Best Skype alternatives for video and voice calls

If you're frustrated with Skype, check out this list of potential replacements for your phone.

Video and audio calls were revolutionized when Skype (iOS and Android) came to the fore in the mid-2000s, making it easier -- and cheaper -- for people across the world to communicate and see each other. The video conferencing giant has done its best to keep up with the times and its competitors, but peaked in 2014 after securing about 40 percent of the International call market.

The company was one of the first to offer Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services. And its low-cost model made it popular for computer users but it struggled to transition to a more smartphone-based market that prioritized mobile capabilities over anything else. And privacy has become a major concern for many mobile users, and other platforms have been able to gain the upper hand by encrypting all communication and providing other more potent security features.

Positioning itself as an internet calling service through computers after Microsoft's 2011 acquisition of the company, it eventually moved toward targeting businesses and corporations instead of consumers. Despite a redesign released last year, Skype has been unable to re-secure the hold it had on the industry and has ceded ground to companies that are better tuned in to the needs of modern app users.

Although Skype is still popular across the world, a number of apps have emerged from the fray and now dominate the chat and video call sphere. Here are the best alternatives to Skype.

1. WhatsApp

Image: WhatsApp

Of the most prominent alternatives to Skype, WhatsApp (iOS and Android and WhatsApp or PC) is one of the most popular, expanding rapidly across the globe primarily for its encrypted texting service. It now serves 30 billion text, voice, and video messages per day and continue to make additions, including the ability to send files within chats. The smartphone app, which is available on almost every platform except Linux, recently integrated a video calling feature to keep it up to speed with its competitors.

Some of the downsides to WhatsApp are the inability to call non-WhatsApp users and a lack of robust group calling options. Only 10 people are allowed into one chat, and you are limited in the number of messages you can send to non-WhatsApp users.

The messaging service was bought by Facebook in 2014 and now services nearly 1.5 billion users in India, Europe, Brazil, and dozens of other countries. The ease of use and phone number-linked accounts have made it a hit in app stores, and the addition as well as expansion of video offerings make it a worthy choice for those seeking Skype alternatives.

2. Signal

Image: Signal

Signal (iOS and Android) quickly became the darling of security experts thanks in no small part to its use of the Signal Protocol, a security feature now used by their rivals WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype, and Google Allo to provide end-to-end encryption.

Signal is the brainchild of security researcher Moxie Marlinspike and roboticist Stuart Anderson, who combined the RedPhone encrypted voice calling app and the TextSecure encrypted texting program in 2014. The service allows users to make video and voice calls on both iOS and Android, and was one of the first to give users encrypted voice calls for free.

Everything on the Signal app is done over Wi-Fi or data connection and it also has a desktop app. Another plus, it allows users to set time limits on messages that will erase them from both the sender's and the receiver's devices.

Run by Open Whisper Systems, Signal is now a favorite of both former NSA employee Edward Snowden and the US Government. The app was approved for use by Senators and their staff members by the US Senate Sergeant of Arms. The Democratic National Committee began using the app during the 2016 election cycle after its very public email leak.

Signal has been criticized for many of the same things WhatsApp has had to deal with, namely the use of a phone number to sign up for the service. Despite all of the app's security bonafides, experts have pointed to this as one potential flaw that can be exploited by those looking to break into systems.

3. Viber

Image: Viber

The free messaging app was created in 2010 and now boasts of more than 800 million users. Viber (iOS and Android) is available for iOS, Android, and Windows Phones, giving users access to messaging, video, and file exchanging capabilities on top of the ability to make calls to landlines for a small fee.

The app is also available for desktops and has a well-regarded group calling feature in addition to end-to-end encryption. The app features a number of offerings, including a long list of games that can be played between contacts and an overflowing library of stickers and emojis.

Using Viber, you can send documents, video and audio messages as well as images and gifs. You can also create or join chat rooms tapped in to your favorite bands or businesses.

4. Google Hangouts

Image: Google

Google's Hangout video chat app (iOS and Android) is just as good as the rest, giving users a service integrated into Gmail and other Alphabet apps that are already heavily intertwined in people's lives. It is available as an app, for iOS and Android, or as a web application accessible through any Google website.

The app is a 2013 amalgamation of three former Google projects: Google Talk, Google Plus Messenger and the Hangouts feature of Google plus. The combined service offers users chats with up to 100 people, video calls with up to 25 participants. Users can do text, voice or video chats, send documents, text messages, gifs and more using the app.

Google Hangout has been hailed as one of the more reliable video call services and is used widely among businesses for conferences. The ability to share screens with a caller is also crucial for many companies.

The app has been criticized for it's chat feature, which opens new dialog boxes for every chat and can become cumbersome for your screen. But its integration with Gmail makes it a crucial addition to their suite of offerings, and its above-standard video calls make it the cream of the crop.

5. FaceTime

Image: Apple

Originally attached to the release of the iPhone 4 in 2010, FaceTime (iOS) and its audio-only component are Apple's main video-messaging platform, allowing users to video chat or call other iOS users easily.

Previously, only allow two people to call one another at a time, but in June Apple announced that up to 32 people would be able to take part in a group call. The service is end-to-end encrypted and Apple doesn't record any of the calls, making it a secure option for any Apple users.

The downsides to the service are fairly obvious: it is only available for Apple users with devices containing front-facing cameras.

6. Facebook Messenger

Image: Facebook

Facebook's Messenger app (iOS and Android) is used widely due to its obvious association with the massive social media platform and the simple interface. Users of the app, which is available for iOS and Android, will be able to send text and voice messages on top of a video chat feature.

After splitting from the main Facebook app in 2014, Messenger is now used by over 1.2 billion people to send images, videos, emojis and much more on a daily basis. The app has been criticized because there is no way to "turn it off" or log out, and with recent news about Facebook's lackluster security and questionable business practices, some have wondered whether chats have been compromised throughout the company's myriad scandals over the last few years.

That being said, its proximity to Facebook makes it ideal for those trying to connect with people who also have accounts on the social media site. While the video calls can be lackluster and the voice calls can sometimes drop out, the easy sign up and hassle free use make it a lower tier option for those looking for simple, close-to-home chat options.

7. Appear.In

(Credit: Appear.In)

Appear.In (iOS and Android) is lesser known than some of the flashier names on the list, but its functionality and easy interface make it a necessary addition to the list. Created in 2013, the app quickly became popular because you don't need to sign up for anything or download any software. All you do is go to the site and share the video link with the person you'd like to connect with.

You can hold video and voice calls with up to 8 people and the app features a variety of security measures to keep users safe. You can bump it up to 12 people if you're willing to pay $12 per month for their services. There is an app for iOS and Android in addition to a web offering. It features Snapchat-like filters and backgrounds in addition to high-quality video and sound.

