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Can You Trust the Data in a Privacy-First World?

Online advertising powers much of the internet economy, but collecting user data across platforms raises significant privacy concerns. Researchers from TikTok Inc., Duke University, and Penn State University have developed a solution that balances measurement accuracy with privacy protection. In their paper “Click Without Compromise: Online Advertising Measurement via Per User Differential Privacy,” Yingtai Xiao, Jian Du, Shikun Zhang, Wanrong Zhang, Qian Yang, Danfeng Zhang, and Daniel Kifer i

What Deep Learning Reveals About Consumer Engagement

Predicting how users will engage with ads can be challenging. Traditionally, advertising companies use cookies and embedded monitoring codes that produce a record of how users engage with ad content. But when it comes to predicting user engagement ahead of time, a novel approach is needed. Zhong Ding of Xinjiang University and Xing Feng Fan of Sichuan International Studies University demonstrated a new, unique approach to predicting user engagement in a paper written for the 2024 International

Topics: ad ads data ding fan

Simplest C++ Callback, from SumatraPDF

SumatraPDF is a Windows GUI application for viewing PDF, ePub and comic books written in C++. A common need in GUI programs is a callback. E.g. when a button is clicked we need to call a function with some data identifying which button was clicked. Callback is therefore a combo of function and data and we need to call the function with data as an argument. In programming language lingo, code + data combo is called a closure. C++ has std::function<> and lambdas (i.e. closures). Lambdas convert

Datalog in miniKanren

A browser with Wasm GC and tail call support is required for this demo. We recommend using either Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome. Datalog in miniKanren Having access to an embedded logical programming language makes some tasks really easy. One prerequisite for RealTalk is some form of Datalog, and I built one in Scheme using miniKanren so that I had access to all of the internals. This page explains the naive Datalog implementation I did before modifying some of it to fit my version of Dynam

Notes on the History of the Map Tile

Notes on the history of the map tile Web map tiles—the storing of geospatial data at different zoom levels in x/y/z indexed squares of raster (and later, vector) data for efficient storage and transmission of digital maps—are, despite their seeming simplicity, I think one of the most significant developments in geospatial software history. Tiling transformed the user experience of digital maps from one of tedious clicks-and-reloads to one of fluid, dynamic exploration. It made digital maps feel

Topics: data map maps patent prc

Show HN: Meow – An Image File Format I made because PNGs and JPEGs suck for AI

MEOW The most Purr-fect Image File Format for your AI workflows Wait- What? You Can Just Make File Formats? Well- yes, but no, I'll come to that bit later, but before that, let me geek out about what this project is MEOW (Metadata Encoded Optimized Webfile) is a Python-based image file format designed to be efficient, practical, and cross-platform compatible. With support for RGBA transparency, metadata, and fast rendering capabilities, MEOW provides a modern alternative for image storage and

Topics: ai data file meow png

Q-learning is not yet scalable

Does RL scale? Over the past few years, we've seen that next-token prediction scales, denoising diffusion scales, contrastive learning scales, and so on, all the way to the point where we can train models with billions of parameters with a scalable objective that can eat up as much data as we can throw at it. Then, what about reinforcement learning (RL)? Does RL also scale like all the other objectives? Apparently, it does. In 2016, RL achieved superhuman-level performance in games like Go and C

Rethinking AI: DeepSeek’s playbook shakes up the high-spend, high-compute paradigm

Join the event trusted by enterprise leaders for nearly two decades. VB Transform brings together the people building real enterprise AI strategy. Learn more When DeepSeek released its R1 model this January, it wasn’t just another AI announcement. It was a watershed moment that sent shockwaves through the tech industry, forcing industry leaders to reconsider their fundamental approaches to AI development. What makes DeepSeek’s accomplishment remarkable isn’t that the company developed novel ca

RFK Jr. Orders HHS to Give Undocumented Migrants’ Medicaid Data to DHS

With demonstrations ramping up against the Trump administration, this week was all about protests. With President Donald Trump taking the historic step to deploy US Marines and the National Guard to Los Angeles, we dove into the “long-term dangers” of sending troops to LA, as well as what those troops are permitted to do while they’re there. Of course, it’s not just the military getting involved in the LA protests against the heavy crackdowns by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). There’

Model Once, Represent Everywhere: UDA (Unified Data Architecture) at Netflix

Model Once, Represent Everywhere: UDA (Unified Data Architecture) at Netflix Netflix Technology Blog Follow 15 min read · 2 days ago 2 days ago -- 8 Listen Share By Alex Hutter, Alexandre Bertails, Claire Wang, Haoyuan He, Kishore Banala, Peter Royal, Shervin Afshar As Netflix’s offerings grow — across films, series, games, live events, and ads — so does the complexity of the systems that support it. Core business concepts like ‘actor’ or ‘movie’ are modeled in many places: in our Enterprise G

