Abdelrahman
Welcome to this week’s recap of recent events! We dive into the turbulent developments surrounding HP’s $116 million acquisition of AI Pin creator Humane, Mira Murati’s new stealth AI startup, Duolingo’s surprising decision to retire its beloved owl mascot with a Cybertruck, and much more. Let’s unpack the details!
Humane’s AI Pin project comes to an end. The hardware company has revealed that the majority of its assets have been purchased by HP for $116 million, significantly less than the $240 million garnered from venture capital investments. As a result, sales of the $499 AI Pins will cease immediately, and post-February 28, these wearables will no longer connect to Humane’s servers. This means users will lose access to calling, messaging, and AI features, as well as cloud services. Customers who purchased an AI Pin within the last 90 days are eligible for a refund, while earlier buyers will not receive reimbursement.
Job offers flood in after HP’s acquisition announcement. Shortly after the acquisition was made public, several employees from Humane received job offers from HP, featuring salary increases ranging from 30% to 70%, along with HP stock options and bonuses, as shared in internal documents obtained by TechCrunch and other anonymous sources. Conversely, many other employees, particularly those more closely involved with the AI Pin devices, were informed they were being laid off.
Apple unveils the new iPhone SE. After three years since its last update, the iPhone 16e has been launched, joining an elite group of devices that can run Apple Intelligence thanks to the new A18 processor. The iPhone 16e has eliminated the Touch ID home button in favor of Face ID and replaces the Lightning port with USB-C. Starting at $599, the new iPhone 16e is set to ship on February 28.
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News Highlights
Duo’s farewell: Duolingo has “killed” its beloved owl mascot in a bold marketing move involving a Cybertruck, which seems to be receiving quite a bit of attention. The brand has initiated a campaign to “save Duo” while motivating users to complete more lessons, declaring “Duo or die.” Learn more
OpenAI’s update on ChatGPT: OpenAI has opted to relax its editorial guidelines for ChatGPT, allowing it to present a variety of viewpoints on contentious topics, regardless of their potential to be deemed “offensive or morally wrong” by some users. Discover more
Uber takes legal action against DoorDash: Uber is launching a lawsuit against DoorDash for allegedly coercing restaurants into exclusive contracts that stifle competition. Uber claims this intimidation tactics forced restaurants to partner only with DoorDash. Find out more
Mira Murati’s innovative new venture: The ex-CTO of OpenAI, Mira Murati, has officially launched her AI startup, Thinking Machines Lab, which had been operating under the radar. The team includes notable figures such as OpenAI co-founder John Schulman and former chief research officer Barret Zoph, and will be dedicated to creating collaborative multimodal systems. Learn more
Introducing Grok 3: xAI, founded by Elon Musk, has unveiled its new leading AI model, Grok 3, alongside new features for the Grok iOS and web applications. Musk describes this new model line as a “maximally truth-seeking AI” that occasionally challenges political correctness. Read more
Malware found on Steam: Valve has removed a video game from Steam that was designed to distribute malware. Cybersecurity researchers discovered that the game had been modified to trick players into downloading an information-stealing program named Vidar. Read more
Change in DEI stance: The charity founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan has decided to cease its internal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and end funding for social advocacy related to racial equity and immigration reforms. This shift comes shortly after the organization reassured employees of its ongoing commitment to DEI efforts. Read more
Amazon to close its Android app store: Amazon has announced it will shutter its Android app store in August to concentrate more on its proprietary devices. Developers have been informed that they will no longer be able to upload new applications to the platform. Find out more
Zuckerberg’s rebranding struggles: A report from the Pew Research Center reveals that Americans view both Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg more unfavorably than favorably. Approximately 54% of U.S. adults hold a negative opinion of Musk, while a striking 67% view Zuckerberg unfavorably. Learn more
Potential risks of noise-canceling headphones: A recent report from the BBC poses questions about whether noise-canceling technology might be altering the brain’s ability to filter sound, potentially leading to difficulties in processing background noises over time. Discover more
In-Depth Analysis
Exploring the DOGE realm: TechCrunch provides an in-depth examination of the individuals connected to Elon Musk and DOGE, outlining their roles and influence within the vast network of the tech industry. We illustrate the interactions among key players, from Musk’s closest associates to those who support and advise within the DOGE ecosystem. Read the full analysis