*this article was featured on Download.com on October 9, 2018: https://download.cnet.com/blog/download-blog/best-skype-alternatives-for-video-and-voice-calls/

Facebook caught testing Instagram user location history →

Instagram's founders resigned last week reportedly over efforts by Facebook to gather more user information from the popular app for targeted ads.

Facebook's rough week started with news of a potential data breach exposing nearly 50 million users and is ending with further controversy, now that eagle-eyed tech researcher Jane Manchun Wong discovered testing for a feature that would give location data from Instagram -- even if the app was closed -- to Facebook.

Facebook was forced to release a statement to TechCrunch about the feature, and Wong said it was later shut down. But the move comes on the heels of a major change in management at Instagram. The company's founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, quit last week amid rumors that they, like recently-resigned WhatsApp founder Jan Koum, were having increased concerns about Facebook's stance on data, privacy, and information collection practices.

Facebook announced recently that former News Feed VP Adam Mosseri would run Instagram, with the primary goal being closer ties between the two apps. Instagram continues to be one of Facebook's best purchases and has helped the company's popularity stay afloat amid a seemingly never-ending stream of bad news.

But the company was recently fined $122 million by the EU for siphoning data from WhatsApp. Facebook has been able to use its other, more successful apps to push people back into the Facebook orbit with constant ads and attempts to take you to the main Facebook app. With location data from Instagram, Facebook would be able to target ads based on where you are and note what stores you go to.

"To confirm, we haven't introduced updates to our location settings. As you know, we often work on ideas that may evolve over time or ultimately not be tested or released," a Facebook spokesperson told TechCrunch.

"Instagram does not currently store Location History; we'll keep people updated with any changes to our location settings in the future," it added, implying that there were plans for the feature to appear in both Instagram and Facebook Messenger. The feature may also be tied to other efforts on Facebook to tie events to locations and create "find friends nearby" capabilities.

Users could find the information stored in Facebook Profile's Activity Log, even containing maps of where you went with the time and date. When you go to the page, a Learn More tab leads you to an explanation from Facebook where it openly admits to tracking your location even when the app is not in use.

"When Location History is on, Facebook will periodically add your current precise location to your Location History even if you leave the app. You can turn off Location History at any time in your Location Settings on the app," it writes.

"Facebook may still receive your most recent precise location so that you can, for example, post content that's tagged with your location. Location History helps you explore what's around you, get more relevant ads, and helps improve Facebook."

Google employs many of the same tracking tactics as Facebook and has been similarly criticized for the data it stores on your location history even when you aren't using its apps. It faced a heavy amount of criticism and blowback from users in August when the AP confirmed that Google could and did track people even when they turned the Location History feature off.

Location data is a particularly thorny issue, especially after a Facebook employee was arrested in May after stalking a woman online using his position as an engineer to track certain data about her. Facebook chief security officer Alex Stamos was forced to apologize in a statement at the time, writing that it was "important that people's information is kept secure and private when they use Facebook."

"It's why we have strict policy controls and technical restrictions so employees only access the data they need to do their jobs - for example to fix bugs, manage customer support issues or respond to valid legal requests," he added.

"Employees who abuse these controls will be fired."

*this story was featured on Download.com on October 5, 2018: https://download.cnet.com/blog/download-blog/facebook-caught-testing-instagram-user-location-history/

Google Images finally adds photo credit to its listings and metadata →

A deal signed with Getty forced Google to make a number of changes to how people search and access photos through the site.

Google has finally acquiesced to demands from photographers and content creators across the world by adding important metadata to every photo found in its search engine. The move culminates a year of massive changes to Google's image search after Getty Images filed a 2016 antitrust lawsuit against them in the EU.

Getty eventually withdrew the lawsuit in February after agreeing to a partnership with Google that included many of the changes announced today. Getty Images is one of many news or content organizations who have long charged that Google effectively aids digital piracy by making it easy for users to take images without knowing anything about who took or made the image and who owns the rights.

In their 2016 lawsuit, Getty claimed Google's practices "promoted piracy, resulting in widespread copyright infringement, turning users into accidental pirates," and said Google's "view image" function -- which allowed you to view an image without going to its original location -- was a specific effort by the company to "reinforce its role as the Internet's dominant search engine, maintaining monopoly over site traffic, engagement data and advertising spend."

"Artists need to earn a living in order to sustain creativity and licensing is paramount to this; however, this cannot happen if Google is siphoning traffic and creating an environment where it can claim the profits from individuals' creations as its own," Getty Images lawyer Yoko Miyashita said.

In a blog post yesterday, Google Product Manager Ashutosh Agarwal said they were working with the Center of the Picture Industry (CEPIC) and International Press Telecommunications Council (IPTC) to set up better rules for attribution and create clearer guidelines that kept things easy for users while protecting the rights of the content owners.

"As part of a collaboration between Google, photo industry consortium CEPIC, and IPTC, the global technical standards body for the news media, you can now access rights-related image metadata in Google Images," he wrote.

"It's traditionally been difficult to know the creator of images on the web, as well as who might own the rights. This information is often part of image metadata, and is key to protecting image copyright and licensing information. Starting today, we've added Creator and Credit metadata whenever present to images on Google Images."

Google removed the "view image" button in February as part of the deal to end the Getty lawsuit, forcing many users to go through the host website to find the image. While there is still a way around this, a number of Google users complained that photos were often difficult to find within websites and some outlets had protected their images so they could not be downloaded at all. Google also made significant changes to the search by image function to reflect their commitment to protecting creators' rights.

Getty and Google agreed to a years-long partnership in February that will see them license their work to Google and assist in improving the search engine's capabilities regarding images.

"We will license our market leading content to Google, working closely with them to improve attribution of our contributors' work and thereby growing the ecosystem," said Getty Images CEO Dawn Airey said in a statement earlier this year.

Agarwal said Google will also be rolling out a Copyright Notice feature in the coming months as well, which will attach legal information to other metadata that comes with photos.

Google has made a concerted effort this year to work with news outlets and photo websites to assuage complaints that the search giant was purposefully robbing hundreds of websites of ad revenue by allowing users to effectively bypass these websites for their content. Last year, Google was fined 2.42 billion Euros by the EU for distorting their search results in order to push users to their own services, specifically for shopping, as opposed to others. Google was forced to make changes to their algorithm due to the fine, and it brought a greater spotlight on the search engine's practices.

But image creators are rejoicing at Google's decision, hopeful that the changes will bring better photo attribution and revenue to those creating the content itself.

"Employing IPTC metadata standards in Google Images results will help ensure proper attribution of credit and support photographers' copyright, while also boosting the discoverability of content and creators," said Andrew Fingerman, CEO of PhotoShelter.

"This is a win for the professional photo community."

