Lag0s

Week Summary

Technology

Earth has captured a temporary 'second moon,' a small asteroid named 2024 PT5, which will orbit until November 2024.

Research indicates that larger AI chatbots are increasingly prone to generating incorrect answers, raising concerns about their reliability.

Meta's Chief Technical Officer discussed advancements in AR and VR technologies, particularly focusing on the Orion AR glasses.

The author reflects on their experience with Rust, proposing several changes to improve the language's usability and safety features.

The Tor Project and Tails OS have merged to enhance their efforts in promoting online anonymity and privacy.

OpenAI is undergoing leadership changes, with key executives departing amid discussions about restructuring and the company's future direction.

Git-absorb

The concept of critical mass explains how significant changes occur when a threshold of acceptance is reached, impacting technology and society.

WordPress.org has banned WP Engine from accessing its resources due to ongoing legal disputes, raising concerns about security for WP Engine customers.

PostgreSQL 17

Hotwire Native is a web-first framework that simplifies mobile app development, allowing developers to reuse HTML and CSS across platforms.

Radian Aerospace is progressing on a reusable space plane, completing ground tests and aiming for full-scale flights by 2028.

A groundbreaking diabetes treatment using reprogrammed stem cells has enabled a patient to produce insulin independently for over a year.

Apple is developing a new home accessory that combines features of the iPad, Apple TV, and HomePod, expected to launch in 2025.

SpaceX's Starlink service is set to surpass 4 million subscribers, reflecting rapid growth and significant revenue projections.

TinyJS is a lightweight JavaScript library that simplifies dynamic HTML element creation and DOM manipulation for developers.

ADP Reports Slowdown in Pay Increases for Job Switchers
Recent data from ADP indicates a significant slowdown in pay increases for workers who change jobs, marking the slowest growth rate in over three years. In September, the median year-over-year pay increase for job switchers dropped to 6.6%, down from 7.3% in August. This decline represents the lowest growth rate since April 2021. The disparity between pay increases for those who switch jobs and those who remain in their positions has also narrowed, with job stayers experiencing a 4.7% pay increase in August. This trend contrasts sharply with the higher pay gains seen during the "Great Resignation" period of 2022-2023. ADP's chief economist, Nela Richardson, noted that the shrinking gap in pay gains suggests a less dynamic labor market. She described the current situation as one of equilibrium, although it remains uncertain how long this stability will last. While the rapid pay increases of previous years have cooled, the overall job market remains resilient. ADP's latest report revealed that the private sector added 143,000 jobs in September, surpassing economists' expectations of 125,000 and significantly higher than the 99,000 jobs added in August. This marks a rebound after five months of declining job additions. Despite these positive job growth figures, other indicators suggest a potential slowdown in the labor market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a decrease in the quits rate, which fell to 1.9% in August from 2% in July, the lowest level since June 2020. Richardson pointed out that the lack of substantial pay increases for job changers may discourage workers from leaving their current positions, indicating a shift towards stability in the labor market. Looking ahead, Richardson anticipates that this trend of stable growth may characterize labor market data for the remainder of 2024, as both quits and layoffs remain low, leading to muted worker turnover while hiring continues. The upcoming release of the September jobs report is expected to provide further insights, with economists predicting the addition of 150,000 nonfarm payroll jobs and an unemployment rate steady at 4.2%. Overall, while the labor market shows signs of stability, the dynamics of job switching and pay increases are evolving, reflecting broader economic trends and worker sentiments.
ADP Labor Market

Month Summary

Technology

OpenAI is considering a new subscription model for its upcoming AI product, Strawberry, while also restructuring for better financial backing.

Telegram founder

The startup landscape is shifting towards more tech-intensive ventures, with a focus on specialized research and higher capital requirements.

Boom Supersonic's XB-1 demonstrator aircraft successfully completed its second flight, testing new systems for future supersonic travel.

announced the uncrewed return of Boeing's Starliner, with future crewed missions planned for 2025.

OpenAI's SearchGPT aims to compete with Google Search by providing AI-driven information retrieval, though it currently faces accuracy issues.

Tesla is preparing to unveil its autonomous robotaxi technology at an event in Los Angeles, indicating ongoing challenges in achieving full autonomy.

The US Department of Justice is investigating Nvidia for potential antitrust violations related to its AI chip market dominance.

Apple plans to use OLED screens in all iPhone 16 models, moving away from Japanese suppliers and introducing new AI features.

Amazon S3 has introduced conditional writes to prevent overwriting existing objects, simplifying data updates for developers.

Chinese scientists have developed a hydrogel that shows promise in treating osteoarthritis by restoring cartilage lubrication.

Nvidia's CEO is working to position the Nvidia as a comprehensive provider for data center needs, amidst growing competition from AMD and Intel.

OpenAI

Nvidia Blackwell

Amazon is set to release a revamped Alexa voice assistant in October, powered by AI models from Anthropic's Claude, and will be offered as a paid subscription service.