NEWS
WordPress All in One SEO Auto Updates Cause Backlash
According to user reports, All in One SEO plugin for WordPress unilaterally turned on automatic updates. The auto updates coincided with a major upgrade which in turn caused multiple sites to suffer outages and other unintended behavior.
Automatic Updates Without Consent
Automatic update is a feature that allows plugins to update automatically without any action from the publisher. The common expectation is that this is something that a publisher opts into it.
Some publishers backup their WordPress installations before updating. That way if something goes wrong they can easily roll it back to the previous state.
With automatic updates it’s no longer possible to save a backup before the update happens. A bad update can be a major problem that becomes harder without a proper backup.
That’s why it was surprising when a member of the Advanced WordPress Facebook group started a discussion about how All in One SEO turned on automatic updates without (according to the user) notification beyond what was in the changelog.
A changelog is a notation of what the changes in an update are.
The original post on the private Facebook group framed the situation as an ethical issue as to whether a plugin publisher has a responsibility to make it expressly known that a change in the automatic update feature is happening.
Many people felt that automatic updates should always be a user’s choice.
Response on Twitter
There was some discussion about All in One SEO automatic updates as well. Several publishers tweeted that the automatic update option should not be turned on as a default.
A publisher expressed their negative feedback on twitter:
“I do not like to automatically update WordPress plugins, and I especially don’t like plugin software authors to try to force automatic updates on the marketplace. So much so, I will look to replace such software if I can. Please stop.”
He followed up with this tweet:
Although this message was prompted by the recent All In One SEO default setting of automatic update in the plugin, that is far from the only plugin software doing this. Offer the option, don’t set it as default, and make it plain as day as an option.
— Wayne Kessler (@KFIweb) December 27, 2020
All in One SEO Publisher Feedback
There were several negative reports about the automatic update feedback over on the WordPress plugin repository support page.
One plugin user called All in One SEO a disaster, writing:
“After nearly 10 years, I have to say goodbye.
This recent series of almost daily updates since version 4 was released really shows that the new owners of AIOSEO have no clue at all about SEO…
…I don’t have the time to invest in being a beta tester for a plugin that has 2 million users but now doesn’t work… because it is so full of bugs.”
There is an entire support thread full of angry publishers who complained that All in One SEO auto-updated despite having set the plugin to not automatically update.
Another irate publisher wrote:
“Multiple sites have updated to 4.0.11 without my permission and while all auto updates are disabled.
Your once reliable plugin has destroyed hundreds of pages of social meta data on multiple sites, broken layout (and this after I fixed the problems and told you last week, I will be disabling all updates).
How dare you update my websites without my permission
For everyone reading this, this plugin has come to the end of its life as we know/knew it.
Migrate everything you have now, while you still can.”
Multiple All in One SEO 4.X Updates
All in One SEO updated from 3.7 to a new 4.X version on November 14, 2020. This was a rocky start because a second update to 4.01 followed on the same day to fix a database issue.
From November 14th through December 2020, All in One SEO plugin published a total of twelve updates to fix a large amount of issues, seemingly dozens of bugs.
To put that into perspective, according to the Yoast SEO plugin changelog, Yoast SEO published only three updates within that same one month time period.
These are bug fixes from just one update:
- Fixed: Bug that prevented editors and authors from editing SEO titles and descriptions
- Fixed: TruSEO support in the classic editor URL not fully working on extra long URLs
- Fixed: Issue where the closing head tag did not always display
- Fixed: Issue on a few remaining sites where the title tag would strip out a $ and any numbers after it\
- Fixed: PHP error related to missing array during the migration
- Fixed: Issue where AIOSEO would not remove the trailing /amp from canonical URLs
- Fixed: Issue where notices would appear in the log when trying to access our log file
- Fixed: Conflict with WP Shop plugin
But it’s the update from December 21 that seems to have introduced the unilateral automatic update. That’s the only update listed in the changelog that mentions auto update but it’s somewhat vague.