*this article was featured on Download.com on September 28, 2018: https://download.cnet.com/blog/download-blog/google-images-finally-adds-photo-credit-to-its-listings-and-metadata/

Google rebrands Tez as Google Pay with big plans for Asian expansion →

Google is looking to take some of Tez's India-specific payment features worldwide and expand into consumer transactions.

Google announced this week that it was unifying all of its digital payment options, including India's widely used Tez service, under one banner: Google Pay.

Google Pay already operates in 20 countries outside of India, but Google hopes to use the massively popular features of Tez for Google Pay services across the world as it expands deeper into Asia.

"We have learnt that when we build for India, we build for the world, and we believe that many of the innovations and features we have pioneered with Tez will work globally," said Caesar Sengupta, Google's general manager for Payments and the Next Billion Users Initiative.

"When we build for India and next billion user markets, we are building for everyone."

In a blog post announcing the move, Sengupta touted Tez's eye-popping usage numbers and said the service, built specifically for India, was a model that Google could use to provide similar services to Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. Over the last 3 to 5 years, the emergence of relatively cheap Android smartphones has allowed more people in more countries to gain access to mobile devices, allowing apps to slowly take over the market as they have in countries like the U.S. or China.

In only one year of operation, Tez is now used by 22 million businesses and people per month in over 300,000 suburbs, towns, and villages, according to Google. People use Tez for a variety of financial transactions, including splitting bills over dinner and paying for bus tickets.

Sengupta said Tez has handled more than 750 million transactions worth $30 billion dollars -- 200 thousand crore rupees -- annually. He attributed the name change, surprisingly, to Tez's success, writing that other governments have approached Google about creating digital payment transaction platforms for their countries.

Tez was built specifically for India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payment system, allowing users to connect their Tez account to their bank accounts and transfer money between India's largest banks. India is still primarily a cash-based economy, but the adoption of Tez and other apps has increased rapidly. Google says India's monthly UPI transactions have grown to 14 times what they were since Tez started operating last September.

"This change is not just an indication of user traction in India, it also paves the way for you to use Google Pay in more places on the web, apps, in stores and across Google products, so that payments can be seamless in everything you do," Sengupta said.

"India is now one of the world leaders in digital payments innovation, and we're even more motivated to continue our efforts to support India's digital transformation."

Google told the Economic Times in India this week that the change was made because Google is consolidating its payment apps and "would want to use a global name to avoid confusion." It notes that in January this year, Google combined Google Wallet and Android Pay into Google Pay.

It's already been slowly changing the in-app branding to Google Pay, but with the other changes, Tez users will have access to an expanded panoply of payment options. Sengupta said the number of places that will accept Google Pay is expanding greatly, both "online on apps and website, as well as in branded retail stores." Google Pay will either be heavily integrated into or partnered with a bunch of new outlets and apps, including BookMyshow, Big Bazaar, e-Zone, and FBB.

With the update, Google is expanding services for merchants too, giving you more options for receiving payments, integrating your business into Google Search and Maps, and interacting with customers. Right now, these features are only available in Bangalore and Delhi but will be rolled out to a larger audience soon.

To add on to the new features, Google is getting deeper into the loan business, creating an avenue for users to take out pre-approved loans faster than the normal process. Partnering with HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Federal Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank, Google is aiming to simplify the loan process and give more Indians access to country's financial system.

In India, Google Pay is battling Paytm and PhonePe for control of the market, and their expanded offerings may give them a leg up on the competition. The Economic Times said India was "one of the largest markets in terms of app downloads for Google, primarily due to the dominance of Android smartphones in India and the falling mobile Internet tariffs."

*this article was featured on Download.com on August 29, 2018: https://download.cnet.com/blog/download-blog/google-rebrands-tez-as-google-pay-with-big-plans-for-asian-expansion/

How Google's Project Navlekha newspaper publishing tools bring print content online in India →

Print-only publications can now use Google's publishing platform to quickly create websites and upload content without the help of coders or digital designers.

While many countries have seen print newspapers evaporate as everything moves online, India's papers have held on strong, continuing to serve local communities in local languages. Many of these do not have the staff or funding to manage a corresponding website or online version of their newspaper, so people are forced to get a print copy.

Google has decided to jump in an help these newspapers with Navlekhā, an initiative designed to bring local newspapers in to 2018.

"Navlekhā, a Google initiative, helps you easily make offline content fully editable and publish online without expert digital knowledge," Google says in their announcement. The platform is available soon for Hindi publications and plans to expand to more languages later this year.

With Navlekhā, users fill out an application and then wait for a response from the Google team, which will help you create and maintain a website specifically for your publication.

Once you have your website, you will be able to use Google's platform to upload PDFs of the print version of your newspaper, which will take it from there and manage most of the process. Navlekhā will scan each page, upload each story, and allow you to edit or curate stories easily Google said.

Google succinctly boils down the service to three things: Gaining access to a currently untapped online reader market, free services, and domain names for the first three years, and Google's AdSense program, which allows you to "tap into the largest network of online advertisers who are bidding for your ad space."

"Your audience is already searching for content online. Don't miss out on readership and increase awareness of your publication by growing your online presence," the company wrote.

"We will help you get your content online for free. We will not charge for our publication tools and the domain name for the first three years. All you need to get started is your content and a commitment to bring your publication online."

India's Business Today said the project was announced at Google's fourth 'Google for India' event, where Google's vice president of search engineering Shashidhar Thakur said 90 percent of the 150 government-registered newspapers did not have a website.

"50 percent more Indians are using mobile search daily. But most of the documents available on the web today are in English and a very few in Indian languages," she said during the event, according to Business Today. "For search to be truly helpful, it should bring you useful content, in all the languages you understand."

There are a variety of reasons why so few publications are online, but most were related to the costs of starting and managing a website, as well as the difficulty in copying text written or typed in non-Unicode Indian language fonts from PDFs to web pages.

Navlekhā, which means "a new way to write" in Sanskrit, uses AI to get around this, allowing all PDFs written in Indian languages to be transformed into editable text documents.

*this article was featured on Download.com on August 29, 2018: https://download.cnet.com/blog/download-blog/how-googles-project-navlekha-newspaper-publishing-tools-bring-print-content-online-in-india/

Google launches 'Tell me something good' to change the direction of news →

Google Assistant users will get a list of positive stories about people and groups making a difference.

If you've ever felt worn out by the daily stream of bad news and alarmingly red "Breaking News" chyrons, Google is right along with you. To alleviate the stress of tough news days, Google has created the "Tell Me Something Good" feature for Google Assistant, which allows you to call out to the smart device for some good news.

When you say to Google Assistant, "Hey Google, tell me something good," it will automatically give you a news summary featuring what Google calls "Solutions journalism." The stories are curated by the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization working with journalists to highlight "how problems are solvable and that doing better is possible."

