Apple quietly marches toward a new world record: The iPhone maker is soaring to a possible $4 trillion valuation on tech’s outsized strength. Warning signs emerge despite the stellar performance.
Meta project targets ad industry’s AI obsession: It’s building a recommendation algorithm that could dwarf OpenAI’s GPT-4 to capture user engagement and enhance targeted ad strategy.
Microsoft, OpenAI slapped with $3B class-action lawsuit: It’s the latest in a litany of legal woes facing the generative AI pioneers. Judicial and legislative outcomes are uncertain.
More cuts at Google part of a running theme: It ends Project Iris AR glasses and lays off workers at Waze. Google’s simplicity sprint is freeing up resources for AI dominance.
C-suite plans an AI-induced hiring spree: Workers are worried about AI, but bosses want to hire more because of the technology. Short-term workforce gains could shift to longer-term job losses.
iCloud prices surge internationally: Apple’s decision to raise storage prices sparks user dissatisfaction and calls for a strategic reevaluation.
Y Combinator embraces AI: Accelerator welcomes a new cohort—with 35% AI-focused startups—amid San Francisco’s thriving tech scene.
OpenAI’s ‘supersmart personal assistant’ bot could ruffle Microsoft’s feathers: The company’s CEO keeps divulging a half-baked strategy, which could create industry tensions. Monetization hurdles will continue.
Google launches Perspectives as Reddit blackout hits Search: Users demand discussion-based results that depend on other platforms. An innovation journey lies ahead for Google to maintain its search supremacy.
Ford lays off engineers: The shift to EVs is a heavy lift for traditional automakers who still need workers with the right skills. Corporate training programs might be necessary.
Consumers are shopping around for cheaper insurance deals. Providers that can outcompete on price through stripped-back coverage stand to gain.
Demand for cyber coverage is rapidly growing, but prices rose 50% last year. Cheap and simple coverage should draw substantial interest.
Google’s DeepMind plans to overthrow OpenAI’s ChatGPT dominance: Another wave of AI investment and fresh competition is ahead, led by DeepMind and an open-source free-for-all. GPT-5 is coming.
Big cloud disruption could be ahead over IBM’s $4.6B Apptio takeover: The acquisition will likely trigger a cloud shakeup. There are several barriers to IBM benefiting from the purchase.
Google’s moonshot project Taara is gaining ground globally: Its laser beam internet is getting adopted in India and several other countries. It provides advantages over fiber and satellite options.
Ford secures a $9.2B loan for US battery production and BYD enters the North American market. Meanwhile, newer EV-only firms scored the lowest in a vehicle quality survey.
Amazon’s $100M generative AI initiative to counter Google threat: Google’s customer reach, depth of integrations, and AI expertise are hard to match. The fierce competition might create a societal-level predicament.
Reported plans to launch Apple Pay and its credit card in the country could support growth plans—if it beats out stiff competition.
Twitter could face $475K daily fine, but Musk’s mind is on cage fights: A Vegas brawl won’t save Twitter from regulatory fines, lawsuits, eviction, or Meta’s Threads launch this summer.
On today’s episode, we discuss the environmental impact of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency mining. In our “Headlines” segment, we discuss the deal Bitdeer, a Bitcoin-mining company in Texas, had with the state when the power grid became distressed during the winter of 2021 and how crypto must overcome its reliance on old technologies that pollute the environment. In “Story by Numbers,” we discuss a 2022 report conducted by climate and economic researchers that estimates Bitcoin mining may be responsible for 65.4 megatons of carbon dioxide per year, comparable to the entire country of Greece. And in “What If,” we examine what would happen to crypto if governments around the world required carbon tax credits in order to operate and restrictions were put in place for the amount of energy crypto and blockchains consume. Join the conversation with host Rob Rubin and our analysts Jenna McNamee and David Morris.