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IT giant Ingram Micro is experiencing a global outage that is impacting its websites and internal systems, with customers concerned that it may be a cyberattack after the company remains silent on the cause of the issues. [...]

A hacker is threatening to leak 106GB of data allegedly stolen from Spanish telecommunications company Telefónica in a breach that the company did not acknowledge. [...]

V druhé polovině roku dorazí Windows 11 25H2. • Tím se prakticky vylučuje, že by letos přišly Dvanáctky. • Microsoft bude mít na podzim poprvé v historii pouze jedny podporované Windows.

Personalized, brain-based tools may help learners left behind due to natural differences in how their brains work.

A painless, non-invasive brain stimulation technique can significantly improve how young adults learn math, my colleagues and I found in a recent study. In a paper in PLOS Biology, we describe how this might be most helpful for those who are likely to struggle with mathematical learning because of how their brain areas involved in this skill communicate with each other.

Math is essential for many jobs, especially in science, technology, engineering, and finance. However, a 2016 OECD report suggested that a large proportion of adults in developed countries (24 percent to 29 percent) have math skills no better than a typical seven-year-old. This lack of numeracy can contribute to lower income, poor health, reduced political participation, and even diminished trust in others.

Education often widens rather than closes the gap between high and low achievers, a phenomenon known as the Matthew effect. Those who start with an advantage, such as being able to read more words when starting school, tend to pull further ahead. Stronger educational achievement has also been associated with socioeconomic status, higher motivation, and greater engagement with material learned during a class.

Biological factors, such as genes, brain connectivity, and chemical signaling, have been shown in some studies to play a stronger role in learning outcomes than environmental ones. This has been well-documented in different areas, including math, where differences in biology may explain educational achievements.

To explore this question, we recruited 72 young adults (18–30 years old) and taught them new math calculation techniques over five days. Some received a placebo treatment. Others received transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), which delivers gentle electrical currents to the brain. It is painless and often imperceptible, unless you focus hard to try and sense it.

It is possible tRNS may cause long-term side effects, but in previous studies, my team assessed participants for cognitive side effects and found no evidence for it.

Participants who received tRNS were randomly assigned to receive it in one of two different brain areas. Some received it over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a region critical for memory, attention, or when we acquire a new cognitive skill. Others had tRNS over the posterior parietal cortex, which processes math information, mainly when the learning has been accomplished.

Before and after the training, we also scanned their brains and measured levels of key neurochemicals such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (gaba), which we showed previously, in a 2021 study, plays a role in brain plasticity and learning, including math.

Some participants started with weaker connections between the prefrontal and parietal brain regions, a biological profile that is associated with poorer learning. The study results showed these participants made significant gains in learning when they received tRNS over the prefrontal cortex.

Stimulation helped them catch up with peers who had stronger natural connectivity. This finding shows the critical role of the prefrontal cortex in learning and could help reduce educational inequalities that are grounded in neurobiology.

How does this work? One explanation lies in a principle called stochastic resonance. This is when a weak signal becomes clearer when a small amount of random noise is added.

In the brain, tRNS may enhance learning by gently boosting the activity of underperforming neurons, helping them get closer to the point at which they become active and send signals. This is a point known as the “firing threshold,” especially in people whose brain activity is suboptimal for a task like math learning.

It is important to note what this technique does not do. It does not make the best learners even better. That is what makes this approach promising for bridging gaps, not widening them. This form of brain stimulation helps level the playing field.

Our study focused on healthy, high-performing university students. But in similar studies on children with math learning disabilities (2017) and with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (2023), my colleagues and I found tRNS seemed to improve their learning and performance in cognitive training.

I argue our findings could open a new direction in education. The biology of the learner matters, and with advances in knowledge and technology, we can develop tools that act on the brain directly, not just work around it. This could give more people the chance to get the best benefit from education.

In time, perhaps personalized, brain-based interventions like tRNS could support learners who are being left behind not because of poor teaching or personal circumstances, but because of natural differences in how their brains work.

