Google warns DOJ breakup plan could destroy Android and Chrome -- plus hurt the US economy
Google is hitting back at the Department of Justice over a proposed plan that could force massive changes to how the company operates. The DOJ, which sued Google back in 2020 over search distribution practices, is now pushing for remedies that Google says go way too far -- and could end up hurting American consumers, innovation, and even national security!
In a new blog post, the search giant says the proposed changes are not only unnecessary but also dangerous. At the heart of the issue is how Google partners with phone makers and browsers to make its search engine the default. According to Google, people use its search because they want to -- not because they’re forced to. The company says blocking these deals would just make it harder for people to get to the services they prefer, with alternatives like Microsoft’s Bing being pushed on users instead.
Microsoft lies to you if you ask how to uninstall Microsoft Edge
There are plenty of people who do not use Microsoft Edge -- it is a long way from being the most popular browser out there. And just like Internet Explorer before, there are also plenty of people who hate Edge so much that they want to uninstall it.
As there is no obvious way to do this if you take a look through the options in Windows, you might well search online for instructions. Search Bing (or the Start menu) for “how to uninstall Microsoft Edge” and there’s an entry at the top of the results that links to the office “Uninstall Microsoft Edge”. This really is an official Microsoft page, bearing the description: “Learn how to uninstall Microsoft Edge from your device”. But this is a blatant lie from Microsoft.
New year, new low? Microsoft’s latest underhand tactic is spoofing Google for Bing users
While it has its fans, Bing trails behind Google in user numbers and in other areas. The search engine wars of recent years have major echoes of the battle of the browsers of yesteryear, and the latest development sees Microsoft adopting rather underhand tactics.
For many people, Bing has been set as the default search engine, but this doesn’t mean that it is what users want. Currently, if you perform a search for the term “Google” using Bing, you’ll find that the results page has been given a very, very Google-like makeover -- seemingly in a bid to fool people into thinking they are already using Google.
Microsoft PC Manager utility warns Windows 11 users switching from Bing that they need to 'repair' their PC
The Microsoft PC Manager app -- a free and official tweaking and optimization utility available from the Microsoft Store -- is the latest software from the company to offer up questionable and controversial advice.
We've already seen the appearance of ads (or recommendations as Microsoft prefers to call them) in Windows itself, Office and Edge. Now users of the Microsoft PC Manager who have changed Edge's search engine to something other than Bing are being told that this is something that needs to be repaired.
Microsoft Bing's new Deep Search feature uses AI to 'disambiguate' complex search queries
Microsoft is introducing AI into most of its products and services, and its search engine, Bing, is one of the tools that benefits the most from this addition.
Today, the search giant takes things a step further still, with the introduction of a new AI-powered feature in Bing called, Deep Search. This addition aims to provide more relevant and comprehensive answers to complex search queries, boosting the existing web search rather than replacing it.
Microsoft will give Europeans the option to remove Edge and Bing from Windows
Microsoft is giving users of Windows 10 and Windows 11 living in the European Economic Area (EEA) greater control over their software. The company will soon be making it possible to extricate Microsoft Edge and Bing from the operating system.
This is not really by choice, however. Microsoft is introducing the changes in order to comply with the EEA's Digital Markets Act (DMA). The removal options will be rolling out to Windows 11 users in preview first followed by Windows 10. Microsoft says that both Windows 10 22H2 and Winodws 11 23H2 will be fully compliant by March next year.
Security researchers can pocket financial rewards in the new Microsoft AI Bounty Program
Microsoft now has a bug bounty program that aims to find issues in artificial intelligence. Specifically, the Microsoft AI Bounty Program is focused on tracking down vulnerabilities in the company’s own AI-powered "Bing experience". This catch-all term covers a surprising number of products and services.
Interestingly, with this bounty program Microsoft is only offering rewards for the discovery of vulnerabilities considered Critical or Important. Those that are deemed of Moderate or Low severity will go unrewarded.
