Author: Dopstart

  • Slowed down videos on Youtube. Google: slowdowns not linked to AdBlocks

    Slowed down videos on Youtube. Google: slowdowns not linked to AdBlocks

    Google recently denied that the slowdowns observed on YouTube are linked to its fight against AdBlock, programs that inhibit advertising.

    Google recently denied that the slowdowns observed on YouTube are linked to its fight against AdBlock, programs that inhibit advertising.

    Google’s statement follows a series of user complaints, particularly on Reddit , regarding slowdowns on YouTube over the past week. Users have reported issues both with and without using AdBlock, including among YouTube Premium subscribers.

    Surprisingly, Google has clarified that AdBlocks are not responsible for these inconveniences. “We want to clarify that the recent loading issues on YouTube are not related to our efforts to identify ad blockers,” Google said on Android Central.

    Advice for users

    Google recommends following the troubleshooting steps available on the YouTube Help Center . However, it is important to note that using AdBlock can impact site performance.

    Furthermore, recent versions of AdBlock and AdBlock Plus are suspected to play a role in these issues.

    Final Remarks What do you think? Have you noticed slowdowns on YouTube due to AdBlocks? Share your experiences!

  • Digital Markets Act: EU Users Can Unlink Google Services

    Digital Markets Act: EU Users Can Unlink Google Services

    The EU Commission designated Google as one of the “gatekeepers” that need to be regulated to ensure the openness of digital services. In response to this designation, Google has announced some changes ahead of the EU’s Digital Markets Act taking effect on March 6, 2024. One of the major changes is the ability for European users to unlink some of Google’s services to prevent data sharing between them.

    The list of Google services that EU users will be able to link or unlink is detailed on a support page. These include Google Search, Google Shopping, Google Maps, Google Play, YouTube, Chrome, and ad services. European users can choose to keep them all linked as they are today, unlink them entirely, or keep only some of them linked together. Google has explained that when services are linked, they can share data with each other and with all other Google services for certain purposes, such as content and ad personalization based on user settings.

    However, if users choose to unlink some of Google’s aforementioned services, it could impact some of their features. For example, Google mentioned that reservations made on Google Search will not appear on Google Maps, and search recommendations will become less relevant after unlinking Search, YouTube, and Chrome. Nevertheless, Google emphasized that “aspects of a service that don’t involve data sharing won’t be affected.”

    Good news for EU users is that they will have the option to manage their linked services at any time in their Google account settings. The option is not available yet but will appear in a new section called “Linked Google Services” on the Data & Privacy page of account settings.

    This change harks back to the time when Google attempted to force users to centralize all their personal information via their Google+ identity. This move was met with significant user resistance, and Google eventually withdrew its Google+ platform. While the DMA will only apply to users in Europe, it represents a positive change for those concerned about privacy and data sharing.

    The EU’s DMA will also compel Microsoft and Apple to make changes to their platforms starting in March. For example, Microsoft will allow EU users to uninstall Edge from Windows and choose alternative search providers other than Bing in Windows Search.

  • Is Google’s Artificial Intelligence in hospitals more humane than doctors?

    Is Google’s Artificial Intelligence in hospitals more humane than doctors?

    In a recent study, Google researchers say they have developed artificial intelligence (AI) that surpasses real doctors in accuracy and empathy, raising questions about the potential humanity of AI in healthcare.

    Google AI development

    The company has created an advanced language model called AMIE (Articulate Medical Intelligence Explorer) , powered by real data from medical records and doctor appointment transcripts. This system has been used to conduct medical interviews, as reported in a January 11 study on the preprint site arXiv .

    Methodology of the study

    In the study, twenty actors pretending to be patients participated in text-based online medical consultations, without knowing whether they were interacting with an AI or real doctors. Surprisingly, the AI ​​outperformed real doctors on 24 of 26 conversational measures, showing greater empathy, courtesy and the ability to put patients at ease. Additionally, AI matched or exceeded primary care physicians in all six diagnostic categories examined.

    What we read in AMIE’s study

    “At the heart of medicine is the doctor-patient dialogue, in which skillful medical history paves the way for accurate diagnoses, effective management and lasting trust.

    Artificial intelligence (AI) systems capable of diagnostic dialogue could increase the accessibility, consistency and quality of care.

    However, bringing the expertise of doctors closer together is a great and exceptional challenge.

    Here we present AMIE (Articulate Medical Intelligence Explorer) , a Large Language Model (LLM)-based artificial intelligence system optimized for diagnostic dialogue.

    AMIE uses a novel autonomous play-based simulated environment with automated feedback mechanisms to adapt learning to different disease conditions, specialties and contexts.