The Hidden Cost of the Internet: Why the Web's Environmental Impact Matters Now More Than Ever

Diagnosing the environmental sustainability of the internet might seem, at first, like trying to figure out where the molecules of water in your morning cup of coffee originated. Water is constantly evolving, cycling through our environments and often carrying the secrets of the places it last passed through. The internet, in all its complexity, appears to operate in a similar fashion. Every time we log online, we step foot into an incredibly intricate stream of data, often cycled, reused and e

ChatGPT Glossary: 52 AI Terms Everyone Should Know

AI is now a part of our everyday lives. From the massive popularity of ChatGPT to Google cramming AI summaries at the top of its search results, AI is completely taking over the internet. With AI, you can get instant answers to pretty much any question. It can feel like talking to someone who has a Ph.D. in everything. But that aspect of AI chatbots is only one part of the AI landscape. Sure, having ChatGPT help do your homework or having Midjourney create fascinating images of mechs based on c

Anne Wojcicki’s nonprofit reaches deal to acquire 23andMe

Beleaguered genetic testing company 23andMe announced Friday that it has reached an agreement to sell itself to a nonprofit led by the company’s co-founder and former CEO Anne Wojcicki. Following a massive cyberattack in 2023 and a related lawsuit settlement, 23andMe filed for bankruptcy in March, with Wojcicki resigning in order to become an independent bidder for the company. But pharmaceutical company Regeneron was announced as the company’s acquirer with a $256 million bid. According to th

How to clear your Android phone's cache and make it feel like new

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Google recently released Android 16 to Pixel devices and select OEMs, bringing performance improvements, new Material You changes, and more upgrades. If you want to try this update but are hesitant because you've noticed your Android phone or tablet already feels too sluggish, clearing app and browser caches can give it a fresh boost and free up some storage space. Over time, cached data can accumulate, become corrupted, or simply get outdated, which may slow down

AI Isn't Magic, It's Maths

So much Hype…. Everyone’s talking about artificial intelligence these days. ChatGPT can whip up an essay or answer your questions like it reads your mind. Midjourney conjures up stunning art from a simple prompt. It almost feels magical. But here at Zero Fluff, we don’t do magic – we do reality. And the reality is: AI isn’t magic at all. It’s math. These AI systems are incredibly sophisticated, but they run on cold, hard calculations, not wizardry. In this no-nonsense guide, we’ll demystify AI

Topics: ai data gpt like math

23andMe founder Anne Wojcicki will regain control of embattled DNA company after all

In a surprise twist, 23andMe founder and former CEO Anne Wojcicki is set to regain control of the DNA company's assets, according to a press release from 23andMe. In May, a company called Regeneron bought 23andMe for $256 million in a bankruptcy auction, but Wojcicki's nonprofit, TTAM Research Institute, was able to reopen bidding with an "unsolicited offer" of $305 million, The Wall Street Journal reports. A bankruptcy judge agreed to reopen bidding on 23andMe under the condition that Regenero

How a Cyberattack at a Company You've Never Heard of Nearly Derailed My Anniversary Carrot Cake

Every year since we got married, my husband and I have celebrated our anniversary with a carrot cake. Some years it was from the amazing bakery in our old neighborhood, while others it was a questionably fresh effort picked up at a train station shop on the way home from the office, but often I would bake my own. The funny thing is, neither of us really likes carrot cake. It just somehow ended up being the top layer of our wedding cake, so we have one every year. That's tradition for you. This

Powering next-gen services with AI in regulated industries

For many, the “last mile” of the end-to-end customer journey can present a challenge. Services at this stage often involve much more complex interactions than the usual app or self-service portal can handle. This could be dealing with a challenging health diagnosis, addressing late mortgage payments, applying for government benefits, or understanding the lifestyle you can afford in retirement. “When we get into these more complex service needs, there’s a real bias toward human interaction,” says

Pirelli's new sensor-equipped tires to monitor road conditions in real time

What just happened? The Italian region of Apulia is preparing to begin a pilot program with Pirelli that will use advanced sensor technology to monitor the condition of its roads. Slated to start in July, this initiative will deploy an integrated system that combines real-time data from sensor-equipped tires with visual analytics from onboard cameras, marking a significant shift in how local governments approach road maintenance and public safety. At the heart of the project is Pirelli's Cyber

Zero-Shot Forecasting: Our Search for a Time-Series Foundation Model

Introduction In the last few years, the field of time-series forecasting has seen a fundamental shift. Where we once depended solely on classic statistical methods, think ARIMA, SARIMA, and Prophet, new “foundation” models have emerged, promising to bring the power and flexibility of large language models (LLMs) into the world of time-series data. The allure is obvious: can we build a single, reusable forecasting model that works across a variety of datasets and domains, instead of painstakingl

