📜 White House Unleashes 10 AI Directives Shaking the Tech Industry

Tech Titans and Trendsetters,

Today is October 30th, 2023, and here's your daily dose of the latest happenings in the tech world. Dive into the key stories that are setting the pace in today's digital landscape:

• Meta's EU Launch - Ad-free subscriptions unveiled.

• Maps' AI Revolution - Google's immersive, AI-driven features.

• Google's $2B Bet - Investment in Anthropic's AI tech.

• Bard Goes Live - Google's chatbot now interrupts real-time.

• ChatGPT's New Era - OpenAI's latest beta features unveiled.

• AI's White House Play - 10 directives reshaping tech.

• Cloud's Growth Hurdle - Startup declines impacting pace.

• iOS 17.2 Journal - Balancing self-reflection and AI concerns.

Stay ahead, stay updated, and read on to delve deeper into these groundbreaking stories. Cheers to innovation!

Tech Companies

Meta Debuts Ad-Free Subscriptions for EU Instagram, Facebook Users (8-minute read)

Meta announced plans to launch ad-free subscription plans for Facebook and Instagram in Europe from next month. The monthly subscriptions, costing between 10-13 euros ($10.60-$13.78) are available only to users aged 18 or above. The decision follows a European Court of Justice ruling requiring user consent for personalized ads. Subscriptions replace personalized ads as a 'valid form of consent.' Meta stated it will still run personalized ads through its ad-supported service.

Startup Extinction Threatens Cloud Industry's Growth Pace (9-minute read)

A dramatic increase in startup bankruptcies is impacting the cloud industry, with 212 businesses closing in the third quarter, per data from Carta. This trend may disrupt the growth of cloud providers, as their revenue partly depends on startup expenditure. Particularly affected could be Amazon Web Services, which has traditionally catered to startup companies. However, the growing demand for AI cloud services, specifically linked to Microsoft, may cushion this effect.

Generative AI: The Game-Changer Revolutionizing Smartphones (15-minute read)

According to industry leaders Bill Gates and Sundar Pichai, generative AI technology is becoming a central feature in smartphones. The technology played a significant role in Google's Pixel 8 launch, with AI algorithms picking out best facial expressions in group photos. Similarly, the next smartphone processor from Qualcomm is said to be designed to hasten AI processing tasks. Furthermore, Apple is developing new features that fall largely on AI technology, reportedly enhancing the functionality of the iPhone. The tech is anticipated to assume an even bigger role in smartphones beyond 2024.

Twitter Unveils $3 Basic and $16 Premium+ Subscriptions: What You Need to Know (3-minute read)

Twitter has introduced new subscription options: a $3/mo Basic tier offering longer posts and custom app icons without a verification checkmark and a $16/mo Premium+ tier with an ad-free experience. The existing $8/mo Premium verification tier remains unchanged.

AI Corner

White House Unleashes 10 AI Directives Shaking the Tech Industry (7-minute read)

The White House has issued an executive order targeting the regulation of AI, featuring ten key mandates. These include a requirement for leading AI developers, such as OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, to share results of safety tests with the Federal government, new standards for biosynthesis screening, and labeling of AI-generated content. The order aims to ensure cybersecurity, address discrimination issues raised by AI, and support workers potentially affected by AI advancements.

Revolutionary OpenAI ChatGPT Plus Beta Features Live: Here's What to Expect (4-minute read)

OpenAI is enhancing the capabilities of ChatGPT Plus, introducing new beta features for subscribers that include file upload and analysis, as well as multimodal support. The update includes Advanced Data Analysis and more autonomous functioning, guessing user needs based on context. The chatbot can now handle text and image files, allowing for data summarization, answering queries, and generating data visualizations and image iterations.

Google's AI Chatbot Bard Goes Real-Time: Interrupt Mid-Sentence Now Allowed (4-minute read)

Google has upgraded its Bard AI chatbot to respond in real-time, including mid-sentence response cutoffs and answer draft previews, enhancing Gmail email summaries.

Meta's AI Data Deletion for Artists: A PR Stunt or Genuine Effort? (8-minute read)

Meta is being criticized by artists over its data deletion process for AI training models, describing it as a "fake PR stunt" due to its apparent non-functionality and lack of transparency.

Markets & Money

Evolving M&A Landscape: Captivating Insights into 2024's Anticipated Surge (4-minute read)

Global M&A market value hit nearly a decade low in Q3 2023. Market signs, however, predict a recovery in 2024, backed by trillions in dry private equity funds and corporate cash reserves set aside for future deals. Lower private-market valuations also attract strategic buyers towards private targets.

Google Invests $2B in AI Startup Anthropic: Fuelling Generative Tech Race (3-minute read)

Google is bolstering artificial intelligence startup Anthropic with a further $2 billion investment, following Amazon's $4 billion commitment last month.

Apps & Gadgets

Google Maps Unveils Immersive View and AI-Powered Features: A Game Changer? (7-minute read)

Google Maps is introducing significant design changes and AI-boosted functionalities to aid navigation and location discovery better. The new Immersive View feature for Routes has launched in numerous cities, offering a photorealistic preview of the journey. Google also plans to roll-out enhanced EV charging station details, AI-powered specific searches, and a more precise and user-friendly map color scheme. Developers will access enhanced EV charging information via the Places API and an upcoming Photorealistic 3D Tiles feature.

Explore iOS 17.2's Journal App: Self-Reflection Boost or AI Invasion? (7-minute read)

Apple's developer beta for iOS 17.2 introduces the Journal app, a digital diary that enables users to log activities and utilize machine learning for entry prompts. Additional features include bookmarking entries and setting a writing schedule. The beta also presents new music playlist options, an identity verification feature on iMessage, and an enhancement of Siri's health data logging function. Apple TV users can expect a new navigation sidebar for improved content accessibility.

Humane's Ai Pin: A $1,000 Wearable Tech Game-changer? (7-minute read)

The secretive startup Humane's new device, the Ai Pin, may retail for about $1,000 and also require a monthly data subscription. This wearable, screenless device is packed with features like a camera, microphone, speaker, sensors, and a laser projector. Set for launch on November 9th, a proprietary large-language model powers it and operates as a phone, contextual computer, and software platform. Its ambitious vision entails a paradigm shift in consumer computing.

Revolutionizing Task Management: iOS 17's Exciting New Shortcuts (7-minute read)

Apple has introduced new functionalities to the Shortcuts app with iOS 17, enhancing automation and task optimization. Added actions include "Transcribe Audio," "Open Camera," and "Show Passwords". ""Set Timer” and "Get Network Details" updates improve timer management and network information access. These changes boost productivity, streamline workflows and simplify life for iOS 17 users.

Apple Enhances iMessage Security with CKV in iOS 17.2 Beta, Here's How to Activate It (3-minute read)

Apple's iOS 17.2 beta introduces a new iMessage security feature, Contact Key Verification (CKV). Alerting users about unverified device keys, CKV ensures the authenticity of contacts. All devices logged into an iCloud account must have iOS 17.2, macOS 14.2, or watchOS 10.2 to enable this. No compromise on iPhone's functionality is needed to utilize this safeguard.