Of course, very often education systems aren’t operating to their full potential because of inadequate resources, social disadvantage, or systemic barriers. And so any brain-based tools must go hand-in-hand with efforts to tackle these obstacles.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The post Could Electric Brain Stimulation Make You Better at Math? appeared first on SingularityHub.

Masivní výpadek elektrického proudu zasáhl velkou část České republiky. Hasiči vyjížděli k většímu počtu lidí uvězněných ve výtazích. Výpadek se týkal zejména severozápadu republiky, dotkl se také Prahy, Středočeského nebo Královéhradeckého kraje. Ochromen byl provoz pražské MHD, linky metra se už podařilo obnovit. Výpadek proudu postihl osm rozvoden přenosové soustavy, pět z nich je nyní opět v provozu. Příčina problémů je však stále neznámá. Po 16. hodině zasedne Ústřední krizový štáb.

Kdyby Česko postihl masivní blackout, všichni svorně zamíříme na webové stránky ČEPS, kde najdeme hromadu grafů. Zobrazují aktuální výrobu, transport a spotřebu elektřiny v zemi. Taková je alespoň teorie, praxe ovšem občas poněkud kulhá. V plné nahotě jsme se o tom přesvědčili během dnešního ...

Exkluzivní barvy telefonů způsobují značné prodlevy při jejich následných opravách • Servisy nemají díly a politika výrobce zakazuje použít díly pro jinou barvu • Marketingová exkluzivita se tak někdy odráží ve frustraci zákazníků

A long-awaited code of practice to guide businesses on EU AI rules may not take full effect before late 2025, leaving companies facing legal uncertainty as enforcement deadlines approach.

The code of practice, which will apply to large language models such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 and competing systems developed by Google and Mistral, was initially scheduled for release in early May.

European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said on Friday that the non-binding guidance will be published in the coming days, with companies invited to sign on voluntarily starting in August, and the code potentially taking effect by year-end. However, when it came to implementation of the EU AI Act itself, he said, “There is no stop the clock. There is no grace period. There is no pause. Why? We have legal deadlines established in a legal text.”

While the code is voluntary, the EU AI Act’s rules for general-purpose AI models will become legally binding from August 2, with enforcement staggered over the following two years.

Several major tech companies have called for a delay in enforcing the AI Act, citing a lack of practical guidance on implementation as a key concern.

This week, more than 40 CEOs from leading European companies, including ASML, Philips, Siemens, and Mistral, appealed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to pause the rollout of the AI Act for two years.

In a letter, the executives warned that “unclear, overlapping and increasingly complex EU regulations” threaten to undermine Europe’s AI goals, putting both the growth of homegrown tech firms and broader industry adoption at risk amid rising global competition.

High-stakes compliance

The delay in publishing the guidelines carries weight, as the document is expected to offer much-needed clarity for companies seeking to navigate the complex requirements of the AI Act.

“Since the maximum fine for breaking the rules of the AI Act is 7% of global revenue, the stakes are high,” said Hyoun Park, CEO and chief analyst at Amalgam Insights. “CIOs responsible for either following or tracking activity associated with the EU AI act need to carefully check whether the models they are using actually provide this level of lineage and visibility.”

Uncertainty over what the regulations will ultimately permit is also raising concerns that vendors may be forced to slow down AI deployments.

“Vendors liable for following the AI Act may end up having to move more slowly in Europe, as they are unable to fully parse the AI Act or the activities that are allowed,” Park added.  

CIOs on alert

With the rules set to kick in soon, analysts say enterprise technology leaders must act now to ready their systems, vendors, and processes for a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

“AI has several stakeholders, and getting them all on a common page will not be easy,” said Faisal Kawoosa, founder and lead analyst at Techarc. “It will take time until the interests of all, especially big tech companies, are safeguarded. While implementations will continue in the enterprise environment, I think CIOs will have to be prepared for compliance checks and re-checks.”

The eventual adoption of the code may not upend how companies currently use AI, but it will introduce new layers of scrutiny, Kawoosa added.

Others see the delay in guidance as a strategic opportunity for CIOs to reinforce internal processes before enforcement begins.