"These days we're consuming more news than ever, and sometimes, it can feel like there are only problems out there. But the fact is, there is a plethora of 'good news' happening, and we're not talking about unlikely animal friendships or random acts of kindness," Google Creative Producer Ryan Burke wrote in a blog post announcing the new feature.

"Real people are making progress solving real issues--and hearing about those stories is a crucial part of a balanced media diet."

Google made a point of saying that the news stories found with this feature won't just be about fun topics or celebrity news. In his blog post, Burke cites positive, but substantive, stories like beekeepers in Detroit reviving the industry there and a university in Georgia using data to help African-American students graduate.

In their own post on Medium about the partnership with Google, Solutions Journalism Network said they work each day to spotlight positive efforts by people across the world to make a difference.

"'Tell me something good' is an experiment meant to get these stories into your hands. We hope it's an easy way for you to get a daily dose of news that doesn't just shed light on problems, but offers stories of how they were confronted, and what lessons were learned," they wrote.

The feature is only available in the US but is accessible on any Assistant-enabled device such as your smartphone or Smart Display.

"Solutions journalism empowers and energizes audiences, helping to combat negative news fatigue. It's an important part of a balanced news diet, so we're exploring how to incorporate more solutions journalism wherever you access Google News," Burke wrote.

"'Tell me something good' isn't meant to be a magic solution. But it's an experiment worth trying because it's good info about good work that may bring some good to your day."

*this article was featured on Download.com on August 22, 2018: https://download.cnet.com/blog/download-blog/google-launches-tell-me-something-good-to-change-the-direction-of-news/

How Android 9's Digital Wellbeing tool helps control your app time →

Android 9 Pie's dashboard gives you a detailed breakdown of how long you use your favorite apps and allows you to set time limits.

If you've ever wondered what it would take to use your smartphone less, Google might have the answer. This week, Google unveiled a beta of it highly publicized Digital Wellbeing tool in Android 9, which will help users better manage their time on smartphones.

Many of us have been in the position of realizing we spend way too much time entranced by screens, both large and miniature. In recent years, more and more tech companies are coming to the same realization, putting them in the awkward position of pushing the usage of their products while acknowledging the need for some time away from them.

Android 9's Digital Wellbeing tool addresses many of the concerns voiced by their users, doctors, and social scientists, who have all questioned the immediate and long-term effects of intense and extended smartphone usage.

The app is available this week with Android 9 on Google's Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL devices..

When you open the dashboard (which you access by opening Settings and then scrolling down to Digital Wellbeing), you will see statistics on smartphone usage, including how much time you spent on your phone, a daily graphic on how much you use certain apps, and figures on how many times you unlocked your phone and number of notifications received.

The dashboard is only one part of Google's plan to help their users. It included a timer you can set for apps and a Do Not Disturb feature that hides your visual and auditory notifications. The Wind Down tool allows you to activate the Do Not Disturb feature before you go to bed every night, disconnecting you from your smartphone so you can get a good night's sleep.

"We all love our phones -- the cameras capture the memories we make, they find us the best route to work each day, and they answer the questions we have throughout the day," said Google's Director of Product Management Sabrina Ellis.

"But many of us can probably use a little bit of help disconnecting from our devices from time to time so we can focus on the other things in our lives."

Google has made time management a hallmark of their messaging over the last few years, and the release of their 'Wellbeing' app is another step toward helping their users prioritize tasks and live healthy lives beyond their smartphones. They announced the features at I/O in May, and much of what is found in the current beta version of the Digital Wellbeing features are amalgamations of features already available on most Android phones.

Users have long been able to gray their screen or turn on Do Not Disturb settings, but the new features bring all of these acts into one central screen and makes it easier to turn on settings that limit smartphone usage.

Google's Digital Wellbeing efforts also extend to parents, who can set limits on Android devices for their children as they ease into greater device usage. You can even schedule internet "breaks" for kids and block inappropriate content.

On their Digital Wellbeing webpage, Google says they're "dedicated to building technology that is truly helpful for everyone."

"We're creating tools and features that help people better understand their tech usage, focus on what matters most, disconnect when needed, and create healthy habits for the whole family. We're committed to giving everyone the tools they need to develop their own sense of digital wellbeing. So that life, not the technology in it, stays front and center."

Apple, Facebook and Instagram are all working on similar features that give users a concrete breakdown of how and how often they use apps, allowing people to make their own decisions on how they need to adjust their smartphone usage.

The Center for Human Technology says that while the amount of time spent on smartphones is a concern, it's how that time is being spent that underpins the negative feelings people may have after using these websites.

"Snapchat turns conversations into streaks, redefining how our children measure friendship. Instagram glorifies the picture-perfect life, eroding our self worth. Facebook segregates us into echo chambers, fragmenting our communities. YouTube autoplays the next video within seconds, even if it eats into our sleep," the center wrote.

You can sign up to be a beta tester of the features through the sign up page in the Google Play Store.

*this article was featured on Download.com on August 10, 2018: https://download.cnet.com/blog/download-blog/how-android-9s-digital-wellbeing-tool-helps-control-your-app-time/

Google Maps app now lets you share battery status along with your location →

Google Maps will now let others know how long till your battery's dead.

Sharing locations within Google Maps has become a popular way to locate a friend in a new place or guide someone to a hard-to-find destination.

But the feature was not without flaws. Some users complained that if their phone died after sharing a location, the marker representing them either twirled or did nothing, confusing those looking for them after arriving. It was often difficult to know whether someone's smartphone had died -- or if something worse had happened.

Now, when you share your location with someone, they will also see how much battery life your phone has left so that they can plan accordingly.

The feature was first noted by Android Police in February, after it found lines of code referencing battery life and whether a smartphone was charging in conjunction with the location sharing feature.

Google appears to be rolling out feature to a larger audience now, that more users are noticing the battery life indicator text when they share their location.

Google added the ability to share your location in 2017 to compete with other social media services that were including location-sharing into their apps.

Using the location sharing tool, users can share a destination with a friend or get directions to their location or a mutual meeting spot.

The tool is not without its detractors, who point to obvious concerns of stalking and robbery that come with an idea like this. But last year Google addressed the concerns, telling TechCrunch, "This is about making things simple, accessible and giving people that access to transparency...Anyone with bad intentions can find many other apps and means out there. We are focused on adding on that layer of convenience."

Google has also included a notification system that lets you know you have the feature on in case you would like to turn it off.

*This article was featured on Download.com on August 3, 2018: https://download.cnet.com/blog/download-blog/google-maps-app-now-lets-you-share-battery-status-along-with-your-location/

Microsoft trumps Google, Dropbox in business cloud storage wars →

A Spiceworks survey highlighted the overwhelming demand for better cloud security, and showed that most companies were turning to the tried and true option of Microsoft.

