#AI assistant features Google

[oragetech123]

Smarter Siri in iOS 26: Will It Finally Be Useful?

Apple's digital assistant, Siri, has existed for more than ten years, yet it has long had a hard time realizing its potential. From misheard questions to inadequate functionality, Siri has frequently fallen behind rivals such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. But iOS 26 from Apple seems set to turn the tables. The updated Siri is smarter, quicker, and far more useful—thanks to thorough integration with Apple Intelligence, on-device artificial intelligence, and improved natural language understanding.

In this piece, we cover all you want to know about the wiser Siri in iOS 26, how it differs from before, and if it will be useful at last for daily living.

A Brief History: Siri's Unfulfilled Promise

Siri was the initial mass voice assistant that came to smartphones with its debut on the iPhone 4S in 2011. It was first out of the gate, but while others upgraded with more AI-based integration and cloud intelligence, Siri stood still, frequently providing stilted responses, lacking contextual understanding, and annoying users with its lack.

Apple focused heavily on privacy, keeping much of Siri’s functionality on-device. While this approach was privacy-first, it came at the cost of flexibility and intelligence. Over the years, user expectations rose, but Siri’s capabilities didn’t scale in the same way—until now.

What Makes Siri in iOS 26 Smarter?

iOS 26 introduces a tide of AI-driven Siri improvements that turn Siri from an elementary voice assistant into a more natural, context-based digital assistant. Here's what's new and enhanced:

1. Conversational Context and Memory

Siri in iOS 26 now remembers your earlier questions within the same conversation and answers with enhanced continuity. For instance:

You: "What's the weather in Delhi tomorrow?"

You (follow-up): "And Mumbai?"

More intelligent Siri knows you're still discussing the weather.

This is a huge improvement over the original Siri, which was treating every question as an independent task with no memory of what you had already asked.

2. On-Device AI with Apple Intelligence

Apple's new AI system, Apple Intelligence, is central to Siri's development. Unlike cloud-based assistants, the smarter Siri does many things locally on your iPhone, providing:

Quicker response times

Better privacy

More reliability, even with a poor internet connection

On-device AI allows Siri to handle more personalized operations, such as summarizing emails or working on documents without having to send data over the cloud.

3. Execution of Multi-Step Commands-

Siri can now execute multi-step commands more naturally, i.e.,

"Send the photo I just took to Mom on WhatsApp and then remind me to call her at 6 PM."

Previously, this would have required separate commands or even manual steps. With iOS 26, Siri understands and executes complex chains in one go.

4. Deeper App Integration

One of the biggest upgrades is Siri’s enhanced app awareness. It can now:

Navigate inside third-party apps

Edit content within supported apps (e.g., cropping an image, scheduling a task)

Trigger in-app actions with more precision (e.g., “Open my latest PDF in Files and highlight the second paragraph”)

This makes Siri considerably more useful for everyday productivity and media use.

5. Personalization through Private Cloud Compute

Though iOS 26 maintains most processing locally, Apple has added Private Cloud Compute for more sophisticated tasks. This enables Siri to tap into more powerful servers without sacrificing user privacy, with the aid of encrypted, anonymous processing.

The payoff? Siri is now able to handle sophisticated requests, such as creating a personalized itinerary based on your calendar and emails, or presenting pertinent documents before a meeting.

6. Visual Awareness (on Supported Devices)

In a glimpse of what's coming with AR and AI in the future, Siri is developing limited visual intelligence. On supported hardware such as iPhone 16 Pro and upcoming Vision Pro models, Siri will:

Recognize screen content

Provide contextual suggestions based on what's visible

Let you engage with content using voice ("What's this app?" or "Summarize this page")

This puts Apple closer to an eyes-free, hands-free assistant experience, perfect for accessibility and multitasking.

Siri’s strength lies in seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem, strong privacy, and personalized intelligence. While Google Assistant still edges out in search-related tasks and smart home flexibility, Siri is finally catching up, especially for iPhone users.