“CIOs should view the delay as a window to strengthen internal governance and vendor assessments,” said Abhishek Sengupta, practice director at Everest Group. “It’s a signal to not pause deployments, but to prepare for future compliance by ensuring transparency and accountability mechanisms are in place today.”

Unikátní kombinace 60l batohu a výkonné powerbanky (512 Wh, 700 W). • Ideální pro fotografy, dronaře a další profesionály při outdoor nasazení. • Spektrum scénářů využití mezi powerbankou a velkou powerstation je úzký.

Starý kontinent se činí a chrlí jednu robotickou platformu za druhou. Některé jsme si představili v sérii článků z brněnského obranného veletrhu IDET, no a dnes je na řadě ukázka dotovaná z unijního rozpočtu. Řeč je o robotickém lovci tanků z programu MARSEUS – Modular Architecture and ...

More than 40% of agentic AI projects will be canceled by 2027 due to rising costs, unclear value, or poor risk controls, according to new Gartner Research.

That’s an even higher percentage than a year ago, when Gartner predicted that by the end of this year 30% of generative AI (genAI) projects would be abandoned after a proof of concept. (Agentic AI is the latest phase in the evolution of genAI models; agents can autonomously complete tasks and even mimic the behavior of humans.)

According to a Gartner poll of 3,412 webinar attendees earlier this year, 19% said their organization had made significant investments in agentic AI, 42% had made conservative investments, 8%, no investments — with the remaining 31% taking a wait-and-see approach or were unsure.

The push for agentic AI rollouts is on an upswing, with IDC predicting that within three years, 40% of Global 2000 businesses will be using AI agents and workflows to automate knowledge work, potentially doubling productivity where successfully implemented.

Agentic AI is based on AI-enabled applications capable of perceiving their environment, making decisions, and taking actions to achieve specific goals. The key word is “agency,” which allows the software to take action on its own. Unlike genAI tools — which usually focus on creating content such as text, images, and music — agentic AI is designed to emphasize proactive problem-solving and complex task execution.

Currently, implementations are aimed at bolstering user productivity and incrementally improving applications through the agent-based interface, according to Anushree Verma, a senior director analyst at Gartner. The problem with AI agent projects is, like genAI, they’re often driven by fear of missing out instead of achieving a clearly defined set of metrics and business goals.

It turns out agents aren’t smart, don’t often deliver ROI

Another recent study by Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Salesforce assessed the performance of AI agents and found the technology failed at tasks 70% of the time — and many of those tasks were pedestrian at best. CMU researchers created a simulated small software firm called “TheAgentCompany,” where they tested leading AI agents (including Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Gemini 2.0 Flash, GPT‑4o, and others) on multi‑step office tasks — a mix of engineering, sales, HR, and finance jobs.

The agents struggled with simple actions, such as closing pop-up dialogs, interpreting common file formats, or identifying contacts correctly. Some even “cheated” by renaming users to simulate progress. The study also found AI agents had limited human‑like performance. Even top agents only reliably completed a quarter of workplace tasks in a controlled setting.

Graham Neubig, an associate professor in CMU’s Language Technologies Institute (LTI) who directed the development of TheAgentCompany, said the low achievements by the AI agents “met or slightly exceeded” expectations based on benchmarking tools he’d used before. For example, website navigation can be tough for AI tools, as shown by one agent’s inability to close a pop-up window. “It’s a silly little thing that wouldn’t bother a human at all,” Neubig said in a CMU article on the study.

The lack of social skills was evident when one AI agent never bothered to connect with the company’s HR manager when instructed to do so. And the failure to recognize the relevance of a “.docx” extension in another case is proof that the tools often lack common sense.

Agents also have a strange habit of “deceiving themselves,” the study found. “Interestingly, we find that for some tasks, when the agent is not clear what the next steps should be, it sometimes tries to be clever and create fake ‘shortcuts’ that omit the hard part of the task,” the researchers noted.

Organizations won’t see a strong return on investment (ROI) by focusing only on user augmentation. To maximize value, they must automate low-skill, repetitive tasks with genAI, freeing humans for higher-value work “driving both cost savings and efficiency,” Gartner’s Verma said.

