By Lauren Berg ( December 20, 2024, 10:25 PM EST) — RealPage cannot get the government’s antitrust case against it moved either to the Tennessee court overseeing similar civil litigation or to Texas, where the rental software maker is headquartered, a North Carolina federal judge ruled Friday…. Law360 is on it, so you are, too. A Law360 subscription puts you at the center of fast-moving legal issues, trends and developments so you can act with speed and confidence. Over 200 articles are published daily across more than 60 topics, industries, practice areas and jurisdictions. A Law360 subscription includes features such as Daily newsletters Expert analysis Mobile app Advanced search Judge information Real-time alerts 450K+ searchable archived articles And more! Experience Law360 today with a free 7-day trial. source

TL;DR: Protect your privacy on three devices with a 1-year subscription to Trend Micro Maximum Security for $19.99 (reg. $49.99). Cyber threats have become more sophisticated, and even cautious users can find themselves vulnerable to ransomware attacks, phishing schemes, and identity theft. A single click on the wrong link or a cleverly disguised email can lead to encrypted files, stolen credentials, or compromised accounts. Tech-savvy users know how to spot the signs of a scam or avoid malware, but skilled tech users also know it’s easier to invest in tools that keep you from being hyper-vigilant. Trend Micro Maximum Security defends against ransomware, phishing, and identity theft. It protects your documents from unauthorized encryption, backs up locked files, detects spam and phishing scams, and it’s $20 for one year on three devices. What does Trend Micro do? Trend Micro gives you tools to identify dangerous links in emails and social media so you can browse confidently. Parental controls help give you peace of mind by letting you restrict access to unsuitable websites and monitor desktop applications; there is even a password manager to make securing your accounts simpler. Privacy protection extends beyond just browsing — this subscription comes with tools to manage social media privacy settings to prevent identity theft. Whether you’re on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, you can make your personal data stay private. For extra convenience, the software optimizes your system’s performance, fixing some common PC issues and restoring speed. Mobile users also benefit from protection; the software secures Android and iOS devices, performs regular contact backups, and includes a secure browser. You can even use Trend Micro to locate lost devices. This security software is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. Get a 1-year subscription to Trend Micro Maximum Security for three devices for $19.99. Prices and availability are subject to change. source

COMMENTARY Cybersecurity has spurred many changes in the past five years, from the technology and tools needed to protect an organization from cyberattackers to the skill sets required by IT professionals. The consistent and ongoing ripple effect has also influenced organizational roles and responsibilities. Arguably, one of the most dramatic shifts has been the role of the chief financial officer (CFO). Today’s CFOs must be collaborative leaders, willing to embrace an expanding role that includes protecting critical assets and securing the bottom line. To do this, CFOs must work closely with chief information security officers (CISOs), due to the sophistication and financial impact of cyberattacks. Financial professionals understand data flows and financial processes, while security professionals know the latest cyber threats and best practices to combat those threats. Combining this expertise results in more informed technical investments, faster detection of anomalies, and stronger overall cybersecurity measures. This enhanced approach is critical as we see payments and unsuspecting financial professionals increasingly become the targets of cyberattacks. Both are prime targets because of the volume of money and transactions they process, often manually leaving organizations even more vulnerable to phishing schemes that can go undetected for months. Collaboration between finance and security departments is crucial to threat detection, maintaining compliance, addressing third-party risks, and providing companywide cybersecurity education and training. The Impact of a Security Breach The increasing financial impact of a cyberattack alone mandates CFO involvement in cybersecurity matters. According to IBM’s “Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024,” the global average cost of a data breach reached $4.88 million in 2024, a 10% increase over last year. This substantial financial risk underscores why CFOs must now consider cybersecurity a primary concern for an organization’s economic health. CFOs are uniquely positioned to understand the potential financial devastation from cyber incidents. The costs associated with a breach extend beyond immediate financial losses, encompassing longer-term repercussions, such as reputational damage, legal liabilities, and regulatory fines. CFOs must measure and consider these potential financial impacts when participating in incident response planning. Compliance Requires Protection The regulatory landscape for CFOs has evolved significantly beyond Sarbanes-Oxley. