Flashy applications of AI are what we discuss most often, and the appeal of these technological advances is undeniable. The recently launched Rabbit R1 device revealed at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas introduced the potential of AI to become a full-time personal assistant that can take care of our multiple apps and how we use them. From ordering groceries to booking flights, the AI pocket companion promises to manage your personal accounts to do it all. Now do we need a device for tasks that are simple enough to handle on our own? Not really, but the Tamagotchi-styled object promises to take care of your needs instead of the other way around and with four batches of 10,000 devices sold out within days of its launch, there is clearly a market for such AI-powered technology.

The Humane AI Pin that was announced in 2023 also raised some eyebrows but the response to that device has been comparatively underwhelming. The applications of AI far exceed just making our lives more interesting. Its application in the healthcare industry has not been as fast-paced due to the sensitive nature of the work that needs to be done, but there are many transformative initiatives that are occurring here as well. From running diagnostics to maintaining health records, there are many uses for AI in health care but the burden of “switchover disruptions” is just one aspect of the problem when it comes to the use of AI in the field.

AI In Healthcare—Alarm Bells Ringing

The idea is an ingenious one—if AI could simplify the process of providing healthcare, expanding who has access towards it, conducting delicate procedures, and overall improving the quality of our lives, then finding ways to integrate artificial intelligence into the field should be a top priority. The problem is that we’re still quite a while away from perfecting such technology, and as fun as AI is, there is still a pervasive sense of mistrust over AI, which for the majority of the population is still a novel and unfamiliar concept. 

To integrate AI into the healthcare field, we would require the service to be absolutely flawless in its functioning before it could be trusted to do its job, and this is where a major concern over “AI hallucinations” comes into play. Such technology has been known to confabulate data and provide false, unsupported information on occasion, some AI tools more than others. Under any circumstance that remains an undesirable outcome, but more so in the healthcare industry where lives hinge on making accurate assessments. Humans are also given to making the wrong choice every once in a while but they’re also more likely to catch the mistake and replace it with corrective action from what we understand of AI. 

Another ethical concern that comes in with AI is the lack of an intuitive response system which might be necessary while making a diagnosis about a particular patient. Various cultures and races have distinct differences in what is or isn’t normal for their biology, and the kind of treatments that are provided also need to be adapted accordingly. An AI tool might be more suited to match symptoms against a 10-point checklist, but unless every cultural characteristic and variable is fed into the system, the AI service will remain insufficient and incomprehensive. 

It is also important to consider the training of such tools. The advent of AI mainly takes the form of large language models that run such advanced programming and the training for these models requires extensive data sets to be fed into the system. This allows the model to “learn” and respond better, but in the process, it raises critical questions about the legitimacy of the data as well as the legality of using it. 

Ethical Concerns Surrounding the Training of LLMs

One of the major areas of conflict that arises around AI models is the material that is used to train them. For such AIs and LLMs to run, they require extensive amounts of data to be used as fodder for the AI to generate its knowledge base as well as pick up on the nuances of language to answer the questions you have for it. Depending on the use case, the models scour the World Wide Web as one of its many sources, in order to build on that information and provide you with your results.

Now in a much more basic sense, a lot of this information is available online for free anyway so it shouldn’t necessarily matter if people find that information through you or someone else—but it does make a difference. By gathering data and providing it in one place, a chatbot like ChatGPT might simplify the process of finding data for someone who is looking for an answer but it then eliminates the traffic you might have seen on your website. Moreover, if the sources being used to feed these models are unreliable or unverified, it could only lead the AI to reproduce inaccurate information and present them as facts when they are not. 

Many artists, writers, and other creatives have been struggling with their creative works being “stolen” by AI. Content reproduced by image generators is just that—reproductions of existing artist styles by merging and overlapping features to create something new. Is this ethical or fair to the original artists? AI companies claim this is fair use but when hours of work and effort by the artists are smushed together in seconds to create something new, the artists lose out on any credit and revenue for their effort in creating the original work. By making it cheaper to turn to an AI bot for your image generation needs, companies indirectly discourage customers from turning to artists, while simultaneously profiting off of their works.

The New York Times recently sued OpenAI and Microsoft for training their AI model on content that was maintained behind a paywall. The chatbots were accused of displaying information that users would have to pay NYT to access, also often regurgitating content without linking to the source as the New York Times. Considering the hours, sometimes months, of labor that goes into articles published by the news platform, it is understandable why they felt a lawsuit was necessary to address the issue. Again, OpenAI has claimed that the memorizing and reproducing of content was a rare bug that they were working to drive to zero but the fact that this still occurs is far from acceptable and needs to be addressed as a more pressing concern in the present, before these AI tools are rolled out to the masses. 

This is far from the only lawsuit against AI platforms, primarily OpenAI, and it is likely only the beginning of many more to come. While the conversation around copyrights and fair use is becoming more commonplace, another matter that arises is the privacy concerns around LLMs and generative AI.

What Is Left of Privacy in the Modern World?

The idea of privacy has been a foregone concern in the digital era that we live in, and constant surveillance is no longer something out of the ordinary. The conspiracy around birds not being real and instead being carriers of drones to spy on American citizens is both comical and worrying in that we’re all hyper-aware of the possibilities of surveillance, but also often irrationally angry at the wrong thing. Many users of assistants like Alexa and Siri have often found their devices responding to questions that were not directed at them, indicating just how enthusiastically these devices are always listening. And listen they should, as their entire purpose is to be available whenever you need, to play your favorite song or add some snacks to your grocery list. 

Now, with the advent of AI, there are increasing concerns around the use of personal information that is collected from innumerable sources where data is available. If they’re always listening, how much insight do these devices have into your daily conversations and personal opinions? Again, these AI models need to be trained with real information, and it doesn’t get more real than your daily, lived experience. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a scary idea, Amazon has been refining its recommendation systems very dedicatedly and the mechanism is known for predicting your purchases even before you know you need something. This is done very efficiently by reviewing your purchase history, consolidating products you might have looked at in the past, compiling a list of other products similar shoppers purchased, and also throwing in offers your way that might appeal to you enough to hit the purchase button. It makes for a convenient shopping experience, customized right from your couch at home. 