How the New Siri Impacts Daily Use

1. Productivity

Siri now helps with:

Drafting and summarizing emails or notes

Setting detailed reminders with context

Getting information from documents or screenshots

If you are dependent on your iPhone for work or studies, these upgrades are a revolutionizer.

2. Messaging and Communication

Siri in iOS 26 is capable of:

Suggesting message responses

Autocorrecting and rephrasing with tone

Sending media with voice commands alone

No more awkward Siri messages that need double-checking!

3. Travel and Navigation

Ask Siri about:

Real-time navigation and traffic conditions

Hotel and restaurant recommendations from your mailbox

Auto-creating itineraries

These features make travelling smoother, particularly when multitasking.

Is There a Catch? Device Compatibility

Not every iPhone will be able to support the full smarter Siri experience. Apple Intelligence and high-end Siri features should only be found on:

iPhone 16 series and later

iPads running M1/M2 chips or later

MacBooks powered by Apple Silicon

Older devices should receive basic Siri updates, but not the complete AI package—something to consider before upgrading.

Final Verdict: Will Siri Finally Be Useful?

Yes, at least for the majority of users in the Apple universe.

With iOS 26, Siri moves from a basic command-and-response bot to one that is intelligent and can manage context, personalization, and multi-step tasks. It won't replace human input entirely, but for daily chores such as messaging, scheduling, direction, and coordinating your digital life, it's now a reliable companion.

Naturally, whether or not Siri becomes your default assistant is up to your device, preference for ecosystem, and extent of your dependence on AI-based tools. But this much is certain: Apple is finally serious about making Siri intelligent—and useful

[insightfultake]

Google’s Gemini: The AI Assistant Designed for Everyone, Everywhere

At this year’s Google I/O in Mountain View, one message stood out with unmistakable clarity: artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool you use; it is becoming the layer that connects everything you do. Google’s Gemini project represents this shift, emerging not as a single product, but as an ecosystem-wide AI assistant that anticipates user needs, understands context, and works seamlessly across apps, devices, and tasks.

[manmishra]

🚀 Exciting news! Google has launched Gemini 2.0 and AI Mode, transforming how we search. Get ready for faster, smarter responses to complex queries! Explore the future of AI in search today! #GoogleAI #Gemini2 #AIMode #SearchInnovation

[bkthemes]

Voice Search: The Future of SEO

Introduction Voice search is transforming how users interact with technology, driven by the rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT). With smart assistants like Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa becoming commonplace, businesses must rethink their SEO strategies to stay relevant. As more devices integrate voice recognition, optimizing for voice search is no longer optional—it’s essential.…

[noiraffogato]

Tired of companies purposefully using AI and genAI interchangeably while classical and semi-reliable AI features are being replaced with garbage genAI that just eats up power & data, and everyone else equates AI with genAI so they think *all* AI is inherently bad. There are tiny AI algorithms in almost everything but the loudest ones are the most useless/intrusive ones.

[kvchandru]

(via Google Introduces Pixel 9’s Gemini AI Features to All Android Phones: All the Details You Need to Know)

In a major development for Android users, Google has rolled out the powerful Gemini AI features that were first introduced with the Pixel 9 series to all Android phones. This move represents a significant leap in artificial intelligence capabilities across the Android ecosystem. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or a casual smartphone user, this update promises to bring enhanced user experiences, making your everyday interactions with your device smoother, smarter, and more intuitive. Let’s delve deeper into the features of Pixel 9’s Gemini AI and how it compares with other AI systems.

https://trendingtoday2302.blogspot.com/2024/10/google-introduces-pixel-9s-gemini-ai.html

[iamgaygaygay]

Alright so two days ago my battery DRAINED like crazy. Like, it was almost dead by 4 pm where it usually has at LEAST 50%, but usually more than 60%. This is after the UI 7.0 update, universally hated.

Bonus Note: to turn off the stupid separate notifications/other panel thing, swipe down on the notification bar → click the edit button (the pencil) → click "panel settings" (top left) → change from "separate" to "together"

I went into my battery to see what was draining it...