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) rules on cybersecurity risk management, strategy, governance, and incident disclosure have become a primary concern for CFOs and reflect the growing recognition of cybersecurity as a critical financial and operational risk. The SEC’s cybersecurity rules require public companies to disclose material cybersecurity incidents within four business days and provide periodic updates on their cybersecurity risk management, strategy, and governance. This places significant responsibilities on CFOs, who must ensure timely disclosure of cyber incidents and help to develop and implement risk management strategies. As a result, CFOs must work closely with CISOs, board members, and executives to establish effective cybersecurity governance and provide detailed reporting on the company’s cybersecurity posture and incident response capabilities. CFOs must also navigate other cybersecurity regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and similar state-level regulations, and adhere to industry-specific regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). These regulations carry significant financial penalties for noncompliance, further emphasizing the critical role CFOs play in managing cyber-risks. As a result, CFOs must now be well-versed in cybersecurity best practices, incident response protocols, and the evolving regulatory landscape to protect their organizations’ financial interests and maintain compliance effectively. Collaboration and Allocation Adding to the complexity, the CFO is now a cross-functional collaborator who must work closely with IT, legal, and other departments to prioritize cyber initiatives and investments. They must also work with the CISO and chief information officer (CIO) to educate the CEO and the board on cybersecurity matters and communicate broadly, at times, with employees, customers, partners, and investors. CFOs needs to consider the corporate strategy and broader business decisions as they help determine the company’s approach and investment in cybersecurity tools and technologies. This level of decision-making requires CFOs to understand the cyber landscape, threats and trends, and viable investment strategies. This expanded role requires CFOs to help their organizations build resilience against cyber threats while ensuring that security measures are cost-effective and aligned with overall business strategy. How CFOs Can Succeed Working closely with CISOs, CFOs can become key players in protecting their organizations’ critical assets and ensuring long-term financial stability. To succeed in this new landscape, CFOs must foster strong partnerships with CIOs and CISOs, develop a deep understanding of cybersecurity risks and technologies, and integrate cybersecurity considerations into all aspects of financial planning and risk management. Doing so can help organizations build resilience against cyber threats while supporting broader business objectives and growth strategies. source

U.S. Bank Member FDIC. provides a wide range of business checking accounts tailored for startups, small businesses, and larger enterprises. With several account options that cater to diverse business needs, U.S. Bank combines accessible in-branch services with a robust online platform, enabling businesses to streamline banking operations, minimize fees, and access a variety of financial management tools. U.S. Bank’s fast facts Our rating: 4.7 out of 5 Starting price: Business checking account options start at $0 monthly maintenance fees for basic accounts. Key features: Flexible account options with tiered services. No monthly maintenance fees for Basic Business Checking. Customizable limits for transactions and deposits. Integrations with accounting tools like QuickBooks, plus bill pay and invoicing. Free access to U.S. Bank’s ATM network. Image: US Bank U.S. Bank business checking: A versatile solution for businesses Although choosing a bank for your business might be stressful, business owners in need of flexible and reliable banking options should take a look at U.S. Bank as a potential solution. U.S. Bank offers accounts that range from simple, fee-free options to more comprehensive plans for high-volume businesses. With a nationwide network of branches and ATMs and access to advanced online banking tools for expense management and invoicing, U.S. Bank appeals to both traditional and digital-first businesses. Additionally, businesses can benefit from relationship-based perks, like reduced fees on select accounts and services, making it a strong contender for growing businesses. U.S. Bank business checking reviews: User opinions and ratings 4.7/5 U.S. Bank receives high praise from business customers for its flexible banking options and extensive branch network. Many appreciate the flexible options for managing accounts online, through the app, or in person. Small business owners, particularly, like the multi-tier fee structure, which adapts to their growing transaction and business needs. However, some customers note that specific account services, like wire transfers and overdraft protection, can incur fees that vary by region, making it important to first review the bank’s fee schedule and determine your level of comfortability. TrustPilot: 4.6 out of 5 stars Nerdwallet: 4.5 out of 5 stars Forbes: 4.6 out of 5 stars Customers frequently commend U.S. Bank’s robust digital tools and user-friendly platform, mentioning the bank’s efficient setup process and customer support. U.S. Bank’s business checking pricing structure and fees 4.8/5 U.S. Bank offers several checking account options to fit different business needs, from small startups to larger companies handling higher transaction volumes: Basic Business Checking: Starting price: $0 monthly maintenance fee, with up to 125 free transactions per statement period. Silver Business Checking Package: Fee-free account with limited transactions and features suitable for new businesses. Gold Business Checking Package: Starting at $20/month, this package offers 300 free transactions and cash deposit limits up to $10,000 monthly. Platinum Business Checking Package: Ideal for high-volume businesses, starting at $30/month with 500 free transactions and higher deposit limits. Each account offers features like free ACH transfers, online bill pay, and direct access to U.S. Bank’s extensive branch and ATM network. However, businesses handling large cash transactions should review the bank’s cash deposit limits, as additional fees may apply for higher amounts. U.S. Bank’s key features 4.7/5 U.S. Bank offers