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| Here’s a look at today's tech briefing: - Tesla reaches settlement in Autopilot death of Apple engineer.
- Google and Intel unveil new chips for data centers, AI.
- WordPress owner Automattic acquires messaging app Beeper.
- GM's Cruise to relaunch human-driven robotaxis in Phoenix.
- YouTube’s Dude Perfect raises over $100M.
Beth
p/beth-duckett | |
| 1 | | Tesla settled a lawsuit related to the 2018 death of an Apple engineer, whose car crashed while in Autopilot. The settlement avoids a trial that would have drawn attention to the driver-assistance technology's role in the crash. More: - The family of Wei Lun Huang, 38, sued Tesla after his fatal crash near Mountain View, California, blaming Autopilot defects.
- Huang's Model X was in Autopilot mode when it drifted from a faded lane line and crashed into a highway barrier at 71 mph.
- Huang had previously reported problems with the car's Autopilot. The National Transportation Safety Board found that the software and distracted driving were factors.
- Tesla planned to argue that Huang played phone games while in the car, though investigators couldn't confirm if he was actively playing a game.
Settlement: - Details of the settlement, filed just before jury selection, remain undisclosed.
- Tesla's lawyer is trying to keep the amount confidential.
- It may be Tesla's first settlement amid multiple lawsuits involving Autopilot. The company previously won two related trials in California.
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| 2 | | Google and Intel each unveiled new chips on Tuesday. Google announced its first customer Arm-based CPU for data centers, while Intel introduced the AI chip "Gaudi 3" to compete with Nvidia. Google's chip: - Axion, already powering Google services like YouTube Ads in Google Cloud, will launch to its cloud customers later this year.
- Google claims Axion outperforms the fastest Arm-based cloud instances by up to 30%.
- It targets Google's cloud rivals, Microsoft and Amazon, who have also developed Arm-based CPUs.
Intel's chip: - Gaudi 3 can train AI models and run AI software.
- Intel claims the accelerator can train large language models 50% faster and perform inference 1.5 times faster than Nvidia's H100.
- Gaudi 3 will launch to manufacturers like Dell in Q2, with broader availability later this year.
Zoom out: 
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| 3 | | WordPress owner Automattic acquired Beeper, the app that briefly brought iMessage to Android users. Through the $125M+ deal, Automattic acquired Beeper's 27 staff, including co-founder Eric Migicovsky, who will become its head of messaging. More: - Beeper, launched in 2021, is a universal chat app that merges messaging services like Facebook Messenger and Slack into one inbox.
- Automattic will merge Beeper's team with Texts.com, its cross-platform messaging app with iMessage support that it purchased last year.
- Automattic is pivoting toward open-source, cross-service messaging.
- Beeper's new Android app is now out of beta without a waitlist, merging messaging from Telegram, Signal, and others into one platform.
Zoom out: - The deal follows Beeper's launch of Beeper Mini, an app that allowed Android users to access iMessage and appear as blue bubbles in the Apple app.
- Apple took action to block Beeper, which eventually gave up on the app.
- The DOJ's new anti-monopoly lawsuit against Apple cites its battle with Beeper as evidence of controlling third-party innovation to shield itself from competition.
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| 4 | | General Motors' Cruise is resuming operations with a small fleet of human-driven robotaxis in Phoenix. The relaunch comes six months after Cruise suspended all operations following a pedestrian accident in San Francisco. More: - In the Oct. 2 incident, a pedestrian struck by another car was injured after being dragged by one of Cruise's robotaxis.
- Cruise reports "significant progress" since the incident, citing new leadership, expert advice, and community collaboration.
- The company has been in talks with officials in 20 metro areas where it previously operated or began mapping.
- It will now relaunch with human drivers to map and collect road data in certain cities, starting in Phoenix, where it previously operated.
Zoom out: - Cruise said it hopes to validate its self-driving technology as it works to resume driverless operations.
- Alphabet's Waymo, Cruise's rival, has expanded driverless services in Phoenix, including Uber Eats deliveries.
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| 5 | | Dude Perfect secured at least $100M from a private investment firm to expand its media presence and diversify beyond YouTube. The internet influencer group got its start in stunts and now has 60+ million YouTube subscribers. More: - Dude Perfect has also expanded into TV shows, events, games, and more.
- Highmount Capital, its long-term financial partner, reportedly invested between $100M and $300M.
- The funding will help Dude Perfect expand into a bigger media company, including hiring new management and employees.
- Its "Dude Perfect 2.0" vision involves a streaming platform, retail store, events, and a potential theme park.
Zoom out: - The five co-founders, Cody Jones, Garrett Hilbert, Tyler Toney, Cory Cotton, and Coby Cotton, started creating YouTube videos in 2009 while roommates at Texas A&M University, and their channel now ranks as the 35th most-subscribed.
- Private investment firms have been pouring millions into YouTube talent and new media.
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| 6 | | Spotify said its paid users can now create AI-generated playlists from text prompts. The beta feature is first launching to Premium subscribers in the U.K. and Australia. More: - Spotify said it's using LLMs and personalization technology based on user history and preferences to create the customized AI playlists
- Users enter the prompts into a text field on the Spotify mobile app for iOS or Android.
- Spotify's announcement gave example prompts, such as "relaxing music to tide me over during allergy season" and "a playlist that makes me feel like the main character."
- Its AI tailors the playlists over time to user preferences. Users can also edit the lists with additional prompts.
Zoom out: - Spotify launched an AI-powered "DJ" last year. The feature curates music based on a user's listening history and adds synthetic voice commentary.
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- Microsoft's AI unit will open a hub in London to support advanced LLMs, infrastructure, and tools for AI foundation models.
- Meta's new Quest VR update includes a feature for Quest 3 users to use the headset while lying down.
- In an interview, Elon Musk said he predicts there will be AI systems "smarter than any one human" probably by the end of 2025 or in 2026.
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 | AI and technology writer | | Beth is a contributing editor and writer of Inside's AI and Tech newsletters. She has written for publications including USA Today, the Arizona Business Gazette, and The Arizona Republic, where she received recognition with a Pulitzer Prize nomination and a First Amendment Award for collaborative reporting on state pension cost increases. You can reach her at Beth.Duckett@yahoo.com. | | This newsletter was edited by Beth Duckett | |
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