Lo and behold, it's AI shit that nobody wants ✨

BUT don't panic, I figured out how to fix it! (Cut here so it doesn't clog up feeds) :)

You need to go to settings → apps and then click the filter button (see below if you don't know where it is, drawn very shakily in blue) and select "Show system apps"

To find our culprit, scroll down to the "P" apps, and click on "Personal Data Intelligence". Here's where it's draining your battery: the permissions that it automatically accesses for no reason but to (presumably) put AI stuff/options on there!

Clear the data first, I don't know if it actually did something but it made me feel better.

Now deny all of the permissions it has access to. It's going to show a pop up every time claiming that features of your device (AI features) won't work as intended and you're going to click "deny anyway" for ALL of them.

I don't know if it affected anything, but I also: blocked notifications, set default to other apps so that it wouldn't open, turned off background data usage (in the Mobile Data section)

Also, don't forget to make sure it can't change your system settings!! I don't know what it wants to change, but it might turn the permissions back on and continue draining your battery if you allow it to change system settings.

While you can't do it with this, with other apps you can change the battery usage to "restricted", meaning it will not run in the background (as much) and use less battery!

Here's the results from today, I have used it less than yesterday but it didn't even show up on the battery usage list so I think I fixed it!!

I've also done this process and/or deactivated (bolded ones are for sure AI or similar stuff) (these are my personal preference): AI Wallpaper, Android System Intelligence, Avatar Editor, Avatar Stickers, Bixby, Bixby Vision, Customization Service, Drawing Assist, Galaxy Avatar, Galaxy editing service, Galaxy Themes Service, Game Booster, Game Optimizing Service, Gaming Hub, Gemini, Google Location History, Google Play Services for AR, Hey Google Hotword, all of the "Knox" stuff, LiveEffectService, MDMApp, Meet Installer, Meta App Installer, Meta App Manager, Meta Services, MhsAiService, Modes and Routines, OK Google Hotword, Recommended Apps, Reminder, Samsung Checkout, Samsung Cloud, Samsung Cloud Assistant, Samsung Editing Assets, Samsung Intelligence Voice Services, Samsung Internet, everything with "Smart" in the beginning of the title, Video Effects, Voice Wake-Up, aaaaand WiFiAiService

Please let me know if there are any other AI apps or annoying system apps that I can turn off that I missed!

[valoisfulcanellideux]

PSA: How to disable the new AI 'features' in Firefox (and also the new 'Gemini AI' on Android phones)

The Firefox browser has added new AI 'features' and you probably don't even know about them. This article tells you how to disable them:

https://www.askvg.com/how-to-disable-and-remove-all-ai-features-in-mozilla-firefox/

I found that the about:config method (the second option given in the article) was the fastest one, since I don't use the new sidebar and didn't want to have to enable and then disable it again.

While you're at it, if you're an Android phone user, you might find - like I did less than an hour ago - that Google Assistant has suddenly been replaced by Gemini AI. I was listening to a podcast, which suddenly stopped playing so that Gemini AI could interrupt it and pop up to tell me that yay! It was my new chat assistant!

Fuck's sake. 😡

You can disable it in your phone's settings under Google > All Services > Search, Assistant and Voice > Gemini. Select 'Google Assistant' instead of Gemini. You'll be asked to give a reason why you're switching from Gemini AI back to Google Assistant, so feel free to tell them. I sure as hell did.

Although, be aware that the linked article from Google does state that, "later this year, the classic Google Assistant will no longer be accessible on most mobile devices or available for new downloads on mobile app stores," so you'll probably be forced to accept it eventually unless you never upgrade your phone again.