As more information moves online, a significant number of companies have moved their data storage to the web as well, opting for cloud storage and data management services like DropBox and Google Drive. But with news of hacks and digital break-ins hitting headlines each day, companies are not just choosing the cheaper option, but the option that they believe will keep them, and their information, the safest.

Digital IT platform Spiceworks conducted a survey published Monday on cloud storage services, speaking to 544 business technology professionals across North America and Europe on a wide variety of topics related to cloud-based data management. Of those surveyed, 80% said their companies were using some form of cloud storage system, while another 16% said their companies would do so within the next two years. Comparatively, in 2016, only 53% of organizations were using cloud services.

But a number of companies have already been burned by poor cloud security, with 16% of respondents saying their businesses' cloud service had been hit by security incidents, generally involving "unauthorized access, stolen credentials, or data theft," in the last 12 months.

"It's evident organizations are putting more trust into cloud storage services, but some are still hesitant despite the recent growth in adoption," Peter Tsai, a senior technology analyst at Spiceworks, said in a press release. "Although cloud storage services often include features that help secure sensitive corporate information, there will always be risks involved when entrusting your data to a third party."

And one in four businesses agree. The survey found that 97% of businesses believe security is the most important factor in choosing a cloud service, and 25% of companies did not believe there was anything they could do to truly secure their cloud data.

That is where Microsoft OneDrive has an edge, according to IT professionals. Even though Dropbox was ahead of OneDrive in 2016 according to usage rates, revelations that year about a 2012 hack prompted many businesses to move over to the Microsoft service. Nearly 69 million Dropbox accounts were compromised by the hack in 2012, with passwords and login information showing up on hacker websites. Dropbox says that technically, the login information was encrypted, making it harder to use, and claims that once they discovered the hack, they forced all of their users to immediately change all passwords, rendering the stolen ones useless.

In this year's survey, 51% of organizations reported using OneDrive, up from 31% in 2016. Dropbox is now tied with Google Drive at 34% each, up only one percentage point compared to 2016, when it led the field. Another 10% of organizations said they would either be switching over to or starting to use OneDrive within the next two years.

OneDrive was particularly popular with larger companies, being used in businesses with over 1,000 employees 59% of the time. It also led the way at 54% among medium-sized businesses with under 1,000 employees.

Much of this adoption is due to how OneDrive is viewed amongst IT professionals. Tsai said in the release that 39% of IT workers identified OneDrive with security. But businesses also value ease of use, and despite high rankings for Dropbox in that category, many companies were already using other Windows services, which made OneDrive a more seamless fit.

"What can explain this shift, especially OneDrive's rise to the top (which is expected to continue over the next two years)? If you follow the dollars, the answer is clear. According to a separate Spiceworks data snapshot on productivity suites, more than 50 percent of organizations already pay for Office 365, and an additional 17 percent of organizations plan to within the next two years," Tsai wrote.

"Because 1TB of OneDrive storage is included per user with each Office 365 subscription, it makes sense that OneDrive usage tracks very closely with Office 365 adoption. As organizations want to do more with less, it makes financial sense for companies to go with OneDrive if they're already paying for Office 365."

Tsai said that as "bundling" becomes more common, OneDrive and Google's G Suite will be easier options for businesses, and standalone cloud storage systems like Dropbox may struggle to innovate and differentiate themselves.

*this article was featured on Tech Republic on May 21, 2018: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/microsoft-onedrive-most-used-cloud-storage-service-for-businesses-report/

Google's AI pact with Pentagon sparks resignations, highlighting leadership disconnect →

Nearly a dozen employees have quit to protest the tech giant's work for the Defense Department's 'Project Maven,' where AI is used to analyze drone footage.

Since its inception, Google has promoted an employee-inclusive decision making process and popularized their internal motto of "don't be evil." But Monday, about a dozen Google employees resigned in protest of Google's involvement in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) software for a Defense Department drone program called Project Maven.

The employees told Gizmodo that since news of Google's involvement broke earlier this year, senior management has been less than forthcoming with the decision-making process on the issue and believed it had been addressed sufficiently through their statement and a few employee listening sessions.

More than 4,000 employees of the company signed a letter last monthcondemning Google's work with Project Maven and demanding more accountability with how the company deploys its products.

"Google is implementing Project Maven, a customized AI surveillance engine that uses 'Wide Area Motion Imagery' data captured by US Government drones to detect vehicles and other objects, track their motions, and provide results to the Department of Defense," the employees wrote in the letter. "We cannot outsource the moral responsibility of our technologies to third parties. Building this technology to assist the US Government in military surveillance - and potentially lethal outcomes - is not acceptable."

The issue has only gained more steam as technology scholars, academics, and researchers chimed in on the larger implications of AI being weaponized by the US military. A petition signed by 90 academics calls for major technology companies to sign onto an international treaty that would ban autonomous weapons systems.

"With Project Maven, Google becomes implicated in the questionable practice of targeted killings. These include so-called signature strikes and pattern-of-life strikes that target people based not on known activities but on probabilities drawn from long range surveillance footage. The legality of these operations has come into question under international and U.S. law," the academics wrote in the petition. "These operations also have raised significant questions of racial and gender bias (most notoriously, the blanket categorization of adult males as militants) in target identification and strike analysis. These problems cannot be reduced to the accuracy of image analysis algorithms, but can only be addressed through greater accountability to international institutions and deeper understanding of geopolitical situations on the ground."

Google has defended their involvement in the program, saying their technology will handle tedious tasks that waste soldiers' time, while also making drone surveillance more accurate.

"An important part of our culture is having employees who are actively engaged in the work that we do. We know that there are many open questions involved in the use of new technologies, so these conversations—with employees and outside experts—are hugely important and beneficial," a Google spokesperson said in a statement after news of Project Maven became publicized last month.

The spokesperson added in the statement that their work was "intended to save lives" and that they were working on internal policies to govern complicated decisions involving AI technology and defense contracts.

Both the Defense Department and Google have adamantly denied that AI will be used in combat situations, but Marine Corps Col. Drew Cukor was quick to add the phrase "any time soon," during a defense-tech conference speech last year.

Google's response to the situation was not enough, according to the former employees who spoke to Gizmodo, who said in the interview that "the strongest possible statement [they] could take against this was to leave."

In addition to the letter released by nearly 4,000 employees and the petition signed by academics, the Tech Workers Coalition created their own petition criticizing Google not just for Project Maven but for doubling down on the controversy by bidding heavily on a contract to work on the Pentagon's JEDI program, an effort by the military to integrate cloud computing into their work.

Google is in competition with Microsoft and other tech giants for a number of Defense Department contracts, and US military officials have repeatedly said publicly that they are in an "AI arms race" with the rest of the world. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Defense Department spent $7.4 billion on technology involving AI last year alone.

But industry stakeholders are already ramping up calls for tech companies to be more transparent about their military work and at least have policies in place to adjudicate decisions of this magnitude.