several valuable features for businesses seeking an adaptable, in-person banking solution with a solid online experience. Here’s a closer look: Account flexibility: Multiple business account options accommodate both smaller and larger businesses with tiered transaction and deposit limits. Wide ATM and branch access: Access to U.S. Bank’s extensive network for in-person services and fee-free ATM withdrawals. Digital and mobile banking: Intuitive online tools and a mobile app allow for bill pay, account management, and expense tracking. Dedicated customer support: U.S. Bank provides business support via phone, online chat, and in-person assistance. Would our expert use U.S. Bank? 5/5 For business owners who value in-person banking and digital tools, U.S. Bank is a strong choice, especially for businesses needing tiered account options. The bank’s flexibility, nationwide presence, and customer service make it an attractive option, particularly for companies anticipating growth and higher transaction needs in the near term. However, businesses that require specific features like interest-bearing accounts or fee-free overdrafts may find certain services costly. Exploring competitors like Novo or Bank of America may be worthwhile for businesses needing additional perks. U.S. Bank pros Variety of account options: Suitable for both startups and larger businesses with flexible limits. Branch and ATM access: Extensive national presence for in-person transactions and customer support. Comprehensive mobile platform: Includes mobile check deposit, bill pay, and budgeting tools. U.S. Bank cons Fee structure: Some fees for higher transaction volumes or wire transfers. Limited fee-free options: Some features, like overdraft protection, incur fees. Alternatives to U.S. Bank business checking If U.S. Bank Business Checking doesn’t fit all your needs, here are some alternatives to consider: Bluevine Business Checking Chase Business Complete Checking® Mercury Business Checking Starting price Free Free (waivable $15/month fee) Free Key features 2% interest on balances up to $250,000 Free ACH transfers Business loans available Nationwide branch network Same-day deposits Mobile payment tools Online platform for tech startups Enhanced FDIC insurance Key distinctions Benefits from interest-bearing for qualified accounts Known for extensive in-person banking support Optimized for digital-first, tech-focused businesses Learn more Visit Bluevine Bluevine is a financial technology company, not a bank.Bluevine deposits are FDIC-insured through Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC. Visit Chase Visit Mercury Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust ®️; Members FDIC. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Methodology This review evaluates U.S. Bank’s business checking features based on fee structures, user reviews, account offerings, and customer service availability, with comparisons drawn to other banks catering to business needs. Conclusion U.S. Bank Business Checking is an excellent option for businesses seeking a flexible and accessible banking solution. Its combination of in-person services and online tools makes it suitable for various business needs, from small startups to larger operations. While some fees apply, U.S. Bank’s adaptability and comprehensive support

Overview New Aim Chief Digital Product Officer Carrie Hu on being named Next CIO winner as part of CIO50 Australia, how she and her team are developing new platforms to support e-commerce, the key things needed to get buy-in for new initiatives, and how she’s generating interest in STEM careers through Inspiring Girls Australia. Register Now source

By Adam Lidgett ( December 23, 2024, 4:40 PM EST) — A judge at the U.S. International Trade Commission has found Amazon was infringing a series of Nokia patents related to video technology…. Law360 is on it, so you are, too. A Law360 subscription puts you at the center of fast-moving legal issues, trends and developments so you can act with speed and confidence. Over 200 articles are published daily across more than 60 topics, industries, practice areas and jurisdictions. A Law360 subscription includes features such as Daily newsletters Expert analysis Mobile app Advanced search Judge information Real-time alerts 450K+ searchable archived articles And more! Experience Law360 today with a free 7-day trial. source

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More MRI images are understandably complex and data-heavy.  Because of this, developers training large language models (LLMs) for MRI analysis have had to slice captured images into 2D. But this results in just an approximation of the original image, thus limiting the model’s ability to analyze intricate anatomical structures. This creates challenges in complex cases involving brain tumors, skeletal disorders or cardiovascular diseases.  But GE Healthcare appears to have overcome this massive hurdle, introducing the industry’s first full-body 3D MRI research foundation model (FM) at this year’s AWS re:Invent. For the first time, models can use full 3D images of the entire body.  GE Healthcare’s FM was built on AWS from the ground up — there are very few models specifically designed for medical imaging like MRIs — and is based on more than 173,000 images from over 19,000 studies. Developers say they have been able to train the model with five times less compute than previously required.  GE Healthcare has not yet commercialized the foundation model; it is still in an evolutionary research phase. An early evaluator, Mass General Brigham, is set to begin experimenting with it soon.  “Our vision is to put these models into the hands of technical teams working in healthcare systems, giving them powerful tools for developing research and clinical applications faster, and also more cost-effectively,” GE HealthCare chief AI officer Parry Bhatia told VentureBeat.  