This isn’t the only real-time benefit we’re seeing from AI. LitterCam is an innovative AI service that is able to identify when drivers on the road litter, and after human verification, a request is sent to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for driver details so that a fine can be issued to the offending driver. Again, this is quite a fascinating application of AI that addresses a problem we never imagined it would, but it does bring up the question of how easy it is now to track our movement and collect personal information from it.

Similarly, facial recognition technology (FRT) has seen quite an uptick in its adoption, with the global market for such tech predicted to grow to $12,670.22 million by 2028, according to PR Newswire. On one hand, biometrics are often a much safer way to protect your data compared to a password that anyone can memorize, so you might be able to boost your data security more efficiently the more refined such tech becomes. At the same time, there is a lack of transparency in how the organizations collect this information and how it is put to use, and with FRT being built into surveillance tech even in public spaces, there is no way to consent to the collection of such data. More concerning is the fact that AI is also providing mischief-mongers with the tools they need to fool such technology. 

Adversa, a company that aims to promote our trust in AI, recently had its AI Red Team expose how AI could be tricked into using a photo of yourself to convince an AI to believe you were someone else entirely. Using its interestingly named system, the Adversarial Octopus, the company was able to trick PimEyes, reportedly one of the most advanced facial recognition search engines, into thinking that a picture of a reporter was actually Elon Musk. The platform was easily befuddled merely by adding noise to the image, and if such tools are misused, hackers across the globe could have a much easier time bypassing any of the security measures you have in place that utilizes FRT. 

AI might be simplifying our lives, but it can also simplify the job for those who intend to disrupt it. Deepfakes are a prime example of just how terrifying it can be to live in a world built on AI, when anyone could use your image or voice to morph it with anything else they like at the touch of a button. 

Cybersecurity Concerns May Need to Be Addressed First

While we battle with what AI does and what it learns in the process, the biggest safety concern might have to be the vulnerabilities in the security of AI systems. Data poisoning, intentional or not, could easily allow someone to infiltrate the system and convince it to provide results or make decisions in their favor. Similarly, hackers who gain access to these private systems, perhaps to an AI tool designed to support a specific business, could find a one-stop shop for all their ill-intended needs. From business details to financial information of its customer base, the AI could reveal information never intended for the public eye. 

Samsung banned the use of ChatGPT and other AI tools on all of its workers’ company devices after a data leak occurred back in May. The company followed up by developing its own internal AI tool which is now available to its customers as well, but not every company can create its own AI tool from scratch. Companies like Microsoft and Amazon have begun offering AI services that businesses can use to build their own internal AI services but this brings up a few security concerns on how secure these systems are to begin with. A central security flaw could mean all the businesses on the AI trail getting exposed to these online threats which remain undesirable no matter how you look at it.

Just as AI providers have been working to ramp up the security of their services, cybercriminals have been devising more ingenious ways of misusing the very same AI to further their attacks. A report released by Deep Instinct back in August last year consolidated inputs from more than 650 senior security operation professionals in the U.S. The report found that 75 percent of the professionals had witnessed an increase in cyber attacks over the preceding 12 months. 85 percent of them attributed it to the increase in bad actors using generative AI. While bigger companies might have the resources to predict and respond to this surge of malicious intent, small businesses might not be able to find the resources or develop the know-how in a timely manner in order to navigate these threats.

Not all hope is lost and not all is dark in the world of AI. 69 percent of senior executives of a PwC study state their organizations are preparing to use generative AI in cyber security over the next 12 months and their strategies could provide other businesses with sufficient insight as well. IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach 2023 global survey found that using AI and automation could benefit organizations by saving up to $1.8 million in data breach costs and early identification if employed correctly. The IBM Security QRadar Suite is just one of many security options for companies to consider while adopting AI, making it apparent that if a business determines artificial intelligence to be a priority for the future of the company, their integration of AI must be a comprehensive one that looks beyond the benefits to the actual implications of such tech use. 

The ethical use and applications of AI are not likely to be resolved anytime soon, just as we are far from determining whether AI art is really “art.” While we work to navigate through the many challenges that we will continue to face with the use of AI, one thing to keep in mind is the importance of maintaining a precautionary approach towards it. Not every bit of AI technology needs to become a part of your business module just because it appears to be the “next big thing” and security must remain a top priority for your company in the long run if you want to avoid being overwhelmed by the loopholes of a technology that we are only just beginning to understand.

The post Cybersecurity Chronicles: Navigating the Dilemma of AI and Ethics appeared first on Technowize.

Of the many reasons why we pursue an improved understanding of the galaxy at large is our fascination with the unknown and the possibility of life off-planet. The yearly list of blockbuster hits and sci-fi releases is enough to tell us that we use our imagination to fill in the gaps of what we don’t know about the outside world but if science, research, and further exploration are able to fill in the gaps, who are we to complain? Apart from our fascination with space, a large number of our technological advances have been spurred on by protecting ourselves from everything that is out there and improving our quality of life back home. These changes are greatly a result of our satellite launches and surveillance technology that allows us to review conditions from a more distanced perspective. 

Space telescopes and satellites have multiple uses, with asteroid warnings being one of them. A 130-foot asteroid, XN11, was seen hurtling towards Earth back in December 2023, but the potentially hazardous mass was thankfully one that skirted by without crashing into us. NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) is one such system in place for early warnings about such occurrences. In cases where collision is imminent, there is often little that can be done realistically to stop such objects, but the National Planetary Defense Strategy guide is one of the many examples of the planning being done in preparation for such eventualities where NEOs or Near-Earth Objects move too close to the planet.

Space tech goes beyond just defending ourselves from space as well. NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, with the use of extensive satellite data, recently revealed that 2023 was the hottest year on record. Exploring the phenomenon, Universe Today expanded on the events that we witnessed last year as a sign, or perhaps a result, of these rising temperatures. From recording breaking heatwaves to uncontrollable forest fires, we witnessed it all last year and this quantifiable evidence provided by satellite tech made it hard to deny the facts.