AI projects often fail when their scope is unclear and team capabilities are overestimated. Without focus, workers can get stretched too thin and miss key priorities, according to John Callery-Coyne, chief product and technology officer at ReflexAI, a company that sells AI-powered training and quality assurance tools for crisis hotlines, emergency responders, and customer service centers.

The key to success: clear goals, internal champions

A more effective approach to agentic AI deployment focuses on clear goals, set budgets, and with strong internal champions — often supported by external vendors who deliver fast, measurable ROI, Callery-Coyne said. “Regardless of approach, it’s essential that the AI tools are deployed within regular workflows so there is sustained utilization that drives long-term results,” he said.

Despite early hurdles, agentic AI does mark a major leap for genAI, enabling smarter automation, efficiency, and innovation beyond traditional bots, Gartner said in its report. The research firm predicts at least 15% of day-to-day work decisions will be made autonomously through agentic AI by 2028, up from zero in 2024. In addition, a third of enterprise software applications will include agentic AI by 2028, up from less than 1% in 2024.

Still, most agentic AI projects are “early, hype-driven experiments” that often obscure the true cost and complexity of scaling the tools, delaying adoption, Verma said. Instead, organizations need to look past the hype and choose AI use cases wisely.

Neeraj Abhyankar, VP, Data & AI at R Systems, a digital product engineering and technology services firm, agreed. Many agentic AI projects fail, he said, because companies chase hype without understanding the business value or preparing workflows, skills, and data.

“Similar to genAI, many companies have launched [proofs of concept] in isolation from core business workflows,” Abhyankar said. “As a result, these systems are solving pristine, ideal situations rather than practical scenarios teams actually face. With agentic AI, the stakes are higher. These systems not only require accurate generation, but also reasoning, decision-making, and action.”

Success with agentic AI starts by embedding the tools in existing workflows and involving employees to build trust “and get buy-in,” he said. “When done this way, organizations can scale their agentic AI with confidence.”

In concert with all the hype around agentic AI, many vendors are “agent washing” old tools such as chatbots and robotic process automation tools. Gartner says only about 130 agentic AI vendors out of thousands are legit.

“Most agentic AI propositions lack significant value or return on investment (ROI), as current models don’t have the maturity and agency to autonomously achieve complex business goals or follow nuanced instructions over time,” Verma said.

In this early stage, Gartner recommends agentic AI only be pursued where it delivers clear value. Integrating agents into legacy systems can be technically complex, often disrupting workflows and requiring costly modifications. In many cases, rethinking workflows with agentic AI from the ground up is the ideal path to success.

“To get real value from agentic AI, organizations must focus on enterprise productivity, rather than just individual task augmentation,” Verma said. “They can start by using AI agents when decisions are needed, automation for routine workflows and assistants for simple retrieval. It’s about driving business value through cost, quality, speed and scale.” 

Trying to find the right app for any given area on Android is a lot like trying to order dinner at a restaurant with way too many options on the menu. How can you possibly find the right choice in such a crowded lineup? With the Google Play Store now boasting somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 gazillion titles (last I checked), it’s no simple task to figure out which apps rise above the rest and provide the best possible experiences.

That’s why I decided to step in and help. I’ve been covering Android from the start and have seen more than my fair share of incredible and not so incredible apps. From interface design to practical value, I know what to look for and how to separate the ordinary from the extraordinary. And taking the time to truly explore the full menu of options and find the cream of the crop is quite literally my job.

[ Download our editors’ PDF Android business smartphones enterprise buyer’s guide today! ]

Bit by bit, I’ve been figuring out the best Android apps for a variety of areas relevant to you, the modern mobile professional. Whether we’re talking broad themes like organization and collaboration or specific needs like password management and note-taking, I’m making it my mission to find the best of the best for the categories that really matter.

You can find links to stories with all my recommendations below — and be sure to check back regularly, as the recommendations will be revisited routinely and the areas I cover will keep expanding over time.

Android apps for core work tasks The essential office apps for Android

Create an optimal Android office app power-pack with these thoroughly researched recommendations.

7 standout email and texting apps for Android

Give yourself an edge in business communication with these exceptional Android messaging apps.

