Welcome to the latest issue of “Smile’s Tech Watch,” where we continue to deliver on our promise of keeping you up-to-date with the ever-evolving world of technology ✨. We’re excited to bring you this first issue of April, packed with intriguing developments and news to brighten your day!

In today’s issue, we’ll be diving into the fascinating world of OpenAI and exploring the groundbreaking work they’re doing in artificial intelligence. We’ll also take a look at Microsoft, who’s been busy launching an array of innovative tools that are set to revolutionize the way we work.

But that’s not all! We’ll be discussing the surprising end of the Metaverse at Meta, a development that has left the tech community buzzing with questions and speculations. And, as always, we’ll be keeping you informed about the latest trends, innovations, and controversies across the industry.

So, buckle up and get ready for another thrilling ride through the dynamic landscape of technology in this issue of “Smile’s Tech Watch!”

⏳ Reading time: 6 minutes

📈 Trends

Meta: Zuckerberg buries the Metaverse discreetly

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has reportedly shelved its plans for the Metaverse, a virtual reality platform that was touted as the future of social media. The decision to abandon the project has been met with surprise and disappointment by some in the tech industry, who saw the Metaverse as a potentially (way to make you pay for digital furnitures and clothes) transformative development in the world of digital communication.

The reasons for Meta’s decision to abandon the Metaverse are unclear, but some have speculated that the company may have been deterred by the high costs and technical challenges associated with the project. Others have suggested that the move may be linked to ongoing concerns over the potential negative social and psychological impacts of virtual reality technologies.

AI Looks Like a Bubble

Doesn’t AI seems to be the new bubble? With multiple reports of companies raising large valuations despite having no revenue… Bubbles are when people buy too much unnecessary stuff due to the belief that they can sell it to someone even more ignorant. An example of this is the crypto bubble of 2017 where blockchain companies saw huge gains in stock price as a result of Bitcoin skyrocketing. While emerging technology can lead to new opportunities, returns from these opportunities are not likely to be distributed equally.

OpenAI Used Kenyan Workers on Less Than $2 Per Hour

Without any surprise, OpenAI used underpaid workers on a remote country to annotate and train their ChatGPT, including making it less Toxic. Just like content moderation, those people will likely develop PSTD symptoms.

gTLD race in car industry seems to be over for good

The hangover morning for the automotive industry seems a bit brutal. Before the blockchain and NFT trend, it was the gTLD rush. And many company went to spend $70k per gTLD to become TLD operator. Fiat Chrysler Automotive just filled termination notive for .abart, .alfaromeo, .fiat, .maserati, .lancia.

Previously last year .macys (the general store, ± US Gallery Lafayette), .bugatti, .ses (the space satellite company) dropped their gTLD too.

Wouldn’t be fun to see cars can’t connect to teleservices or get update because of this recent drop ? 😁

💻Cool tools

OpenCommit: GPT generates impressive commits in 1 second

OpenCommit is a new command-line tool that uses GPT language models to generate impressive and professional-looking commit messages in just one second. The tool is designed to be accessible to developers of all levels of technical proficiency, with no coding knowledge required. OpenCommit generates commit messages based on the contents of the code changes, making it easy for developers to provide meaningful and accurate descriptions of their work. ⚠️ You’ll need to pay for an openApi access though.

Microsoft makes Outlook for Mac free to use

The optimized version of Outlook for Mac is now available in Apple’s App store for free. This new version has been designed to work seamlessly with M1 and M2 chips, and also supports handoff with iOS.

Microsoft Loop, a Notion competitor with futuristic Office documents

Microsoft has released a public preview of its productivity tool, Microsoft Loop, a direct competitor to popular app Notion. Honestly, it could have been a clone. It’s so so so similar. Loop is designed to enhance collaboration and streamline workflows by providing users with a unified platform for organizing, sharing, and editing content across various applications. By offering real-time collaboration, customizable workspaces, and seamless integration with other Microsoft tools, Loop aims to become an essential solution for businesses and individuals looking to improve their productivity and teamwork.

🌱Sustainability & Society

SEC threatens to sue Coinbase over staking

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reportedly planning to sue cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase over its interest-earning “staking” product. The SEC has issued a Wells notice to Coinbase, indicating its intention to pursue legal action, citing concerns about the staking product’s compliance with federal securities laws. The impending lawsuit underscores the ongoing regulatory scrutiny faced by the cryptocurrency industry as authorities seek to establish clearer guidelines and protect investors.

Amazon Launches Virtual Care Clinic for Common Ailments

As crazy as it sounds, Amazon Clinic will provide virtual care to patients in 32 U.S.A states. That can sound weird but there’s a lot of private own clinic which are able to deliver prescription and medication, so why not Amazon?

The message-based service will help those seeking treatment for more than 20 everyday medical issues. Patients will receive a treatment plan and can follow-up with the clinician within 14 days. Amazon Clinic doesn’t take insurance but it is FSA and HSA eligible. Prices for Amazon Clinic are on par with the average copay for a doctor’s visit.

U.S. Threatens Ban if TikTok’s Chinese Owners Don’t Sell Stakes

The US government has issued an ultimatum to the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, threatening to ban the app if its founder doesn’t sell a majority ownership stake to a US company. The US has expressed concerns over the potential for TikTok to share user data with the Chinese government, given its ownership by the Chinese firm ByteDance. The app has become increasingly popular among young Americans, but the US government’s stance reflects wider concerns over the potential for foreign governments to exploit digital platforms for political gain.

That’s all folks

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