AJ Sadauskas on Nostr: So Microsoft is shipping a new feature in Windows 11 called Recall, which takes ...

So Microsoft is shipping a new feature in Windows 11 called Recall, which takes screenshots of what the user is doing every few seconds, and then feeds it into OCR.

And I've read a number of people describe it as useless.

But I disagree.

I'm sure plenty of people will find it very handy.

For example, your friendly local law enforcement agents and prosecutors are likely to find a feature like this very useful.

As will the NSA, the other three-letter agencies in the US, and intelligence agencies around the world.

Including the ones in authoritarian states. A couple of back doors, and it will be so much easier keeping track of who's been typing naughty words like "Prigozhin", "Navalny", or "free Hong Kong".

Not in the state surveillance business? No worries!

Assuming this data isn't locked down properly — and we are talking about Microsoft here — it's sure to find plenty of more mundane uses.

Perhaps for bosses who will no longer need to install keyloggers to snoop on their staff.

Or jealous current and former partners.

Mark my words, this poorly-thought-through attempt to shove LLMs in another place they don't belong to temporarily spike Microsoft's share price will find its uses.

And the next computer I get definitely won't be running Windows.

#LLM #AI #GenerativeAI #Microsoft #Recall #Windows #Linux #OpenSource #Infosec #Apple