Techmeme
September 24, 2024, 2:05 PM

Top News

Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:
Google plans to include the standalone Gemini app as standard in its Workspace Business, Enterprise, and Frontline plans from Q4, replacing the Gemini add-on  —  Google is making Gemini AI a core part of its Workspace productivity suite, which could see the chatbot adopted by millions more users.
Larry Dignan / Constellation Research:
Google Cloud debuts Gemini 1.5 Flash and 1.5 Pro with a 2M context window, twice as big as before, “grounding” for better Google search accuracy, and new agents  —  Google Cloud launched a series of updates including new Gemini 1.5 Flash and 1.5 Pro models with a 2 million context window …
Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:
Spotify rolls out its AI Playlist feature in beta to Premium subscribers in the US, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand, after launching in the UK and Australia  —  Spotify is expanding an AI feature that creates customized playlists from your text descriptions to additional English-speaking regions.
Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:
Google updates Google Photos' mobile video editor for Android and iOS, adding editing tools and AI presets that should make trimming and tweaking clips easier  —  Features coming to Android devices include a new “Speed” tool for creating slo-mo or sped-up videos, a new “Auto enhance” …
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
TikTok says it plans to shut down TikTok Music on November 28 and delete user data; originally called Resso, the app launched in 2019 and was in five countries  —  TikTok Music will go offline on Nov. 28 and customer data will be deleted, the music division said in a post on its website.
Emma Roth / The Verge:
Marques Brownlee says “I hear you” after criticism of his new freemium wallpaper app Panels, over privacy concerns, a $50/year price for full access, and more  —  Marques Brownlee, the YouTuber known as MKBHD, has responded to backlash over the launch of his new wallpaper app, called Panels.
Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:
Gian Volpicelli / Bloomberg:
Meta says it will not sign the EU's voluntary AI safety pledge that's planned as a stopgap before the EU's AI Act takes full effect in 2027, but may join later  —  - Company could join at a later date, spokesperson says  — EU wants compliance with AI Act rules before they take effect
Rohan Goswami / CNBC:
Collaboration software maker Smartsheet agrees to be acquired by Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners for ~$8.4B, or $56.50/share, set to close in January 2025  —  Collaboration software maker Smartsheet on Tuesday announced Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners will acquire it in an all-cash deal valuing …
Steve Dent / Engadget:
Logitech MX Creative Console review: the $200 control surface for apps like Lightroom is an affordable entry point, but pros may find the controls limiting  —  The quality and design are solid, but pros may find the controls limiting.  —  Last year, Logitech leaped into the content creator market …
Daniel Kuhn / The Block:
The Celestia Foundation, which is behind the Celestia modular blockchain network, raised $100M led by Bain Capital Crypto, taking its total raised to $155M  —  - The organization behind the modular blockchain network has raised $100 million in a round led by Bain Capital Crypto, bringing its total financing to $155 million.
Joseph Menn / Washington Post:
US intelligence officials say Russia, Iran, and China are using AI tools to boost US election influence campaigns and Russia's efforts are the most aggressive  —  American intelligence officials say Moscow's efforts, aimed mostly at undermining Harris, are the most aggressive.
David Ingram / NBC News:
Chris Welch / The Verge:
Roku unveils the $100 Roku Ultra, which is 30% faster than its other streaming players and has Wi-Fi 6, HDMI 2.1, Dolby Atmos, the Voice Remote Pro, and more  —  One day after the Google TV Streamer hit stores, Roku is announcing its latest streaming player.
Sam Altman:
Sam Altman claims “deep learning worked”, superintelligence may be “a few thousand days” away, and “astounding triumphs” will incrementally become commonplace  —  In the next couple of decades, we will be able to do things that would have seemed like magic to our grandparents.

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Earlier Picks

Mackenzie Hawkins / Bloomberg:
New York Times:
Katie Paul / Reuters:
Ryan Christoffel / 9to5Mac:
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai / TechCrunch: