Newsletter Archives
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MS-DEFCON 3: A slightly bumpy November
ISSUE 20.48.1 • 2023-11-28 By Susan Bradley
For most Windows 10 and 11 users, including me, there have been no side effects as a result of November’s updates.
Nonetheless, there appear to be a few potholes in the road. That’s enough to make me cautious — I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to only 3.
One thing I did notice was updates taking more time to complete than usual — not a good sign. At the very least, it’s a good reason to take a look at the update history in Settings.
Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.48.1, 2023-11-28).
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How to get the most out of Google Bard and Bing Chat
PUBLIC DEFENDER
By Brian Livingston
Whether you like it or not, generative artificial intelligence — gen AI — is making its way into Google’s search engine, Gmail, and Docs. Its Redmond competitor is building OpenAI’s GPT-4 into Microsoft 365, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more.
Other tech companies don’t want to go down the tubes like buggy whips, slide rules, and Silicon Valley Bank. So they’re all racing against the two software giants to bolt gen AI into their apps and gadgets. Who knows, you might get AI-driven responses from holographic humanoids in Facebook’s failed virtual metaverse.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.14.0, 2023-04-03).
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How to jailbreak ChatGPT and Bing AI — to see their evil twins
PUBLIC DEFENDER
By Brian Livingston
The world has gone gaga for chatbots: text-based artificial intelligence apps like Open AI’s ChatGPT — which Microsoft is using for its new, gabby Bing AI.
The power of these bots, which converse in a frighteningly human-like way, may be the greatest technology breakthrough since Gutenberg invented movable type, eliminating the tedious hand-copying of manuscripts.
However, that’s like saying the invention of the electric chair was a great advance for criminal justice over the older guillotine technology.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.09.0, 2023-02-27).