The Generative Query Network can pick up basic info to create 3D spaces

Processing images and imagining scenes without given information is one of the most important characteristics of the human brain. However, this has always been incredibly hard for computers to reproduce, but researchers from Google’s project DeepMind have just changed that. By using a Generative Query Network, they managed to achieve better image processing for AI.

Computers had a hard time building 3D images from scratch

Humans are remarkable creatures because they can pick up information about the world just by taking one single look at it. For instance, if someone tells you to think of an object, you’ll start imagining all the other items associated with it. A computer usually has a hard time imagining a space if it doesn’t receive external information on it.

Therefore, Google researchers decided to teach an AI image processing and how to imagine 3D spaces. More precisely, the machine will receive a special training that helps it make inferences. The Generative Query Network was able to construct a 3D space after looking at two 2D images, just like the human brain. In other words, both the brain and the machine assume what information should come in missing spots.

The Generative Query Network can learn on its own from basic information

Here’s how the Generative Query Network functions. The first component transcribes the images into a code version and feeds them to the AI. Based on its previous training, the network generates all the missing information. Therefore, researchers proved it was possible to teach a machine about perspective, lighting, and other principles typical of 3D spaces.

The research is still in its prime, so there’s a long way until the Generative Query Network can work quickly. However, this is one of the biggest achievements in terms of machine learning. The research has many implications. From now on, researchers will be able to feed AIs brief data and watch them learn on their own.

The study on this remarkable mechanism was published in the journal Science.

Image source: Public Domain Pictures

The green label signaling HTTPS domains will soon be gone

For quite a long time, Google, together with other browsers, have been trying to promote HTTPS. They did it by displaying a special label in the address bar that regarded the website as secure. While this made about 82 percent of websites to use the more secure version, the platform has finally decided to ditch this label and replace it with something else.

Google abandoned the green secure label on HTTPS websites

Google has always been a fan of websites with HTTPS domains, as they perform a secure encrypting of the user data. To feel safe, the platform also displayed a secure label in the address bar, so it would be easier for you to identify the websites in question. This was also a way to discourage developers from using HTTP, and to convince people they aren’t such a good choice.

This strategy seems to have worked, as most websites have now adopted the HTTPS domain. As a result, Google has decided to no longer push that secure label and go for something subtler. This will happen with the update 69 for Google Chrome. Don’t worry, as HTTPS websites will remain secure, you’ll just no longer see the label on display.

Non-secure websites will feature a red warning label

This secure label was also accompanied by a lock logo. For the moment, the lock will stay there, as Google still wanted to signal HTTPS sites in a way. However, there are still domains that still use the old school HTTP. In this case, Google abandoned all subtlety.

These domains will be accompanied by a red label that reads “not secure”. In front of the words, you’ll also see an exclamation point, so that everyone should know your data might be leaked any time. This is an important step in the fight between HTTP and HTTPS, and the balance inclines to the latter. However, there are still unsecure websites around, so the battle isn’t won yet.

Image source: Wikipedia

The Gmail spam made it look like the receivers had sent the messages themselves

Many Gmail users have noticed a high amount of spam in their Inbox lately. While this sounds a bit odd, what is even stranger is the fact that this spam actually came from the users themselves. This happened even to those secure accounts that were hard to breach, so this weird Gmail spam took everyone by surprise.

Weird Gmail spam coming to double-encrypted accounts

Usually, Gmail users do not receive spam too often. This happens mostly because Google has a great mechanism of filtering spam from important messages. Therefore, it came as extremely odd for them to receive this weird Gmail spam. After they took a second look at the messages, they noticed they were even weirder than that.

The Gmail spam somehow managed to get through all of Google’s security measures, and looked as if the person who sent it was also the user himself. This became quite a common situation among Gmail users, who started complaining on forums about the odd spam.

Most of these messages have weight loss or supplements as topics. They appear directly in the Inbox and, in the sender field, there is the user’s profile photo and the word ‘Me’. Some people were curious enough to open this Gmail spam, and discovered the sender was actually someone else. However, their own email address was still written there.

The spam didn’t actually come from a security breach

Even if these users changed their password, the Gmail spam returned. This also revealed the accounts didn’t actually have a security issue. The login reports looked fine, so there was no one who interfered with their accounts. This means the spam must have come from a third-party source that somehow breached Google’s spam filters.

Google commented on the issue and said only a small number of users were vulnerable to this Gmail spam. After reviewing the problem, the company discovered no further security complications with the accounts. Even so, they took the necessary measures to stop the spam, and hoped users will no longer experience such trouble.

Image source: Max Pixel