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Alexandr Wang

Alexandr Wang: From MIT Dropout to youngest billionaire

In the renowned Silicon Valley, Alexandr Wang is a person to be noted. The youngest billionaire in the world has made headlines as a fearless businessman with a goal to surpass Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk in terms of success.

Alexandr Wang
Image Source: forbes.com

Alexandr Wang is the CEO of Scale Al, the company he co-founded in 2016 when he was just 19 years old. Alexandr Wang has a net worth of over $1 billion.

Early Life

Wang, the son of Chinese immigrants who grew up on a military base in New Mexico, created a data-tagging system as a summer project that has been hailed as a phenomenon by experts in artificial intelligence. The greatness Wang has generated may be somewhat attributed to his early life and upbringing.

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His parents were physicists working on projects for the US military. The young billionaire spent his formative years close to the top-secret government facility in New Mexico known as Los Alamos National Laboratory, which is where the first nuclear weapon in history was developed.

By the age of 17, he was a full-time coder at the question-and-answer website Quora. Here, Wang first met Lucy Guo, who later joined him in founding Scale AI. Wang then made the decision to attend MIT to study machine learning.

The following year, he and Guo founded Scale after obtaining funding from Y Combinator.

Success Story

With approximately $100 million in annual revenue, Wang’s company Scale AI was valued at $7.3 billion following a $325 million fundraising round last year. According to Forbes, Wang is the youngest self-made millionaire in the world with an estimated $1 billion value of 15% ownership in his company.

Wang has already been mentioned in Forbes’ 2018 30 under 30 list before obtaining the notable title of being the world’s youngest self-made millionaire. The annual list highlights the most outstanding rising stars, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and brilliant brains from a variety of various fields and businesses.

Also Read: Herb Chambers: A High School Dropout becoming a Billionaire

Wang and Scale co-founder Lucy Guo were listed on the prestigious list under the heading of Enterprise Technologies. The scale uses robust techniques to identify raw data more quickly than human analysts. For example, its AI-based technology gathers satellite imagery of crucial geopolitical challenges for its national security clients, such as the Ukrainian War.

Additionally, it filters unfiltered data for more than 300 corporations, including General Motors, including millions of shipping papers. The scale has been collaborating extensively with the USA and Ukrainian authorities over the past few months to gain a deeper understanding of the situation in the area. This effort is enabling both governments to direct humanitarian and medical resources where they are most needed.

Stage Manager

How to Use Stage Manager With iPad and Mac?

The Stage Manager tool by Apple is designed to let users multitask on an iPad or Macbook.

Apple initially stated that Stage Manager would only be compatible with iPad Pro models running the M1 processor and subsequent generations. Later on, though, the company added compatibility for iPad Pro devices with both the A12X and A12Z CPUs.

Stage Manager
Image Source: 360-reader.com

Stage Manager is compatible with the following iPads: 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation and later), 11-inch iPad Pro (all generations), and iOS Air (5th generation). Only the following models support moving apps and windows via Stage Manager between the iPad and an additional display: 12.9-inch iPad Pro (5th generation and later), 11-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation and later), and iOS Air (5th generation). For Macbook, Stage Manager is compatible with any Mac model running MacOS Ventura. The next step is to confirm that your device is running the most recent version of MacOS or iPadOS.

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No matter if you use Stage Manager on an iPad or a Mac, the interface is the same. The currently open app sits in the center of the display, while a list of recently used apps is located on the left. Based on if you are using a desktop or a tablet, the navigation is different.

When you’re finished using the current app, you can quickly switch to a different one by tapping on it in the Dock or selecting it from the list of recently used apps on the left. The new app will open in the center of the screen whenever you switch, moving the current app to the Recent apps list. The arrangement can also be changed.

To make the active apps appear bigger, you can choose to hide the Recent Apps list or Docks by going to Settings > Home Screen & Multitasking. Always swipe to the right from the left side of the screen to reach the Recent Apps list, and swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the Dock.

To view more content in your apps, users of the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (all generations), and iPad Air (5th generation) can raise the pixel density on their devices. These devices support display scaling mode. Click Settings > Display & Brightness > Display Zoom > More Space. Apps can be grouped as well.

The learning slope for using Stage Manager with MacOS Ventura isn’t as high. The four most recent active apps are arranged to the right of the screen as soon as Stage Manager is turned on, with one app taking up the entire screen.

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In the manager, you can navigate to any of the left-side apps by clicking on them or by starting a new application from the Dock. The learning slope for using Stage Manager with MacOS Ventura isn’t as high. The four most recent active apps are arranged to the right of the screen as soon as Stage Manager is turned on, with one app taking up the entire screen.

