🎯 ChatGPT Plus Beta: Game-Changer!

What’s in today’s Business Edge update?

Twitter crowns NBC's Linda Yaccarino as its new CEO, with Elon Musk confirming the move, while ChatGPT Plus' Beta launch empowers web browsing and plugins.

In other news, Netflix is cutting back $300 million in expenditures following a delay in password sharing restrictions. Plus, Bing AI is getting smarter with the integration of GPT-4, thanks to Microsoft's latest updates and more..

Let’s dig in!

🌐 Big Tech Digest

Concise summaries of the most interesting tech news stories from Big Tech.

[1] NBC's Linda Yaccarino Takes the Reins as Twitter CEO, Confirms Musk

After a whirlwind tenure as Twitter's CEO, Elon Musk has announced Linda Yaccarino, a seasoned executive from NBCUniversal, as his successor. Yaccarino, who carries significant experience and success in advertising, will focus on business operations while Musk continues to concentrate on product design and new technologies.

More:

• Yaccarino has been instrumental at NBCUniversal, driving over $100 billion in ad sales since 2011.

• She has previously held key positions like NBC's chair for advertising and client partnerships and cable entertainment and digital advertising sales president.

• The advertising industry sees Yaccarino's appointment as a reassuring move, potentially restoring faith in Twitter's ability to be a viable advertising platform.

• Musk, who had previously expressed uncertainty about finding a suitable CEO for Twitter, will transition to the role of Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer.

_{Tags: #Big tech, #Twitter, #Advertising, #CEO transition}

Read more about it at —> (read time: 8 minutes)

Insight:

This news of the CEO transition will have a company-wide impact on Twitter, influencing the platform's trajectory and credibility in the advertising space. Given her extensive experience in advertising, Yaccarino's appointment could be key to rebuilding advertisers' trust in Twitter, a trust that was heavily shaken during Musk's tenure. As we see it, this transition doesn't just represent a leadership change but also a chance for Twitter to redefine its brand image, separate from Musk's personal brand, and reaffirm its commitment to its users and advertisers. It's a crucial step forward in the company's journey to regain its footing and realize its transformation from a social media company to a larger media platform.

[2] ChatGPT Plus Unleashes Web Browsing and Plugins in Beta

OpenAI's ChatGPT Plus is introducing two new features in its beta version - web browsing and third-party plugins. This represents an upgrade to the AI's ability to provide more updated information and enhanced functionality. The new features will be made available to all ChatGPT Plus users over the course of the next week.

See the example of Plugin use here.

More:

• The web browsing feature enables ChatGPT to browse the internet for the latest data and events.

• The plugins feature allows the integration of third-party plugins for improved performance.

• Users can navigate to the OpenAI chat page and select plugins from the model switcher to install new plugins.

• Beta features can be activated through Profile & Settings.

_{Tags: #AI, #OpenAI, #ChatGPT, #Plugins, #Web browsing}

Read more about it at —> (read time: 3 minutes)

Insight:

This advancement is significant at the company level for OpenAI and has an industry-wide impact on the AI sector. We believe the introduction of web browsing and plugin features in ChatGPT Plus signifies a considerable leap in the AI's capacity to interact with the digital environment more sophisticatedly. This development, we surmise, is part of a broader trend of AI systems evolving to mimic human-like browsing and information-gathering behaviors better. It will likely set a new standard for AI interactions and influence the market expectations for AI performance.

[3] Netflix Slashes $300 Million in Spending Following Delayed Password Sharing Restrictions

Netflix is set to trim its spending by $300 million in 2023, largely due to a delay in implementing password and account sharing restrictions, which were projected to drive new revenue. The specifics of the spending cuts remain unclear, but it comes at a challenging time in the streaming industry, according to the Wall Street Journal.

More:

• Netflix originally intended to curtail password sharing in Q1 2023, but the measure is now expected in Q2, causing a delay in anticipated revenues.

• Netflix considered reducing its real estate portfolio and modifying its subscription costs a year ago.

• In an internal meeting this month, company executives emphasized conservative spending but assured no hiring freezes or layoffs were planned.

• Netflix lost almost a million subscribers after its initial announcement to limit password sharing in April 2022, but recovered in the latter half of the year.

