OpenAI has a new “affordable” version of ChatGPT for universities and schools. They also are planning to get back into robotics in a big way. Behind the scenes, TikTok is forking its algorithm just in case. Why doesn’t Apple just euthanize the Siri brand? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions.

Links:

• has-a-has-a-new-version-of-chatgpt-just-for-universities-191350708.html">OpenAI has a has a new version of ChatGPT just for universities (Engadget)
• OpenAI Is Rebooting Its Robotics Team (Forbes)
• OpenAI finds Russian and Chinese groups used its tech for propaganda campaigns (Washington Post)
• Apple Plans AI-Based Siri Overhaul to Control Individual App Functions (Bloomberg)
• Exclusive: TikTok preparing a US copy of the app’s core algorithm, sources say (Reuters)
• Spotify offers Car Thing refunds as it faces lawsuit over bricking the streaming device (TechCrunch)

Weekend Longreads Suggestions:

• Disney Is Banking On Sequels to Help Get Pixar Back on Track (Bloomberg Businessweek)
• They Built a $100 Million Watch Empire. Then the Market Tanked. (WSJ)
• The Creator Of ‘Magic: The Gathering’ Knows Exactly Where It All Went Wrong (Defector)

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Global authorities take down what they say is the biggest botnet of all time. More big AI deals for big media. More on the delicate dance between OpenAI and Microsoft. Why aren’t there more smartwatches for tweens? And the AR laptop that might give the Apple Vision Pro a run for its money.

Links:

• US dismantles 911 S5 botnet used for cyberattacks, arrests admin (BleepingComputer)
• Exclusive: The Atlantic, Vox Media ink licensing, product deals with OpenAI (Axios)
• OpenAI CEO Cements Control as He Secures Apple Deal (The Information)
• Internal divisions linger at OpenAI after November’s attempted coup (Financial Times)
• Amazon to Expand US Drone Service After Getting Regulator’s Nod (Bloomberg)
• Apple Signals That It’s Working on TV+ App for Android Phones (Bloomberg)
• Google announces Fitbit Ace LTE for kids with Wear OS, Pixel Watch 2 specs (9to5Google)
• The Spacetop G1 Arrives This Fall. We Try the AR Laptop With No Screen (Wired)

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A big leak at Google might be the tech equivalent of the secret formula for Coca-Cola being revealed for the first time. The ex-OpenAI board members are starting to explain why they tried to fire Sam Altman. Did the Biden administration pass on TikTok’s concessions to avoid a ban? And remember delivery apps? How they doin’ these days?

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Links:

• An Anonymous Source Shared Thousands of Leaked Google Search API Documents with Me; Everyone in SEO Should See Them (SparkToro.com)
• Ex-OpenAI Director Says Board Learned of ChatGPT Launch on Twitter (Bloomberg)
• Anthropic hires former OpenAI safety lead to head up new team (TechCrunch)
• YouTube’s free games catalog ‘Playables’ rolls out to all users (TechCrunch)
• How the U.S. ignored a chance to make TikTok safer (Washington Post)
• Food delivery apps rack up $20bn in losses in fierce battle for diners (Financial Times)

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We have a rough timeline of when we can expect GPT5 and it looks like it won’t be this summer. xAI has a big raise. Another in-depth look at Apple’s AI strategy. The surprising old school companies getting boosted by the AI boom. And more data on how popular ad-supported streaming is becoming.

Sponsors:

• YahooFinance.com
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Links:

• gpt4-new-model.html">OpenAI Says It Has Begun Training a New Flagship A.I. Model (NYTimes)
• Elon Musk’s xAI raises $6 billion to fund its race against ChatGPT and all the rest (The Verge)
• Apple Bets That Its Giant User Base Will Help It Win in AI (Bloomberg)
• Google adds AI-powered features to Chromebook (TechCrunch)
• The future of financial analysis: How GPT-4 is disrupting the industry, according to new research (VentureBeat)
• AI Is Driving ‘the Next Industrial Revolution.’ Wall Street Is Cashing In. (WSJ)
• tv-streaming.html?unlocked_article_code=1.u00.-NgX._JWeWd_10adI&smid=url-share">What Happened to Our Ad-Free TV? (NYTimes)

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Out of nowhere, the SEC has approved spot ETFs for ether. Spotify is killing its Car Thing. Google’s AI Overview is giving crazy answers all over the place. But Meta already wants to charge more for their AI bots. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions.

Sponsors:

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Links:

• US SEC approves exchange applications to list spot ether ETFs (Reuters)
• Spotify is going to break every Car Thing gadget it ever sold (The Verge)
• Google's AI search feature suggested using glue to keep cheese sticking to a pizza (Business Insider)
• Save $200+ on your upgrade to The Information Pro (The Information)
• The Daylight DC1 is a $729 attempt to build a calmer computer (The Verge)

Weekend Longreads Suggestions:

• VCs and the military are fueling self-driving startups that don’t need roads (TechCrunch)
• Two students find security bug that could let millions do laundry for free (The Verge)

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Nvidia’s earnings are still historic, but what could upset their apple cart? A few things, actually. I think we know the truth or at least the timeline of JohanssonGate. Big new media deal for OpenAI. Likes are going private on X. And would you clone your voice to answer the phone on your behalf?

