Welcome again to Week in Review. This week we’re DeepSeek’s main increase within the U.S.; Elon Musk admitting he was unsuitable about FSD; teenagers shedding belief in Big Tech; and extra! Let’s do it.
DeepSeek went viral this week after its AI fashions led Wall Street analysts and technologists to query whether or not the U.S. can keep its lead within the AI race — and whether or not the demand for AI chips will maintain. DeepSeek even claims that its R1 “reasoning” mannequin performs in addition to OpenAI’s o1 mannequin on key benchmarks. There’s numerous shifting elements surrounding DeepSeek, so we’ve put collectively all the pieces you’ll want to know proper right here.
Perplexity has been sued in federal courtroom for allegedly violating one other firm’s trademark. Attorneys representing an organization referred to as Perplexity Solved Solutions accuse Perplexity of infringing on its trademark rights by utilizing the model “Perplexity.” The Texas firm alleges that AI startup Perplexity started infringing on its trademark “in or round” August 2022 to advertise its AI-powered search engine.
Google is issuing a “voluntary exit program” for Android, Chrome, and Pixel workers this week, based on an inner memo despatched by Google SVP Rick Osterloh. The voluntary severance program arrives lower than a 12 months after Google merged the separate groups right into a single “Platform and Devices” division, overseen by Osterloh.
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News
Waymo goes Hollywood: Waymo’s driverless robotaxis are heading to the Los Angeles freeway system. The firm will start testing on Interstates 10, 110, 405, and 90 and not using a human security operator behind the wheel. Read extra
Facebook returns to the previous: Mark Zuckerberg teased a “return to OG Facebook” as a part of his key objectives for 2025 in Meta’s This fall earnings name. While the corporate didn’t say what modifications have been in retailer, it’s clear that Meta wants youthful Facebook customers to be able to maintain itself for the subsequent era. Read extra
A non-Amazon method to purchase e-books: Bookshop.org now has its personal e-book platform — making it simpler for readers to keep away from padding Jeff Bezos’ pockets. The new capabilities permit readers to purchase e-books and help their favourite impartial bookstore (shoutout to my new native bookstore, Restoried). Read extra
Perplexity submits one other bid for TikTok: Perplexity AI submitted a revised proposal to merge with TikTok in a deal that will give the U.S. authorities as much as 50% possession of the brand new entity. Perplexity beforehand proposed creating a brand new firm by combining it with TikTok U.S. and fairness buyers. Read extra
Elon Musk admits he was unsuitable: After years of promising that Tesla autos had the {hardware} wanted to help a self-driving automobile, Elon Musk admitted that many don’t. Musk revealed that some Tesla vehicles will want an improve earlier than they’ll help the unsupervised self-driving software program the automaker continues to be creating. Read extra
Meta AI needs to get private: Meta is rolling out enhancements to Meta AI, its cross-platform chatbot. The bot can now use your Instagram and Facebook knowledge to “keep in mind” particulars from conversations — like for those who like to journey otherwise you’re vegan — to higher tailor future responses to you. Read extra
Axing Cruise may save GM $1 billion a 12 months: General Motors expects to avoid wasting as much as $1 billion yearly by ending its Cruise robotaxi improvement program, CEO and chair Mary Barra stated in the course of the firm’s earnings name. The automaker stated in December that it could now not fund its self-driving subsidiary. Read extra
Google Maps renames the Gulf of Mexico: Google will rename the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska’s Denali mountain in Google Maps to adjust to an government order issued by President Donald Trump that modified the names of a number of American landmarks. Read extra
How to show off Apple Intelligence: iOS 18.3 robotically opts customers into Apple Intelligence, at the very least for newer units. But not everybody needs generative AI options enabled by default on their units, so right here’s a simple strategy to change it off. Read extra
Analysis
Teens don’t belief Big Tech: American teenagers have misplaced their religion in Big Tech, based on a brand new report from Common Sense Media. The group surveyed over 1,000 teenagers on whether or not corporations like Google, Apple, Meta, TikTok, and Microsoft cared about their well-being and security, made moral selections, protected their personal knowledge, and extra. In all circumstances, a majority of teenagers reported low ranges of belief in these tech corporations — and practically half of teenagers stated they’d little or no belief that the businesses would make accountable selections about how they use AI. Read extra
