this capability, check with your dealer whether it's possible to upgrade it. If you buy a used car, some experts also advise getting the keys reprogrammed, just in case the previous owner kept one of the fobs. Tech entrepreneurs call for extending tax holiday till 2041 WATCH OUT FOR NEW METHODS Researchers have uncovered a new auto theft technique that doesn't target radio signals. The controller area network, or CAN, is “a feature of modern cars which allows different components and systems to communicate, (and) has recently been targeted and exploited by thieves,” said Thatcham's Launchbury. The network allows sensors and control modules to talk to each other directly, instead of going through a central node. Thieves take advantage by accessing the network from the car’s exterior, usually by removing a headlight and connecting a device that can “inject” a signal, tricking the car into unlocking and starting. While automakers work on improving CAN security, "there are steps drivers can take today to add layers of security and deter criminals," such as using a physical lock, Launchbury said. Aftermarket electronic immobilizer systems “should render a criminal’s theft tool useless,” and might even get you a discount on auto insurance, he said. Thatcham and other companies offer them but the downside is they can be quite pricey.

OnePlus, a renowned global leader in smartphone technology, has officially launched its operations in Bangladesh with a grand event at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka on May 14.  The launch highlighted the introduction of the OnePlus Nord N30 SE 5G, the brand’s first smartphone produced in Bangladesh, signaling a significant expansion in the country. During the event attended by tech influencers, media professionals, and various corporate representatives, OnePlus not only unveiled its new smartphone but also detailed its production and comprehensive after-sales services in Bangladesh.  YouTube blocks Hong Kong protest anthem after court injunction bans song in the city The company has quickly built a robust consumer base in the region, bolstered by its promise of exceptional and dedicated support for all users.

YouTube has blocked access to videos of a protest song in Hong Kong, days after court approved an injunction banning the song in the city. “Glory to Hong Kong” was an anthem of anti-government protests in 2019. YouTube said that it would comply with a removal order and block access to over 32 YouTube videos of the song that were deemed to be “prohibited publications” under the injunction. Attempts to access the YouTube videos from Hong Kong on Wednesday showed that they were unavailable. A message showed saying that “This content is not available on this country domain due to a court order.” In approving the government's application to ban the song, the court agreed it could be “weaponized” and used to incite secession. “We are disappointed by the court’s decision but are complying with its removal order by blocking access to the listed videos for viewers in Hong Kong,” YouTube, which is owned by Alphabet Inc., said in an emailed statement. Will AI replace doctors who read X-rays, or just make them better than ever? “We’ll continue to consider our options for an appeal, to promote access to information,” the company said, adding that it shared the concerns of human rights organizations about the chilling effect the ban would have on free expression online. Links to the 32 videos on YouTube will also not show up on Google Search for users in Hong Kong, according to YouTube. George Chen, co-chair of digital practice at Asia Group, a Washington-headquartered business and policy consultancy, said it is worth watching how aggressively Hong Kong authorities will be in ordering internet platforms to remove the song. Chen, who was the former head of public policy for Greater China at Meta, said that if the government begins sending platforms hundreds of links to remove every day, that would likely undermine investor confidence in Hong Kong. “That will hurt Hong Kong’s reputation as a leading financial center because we know how important a free flow of data and information means to a financial center,” he said. “So the government should be very careful and be aware of some unintended consequences that may impact its economic recovery and investors’ confidence.” Internet and social media platforms such as YouTube typically have policies for removal requests from governments. “Glory to Hong Kong” was often sung by demonstrators during massive anti-government protests in 2019. The song was later mistakenly played as the city’s anthem at international sporting events, instead of China’s “March of the Volunteers,” in mix-ups that upset city officials. Authorities earlier arrested some residents who played the song in public under other offenses, such as playing a musical instrument in public without a permit, local media reported. realme C65: All essential features with 4-year lag-free performance Critics have said prohibiting broadcast or distribution of the song further reduces freedom of expression since Beijing launched a crackdown in the former British colony following the 2019 protests. They have also warned the ban might disrupt the operation of tech giants and hurt the city’s appeal as a business center.  

