TNW 364: AI App Aims To Predict Your Death - Beauty Filters, Xreal One Smart Glasses, Venntel
Dec 5, 2024
auto_awesome
Scott Stein, a CNET journalist known for his insights on tech innovations, discusses the innovative Xreal One Smart Glasses, highlighting their augmented reality capabilities. Joseph Cox from 404Media delves into the FTC's crackdown on data companies like Venntel, addressing privacy concerns and the ethical implications of location data sales. The conversation also touches on TikTok's ban on beauty filters for teens, promoting healthier digital self-image, and a controversial AI app that predicts life expectancy, sparking debates on the morality of mortality forecasts.
TikTok's ban on beauty filters for teenagers aims to combat unrealistic beauty standards and enhance awareness of social media's impact on self-image.
The Death Clock app predicts mortality based on lifestyle choices, provoking both curiosity and concern about the psychological implications of confronting one's death.
The FTC's ban on Ventel highlights a stricter regulatory approach toward data privacy, particularly concerning the selling of sensitive location data without user consent.
Deep dives
Impact of TikTok's Beauty Filter Ban
TikTok has introduced a ban on beauty filters for users under the age of 18, aiming to address concerns about the impact of unrealistic beauty standards. This decision reflects a growing awareness of the influence social media platforms have on self-image, particularly among teenagers. With filters like Bold Glamour, which can enhance facial features in a convincing way, there are fears that young users may experience body dysmorphia when comparing their unfiltered appearance to the idealized versions created by these digital tools. The ban is seen as a proactive step by TikTok in response to ongoing scrutiny regarding the psychological effects of social media on youth, although it raises questions about how effectively age restrictions can be enforced.
Death Prediction App Raises Health Concerns
A new app called Death Clock claims to predict when users will die, generating both curiosity and concern. While the app also suggests healthy lifestyle changes to potentially extend life, it confronts users with a morbid reality that may lead to anxiety or distress. Predicated on actuarial data, it aims to provide individuals with insights into how various choices affect longevity, but its implications of mortality can be psychologically taxing. Critics argue that even if such apps push users towards healthier habits, the overall effect of confronting one’s mortality is a delicate issue that may do more harm than good for mental well-being.
Exploring Xreal One Glasses for AR Experiences
The Xreal One smart glasses represent a notable advancement in augmented reality functionality, allowing users to connect with various devices while providing a VR-like experience without complete immersion. These glasses utilize a new chip for improved tracking, offering a stable viewing experience for applications like gaming and video streaming. The device is highly portable and designed for casual use, blurring the lines between traditional display technology and immersive experiences. Compared to bulkier VR headsets, these glasses aim to provide a more comfortable and versatile solution for users looking for AR capabilities on the go.
FTC Bans Ventel from Selling Location Data
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken significant action against Ventel, a company deeply embedded in the location data industry, banning it from collecting and selling sensitive location data. This decision is particularly relevant as it addresses concerns about the misuse of such data by government agencies without warrants, especially for sensitive locations like healthcare facilities and places of worship. The demand for Ventel to delete historical data represents a rare and substantial step against a data broker, highlighting the FTC's rising vigilance in regulating data privacy practices. However, the allowance for national security and law enforcement exceptions could complicate regulatory goals, potentially undermining the effectiveness of the ban.
Increasing Focus on Data Privacy and User Consent
The actions taken against companies like Ventel and Mobile Walla underscore a growing concern over the lack of informed consent in the collection and use of consumer data. Many apps do not clearly inform users about the potential sale of their location data to third parties, allowing significant privacy violations to continue unchecked. There's a tendency for developers to overlook the implications of data sales, further obscuring the transparency needed to ensure users make informed choices. As regulatory bodies like the FTC tighten their oversight, there’s potential for broader changes in data collection practices that may lead to improved privacy protections for consumers.
Abrar Al-Heeti joins Mikah Sargent on Tech News Weekly this week! Abrar talks about TikTok blocking teenagers from using beauty filters on the platform. There's an AI app that can predict your death. A new competitor enters the mixed-realty headset market. And learn about the data company the FTC recently banned from selling sensitive location data.
Abrar Al-Heeti talks about TikTok's decision to block teenagers from using beauty filters on its platform and the broader message this decision sends about the digital influence on teens' beauty standards.
Mikah Sargent is fascinated by an AI app that predicts when you will die but is a little off-put by the steep price point of the application.
Scott Stein of CNET joins Mikah to talk about the Xreal One Smart Glasses, a new competitor in the mixed-reality headset market.
And Joseph Cox of 404Media stops by to talk about the FTC taking stronger action against data companies, such as Venntel, signifying the FTC's shift in the regulation of data companies.