• Netflix plans to block devices in the U.S. that attempt unauthorized account access and has tested a paid sharing option in other countries.

_{Tags: #Netflix, #Streaming}

Read more about it at —> (read time: 8 minutes)

Insight:

We notice a significant industry-wide impact resulting from Netflix's decision to delay password-sharing restrictions. It affects the company's financial strategy and prompts broader questions about competition and consumer behavior in the streaming industry. As platforms like Netflix consider various revenue generation strategies, from password-sharing restrictions to ad-supported tiers, it's clear that streaming services must evolve to stay competitive. This evolution will likely prompt further industry consolidation and could reshape the streaming landscape in the coming years.

⚡️Startup bites

Brief news summaries from the world of startups that provide quick and easy-to-consume information.

ChatGPT's exponential growth appears to be plateauing, yet it still garners more worldwide traffic than major platforms like Bing, NYTimes, and CNN. However, it's impacting industries, particularly education, where Chegg has reported a decline in its online tutoring services due to ChatGPT's influence. Despite this, the growth rate for April was slower, up 12.6% from March. (link)

Microsoft has announced a series of updates for Bing AI, which now incorporates GPT-4. Bing AI, free of charge for users, drops its waitlist for GPT-4 chats and unveils nine novel features to enhance the chat experience. These updates come just ahead of Google's I/O 2023 event, positioning Microsoft competitively in the AI market. (link)

Apple's upcoming transition to 3nm silicon chips promises significant performance and efficiency gains, potentially supporting more advanced AI, machine learning tasks, and graphics capabilities. Challenges in manufacturing and possible delays due to supply constraints exist, with TSMC expected to begin full commercial production by Q4 2022. (link)

Tesla is enhancing its in-car monitoring system to track driver drowsiness by counting yawns and blinks, potentially even when the car isn't in Autopilot mode, aiming to increase safety significantly. This feature's details and release remain unconfirmed. (link)

Amazon has overhauled its logistics network, reducing package travel distance by 15% and significantly slowing shipping costs, while increasing delivery speed. This strategy has also impacted search results, prioritizing regionally available items, and led to a rise in same-day deliveries. However, it has also resulted in the loss of 27,000 employees. (link)

Google Cloud is introducing powerful A3 virtual machines for AI model training, equipped with eight Nvidia H100 GPUs and 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, offering 26 exaflops of processing power. The move caters to the growing demand for generative AI capabilities. (link)

Microsoft has made a strategic investment in Builder.ai and plans to integrate its "Natasha" AI into Teams, boosting app and software development capabilities. This collaboration will also enhance Azure OpenAI and Cognitive Services with Builder.ai's software assembly line. (link)

🔍 Extra

A mix of learning links, software products, deals, and other interesting content.

AI Partners Ushering the Fifth Industrial Revolution

AI and GPT models are expected to catalyze the transition from the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) to the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR), defined by a cognitive partnership between AI and humanity. The 4IR, characterized by transformative technologies such as AI and robotics, has already reshaped various aspects of life. The advent of advanced AI models like GPT has prepared the ground for the 5IR, where AI would partner with humans, enhancing cognitive abilities and signaling a new era of societal evolution.

More:

• The 5IR could be characterized by its 'cognitive' nature, where AI and humans collaborate.

• GPT models demonstrate an ability to generate human-like text and find applications in diverse areas.

• 5IR won't be about machines replacing humans but AI augmenting human cognitive abilities.

• The 5IR could mark the advent of a cognitive age, with the synergy of human and AI shaping societal evolution.

_{Tags: #AI, #GPT-4}

Read more about it at —> (read time: 10 minutes)

Insight: We are witnessing a potentially transformative shift from the 4IR, characterized by the integration of physical, digital, and biological worlds, to the 5IR, characterized by a cognitive partnership between AI and humans. This transition, catalyzed by AI technologies like GPT, signifies a technological revolution and a societal one. As we progress towards this cognitive age, AI will not replace but rather augment human capabilities, marking a paradigm shift in our relationship with technology. This evolution could unlock new levels of creativity and problem-solving while also imposing the responsibility to navigate the accompanying ethical complexities. The potential for the global impact of this transition cannot be overstated, as it can redefine industries, economies, and societies at large.