Entry to mid-level smartphone supremacy burns hottest as users have become more demanding. Here, users walk a tightrope between functionality and exasperation, where promises of seamless performance often become questionable. Entry to mid-level phones flaunt apps availability, high powered processor, and gaming capability to attract users. But these features can only be performed when the phone is equipped with a software and hardwire combination that matches its offerings. With continuous lag and latency, users will find no value no matter how feature-packed a phone is. realme, a popular smartphone brand among young people, has just relaunched its C series as "Essential Plus," beginning with the release of the realme C65. After hands-on testing, I can certainly state that the realme C65 shines in terms of reliability and quality, delivering remarkable lag-free performance on board. Now let's get started with the review. Performs lag free for four years At the heart of the realme C65 is the promise of uninterrupted performance over four years. This isn't just on paper. It is backed by the 48-month TÜV SÜD Certification, a German quality standard, to ensure the device's exceptional longevity and resilience. The phone has become the first smartphone in the same price range to receive the TÜV SÜD 48-month Fluency Certification. With this prestigious credibility, users can be rest assured that the device runs great in the long run. Besides, the phone also has the most updated UI in its price range. Quality and Performance Crafted for quality, the phone doesn't compromise on durability. With an IP54+ rating, it defends itself from unwanted dust and water with ease. Even during rain or a dusty environment, the phone will stand strong and responsive. The realme C65 is built with AI Boost, a cutting-edge feature made to reduce lag and improve high frame rate while you are having an intense gaming session. With AI Boost, C65 can achieve 5% faster app launch, and TOP10 App sliding smoothness improved by 5%. During gameplay, latency can be reduced by 5% while frame rate stability can be improved by 10%. Combining Smooth Boost and Game Boost, you get amazing phone experience made for advanced multi-tasking and latency free gameplay. 45W Panther speed The device boasts a Marathon Battery+ feature coupled with 45W Fast Charging, guaranteeing long-time usage without the hassle of charging every now and then. It achieves astonishing performance of "30 seconds of charging, 43 minutes of talk time," and charges up to 50% in just 30 minutes. Intelligent four core chip protection, paired with 38 safety measures guarantees the safety of high-power charging. All in all, the larger battery provides less waiting time for faster charging.  

Shahjahan Mahmood, chairman of the Bangladesh Satellite Company Ltd, has said that the deal for the second satellite will be finalised within 2-3 months and it will be launched in 2-3 years. The second satellite will be a Bangladesh Earth Observatory Satellite, he said He was speaking at the sixth anniversary of the successful launching of the Bangabandhu-1, the country's first communication satellite at Dhaka Club on Sunday night. The satellite will be used for various purposes, including monitoring natural disasters, managing agricultural resources, assessing environmental changes, etc. Shahjahan expressed his optimism that the lifetime of the first satellite could be increased by three years to 18 years due to the efficient launch. The satellite was launched in May 2018 under a project costing Tk 2,765.66 crore. Forty private television stations and three channels of state-run Bangladesh Television now air programmes using Bangabandhu-1. It started providing Television Rating Point services recently. Besides, 26 foreign TV channels use the Bangabandhu-1 satellite for broadcasting. In September 2023, a Letter of Intent (LOI) on Cooperation between Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) and Airbus Defence and Space SAS, France related to the Bangabandhu-2 Earth Observation Satellite System was signed. The documents were inked in the presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and France President Emmanuel Macron at Karobi Hall of the Prime Minister's Office. Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said Bangladesh already signed the MoU with France for the second satellite and its launching  will help Bangladesh to navigate the challenge of 4th industrial revolution. Among others, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for telecom and ICT; Abu Hena Morshed Zaman, secretary to Posts and Telecom Division, also spoke.