Good morning! This is your daily ☕️ Techpresso.
In today's Techpresso:
👀 Bill Gates is still pulling the strings at Microsoft
🥴 AI engineers report burnout as 'rat race' to stay competitive hits tech industry
🇺🇦 Ukraine introduces AI spokesperson for state affairs
🤔 Apple announces largest-ever $110 billion share buyback as iPhone sales drop
🍎 Apple deal could have been “suicide” for Google, company lawyer says
⚔️ Google says Epic’s Play Store demands are too much and too self-serving
🎁 + 6 other news you might like
🔮 + 1 handpicked research papers and tools
👀 Bill Gates is still pulling the strings at MicrosoftLINK
Bill Gates predicted the revolution in computing through AI agents in a memo before Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI, and despite public appearances, has been heavily involved in guiding Microsoft's AI strategy.
Under Gates' influence, Microsoft developed Copilot, an AI tool based on OpenAI's GPT, transforming the company into the world's most valuable public entity by enhancing productivity in Microsoft products.
Gates has continued to play a pivotal role behind the scenes at Microsoft, advising on strategy, product development, and fostering key relationships, notably with OpenAI, even after stepping down from the board amid misconduct allegations.
🥴 AI engineers report burnout as 'rat race' to stay competitive hits tech industryLINK
AI engineers at Microsoft and other companies are reporting burnout due to the pressure to quickly release AI products, amidst an industry-wide "AI rat race."
Microsoft's focus on speed over ethics and safety in AI development has been criticized, even as the company forms a Responsible AI Council to address safety concerns.
An Amazon AI engineer's account of being forced to work over a weekend, only for the project to be canceled, highlights a similar disregard for worker well-being and a preference for speed over accuracy and testing in AI product development.
🇺🇦 Ukraine introduces AI spokesperson for state affairsLINK
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry introduced an artificial intelligence-powered spokesperson, Victoria Shi, to deliver official statements and interact with the press, marking a historic use of digital personnel for governmental communications.
Victoria Shi, created with the likeness and voice of Ukrainian singer Rosalie Nombre, will have her statements written and confirmed by humans, using AI for her visual presentation.
The ministry aims to utilize AI, including measures like QR codes for statement verification, to save time and money, particularly in the context of its ongoing conflict with Russia.
🤔 Apple announces largest-ever $110 billion share buyback as iPhone sales dropLINK
Apple announced a $110 billion stock buyback, the largest in US history, alongside a slight decline in Q2 2024 revenues and net income.
Sales in greater China decreased by 8.4 percent, but Apple achieved record revenues in several other regions including Latin America, India, and Turkey.
Despite global sales falls in iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches, Apple reported growth in Mac sales, European revenue, and a significant jump in services revenue to $23.867 billion.
🍎 Apple deal could have been “suicide” for Google, company lawyer saysLINK
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and state attorneys general argue in an antitrust trial that Google's default placement deals, particularly a $20 billion agreement with Apple, have harmed competition and innovation in the search engine market.
Google's defense argues that their success is due to merit, emphasizing that antitrust laws are meant to protect the competitive process rather than individual competitors, and the Apple deal was not "suicide" for Google.
Judge Amit Mehta, overseeing the trial, expresses concern about the possibility for real competition in default search placements, highlighting the challenge competitors face in displacing Google.
⚔️ Google says Epic’s Play Store demands are too much and too self-servingLINK
Google is fighting against Epic Games' demands following a federal jury's decision that found Google in violation of US antitrust laws regarding the Play Store's operations.
Epic Games' requests include opening Android to third-party app stores and removing restrictions on pre-installed apps, which Google argues would harm its competitive ability and affect Android users and developers negatively.
Google criticizes the broadness and vagueness of Epic's proposals, stating they would compromise user security and privacy, and emphasizes its commitment to defending its business model.
Other news you might like
OpenAI might be working on a search engine to challenge Google’s dominance.LINK
Apple adds more carve-outs to its EU core tech fee after criticism from devs.LINK
Tesla might launch a voice assistant soon.LINK
Peloton’s pandemic-era fairy tale is officially over.LINK
Cancer vaccines are having a renaissance.LINK
Coinbase posts soaring profit on jump in crypto prices.LINK
Latest research and tools
Stirling PDF: a self-hosted, web-based tool that manipulates PDF files, including merging, splitting, and compressing, with no outbound tracking, using Docker for local hosting.LINK
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