Reading through our repeated references to NASA, it might potentially feel like government-based organizations are the only ones furthering our progress with space but that’s far from the truth. While governments do in fact have a role to play in designing and launching such technology themselves, there is also considerable room for them to extend their resources towards funding and supporting such endeavors by private players. From developing 3D technology to simplify and reduce the cost of production of space tech, to crafting innovative uses for already available machinery, there are many companies that have been contributing to space research relentlessly in their own ways. The growing industry of space tourism aside, there are many potential applications of our research and understanding of space.

Kuva Space—Turning Space Exploration Into A Planetary Phenomenon

Crossing borders and surpassing the limits of what a single company can do with such technology, Kuva Space is an example of a business that puts its purpose first. With an aim to “leave a lasting legacy for generations to come,” Kuva Space has made major investments in launching microsatellite constellations and getting real-time hyperspectral insights on the status of various global metrics from food security to climate change. Not only does the company provide insight into global yield forecasts but their work on situational awareness can alter how we perceive threats to our environment and respond to them in a more timely sense.

Malathy Eskola, Director of Marketing and Communications at Kuva Space, was able to provide us with critical insight into the realm of space technology and how the roles of the government and private forces overlap today. 

“We definitely need more private forces joining the space race. In the past two years, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in the US has awarded more than 20 commercial contracts, including some subscription-based ones, to various private space companies. Private companies’ dynamism, creativity, efficiency, and agility will be crucial drivers for innovation in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

You need to approach these from where the ideas are and have frameworks to support the companies developing and commercializing them.” 

Technowize: Could you elaborate a little bit more on this perspective and the kind of frameworks that would be most helpful right now?

Collaborations between government agencies such as NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and private companies can combine resources, expertise, and funding to accelerate new services and technology development, streamline processes, and reduce costs.

With the cost of launch and miniaturization of satellites, New Space companies’ innovations are fueling the information gap more cost-effectively. Kuva Space is a good example of such innovation. We are on a mission to build the world’s most extensive hyperspectral satellite constellation that will deliver a diverse set of ready-to-use near real-time insights on food security, carbon sequestration verification, environmental monitoring, and safety and security applications at the cost of approximately one scientific mission with a monthly daily revisit. 

Low Earth Orbit partnerships between governmental and commercial space companies in the US augment the information and capability they lack, with the US model typically being commercial partnerships rather than grants, which is the typical form of collaboration in the EU. The hybrid space architecture concept in the US interconnects commercial and public satellite capabilities to optimize space assets and operations to deliver information with less latency and cost. A similar shift to adopting the hybrid model is taking place in the EU, as evidenced by the integration of nine EU startups into the network of Copernicus Contributing Missions, which will provide additional capabilities to EU-owned Sentinel satellites. Kuva Space was the only selected New Space startup to provide hyperspectral imagery. 

Collaborating with public organizations in the early application development and commercialization phase can help nascent technologies, like hyperspectral, gain a faster adoption rate. Once the product-market fit is established, scaling it to broader commercial markets becomes more fluent.

Technowize: From our understanding, most research into space technology takes place from a competitive standpoint of “our country first.” Do you think this is the way forward?

The existential issue that our planet is currently facing is not limited to any particular geographical area. To save our planet, we need to come together and work collectively. Programs like Copernicus, a centralized EU program, have contributed to our understanding of Earth globally. As we move forward, increasing regional and global public-private partnerships are necessary. We can tackle the urgent climate crisis by democratizing information obtained from space.

Technowize: When we talk about space research, most of us only think about space exploration and how far we can go, but Kuva Space is doing something entirely innovative, looking back home to understand the resources we have here. What leads the innovation at the company?

We have a strong history at Kuva Space of building nanosatellites with innovative payloads for clients such as the European Space Agency, and we are proud to say that we have achieved a 100 percent mission success rate. 

In 2021, we embarked on a new mission – “improving life on Earth.” The Reaktor Hello World launch in 2018, our first nanosatellite mission that carried the world’s smallest infrared hyperspectral imager into space, was a crucial moment for us, where we demonstrated how to fit a scientific-grade hyperspectral imager into a nanosatellite that weighs less than 2.4 kg (5.29 lbs) and produce usable data. 

With the world facing significant challenges, monitoring the planet daily and having readily analyzed data to detect, identify, and predict changes is crucial. Decision-makers in public and commercial domains require access to new near real-time insights to make sound decisions, leading us toward a sustainable future.

Technowize: The SUNSTORM mission must have been a big moment for the company. What are the kinds of learnings from such programs that should prompt further investments from international governmental agencies and are there collaborations with such institutions that have happened since?

SUNSTROM was a proud moment for us. In just 16 months, we designed and built the CubeSat platform and the mission’s satellite operation and ground station services. For Kuva Space, the mission sets a new precedent in how CubeSats transition from high-risk proof-of-concept missions to fully operational, high-availability monitoring campaigns with usable scientific data. With promising results from the SUNSTORM mission, new XFM versions are underway for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) next SWFO space weather satellite, scheduled for launch in 2025. We look forward to seeing this liftoff.

Collaboration between various stakeholders to advance space technology is needed. Relying on a centralized framework alone might slow innovation or be too costly. The dynamics of commercial-public partnerships provide a unique opportunity to test out and unlock new services that can accelerate our understanding of the Earth and space. By making space more accessible, we advance the prosperity of humans.

Technowize: We’ve heard some reports of satellite overcrowding and space congestion in low-Earth orbit. Do you believe this is a real concern and are there things we can be doing about it? 

Yes, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is becoming increasingly crowded, and new legislation is being put in place to require satellite decommissioning after a certain period of operation. Several space companies are working to address the growing problem of space debris, but scalable solutions are needed. Funding must be directed towards programs and initiatives that can make a difference.

Kuva Space aims to launch a 100-satellite constellation by the year 2030. Our satellites weigh less than 30 kg (66 lbs) and have a planned operational lifetime of 5 years. At the end of their lifespan, they will descend to Earth and burn up, leaving no debris behind. We are designing our satellites with sustainability in mind, and our first satellite, Reaktor Hello World, was the first satellite to successfully re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and burn up, demonstrating our commitment to responsible and safe space operations.

