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Thu. 12/07 – Zuck Keeps A Promise Dec 07, 2023

Show notes

Meta has kept a longstanding promise to encrypt Messenger by default. Apple is coming clean about the notifications spying thing. AMD’s answer to Nvidia. We know when the next major version of Windows is coming and, surprise, it’s got AI all over it. And Apple releases its first little AI hint.

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Messenger is finally getting end-to-end encryption by default (The Verge)
Federal government is using data from push notifications to track contacts (Washington Post)
AMD unveils Instinct MI300X GPU and MI300A APU, claims up to 1.6X lead over Nvidia’s competing GPUs (Tom's Hardware)
Meta launches a standalone AI-powered image generator (TechCrunch)
PlayStation keeps reminding us why digital ownership sucks (The Verge)
EXCLUSIVE: Microsoft readies 'groundbreaking' AI-focused Windows release as new leadership takes the helm (Windows Central)
Apple launches MLX machine-learning framework for Apple Silicon (ComputerWorld)

Is Elon's AI Copying Me?

Wed. 12/06 – Google’s OpenAI Competitor Announced Dec 07, 2023

Show notes

Say hello to Gemini, Google’s new AI model designed to go head to head with OpenAI. Governments have been spying on your phone’s notifications, but Apple couldn’t tell you about that until now. Why is Twitch shutting down service in what is one of the biggest markets in the world for esports? And another way to hide your green bubbles in iMessage.

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Meet Gemini, the AI That Google Says Is Way, Way Better Than ChatGPT (Gizmodo)
Google’s Gemini AI model is coming to the Pixel 8 Pro — and eventually to Android (The Verge)
Google announces the Cloud TPU v5p, its most powerful AI accelerator yet (TechCrunch)
Governments spying on Apple, Google users through push notifications - US senator (Reuters)
Twitch plans to shut down in South Korea on February 27, 2024 (VentureBeat)
There’s a new iMessage for Android app — and it actually works (The Verge)

Tue. 12/05 – 23andMe Hack Just Keeps Getting Worse Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

The 23andMe hack just keeps getting worse. A new phone! The OnePlus 12. A new AI Alliance. New, upgraded spam filters. And all you need to know about the big Grand Theft Auto VI news.

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23andMe confirms hackers stole ancestry data on 6.9 million users (TechCrunch)
A detailed look at the OnePlus 12 ahead of its global launch (The Verge)
Instagram and Facebook Messenger chats are being disconnected this month (9to5Google)
Meta, IBM Create Industrywide AI Alliance to Share Technology (Bloomberg)
Amazon Fails To Renew Live UK Premier League Rights As Sky & TNT Maintain Grip On Games (Deadline)
Gmail’s AI-powered spam detection is its biggest security upgrade in years (ArsTechnica)
ChatGPT will no longer comply if you ask it to repeat a word 'forever'— after a recent prompt revealed training data and personal info (Business Insider)
‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ Coming in 2025, Rockstar Says After Trailer Leak (Bloomberg)

Mon. 12/04 – Monster Spotify Layoffs Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

I guess Spotify missed the memo about the tech turnaround cause they had monster layoffs today. Google has delayed its big OpenAI competitor. Why does AI have a tendency to do evil unless you really tell it not to? And the band Kiss is retiring from touring, but Kiss the band has the potential to tour forever, thanks to digital avatars.

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Spotify cuts 17% jobs amid rising capital costs (TechCrunch)
Google Postpones Big AI Launch as OpenAI Zooms Ahead (The Information)
OpenAI Agreed to Buy $51 Million of AI Chips From a Startup Backed by CEO Sam Altman (Wired)
The Robots Will Insider Trade (Bloomberg)
Kiss say farewell to live touring, become first US band to go virtual and become digital avatars (AP)

(Bonus) The Sam Altman Saga Timeline With Alex Konrad Of Forbes Dec 02, 2023

Show notes

Here is how it all went down with the Sam Altman saga, day by day, hour by hour. With @alexkonrad of Forbes.