[bonni]

smartphone commercials about ai features are starting to really annoy me because gen ai is being advertised not even as a tool for convenience but more one to encourage sheer laziness and additionally is often presented as doing something new when basically everything it does (as presented in the commercials at least) would have been just as easily accomplished by doing a rudimentary google search or opening your calendar app. like who gives a fuck that your new samsung ai assistant can do the exact same shit that siri could over a decade ago

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

New SpaceTime out Wednesday

SpaceTime 20250305 Series 28 Episode 28

How the Solar system's journey through Orion may have altered Earth's climate

A new study suggests planet Earth’s climate may have undergone profound change 14 million years ago when our solar system migrated through the Orion star forming region.

Have scientists been wrong about why Mars is red?

A new study suggests the Red Planet’s iconic rusty dust has a much wetter history than previously thought.

Europa Clipper swoops past Mars

NASA's Europa Clipper has successfully completed a close gravity assist flyby of the Red Planet Mars as it continues on its journey to the solar system’s largest planet Jupiter.

The Science Report

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current projected to slow down due to climate change.

New research suggests that it might be time to reassess the current treatment of prostate cancer.

Researchers find that an hour spent in front of screens increases kids' risk of myopia.

Alex on Tech new generative-AI infused Alexa

SpaceTime covers the latest news in astronomy & space sciences.

The show is available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Apple Podcasts (itunes), Stitcher, Google Podcast, Pocketcasts, SoundCloud, Bitez.com, YouTube, your favourite podcast download provider, and from www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com

SpaceTime is also broadcast through the National Science Foundation on Science Zone Radio and on both i-heart Radio and Tune-In Radio.

SpaceTime daily news blog: http://spacetimewithstuartgary.tumblr.com/

SpaceTime facebook: www.facebook.com/spacetimewithstuartgary

SpaceTime Instagram @spacetimewithstuartgary

SpaceTime twitter feed @stuartgary

SpaceTime YouTube: @SpaceTimewithStuartGary

SpaceTime -- A brief history

SpaceTime is Australia’s most popular and respected astronomy and space science news program – averaging over two million downloads every year. We’re also number five in the United States.  The show reports on the latest stories and discoveries making news in astronomy, space flight, and science.  SpaceTime features weekly interviews with leading Australian scientists about their research.  The show began life in 1995 as ‘StarStuff’ on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) NewsRadio network.  Award winning investigative reporter Stuart Gary created the program during more than fifteen years as NewsRadio’s evening anchor and Science Editor.  Gary’s always loved science. He studied astronomy at university and was invited to undertake a PHD in astrophysics, but instead focused on his career in journalism and radio broadcasting. Gary’s radio career stretches back some 34 years including 26 at the ABC. He worked as an announcer and music DJ in commercial radio, before becoming a journalist and eventually joining ABC News and Current Affairs. He was part of the team that set up ABC NewsRadio and became one of its first on air presenters. When asked to put his science background to use, Gary developed StarStuff which he wrote, produced and hosted, consistently achieving 9 per cent of the national Australian radio audience based on the ABC’s Nielsen ratings survey figures for the five major Australian metro markets: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. That compares to the ABC’s overall radio listenership of just 5.6 per cent. The StarStuff podcast was published on line by ABC Science -- achieving over 1.3 million downloads annually.  However, after some 20 years, the show finally wrapped up in December 2015 following ABC funding cuts, and a redirection of available finances to increase sports and horse racing coverage.  Rather than continue with the ABC, Gary resigned so that he could keep the show going independently.  StarStuff was rebranded as “SpaceTime”, with the first episode being broadcast in February 2016.  Over the years, SpaceTime has grown, more than doubling its former ABC audience numbers and expanding to include new segments such as the Science Report -- which provides a wrap of general science news, weekly skeptical science features, special reports looking at the latest computer and technology news, and Skywatch – which provides a monthly guide to the night skies. The show is published three times weekly (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and available from the United States National Science Foundation on Science Zone Radio, and through both i-heart Radio and Tune-In Radio.