Technowize: AI innovation has been taking the world by storm but again, we mainly understand it from the perspective of tech companies and generative AI chatbots. What are some ways the company is adopting AI analytics?

Kuva Space has developed an end-to-end technology platform that includes three key technologies: proprietary space technology, patented hyperspectral imaging, and advanced AI. 

AI plays a crucial role in our technology platform. It is involved in all aspects of our operations, from satellite operation and data acquisition design to raw data processing to providing ready-to-use data insights. Our in-house AI platform offers a unique competitive advantage, enabling us to capture high-quality data, efficiently downlink data, and produce industry-specific insights within 1-2 hours of data acquisition. 

Our advanced and robust AI enables a new business model, an affordable subscription-based model insights service. We can process large volumes of spaceborne data to serve global market segments, including finance and insurance, carbon and environment, and safety and security. So, insights such as crop health analysis, yield forecast, harmful algal bloom alerts, blue carbon sequestration verification, and biodiversity monitoring can be offered as a service, not a one-off report or analysis.

For example, the aquaculture carbon credit market is an essential nature-based solution to combat climate change. Kuva Space is developing AI-based models of above- and underwater monitoring of aquaculture vegetation through pilots in Europe and Africa to measure carbon sequestration accurately from, among others, kelp forests and farms. Kuva Space is well-positioned to help blue carbon project owners and credit buyers work with credible and trustworthy blue carbon credits by massively increasing transparency into blue carbon sequestration verification.

To ensure the reliability of our AI and services, we are deploying explainable AI to understand the output of our AI models, avoiding the risk associated with “black box” solutions.

Technowize: Are there any specific trends and predictions you have for space tech over the next five years?

New space companies will shift from providing (raw) data to delivering up-to-date industry-specific insights and applications. This shift is driven by a growing need to distill insights in a timely manner to steer societal, economic, and environmental decisions based on trusted scientific data. The goal is to manage food security, supply chain integrity, and ecological markers effectively. 

As a result, incumbent satellite operators will reconsider their place in the value chain, and analytics providers will have to re-evaluate their value proposition. Selling data and providing analysis using only free data sets will become less profitable. 

As we move to a more insights-driven Earth Observation (EO) model, organizations that have not directly leveraged EO analytical products before will begin to embrace spaceborne solutions to improve productivity, become more sustainable, or build consumer and public trust in actions to combat climate change. The uptake of these solutions will depend on factors such as timeliness, affordability, and actionability, meaning the value the insights bring.

The post Kuva Space Works to Redefine What We Can Do With Space Tech appeared first on Technowize.

While we’re still a few rungs away from unlocking flying cars and light-speed travel, we have, in fact, unlocked electric vehicles as a replacement for the simpler fuel-powered automobiles that we still rely on today. Many argue that this upgrade is merely illusionary and that electric vehicles aren’t quite the revolution in sustainability, but determining the validity of their argument requires considerable work. 

Image: Pexels

The idea of a sustainable life cycle for vehicles can take on many shapes in the story EVs are trying to write. Consider this: Are we prioritizing planning out whether our shift to electric vehicles is really viable in the long term? The excitement around EVs often starts and stops at the EVs are a stylistic accessory to flaunt in front of those still driving gas-powered vehicles, the next big thing that shows you care about the environment. But we’re not entirely sure if it is helping the environment and if we won’t just power through towards EV adoption only to find ourselves entirely unprepared to handle our fleets of electric vehicles in the end. The revolution of EVs needs to be more than just a temporary fad for it to realistically be the future of automobiles. 

If major infrastructural changes aren’t made to support the rise of electric vehicles, what we will inevitably witness is a stockpile of cars with no buyers over time, simply because after the initial shine of electric vehicles wears off, people will be left with a car that doesn’t serve their daily needs. For this shift in perspective and resources to be a realistic one, we need voices from adjacent industries to have a say in the move towards EVs, their insight into the infrastructure forming the basis of the kind of change we need as we pace our progress towards the next step in the evolutionary cycle of automobiles. 

Sustainability Starts and Stops at The Push of a Button

Apart from chasing a futuristic aesthetic, the main reason for the shift from gasoline and diesel to electric has been the assumption that electric vehicles are better for the planet as a whole. Fossil fuels are a limited resource and the closer we get to the end of our reserves, the more expensive it will become to run our existing vehicles. We are yet a while away from the doomsday predictions of running out of our natural resources but that doesn’t mean we can take a breather and relax for now. 

Early in 2023, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced that the state would start working on phasing out the sale of new, gas-powered cars by 2035 in an effort to curb climate change. Maryland’s climate change strategy has an aim of bringing down greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by 2031 as compared to 2006 levels, and to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2045. This structural change adds to the conversation on why EVs need to be more than a change in power source in our vehicles.

The environmental impact of EVs isn’t just in the reduction of the use of non-renewable resources but is also conceptualized in the reduction of carbon emissions and air pollution as well. EVs produce no tailpipe emissions that we see gasoline cars generate, making their individual impact on the environment inevitably lower and marking an easy win for EVs over the vehicles we have today. Naysayers regularly argue this point, stating that the production and use of EVs create sufficient pollution to match up to the impact caused by individual gasoline cars. Some state that the large-scale generation of electricity needed to power these cars serves to be counterproductive to the goal of pollution reduction, while others target the battery production process to state that it outweighs any benefits the car will reap while in use. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency firmly disagrees with these concerns. Citing a study by the Argonne National Laboratory, even though the manufacturing process and end-of-life greenhouse gas emissions are higher than what the production of a gasoline car involves, the overall emission numbers over the entire life cycle of the EV car are less than half of what a traditional car will produce. In the long run, the electric car is more beneficial for the environment for those willing to consider the matter of pollution seriously. This brings us back to the “Why?” of EVs and highlights why the shift to electric should be the future of transportation, but the “How?” element of it still remains fully undefined.