"According to Defense One, the DoD already plans to install image analysis technologies on-board the drones themselves, including armed drones. We are then just a short step away from authorizing autonomous drones to kill automatically, without human supervision or meaningful human control," the International Committee for Robot Arms Control wrote in their open letter to Google's leaders.

For other tech leaders, the resignations sparked by Google's work with Project Maven is a warning sign of the potential unrest that can come from such a huge disconnect between employees and leadership. Company leaders must work to be transparent about their goals with employees, so as to avoid the issues that come from holding opposing goals.

*this article was featured on the Tech Republic website on May 15, 2018: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/googles-ai-pact-with-pentagon-sparks-resignations-highlighting-leadership-disconnect/

You can catch a self-driving taxi in 2018, if you're traveling to Phoenix, AZ

The Alphabet subsidiary will begin operating a self-driving car service akin to Uber or Lyft by the end of the year, with no driver present.

The CEO of self-driving car company Waymo told attendees of the 2018 Google I/O conference Tuesday that their self-driving car service will begin operations by the end of the year in Phoenix, Arizona.

At the I/O developers conference, Google invited Waymo head John Krafcik onstage to make the big announcement. Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, and Krafcik said engineers at both companies were hard at work on the AI backing their self-driving cars.

People will be able to download a Waymo app and secure rides on autonomous vehicles through it, with no driver present, Krafcik said.

Waymo has been operating autonomous vehicles on the roads of Phoenix since October, and is one of the first companies to do so in the US. Originally, Waymo was a part of Google before it was spun off into its own company under the Alphabet umbrella. Despite the separation, members of Google's Brain team have helped Waymo engineers by beefing up the neural networks underpinning the AI operating the vehicles.

Waymo engineers have been testing the cars' autonomous driving skills but they have left an engineer in most vehicles as a safety precaution in the past. But in a speech last year, Krafcik said Waymo vehicles are designed and built for "full autonomy."

"Our combination of powerful sensors gives our vehicles a 360 degree view of the world. The lasers can see objects in three dimensions, up to 300 meters away. We also have short range lasers that stay focused close-up to the side of the vehicle. Our radars can see underneath and around vehicles, tracking moving objects usually hidden from the human eye," he told a conference in Madrid.

Waymo said their cars have driven more than 6 million miles on the road and 5 billion miles through simulations. Part of what helps the cars improve their driving is practice. The more time the vehicles spend outside learning and accumulating data on specific situations, the better equipped they'll be to handle tough problems in real time. Waymo believes their cars are ready for public use after hours of testing in Arizona as well as Michigan, Washington, Arizona, California and Georgia.

"People will get to use our fleet of on-demand vehicles, to do anything from commute to work, get home from a night out, or run errands," Krafcik said at the conference last year. For business travelers, the autonomous vehicles offer a unique way to get to a conference or meeting as well.

Waymo has also secured deals with Jaguar, Fiat-Chrysler, Lyft, and Avis to provide fleets of autonomous vehicles.

But the plan to fill the roads with driverless cars has had its fair share of speed bumps. Legislation, both locally and federally, has been slow to keep up with the rapid pace of advancement, and there have been a number of accidents involving autonomous vehicles.

One of Uber's autonomous vehicles struck and killed a Tempe, Arizona woman in March as she crossed the street and only a few weeks after that incident, a Tesla driver died while using their self-driving system "Autopilot."

*This article was featured on the Tech Republic website on May 9, 2018: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/business-travelers-self-driving-waymo-service-will-be-available-in-phoenix-in-2018/

Going green? Here are the easiest ways to recycle your old tech devices →

Apple, Amazon, and other tech companies offer a host of programs that will help give your device a second life.

We all have a shoebox stashed away somewhere full of fraying cords and ancient hardware from a different era. As tech companies pump out newer, sleeker, and faster devices on a year-to-year basis, it's only natural for certain devices to lose their luster or fall into disrepair.

By 2020, Greenpeace estimates there will be 6 billion smartphone users, each replacing their phones every two years, on average. The waste from smartphones, as well as obsolete desktops and laptops, is already straining the environment in a number of different ways.

E-waste is growing out of control, with the United Nations finding in 2014 that over 40 million metric tons of devices and parts found their way into landfills. They estimate a 21% increase in 2018. However, tech companies have started to step up to the challenge, expanding recycling programs and offering more refurbished devices for sale.

Amazon offers gift cards for any old devices that still work and provides clear directions for sending in any items that no longer function. They have an easy-to-follow portal that prints a UPS shipping label for you to quickly send your device back. Smartphones, tablets, Kindles, and games are accepted for return.

The company supports "the responsible disposal and recycling of electronics products" and has over 30,000 collection sites for rechargeable batteries, it says on its website. You can even recycle the boxes your Amazon purchase comes in. Amazon also allows you to donate any other non-electronic items you may have by putting them in your used boxes and printing a free UPS label from their Give Back Box program. Donations go to your local participating charity.

Similarly, Apple has a robust recycling effort, dangling the prospect of Apple Gift Cards for any prospective refurbishers.

"No matter the model or condition, we can turn it into something good for you and good for the planet. And through April 30, we'll make a donation to Conservation International for every device we receive — getting us even closer to leaving the world better than we found it," Apple wrote on its website.

After only a few questions, users can figure out how much their old device is worth, or if it's worth anything at all, and instantly get Apple Store credit or Apple Store Gift Cards. Apple claims to disassemble at least 200 iPhones an hour using Daisy, a robot designed specifically for the recycling process. They have been eager to take on the recycling challenge and continue to push for more and more ways to reuse minerals and parts in old devices.

In an April press release, CEO Tim Cook said that Apple would continue to push "the boundaries of what is possible with the materials in our products, the way we recycle them, our facilities and our work with suppliers to establish new creative and forward-looking sources of renewable energy because we know the future depends on it."

Apple has lead the way in publicly condemning the environmentally-costly lifecycle of most devices on the market, writing in their environmental responsibility report last year that they needed to move toward "a closed-loop supply chain, where products are built using only renewable resources or recycled material."

Google has its own recycling program, offering both mail-in services and collection sites. Both Google products and other electronics can get you something from the Google Store.

Sony established one of the first recycling programs for their televisions and electronics in 2007. In 2016, they collected 9,749 tons of used consumer electronics and aim to have a collection center within 20 miles of 95% of the homes in North America.

As of March last year, Sony cumulatively collected approximately 222,727 tons of electronic devices. You can also contact them online with any questions about how and where to recycle any old devices or electronics. Although they don't offer payment or credit for any non-Sony devices, they do recycle everything for free and have a special program for rechargeable batteries.

Samsung, now the world's largest smartphone producer, organizes a number of different recycling programs for their devices. They have collection sites across the US for devices, batteries, and printer toner, but do not offer mail-in services. Depending on the state, Samsung is required to recycle their devices at no cost to you. They do not say whether credit or gift cards are offered in exchange for old devices.

