### Issue 1771 - Tuesday 24th January, 2023

## In Today's Issue

- OpenAI and Microsoft get even tighter, while ChatGPT is used in places it probably shouldn't
- Meta starts enabling end to end encryption by default in Facebook Messenger
- AWS opens MEL & PER regions, Optus to close 3G network Sept 2024, NAB mints AUDN stablecoin
- Apple improves iCloud security big time with iOS 16.3 update
- Cheap Samsung microSD cards, Dell micro PC, Logitech MX Keys mini, Samsung S22 dual SIM, Crucial SSD, Romoss power bank

## The News

### OpenAI and Microsoft get even tighter, while ChatGPT is used in places it probably shouldn't

It's official, OpenAI and Microsoft are "extending our partnership". Microsoft will build even more AI-related Azure capacity and services for OpenAI to use and Azure will be the exclusive cloud provider for all of OpenAI's stuff. In return, Microsoft gets a wide open licence to use OpenAI's tech anywhere they like. Meanwhile, Koko "an online mental health services not for profit" said on Twitter that they've "provided mental health support to about 4,000 people—using GPT-3" and others are seeing if ChatGPT can pass exams. It got a B on a Wharton MBA exam and "performed near or at the passing threshold for the three exams and demonstrated high levels of consistency and insight in its explanations" for the US Medical Licensing Exam.

### Meta starts enabling end to end encryption by default in Facebook Messenger

The worst nightmare of law enforcement around the world is about to come true - Meta announced they're going to turn on end-to-end encryption by default in Facebook Messenger. E2E as the default will roll out slowly to random people over the next few months. Police hate this because soon, when they send Meta a subpoena to demand the chats of people they're investigating, Meta can respond that they can't do that. In Australia however, ASIO and the AFP can send a "technical assistance notice" to demand access to any encrypted message. I don't know how that'll work for E2E encrypted messages as technically it should be impossible for Meta to poke a way in as they don't have control over the keys.

### AWS opens MEL & PER regions, Optus to close 3G network Sept 2024, NAB mints AUDN stablecoin

- Amazon Web Services has been busy in Australia, opening up two new regions recently - Melbourne and Perth. Melbourne is a full "availability zone" spread across three areas in the city, whereas Perth is a "local zone" in only a single physical location. Apparently this Melbourne region will support over 2,500 full-time jobs and will add almost $16b to Australia's GDP by 2037? I need a fact check over here.
- Optus has set a date for the closure of its 3G network - September 2024. From this date they will start refarming the 900MHz portion of their spectrum to operate on 5G instead. Vodafone/TPG will kill their 3G network on the 15th of December 2023 and Telstra will do the same in June 2024. There's gonna be so many random things going offline in 2024. Thanks to Andrew giving me the heads up on this over on Twitter.
- NAB has minted their own "stablecoin", dubbed AUDN. It is "fully backed, one-for-one with Australian fiat money held on trust in the bank", runs on the Etherum network and the Algorand blockchain. The AFR article reckons the main purpose for AUDN is to "transition from T+2 to T0 settlement in some markets" and that blockchain "has the potential to deliver instantaneous, transparent, inclusive, financial outcomes". ANZ launched their stablecoin, A$DC, almost a year ago.

## Something I Saw On The Internet

### Apple improves iCloud security big time with iOS 16.3 update

If you're after more security on your iOS devices the latest software update has good news for you. With iOS 16.3 you can now finally secure your Apple ID account with a hardware security key (i.e: a YubiKey, but any FIDO Certified key will do), so unless you have that key, you can't log in to your Apple ID (and all the data it contains, like messages, photos, contacts, etc.) on a new device. Apple also made the Advanced Data Protection feature available in Australia. It basically adds end-to-end encryption on a range of data on your phone, so when it gets backed up to iCloud, Apple can't access it - which also means they can't help you if you're locked out of your account.

## Bargains

- Samsung PRO Plus MicroSD Card 512GB plus USB card reader - $87.96 from Amazon USA (buy 2 and get 5% off)
- Dell OptiPlex 7050 micro PC (i5-7500T, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) - $165 from Hybrid Hardware
- Logitech MX Keys Mini (rose colour only) - $75 from Amazon
- Samsung Galaxy S22 5G 128GB Dual SIM - $851.76 from Sydneymobiles
- Crucial MX500 2TB 2.5" SATA SSD - $204 from Amazon
- ROMOSS Sense 8+ 18W 30000mAh Power Bank - $40.49 from Amazon

## Image Of The Day

MSN Messenger (also known colloquially simply as "Messenger"), later rebranded as Windows Live Messenger, was a cross-platform instant-messaging client developed by Microsoft. The client was first released as MSN Messenger Service on July 22, 1999, and was marketed under the MSN brand until 2005, when it was rebranded under the Windows Live name. It has since been officially known by the latter name, although its first name remained in common use. In June 2009, Microsoft reported the service attracted over 330 million active users each month, placing it among the most widely used instant-messaging clients in the world. In 2013, the product was discontinued, and Microsoft began cutting service to existing clients. (Katie Keogh / Flickr)

## The End

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