    We designed a framework for evaluating clinically significant axes of performance, including medical history, diagnostic accuracy, management reasoning, communication skills, and empathy.

    We compared the performance of AMIE with that of primary care physicians (PCPs) in a double-blind, randomized crossover study of text-based consultations with validated patient actors in the style of an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).

    The study included 149 case scenarios from clinical providers in Canada, the United Kingdom and India, 20 PCPs for comparison with AMIE, and assessments by medical specialists and patient actors.

    AMIE demonstrated greater diagnostic accuracy and superior performance on 28 out of 32 axes according to medical specialists and 24 out of 26 axes according to patients.

    Our research has several limitations and should be interpreted with due caution. Clinicians were limited to unfamiliar synchronous text chats that allow for large-scale LLM-patient interactions but are not representative of usual clinical practice.

    While more research is needed before AMIE can be translated into real-world settings, the findings represent a milestone toward conversational diagnostic AI.”

    Precautions and limitations

    The researchers stressed that the technology is still experimental and has not been tested on real patients. Additionally, the study has not yet been peer-reviewed.

    Statements and interpretations

    Alan Karthikesalingam , MD, PhD, clinical research scientist at Google Health and co-author of the study, told Nature in a January 12 article :

    “We want the results to be interpreted with caution and humility. This in no way means that a language model is better than doctors at taking medical history.”

    He noted that GPs involved in the study were likely not used to interacting with patients via text chat, which could have affected their performance.

    He also noted that AI might seem more thoughtful than humans because, unlike humans, it doesn’t get tired.

    Future potential of AI in healthcare

    Despite the caveats, the researchers point out that the tool demonstrates “significant potential” to transform medical history collection and diagnostic conversations in healthcare.

  • New SEO Project S23-2 – First record of 1000 visits in 28 days from Google

    New SEO Project S23-2 – First record of 1000 visits in 28 days from Google

    The SEO project S23-2, recently launched by Dopstart in October 2023, has reached a remarkable milestone, marking a record of 1000 visits in the last 28 days, as highlighted by Search Console Insight data.

    SEO S23-2 – First record of 1000 visits in 28 days from Google
    SEO S23-2 – First record of 1000 visits in 28 days from Google

    History of the Project

    The project, abandoned for a few years, restarted with the change of management of the owner company who chose Dopstart for the restyling of the company website with the aim of improving online visibility and acquiring new customers.

    Dopstart has started its analysis work and activated the procedures foreseen by the SEO plan . Through a series of innovative SEO strategies, the team worked dedicatedly to optimize the website and its content.

    Reoptimization Strategies

    The techniques used for SEO re-optimization include keyword optimization, improving user experience and adapting content to current search trends, resulting in a significant increase in organic traffic.

    First goal achieved

    The culmination of these efforts was the achievement of 1000 visits in 28 days, a result that underlines the effectiveness of the SEO strategies adopted.

    Work in progress

    Despite these results, Dopstart’s work continues. The team is engaged in a process of constantly updating and refining strategies to maintain and exceed current results.

    Satisfaction of Donato Paolino and the customer

    Donato Paolino, Dopstart SEO consultant , expressed great satisfaction with the results achieved: “ This success is proof that the approach and strategies adopted are effective. We are proud of the work we have done and are excited to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in SEO ..”

    In addition to the words of Donato Paolino, the customer who owns the site we are talking about and who by our policy must remain anonymous, shared his impressions of the project:

    “We are extremely satisfied with the results obtained. The visible growth in traffic and interactions on our site has been remarkable. The professionalism and effectiveness demonstrated by Dopstart exceeded our expectations. This success is a clear indicator of the competence and commitment of their team.”

  • SEO Project S22-6. The growth in organic visits and placements continues

    SEO Project S22-6. The growth in organic visits and placements continues

    Reached 6000 visits from staff alone in the last 28 days

    The S22-6 project started on 1 December 2022 continues to offer important organic results thanks to SEO consultancy which continues into 2024.

    In the previous report published in September we had reached 2000 visits in 28 months.

    The work has been intense and the most recent result sees the next objective of reaching 7000 visits in the near future.

    Obiettivo Search console Insight per il progetto seo S22-6

    An expected decline was recorded during the Christmas period but visits are growing again.

    The latest result achieved in Search Console Insight is 600 visits.

    Organic search remains the second source of customer visits and is evidently growing compared to direct visits.

    Do you also want SEO consultancy to position yourself better? Ask for a free SEO consultation.

    And if you are still not convinced of how I work, see the SEO results

  • What is organic traffic in Google Analytics 4 and how to analyze it

    What is organic traffic in Google Analytics 4 and how to analyze it

    Organic traffic refers to website visits from organic (unpaid) search results.