Mark Thomas, EVP of Strategic Alliances at Ridecell has been a helpful voice in providing perspective throughout this article, and his opinions bring forth much insight towards how we actually need to approach the idea of a sustainable future, “The move to EVs is a great first step towards sustainability, but it’s only the first of many to achieve a more sustainable future. Battery recycling and sourcing clean energy are critical to continuing to benefit from the EV transition. But overall, we will need to reduce the total vehicle miles traveled in passenger cars also. Saving the environment means changing our driving habits as well as vehicle types.” 

Our answers with regard to the environmental impacts of technology have been consistently unilateral and a one-dimensional perspective does not seem suited for the long run. There is likely no one right answer for whether EVs truly are the way forward, but there is no reason to rule it out instead of exploring how to best invest in this tech. 

Are We There Yet? What About Our Infrastructure?

At present, we appear to be powering towards EV adoption in full force despite concerns that we might lose steam after the initial burst of electric vehicles. The last year was seemingly a good one for EVs, with U.S. sales of these modern vehicles reaching 9 percent of light-duty vehicle sales according to Atlas Public Policy. The combined U.S. sales of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric vehicles reached 17.7 percent of new light-duty vehicle sales in the third quarter of 2023 as per an article published on Utility Dive, making it very evident that the public was most certainly enthusiastic about the shift to EVs. 

But does the shift to EV only involve the purchase of new electric vehicles? It’s hardly that simple considering that the rise of electric vehicles will mean a shift in manufacturing units to support the increased demands as well as a significant move from gas stations to charging stations that can help cars stay on the road. 

Cameron Clayton, CEO at EasyPark Group, elucidates on the shift in infrastructure most eloquently. “For the US to catch up to other countries who already have infrastructure in place for EVs, the government will need to offer financial incentives to drive the transition and help with the cost of installing EV charging stations. Local governments would greatly benefit from grants and tax credits for businesses and people alike will be helpful. Successful incentives should consist of a broad palette of initiatives to drive adoption. This separates successful governments from less successful ones.

“The charging stations that have opened in Ohio and New York as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program are a great example and the beginnings of significant public investment in EV infrastructure. But more still must be done to catch up to the years of private demand and interest.”

While we’re still ahead in terms of EV adoption, it’s ideal for us to begin considering the full ecosystem of change required to support electric vehicles. The increasing power demand has been one of the main concerns expressed by experts in the field. With a sudden upsurge in the use of electricity to support our vehicles, the power grids available globally may not be able to dial up the support they can provide.

CEO at SkillFusion, Rue Phillips, agrees that the demands will increase, but we might not have to worry about being overwhelmed, “As the transition towards EVs takes place against aggressive forecasts and mandates, there will be an imminent increase in power demand requirements from the utility power suppliers. However, this shouldn’t be a crisis for the energy companies, since a majority of EV charging will be done at home in the evenings during off-peak times. Utilities will offer special discounted EV energy rates for off-peak ‘evening’ charging against higher demand rates for on-peak during the day.

“Additionally, new and exciting technologies are already being implemented through Bi-Directional Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) functionality, using the EV as a battery energy storage source that can sell back energy on demand or at peak times to the utility company. Imagine hundreds of V2G capable EVs on a single electric utility circuit, that could short burst combined ‘Megawatts’ of energy to the grid in return for special lower tariffs for the EVs. Sounds crazy? This is already in use in some States.

“EV drivers of the ‘near’ future will inevitably have homes utilizing EV charging, solar PV and battery energy storage systems (BESS) that will manage and reduce the demand and usage of electricity within the household.”

Ancillary Supporters Will Light the Way

Infrastructural changes start with consistent power support but that’s not all we need to support the transition to EVs. While car makers are put at the forefront of the advancement in terms of what best they can do with an electric vehicle, it is the support network that is generated around these primary services that truly makes it possible. 

EasyPark Group, for example, is a company dedicated to making cities more livable, providing technology to address a problem that we don’t consider until we’re two minutes away from raging over it—parking. CEO Cameron Clayton believes that planning begins with considering existing data and that’s where they fit into the EV journey. “Parking and mobility data is crucial for cities to plan where, how many, and what type of EV charging stations they should invest in. In addition, this data is also crucial to have to help implement the right policy to facilitate usage.

“The feedback loop of data for charging demand helps municipalities to place key charging locations and keep pace with demand for the growing EV transition. The feedback loop from parking data helps to understand the adoption rate and compliance of EVs. Data will also benefit visitors as travelers that are not as familiar with the cities they are visiting can access available information in seconds on the app.

“Currently, EV road trips can be difficult due to uncertain charging availability or require additional pre-planning to incorporate charging stops. EV charging is a data-intensive service for consumers, e.g. ‘Where can I find a Charging Pole; Is the Charging Pole operational and available?; Does the Charging Pole work with my car; What type of Chargers is it?’ We can help users remove this friction to create a seamless experience.”

EV Adoption for Business Use Also Requires Consideration

It seems quite evident that while we fret over whether to invest in an electric car or not, companies like EasyPark Group are considering the consequences of that decision for us, and they’re not the only ones to do so. While we ponder the systematic changes that will support us on an individual level, Ridecell, a fleet management service, is all geared up for the large-scale adoption of electric vehicles. EVP of Strategic Alliances, Mark Thomas, states “With the transition to EVs, there will be increased complexity in managing fleets. Implementing new policies and procedures for EVs while maintaining the older ICE processes will tax the fleet management professionals. By adopting automation of their fleet-related tasks using the Ridecell Fleet Transformation Cloud, fleets can reinvent how they manage the complexity of their business by automating the majority of the tasks associated with managing fleets.” It seems that while there are few stones left unturned, innovators and investors still have a chance to invest further in the field of EVs. 

“EVs as an industry will dramatically change the value chain around mobility. With maintenance dramatically dropping versus a conventional petrol-powered vehicle, the supporting infrastructure will need to adapt to changing market demands. New businesses and business models will evolve around the prevalence of the new experience. How people pass time while charging may shape the US gas station experience into a more European auto rest stop approach,” he explains. Apart from counting on the government to further the EV industry, there are likely a lot of opportunities to support the growth of electric vehicles, and those who are intimidated by the growth of the industry might want to take another look at what they can do to participate.

