Greetings, readers, and welcome to Week in Review (WiR), a recurring newsletter that delves into the latest events unfolding in the tech realm.
This week, OpenAI caught the attention of the digital sphere by unveiling Sora, a cutting-edge AI model capable of generating videos of remarkably high quality. While video-generating AI isn’t new, Sora stands out for its grasp of time and physics, empowering it to craft not just more coherent videos but also immersive 3D environments. Truly groundbreaking!
In other news, startup Score launched a dating app catering exclusively to individuals boasting good to excellent credit scores. Meanwhile, an anti-Tesla Super Bowl advertisement faced backlash from the National Transportation Safety Board for unauthorized use of its seal.
Plenty more occurred this week, and we’ll cover it all in this edition of WiR. But first, a gentle reminder to subscribe to receive the WiR newsletter directly in your inbox every Saturday.
News Highlights:
– Bid farewell to cleaning fees: Airbnb is gradually phasing out cleaning fees in pursuit of transparent pricing, as reported by Amanda.
– Silencing of a musical encyclopedia: Spotify’s recent layoffs have spelled the end for Glenn McDonald’s cherished Every Noise at Once project, much to the dismay of fans.
– Mozilla’s downsizing: Following a downsizing initiative, Mozilla intends to scale back investment in several products, including its VPN, Relay, and Online Footprint Scrubber, according to Frederic.
– Google boosts Gemini: Google broadened the scope of its Gemini AI models accessible to developers across its platforms, unveiling a new Gemini model capable of analyzing extensive content like books, audio, and videos.
– Slack introduces GenAI: Slack rolled out new features aimed at enhancing accessibility to information, including an AI-driven search tool and the ability to summarize content within channels.
– Variston’s fate uncertain: Spyware startup Variston is shedding staff, with rumors circulating about a potential shutdown. Lorenzo details how Variston’s malware has targeted iPhones, Android devices, and PCs.
In-depth Analysis:
– Bluesky vs. Mastodon: Amanda explores the debate surrounding the integration of decentralized social networks Bluesky and Mastodon and its potential impact on the internet’s future.
– Fortnite and Disney’s influence: Taylor examines how Disney’s substantial investment in Fortnite positions the game to dominate the metaverse, leveraging its extensive intellectual property.
Podcast Highlights:
– Equity discusses Bret Taylor’s latest venture, Sierra, which aims to revolutionize conversational AI agents.
– Found features Tigran Sloyan, co-founder of CodeSignal, a platform transforming tech recruitment by assessing engineers based on skills rather than resumes.
– Chain Reaction hosts Yat Siu, executive chairman of Animoca Brands, exploring the company’s investments across various web3 sectors.
Bonus Round:
– Foundry Group ceases operations: After an 18-year run and managing nearly $3.5 billion in assets, Foundry Group quietly opts to shut down without pursuing further funds.
– Apple plays hardball: Apple confirms intentional disruption of iPhone web apps in the EU, attributing the action to the new EU regulation, the Digital Markets Act.
That wraps up this week’s edition of WiR. Stay tuned for more tech insights and developments in the weeks ahead.
