When Satya Met Sam - Microsoft is not THAT worried about Apple are they?
Hi folks,
And welcome to the weekly free edition of the newsletter! Good to chat with you.
The big story today is less than it appears and I'll explain very briefly why. We also have a laptop that ships without a screen and a bunch of AI deals to let you know about.
If you were thinking of upgrading to the paid daily subscription, here are the issues from the past week you'll get access to:
"Google Ranking Leak is Neither" https://techtom.substack.com/p/google-ranking-leak-is-neither
"Netflix Will Do News by 2025 - Tom Merritt Tech Newsletter" https://techtom.substack.com/p/netflix-will-do-news-by-2025
"Don't Worry About Google's Awful AI Search Responses" https://techtom.substack.com/p/dont-worry-about-googles-awful-ai
Enjoy!
Tom
Big Story
"Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is reportedly worried about an OpenAI deal with Apple" https://www.yahoo.com/tech/microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-reportedly-111354191.html
The Information reports that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella met with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to discuss a reported deal between OpenAI and Apple. That deal has not been officially announced but several reporters with good track records on this stuff have said it will happen. So if it's true, we'll know one way or another after WWDC starts on June 10. Another report from the Financial Times says Microsoft pressured OpenAI to prioritize commercial products after Altman was dismissed then restored as CEO in November.
I'll be honest, I'm not sure what our big takeaway is here other than it's big names involved in the headlines. If anything, it adds further credence to the already credible story that Apple made a deal with OpenAI. Why wouldn't Nadella meet with Altman to discuss how that's all going to work, given that Microsoft owns a big chunk of OpenAI? This feels a little "dog bites man" to me.
More Stories
"Google confirms the leaked Search documents are real - The Verge" https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/29/24167407/google-search-algorithm-documents-leak-confirmation
Yesterday I wrote up my thoughts on the big Google document dump. At the time, Google hadn't responded to it. Now it has. Google spokesperson Davis Thompson told The Verge:
“We would caution against making inaccurate assumptions about Search based on out-of-context, outdated, or incomplete information. We’ve shared extensive information about how Search works and the types of factors that our systems weigh, while also working to protect the integrity of our results from manipulation.”
If you've seen only headlines, here's the important point to keep in mind. There are no weights in the document, so it does NOT tell you how Google determines rankings, just what categories it could consider when doing so. It's an API, so it lists all the categories you might ever want to call from it for any reason. It's also very much NOT the algorithm itself. You can still glean some interesting info from it, but there's some debate about how recent the documentation is.
"US dismantles 911 S5 botnet used for cyberattacks, arrests admin" https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/us-dismantles-911-s5-residential-proxy-botnet-used-for-cyberattacks-arrests-admin/
"Massive police sweep across Europe takes down ransomware networks and arrests 4 suspects | AP News" https://apnews.com/article/europe-ransomware-networks-taken-down-ae4753ecb57d24f4f127270ed41ad934
The US Department of Justice announced Wednesday that it had led an international effort that has shut down the 911 S5 proxy botnet, believed to be the world's largest botnet yet. Officials are seizing servers and shutting down domains used by the botnet. The US FBI arrested the botnet's administrator, Yunhe Wang, and seized property in Thailand, Singapore, the UAE, St. Kitts and Nevis, and the US. Among the seized properties are a 2022 Ferrari F8 Spider S-A, a BMW i8, a BMW X7 M50d, a Rolls Royce, more than a dozen domestic and international bank accounts, and more than two dozen cryptocurrency wallets. Wang faces a maximum penalty of 65 years in prison.
Along with that, the European Union's Eurojust said it worked with officials in Europe, the UK, the US, and Ukraine to take down more than 100 servers and arrest four suspects to take down multiple botnets. The operation targeted malware IcedID, Pikabot, Smokeloader, Bumblebee, and Trickbot. Europe calls this "Operation Endgame" and says these will not be the last actions as a part of the operation.
"Google Messages rolling out 15-minute RCS edits" https://9to5google.com/2024/05/30/google-messages-rcs-editing/
"Google partnering with Magic Leap on AR optics, manufacturing" https://9to5google.com/2024/05/30/google-magic-leap/
Google Messages is getting the ability to edit text messages sent by RCS within 15 minutes of being sent. The messages will show as "edited." All users in the conversation must have Google Messages with editing enabled in order to see the edits.
And in other Google news, the company reminded us that Magic Leap still exists and has signed a partnership with Google to combine technologies for immersive experiences.
"Spacetop AR Laptop With 100-Inch Virtual Screen Now Available for Preorder | PCMag" https://www.pcmag.com/news/ar-laptop-with-100-inch-virtual-screen-now-available-for-preorder
Sightful is taking orders for its SpaceTop G1 laptop, which does not have a screen. Instead, you wear included glasses that plug into the laptop to view a virtual 100-inch screen or multiple screens in a 100-inch virtual space. The glasses have two OLED panels each with 1920 by 1080 resolution and a 90 Hz refresh rate. The device itself is a laptop keyboard and trackpad with a space for storing the glasses where the monitor would usually be. It runs a customized version of Android called SpaceOS on a year-old Qualcomm 8-core QCS8550 chip. It comes with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and only 128GB of storage. It also has WiFi 7 and 5G and says it should support most but not all Android apps. Pre-orders require a $100 deposit and the final cost will be $1,900, shipping in October.
