Front Research
Posts
🤝 Sony Seals Call of Duty Deal | 🚀 AI on Replit Skyrockets | 🧵 Threads' Engagement Tanks

🤝 Sony Seals Call of Duty Deal | 🚀 AI on Replit Skyrockets | 🧵 Threads' Engagement Tanks

Sony and Microsoft have entered into a binding agreement to maintain the availability of Call of Duty on PlayStation.

Kristoffer Lindström
July 17, 2023

Hey there!

Happy Monday, July 17. I hope you all had a fantastic weekend filled with fun and excitement. Now, let's dive into today's tech update and check out the major headlines:

Sony Seals Call of Duty Deal
Threads' Engagement Tanks
AI Projects Skyrocket on Replit
Stability AI Unveils Sketch-to-Image Tool
Fintech Funding Dips in H1 2023
and more...

READ TIME: ~3.6 MINUTES

🌐 Tech Companies

Sony Seals Call of Duty Deal (5-minute read)

Sony and Microsoft have entered into a binding agreement to maintain the availability of Call of Duty on PlayStation. The agreement follows a year-long dispute sparked by Microsoft's plans to acquire Activision Blizzard, potentially threatening the game's presence on Sony's platform.

Insight: This deal marks a significant compromise in the competitive tech industry, preserving Sony's access to a high-revenue title. The agreement reduces global uncertainty around game availability, suggesting a new willingness to cooperate between these tech giants.

Threads' Engagement Tanks (4-minute read)

Meta's social media platform, Threads, has seen a substantial decrease in user engagement, according to Sensor Tower and Similarweb data. Despite reaching 100 million users, daily active users and average time spent on the app have dropped significantly. Meanwhile, regulatory issues hinder its availability in the EU.

Microsoft Eyes Cybersecurity Goldmine (7-minute read)

Microsoft is carving a path in the cybersecurity industry as it experiences a 33% annual revenue growth, exceeding $20 billion. Microsoft plans to bolster its presence in the Secure Service Edge market by adding to its expansive tech portfolio. The company recently unveiled Microsoft Entra Internet and Entra Private Access, promising identity-centric security for Internet, SaaS, and Microsoft 365 applications.

🤖 AI Corner

AI Projects Skyrocket on Replit (7-minute read)

There has been an explosive growth in AI development on the Replit platform, with a 34,000% year-over-year increase in AI projects. OpenAI dominates 80% of the projects, although the rise of LangChain and open-source models is creating a dynamic environment. Developers primarily use Python and JavaScript, with noticeable geographical variation in language preference.

Stability AI Unveils Sketch-to-Image Tool (4-minute read)

Stability AI has launched Stable Doodle, a new service that turns sketches into images. It offers more precision in image generation, with potential applications in professional design and illustration.

ChatGPT Boosts Writers' Efficiency (4-minute read)

ChatGPT users have seen a 40% decrease in task completion time and an 18% increase in work quality. However, the AI's propensity to present inaccurate information raises concerns, particularly in professions like law.

China Tightens AI Regulations (4-minute read)

China is reinforcing control over the AI industry, introducing licensing requirements for generative AI systems. The regulations also mandate that AI-generated content align with the country's socialist ideals and stipulate a security review.

💰´Markets & Money

US Economy Shows Mixed Signals (6-minute read)

Last week's data reveals a mixed US economy outlook. Inflation is cooling off. Annual inflation slowed from 4% to 3%, while the average 30-year fixed mortgage rates have increased slightly. Consumer sentiment has also seen a significant rise.

Fintech Funding Dips in H1 2023 (15-minute read)

The first half of 2023 witnessed a decline in fintech funding, with global investments falling by 49% YoY to $23 billion. The number of funding rounds also decreased, with just 1,178 investments made, marking a 64% drop from 2022.

Tech Giants Tesla, Netflix Earnings Loom (10-minute read)

Tesla and Netflix are set to kick off the tech earnings season this week, following a solid start to earnings reports from major banks. Investors are focusing on Tesla's self-driving capabilities and delivery figures and Netflix's adaptation to work stoppages in Hollywood.

Reply

or to participate.