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.
App tokens historically have had problems with value capture, proper governance, and regulatory compliance. a16z Crypto has designed a fee tracing mechanism where pools can distribute fees compliant with a token holder's regulatory jurisdiction. A curator entity could handle finding compliant frontends and users for a fee, thus removing any additional burden from protocol governance.
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.