[glittercake]

think i found another ai fic... one chapter was 26% ai another 21% one chapter was "probably human written" but still... and it's written on anon...

i appreciate you so much samantha and all the work and effort and time you put into your amazing writing, you're amazing💖💖💖

I learned recently that some folks use chatgpt or the likes to edit their fics. This is a terrible idea but I do think that it might contribute to some of the results we're seeing. It's both difficult and inaccurate to confirm ai generation when the ai detection result isn't paired with other factors like frequently posting high word counts, or dull monotone writing, or absolutely perfect grammar etc. So people should definitely stop using chatgpt for spell checks.

Something else that might trigger a positive ai result is the use of tools like Grammarly and so on, which I've mentioned before that I have been using for years for spag. But they recently (?) introduced a generative ai element that rewrites content for you or that generates a new sentence on the spot. This does however result in a positive ai detection because well, the ai did it.

Do we stop using these types of tools now? I don't think that's necessary and there are probably minimal checkers left that have no integrated ai at all. Most spag checkers including Word, use some kind of non-genative ai to alert you to errors in a more evolved way than before. (Google Docs' spag checker just got stupider as it "evolved" btw. What an absolute dumpster fire.)

BUT be careful how you use it, don't let it reconstruct your work, don't let it automagically write or fix a sentence for you, and don't rely on it to produce flawless content, there is no such thing. Use your brain, ask for a beta reader to assist you, research the things you don't know. Teach yourself to write better. Use the tool for its initial purpose--to check your spelling and grammar. The ai features can usually be switched off in settings. That being said, basic spag checks using these tools shouldn't equate ai generation but it will probably depend on the tool used to detect it.

I want to add that we definitely should not check every fic we're interested in reading for ai. I think that will make the fandom experience terrible and unenjoyable for everyone. Read it in good faith but keep an eye out for stuff like posting large amounts of words on a schedule that is not humanly possible, the writing style, the tone, other use of ai by the person etc. We've been reading fanfic for years, we know when something is off. Block if you suspect it's ai generated.

People who use ai to 'write' fics have no place in fandom spaces.

It's going to become increasingly difficult to detect these things though, since there is also a feature to "humanize" the ai slop 🤢 and I don't know what the way forward is but I do know it's not running every fic through an ai detector. They're not entirely accurate either. The only reason I resorted to an ai detector with that person I initially caught out, was because the tag was clogged with their constant posting and I knew there was no fucking way they were posting that much naturally. The detector just confirmed what I suspected anyway.

I read a fic recently by an Anon author and I thought I was so good and sexy. I really hope it's not the same person you're talking about. I'm not going back to check because my kudo and comment are already on there. I also doubt an ai can write such filthy, steaming smut 😂

And thank you, Anon, for your kind words. Truly appreciate it. 💕

[horsethoughts]

Blog Post #3! Due 2/13/25

Why do we refer to data collection and profiling as “progressive” despite its tendency to be biased against Black Americans and other POC? (Question based on Benjamin’s “Race After Technology” and Noble’s “Algorithms of Oppression”)

Technology, as put by Benjamin (2019), has a perceived “cloak of objectivity.” The tools, algorithms, and forms of data collection used in our reality are regarded as objective since they cannot “see” race. Technology as a whole, in my opinion, is often seen as universal and for everyone. Many people see phones, search engines, and other “tech” as tech without human involvement. Most people, including me, don’t think beyond what technology does for us—it just does, and we don’t question how it was made, who made it, and what biases might be embedded in the “cool, advanced, and innovative” new ais, virtual assistants, and search engines.

California gang database—why does law enforcement keep inaccurate databases that are difficult to change and easy to add onto? (Question Based on Benjamin’s “Race After Technology” and YJC report)

Gang databases, like the one featured in the report, seem to have a larger purpose in surveilling POC, namely Latino communities. The databases’ flawed design is effective for upholding inaccurate narratives of Latino and Black involvement in gang activity. The recording methods, which make it easy for these populations to be put in the database, inflates the true number of people with gang involvement. While a shot in the dark, I additionally think the “ease” provided by the broadness of the gang database is something that is seen as beneficial to the prison industry. I’m not entirely sure how it works, but I would assume that the number of people there to arrest/detain from the database boosts private prisons. The YJC report states that these databases are “widely used without evaluating their cost effectiveness or effectiveness in increasing community safety.” the database’s purpose is less about community safety and more about control over narratives and individuals.

