Techmeme
February 7, 2023, 5:40 PM

Top News

James Vincent / The Verge:
Microsoft unveils an updated Bing search engine and Edge browser powered by a next-gen custom OpenAI LLM, calling the duo an “AI-powered co-pilot for the web”  —  Microsoft has announced a new version of its search engine Bing, powered by an upgraded version of the same AI technology that underpins chatbot ChatGPT.
Tom Warren / The Verge:
A recap of Microsoft's event, where the company detailed the new Bing and Edge powered by OpenAI's next-gen model, AI progress, OpenAI partnership, and more  —  Microsoft is holding a surprise event at its Redmond headquarters today, where it's expected to focus on its OpenAI partnership and introduce a version of Bing with ChatGPT.
Joanna Stern / Wall Street Journal:
Hands-on with the new AI-powered Bing, which, when asked for the 2023 Grammys winners, made a list with citations in a minute; search will never be the same  —  Our columnist got an early look at the software's new ChatGPT-like powers  —  Bing with AI: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Why Search Is Changed Forever
Todd Bishop / GeekWire:
Microsoft rolls out the “new Bing”, which uses a next-gen OpenAI large language model and Microsoft's new Prometheus Model, in “limited preview” at bing.com/new  —  REDMOND, WASH. — Microsoft unveiled new versions of its Bing search engine and Edge web browser …
Ashley Capoot / CNBC:
Reuters:
Former Coinbase manager Ishan Wahi pleads guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud after his brother Nikhil was sentenced to 10 months in January  —  A former Coinbase Global Inc (COIN.O) product manager pleaded guilty on Tuesday in what U.S. prosecutors have called …
Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:
Google plans to blur explicit images in search results by default “in the coming months” but let signed-in users over 18 turn off the new online safety feature  —  Google is introducing a new online safety feature to help users avoid inadvertently seeing graphically violent …
Bloomberg:
Sources: Meta asks many of its managers and directors to transition to individual contributor jobs or leave the company, “flattening” the organization  —  Meta Platforms Inc. is asking many of its managers and directors to transition to individual contributor jobs or leave …
New York Times:
Long an AI leader, Meta has been cautious with chatbots, closing Galactica in November over toxic content and misinformation, letting OpenAI take center stage  —  It has long had technology to rival chatbots like ChatGPT, but can't afford to back artificial intelligence that can spread misinformation and toxic content.
Financial Times:
Filings: Digital Currency Group sells shares in funds run by its subsidiary Grayscale at a steep discount, aiming to repay creditors of its bankrupt lending arm  —  Digital assets conglomerate sells down holdings in prized investments at a discount to pay creditors
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Qustodio: kids aged 4 to 18 used TikTok for 107 minutes per day on average in 2022, up from 82 minutes in 2020, and 60% longer than YouTube's 67 minutes per day  —  For another year in a row, TikTok has found itself as the social app kids and teens are spending the most time using throughout the day, even outpacing YouTube.
More: Qustodio
Salvador Rodriguez / Wall Street Journal:
Memo: Meta is revamping Horizon Worlds and plans to open the app to users aged 13 to 17, seeking to improve user retention as metaverse competition intensifies  —  Memo highlights Facebook parent's plan to revitalize service amid user-retention issues  —  Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc …
Sergiu Gatlan / BleepingComputer:
The LockBit ransomware gang claims responsibility for the attack on the UK's Royal Mail that halted international shipping, contradicting an earlier statement  —  The LockBit ransomware operation has claimed the cyberattack on UK's leading mail delivery service Royal Mail that forced the company …
WABetaInfo:
WhatsApp updates Status with a Private Audience Selector, 30-second Voice Status messages, Status Reactions, and more, rolling out on iOS, Android, and the web  —  WhatsApp has just announced a set of new features for status updates, which will be available to users on both iOS and Android devices over the coming weeks.
David Smith / The Guardian:
How studios increasingly use AI de-aging VFX on actors, including Harrison Ford in the new Indiana Jones movie, and the possible impact on Hollywood's economics  —  Stars like Tom Hanks and Harrison Ford are being rendered younger digitally but voices in the industry express concern about where we might be heading
Amanda Hoover / Wired:
Mastodon reports having ~1.4M MAUs, after climbing from ~380K in October 2022 to over 2.5M in November, as many newcomers complain the service is hard to use  —  Active users have fallen by more than 1 million since the exodus from Elon Musk's Twitter, suggesting the decentralized platform is not a direct replacement.
Bloomberg:
SoftBank reports Vision Fund lost ~$5B in Q3, its fourth straight quarterly loss, and invested less than $350M in startups, 95% below its $6B average pace  —  SoftBank Group Corp.'s first earnings report without founder Masayoshi Son went a lot like those he presided over the past few years …

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Earlier Picks

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CNBC: