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- Shift to AI Chatbots Signals End to Golden Era of Search Engines
Shift to AI Chatbots Signals End to Golden Era of Search Engines
+ The top 9 tech stories of the past 24 hours.
Kristoffer Lindström
April 05, 2024
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TECH BRIEF
Research indicates a significant shift from traditional search engines to TikTok, AI chatbots, and voice-activated AI assistants for information gathering. Applause and Forrester surveys reflect a marked preference for AI chatbots, with concern for data privacy and performance persisting. The demographic most engaged with Generative AI technology is younger, more educated consumers. Despite a split in attitudes to GenAI, many recognise its benefits and potential in streamlining online information access.
OpenAI, geared for enterprise operations in 2024, introduces new customization tools for the GPT-4 API to enhance generative AI accuracy. Options encompass connection to third-party platforms for fine-tuning sharing information, saving models during additional training, and a new UI to compare performance. The initiative could deliver better results internally, maintain public responses, and provide assisted fine-tuning to selected organizations through the Custom Models program. The first integration is with Weights & Biases, aiming to advance AI usage across businesses.
Elon Musk's social media platform, X, is providing influential users with complimentary subscriptions and verification badges. Previously, Musk explained that accounts with 2,500+ followers would receive free Premium features, while those with 5,000+ would get Premium+, in a move to supplement the platform's advertising revenue. This follows Musk's controversial Twitter takeover and subsequent advertising cutbacks from companies such as Apple and Disney. X's long-term plan for the free features is unclear.
TikTok has revealed its platform generated $14.7 billion for US small and medium businesses in 2023, adding it supports over 7 million businesses and 224,000 jobs from their activity. This report, likely timed to counter impending legislation that could ban the app, is released as five states, California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois, experienced the biggest impacts. TikTok also contributed $5.3 billion in tax revenue last year, strengthening its case against the ban.
Disney intends to control password sharing for its Disney+ streaming service, aiming to increase signups and revenue. The crackdown will commence in June in specific markets, followed by a broader enforcement in September. Following Netflix's similar strategy, which saw a substantial increase in new accounts, Disney+ hopes to accelerate its path to profitability. CEO Bob Iger noted Netflix's success and validated the strategy but offered no details on Disney+'s business consolidation.
Utilizing YouTube videos to train OpenAI’s Sora, a text-to-video generator, breaches the platform's terms of service, declared YouTube's CEO, Neal Mohan. He argued that downloading elements like video snippets or transcripts infringes YouTube's terms. Meanwhile, debates continue about the content OpenAI uses to train its AI models with implications for the burgeoning field of AI-powered content creation.
The Q1 2024 State of Venture Report from CB Insights indicates a 16% slide in fintech funding, marking its lowest since 2017 with $7.3 billion raised globally, despite a 15% increase in equity dealings. Large deals went to companies with broader AI solutions, while the US and Europe were the leading recipients of capital. Of note, fintech unicorn creation significantly slowed, with only six entering the scene.
Google's parent company, Alphabet, is reportedly considering a bid for online marketing software firm HubSpot, valued at $32 billion. Amid increased regulatory scrutiny, this major tech acquisition would allow Alphabet to utilize its $110.9 billion cash reserve optimally. However, Alphabet has yet to submit an offer and is exploring the implications for antitrust regulators.
Tesla's planning to scout locations in India for a potential $2-$3 billion electric vehicle factory, focusing on automotive hubs in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu. This advances India's efforts to bolster domestic manufacturing and capitalize on an incentive-laden EV policy. Additionally, Tesla seeks to gain a strong foothold amidst competition from China's BYD.
Ripple plans to introduce a US dollar-based stablecoin into the $150 billion market. This move is in response to 'depegging' incidents from other stablecoin players like Tether and Circle. The objective is to expedite cross-institutional financial transactions.
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