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.
Duolingo's owl mascot, Duo, has undergone a controversial redesign. The owl appears sick with a runny nose, drooping eyes, and sweaty face. This change is a marketing strategy intended to boost user engagement by grabbing attention. Despite the alarming new look, the app and Duo's in-app appearance remain unaffected. Users have had mixed reactions - some find the latest look creative, while others are disturbed or confused by the sickly appearance.
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.