There’s no better way to summarize the shift to EV compared to what SkillFusion CEO Rue Philips had to say on the matter. “The adoption of Electric vehicles from traditional ICE vehicles will indeed be an uncomfortable transition for some, however, implementation will be a slow and gradual process. Full electrification of general transportation will see new creative technologies and ancillary business opportunities develop.”

The post Drivetrain EV: Are We Truly Headed Towards an Electric-Powered Future? appeared first on Technowize.

For the uninitiated, Batman Arkham games enjoyed huge across the gaming world. It’s one of the most-loved RPGs of the 21^st century and the Gotham Knights trailer has already become immensely popular.

Already, several social media platforms and gaming community channels have started to experience heated debates on Batman Gotham Knights vs Batman Arkham Knight. There endless posts filled with popular misconceptions too. Like, Batman Gotham Knights is an unofficial sequel to Batman Arkham Knight.

Let’s begin the joyride with Technowize to unveil the mystery around the new battle i.e. Batman Gotham Knights vs Batman Arkham Knight. Here we go!

As always, there’s hope for Gotham, which rises like phoenix, as we have Batman’s long-term sidekick Robin and Batgirl to save the city from getting decimated to ruins. [Image Credit: Steam]

A Different World Altogether

Though some initial images sparked the widespread frenzy that Batman Gotham Knights is the continuation of Batman Arkham Knight, it’s clearly not the case. The new Gotham Knights game unfolds a whole-new universe, which is entirely different from the one we have been familiar with.

Here, we will be encountering with new characters and completely varied plotlines.

New Playable Characters

Here, you can don the hat of an array of new characters along with the usual suspects who are now transformed full-fledged playable characters. You can choose anyone from Nightwing (or Dick Grayson), Batgirl (or Barbara Gordon), Red Hood (or Jason Todd) and Robin (or Tim Drake). But you won’t be able play Batman Gotham Knights with Batman himself, as he’s not anywhere around.

There’s No Joker and It Is Not a Joke

The Batman universe is almost synonymous with Joker. But come Batman Gotham Knights, we will not see Joker pulling the strings from behind, something he mastered to the level of pure art in Arkham Knight. Thus, gamers will miss his impeccable method in madness, which was an absolute joy to watch in Batman Arkham.

The Mysterious Hooting

A secret organization named The Court of Owls is going to mark its debut in the much-awaited Batman Gotham Knights. The secret society is believed to take a significant role and might be pitted against Robin and Co.

After a long gap of seven years, we would be able to witness a freshly minted Gotham Knights game, thanks to WB Games Montreal. It’s the same production house which carved out the much-celebrated Batman Arkham Knight game. [Image Credit: Steam]

Why is Batman not in Gotham Knights?

This has been the most frequently asked question around the soon-to-be-released Gotham Knights game. Gamers and fans of the immensely popular Batman franchise, are wondering why he’s been a major-missing from the upcoming open-world-adventure game in the Batman universe.

Hold on your nerves as the answer might give you goosebumps. Our beloved Batman is dead. So is Bruce Wayne. The vigilant turned hero, who rose to great heights to become the guardian of Gotham, is no longer there to save the vice city called Gotham from a possible apocalypse. It allows the goons, criminals and evil minds of the city to let their guard down.

But as always, there’s hope for Gotham, which rises like phoenix, as we have Batman’s long-term sidekick Robin and Batgirl to save the city from getting decimated to ruins. Game on! Happy gaming!

The post Batman Gotham Knights vs Batman Arkham Knight: Unveiling the Dark Mystery appeared first on Technowize.

Elden Ring Coop Mod: All You Need to Know

These days, in-game mods are quite in demand, especially among the new-gen gamers. And when it comes to a blockbuster action-adventure title like Elden Ring, the search and queries for elden ring coop mod is at an all-time high. Let’s unravel the new Elden Ring Seamless Co Op Mod and answer all your questions around it.

The Elden Ring Coop Mod changes unlock a whole-new Elden Ring gaming experience for you. [Image Credit: Steam]

Is There True Co-op in Elden Ring?

You would be elated to know that Elden Ring Coop Mod works for real, much like the Elden Ring Easy Mode! The initial reviews however give the bragging rights to the former.

How Does the Elden Ring Coop Mod Work?

Modders change the codes in the main settings file which is responsible for controlling the in-game operations. Thus, by modifying the characteristic features with a coding system they change the pathway of the game engine. Hence, Elden Ring Seamless Co Op mod in a way offers you an all-new version of the game. You would rediscover your well-known game in a revamped manner.

Is Seamless Coop Elden Ring Safe?

Going by the endless feedbacks from different corners of the global gaming circuit, it can be said with assurance that the new Elden Ring Coop would not make you vulnerable to any online threats or disrupt your in-game progress.

Why Is My Elden Ring Coop Not Working?

There might be some technical glitch; uninstall the Elden Ring Co op Mod and reinstall it.

Can You Progress Elden Ring Story in Coop?

Yes, Elden Ring Co op Mod would not dampen your chances of going forward with the gameplay narrative. The new Elden Ring Seamless Co op Mod even allows you to explore the game’s story from new angles as the visual experience and gameplay features change a lot courtesy of the new Elden Ring Co-op Mod.

How Many Hours is Elden Ring?

On an average, the new Elden Ring game takes about 44 hours to accomplish. Please note that you would require this much of time only to finish the main story. If you are an avid Elden Ring fan and wish to complete The Lands Between and tick the various side quests and optional bosses, then you have to spend almost 70 hours.

Can You Mod Elden Ring Steam?

This has become one of the burning questions after the new Valve Steam Deck’s continued bull run in the global gaming industry. Among the new Elden Ring’s record-sales, a large chunk contributes to the Elden Ring Steam version. Thanks to the game’s amazing display on the handheld, portable gaming device and extremely positive feedback by gamers on all the leading gaming community channels, it has successfully made the cut to every another list of ‘Best Games on Steam.’

