Anthropic vs. OpenAI on Pentagon money — who’s drawing the line on AI weapons? Your Wi-Fi might be getting hacked right now (AirSnitch exploit is wild) Samsung’s Galaxy S26 and Apple’s next move — what’s actually coming? Saying goodbye to Rob Grant and Dan Simmons — remembering two legends NSA surveillance capabilities that’ll make you rethink everything
We’re diving deep into the real ethical questions facing AI companies and the security threats hitting your devices right now.
Regarding the legislation on age verification in operating systems - why are we surprised at this, or why would we think this wasn’t coming. Many people have been advocating for age verification to be baked into the mobile operating systems - why would we not think the same thing would happen to desktop OS’s as well?
A modern smartphone is nothing more than a much smaller PC. Calling them phones is really a misnomer. They are PCs in a handheld form factor. In every measurable way - they are personal computers. So, if there’s an issue with underage access to certain online material or resources – and the promoted resolution (by @Leo and others) is to include age verification in the OS - then why would we think the resolution would exempt desktop OSs?
Given the fact that people have gotten Windows and Linux to run on handheld devices (see the NexPhone as one example, or Samsung Dex as another) - is there even a difference between a mobile OS and a desktop OS? If a lawmaker was actually thinking about the problem - how could they not include desktop OSs in any proposed legislation?
I feel like I made this observation some time ago as an impediment to age-verification baked into the OS, and Leo challenged me to find a better solution. Which, to be fair, I could not. That doesn’t mean this solution is the right one - but it feels like including desktop OSs in proposed legislation should have been obvious and foreseen.
I think I understand your thinking, but the problem will always be one of definition and enforcement. Many things can access content after all, not the least of which is TVs with web browsers and refrigerators with them too. And you’re not going to be able to retcon the existing devices… so… it really seems like it’s the WEB’s problem and it needs a WEB solution, IMHO.
I agree - and TVs are absolutely another OS that I had forgotten about.
What prompted me to post this is that Leo seemed against the idea of desktop OS requiring age verification (but is in favor of mobile OSs having this feature), to the point of wondering if it was enforceable. But the idea of a desktop OS misses the point when any OS can be a desktop OS or a mobile OS.
I’m not necessarily challenging Leo - but I am somewhat surprised he didn’t the California proposal as the logical outcome of wanting age verification to be handled by the OS.
Anthropic vs. OpenAI on Pentagon money — who’s drawing the line on AI weapons?
Your Wi-Fi might be getting hacked right now (AirSnitch exploit is wild)
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 and Apple’s next move — what’s actually coming?
Saying goodbye to Rob Grant and Dan Simmons — remembering two legends
NSA surveillance capabilities that’ll make you rethink everything