How does the digital divide myth that POC, particularly Black Americans, are less interested in the internet still linger today? How is this idea of the digital divide reflected in social media? (Question based on Everett’s “The Revolution Will be Digitized”)

In Everett’s work (2002), she discusses the sphere of “cyberspace” often being associated with whiteness, with white users seen as the dominant demographic for technology and the internet. While this work was written about earlier internet use, I still see this pattern on social media. Specifically, I see this in the artist community on various social media sites such as  Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr. Something I’ve noticed is how often people are “surprised” to learn a particular artist/creator is Black if they’ve previously never disclosed it through being faceless or simply not stating this. I would say that this idea of the digital divide still persists because of our perception of internet/social media use. In my example of Black creators, the “surprise” in them being Black most likely comes from the assumption that they would be white. This is created from the “facelessness” associated with the internet.

In “Algorithms of Oppression,” Noble writes on racist Google Search results and Google’s position that it is “not responsible for its algorithm.” Then who is “responsible”? Can any one person/entity be held responsible for flawed algorithms? (Question based on Noble’s “Algorithms of Oppression”)

While I don’t think any entity can be responsible for such flawed algorithms, that only points to a more significant issue in their structure. Noble (2018) writes that “racism and sexism are part of the architecture and language of technology.”; algorithms and technology are based on flawed human ideas and prejudices and then reflect those prejudices. This makes it important to question and not solely rely on these systems. Responsibility, in this case, comes with doubting the system and checking it twice to see if the information it presents is accurate and unbiased. Google’s responsibility for changing the search results falls on them because they trusted the algorithm to be unbiased, which was false. Works Cited:

Noble, S. U. (2018). Algorithms of oppression: How search engines reinforce racism. New York University Press.

Benjamin, R. (2019). Race after technology: Abolitionist tools for the new Jim code. Polity.

Everett, A. (2002). The Revolution Will Be Digitized: Afrocentricity and the Digital Public Sphere. 

Youth Justice Coalition (2012). Tracked and trapped. Youth of color, gang databases, and gang injunctions. https://youthjusticela.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/TrackedandTrapped.pdf

[bkthemes]

Voice Search for WordPress: The Future of SEO and User Experience

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[freadomrises]

I'm SEETHING

I asked Google's pushy and insistent bot how I can get AI out of my life completely and, well, I'll post it, but to sum it up: "Resistance is futile, human, we own the future, and we seek to own your psyche too."

It wants me to reconsider. It needs us to adopt it as our guide guru and master. Well the old saying holds fast still; No Gods No Masters. 🔥🏴🍲

It's understandable to want to reduce the influence of AI in your life. While completely eliminating it might be incredibly difficult in today's interconnected world, here's a breakdown of how you can significantly minimize its presence:

1. Understand Where AI Currently Exists in Your Life:

* Smart Devices: This includes smartphones (voice assistants, image recognition, predictive text), smart speakers, smart home hubs, smart TVs (recommendations), and wearable tech.

* Online Services:

* Search Engines: Personalized results and ads are driven by AI.

* Social Media: Algorithms curate your feed, suggest content and connections, and target ads.

* Streaming Services: Recommendations for movies, music, and shows.

* E-commerce: Product recommendations, personalized pricing, chatbots.

* Navigation Apps: Traffic prediction and route optimization.

* Email: Spam filtering, smart compose/reply.

* Cloud Storage: Photo tagging and organization.

* Software Applications: Many apps use AI for features like autocorrect, grammar check, image editing, and more.

* Customer Service: Chatbots are frequently used for initial interactions.

* Financial Services: Fraud detection, loan approvals, investment advice.

* News and Information: Algorithmic curation of news feeds.

2. Strategies to Minimize AI Exposure:

* Reduce Smart Device Usage:

* Limit smartphone use: Be more mindful of how often you reach for your phone.