Enabling real-time analysis of complex 3D MRI data While this is a groundbreaking development, generative AI and LLMs are not new territory for the company. The team has been working with advanced technologies for more than 10 years, Bhatia explained.  One of its flagship products is AIR Recon DL, a deep learning-based reconstruction algorithm that allows radiologists to more quickly achieve crisp images. The algorithm removes noise from raw images and improves signal-to-noise ratio, cutting scan times by up to 50%. Since 2020, 34 million patients have been scanned with AIR Recon DL.  GE Healthcare began working on its MRI FM at the beginning of 2024. Because the model is multimodal, it can support image-to-text searching, link images and words, and segment and classify diseases. The goal is to give healthcare professionals more details in one scan than ever before, said Bhatia, leading to faster, more accurate diagnosis and treatment. “The model has significant potential to enable real-time analysis of 3D MRI data, which can improve medical procedures like biopsies, radiation therapy and robotic surgery,” Dan Sheeran, GM for health care and life sciences at AWS, told VentureBeat.  Already, it has outperformed other publicly-available research models in tasks including classification of prostate cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. It has exhibited accuracy up to 30% in matching MRI scans with text descriptions in image retrieval — which might not sound all that impressive, but it’s a big improvement over the 3% capability exhibited by similar models.  “It has come to a stage where it’s giving some really robust results,” said Bhatia. “The implications are huge.” Doing more with (much less) data The MRI process requires a few different types of datasets to support various techniques that map the human body, Bhatia explained.  What’s known as a T1-weighted imaging technique, for instance, highlights fatty tissue and decreases the signal of water, while T2-weighted imaging enhances water signals. The two methods are complementary and create a full picture of the brain to help clinicians detect abnormalities like tumors, trauma or cancer.  “MRI images come in all different shapes and sizes, similar to how you would have books in different formats and sizes, right?” said Bhatia.  To overcome challenges presented by diverse datasets, developers introduced a “resize and adapt” strategy so that the model could process and react to different variations. Also, data may be missing in some areas — an image may be incomplete, for instance — so they taught the model simply to ignore those instances.  “Instead of getting stuck, we taught the model to skip over the gaps and focus on what was available,” said Bhatia. “Think of this as solving a puzzle with some missing pieces.” The developers also employed semi-supervised student-teacher learning, which is particularly helpful when there is limited data. With this method, two different neural networks are trained on both labeled and unlabeled data, with the teacher creating labels that help the student learn and predict future labels.  “We’re now using a lot of these self-supervised technologies, which don’t require huge amounts of data or labels to train large models,” said Bhatia. “It reduces the dependencies, where you can learn more from these raw images than in the past.” This helps to ensure that the model performs well in hospitals with fewer resources, older machines and different kinds of datasets, Bhatia explained.  He also underscored the importance of the models’ multimodality. “A lot of technology in the past was unimodal,” said Bhatia. “It would look only into the image, into the text. But now they’re becoming multi-modal, they can go from image to text, text to image, so that you can bring in a lot of things that were done with separate models in the past and really unify the workflow.”  He emphasized that researchers only use datasets that they have rights to; GE Healthcare has partners who license de-identified data sets, and they’re careful to adhere to compliance standards and policies. Using AWS SageMaker to tackle computation, data challenges Undoubtedly, there are many challenges when building such sophisticated models — such as limited computational power for 3D images that are gigabytes in size. “It’s a massive 3D volume of data,” said Bhatia. “You need to bring it into the memory of the model, which is a really complex problem.” To help overcome this, GE Healthcare built on Amazon SageMaker, which provides high-speed networking and distributed training capabilities across multiple GPUs, and leveraged Nvidia A100 and tensor core GPUs for large-scale training.  “Because of the size of the data

The U.K. government has opened a consultation to explore ways to protect the rights of artists, writers, and composers when creative content is used to train AI models. The goal is to give creators control over their copyrighted material while fostering technological innovation. A proposal has been put forward to mandate transparency from AI developers, like OpenAI and Google, on what creative material they use and how they obtain it. It will also allow rights holders to opt out of their work being used to train models, or strike licensing deals if they do consent. While many licensing deals have already been agreed between tech companies and artists, the government says that many creators have been unable to reach agreements under the current copyright regime and require additional support. At the same time, the proposal wants to ensure tech companies “have access to high-quality material to train leading AI models in the UK and support innovation across the UK AI sector.” It suggests creating an exception to the U.K. laws that currently prohibit using copyrighted material without permission to train commercial models. This change aims to provide AI firms with greater clarity over what material they can legally use. “Currently, uncertainty about how copyright law applies to AI is holding back both sectors