The Daily Index — Wednesday, February 21, 2024 · TLDR Index

Across today’s newsletters

Today’s Index

TLDR

AFTER YEARS OF RESEARCH, AN APPLE SMART RING MAY BE IMMINENT

Apple is supposedly getting very close to launching its rumored ring wearable. The company has consistently released smart ring-related patents for several years. A patent from November details a system that lets users control their smartphones and other devices through the use of an external band on the ring. The idea of an Apple smart ring started from rumors in 2007. While the company is apparently considering a launch date for the device, it hasn't indicated how close the launch date will be.

appleinsider.com · 3 min

TLDR AI

GPT-4 KNOWLEDGE CUTOFF IS DECEMBER 2023

According to the new documentation on the OpenAI platform, the training data for GPT-4 models has been updated to include information up to December 2023.

platform.openai.com · 1 min

TLDR Web Dev

SCALING CHATGPT: FIVE REAL-WORLD ENGINEERING CHALLENGES

100 million people were using ChatGPT weekly by November 2023. Scaling ChatGPT to such a large user base was not an easy feat. OpenAI faced a few key challenges when scaling: managing GPU RAM, avoiding cache misses, finding the right batch size, measuring the right metrics, and handling a shortage of GPUs. The company found that taking a system-wide approach to optimization and being adaptable in the face of changing constraints allowed it to scale efficiently. Many of the lessons learned are applicable to general software systems.

newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com · 21 min

TLDR InfoSec

DUSTING OFF OLD FINGERPRINTS: NSO GROUP’S UNKNOWN MMS HACK

ENEA, a Sweden-based telecom security firm, claims that it has reproduced a previously unknown hack disclosed by the NSO Group that uses an "MMS Fingerprint" attack. This term is new to the industry and was not present anywhere online except in the court case. The attack reveals the target device and OS version through an MMS sent to the device without user interaction, engagement, or message opening.

enea.com · 9 min

TLDR Crypto

HONG KONG'S CENTRAL BANK ISSUES GUIDANCE FOR FIRMS OFFERING CRYPTO CUSTODIAL SERVICES

Hong Kong's central bank has issued guidance for firms looking to provide digital asset custody services. The guidelines require firms to undergo comprehensive risk assessment, have adequate resource allocation for custodial activities, and segregate clients' digital assets from the firm's own in the event of insolvency. The firms are also being asked to prevent client asset misuse and minimize the risk of digital asset loss due to illicit activities.

coindesk.com · 2 min

TLDR

MUSK CLAIMS NEURALINK PATIENT DOING OK WITH IMPLANT, CAN MOVE MOUSE WITH BRAIN

Elon Musk says that the first human to be implanted with Neuralink's brain chip has made a full recovery with no ill effects. The patient is reportedly able to move a mouse around a computer screen by just thinking. Neuralink is working on getting as many button presses on the mouse as possible from thinking. The company has been criticized for releasing information through Musk as he has a huge financial stake in the outcome.

arstechnica.com · 5 min

TLDR

MIND-READING DEVICES ARE REVEALING THE BRAIN’S SECRETS

The development of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology has allowed scientists to learn lessons about the brain that are overturning assumptions about brain anatomy. BCIs allow scientists to record single-neuron activity for a lot of brain areas that were previously not accessible. They also allow for longer measurements compared to classical tools. Advances in artificial intelligence, decoding tools, and hardware have propelled the field forward. This article discusses some of the findings that BCI technology has enabled.

nature.com · 15 min

TLDR

ZUCKERBERG: NEURAL WRISTBAND FOR AR/VR INPUT WILL SHIP "IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS"

Mark Zuckerberg says that Meta's finger-tracking neural wristband will ship as a product in the next few years. The wristband uses a technique called electromyography to sense the neural electrical signals passing through users' wrists, potentially providing zero or even negative latency and perfect accuracy, even in poor lighting conditions. The device could enable low-effort precise manipulation in any scenario, similar to a computer mouse but more versatile and with an extra dimension. Videos of the device are available in the article.

uploadvr.com · 5 min

TLDR

FALSEHOODS JUNIOR DEVELOPERS BELIEVE ABOUT BECOMING SENIOR

Senior developers seem like people who can solve all the problems and know all the answers. It's easy to believe the fantasy that climbing the ranks will somehow result in knowledge, authority, and ease. The reality is much more grounded and rewarding. Advancing in a career is about embracing new sets of complex and nuanced responsibilities. This article looks at falsehoods that junior developers believe about senior developers, showing readers what it really means to be a senior developer.

vadimkravcenko.com · 12 min