Scale AI confirms ‘significant’ investment from Meta, says CEO Alexandr Wang is leaving

Data-labeling company Scale AI confirmed on Friday that it has received a “significant” investment from Meta that values the startup at $29 billion. The startup also said its co-founder and CEO Alexandr Wang is stepping down from his role to join Meta and help the bigger company with its AI work. Reports indicate that Meta invested about $14.3 billion for a 49% stake in the startup, which produces and labels data that’s used to train the large language models that underpin a significant portion

The best fitness rings of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

The Oura Ring is one of the most popular fitness rings on the market, offering five different finishes and various sizes. The Oura Ring 4 debuted in October and boasts some substantial hardware and software upgrades from the tried and true Oura Ring 3. Oura is still the top brand for smart rings, and you can't go wrong with the Oura Ring 3, but if comfort is your main priority, the Oura Ring 4 is best for you. That's because one of the most essential upgrades from generation to generation is Ou

Scale AI confirms ‘significant’ investment from Meta, says CEO Alexanr Wang is leaving

Data-labeling company Scale AI confirmed on Friday that it has received a “significant” investment from Meta that values the startup at $29 billion. The startup also said its co-founder and CEO Alexandr Wang is stepping down from his role to join Meta and help the bigger company with its AI work. Reports indicate that Meta invested about $14.3 billion for a 49% stake in the startup, which produces and labels data that’s used to train the large language models that underpin a significant portion

Meta is helping to fund geothermal energy projects in New Mexico

Meta has entered into an agreement with XGS Energy to develop "next-generation geothermal energy" projects in New Mexico. The plan is for these projects to connect directly into the electrical grid that Meta's data centers draw from, feeding the growing energy needs of the company's AI development. Both companies claim the new deal will add 150-megawatts of carbon-free energy to the grid "with zero operating water use." New Mexico is apparently uniquely suited for geothermal energy production b

Got a Nintendo Switch 2? Here's the Right Way to Move Your Games and Data

A system transfer from the original Switch to the Switch 2 is supposed to be easy, and it is. However, there are a few tricks in the process that some Switch 2 owners have tripped over since buying the new portable console. If you have both an original Switch and a Switch 2, Nintendo added a System Transfer tool that moves over your profiles, purchased games, save data and other settings. This option shows up when starting up the Switch 2 for the first time, but if certain instructions aren't f

Congress Demands Answers on Data Privacy Ahead of 23andMe Sale

US Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jan Schakowsky on Thursday sent letters to the two potential buyers of troubled genetic testing firm 23andMe demanding details about consumer data privacy should either of them acquire the company. Signed by 20 other Democratic members of Congress, the letters were sent to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and TTAM Research Institute, which have put forth separate bids to buy 23andMe. In the letters, they ask Regeneron and TTAM if they will continue to give custome

Data bill opposed by Sir Elton John and Dua Lipa finally passes

Data bill opposed by Sir Elton John and Dua Lipa finally passes 3 hours ago Share Save Zoe Kleinman • @zsk Technology editor Share Save Watch: Sir Elton John speaks to the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg A bill which sparked an extraordinary stand-off between some of the UK's most high-profile artists - and their backers in the House of Lords - has finally been passed. Peers wanted an amendment to the drably-titled Data (Use and Access) Bill which would have forced tech companies to declare their use

Topics: ai data government sir uk

20,000 malware domains taken out by massive 26-country police strike

A massive international law enforcement operation coordinated by Interpol has seen one of the biggest ever takedowns of a malware network. The simultaneous strike across 26 countries resulted in more than 20,000 domains being taken offline, and the arrest of 32 suspects … Bleeping Computer reports that the investigation was coordinated by Interpol. Led by Interpol and conducted from January to April 2025, the operation focused on disrupting infostealer malware groups that steal financial and

SchemeFlow (YC S24) Is Hiring a Founding Engineer (London) to Speed Up Construction

Overview We’re looking for an excellent Full-Stack Engineer to join the team. Someone with unstoppable grit, a relentless bias to action, and a “make it happen” mentality. You’ll be joining the trenches in a Y-Combinator backed AI company in London. You’ll be inspired by the mission to deploy technology to unlock the bureaucracy of getting things built. And you’ll be pumped to have a chance to work with a relentlessly driven, high-performance, ambitious team. About the role Tech You will be

Next.js 15.1 is unusable outside of Vercel

If you use Next.js anywhere but Vercel, here's some bad news: Next.js 15.1+ is broken. tl;dr: Starting with version 15.1.8, Next.js might break metadata handling for non-Vercel deployments, potentially devastating your search rankings. This is not a bug. When Did This Happen? In 2024, Vercel introduced metadata streaming as an experimental feature. This fundamentally changes how Next.js handles metadata. Traditional approach: Metadata tags (title, description, Open Graph tags) are rendered d