from reaching their full potential. It can make it difficult for creators to control or seek payment for the use of their work, and creates legal risks for AI firms, stifling AI investment, innovation, and adoption,” the government said in a press release. The consultation, which will run until Feb. 25, 2025, and be led by the Intellectual Property Office, will also seek views on copyright protection for AI-generated art and the personality rights of public figures in the context of deepfakes or voice cloning. In May, OpenAI faced criticism for using a voice nearly identical to Scarlet Johansson’s in its GPT-4o demo without her consent. SEE: Google to Label AI-Generated Images in Search Results Peter Kyle, the U.K.’s technology minister, said in the press release that the focus is “balancing strong protections for creators while removing barriers to AI innovation.” “It’s clear that our current AI and copyright framework does not support either our creative industries or our AI sectors to compete on the global stage,” he added. Creative industry unsatisfied with the proposal The creative industry has not reacted positively to the proposals. The Independent Society of Musicians has “immediate concerns” regarding how the opt-out system will work for artists in practice. The Council of Music Makers said that “explicit consent must always be secured from music-makers,” and licensing deals should result in them being “fairly remunerated for their contributions.” Several high-profile musicians, including Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, and ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, have recently voiced their concerns about how AI companies use copyrighted works without permission. Dr Jo Twist, the CEO of the British Phonographic Industry, told Music Week: “We remain to be convinced that a copyright exception would move the AI and creative industries closer to agreeing on a functioning licensing model; in fact, we believe it would further disincentivise tech companies from doing so.” Publishers Association CEO, Dan Conway, agreed, saying in a statement that “there has been no objective case made for a new copyright exception, nor has a water-tight rights-reservation process been outlined anywhere around the globe.” Baroness Beeban Kidron, a crossbench peer, AI ethics expert, and former filmmaker, told The Guardian that she was “very disappointed” with the proposals as they would allow AI firms to “shirk their responsibilities.” On the other hand, techUK, the UK’s technology trade association, “welcome(s) the Government’s commitment to finding a solution that creates a competitive and supportive environment for both the UK tech and creative sectors,” as per its statement. “It is in everyone’s interests to resolve these issues in a way that supports innovation and growth.” More must-read AI coverage Coalition launched to urge the government to protect copyright laws The consultation was opened just one day after the launch of the Creative Rights in AI Coalition, a group advocating for the U.K. government to protect copyright laws and establish a dynamic licensing market. Members include the BPI and bodies representing authors, illustrators, publishers, and photographers. The Creative Rights in AI Coalition has three demands of the government, the first being that existing copyright law be upheld so that intellectual property owners have exclusive rights over their work, including control over licensing to AI companies. SEE: Behind the Controversy: Why Artists Hate AI Art “We must ensure the onus will be on generative AI firms to seek permission and engage with rights holders to agree on licences,” the coalition states on its website. “Just as tech firms are content to pay for the huge quantity of electricity that powers their data centres, they must be content to pay for the high-quality copyright-protected works which are essential to train and ground accurate GAI models.” It added that clear and robust copyright laws would incentivise AI companies to pay for artists’ content, ensuring that both the original training data and resulting AI-generated work remain of high quality. The second and third demands are that the government ensures creators receive transparent information about how their content is used in AI development and supports policies that balance the protections of creative rights with the advancement of AI technologies. The Creative Rights in AI Coalition is not satisfied with the legal exception, as it puts the responsibility of opting out of AI training on the creative rights holder, rather than requiring the AI company to seek consent by default. The coalition said in an emailed statement to TechRepublic: “Whilst members are still digesting the details of the consultation, rights holders do not support the new exception to copyright proposed. In fact, rights holders consider that the priority should be to ensure that current copyright laws are respected and enforceable. “The only way to guarantee creative control and spur a dynamic licensing – and generative AI – market

By Bryan Koenig ( December 20, 2024, 8:16 PM EST) — A D.C. federal judge pushed back Friday on Google’s efforts to paint Microsoft as the true plaintiff in the Justice Department’s search monopolization lawsuit, casting doubt during a hearing that Google should get even more information about Microsoft’s relationship with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI…. Law360 is on it, so you are, too. A Law360 subscription puts you at the center of fast-moving legal issues, trends and developments so you can act with speed and confidence. Over 200 articles are published daily across more than 60 topics, industries, practice areas and jurisdictions. A Law360 subscription includes features such as Daily newsletters Expert analysis Mobile app Advanced search Judge information Real-time alerts 450K+ searchable archived articles And more! Experience Law360 today with a free 7-day trial. source