If it’s Thursday, that means it’s time for tech talk with Mark Starling and the First News 570 crew. This week, we talk about IBM and Amazon halting their facial recognition technology programs, Occulus causing eye damage, and Tesla becoming the world’s most valuable car company. You can listen to Mark and I point and laugh while talking about the wild and crazy technology world every Thursday morning, LIVE at 6:43am Eastern.
For real, for real; some states are seeing an uptick in coronavirus cases since many jurisdictions have opened back up. Please use your best judgment and protect yourself while venturing out. If you’re fortunate enough to work from home, take advantage of that privilege. Don’t rush it.
IBM HALTS FACIAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM
Earlier this week, Big Blue issued a statement saying that it is cancelling its facial recognition AI programs. Additionally, IBM has stated that it will stop selling its technology to police departments and government agencies because the technology can be misused or abused by governments. We’ve already reported on the inaccuracies many facial recognition systems have in regard to identifying minorities and an inherent gender bias in some systems. By taking a stand in halting its research in facial recognition, IBM is sending a signal that the technology’s applications should be fully considered. This announcement comes while the country is still protesting law enforcement abuses. What’s more Amazon has just announced that it has banned police agencies from using its technology for the next year.
VR SPECS CONFIRM WHAT OUR PARENTS WERE TELLING US FOR YEARS
Parents of GenXers have been vindicated. Danny Bittman, a virtual reality game developer found that his eyesight had taken a toll after a recent visit to his optometrist. Bittman went to see the optometrist after experiencing jumpy eyes, headaches, and vertigo. He used his Occulus headset for several hours a day, and his doctor, also an Occulus user prescribed him glasses that would only be prescribed to 40-year olds. (I’m insulted, he’s probably a millennial) Occulus states that 1 in 4,000 users may experience eye issues from extensive use of the product. But remember, these devices are essentially mini-screen projectors and our parents always admonished with, “YOU’LL RUIN YOUR EYES SITTING THAT CLOSE TO THE TV!!”
ELECTRIC CARS MORE VALUABLE THAN GAS GUZZLERS SAYS MARKET
Yesterday, Tesla’s stock price hit $1,000 for the first time pushing the electric car maker’s market capitalization past Toyota. This news comes at the same time as Tesla and other automakers are experiencing new COVID-19 cases at their plants. Elon Musk had pushed to reopen the Tesla plant in violation of California’s shelter-in-place directives, and then ultimately reached a compromise with Alameda County. Elon Musk, my generation’s Howard Hughes, has figured out a way to keep investors focused on Tesla’s long term outlook and not short term rises and falls in its stock price.