📣 Hey Alexa, that's not cool
Hey 👋
This week’s newsletter is sponsored by Jump24.
Jump24 is an official Laravel Partner, designing secure web applications to the highest standard using test-driven development. They're on the lookout for new members of the team, so take a look at the roles on offer. The office is Birmingham-based but the team works remotely from all over the UK, getting together every couple of months to work under one roof.
[embed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBYM95C3hfw]
Check out their current opportunities on the Haystack app 📲
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🎧 Twitter Spaces
We’re hosting another Twitter Spaces 🚀
Join Alice, Parul & Dan on Monday 4th July. They’ll be chatting about all things mental health in the tech industry 🧠
Set your reminder now!
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🚀 Big Tech & Startups
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Image source: The Verge
“Hey Alexa, that’s not cool”
Amazon demoed its latest feature at the MARS conference - voice cloning. 🔊 The experimental feature allows Alexa to mimic the voice of a relative or friend, whether they’re living or dead.
Amazon’s head scientist for Alexa AI, Rohit Prasad, introduced the feature by saying that adding “human attributes” to AI systems was increasingly important. All that’s needed to clone their voice is 60 seconds of audio.
It’s unknown whether this feature will be released officially to the public. But, we get it, people might find it weird or a little bit creepy 😬
What are your thoughts?
🔭 Science & Futuristic Tech
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Image source: PetNow
One of a pet owner’s worst nightmares is being separated from their beloved dog 🐶 (or any other pet for that matter).
Microchipping a pet is an important step when it comes to registering their details. But, new AI technology has been released that allows a dog’s nose to be scanned in a bid to help reunite animals with their owners if they ever get lost!
How does it work?
Just like a human’s fingertip, a dog’s nose print is unique - and unchanging! Simply scan your dog’s nose and register them on the PetNow app.
🧑💻 Dev, Data & Design
The algorithms that give us what we want… but is it what we need?
TikTok FYP has been said to know you better than you know yourself.
Instagram shows you posts that they think you’ll be interested in.
YouTube is driven by AI suggestions.
If you are a user of social media, your entire experience is curated by personalisation algorithms. 📲 This has led to a lack of transparency in both how much data is collected from users, and the way that it is used in deciding what appears on a user’s feed.
It is no surprise therefore that in a survey by the UK government, 52% of people reported they knew only a little or nothing about how their personal data is collected and used in their day-to-day lives. Read more.
⚙️ Miscellaneous
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Instagram is trialling video selfies to verify your age 🤳
Netflix cuts even more jobs after another loss of subscribers ✂️
Apple’s releasing a game-changing VR headset 🕹
Tech companies may have to comply with police after Roe v Wade was overturned 👮
🔦 Highlighted Opportunities
📌 BYP Network
WordPress Dev | London | Hybrid role
📌 Ecce
Full Stack Web Developer | Sevenoaks | Remote or Hybrid
📌 Cronofy
Senior Software Engineer | London | Remote or Hybrid
📌 De La Rue
Cloud Architect | Gateshead | Remote or Hybrid
📌 Scott Logic
Graduate Software Developer | Leeds | Hybrid role
🔥 New On Haystack
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Avaloq | Edinburgh HQ
Currently hiring for 5 opportunities including Oracle PL/SQL Engineer
Grid Smarter Cities | Newcastle upon Tyne HQ
Currently hiring for a Mobile Developer
SamsonVT | Manchester HQ
Currently hiring for a Graduate Software Engineer (3D Technologies)