Meta Connect 2024 was this week, showcasing new {hardware} and software program to assist two of the corporate’s large ambitions: AI and the metaverse. CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced new Quest headsets, updates to Meta’s Llama AI mannequin, and real-time video capabilities of Ray-Ban Meta sensible glasses. The largest reveal, although, was Orion, a real AR glasses prototype touted as “the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen.”
OpenAI CTO Mira Murati introduced this week that she is leaving the corporate after greater than six years. Hours after the announcement, OpenAI’s chief analysis officer, Bob McGrew, and a analysis VP, Barret Zoph, additionally left the corporate. The high-level departures come lower than per week earlier than the beginning of OpenAI’s annual developer convention.
One of CloudKitchens’ earliest staff is suing the corporate. In the lawsuit, Isabella Vincenza alleges wrongful termination, intercourse discrimination, and a hostile work setting, together with an intense “bro culture” on the firm. Vincenza additionally claims that she was “retaliated against for standing up for herself” following her being pregnant and subsequent maternity depart.
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Talk to me, ChatGPT: OpenAI rolled out Advanced Voice Mode following some delays and controversy. The function has an up to date blue spherical look, 5 new voices, and improved accent capabilities for purchasers in ChatGPT’s Plus and Teams tiers. Read extra
YC Demo Day: Y Combinator kicked off its two-day “Demo Day” occasion showcasing what the newest YC batch firms are constructing. Here are the businesses price taking note of out of the occasion. (Spoiler alert: They just about all use AI.) Read extra
Amazon staff vs. RTO: Amazon CEO Andy Jassy introduced that staff will likely be anticipated to work from the workplace 5 days per week beginning in 2025. But an nameless survey created by staff reveals that many who’ve grown accustomed to a hybrid work construction are “strongly dissatisfied.” Read extra
How a lot can a cellphone wallpaper value? Marques Brownlee, identified on YouTube as MKBHD, launched the wallpaper app Panels, the place he’s curating high-quality digital wallpapers from artists. But as a way to entry high-resolution wallpapers with out advertisements, customers must cough up about $50 per 12 months. Read extra
WordPress vs. WP Engine: A heated authorized battle is brewing between WordPress founder and Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg and WP Engine — which hosts web sites constructed on WordPress — after Mullenweg wrote a weblog submit calling WP Engine a “cancer to WordPress.” Read extra
X switches up the block function: X will quickly change how its block function works in order that accounts you have got blocked will nonetheless be capable to see your public posts. Elon Musk clarified that blocked accounts nonetheless gained’t be capable to have interaction with customers who’ve blocked them. Read extra
RevenueCat turns up the warmth: Subscription administration platform RevenueCat acquired Dipsea, an app providing subscriptions to “spicy” audiobooks. The concept is to carry a subscription-based app in-house to function a testing floor for RevenueCat’s new options. Read extra
RIP, TikTok Music: ByteDance is shuttering its music streaming service, TikTok Music, in November. TikTok Music was rooted in a ByteDance product referred to as Resso, and the service was later obtainable in Indonesia, Brazil, Australia, Singapore, and Mexico. Read extra
Meta will get hit with one other privateness penalty: Meta has been reprimanded and fined $101.5 million (at present alternate charges) by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission for a 2019 breach that uncovered a whole lot of thousands and thousands of Facebook passwords. Read extra
Hands-on with Plaud’s NotePin: TechCrunch’s Brian Heater has been testing Plaud’s $169 ChatGPT-powered NotePin to transcribe conferences and take notes. Unlike different AI pins,…