LG has programs similar to other tech giants, allowing mail-in recycling in the US at no cost. They also have drop-off sites where you can bring in anything from a TV to a smartphone. It is unclear from their website whether they offer any reward for products that still work.

There are also many charities and non-profit organizations collecting electronics and putting them to good use. Music & Memory collects old iPods and mp3 players and refurbishes them for use in nursing homes. Other organizations offer home pick-ups of old electronics and devices that you no longer need.

Before letting that shoebox overflow with old devices, cords, and batteries, check an organization's website to see if you can be rewarded for recycling.

*this article was featured on the Tech Republic website on April 20, 2018: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/going-green-here-are-the-easiest-ways-to-recycle-your-old-tech-devices/

The 5 greenest tech companies in 2018 →

Tech giants are rethinking their reliance on 19th-century energy sources and hazardous chemicals.

The environmental movement has shown no signs of slowing down nearly half way through 2018. In advance of Earth Day, Apple announced that it was going full clean energy, powering all of its offices, data centers, and stores with a variety of environmentally-friendly power sources. Apple also wrangled some of its suppliers into committing to 100% clean energy, too.

Apple and other tech companies have gone to great lengths to project an awareness of the environmental impact of their business models. Many now release yearly "Environmental Impact" reports and one-up each other with admirable strides toward cleaner technology use.

But the reality, as a number of environmental organizations continue to point out, is that most of these companies are reliant on a business model that requires consumers to buy new phones, laptops, and tablets frequently. And that creates a lot of waste.

The problem has little to do with how we use a device and more to do with how we acquire it and get rid of it. There are more than 65 million metric tons of e-waste worldwide now, yet 70-80% of the energy footprint of a device occurs during manufacturing, according to Greenpeace.

The manufacturing of these devices, which occurs mostly in China and Southeast Asia using products mined in dangerous conditions across the globe, requires extensive waste and coal burning. Some companies are beginning to address this, with new recycling programs and energy-conscious supply chains. Here are the five greenest tech giants, as ranked by Greenpeace.

1. Apple

When it comes to going green, Apple has had a very successful year so far, after facing heavy criticism last fall following allegations that it may have intentionally degraded the batteries in their phones. Apple has been more transparent than many companies about its supply chain and the need to make it more energy conscious. They have invested more in recycling programs that can harness some of the materials needed for devices outside of the mining process.

Their massive data centers are powered 100% by renewable energy, according to a press release. They have come out in support of the Paris Climate Agreement and have worked to root out child labor issues amongst larger efforts to move to a closed-loop supply chain.

2. HP

HP is one of the few companies striving to do the opposite of most other tech companies. Oversaturated markets have forced some companies to make products that degrade quickly. According to Greenpeace, the average smartphone lasts only two years now, forcing users to buy new models with increasing frequency. But HP, along with Dell and a few others have moved in the opposite direction, making products that do stand the test of time and are upgradeable.

HP set concrete goals on reducing emissions throughout their supply chain and actually publish a list of materials that they restrict during the manufacturing process. The company claims to have seen a 21% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity in its supply chain since 2010, and has been able to strong arm more than 90% of its suppliers into setting emissions targets.

In addition to their internal efforts, HP also backed the Paris Climate Agreement. According to their Sustainability report in 2016, HP has worked hard to bring their consumption down to 900,000 tons of materials used in 2016 for products and packaging and 119,900 tons of equipment collected for recycling.

3. Dell

Dell is one of the only major tech companies that openly provides a detailed and extensive list of suppliers in addition to what kind of services were rendered for each deal. Like HP, they are bucking the trend and making devices that are lasting longer and easily upgradeable. When it comes to their plastic use, its on a closed-loop, so anything used is recycled and reused. They claim to reuse more than one third of the plastic involved in their manufacturing process.

The firm heavily markets their refurbished devices and laptops, designing them specifically with repair in mind. Dell also sells spare parts widely, and releases extensive manuals on how to repair their laptops and tablets. Due to a reliance on cobalt, they have worked with authorities to clear their suppliers of child labor. Transparency has been one of Dell's major focuses, and they worked to identify, contain, and limit the use of dangerous chemicals necessary for their devices.

4. Microsoft

Although it has been on the receiving end of criticism for the short lifespan of its devices, Microsoft has been public about its support for green initiatives, backing the Paris Climate Agreement and the Clean Power Plan. The company also supported environmental efforts in Japan.

The repairability of their devices can range widely, but they have a robust offering of refurbished devices and do report some of the materials used in the manufacturing process. They have also been working to make their data centers more environmentally conscious as they expand across the globe, as noted in a blog post. The targets for emissions they have set are lower than those of Apple, but they are one of few companies to actually set any goal at all.

Many of the company's products and suppliers are listed in an effort to combat trafficking or child labor within their supply chain.

5. Lenovo

Lenovo has worked hard to surpass its Chinese peers by presenting clear plans demonstrating how it will cut its emissions, which are growing steadily each year. They provide a detailed snapshot of their greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint, according to a recent sustainability report.

Lenovo has also committed to ending its use of certain hazardous chemicals and recycles some of the plastic used in its manufacturing process, the report said. The company has worked to sell lines of refurbished devices and controls nearly 20% of the global laptop market.

As noted in the report, Lenovo made a commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions in their own operations by 40% before the year 2020. When it comes to their suppliers, they have forced most to set some emissions goals, but could do more.

*this article was featured on the Tech Republic website on April 20, 2018: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/the-5-greenest-tech-companies-in-2018/

Google's Dialogflow Enterprise helps businesses create AI-powered chatbots →

A beta version of the product was released in November, and thousands of developers currently use it to create AI-based conversational experiences.

Google's Dialogflow Enterprise Edition was officially released on Tuesday after months in beta, continuing the internet giant's foray into the ever-widening conversational interface field.

The move comes only a week after Google updated its Cloud Speech-to-Text technology, and introduced its Cloud Text-to-Speech software, to make it easier for businesses use.

According to a Google blog post, Dialogflow (which was named API.AI before it was bought by Google in 2016) is used by developers to "build voice- and text-based conversational experiences powered by machine learning and natural language understanding."

The tech is specifically designed for people without expertise in the field, so that companies can take advantage of it in a variety of ways. Dialogflow released a beta version of the software in November 2017, and said that companies are already using it to enhance their services.

"I remember how excited I was the first time I saw Dialogflow; my mind started racing with ideas about how Ticketmaster could benefit from a cloud-based natural language processing provider," Tariq El-Khatib, product manager at Ticketmaster, said in the post. "Now with the launch of Dialogflow Enterprise Edition, I can start turning those ideas into reality. With higher transaction quotas and support levels, we can integrate Dialogflow with our Customer Service IVR to increase our rate of caller intent recognition and improve customer experience."

