Welcome back to review week. This week we’ll dive into Openai’s latest biggest model, GPT-4.5, Microsoft is pulling the plug on Skype, Anthropic trains Claude 3.7 Sonnet models using Pokemon Red, unexpected Fyre festivals and more! Let’s get into it.
Openai has announced the release of GPT-4.5, the scheduled Orion with the AI model code name. The GPT-4.5 is the largest model of OpenAI to date, and is trained with more computing power and data than any of the company’s previous releases. CEO Sam Altman even said Openai was forced to surprise the model rollout as the company was “out of the GPU”. Subscribers to the $200 ChatGPT Pro plan will have access to GPT-4.5 as part of the survey preview, but ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT team customers will need to acquire the model within the next week.
The demonstrations from Y Combinator cohort member Optifyee.ai sparked a fierce backlash that led to YC removing it from social media entirely. According to YC’s profile, Optifye says it is building software that helps factory owners know if it’s “real-time” thanks to AI-powered security cameras placed on the assembly line. The clip has been heavily criticized for X, with user @VCBrags calling it “sweat as a service” and another clip was considered “computer vision sweat shop software.”
Amazon has introduced a new, improved Alexa experience called Alexa+. The new Alexa starts at $19.99 per month. This competes with other generated AI chatbots in the market, but is free for Amazon Prime subscribers. Alexa+ will be rolling out in the US in early access starting next month. Amazon is also launching Alexa.com, a new web experience designed for “long form” work, and an updated Alexa mobile app with a new interface and features.
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news
RIP, Skype: Microsoft pulls out the Skype plug and marks the end of the Internet age. Skype users will need to migrate contacts until May 5th and chat with Microsoft’s team platform or export their data before closing Skype data. read more
em All: Humanity has used the Game Boy Classic Pokémon Red to benchmark its latest model, the Claude 3.7 Sonnet. This model successfully fought against three Pokemon Gym leaders and won a badge. read more
Perplexity wants to reinvent its browser. The AI-powered search engine has launched a Comet signup, which is expected to become an AI web browser. “Like the search where Prplexity has been reinvented, the browser is reinventing it,” a spokesman told TechCrunch. read more
Hoopsie: Elon Musk, the man who changed his Twitter name to X, misrepresented his social media platform on the platform itself, falsely calling for Twitter. It seems like a difficult habit to break for many people. read more
Zuckerberg Fighting Leaks: The Verge reports that Meta fired 20 employees “almost” because he leaked confidential information. The move comes in response to a surge in news stories that have leaked details about Meta’s internal meetings and private product plans. read more
Confusion is chasing more cash. It reportedly raises a $50 million seed and pre-seed investment fund using some of the capital it has collected to lock it in for our growth. The company reportedly raised $500 million in December at a $9 billion valuation. read more
Surprising, Surprising: As Meta introduces third-party fact-checking programs in the US, the company is reintroducing programs for creators who pay for viral content. The timing of these changes may enhance the prevalence of misinformation. read more
Easy way to code: Google has introduced a new free consumer version of Gemini Code Assist, AI Code Completion, and aid tools. This tool allows developers to use chat windows to speak in natural language in AI models that allow them to access and edit the codebase. read more
Lucid Motors CEO resigns: Peter Rawlinson has stepped down from the CEO and CTO role he held even before Lucid Motors was released six years ago. According to regulatory filings, Rawlinson has also left the company’s board of directors. read more
SBF Posts from the Prison: Disgraceful FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried made his first public post about X in over two years as he served in the early days of his 25-year prison sentence. In a 10-post thread, he called himself “unemployed.” read more
Ah, brother: Remember the disaster that was Firefest? Billy McFarland is back with a sequel. Fyre Festival 2 is said to be held from May 30th to June 2nd at Isla Mujeres, Mexico. read more
analysis
If DEIs Standing To date: In response to the threat from the Trump administration, US businesses have begun cutting DEI programs and rubbing public DEI commitments. The government’s response to the anti-diversity push has taken many forms. In Corporate America, companies like McDonald’s, Walmart and Target have announced some form of rollback to their DEI policies, while other companies like Apple, Costco and JPMorgan have shown their commitment to diversity efforts. From Amazon to Zoom, we’ve put together a useful guide to where DEI stands in a high-tech company. read more