This is the story we talk about toward the end:

A Secretive $10 Billion Firm Backed By WhatsApp Billionaire Jan Koum Is Quietly Building A Startup Portfolio (Forbes)

Fri. 12/01 – iPhones To Go All-Action (Button) Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

The action button is coming to all the iPhones with increased functionality. Reconstituting the cable bundle example #972. Microsoft wants to create a mobile gaming app store sometime soon. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions.

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iPhone 16 to Include Action Button Across Entire Lineup (MacRumors)
Apple and Paramount Discuss Bundling Their Streaming Services (WSJ)
Apple fixes two new iOS zero-days in emergency updates (Bleeping Computer)
US judge blocks Montana from banning TikTok use in state (Reuters)
Tiger Global’s Biggest Venture Fund Has 18% Loss After Markdowns (Bloomberg)
Xbox Talking to Partners for Mobile Store, CEO Spencer Says (Bloomberg)

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Thu. 11/30 – The Prodigal Son Is Back Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

Sam Altman is officially back at work as OpenAI CEO. Meta is about to launch Threads in Europe, but their plan to offer ad free subscription tiers for their services has hit a speed bump. You can trick LLMs into revealing their training data. And I warned you before, but if you have any dormant Google accounts, better see to them toot suite.

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OpenAI Will Add Microsoft as Board Observer, Plans Governance Changes (Bloomberg)
Interview: Sam Altman on being fired and rehired by OpenAI (The Verge)
Meta’s Threads to Launch in Europe in App’s Biggest Expansion Since Debut (WSJ)
Meta Platforms' ad-free service targeted in EU consumer complaint (Reuters)
It’s not just electricity — Bitcoin mines burn through a lot of water, too (The Verge)
ChatGPT's training data can be exposed via a "divergence attack" (StackDiary)
Your Unused Gmail Account May Be Permanently Deleted Friday (WSJ)

Wed. 11/29 – Apple And Goldman Part Ways Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

Apple and Goldman are ending their partnership, so what does that mean for the Apple Credit Card? Stability AI is so unstable, it might be looking to sell itself. GM is pumping the breaks on its Cruise rollout. All the headlines from the big AWS conference yesterday. And it’s that time of year: what won your Spotify Wrapped listening charts?

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Apple Pulls Plug on Goldman Credit-Card Partnership (WSJ)
Unity Software with a ‘company reset’ walks away from film VFX and the Wētā Deal. (FXGuide)
Stability AI Has Explored Sale as Investor Urges CEO to Resign (Bloomberg)
G.M. to Cut Spending on Cruise Self-Driving Unit (NYTimes)
Amazon Introduces Q, an A.I. Chatbot for Companies (NYTimes)
Inside Spotify Wrapped, an Annual Song of Ourselves (WSJ)

Tue. 11/28 – NameDrop Is Safe, Despite What Police Say Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

AI foundation models are coming to more AWS products. Why are police departments scaremongering about that NameDrop feature on iPhones? Why is Google Drive losing peoples’ files? And Ikea’s new super cheap smart-home starter devices.

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AWS enhances AI services with foundation model capabilities for improved performance (SiliconAngle)
Amazon wants businesses to use its palm-scanning tech to let employees into the office (CNBC)
US Thanksgiving weekend sales hit record on big discounts, online boost (Reuters)
NameDrop is safe. The fearmongering about it is not. (Washington Post)
Google investigating missing files on Drive, caused by desktop app (9to5Google)
OpenAI Is Still an $86 Billion Nonprofit (Matt Levine/Bloomberg)
Ikea debuts a trio of affordable smart home sensors (The Verge)

Mon. 11/27 – ByteDance Retrenches Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

A thin client from AWS. More bad news for gaming as ByteDance pulls back from its gaming ambitions in a major way. Governments have more new joint guidelines for AI development. And Amazon now delivers more packages than either FedEx OR UPS.

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