Tech Week Roundup: OpenAI’s Surprise Event, Spotify Wrapped Disappointment, and Tesla’s Legal Challenge
In a week filled with tech developments, OpenAI launched a surprise event, Spotify Wrapped faced user criticism, and Tesla encountered a significant legal setback. These stories, among others, have dominated the tech landscape as the year draws to a close.
OpenAI kicked off its “12 Days of Reveals” event, featuring daily livestreams set to continue until December 23. The company introduced a $200 monthly subscription for ChatGPT power users and released the full version of its “reasoning” o1 model. Tech enthusiasts are encouraged to follow the live blog for ongoing updates.
Spotify’s annual Wrapped feature met with disappointment from users this year. Critics pointed out the inclusion of an AI podcast and the absence of expected detailed stats and creative data stories. Popular features like top music genres were notably missing, leaving many users underwhelmed.
Tesla faced a legal challenge as a Delaware Chancery court judge ruled against revising Elon Musk’s $56 billion pay package. The decision came despite a shareholder vote to “re-ratify” the deal at Tesla’s annual meeting. The judge’s 103-page opinion cited procedural flaws in Tesla’s legal argument.
Other notable developments include the departure of three key leaders from Google’s NotebookLM team to a stealth startup, SpaceX’s potential tender offer valuing the company at $350 billion, and the delivery of the first all-electric popemobile by Mercedes-Benz.
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger’s retirement and severance details were revealed, while The Browser Company announced plans for an AI-focused web browser called Dia. Bluesky CEO Jay Graber commented on potential ads for the social network, and ChatGPT experienced a freezing issue when queried about “David Mayer” due to digital privacy requests.
On the lighter side, the Festivitas app now allows Mac users to decorate their screens with holiday lights, and Tesla’s Apple Watch app received an update with a prank feature.
In the world of celebrity tech ventures, Khloé Kardashian and Kris Jenner are seeking to raise $10 million for their project, Khloud. Meanwhile, a new app called Death Clock has garnered attention for its unconventional approach to predicting users’ death dates and offering life-extending tips.
As AI continues to evolve, the tech industry grapples with defining its practical applications, evidenced by the often ambiguous nature of AI advertisements and nonsensical AI-generated slogans. This ongoing challenge reflects the current state of AI marketing and its implications for businesses and consumers alike.
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