    Essentially, when someone searches for something on a search engine, like “SEO consulting,” and clicks on a link to visit a website, that action is counted as organic traffic.

    The main difference between direct traffic and organic traffic in Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the referral source. While direct traffic does not have a referral source, organic traffic does.

    GA4 monitors organic traffic from various search engines, including Google and Bing, as highlighted in the “Session Source” column in the report.

    Organic traffic is crucial for several reasons:

    1. Increase brand awareness.
    2. It drives conversions, such as newsletter subscriptions or product purchases.
    3. It allows you to reach a large audience.

    Additionally, organic traffic is free, but requires the implementation of organic SEO techniques, including keyword research and on-page optimization.

    However, once you rank at the top of the search results, you can expect a steady flow of traffic to your website for months or even years.

    With the move from Universal Analytics (UA) to GA4 on July 1, 2023, there are numerous differences, both in terms of metrics and user interface.

    In GA4, major differences include:

    1. Users: UA only had “Total Users” and “New Users”. GA4 also includes an “Active Users” metric, which refers to users who have had an engaged session on your website.
    2. Views: UA had “Views” and “Unique Views”. GA4 only has “Views”, which counts the number of web pages/screens viewed by users, including repeat views.
    3. Sessions: GA4 uses the “Sessions” metric, but does not restart them at midnight and does not start a new session when new campaign parameters are detected.
    4. Conversions: UA had “Goals”, while GA4 uses “Conversion Events”. GA4 can count multiple conversions in the same session.
    5. Bounce Rate: In UA, “Bounce Rate” referred to the percentage of sessions where users only saw a page without triggering other events. In GA4, refers to sessions that are not considered engaged sessions.

    GA4’s user interface is different from UA, requiring a short adaptation period.

    How to find organic traffic metrics in GA4?

    To find organic traffic metrics in GA4, go to the main dashboard and click “Reports” in the left menu. Then go to “Traffic Capture” under “Acquisition”.

    How to see organic traffic on Google Analytics GA4
    How to see organic traffic on Google Analytics GA4

    To analyze organic traffic data, you can apply filters to isolate traffic from organic search.

    Example of organic traffic filter creation
    Example of organic traffic filter creation

    For example, you can identify the best performing pages, measure changes over time, understand the location of visitors and measure the impact of organic traffic on conversions.

    Organic Traffic Analytics GA4: selection of cross channel filters
    Organic Traffic Analytics GA4: selection of cross channel filters

    Finally, by connecting your GA4 account to Google Search Console, you can discover the keywords that drive organic traffic to your website.

    In conclusion, analyzing organic traffic in GA4 requires understanding new metrics and using dimensions to gain insights into the effectiveness of your SEO strategies.

  • How to connect your GA4 account to Google Search Console

    How to connect your GA4 account to Google Search Console

    Connecting your Google Analytics 4 (GA4) account to Google Search Console is an essential step in gaining insights into your keywords and your website’s performance in Google search results.

    Follow these steps to connect GA4 and Google Search Console:

    1. Access to Google Analytics

    Log in to your Google Analytics account (https://analytics.google.com/).

    Make sure you have administrator rights for the GA4 account you want to connect.

    2. Select your GA4 account: In your Google Analytics dashboard, select your GA4 account and the associated website property.

    3. Go to the “Admin” section: At the bottom left, you will find the navigation menu. Click on “Admin”

    4 . Go to the “Connections” section: in the middle column, you will find a section called “Links”. Click on “Search Console Connections”. You can also find this link in the left menu (Product links > Search Console links)

    5. Connect Google Search Console: Search for the “Google Search Console” option and click on it.

    6. Confirm the connection: Follow the instructions to confirm the connection between Google Analytics 4 and Google Search Console.

    7. Validate ownership: Google may require ownership validation. Make sure you follow the instructions provided by Google to complete this process.

    8. Update settings in Search Console: Once connected, go to Google Search Console (https://search.google.com/search-console/).

    Select the corresponding website and check that the settings are up to date.

    9. Test the connection: Return to Google Analytics 4 after a few days and verify that the Google Search Console data is displayed correctly.

    You will now have access to Google Search Console information directly from your Google Analytics 4 dashboard.

    This link will provide details on search queries, page performance, and other useful metrics to optimize your site’s visibility in Google search results.

  • Google Assistant: Here are the 17 features you’ll lose in the next few weeks

    Google Assistant: Here are the 17 features you’ll lose in the next few weeks

    Updates usually add new features to apps, but an upcoming Google Assistant update will remove several.