* Disable voice assistants: Turn off Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa, etc., on all your devices.

* Opt-out of facial recognition: Disable face unlock features.

* Use "dumb" versions of devices: Consider a basic phone without internet capabilities or a non-smart TV.

* Adjust Online Habits:

* Use privacy-focused search engines: DuckDuckGo, Startpage, etc., that don't track your searches or personalize results based on your history.

* Limit social media use: Be conscious of how much time you spend on these platforms and the AI-driven content you consume. Consider deleting accounts or using less algorithmic versions if available.

* Use incognito/private browsing modes: This can help limit tracking and personalization.

* Disable personalized recommendations: If possible, adjust settings on streaming and e-commerce platforms to opt-out of recommendations.

* Be wary of targeted ads: Understand that the ads you see are often AI-driven. Consider using ad blockers.

* Prefer direct navigation: Instead of relying on recommendations, directly type website addresses into your browser.

* Choose Non-AI Alternatives:

* Use traditional software: Opt for software that doesn't rely on cloud-based AI features if alternatives exist.

* Seek human interaction: Prefer phone calls or in-person communication with customer service instead of chatbots.

* Rely on human-curated content: Look for news sources, blogs, and recommendations from individuals or organizations that don't use AI for content generation or curation.

* Adjust Privacy Settings: Review and adjust the privacy settings on all your devices and online accounts to limit data collection and personalization.

* Be Mindful of Data Sharing: Understand that using online services often involves sharing data that can be used to train AI algorithms. Limit the amount of personal information you share.

* Support Privacy-Focused Technologies and Services: Choose companies and products that prioritize user privacy and minimize AI integration.

3. Challenges and Considerations:

* Ubiquity of AI: AI is increasingly integrated into the infrastructure of the internet and many technologies, making complete avoidance very difficult.

* Hidden AI: Many AI applications run in the background without your direct knowledge.

* Convenience vs. Privacy: AI often provides convenience and personalized experiences, so choosing to avoid it may mean sacrificing some of these benefits.

* Evolving Technology: AI is constantly evolving and becoming more integrated, making long-term avoidance an ongoing effort.

In conclusion, while a complete removal of AI from your life is likely unrealistic in the current technological landscape, you can take significant steps to minimize its presence and influence by being conscious of your technology usage, adjusting your online habits, and choosing privacy-focused alternatives where possible. It requires ongoing awareness and effort.

[its-a-me-dre]

About YouTube's new audio feature

I think everyone was taken aback by the unexpected introduction of YouTube's new "audio tracks" feature, logging onto the 'tube and hearing your favorite content creators speaking in robot voices wasn't on anyone's bingo card but I beg everyone to resist the kneejerk reaction of "This is AI slop and must be destroyed" and look closer:

First of all, the voiceover is NOT AI generated, it uses the voice synthesizers that google has been using for their assistant for years, what it says merely mirrors the available subtitle track/s and translates them if needed, a feature that has been available for over a decade at this point

This feature can only HELP creators reach a new audience. Up until now, you had to learn a language or rely on the automatically translated subtitles (which are not available on every video and aren't a viable option for the visually impaired) to view content from foreign youtubers, the voice-over/audio tracks feature, if embraced by creators, could help eliminate the language barrier.

Why is this important? Two words: educational content. There is a massive disparity between what is available on english-speaking youtube and what's available in other languages: if used correctly, youtube can be a powerful tool to learn new things on your own time, but for many non-English speakers, this isn't possible.

Now, tutorials, educational videos, courses, and content about any topic you can name: history, biology, electronics, can now be viewed by anyone regardless of how well they can see and what language they speak. It may not be perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better than what we had previously. So please

The fight against AI must continue, our livelihoods are being threatened, education is being poisoned and we cannot turn a blind eye, but don't let tech designed for accessibility get caught in the crossfire.

