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| Here's a look at today's Tech briefing: - Meta’s Threads app has almost 100 million users.
- Sony resolves PlayStation 5 supply issues.
- Apple planning new AirPods and AirPods Max in 2024.
Thanks for reading! Beth
p/beth-duckett | |
| 1 | | Meta's Threads, the Twitter competitor, has reached nearly 100 million monthly active users and could be on track to hit 1 billion in the next few years, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The app and platform has benefited from an exodus of users from X, formerly Twitter, following the latter's rebrand under new owner Elon Musk. More: - Threads, a text-based rival to X/Twitter, gained over 100 million signups shortly after launch, making it the fastest-growing app on record.
- However, engagement soon dwindled due to limited features and feeds flooded with unwanted posts.
- Threads has now added features like a web app, search, and a free edit feature.
- "We're three months in now, and I'm very happy with the trajectory," Zuckerberg said.
Zoom out: - Zuckerberg revealed the Threads' numbers during Meta's Q3 earnings call. The company reported $34B in revenue for the quarter that ended Sept. 30, a 23% jump from the year prior.
- The CEO said AI will be the company's top investment focus in 2024.
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| 2 | | Sony says its PlayStation 5 is now fully stocked worldwide, overcoming three years of supply chain problems triggered by global chip shortages. Sony is now on track to meet its record-breaking sales target of 25 million PS5 units in 2023, executive Eric Lempel said. 
Details: This holiday season marks the first time there is full PS5 stock availability worldwide, Lempel said. He expects "record-breaking sales" this year, thanks to supply and high demand for titles like "Marvel's Spider-Man 2." Sony is also actively seeking new developer partners for PS5 exclusives, he said. Zoom out: Since 2020, global chip shortages and supply chain disruptions significantly limited the availability of both the PS5 and Microsoft's Xbox Series X and S consoles, which also appear to be restocked at most retailers. | | | |
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| 3 | | U.S. President Biden is preparing to reveal a broad executive order on artificial intelligence this coming Monday. The White House has invited guests to a "Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence" event hosted by Biden on Oct. 30. More: - According to the Washington Post, the order will require advanced AI models to undergo assessments before federal workers can use them.
- It would order federal departments like the Pentagon to gauge how they could incorporate AI into their operations, with an emphasis on cybersecurity.
- The order is expected to ease the immigration process for highly skilled professionals, a process that was tightened under the Trump administration.
- The order's details are not final.
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| 4 | | Apple plans to launch updated versions of its entry-level AirPods and AirPods Max headphones in 2024. This could be followed by a new AirPods Pro model in 2025, according to Bloomberg. More: - Apple currently offers three models: second-gen AirPods at $129, third-gen AirPods at $169, and AirPods Pro at $249.
- The company plans to phase out both the second-gen and third-gen AirPods next year, introducing two fourth-gen models with a fresh design in the fall.
- The new AirPods will have short stems and noise cancellation in some models, as well as integrated speakers in the charging case, like the AirPods Pro
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| 5 | | Sweeping rules that require tech companies to keep children safe online have taken effect in the U.K. Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan hailed the Online Safety Act as a historic step toward making the U.K. the world's safest online space. More: - The law requires social media platforms to make sure children can't access harmful or inappropriate content.
- It includes measures such as age checks on porn sites, and the removal of illegal content like child sexual abuse, cyberbullying, and deepfake pornography.
- As a final resort, companies must create technology for scanning encrypted messages, a move opposed by many tech firms.
Zoom out: - If companies fail to comply, Britain's media regulator can impose fines up to £18M ($22.3M) or 10% of their annual global turnover. The regulator, Ofcom, will roll out the rules in three phases.
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| 6 | | Amazon launched an AI-powered tool that generates images for sellers' advertising campaigns. Amazon Ads has started rolling out the feature to limited advertisers, with plans to expand it over time based on feedback. More: - Advertisers can feed the tool with a generic product image and a short text prompt.
- The AI then churns out custom "lifestyle and brand-themed images" for the product.
- Users can edit the images or improve them with pre-set themes.
- Adding multiple images will auto-create a slideshow.
Zoom out: - Amazon claims that products placed within a "lifestyle setting" can get 40% higher click-through rates.
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 | AI and technology writer | | Beth is an editor and writer of Inside's AI and Tech newsletters, with a career spanning journalism since 2007. She has written for publications including The Arizona Republic and USA Today and authored a book on the solar industry in 2016. Reach her at Beth.Duckett@yahoo.com. | | This newsletter was edited by Eduardo Garcia | |
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