Plus: OpenAI could announce a ChatGPT search feature on Monday.
| For May 10, 2024 |  |
| Here’s a look at today's tech briefing: - Apple apologizes for poorly received iPad ad.
- Microsoft to launch mobile game store in July.
- Tesla removes nearly all North American job posts.
- Apple to power AI with its own data center chips.
- OpenAI to announce ChatGPT search feature.
- Nintendo removing X support from Switch.
Beth
p/beth-duckett | |
| 1 | | Apple apologized for its poorly received advertisement featuring the new iPad Pro, saying it "missed the mark." The ad shows creative tools such as a piano and emoji being pressed by a hydraulic crusher, revealing the new tablet, to the tune of Sonny and Cher's "All I Ever Need Is You." More: - Critics pointed to the symbolism of a Big Tech company destroying art and its related tools, particularly amid the rise of generative AI that could replace human creators.
- Many expressed offense at the destruction of the creative tools themselves.
- In response, Apple marketing VP Tor Myhren said the company's goal "is to always celebrate the myriad of ways users express themselves and bring their ideas to life through iPad."
- "We missed the mark with this video," Myhren added, "And we're sorry."
- Apple will keep the ad on YouTube but has canceled plans to air it on TV.
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| 2 | | Microsoft will launch its mobile game store in July. According to Xbox President Sarah Bond, the web-based storefront will feature Microsoft games like Candy Crush Saga and Minecraft before opening up to other game publishers. More: - The Xbox Store would operate on mobile devices, directly competing with Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store.
- It will first launch on web browsers rather than as an app, ensuring accessibility across different devices and countries, Bond said.
- Candy Crush Saga, acquired via Microsoft's Activision Blizzard deal, will be a flagship franchise on the store from day one.
- Microsoft plans to release third-party mobile games in the future.
Zoom out: - The move aligns with Microsoft's strategy to expand its mobile gaming presence, especially after last year's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- A Newzoo report shows that mobile gaming is the largest segment for consumer spending, making up nearly half of the gaming market.
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| 3 | | Tesla has removed nearly all of its North American job postings from its website. The apparent hiring freeze comes shortly after Tesla said it would lay off over 10% of its 140,000-person workforce. More: - This week, Tesla reduced its North American job postings from over 3,400 to just three.
- The remaining posts are for a training program in Texas and California that could lead to full-time production roles.
- Last week, Tesla rescinded summer internship offers just weeks before their start dates.
- Tesla's site still lists 28 jobs in Europe, primarily at its Gigafactory in Germany, with no postings for other regions.
Zoom out: - Tesla also laid off several executives and most of its 500-person Supercharging team last week.
- On Wednesday, Tesla's Head of Product, Rich Otto, said he has stepped down, writing that the job cuts are "rocking the company and its morale" and it was "time for a change."
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| 4 | | Apple plans to power some AI features using its own chips in data centers. Apple will use its own M2 Ultra chip for processing AI tasks in the cloud. More: - The M2 Ultra, used in Mac Pro and Mac Studio computers, will be Apple's first AI server chip.
- The high-end chips will process advanced AI tasks — such as those coming to iPhones, iPads, and Macs — in cloud-computing servers.
- These advanced tasks may include image generation, summarizing articles, and crafting long emails.
- Less advanced tasks, such as summarizing texts or web pages, will be handled by chips directly on device.
Zoom out: - Apple fast-tracked its cloud AI plan due to the AI surge driven by technologies like OpenAI's ChatGPT, according to Bloomberg.
- The project, code-named Project ACDC, or Apple Chips in Data Centers, is part of Apple's AI-focused iOS 18 launch this fall.
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| 5 | | AI startup OpenAI is expected to reveal a search capability for ChatGPT on Monday, Reuters reports. The feature allows ChatGPT to draw information from the internet in its responses, including citations. More: - OpenAI could announce the feature on Monday, a day before rival Google's I/O developer conference.
- The new product will enable ChatGPT to provide cited answers from online sources and use images when necessary.
- The search tool is expected to compete with Google and Perplexity, another AI-powered search engine.
- OpenAI currently offers integration with Microsoft's Bing search engine, but only for paid subscribers
Zoom out: - At I/O, Google is expected to make announcements about its Android OS, along with updates on its AI efforts and Search.
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| 6 | | Nintendo Switch users will no longer be able to directly upload videos and images to X, formerly Twitter. Three major console makers, including Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, have now discontinued native screen-sharing to X. More: - As of June 10, Switch users will not be able to post screenshots and videos from the console's album to X.
- They will also lose the ability to send friend requests through the Friend Suggestions feature.
- Nintendo has not specified why it's ending X integration.
- Microsoft's Xbox cut ties with X's API plan in April, followed by Sony in November.
Zoom out: - Some reports attributed the moves to X's high fees to access its API.
- According to Wired, X's most affordable Enterprise API plan starts at $42,000 a month.
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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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