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Links:

• Nvidia shares pass $1,000 for first time on AI-driven sales surge (CNBC)
• Nvidia’s Business Is Booming. Here’s What Could Slow It Down. (WSJ)
• OpenAI didn’t copy Scarlett Johansson’s voice for ChatGPT, records show (Washington Post)
• OpenAI, WSJ Owner News Corp Strike Content Deal Valued at Over $250 Million (WSJ)
• Crypto Lobby Wins: House Passes FIT21 as Democrats Deride Historic Regulatory Framework (Decrypt)
• Elon Musk Wants to Make X's Likes Private to Hide Your Favorite 'Edgy' Content (Gizmodo)
• Truecaller and Microsoft will let users make an AI voice to answer calls (The Verge)

The story about my wife's theater project (NYTimes)

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All the AI announcements from Microsoft Build. I know it’s only been a minute, but is Humane already circling the Deadpool? They’re supposedly shopping themselves, but at a valuation that seems… shall we say, on brand for them? Don’t forget Alexa needs an AI upgrade. And the efforts to peek inside the black box that is the Large Language Model.

Links:

• Microsoft’s new Copilot AI agents act like virtual employees to automate tasks (The Verge)
• Microsoft is bringing ‘Windows Volumetric Apps’ to Meta Quest headsets (The Verge)
• Wearable AI Startup Humane Explores Potential Sale, Sources Say (Bloomberg)
• Google Search’s New AI Overviews Will Soon Have Ads (Wired)
• plans-to-give-alexa-an-ai-overhaul-monthly-subscription-price.html">Amazon plans to give Alexa an AI overhaul — and a monthly subscription price (CNBC)
• AI Is a Black Box. Anthropic Figured Out a Way to Look Inside (Wired)

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There are only 2 stories today, but they’re big ones. First, at an event yesterday, Microsoft showed off what they want the PC to look like in the AI era. Plus, this Recall app is super interesting. Then, look, it’s the Scarlett Johansson/OpenAI thing. It’s gotten weird. And more importantly, it’s continuing to highlight how OpenAI itself is… weird.

Sponsors:

• Miro.com for 3 free boards!

Links:

• The new, faster Surface Pro is Microsoft’s all-purpose AI PC (The Verge)
• Microsoft announces an Arm-powered Surface Laptop (The Verge)
• unveils-copilot-pcs-with-generative-ai-capabilities-baked-in-170445370.html">Microsoft unveils Copilot+ PCs with generative AI capabilities baked in (Engadget)
• Recall is Microsoft’s key to unlocking the future of PCs (The Verge)
• Scarlett Johansson says she was 'shocked, angered' when she heard OpenAI's voice that sounded like her (NBCNews)
• Midler v. Ford Motor Co. (Wikipedia)

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No, that ChatGPT voice is not Scarlett Johansson, stop asking. In fact, that voice is going away. What does it mean if OpenAI’s entire superalignment team has gone away? Is Apple News+ the partner publishers have been waiting for? And if you want to be a digital nomad, you’ve got a lot of options these days.

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Links:

• OpenAI to Pull Johansson Soundalike Sky’s Voice From ChatGPT (Bloomberg)
• 4o-scarlett-johansson-her.html">What We Lose When ChatGPT Sounds Like Scarlett Johansson (NYTimes)
• Apple Needs to Evolve to Compete in the Artificial Intelligence Era (Bloomberg)
• OpenAI’s Long-Term AI Risk Team Has Disbanded (Wired)
• As clicks dry up for news sites, could Apple’s news app be a lifeline? (Semafor)
• Countries wooing corporate digital nomads hope to make them stay (FT)

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As telegraphed for the last year, Reddit is going all in on being an all you can eat buffet for AI companies. Will new batteries give iPhones longer battery life like I want, or will they just make the phones thinner? A subtle but important improvement to ChatGPT and in the Longreads, a deep dive into what happened at Cruise.

Links:

• OpenAI strikes deal to bring Reddit content to ChatGPT (Reuters)
• OpenAI strikes Reddit deal to train its AI on your posts (The Verge)
• Grand Theft Auto VI is launching in fall 2025 (The Verge)
• iPhone 16 Pro Max to get new battery that could last longer (AppleInsider)
• ChatGPT now lets you import files directly from Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive (VentureBeat)
• Twitter is officially X.com now (The Verge)

Weekend Longreads Suggestions:

• In a single night, self-driving startup Cruise went from sizzling startup to cautionary tale. Here’s what really happened—and how GM is scrambling to save its $10B bet (Fortune)
• How cuddly robots could change dementia care (MIT Technology Review)
• Where Did All The Stocks Go? (Sherwood)

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