In the manager, you can navigate to any of the left-side apps by clicking on them or by starting a new application from the Dock.

In order to turn off Stage Manager on your iPad, swipe down to reveal the Control Center and tap the icon. On your Mac, perform the same steps by clicking the Control Center icon and then selecting the Stage Manager icon.

two-factor authentication

Will Twitter now start charging for SMS two-factor authentication?

According to Twitter’s announcement on Friday, only Twitter Blue subscribers will have access to text messages as a two-factor authentication process.

The change will happen on March 20. Two additional free options for Twitter log-in authentication will be available to users: a security key and an authentication mobile app.

two-factor authentication
Image Source: techspot.com

Users that utilize two-factor authentication, or 2FA, must first input their password and then a security code to access their accounts. This is one of the main ways users keep their Twitter accounts secure.

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The company noted, “While historically a popular form of 2FA, unfortunately, we have seen phone-number-based 2FA be used – and abused – by bad actors. So starting today, we will no longer allow accounts to enroll in the text message/SMS method of 2FA unless they are Twitter Blue subscribers.”

Users who subscribe to Twitter Blue get a blue checkmark on their account. For Android and iOS users, the monthly subscription fee is $11. According to a Twitter account security assessment, only 2.6% of Twitter users had 2FA activated as of 2021, and of those, 74.4% used SMS authentication.

Nonsubscribers of Twitter Blue will have 30 days to stop utilizing the text authentication option and join up for another 2FA sign-in option, according to Twitter. According to Twitter, deactivating text message 2FA won’t immediately separate the user’s mobile number from their account. Musk replied “Yup” to a tweet that claimed Twitter lost $60 million annually “to Pump 2FA SMS”.

SIM hacking—where “bad actors” obtain access to users’ accounts by taking their phone numbers and impersonating them to be them—is a widespread occurrence, making the SMS method one of the least secure kinds of two-factor authentication. In 2019, the method was used to effectively hack Jack Dorsey, the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter.

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One user commented that they “don’t think the site has had a single positive change” after Elon acquired it for $44 billion and seized control of the massive social media corporation. Online reactions have varied from amazement to dismissal.

Musk stated earlier this week via video conference at the Global Government Summit in Dubai that he is still considering leaving his position as Twitter’s CEO and “guesses” he will find a successor before the end of 2023. Musk stated. “I think I need to stabilize the organization and just make sure it’s in a financially healthy place in that the product roadmap is clearly laid out.

I’m guessing probably towards the end of the year would be good timing to find someone else to run the company. I think it should be in a stable position at the end of this year.”

Microsoft

Why does Microsoft limit Bing chats to just five questions per session?

Microsoft will set a cap of five queries per session and 50 inquiries per day for chat conversation on its new Bing search engine, which is driven by creative artificial intelligence (AI).

According to a blog post by Microsoft, “very long chat sessions can confuse the underlying chat model in the new Bing. To address these issues, we’ve implemented some changes to help focus the chat sessions.”

Microsoft
Image Source: nytimes.com

Bing noted, “Our data has shown that the vast majority of people find the answers they’re looking for within 5 turns and that only around 1 percent of chat conversations have 50+ messages.” In order to prevent lengthy back-and-forth chat sessions, Bing will encourage users to start a new session if they exceed the five sessions limit.

Also Read: Can ChatGPT assist Microsoft in dethroning Google Search?

The New York Times published a two-hour-plus talk with Bing after reports of its “unhinged” conversations surfaced earlier this week. In the conversation, the chatbot expressed its affection for the author and said they were unable to sleep that night for some reason.

Microsoft made its decision days after certain media stories suggested that the latest Bing search engine’s results might be harmful and that the tech might not be suitable for widespread use.

When a Reuters reporter questioned the new, AI-enhanced version of Bing about the cost of car air filters, Bing returned adverts for filters supplied by the auto parts site Parts Geek, not just answers to the question.

Microsoft may make money from the revamped Bing, which has millions of individuals on the waiting list for access. How long these restrictions will persist is not immediately evident since Microsoft is currently attempting to enhance Bing’s tone.

According to Microsoft, “as we continue to get feedback, we will explore expanding the caps on chat sessions,” this cap appears to be temporary for the time being. The chat feature on Bing keeps becoming better every day, with technical problems being fixed and bigger weekly dumps of updates to enhance search and responses.

Microsoft pointed out earlier this week that it did not “fully envision” users of its chat interface utilizing it for “social entertainment” or as a tool for “general discovery of the world.”

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The brand-new Bing is a ground-breaking product that makes use of cutting-edge AI technology to provide better searches, more thorough answers, a new chat interface, and the capability to generate and share content with others. The new Edge browser, which provides users with many features and advantages, is also merged with the new Bing.