Microsoft starts the rollout of dark mode for Bing Search and Chat
After promising to bring a dark mode option to Bing, Microsoft has started the rollout slightly earlier than previously suggested.
The company is in the process of introducing the option of a darker visual look in both Bing Search and Bing Chat. As is usually the case with apps and websites, the dark mode offered by Bing can be enabled or disabled so it is in line with system settings, but there is also the option of opting for light or dark mode regardless of the system-wide settings that are in place.
The misconceptions around ChatGPT and the potential threat it poses to Google and other search engines
Since its public unveiling at the end of 2022, many have speculated that ChatGPT is the ultimate route for Microsoft to gain market share and overtake Google as the leading provider of search. In fact, some have even gone as far as saying that it will be a Google Killer, ending its supremacy of search engines online. However, the idea of generative AI making search irrelevant is a misunderstanding of what this technology genuinely represents.
If we look at how Google has launched Bard, its alternative to ChatGPT, it’s clear that generative AI is not a threat to search but rather an enhancement. Marketed as a complement to search, Bard represents Google’s entry into the generative AI market and its chance to rewrite the narrative around this technology. With ChatGPT and Bard taking the internet by storm, this distinction is crucial for organizations. While generative AI is powerful, complementing it with search greatly enhances its power and versatility, and may be the perfect solution that businesses have been searching for to gain a competitive edge.
Why AI still needs human intervention [Q&A]
There have been a number of instances lately where the line between artificial intelligence and artificial stupidity has been a pretty thin one. Microsoft's Bing insisting that we're still in 2022, or Google's Bard serving up factual errors, for example.
These problems show that human intervention is still key to getting the best from AI/ML models. We spoke to chief product officer at Tamr, Anthony Deighton, to discuss how organizations can leverage AI/ML while also keeping the key human component of the process.
OpenAI makes Microsoft Bing the default search in ChatGPT
At its Build developer conference today, Microsoft's main focus was -- unsurprisingly -- on AI, with the introduction of Windows Copilot for Windows 11, and a new and improved Microsoft Store.
For many people, however, one of the more exciting announcements was the news that as a result of the company's partnership with OpenAI, Bing is being added to ChatGPT as the default search experience.
Microsoft is building an 'open store that is ready for the new AI era'
Today, at its Build developer conference, Microsoft surprised no one with the news that it is betting big on the power of artificial intelligence.
The most exciting news was undoubtedly the announcement of Windows Copilot for Windows 11, but the company is also bringing AI to the Microsoft Store.
Microsoft fixes Azure BingBang bug that allowed Bing search hijacking and leaked private data
Microsoft has addressed a serious flaw in Azure Active Directory which was dubbed BingBang by the security researchers that discovered it.
The vulnerability not only made it possible to manipulate Bing search results, but also to access private data from Outlook, Office 365 and Teams. The issue stemmed from an Azure misconfiguration; it dates back to January this year, but Microsoft has only just plugged the hole.
Microsoft is preparing to bring ads to AI-powered Bing Chat
In a move that will come as a surprise to just about no one, Microsoft has announced that it is "exploring" the idea of adding advertising to its GPT-4-based Bing Chat.
The company is framing the addition of ads to the AI-powered chat bot as a means of "driving more traffic and value to publishers from the new Bing". Microsoft says that it is seeking to do this by, among other things, "pioneering the future of advertising".
Microsoft launches DALL-E-based, AI-powered Bing Image Creator
Continuing its AI push, Microsoft has announced Bing Image Creator. Powered by OpenAI's DALL-E, the tool can be used to generate images using artificial intelligence.
Microsoft says that Bing Image Creator will form part of Bing chat, and it will accept natural language prompts to create (just about) any sort of image you might want. The tool will also be made available in Microsoft Edge, making it -- the company is quick to highlight -- the first and only browser with an integrated AI-powered image generator.
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