You would be glad to know that you can actually play the Elden Ring Coop Mod in your favorite Steam Deck. To make it happen, you have to first download the Elden Ring Mod Loader (opens in new tab), which is a nifty tool that’s required to boot up many of the mods that are available throughout the internet. Once you are done with it, go straight to Nexus Mods for downloading the tool. Now, extract the folder to steam>steamapps>common>Elden Ring>game and you are good to go!

How Much Does the New Elden Ring Game Cost?

In order to explore the new Elden Ring game and experience the fantasy-filled saga of adventure, you have to come to terms with a pocket-pinch of $59.95. But if you choose to grab your copy from Amazon, then the price would lower down to $49.95.

Is Elden Ring Available Across All Platforms?

FromSoftware Inc.’s recent-most role-playing game is now available on PlayStation 5, PS4 and Steam Deck. If you opt for the Steam version, then shortly after your buying, the new Elden Ring game would automatically come to your Steam Library. Now, you can follow the above-mentioned process to unlock the Elden Ring Coop Mod in your ‘All-in-one portable PC gaming’ device.

The post Elden Ring Coop Mod: Unfurl the Magic appeared first on Technowize.

This Halloween, celebrate in the scariest way – playing the best horror games in 2022 listed by Technowize.

Horror Games to Play This Halloween

With the Halloween celebrations galore, it would be quite apt to add spice to the excitement by having a roller coaster ride with the best horror games in 2022. Considering many important aspects, our team of experts at Technowize, have curated this fascinating list of horror games, which stand at a safe distance from one another in every terms – Resident Evil 2 (2019), Returnal (2021), The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (2020), Metro Exodus (2019) and the last but not the least Doki Doki Literature Club (2017). These are the ones, which you surely can’t afford to miss. Don’t get afraid to unravel the terror. Let’s start! 

Resident Evil 2

• Genre: Survival Horror / Release Date: 2019 / Developer: Capcom / Publisher: Capcom

More often than not, a particular device loses its edge in our shared memory, when it’s used over and over again. The same happened with zombies, until Capcom altered its fate by producing Resident Evil 2. Released globally in 2019, the second part of the blockbuster Resident Evil series, recreated the horrific experiences of the original game and in many ways, surpassed its predecessor in terms of the horror quotient.

Zombies manages to scare you off in the second chapter of the smash-hit Resident Evil franchise. [Image Credit: Capcom]

Considering all aspects, Resident Evil 2 remains one of the best horror games in 2022 and the masterpiece from renowned designer Shinji Mikami. Courtesy of the special Halloween sale, you can grab your copy at $39.99 after a whopping 70% discount. It’s an absolute bargain for one of the best horror games of all time. 

• Platform: Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, Amazon Luna

Returnal 

• Genre: Survival Horror-shooter / Release Date: 2021 / Developer: Housemarque / Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

With three BAFTA Games Awards in its kitty, Returnal is simply out of the box. The game revolves around Selene, who frantically searches for a way out of the barren landscape of an ancient civilization, where she’s stuck after a crash-landing. Her quest for survival encounters elements of intense horror and at times sends shivers down the spine.

Jump into the dark world of Returnal with Selene and help her out in the survival quest. [Image Credit: Sony]

The relentless roguelike gameplay is accompanied with time loops and thanks to stunning visuals resembling a dark, decaying world, Returnal forces go back to it again and again, much like the rebirths of its protagonist Selene. A rare juxtaposition of intense combat, thrilling exploration and haunting narrative, Returnal is certainly a great fit for the horror games to play this Halloween. It costs you $69.99. 

• Platform: PlayStation 5 

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners

• Genre: RPG, Simulator, Strategy / Release Date: 2020 / Developer: Skydance Interactive / Publisher: Skydance Interactive

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners will surely make the cut to our list of Halloween special horror games, for its unique gameplay experience powered by virtual reality. Most importantly this first-person VR game manages to keep the story at the crux of things, rather, it forms the very soul of The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners.

With the provision of both ranged weapons and melee in combat, this is undoubtedly one of the best horror games in 2022, which unfolds in a scary fashion in New Orleans. Meanwhile, the game takes a completely new direction so far as the gameplay narrative is concerned, in comparison with the television show or comic strip of the same name.

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners seems to redefine horror games with virtual reality. [Image Credit: Steam]

Depending upon the choices you make as a gamer, the outcome of the narrative growth changes. This exciting feature sets it apart from the sea of RPGs and makes it one of the top horror games right now. You can get hold of The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners at a pocket-pinch of $40. 

• Platform: Windows Mixed Reality, SteamVR, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Rift

Metro Exodus

• Genre: Survival Horror, Shooter, Adventure / Release Date: 2019 / Developer: 4A Games / Publisher: Deep Silver

Metro Exodus has enough firepower in its arsenal to give any video game a serious run for money thanks to its sublime depiction of a post-apocalyptic world. The game unfurls with traits of gruesome horror at the stroke of a nuclear war, which has wiped out the better part of the human race.

Here we find protagonist Artyom desperately trying to sail through the apocalypse along with his close aides. But in this frontrunner among the horror games to play this Halloween, death awaits you at every corner, in the form of – mutants, cannibals and irradiated areas. To make matters worse, more often than not you will be running out of ammunition and that too when you have some of the deadliest monsters to combat.

Set in an post-apocalyptic world, Metro Exodus sets death on your track in the worst possible manner. [Image Credit: Steam]

Metro Exodus comes with a price-tag of $35 and unleashes terror which is so ‘real’ that it will give you goosebumps. You can’t do away with any list of ‘Best Horror Games in 2022’ without mentioning Metro Exodus in bold and capital letters. 

• Platform: PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia

Doki Doki Literature Club

• Genre: Visual Novel, Indie-Horror / Release Date: 2017 / Developer: Team Salvato / Publisher: Team Salvato &  Serenity Forge

This single-player video game upholds the rich tradition of Japanese manga and anime. The breathtaking visuals of high artistic value, might remind you of Miyazaki’s films. Designed by Dan Salvato, Doki Doki Literature Club possesses many aces up its sleeve so far as shock elements are concerned.

