In this episode of IT SPARC Cast, John and Lou discuss the rise of English and LLMs replacing programming language, AI’s potential to replace web browsers, and the latest security concerns with UEFI boot kits targeting Linux systems. Plus, a hot take on AI-written articles and their impact on the IT industry. Tune in for insights, debates, and actionable advice to stay ahead in enterprise IT.

Show Notes:

News Bytes:

English as the New Programming Language:

•Andres Karpathy’s prediction: “The hottest new programming language is English.”

•AI tools like GitHub Copilot and OpenAI Canvas are making programming more accessible, reducing the need for traditional coding languages.

•https://analyticsindiamag.com/ai-trends-future/2024-the-year-english-changed-the-coding-game-forever/ 

AI’s Role in Replacing Web Browsers:

•Mustafa Suleyman of Microsoft claims AI will become the next web browser and search engine.

•John and Lou debate AI’s future role as the primary interface for accessing information and how it integrates with existing web technologies.

•https://www.theverge.com/24314821/microsoft-ai-ceo-mustafa-suleyman-google-deepmind-openai-inflection-agi-decoder-podcast 

UEFI Boot Kit for Linux:

•A newly discovered UEFI boot kit targets Linux systems, exploiting firmware vulnerabilities to gain persistent access.

•Lou emphasizes the importance of trusted boot processes, TPM chips, and regular firmware updates.

•https://arstechnica.com/security/2024/11/found-in-the-wild-the-worlds-first-unkillable-uefi-bootkit-for-linux/ 

John’s Hot Take:

The Problem with AI-Written Articles:

•John and Lou critique two articles that appear to be AI-generated, noting their lack of depth and practical advice.

•The implications of cost-cutting measures in journalism using AI for IT professionals.

•https://www.computerworld.com/article/3606596/enterprise-buyers-guide-how-to-choose-videoconferencing-software.html 

•https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevemcdowell/2024/12/10/understanding-enterprise-ai-readiness-its-all-about-data/ 

CVE of the Week:

More WordPress Vulnerabilities

•CVE-2024-11972: A critical vulnerability in the Hunk Companion plugin for WordPress is actively being exploited. This flaw allows attackers to silently install other vulnerable plugins, potentially opening the door to a range of attacks.

•CVE-2024-11205: A high-severity flaw in the WP Forms plugin allows authenticated attackers with subscriber-level access to refund Stripe payments and cancel subscriptions.

•https://thehackernews.com/2024/12/wordpress-hunk-companion-plugin-flaw.html 

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