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Howdy , folks , and welcome to Week in Review ( WiR ) , TechCrunch ’s newssheet that recaps the major tech diligence happenings over the past calendar week ( or so ) . Microsoft ’s Ignite group discussion , where the technical school giant pitched its vision of a “ copilot”-powered future , flooded the channels midweek . But there was wad of note besides .
In this edition of WiR , we take a look at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman ’s unexpected firing , Humane ’s strange — and perhaps overambitious — Ai Pin , the shutdown of the popular video chat help Omegle , Airbnb acquiring the secret business firm of a Siri Centennial State - father , and Amazon launch a push aside health plan . We also cover the Citrullus vulgaris emoji being used as a symbolisation of political unity on social media , galvanic line taxi testing in New York City , the ongoing Epic - Google antitrust suit and driverless car company Cruise ’s worsening woes .
It ’s a lot to get to — so let ’s hop to it . But first , a reminder tosign up hereto receive WiR in your inbox every Saturday if you have n’t already done so .
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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman fired : In a surprising twist of effect , Sam Altman has been fired from OpenAI , the AI startup behindChatGPT , DALL - E 3,GPT-4and other extremely capable generative AI organisation . In aposton OpenAI ’s prescribed blog , the company spell that Altman ’s departure come a “ deliberative review process by the circuit board ” that concluded that Altman “ was n’t systematically outspoken in his communications ” with other board member , “ block its ability to work out its responsibilities . ” OpenAI CTO Mira Murati will take over as interim CEO .
The Ai Pin in individual : Brian checked out the Ai Pin , a funny new product fromApple - veteran - back , well - fundedstartup Humane . He writes that the matchbook - sized gimmick , which feature a laser system for project UI constituent onto surfaces and a mic and loudspeaker system array for responding to vocalism commands , feel “ very early days ” — and that the cost ( $ 699 ) and required subscription ( $ 24 per month ) does n’t help . Still , it ’s clear that a good deal of tutelage went into the product , he add together .
Bose ’s QuietComfort Ultra take in their name : In other hardware news program , Brian test - repel Bose ’s new QuietComfort Ultra headphones , which start at $ 429 . In his estimation , Bose has created some of the most comfortable and well - sounding headphones on the mart — couple on with substantially - in - class noise cancelation . That ’s high praise for Bluetooth earphone .
Omegle shuts down : Omegle , the popular online chat service that let hoi polloi connect and talk with unknown ( and that was all the rage in this author ’s mellow school days ) , has shut down after more than 14 geezerhood . founding father and CEO Leif K - Brooks mention growing misuse of the platform , including masses committing “ indescribably heinous offense . ” But a subsequent Wiredreportsuggests Omegle was force to close down by a lawsuit from a sexual abuse survivor .
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Airbnb bribe Siri co - founder ’s firm : This calendar week Airbnb win a closelipped AI startup , GamePlanner . AI for around $ 200 million , CNBC says . GamePlanner was co - founded by Adam Cheyer , who excellently help co - found the startup Siri , which Apple acquire and whose technology became the basis for Apple ’s AI - powered Siri helper . In announcing the attainment , Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky hinted that the 12 - person startup combines expertness in AI and design toward craft AI - driven experience — sort of like an AI - focused consultancy .
Amazon launches new wellness program : Amazon announced this calendar week a One Medical membership welfare for Prime member , break them access to healthcare services for $ 9 per month or $ 99 annually . ( Recall that Amazonsnatched upOne Medical , a primary care tech provider , in February for around $ 3.9 billion . ) Originally $ 199 a year , phallus are deliver $ 100 on One Medical ’s 24/7 virtual care services with the new plan , Lauren writes , as well as benefiting from in - person visit at location across the U.S.
The watermelon vine emoji , a symbol of protest : Morgan writes about how the Citrullus vulgaris emoji has a complicated history in Palestinian protests online . The watermelon motive as a political statement became platitude after theSecond Intifadain the early 2000s , but Citrullus vulgaris imagery is especially predominant this year as Israeli officials apply bans on the Palestinian flag — and amid universal call for a ceasefire in wake of Israel ’s response to the Hamas attack .
Air taxis oscillate above NYC : Joby Aviation and Volocopter gave the public a vivid glimpse of what the future tense of aviation might look like this preceding weekend , with both companies performing brief presentment flights of their electric aircraft in New York City . The monstrance flight were acquit during a press conference last Sunday , during which New York City city manager Eric Adams annunciate that the metropolis would electrify two of the three heliport site in Manhattan .
Epic and Google duke it out : Though Match settled its antimonopoly casing with Google over drama Store fees for northward of $ 300 million , Fortnite manufacturing business Epic Games proceededto take its shell to trial this week , Sarah report . The game shaper argues that Google ’s commissions on in - app purchases are anticompetitive and that Google has exert its power in the market to unfairly vie by negotiating special deals with developers and manufacturers running their own app stores .
Cruise conduct a roundabout way : Cruise , the GM ego - drive railway car foot soldier , this week started laying off contingent workers after pausing all of its driverless operations . This comes after it suffer key commercial licence that allowed it to operate a robotaxi service in San Francisco andhalted productionon its intent - built Origin autonomous car . Cruise also set aside its employee stock program as GM takes a more active use in shaping the safety culture at the company , put in one of its EXEC to channelise up Cruise ’s legal and insurance policy , communications and finance teams .
Uber combat unfair inactivation : Uber has preface a feature of speech gear toward addressing the issue of unjust deactivations that ride - hail and delivery driver often face . Starting Monday across the U.S. , the company has been rolling out a engineering that identifies riders or Uber eat customer who consistently give bad ratings or feedback with the intent of getting a refund .
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Need a podcast to pass the hours , perhaps during Thanksgiving preparation ? ( This writer shall be bake — possibly anube babka , inspired by his loving Filipino spouse . ) Well , you ’re in circumstances . TechCrunch ’s got you covered — there ’s mickle to add to the play list from TC ’s library .
This week onEquity , the crowd lecture about the Google hunting - related antitrust suit that ’s presently ongoing and what it could mean for startups .
Foundfeatured two conversations all about sustainability in fashion from TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 . In the first , three guests — Jim Ajioka from Colorifix , Beth Esponnette from unspun and Julie Willoughby from Circ — spoke with Harri about recent trends . In the second , Morgan interview Jemima Bunbury from Blend , a curated fashion app that ’s alter the way people snitch online .
And over onChain Reaction , Stani Kulechov , the laminitis of Avara , verbalise about the Aave protocol , Avara ’s platform - focused stablecoin GHO and its societal internet protocol Lens .
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Compliance , a moneymaker : German software ship’s company EQS Group is being strike private by Thoma Bravo for about € 400 million ( $ 435.1 million ) in a good deal that represents a monumental 53 % insurance premium over its pre - announcement economic value . Alex explore what it could mean for quite a number of startups operating in the regulatory tech mart .
What it signify to be human in a world of AI : Haje reflects on the meaning of art — and why we ’re disordered that automaton are making it now — in Christ Within of pushback against generative AI , particularly art - generate AI like OpenAI’sDALL - Es 3andMidjourney .
The time to triage is over : While the fundraising grocery store still see bleak for startups , continuing to triage is n’t sustainable for their investors , Rebecca reports . VCs are spend all of their attention and cap on help their existing portfolio company drive out the tough fundraising grocery store — but funds are n’t set up to stand this strategy .