    These are seventeen features that are about to be removed from the service, and one in particular will have a significant impact on Google Pixel users.

    In a post regarding these changes, Google explains that 17 little-used Assistant features will be eliminated soon

    Starting January 26, when you use one of these features, you will receive a notification alerting you to its imminent removal.

    One month later, these functions will disappear permanently.

    Most actions involve controlling apps via voice commands and performing tasks on your smartwatch, smart speaker or smart display using your voice assistant.

    Google admitted that these changes may cause discomfort for some users and proposed alternatives for performing the actions. Most of them are direct equivalents, but without the voice interaction.

    These are the features that will be eliminated:

    1. Set an alarm that uses media, music or radio.
    2. Play and control audiobooks on Google Play Books with your voice assistant.
    3. Manage a stopwatch on smart displays and speakers.
    4. Send an email, video or audio message with your voice.
    5. Reschedule an event in Google Calendar with your voice.
    6. Use App Launcher in Google Assistant driving mode on Google Maps to read and send messages, make calls and control media.
    7. View sleep summaries.
    8. View time estimates for “Commute to Work” on smart displays.
    9. View caller ID on calls made from speakers and smart displays (unless you’re using Duo).
    10. Control personal travel itineraries via voice.
    11. Request information about your contacts.
    12. Request you to perform certain actions via voice, such as sending a payment, making a reservation, or posting on social media.
    13. Access or manage cookbooks, transfer recipes from one device to another, play an instructional recipe video, or view step-by-step recipes.
    14. Call a device or broadcast a message to your Google Family Group by voice.
    15. Request to schedule or listen to previously scheduled Family Bell announcements.
    16. Ask to meditate with Calm.
    17. Control activities on Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 devices by voice.

    Changes to the Google app itself are also coming that will particularly impact Pixel users.

    Currently, users can tap the microphone in the search bar to activate Google Assistant and set a timer, send a message, or manage smart home tasks.

    For Pixel phones, this includes the search bar on the home screen.

    But soon, this will only lead to search results.

    Google said users will still be able to activate Assistant by saying “Hey Google” or by holding down the home or power button

  • Google lays off hundreds of employees in the hardware, augmented reality and virtual assistant sectors

    Google lays off hundreds of employees in the hardware, augmented reality and virtual assistant sectors

    The tech giant, along with others like Amazon and Meta, cuts workforce amid slowing business forecasts over the past year

    Google has laid off hundreds of employees working on its hardware, voice support and engineering teams as part of cost-cutting measures.

    The plaintiffs say leaving Google with an “uncontrolled treasure trove of information” has learned what they search for online. Google agrees to settle $5 billion lawsuit that alleges it secretly tracked users. The cuts come as Google looks toward “responsibly investing in our company’s most important priorities and significant future opportunities,” the company said in a statement.

    “Some teams are continuing to make these types of organizational changes, which include eliminating some roles globally,” he said.

    Previously, Google said it was eliminating a few hundred roles in its engineering, hardware and virtual assistant teams, though most of the impacts hit the company’s augmented reality hardware division. The cuts follow pledges from executives at Google and its parent company, Alphabet, to cut costs. A year ago, Google announced it would lay off 12,000 employees, about 6% of its workforce.

    On the day news of the cuts emerged, Google announced it would deprecate 17 “under-used” Google Assistant features, including playing audiobooks, sending emails, or starting a meditation session with Calm via voice command.

    In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Alphabet Workers Union described the layoffs as “another round of unnecessary layoffs.”

    “Our members and teammates work hard every day to build great products for our users, and the company cannot continue to fire our colleagues while making billions every quarter,” the union wrote. “We will not stop fighting until our jobs are safe!”

    Google experienced record growth in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, but has had to adjust forecasts for its business as that expansion has slowed over the past year.

    It’s not the only tech company in this situation. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has cut more than 20,000 jobs. Spotify announced in December that it was cutting 17% of its global workforce, the third round of layoffs in 2023 as it seeks to cut costs and improve its profitability.

    Earlier this week, Amazon laid off hundreds of employees across its Prime Video and studio units. It will also lay off around 500 employees working on the live streaming platform Twitch. Amazon has cut thousands of jobs after a hiring frenzy during the pandemic. In March, the company announced plans to lay off 9,000 employees, in addition to the 18,000 announced in January 2023.

    Currently, Google is engaged in a fierce rivalry with Microsoft, as both companies seek to lead in the artificial intelligence sector. The office software company has been beefing up its artificial intelligence offerings to compete with Google. In September, Microsoft introduced a Copilot feature that embeds artificial intelligence into products like the Bing search engine, Edge browser and Windows for its enterprise customers.

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