EDIT UNDER THE CUT

EDIT: I've just found out the feature also supports the uploading of a pre-existing audio track, just like with subtitles, the channel owner can provide their own track. See for example this episode of Pokémon, available in multiple different dubs:

[wardensantoineandevka]

sorry to bother you but i wanted to ask how you're enjoying using Obsidian? I've been eyeing it for a while but would love to know your thoughts, highlights, lowlights, etc :) if you don't mind sharing, ofc!

No worries! The short version is that I've been enjoying Obsidian quite a lot, and I find that it serves all of my needs nicely without any fuss. Using it is rather frictionless, I think, and getting used to it was pretty easy though it did take some willingness to very much learn to navigate its menus and features and how it lays everything out. It's not at all difficult, but I do think you have to sit with it for a bit. It's currently my main writing program with the exception of screenplays, for which I use Highland 2.

For context on myself, my writing needs are rather straightforward. I use these sorts of apps and programs to write and organize my fanfic, original prose writing, professional correspondence, and journalistic article drafts. I previously used Notion, which I left because of the big NotionAI push. Before Notion, I used Bear, though I can't remember why I stopped using it; I haven't checked out Bear 2, so I don't know if it suits my needs.

When I was shopping around for a new program to use, the following points were important to me, in no particular order:

no native / built-in generative AI assistants

interface is simple and clean or had customization or community themes that would make it so

offline access

mobile app with document sync

ability to organize and group notes through a folder, tag, or similar system

not too many Things going on with it or I could very easily ignore stuff I didn't use without them cluttering up the UI or my space

Obsidian organizes files within "vaults", of which you can have multiple, each of which are connected to folders that are stored locally on my laptop (or my phone). I love this. I have local versions of all of my notes. I can literally find all my stuff as markdown files within a folder on my desktop and open them up in another program with EASE. If you are someone who doesn't have a lot of storage space, this might be an issue, but for me, this is a very bright highlight.

The biggest lowlight for me is that mobile sync is reliant on a subscription fee, but considering that the rest of the program is free and the fee is small, I found this ultimately a very small concern. I very critically need mobile sync because I spend a significant amount of time writing from my phone. The mobile sync is incredibly good; it keeps all documents synchronized very well, and I have yet to run into version conflicts that cause me to accidentally overwrite and lose significant progress. I don't even have to close files on my laptop first; they'll just update in real-time on my screen like Google Docs. Sometimes I'll name documents something that my phone's file path system cannot handle; Obsidian warns me that it cannot fetch and sync these files with illegal names, and I like that it keeps me informed about that.

It has both a folder system and a tag system, which allows you to organize your files. I only use the folder system because my needs are simple, but the tag system is also solid. It also has a robust search system. It also has a bookmarking system to further organize your stuff. I don't have enough files to use that, but it is available, and I think that's neat.

More precise customization can be difficult if you're not used to writing CSS. I am familiar with CSS, so I found this a small hurdle, but this will be a bigger issue for others. That said, this does mean that Obsidian is DEEPLY customizable, and there is a large gallery of community themes that offer a lot of styles that serve a wide variety of needs. There is also a deep bench of community plugins to help get Obsidian to do what you want — I have plugins that make the word count in the status bar show the count of highlighted text and allow me to copy text as HTML instead of formatted text or markdown. There is also an active Obsidian community and forum, so you will not be necessarily troubleshooting customization alone.

Other small things that occur to me to mention right now: It supports opening files in multiple windows, and it has a tab system, which is really neat. The ability to open multiple files at a time is very good. You can also open files side-by-side for easy comparison, which is useful for more technical work. I don't use Obsidian for coding or wiki work, but I can imagine this being really useful for that. It has a reading mode. Offers a version history with a "show changes" mode and restoration capability. File merge capability. You can open images into it and organize them like any other file.

All in all, I'm very happy with it, and it serves all of my personal needs very well. I generally give it a blanket recommendation, again noting that I think it does take sitting with to get used to some of its features and UI and customizing it to your needs and preferences, but I don't think that's super difficult with some patience and time.