AI breakthrough removes language barriers in the metaverse: Meta’s AI model can translate over 200 languages, encompassing billions of future users, but some groups are resisting attempts at language assimilation.
The game of life..insurance: YuLife’s Yuniverse platform gives life insurance a fun twist, but with gamification on the rise, more effort may be required to keep consumers hooked.
More firms are flirting with a return to the office: Rising interest rates and a tightening job market have companies testing the waters to end remote work.
Activision-Blizzard acquisition rocked by UK antitrust probe: A prolonged investigation could have wide implications as regulators study whether the deal will lead to higher prices, lower quality, and fewer consumer options.
Money, expertise needed to keep pace with cyber threats: Investments in cybersecurity are expected to ramp up to meet surging malware and ransomware attacks—but short-staffed security firms could struggle to keep up.
Big Cloud’s billing problem: Amid market uncertainty, companies aren’t keen on getting cloud bills for tens of thousands more than expected. AWS and others could adopt a winning billing strategy.
Gamers take a break: After a multi-year boom, the gaming industry’s lackluster year in 2022 is just a correction. With big titles in development, 2023 could be a blockbuster.
Can Meta sustain its VR headset dominance? It has 90% market share, but its Horizon Worlds metaverse apps are only accessible in the US and Canada, leaving room for new entrants to compete.
Roaming robotic EV charging: A mobile bot is under development to provide a new way to charge EVs. It isn’t likely to replace standard charging stations but could expand charging access.
Microsoft’s proposed takeover of Activision Blizzard faces fresh scrutiny: UK’s antitrust regulator is examining whether the deal will stifle competition in the latest challenge to the $68.7 billion acquisition.
‘90 million attacks daily’: As the cybersecurity industry suffers from an onslaught of attacks and burnout, companies issue layoffs. The education sector could help build a higher-security future.
Tiny tech, big effect: A microlens can be a low-cost device to enhance solar’s efficiency. But commercialization might depend on testing that shows it will maintain solar’s low flammability status.
Repairability could be a key smartphone feature: Google and Apple now allow users to fix flagship phones. This is a huge advantage over competitors that focus on deals for new phones.
Merck seeks AI and ML health startups: 12 health tech incubees will participate in a 10-month sprint to develop new technologies and could buck the trend of startups failing to produce clinical outcomes.
Samsung leads in next-gen chip production: Production of Samsung’s 3-nanometer chip leaves rivals like TSMC and Intel scrambling. And chip innovation is quickly outpacing the speed of legislating subsidy bills.
A new Frontier for startups: A handful of startups just got funding to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Using carbon as a raw material could help them reach market viability.
Alphabet’s health dominion may come at a hefty legal cost: The tech giant dwarfs its Big Tech peers with health investments, but regulatory scrutiny may heat up in the post-Roe reality.
Retailers experiment with the role of the store: Gap, Jonathan Adler, and others are testing new retail concepts and tech to determine the best way to leverage their physical presences.
Brands are bullish on ecommerce: More than half of companies are ramping up investment for ecommerce initiatives, per a survey by Yottaa.
Energy independence undermined: A group is using propaganda to keep other countries dependent on rare-earth minerals from China. As more disinformation looms, social media companies could help stop it.