WhatsApp is changing the way billions of users log into the messaging app, ditching passwords and two-factor authentication in favour of quicker and more secure passkeys. The move is part of a major shift within the tech industry to move away from decades-old password technology and replace it with the more modern passkey format, which combines biometric information like fingerprints with a simple numeric code in order to identify people. A similar switch was recently announced by Google, which will introduce passkeys to its apps like Maps, Search and YouTube. WhatsApp’s update will only impact Android users to begin with. “Passkeys are a new way to log back into your account,” said Will Cathcart, who heads WhatsApp. “This is a more secure way of confirming it’s really you – and gives you an added layer of security.” WhatsApp is also rolling out self-destructing voice notes to users as part of new measures to improve privacy on the world’s most popular messaging app. The update is currently only available for beta tester users who have the latest version of WhatsApp installed on their phone or computer, though it is expected to eventually be introduced for all users. With more than 2.7 billion users worldwide – the majority of which on Android devices – WhatsApp updates typically need to be introduced gradually in order to make sure any potential security bugs do not have a critical impact. The self-destructing audio messages, first spotted by WhatsApp feature tracker Wabetainfo, is compatible with both Android and iOS users, though no date has been given for when a wider roller out might be expected. WhatsApp does not comment on release schedules for feature updates unless they relate to security. “After sending the voice note with view once mode enabled, you won’t be able to listen to it and the recipient can no longer listen to the voice note after dismissing it,” Wabetainfo noted. “This mode effectively minimises the chances of unauthorised access or later listening, providing a new layer of privacy for sensitive and confidential information.” The latest update follows recently added features like ‘Channels’, which allow people to follow celebrities and companies within the app, and a ‘Create’ button that gives users the ability to make custom art on the platform. The Create feature brings generative artificial intelligence to WhatsApp for the first time, and means users do not require external tools or specific design skills to create the stickers. Instead, the custom stickers can be produced using simple text-based prompts, similar to other AI image generators like Midjourney and OpenAI’s Dall-E. Read More Facebook and Instagram users face monthly fee for ad-free version Meta launches AI chatbots with ‘personalities’ to take on ChatGPT Viral WhatsApp warning of cyberattack targeting Jewish people is fake Amazon trials humanoid robots to see if they can help staff warehouses Tesla’s profits dip as Musk goes on rant about staff working from home

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A man known for flying 4,000 miles to track down a thief who stole his AirPods is at it again – and this time, he’s baring all. With artificial intelligence technology on the rise, former Apprentice contestant, Lewis Ellis, is on a mission to find out if robots are going to come for our jobs. In a bizarre experiment, the 32-year-old, who is no stranger to unusual projects – having previously auctioned off his bum cheek for the highest bidder to choose a tattoo – he used ChatGPT to re-create an image for a billboard. And the result is hilarious. The giant billboard, featured at Victoria Warehouse in Lewis' hometown of Manchester, shows the entrepreneur stark naked – as a mermaid. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter He used the famous Burt Reynolds Cosmo centre-fold for the main image and asked ChatGPT to “create the content”. ”Whatever it creates, that goes live,” Lewis says in a YouTube video. “I’m not sure if it’s is a good idea, I’m not sure if it’s going to be a complete waste of time but I guess we’ll find out.” Measuring in at 17.6m x 17.4 billboard, it is believed to be the second largest in Europe – however Lewis believes it is the “world’s largest AI-generated billboard. The Apprentice star photoshops his face and tattoos onto the nude Reynolds. The billboard went live at 9am on Wednesday (21 June) and… it’s definitely interesting. Lewis said: ”I was silly to assume that AI would pull it together for me – I won’t really have to do much. ”Turns out it's way harder than I thought. ”And it looks so bad.” The sorry-looking AI generated advert morphed the image of Lewis and Burt Reynolds into the sea creature. In the background, there is a cartoon drawing of a lighthouse and beach. The sign reads: “Feast your eyes on this tragic masterpiece. ”The world’s largest AI-generated billboard. ”AI is going to take over the world. ”That may be true… but it’s not going to be today.” The billboard ad is a recreation of his company, Hussel Marketing’s previous marketing campaign. Lewis took his inspiration for the experiment from the likes of McDonald's, Burger King and Subway, with the brands using ChatGPT for recent ads. To make it even harder, he gave himself just 24 hours to complete the challenge. The entrepreneur certainly isn’t shy in pushing the boundaries of what is possible and using technology to do so. In the past, he has shelled out £2,300 on flights, accommodation and food to fly 4,000 miles to track down his headphones, saying his mum describes him as “mental”. He told Jam Press: “We had no real plan but just hoped to find them again. “The fact you can track tiny headphones around the world is unbelievable. “I didn’t really expect to get them back and I joked that flying to Doha to get them is the pettiest thing I’ve ever done. “But it’s just great that we managed to find them – and now I don’t need to buy a new pair!” What does the marketing guru have up his sleeve next? It’s anyone’s guess. But one thing is certain – AI bots aren’t going to take over his job just yet. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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