ELON Musk has warned Windows users to disable a controversial new AI feature that looks like “a Black Mirror episode”.
The Tesla chief was quick to reveal his thoughts on Microsoft’s latest update to Windows 11 devices this summer, amid fears it could bear similarities to a near-future dystopia.
The new artificial intelligence feature, known as Recall, takes screenshots of everything on the screen, allowing users to scroll back in time and resume the past month’s work.
Exclusive to a range of new Copilot+ PCs, AI is able to analyze text and images in screenshots to help you find what you’re looking for.
Whether phrases, people, animals or landmarks, users can search for anything without needing to know the exact name of a document or web page, reports GB News.
Recall is not enabled by default, but because users are asked if they want to take advantage of the AI, it has been added.
Yusuf Mehdi, Chief Marketing Officer at Microsoft, said in a company blog that having Recall is like “having a photographic memory.”
The US company also wrote that users “always have control over the privacy you can trust.”
However, following news of Microsoft’s latest update, Musk was quick to voice his concerns on social media.
Speaking to
He also compared it to an episode of Black Mirror – a show set in near-future dystopias with science fiction technology.
Users on his social media platform quickly responded to the post.
“So a built-in screen recorder. Because that’s not a security risk,” someone pointed out.
“Did the CIA come up with this?” said another.
“Uhhhh sounds like surveillance repackaged as a feature,” a third commented.
A fourth person described it as “a huge invasion of privacy”.
Musk is not the only one concerned about the new Windows update.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has confirmed to the BBC that it has “made inquiries with Microsoft to understand the security measures in place to protect user privacy”.
The data protection regulator added that private companies must “rigorously assess and mitigate the risks to people’s rights and freedoms” before launching new products, the report adds.
Microsoft has been quick to reassure PC owners about the Recall capabilities, but claims that no screenshots will ever be taken while you’re in private browsing mode.
Artificial intelligence explained
Here’s what you need to know
- Artificial intelligence, also called AI, is a type of computer software
- Normally a computer does what you tell it to do
- But artificial intelligence simulates the human mind and can make its own inferences, inferences or decisions
- With a simple computer, you may be able to set an alarm to wake you up
- But an AI system can scan your emails, determine that you have a meeting tomorrow, then set an alarm and plan a trip for you
- AI technology is often “trained” – meaning it observes something (possibly even a human) and then learns about a task over time
- For example, an AI system can process thousands of photos of human faces and then generate photos of human faces completely independently
- Some experts have expressed concern that humans will eventually lose control of super-intelligent AI
- But the tech world is still divided over whether AI technology will ultimately kill us all in a Terminator-style apocalypse
Separate exceptions can also be added for specific applications to which the feature does not apply.
Microsoft also said that Recall will not censor or erase the information from the captured screenshots, even if passwords or bank account information are visible on the screen.
Dr. However, Kris Shrishak, an AI and privacy consultant, believes the AI feature could have a “chilling effect” on people.
He told the BBC. ‘This could be a privacy nightmare.
“The mere fact that screenshots are taken while using the device can have a chilling effect on people.”
Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at software security firm ESET, said the implications of the AI feature could be an attractive prospect for cybercriminals, GB News reports.
“Enabling a feature that has the ability to capture screen data not only provides even more data to the company behind the software, but also opens up a new avenue for criminals to attack,” he said.