Dialogflow also allows users to create services that work on a multitude of websites, apps and platforms, including Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Facebook Messenger.

According to Google, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Domino's, Ubisoft, and Best Buy are patrons of Dialogflow, and "hundreds of thousands" of developers are already using it to improve customer service and gaming experiences.

"Dialogflow made it easy to build a AI-powered conversational experience that delights consumers using the resources and skill sets we already have. We estimate that Dialogflow helped us get our conversational interface to market 12 months sooner than planned," Max Glaisher, product innovation manager at DPD, one of the UK's leading parcel delivery companies, said in the post.

Ubisoft said it was using Dialogflow in conjunction with its "Sam" personal gaming assistant program.

"The team needed tools that let them iterate quickly and make modifications immediately, and Dialogflow Enterprise Edition was the best choice for those needs," Thomas Belmont, a producer at Ubisoft, said in the post.

The enterprise edition of Dialogflow has additional features not seen in the beta version, including a total of 30 available languages and ways to integrate features of Google Assistant into your project. It also comes with support interfaces and Service Level Agreements.

Businesses are in a race to automate many of the services they offer, and Dialogflow's release will accelerate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in customer service and many other fields.

*this article was featured on the Tech Republic website on April 17, 2018: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/google-officially-unveils-chatbot-dialogflow-enterprise/

Google employees demand end to company's AI work with Defense Department →

More than 3,000 Google employees signed a letter criticizing the company for assisting with Project Maven, a Pentagon initiative involving AI and drone footage.

Google is facing heavy criticism from its own employees following revelations that the tech company is working with the Department of Defense on Project Maven, an effort to use artificial intelligence (AI) image recognition software to sort through drone and security footage.

"We cannot outsource the moral responsibility of our technologies to third parties," they wrote in a letter signed by 3,100 employees. "Building this technology to assist the US Government in military surveillance - and potentially lethal outcomes - is not acceptable."

Outrage has been growing within Google since the pact with the Pentagon was announced last year. The deal involves Google's TensorFlow software, which the letter says is being adapted into "a customized AI surveillance engine that uses 'Wide Area Motion Imagery' data captured by US Government drones to detect vehicles and other objects, track their motions, and provide results to the Department of Defense."

In a statement, Google said the project is for "non-offensive purposes" and was only intended "to save lives and save people from having to do highly tedious work."

"Any military use of machine learning naturally raises valid concerns," Google said in the statement. "We're actively engaged across the company in a comprehensive discussion of this important topic and also with outside experts, as we continue to develop our policies around the development and use of our machine learning technologies."

Both Google and the Pentagon have stressed that the technology is not ready to be used in combat situations, with Marine Corps Col. Drew Cukor telling the audience at the 2017 Defense One Tech Summit audience that "AI will not be selecting a target [in combat] ... any time soon. What AI will do is [complement] the human operator."

But Col. Cukor also said that he believes the Defense Department is "in an AI arms race," and acknowledged that "the big five Internet companies are pursuing this heavily."

Cukor later added: "Key elements have to be put together...and the only way to do that is with commercial partners alongside us."

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Defense Department spent $7.4 billion on technology involving AI last year, and Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are openly battling for a variety of defense contracts involving cloud computing and other software.

But the employee letter argues that Google is damaging its brand by working on Project Maven and contributing to "growing fears of biased and weaponized AI."

"The argument that other firms, like Microsoft and Amazon, are also participating doesn't make this any less risky for Google," the letter said. "Google's unique history, its motto Don't Be Evil, and its direct reach into the lives of billions of users set it apart."

Project Maven began in April last year, with the stated goal of utilizing machines to capitalize on the Defense Department's massive troves of data collected through drone footage and surveillance operations. AI is already used by other parts of the military, and since 2014 has been used widely in law enforcement.

The Justice Department now promotes the use of AI software to do "risk assessments" on how likely a person on trial is of committing a future crime. The scores are often handed to judges and affect sentencings in states across the country, having disastrous effects. Black defendants were 77% more likely to be pegged as "at higher risk of committing a future violent crime" and 45% were "more likely to be predicted to commit a future crime of any kind," according to ProPublica.

Google has tried to tamp down concerns about handing over vital AI recognition software to the Defense Department, with former Alphabet Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt admitting last year in an interview that "there's a general concern in the tech community of somehow the military-industrial complex using their stuff to kill people incorrectly, if you will."

But Schmidt went on to say in that interview that it was vital that he and other tech industry leaders stay in communication with the military "to keep the country safe."

Yet many of Google's employees disagreed, starting the letter off with: "We believe that Google should not be in the business of war."

*this article was featured on the Tech Republic site on April 5, 2018: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/google-employees-demand-end-to-companys-ai-work-with-defense-department/

Google's move to mobile-first indexing means solid mobile development is a necessity →

As mobile searches overshadow desktop searches, Google's indexing and ranking system will now rely on the mobile version of a company's website.

Google officially announced that it was migrating all websites to mobile-first indexing, meaning their indexing and ranking system will now use the mobile version of a website as opposed to the desktop version, the firm announced in a press release.

The move comes in response to the rise in Google searches on mobile devices, the release said. Mobile searches now far exceed desktop searches, and for more than a year Google has been experimenting with mobile-first indexing.

"To recap, our crawling, indexing, and ranking systems have typically used the desktop version of a page's content, which may cause issues for mobile searchers when that version is vastly different from the mobile version,"Google noted in the release. "Mobile-first indexing means that we'll use the mobile version of the page for indexing and ranking, to better help our - primarily mobile - users find what they're looking for."

Mobile-first indexing allows Google to provide people searching for things with websites that are specifically optimized for the platform they are searching on. Many website now have mobile-friendly, responsive versions of their website that are tailored for smartphones or tablets.

In its press release, Google said that while the change will not affect rankings, developers and businesses are encouraged to make their websites more mobile-friendly.

Companies in all industries should take this change seriously, as their ranking in the search engine could directly impact their business. Google also announced in 2016 that it was prioritizing sites built with the open source Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) in mobile search, so that may be a good place to start in developing a mobile strategy.

Google has already notified some businesses and websites of the changes through their Search Console, the release noted. Even though rankings will not be affected, since 2015 Google has included a website's mobile-friendliness into its index, and mobile-friendly websites do perform better in searches on mobile devices. Websites that load faster also do better in Google's rankings.

"Mobile-first indexing is about how we gather content, not about how content is ranked. Content gathered by mobile-first indexing has no ranking advantage over mobile content that's not yet gathered this way or desktop content," the released noted. "Moreover, if you only have desktop content, you will continue to be represented in our index."

*this article was featured on the Tech Republic website on March 27, 2018: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/googles-move-to-mobile-first-indexing-means-solid-mobile-development-is-a-necessity/