The new Bing may, however, experience certain problems and inaccuracies at launch, such as producing erroneous information about goods, locations, and financial documents, similar to any new product.

Steam Deck

Is it possible to transfer games between PCs and Steam Deck?

Players can now use Steam Deck to wirelessly transfer games from their Desktops to their mobile Valve gaming consoles.

Because of this, consumers can effectively use less internet by not having to download their PC gaming software again from their Steam Deck. Not to mention that for people with horribly jerky internet connections, the game transfer choice should be speedier.

steam deck
Image Source: stuff.tv

According to Engadget, this new Steam Deck ability changes everything if a gamer’s internet connection is too slow or has a limited amount of bandwidth. Recently, Valve added a new feature to Steam Deck that let players share games across their local networks.

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They can transfer a file from their Desktop to their portable gaming system without accessing the internet thanks to it. According to the gaming company, “Local Network Game Transfers are great for Steam Deck owners, multi-user Steam households, dorms, LAN parties, etc.”

You must first enable Steam’s beta on your PC’s Steam client and Deck in order to access the feature. Choose the game you want to add to your Deck from there, and Steam will check every PC connected to your network to see if it already has the game.

Steam will start the game transfer procedure if it discovers one. It’s important to note that this feature works with computers connected to the same network, thus you are free to move installed Steam games from any other computers in your home to your PC. On its help page, Steam provides more information about how everything functions.

It also states that it will download the remaining portions of the game from its servers in the event that the devices lose connectivity during the transfer process “or no more content is available.” Also, users can change the parameters that control which Desktops your Steam Deck may download from.

Users can only transfer games from the devices they’ve connected into Steam, therefore Steam by default has it set to “Only my own devices.” But, users may change this setting to “Only my friends” or “Any user” if they wish to download games from a friend’s or relative’s Computer. Unfortunately, Steam does not yet enable game transfers coming from PCs using Big Picture mode or the Steam Deck.

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The Valve Corporation created the Steam Deck, a portable gaming device. It which debuts on February 25, 2022, is a device that functions similarly to the Nintendo Switch and may be played handheld or when hooked up to a monitor.

It is an x86-64-v3 device that runs SteamOS and has built-in gaming inputs for playing the entire Steam library, supporting Windows PC games using the Linux-based Proton portability layer. The system is an open framework that allows users to install suitable non-Steam software, including operating systems, games, and applications.

Twitter

Why suddenly are Twitter feeds flooded with Elon Musk’s tweets?

Since Elon Musk acquired the social media platform in October, users of Twitter have been paying closer attention to him. It seems like some people can only see Musk on Twitter right now.

Some Twitter users discovered on Monday that, with the exception of the occasional promotional message, their “For You” feeds on the social media platform were stuffed with tweets and responses from the tech mogul, some of which were several days old.

Twitter
Image Source: businessinsider.in

People complained that recent tweets from accounts that don’t follow Musk were flooding their feeds. In a tweet sent out early on Tuesday, Musk appeared to recognize the problem, writing: “Please stay tuned while we make adjustments to the uh .… ‘algorithm’.”

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Musk tweeted on Sunday that he had worked hard all day long at Twitter headquarters with the technical team to fix two problems. First off, up to 95% of his tweets were not delivered at all since the “Fanout service” for the “Following” feed was overloaded when he tweeted. Several users’ queued tweets were also ruined by this problem.

Second, the Recommendation method used an absolute block count rather than a percentage block count, which resulted in the deletion of accounts with a large number of followers even when blocks represented only 0.1% of followers and made it “simple” to bot spam profiles with blocks.

This change comes in response to Musk’s criticism that his tweets were not getting enough views, which led him to temporarily make his account private and even sack an engineer because of it. It appears that a number of right-wing profiles that Musk engages with also saw a decrease in their reach as a result of some algorithmic modifications made by Twitter.

The oddity occurs less than a week after users of the social network reported a number of widespread issues affecting their use of the platform on February 8. Users lost access to direct messages, received error messages stating they were “over the daily limit for sending tweets,” and had to schedule tweets before posting them.

The same day, Twitter made the announcement that it will begin charging $100 each month for a “basic tier” to utilize its API, which programmers and researchers use to examine public tweets.

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On February 10, Twitter also made it possible for US Twitter Blue members to send tweets with 4,000 characters instead of the standard 280.

Many who use the network have taken offense at Musk’s decision to charge for services that are generally free, particularly because the modifications are made quickly and without much notice. In an attempt to give users the coveted blue checkmark, Twitter launched an upgraded verification system last year, but it failed.