Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) enhances large language models (LLMs) with external knowledge but incurs significant inference costs due to lengthy retrieved contexts. While context compression mitigates this issue, existing methods apply fixed compression rates, over-compressing simple queries or under-compressing complex ones. We propose Adaptive Context Compression for RAG (ACC-RAG), a framework that dynamically adjusts compression rates based on input complexity, optimizing inference efficiency without sacrificing accuracy. ACC-RAG combines a hierarchical compressor (for multi-granular embeddings) with a context selector to retain minimal sufficient information, akin to human skimming. Evaluated on Wikipedia and five QA datasets, ACC-RAG outperforms fixed-rate methods and matches/unlocks over 4 times faster inference versus standard RAG while maintaining or improving accuracy.

The Metropolitan police's claims that their use of live facial recognition is bias-free are not substantiated by the report they cite to support their case, a leading expert on the technology has said. The Met is planning its biggest and most high profile use of LFR yet this bank holiday weekend at Notting Hill carnival in west London. The Guardian understands it will be deployed at two sites on the approaches to the carnival, with the force insisting on its use despite the Equality and Human Rights Commission saying police use of LFR is unlawful. The new claims come from Prof Pete Fussey, who led the only independent academic review of police use of facial recognition, is a former reviewer of LFR for the Met from 2018-19, and currently advises other forces in the UK and abroad on its use. The Met says it has reformed its use of LFR after a 2023 study it commissioned from the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and it is now, in effect, bias-free. But Fussey said: "The claims the Met are making about the absence of bias from the NPL report are not substantiated by the facts in that report."

The Metropolitan police commissioner has hit back at demands to drop the use of live facial recognition cameras at this weekend's Notting Hill carnival over concerns of racial bias and an impending legal challenge. Mark Rowley wrote in a letter that the instant face-matching technology would be used at Europe's biggest street carnival "in a non-discriminatory way" using an algorithm that "does not perform in a way which exhibits bias". He was responding to a letter from 11 anti-racist and civil liberty organisations, disclosed in the Guardian, that urged the Met to scrap the use of the technology at an event that celebrates the African-Caribbean community. The Runnymede Trust, Liberty, Big Brother Watch, Race on the Agenda, and Human Rights Watch were among those who claimed in the letter to Rowley on Saturday that the technology "will only exacerbate concerns about abuses of state power and racial discrimination within your force". Campaigners claim the police have been allowed to "self-regulate" their use of the technology because of the lack of a legal framework and deploy the technology's algorithm at lower settings that are biased against ethnic minorities and women.

The Met commissioner should scrap plans to deploy live facial recognition (LFR) at next weekend's Notting Hill carnival because the technology is riven with "racial bias" and subject to a legal challenge, 11 civil liberty and anti-racist groups have demanded. A letter sent to Mark Rowley warns that use of instant face-matching cameras at an event that celebrates the African-Caribbean community "will only exacerbate concerns about abuses of state power and racial discrimination within your force". The Runnymede Trust, Liberty, Big Brother Watch, Race on the Agenda, and Human Rights Watch are among those who claim the technology "is less accurate for women and people of colour". The demand comes just days after ministers ramped up the deployment of vans fixed with facial recognition technology to nine forces across England and Wales. The Met said last month it would deploy specially mounted cameras at entries and exits of the two-day event in west London.

Facial recognition is increasingly used as way to access your money and your devices. When it comes to policing, it could soon mean the difference between freedom and imprisonment. Faces can be scanned at a distance, generating a code as unique as your fingerprints. This is created by measuring the distance between various points, like the width of a person's nose, distance between the eyes and length of the jawline. Facial recognition systems check more than 80 points of comparison, known as'nodal points', combining them to build a person's faceprint.

By now, you've probably heard tons about artificial intelligence (AI) and how it's shaping up to be the next big thing in the technology sector. But I'll forgive you if you're skeptical about jumping on AI stocks right now. Tech companies by default have to chase new trends in order to stay ahead of the curve, and they don't always get it right. But there are a handful of reasons you shouldn't be skeptical of what's going on in AI. Artificial intelligence is already embedded into many technologies currently in use, the technology will transform far more than just the technology sector, and it's probably not as risky an investment as you might think.

The cruise industry is rapidly evolving to integrate the Internet of Things -- with sensors, connected devices, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing -- into the experience passengers will have, both on and off the mammoth, state-of-the-art, billion-dollar ships. It's created a veritable wearable wars that spans companies like Carnival, MSC, and Royal Caribbean, which have all implemented new technology to change the way guests interact while onboard. The initial wave in this sea change of tech can actually be traced to the indoor water park company, Great Wolf Lodge, which debuted RFID-based smart wristbands that provide visitors electronic access control and cashless payments to its resort and waterpark guests, in 2005. The technology has made its way through various parts of hospitality and travel, from theme parks to hotels, and now, cruise companies see it as one key in offering personalized service to the thousands of passengers onboard and more efficient operations for their staff. But it was the land-locked city of Orlando, Florida, home to the Walt Disney World Resort, that's had the biggest impact on what's currently happening at sea.

Police are to use controversial facial recognition software to scan crowds attending the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph, the Observer can reveal. The Metropolitan Police will deploy real-time biometric tracking at the event, which will be attended by about 10,000 former and current service personnel as well as dignitaries and members of the public. Prince Charles will lay the head of state's wreath at the commemoration, which marks the 99th anniversary of the end of the first world war. Met sources said the use of the technology at the showpiece central London event is a trial, and not related to terrorism or serious crime. Officers have compiled a dataset of about 50 individuals known for obsessive behaviour towards particular public figures.

By now you've probably heard tons about artificial intelligence (AI) and how it's shaping up to be the next big thing in the technology sector. But I'll forgive you if you're skeptical about jumping on AI stocks right now. Tech companies by default have to chase new trends in order to stay ahead of the curve, and they don't always get it right. But there are a handful of reasons why you shouldn't be skeptical of what's going on in AI. Specifically, artificial intelligence is already embedded into many technologies currently in use, the tech will transform far more than just the technology sector, and it's probably not as risky an investment as you might think.

Carnival will give its cruise ship guests the Ocean Medallion so they can access their personalized cruise experience. Carnival Cruise line is betting that a whole host of intelligent, connected services for guests will turn the cruise experience from a "supposedly fun thing" to a truly personal and compelling vacation. "Our sole purpose is... to make our guests happy, to transport them," Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald said at CES 2017 in Las Vegas Thursday. Donald's speech -- the first keynote address on the first official day of the 50th annual CES -- illustrated how technology has become an integral part of just about every industry, with much of it powered by machine learning. The cruise line is partnering with Accenture to deliver a range of new guest services, including an IoT network, a digital "experience" portal and even a new wearable.