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- 🧵 Threads Billion-User Ambition & 📱 iPhone 15 Pro Price Hike
🧵 Threads Billion-User Ambition & 📱 iPhone 15 Pro Price Hike
Today: Threads for Billio-Users | OverflowAI | Sequoia Cuts Crypto Fund
Kristoffer Lindström
July 28, 2023
In Partnership with ⬆️
Hey there!
Happy Friday, July 28th! We've got some super exciting news stories lined up just for you. So, without further ado, here are the top headlines in today's update:
Zuckerberg's Billion-User Ambition for Threads
AI Giants Form Safety Coalition
Stack Overflow Debuts OverflowAI
Sequoia Capital Cuts Crypto Fund
US Economy Shows Resilience
Price Hike for iPhone 15 Pro
and more...
READ TIME: 5.0 MINUTES
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🌐 Tech Companies
Mark Zuckerberg expressed confidence in Threads, Meta's competitor to Twitter, during the company's Q2 earnings call. Despite the app's slowed engagement, Zuckerberg anticipates Threads to reach 1 billion users with continued development and user retention strategies.
New research analyzing Meta's impact on the 2020 elections reveals mixed results. Although "echo chambers" exist, they may not significantly influence users' beliefs. Chronological feeds drastically reduce user engagement and exposure to uncivil content, yet they don't noticeably affect political attitudes. Despite removing reshared political news, polarization remains unaltered. Importantly, a higher proportion of false information was observed among conservative users.
Google has delayed the launch of its Find My Device network due to concerns over tracking alerts, indirectly benefiting competitor Apple. The network's launch now hinges on Apple's implementation of protections for iOS.
🚀 Startup Scene
Solink, an Ottawa-based video surveillance software firm, has secured $60M to boost its global growth. Its service aims to improve organizations' physical security through risk mitigation.
London-based startup AutogenAI, which leverages generative AI for bid and pitch writing, has raised $22.3 million. The AI tool has acquired 28 clients in less than a year.
🤖 AI Corner
Refokus, a digital branding agency, effectively uses AI tools to streamline production, reduce development cycles, and enhance strategic creativity. Tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney aid in client onboarding, design iteration, and project tracking tasks.
In response to calls for regulatory oversight, AI leaders OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and Anthropic form the Frontier Model Forum to ensure safe and responsible development of advanced AI models. This coalition aims to promote best practices, conduct technical evaluations, and collaborate with policymakers and academics. Amid global pushes for concrete AI regulations, this initiative could help these companies avoid strict regulations while demonstrating a serious commitment to safety and responsibility.
Stack Overflow disrupts its traditional model by introducing OverflowAI, an array of tools and features aiming to improve developers' experience and information access, and facilitating natural language-based queries.
Adobe has introduced a new AI feature, 'Generative Expand', to its Photoshop beta, facilitating image expansion with one-click. This feature is included along with support for over 100 languages.
OpenAI is significantly bolstering its in-house legal team amidst mounting legal challenges and increasing regulatory pressures, including an FTC investigation.
Artifact, the news app from Instagram's co-founders, introduces an AI-powered text-to-speech feature via a partnership with Speechify, offering over 30 voice options.
💰´Markets & Money
Following two-quarters of record losses, Intel returned to profitability with a $1.5 billion profit, defying analysts' expectations. Revenue for the second quarter reached $12.9 billion, surpassing Wall Street forecasts, although it was 15% lower than the same quarter last year. The chip maker also anticipates revenue between $12.9 billion and $13.9 billion in the current quarter.
Sequoia Capital has reduced its cryptocurrency fund by over 65% to $200 million from $585 million, reflecting a shift towards backing newer startups due to the crypto downturn.
Adjusted for inflation, the GDP data out Thursday revealed a 2.4% annualized increase in the second quarter, showing a steady and resilient US economy. Last quarter's strength boiled down to consumer spending and an unexpected boom in business investment.
Alternative credit provider and digital bank Upgrade has acquired Uplift, a travel-focused Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) company for $100 million. Upgrade aims to leverage this acquisition to bolster its presence in the BNPL space and extend its credit offerings.
📱 Apps & Gadgets
Google is changing its Play Store ranking algorithms to prioritize apps that support large screens, in a move following the release of Pixel Tablet and Pixel Fold. The updated algorithms will raise the visibility of apps that meet Google's large-screen app quality guidelines.
Barclays analyst Tim Long estimates a price increase for Apple's upcoming iPhone 15 Pro models due to new features such as an upgraded Telephoto lens, USB-C port, titanium frame, faster A17 Bionic chip, and more. Prices could range from $1,099 for the iPhone 15 Pro (previously $999) to $1,299 for the iPhone 15 Pro Max (from $1,099).
Despite COVID-19 and supply chain issues, Sony has sold over 40 million PlayStation 5 consoles, reflecting strong market dominance over Xbox Series. The supply situation has improved, allowing Sony to meet pent-up demand.
New details on Apple's Vision Pro have been uncovered from visionOS beta 2, revealing FaceTime limitations, Personas, Optic ID, and other user controls. The device won't be available until early 2024, priced at $3,499.
Samsung's Galaxy Watch 6 lineup showcases more health features, better battery life, and more style options compared to Google's Pixel Watch, despite Google's device being backed by Fitbit's fitness tracking capabilities.
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