This is what the changelog says:
“Updated: Default options for auto updates”
Screenshot of All in One SEO Changelog
Should WordPress Plugins Auto Update Without Permission?
Automatic updates can make sense for publishers with sites that aren’t particularly complex. That said, backing up a site is a prudent step to take before updating.
Many people believe that publishers should have the choice to opt-in to auto updates.
The publishers of All in One SEO have apologized and stated that they are removing the automatic updates. Should auto updates have been turned on by them to begin with?
NEWS
OpenAI Introduces Fine-Tuning for GPT-4 and Enabling Customized AI Models
OpenAI has today announced the release of fine-tuning capabilities for its flagship GPT-4 large language model, marking a significant milestone in the AI landscape. This new functionality empowers developers to create tailored versions of GPT-4 to suit specialized use cases, enhancing the model’s utility across various industries.
Fine-tuning has long been a desired feature for developers who require more control over AI behavior, and with this update, OpenAI delivers on that demand. The ability to fine-tune GPT-4 allows businesses and developers to refine the model’s responses to better align with specific requirements, whether for customer service, content generation, technical support, or other unique applications.
Why Fine-Tuning Matters
GPT-4 is a very flexible model that can handle many different tasks. However, some businesses and developers need more specialized AI that matches their specific language, style, and needs. Fine-tuning helps with this by letting them adjust GPT-4 using custom data. For example, companies can train a fine-tuned model to keep a consistent brand tone or focus on industry-specific language.
Fine-tuning also offers improvements in areas like response accuracy and context comprehension. For use cases where nuanced understanding or specialized knowledge is crucial, this can be a game-changer. Models can be taught to better grasp intricate details, improving their effectiveness in sectors such as legal analysis, medical advice, or technical writing.
Key Features of GPT-4 Fine-Tuning
The fine-tuning process leverages OpenAI’s established tools, but now it is optimized for GPT-4’s advanced architecture. Notable features include:
- Enhanced Customization: Developers can precisely influence the model’s behavior and knowledge base.
- Consistency in Output: Fine-tuned models can be made to maintain consistent formatting, tone, or responses, essential for professional applications.
- Higher Efficiency: Compared to training models from scratch, fine-tuning GPT-4 allows organizations to deploy sophisticated AI with reduced time and computational cost.
Additionally, OpenAI has emphasized ease of use with this feature. The fine-tuning workflow is designed to be accessible even to teams with limited AI experience, reducing barriers to customization. For more advanced users, OpenAI provides granular control options to achieve highly specialized outputs.
Implications for the Future
The launch of fine-tuning capabilities for GPT-4 signals a broader shift toward more user-centric AI development. As businesses increasingly adopt AI, the demand for models that can cater to specific business needs, without compromising on performance, will continue to grow. OpenAI’s move positions GPT-4 as a flexible and adaptable tool that can be refined to deliver optimal value in any given scenario.
By offering fine-tuning, OpenAI not only enhances GPT-4’s appeal but also reinforces the model’s role as a leading AI solution across diverse sectors. From startups seeking to automate niche tasks to large enterprises looking to scale intelligent systems, GPT-4’s fine-tuning capability provides a powerful resource for driving innovation.
OpenAI announced that fine-tuning GPT-4o will cost $25 for every million tokens used during training. After the model is set up, it will cost $3.75 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens. To help developers get started, OpenAI is offering 1 million free training tokens per day for GPT-4o and 2 million free tokens per day for GPT-4o mini until September 23. This makes it easier for developers to try out the fine-tuning service.
As AI continues to evolve, OpenAI’s focus on customization and adaptability with GPT-4 represents a critical step in making advanced AI accessible, scalable, and more aligned with real-world applications. This new capability is expected to accelerate the adoption of AI across industries, creating a new wave of AI-driven solutions tailored to specific challenges and opportunities.
This Week in Search News: Simple and Easy-to-Read Update
Here’s what happened in the world of Google and search engines this week:
1. Google’s June 2024 Spam Update
Google finished rolling out its June 2024 spam update over a period of seven days. This update aims to reduce spammy content in search results.