Doki Doki Literature Club is a beautiful visual novel, where horror gets unleashed in the most surprising manner. [Image Credit: Steam]

Your search for the top horror games to play this Halloween, might just end here. To the utter exhilaration of gamers, Doki Doki Literature Club is a 100% free-to-play title and doesn’t charge a single buck. It will make the cut to the list of top horror games right now, for sure.

• Platform: PC (Microsoft Windows, macOS and Linux), Steam 

All of these top-notch titles qualify to the elite club of ‘Best Horror Games in 2022’ for different reasons along with adding a nice mix of variety in the motley crew. You can now have a blast as you are sorted with the horror games to play this Halloween. Cheers to a scary journey! Happy Halloween  

The post Best Horror Games in 2022: Make Halloween Even More Scary! appeared first on Technowize.

There are as many as 8 different costumes of Umbra Witch in Bayonetta 3. [Image Credit: Nintendo]

Change of Guard

Considering the initial feedback from the global gaming community, it’s quite evident that Bayonetta has become even more difficult come the third part, as ‘an all-new, over-the-top climax action game’ is set around multiple stunning locales accompanied by the dangerous presence of new mysterious evil powers, whom we have witnessed in the Bayonetta 3 trailer.

The video shows many new in-game features and in-game tools. You can now add serious firepower to Umbra Witch’s arsenal with the new time-slowing Witch Time ability. In addition to this massive introduction, you can also enjoy a new invading manmade bioweapon named Homunculis. There’s also a brand-new ability called Demon Masquerade, which allows you to channel the demon linked to the Witch’s weapon, eventually paving room for a wide range of action options.

Meanwhile, you can have a look at the Bayonetta 3 trailer review done by the expert team of Technowize, to have an essence of the swashbuckling video.

Changing the costume of Umbra Witch will unravel a new gaming experience altogether in Bayonetta 3. [Image Credit: Nintendo]

Unlock Bayonetta 3 Costume: Unleash Fire and Have the Edge

You can add more spice to the excitement by managing to unlock Bayonetta 3 costumes. These days, gamers are almost obsessed with the appearance of the protagonist, with whom they are playing. The fact that you can actually change Bayonetta 3 costumes, has contributed a lot to the freshly-minted game’s widespread popularity. Let’s go straight to answering one of the most oft-asked questions of the week, ‘How to Unlock Bayonetta 3 Costumes?’

Firstly, for the uninitiated, the original costume of the main character, Umbra Witch, who has kept gamers hooked to this action-adventure franchise for years, is painstakingly brilliant. But if you change Bayonetta 3 costumes at regular intervals, then the game will appear even more thrilling, as there are as many as eight different costumes to choose from! That’s indeed a great deal so far as character customization is concerned.

You have to head towards the in-game menu and scroll the tabs using your controller bumpers in order to come across the “Costumes” tab. Once you have reached there, you can change Bayonetta 3 costumes effortlessly alongside colors, glasses frames and even hair! The default costume you obtain, is Super Mirror 3. However, unlock Bayonetta 3 costumes like Super Mirror 1 and Super Mirror 2 in quick successions, by making a purchase from Rodin’s Treasures for 4,000 Halos each. But keep in mind that you have to ensure saved data from Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 at your disposal to pull this off.

Similarly, you can unlock Bayonetta 3 costumes that are left – Super Mirror 0, Super Mirror B1, Super Mirror B2, Super Mirror B3 and Super Mirror B4. Get started today itself and change Bayonetta 3 costumes to double the thrill on your Nintendo Switch device.

The post How to Unlock Bayonetta 3 Costumes: Unleash the Power appeared first on Technowize.

The real identify of the masterminds behind this Azov ransomware attack, is yet to be unmasked.

Cyber-attack on the Cards: Decoding the Azov Ransomware Saga

The new ransomware Azov has been sending shockwaves around the tech-world. One of the most interesting aspect of Azov ransomware apart from its devastating nature which has resulted in serious damages across geographies, is an unusual phenomenon – ‘Cybersecurity Researchers Framed’. It has been learned that adware bundles, pirated software downloads and key generators are some of the modes being used to distribute this lethal new ransomware Azov.

The fact that it’s targeting and framing researchers of international repute working in the domain of cyber security, makes Azov ransomware a tricky customer. Already some cybersecurity researchers have fallen prey to its trap. Azov ransomware claims that it was designed by renowned programmer and malware analyst Hasherezade. It turned out to be a malicious claim and a brazen lie as the concerned person has brushed aside all of these, as he took to Twitter to clear the air of confusion.

Interestingly, a socio-eco-political angle to it, has emerged too. According to one of the ransom notes, Azov ransomware is exhibiting a form of protest through against the annexation of Crimea and the recent Russian war against Ukraine and lack of help from western nations.

Some of the most well-known security researchers have been framed – Lawrence Abrams, Michael Gillespie and Vitali Kremez, alongside BleepingComputer, MalwareHunterTeam and VK Intel. Moreover, the victims have been asked to contact them in order to get rid of Azov Ransomware.

The new Ransomware Azov is framing some of the most prominent cybersecurity researchers.

What’s In Store: The Way Forward with New Ransomware Azov

It’s way too difficult to tackle with the recent surge of Azov ransomware attacks. The ones whose names have been dragged in this controversy, have already cleared on Twitter that they have nothing to do with this massive cyber-attack. Hence, there’s no way to contact the real ones who pulled this off, exposing the lackluster side of cyber protection systems, globally.

The primary investigation has revealed that the masterminds have used ‘installs’ through the SmokeLoader malware botnet, which was purchased from dark web, in order to deliver the new strain. There’s an interesting observation – out of the numerous systems which became susceptible to the brutal Azov Ransomware attack, many were diagnosed with RedLine Stealer malware and STOP ransomware too.

It’s high-time that businesses start taking cyber threat issues more seriously and allot a considerable part of their respective budgets to bolster the cyber protection system. The recent incident of Azov Ransomware attack echoes the concern voiced by Kaspersky Labs in its latest report on global cyber security scene. For, global businesses must remember that one such lethal cyber-attack can ruin their years of hard work in seconds by inflicting a huge damage.

The post Azov Ransomware Runs Riot, Calls for Cyber Security Recheck appeared first on Technowize.