"Framework now lets you upgrade its Laptop 13 with a drop-in 120Hz screen, better webcam, and Core Ultra chip - The Verge" https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/29/24167310/framework-laptop-13-screen-webcam-core-ultra-sd-upgrades
If you like your laptops with screens but maybe want some flexibility, the upgradeable Framework laptop announced a $269 display module that replaces existing 60Hz, 2256 x 1504 Framework screens with a variable refresh rate 120Hz 2880 x 1920 panel at 256ppi. There's also a $39 webcam module with improved video quality and a new mainboard with Intel Core Ultra chips. Finally, preorders are open for the first full-size SD card reader module with the purchase of new laptops.
"The Great AI Chatbot Challenge: ChatGPT vs. Gemini vs. Copilot vs. Perplexity vs. Claude - WSJ" https://www.wsj.com/tech/personal-tech/ai-chatbots-chatgpt-gemini-copilot-perplexity-claude-f9e40d26
"Anthropic’s AI now lets you create bots to work for you - The Verge" https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/30/24167231/anthropic-claude-ai-assistant-automate-tasks
"Custom GPTs open for free ChatGPT users - The Verge" https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/29/24167436/chatgpt-4o-custom-gpts-free
"Amazon is rolling out AI voice search to Fire TV devices | TechCrunch" https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/30/amazon-fire-tv-generative-ai-voice-search/
"Mistral releases Codestral, its first generative AI model for code | TechCrunch" https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/29/mistral-releases-its-first-generative-ai-model-for-code/
"OpenAI’s Tie-Up With Grab to Give Southeast Asian Firm an AI Boost - WSJ" https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/grab-to-collaborate-with-openai-to-enhance-user-experience-7eb89ded
Lots of AI news to round up for you here.
Wall Street Journal has an excellent comparison of ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Copilot. They rank the models on how well they do in Health, Finance, Cooking, Work writing, Creative writing, Summarization, Current events, Coding, Speed, and Overall results. The answers surprised me, so I bet some of them surprise you as well. Specifically, ChatGPT and Copilot perform widely different, despite Copilot being powered by GPT-4. Perplexity won the overall prize. It's a great read.
Anthropic launched its own version of AI Agents, that let you customize its Claude chatbots for personalized solutions.
OpenAI's version of that, CustomGPTs, is now available for free ChatGPT users though with limits on how many messages they can send per day to the bots.
Amazon launched a new search for Fire TVs powered by a Large Language Model. Coming in the next few weeks to the US.
Mistral launched a generative model specifically for coders, called Codestral. Good news: more than 80 languages. Bad news: the license prohibits using it for commercial products.
Taxi and food delivery company Grab has partnered with OpenAI to use GPT tech for maps, customer support, and more.
For Context
"Paul Graham claims Sam Altman wasn't fired from Y Combinator | TechCrunch" https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/30/paul-graham-claims-altman-wasnt-fired-from-y-combinator/
One of the less compelling parts of Helen Toner's interview we mentioned yesterday was when she threw out the accusation that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was fired by Y Combinator. Thursday, Paul Graham, the co-founder of Y Combinator, disputed that characterization, saying Altman was asked to choose between Y Combinator and OpenAI when OpenAI created its for-profit subsidiary in 2019.
"For the first time, the top foldable phone maker globally wasn't Samsung" https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-not-top-foldable-phone-maker-q1-2024-3447344/
Counterpoint says Huawei sold more foldable phones worldwide in Q1 than Samsung, despite restrictions on Huawei from the US. Former Huawei subsidiary and now independent company Honor is third, followed by Motorola.
"Amazon has permission to fly its drones over longer distances" https://www.engadget.com/amazon-has-permission-to-fly-its-drones-over-longer-distances-133602573.html
Amazon catches up with the rest of the drone delivery industry with permission from the US FAA to fly beyond line of sight.
"Instagram’s ‘limits’ adds a mute button for everyone other than close friends - The Verge" https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/30/24167259/instagram-limit-posts-everyone-but-close-friends
You can now mute everyone who isn't on your close friends list.
"Archer, Kakao Mobility partner to bring electric air taxis to South Korea in 2026 | TechCrunch" https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/30/archer-kakao-mobility-partner-to-bring-evtol-to-south-korea-in-2026/
Archer Aviation makes vertical takeoff and landing vehicles or V-TOL. Kakao Mobility operates Kakao Taxi. Kakao will buy and operate 50 of Archer’s Midnight vehicles to provide air taxis in Seoul starting in 2026. Kakao previously signed a deal with the UK's Vertical Aerospace to buy 50 of their VX4 vehicles.
Interesting Reads
"8BitDo M Edition mechanical keyboard is a modern take on IBM’s Model M | Ars Technica" https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/05/8bitdos-retro-ibm-inspired-keyboard-could-use-more-retro/
"What time is it on the moon? Scientists say it’s urgent we figure it out | CNN" https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/30/science/lunar-time-zone-scale-nasa-artemis-scn/index.html
"Chatbots Are Entering Their Stone Age | WIRED" https://www.wired.com/story/chatbots-are-entering-the-stone-age/
"Inside Anthropic, the AI Company Betting That Safety Can Be a Winning Strategy | TIME" https://time.com/6980000/anthropic/
"K-pop agency HYBE asks US court to help unmask X account in defamation case" https://finance.yahoo.com/news/k-pop-agency-hybe-asks-095847923.html