2. Changes to Google Search Interface
Google has removed the continuous scroll feature for search results. Instead, it’s back to the old system of pages.
3. New Features and Tests
- Link Cards: Google is testing link cards at the top of AI-generated overviews.
- Health Overviews: There are more AI-generated health overviews showing up in search results.
- Local Panels: Google is testing AI overviews in local information panels.
4. Search Rankings and Quality
- Improving Rankings: Google said it can improve its search ranking system but will only do so on a large scale.
- Measuring Quality: Google’s Elizabeth Tucker shared how they measure search quality.
5. Advice for Content Creators
- Brand Names in Reviews: Google advises not to avoid mentioning brand names in review content.
- Fixing 404 Pages: Google explained when it’s important to fix 404 error pages.
6. New Search Features in Google Chrome
Google Chrome for mobile devices has added several new search features to enhance user experience.
7. New Tests and Features in Google Search
- Credit Card Widget: Google is testing a new widget for credit card information in search results.
- Sliding Search Results: When making a new search query, the results might slide to the right.
8. Bing’s New Feature
Bing is now using AI to write “People Also Ask” questions in search results.
9. Local Search Ranking Factors
Menu items and popular times might be factors that influence local search rankings on Google.
10. Google Ads Updates
- Query Matching and Brand Controls: Google Ads updated its query matching and brand controls, and advertisers are happy with these changes.
- Lead Credits: Google will automate lead credits for Local Service Ads. Google says this is a good change, but some advertisers are worried.
- tROAS Insights Box: Google Ads is testing a new insights box for tROAS (Target Return on Ad Spend) in Performance Max and Standard Shopping campaigns.
- WordPress Tag Code: There is a new conversion code for Google Ads on WordPress sites.
These updates highlight how Google and other search engines are continuously evolving to improve user experience and provide better advertising tools.
Facebook Faces Yet Another Outage: Platform Encounters Technical Issues Again
Uppdated: It seems that today’s issues with Facebook haven’t affected as many users as the last time. A smaller group of people appears to be impacted this time around, which is a relief compared to the larger incident before. Nevertheless, it’s still frustrating for those affected, and hopefully, the issues will be resolved soon by the Facebook team.
Facebook had another problem today (March 20, 2024). According to Downdetector, a website that shows when other websites are not working, many people had trouble using Facebook.
This isn’t the first time Facebook has had issues. Just a little while ago, there was another problem that stopped people from using the site. Today, when people tried to use Facebook, it didn’t work like it should. People couldn’t see their friends’ posts, and sometimes the website wouldn’t even load.
Downdetector, which watches out for problems on websites, showed that lots of people were having trouble with Facebook. People from all over the world said they couldn’t use the site, and they were not happy about it.
When websites like Facebook have problems, it affects a lot of people. It’s not just about not being able to see posts or chat with friends. It can also impact businesses that use Facebook to reach customers.
Since Facebook owns Messenger and Instagram, the problems with Facebook also meant that people had trouble using these apps. It made the situation even more frustrating for many users, who rely on these apps to stay connected with others.
During this recent problem, one thing is obvious: the internet is always changing, and even big websites like Facebook can have problems. While people wait for Facebook to fix the issue, it shows us how easily things online can go wrong. It’s a good reminder that we should have backup plans for staying connected online, just in case something like this happens again.
-
SEARCHENGINES7 days ago
Daily Search Forum Recap: September 10, 2024
-
SEARCHENGINES6 days ago
Daily Search Forum Recap: September 11, 2024
-
WORDPRESS7 days ago
Roadmap Update – WordPress.com News
-
WORDPRESS5 days ago
14 Tools for Creating and Selling Digital Products (Expert Pick)
-
SEO7 days ago
Expert Embedding Techniques for SEO Success
-
SEARCHENGINES5 days ago
Daily Search Forum Recap: September 12, 2024
-
WORDPRESS6 days ago
The Secrets of One of the World’s Largest Ad-Free Blogs – WordPress.com News
-
GOOGLE5 days ago
Google Warns About Misuse of Its Indexing API