Week in Review: Highlights and Developments
Emerging AI Technologies:
Perplexity, an AI-powered search engine, has introduced Perplexity Labs. This feature, available to Pro subscribers, allows the creation of reports, spreadsheets, and dashboards through web searches, code execution, and visualizations—all within approximately 10 minutes.
Partnerships in Technology:
Oculus founder Palmer Luckey and Mark Zuckerberg have announced a collaboration between Facebook and Luckey’s company, Anduril, to develop extended reality (XR) devices for the U.S. military. The project, named EagleEye, will consist of an ecosystem of devices.
AI in the Workforce:
A World Economic Forum survey indicates that 40% of employers intend to reduce staff roles that can be automated by AI, highlighting a significant shift in employment trends.
Tech Developments:
The Browser Company is exploring options to sell or open source its Arc Browser to concentrate on a new AI-powered browser called Dia. Similarly, Opera is developing an AI-focused browser, while Perplexity has been hinting at its own, named Comet.
WhatsApp Updates:
Meta has launched a version of WhatsApp specifically for iPad users, which will support iPadOS multitasking features like Stage Manager, Split View, and Slide Over.
Security Breaches:
LexisNexis Risk Solutions reported a security breach impacting over 364,000 individuals. Hackers gained access to the company’s GitHub account, compromising sensitive personal information.
In another incident, hackers accessed the phone of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and used AI to impersonate her voice in communications with other officials.
Innovations in Email:
Gmail now features an AI that automatically summarizes emails when needed. Users must opt-out if they prefer not to have their emails summarized by Gemini.
Investments and Growth:
General Catalyst has invested $1 billion in Grammarly, aiming to enhance its sales and marketing efforts while freeing up capital for strategic acquisitions.
Dating App Features:
Tinder is testing a "height preference" feature for users seeking potential matches. This feature will inform recommendations without excluding profiles.
Legal Developments:
Carma Technology, founded by Sean O’Sullivan, has filed a lawsuit against Uber, alleging patent infringement. The case concerns five patents and dates back nearly a decade.
