We’re back with another edition of Week in Review, packed with exciting news and updates. Today, we’ve got the latest on Nintendo’s Switch 2, OpenAI’s capacity issues, a fascinating story that’s begging for a Hollywood adaptation, and much more. Let’s dive in!
The Wait is Almost Over: After nearly a decade, Nintendo has finally unveiled its Switch successor, the Switch 2. According to TechCrunch’s Amanda Silberling, the $450 system aims to improve upon its beloved predecessor. However, preorders in the US might be delayed due to tariffs imposed by Trump.
Delays and Capacity Issues: OpenAI’s Sam Altman announced on X that the company’s new image-generating tool may cause unspecified product delays. Altman assured that the team is working diligently to resolve the issues. Meanwhile, the company has promised to release o3, despite previously canceling its consumer release in February.
A Story of Perseverance: Zach Yadegari, the creator of the viral Cal AI app, shared on Twitter that despite having a 4.0 GPA and a $30 million ARR company, he was rejected by 15 top universities. His story serves as a reminder that success is not solely defined by academic achievements.
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A Sudden Departure: The Trump administration has fired the head of the National Security Agency and Cyber Command, as well as the NSA’s deputy director. The current oversight structure for the NSA and Cyber Command is unclear following this dismissal.
AI-Powered Shopping: Amazon has unveiled Nova Act, a general-purpose AI agent that can control a web browser and perform simple tasks. The company is also testing a feature called “Buy for Me”, which allows users to purchase products from third-party sites without leaving Amazon’s platform.
A Concerning Development: ChatGPT’s new image generator can be used to create fake receipts, potentially adding to the toolkit of AI-powered fraudsters. These generated receipts can even include realistic details like food and coffee stains.
A Tale of Corporate Espionage: Rippling has released the affidavit of an employee who testified to spying for rival company Deel. The story is filled with intriguing details, including instructions to destroy a phone with an axe. This saga has all the makings of a Hollywood thriller.
Criticizing the Status Quo: Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has accused Apple and Google of “gangster-style” business practices. This criticism comes after Epic Games sued both companies for monopolistic practices in their app stores, with varying degrees of success.
A Change in Strategy: Zelle, a person-to-person payment facilitator, has announced that it’s shutting down its standalone app. However, this move is unlikely to affect the majority of its 150 million users, as only 2% of transactions were made through the app.
A Significant Funding Round: Plaid, a company that connects bank accounts to financial applications, has raised $575 million in funding at a $6.1 billion post-money valuation. This valuation is significantly lower than the $13.4 billion it achieved in April 2021.
Renewable Energy on the Rise: The AI sector’s power demand is expected to double by 2029
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