GPT is Back in Italy

This block was reported some time ago and now has been resolved.  How this will long time connects with Euro GDPR is still unclear. 

ChatGPT accessible again in Italy, By Shiona McCallum,Technology reporter   in the BBC

Access to the ChatGPT chatbot has been restored in Italy.

It was banned by the Italian data-protection authority at the start of April over privacy concerns.

It maker, OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft, said it had successfully "addressed or clarified" the issues raised.  It said its privacy policy was now accessible to people before they registered for ChatGPT and there was a new tool to verify the age of users.

The Italian data-protection authority, also known as Garante, had temporarily restricted the chatbot and launched a probe over the artificial intelligence application's suspected breach.   As Garante had accused OpenAI of failing to check the age of ChatGPT's users who are supposed to be aged 13 or above, OpenAI said it would offer a tool to verify users' ages in Italy upon sign-up.

OpenAI explained that it would also provide a new form for European Union users to exercise their right to object to its use of personal data to train its models.

The Italian regulator told the BBC it "welcomed the measures OpenAI implemented" but called for even more compliance.  In particular, the spokesperson said, around "implementing an age verification system and planning and conducting an information campaign to inform Italians of what happened as well as of their right to opt-out from the processing of their personal data for training algorithms."

Garante said it would carry on its "fact-finding activities regarding OpenAI also under the umbrella of the ad-hoc task force that was set up by the European Data Protection Board."   An OpenAI spokesperson said it appreciated the Garante for being collaborative, and that it would continue ongoing constructive discussions.

Millions of people have used ChatGPT since it launched in November 2022.   It can answer questions using natural, human like language and it can also mimic other writing styles. Microsoft has spent billions of dollars on it and it was added to Bing last month.   It has also said that it will embed a version of the technology in its Office apps, including Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook.

Bard, Google's; rival artificial-intelligence chatbot, is now available, but only to specific users over the age of 18.

ChatGPT banned in Italy over privacy, data collection concerns

Unexpected Privacy concerns posed.

Calls have grown in the United States to stop development of the AI technology    By Kelsey Koberg

DataGrade founder Joe Toscano and MRC Free Speech America VP Dan Schneider said ChatGPT poses various dangers to jobs and information.   

Experts say biased data in ChatGPT could make AI ‘more dangerous,’ impact journalism

Italy’s privacy regulator ordered a ban Friday on ChatGPT over alleged privacy violations.  ... '

Researchers Develop Scaled-up Spintronic Probabilistic Computer

 OK, technically new to me, but worth a tag here.    I note mention of 'Simulated Quantum Annealing Algorithm'  which was demonstrated to us.  Will follow with further examples as found.

Researchers Develop Scaled-up Spintronic Probabilistic Computer

Tohoku University (Japan), December 7, 2022

Scientists at Japan's Tohoku University, Italy's University of Messina, and the University of California, Santa Barbara have engineered a scaled-up probabilistic computer (p-computer) with stochastic spintronic devices. The researchers demonstrated how stochastic magnetic tunnel junction (sMTJ)-based probabilistic bits (p-bits) can be integrated with field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to implement larger p-bit networks in hardware. They also executed a simulated quantum annealing algorithm in heterogeneous MTJ + FPGA p-computers with systematic assessments for hard combinatorial optimization problems. The researchers benchmarked sMTJ-based p-computer performance against that of classical computing hardware, including graphics processing units and Tensor Processing Units, and found it yields superior throughput and power consumption compared to conventional technologies.

Italy Bans Facial, Non Policing Related AI

The breadth of this is interesting, more strict than EU it seems?

Italy Outlaws Facial Recognition Tech, Except to Fight Crime

Reuters

By Elvira Pollina; Federico Maccioni, November 14, 2022

Italy has banned the use of facial recognition technology and "smart glasses," except when such technologies play a role in judicial investigations or the fight against crime. The country's Data Protection Agency issued a rebuke to two municipalities experimenting with the technologies, and said facial recognition systems using biometric data will not be allowed until a specific law is adopted, or at least until the end of next year. Under EU and Italian law, the processing of personal data by public bodies using video devices is generally allowed on public interest grounds, and when linked to the activity of public authorities. However, the agency noted, municipalities that want to use such devices will have to secure "urban security" agreements with central government representatives.

In Reuters