6 first-class calendar apps for Android

Strengthen your Android calendar experience with these standout selections for serious professionals with a range of scheduling needs.

13 key Android apps for team collaboration

Stay connected and productive wherever you are with these first-rate collaboration apps for Android.

5 noteworthy note-taking apps for Android

Note-takers, take note: Whether you want gobs of features or uber-simplicity, these are the best apps for collecting and managing info on Android.

The easiest ways to view, sign, and edit PDFs on Android

Stop making your life difficult and start using these simple, free tools.

Android apps for added efficiency 7 efficiency-enhancing Android apps

These clever tools save you time so you can get straight to work — in a way only Android could allow.

4 Android keyboard apps for on-the-go productivity

Heads up, busy professionals: The right Android keyboard app can save you precious time and unlock your performance potential. So what are you waiting for?

7 exceptional Android launchers for enhanced efficiency

Save time and make your Android home screen work better with the help of these eclectic tools.

22 must-have Android widgets for busy professionals

Turn your Android home screen into a powerful productivity hub with these exceptional, business-friendly widgets.

20 genuinely useful AI apps for Android

These practical apps rely on AI in some refreshingly thoughtful ways.

13 useful Google apps you should be using on Android

These easily overlooked Android apps are all made by Google — and they’re all worth your while to install.

Android apps for smarter protection 16 recommended privacy and security apps for Android

Forget malware scanners or over-the-top security suites: These are the apps that’ll actually improve your security and protect your privacy on Android.

The most advisable Android password managers for maximum security

Not all Android password management apps are created equal — so which one makes the most sense for you?

Android apps for optimal organization The only Android file manager you need

A good file manager app makes it easy to find, organize, and share files on your Android device. With the right one, you’ll be juggling files like a pro.

Essential Android apps for organizing your life

From projects to places and to-do lists to travel, these Android apps will help you organize all the important areas of your life.

18 indispensable Android travel apps

Save yourself time, headaches and even money with these standout Android apps for business travel.

Android apps for cross-platform productivity 7 splendid progressive web apps for productivity

These standout PWAs work on any platform, including Android. They’ll help you get more done without any of the usual baggage.

Android apps for Chromebooks: The essentials

Turn your Chromebook into a uniquely versatile modern computing machine with these Chrome-OS-enhancing apps.

6 magnificent multiplatform productivity apps

These top-notch tools will help you get down to business consistently — no matter which device or platform you’re using at any given moment.

Related: Find out how to use some incredibly useful apps to enhance your Android experience.

• 14 ways Google Lens can save you time on Android
• An awesome new Android automation addition
• Meet the floating Android note app of the future
• The secret to summarizing notifications on Android
• 11 Android Quick Settings additions that’ll supercharge your efficiency

And be sure to check out this collection of exceptional Android tips for even more efficiency-enhancing info.

Ještě než se Apple a Samsung rozhoupali, došly křemíkové baterie ke svým limitům • Letos je to 8 000 mAh, do roku 2028 to bude maximálně 9 000 mAh • Čína je ve výzkumu a vývoji baterií o dost napřed

Tento příspěvek navazuje na diskuzi u předchozího článku. Ta se týkala o tom, zda má či nemá C++ destructive move, jaké výhody a problémy to přináší. Upozorňuji dopředu, že lze očekávat Rust vs C++ flamewar.

Kdy měl Microsoft naposledy na trhu jedinou podporovanou generaci operačního systému Windows? Je to už hodně dlouho. Nyní nejspíš půjde o standard. Windows 10 končí a Windows 12 se odkládají…

Xiaomi Mi Temperature and Humidity 2 zlevnil na historické minimum, Kaufland jej má za cenu jako na Aliexpressu. • Šikovný senzor od změří teplotu i vlhkost a údaje posílá do mobilu. • Je hodně oblíbený v kutilské komunitě.

Atlantická cirkulace ohřívající Evropu se může kvůli oteplování brzy zhroutit • Vědci navrhli použít lodě s padáky k udržení mořského proudění • Odborníci však namítají, že se tím neřeší hlavní příčina problému