There was a lot going on in the tech world last week, with Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai hinting at more layoffs in a memo to employees, while Microsoft CEO Sundar Pichai was deeply impressed by the launch of its new Rabbit R1 AI assistant. Here’s a round-up of the week’s top tech news stories.

With the rapidly changing landscape in the tech world, it’s crucial for companies to stay updated and adapt to new technological advancements to stay competitive.

1) Galaxy S24 series launch:

Samsung unveiled its flagship Galaxy S24 series at the Galaxy Unpacked event on January 17. The latest generation of flagship smartphones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and come with support for up to 7 years of software updates. The company has now also confirmed the official pricing of these smartphones in India, with the base variant of the Galaxy S24 starting at Ôé╣79,999. The advanced features in the new Galaxy S24 series demonstrate the rapid progress in smartphone technology.

2) Satya Nadella praises Rabbit R1 AI assistant:

Much like the rest of the tech community, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was smitten with the idea of Rabbit R1, the AI assistant unveiled at CES 2024 in Las Vegas last week. In fact, Nadella was so impressed with Rabbit R1 that he compared the AI assistant’s launch presentation to Steve Jobs’ highly acclaimed presentation of the original iPhone in 2007. By recognizing the potential of AI technology, leaders in the industry are steering the direction of future innovations.

3) ChatGPT comes to classrooms:

OpenAI has partnered with Arizona State University to bring ChatGPT into the classroom. The new collaboration will bring the capabilities of ChatGPT Enterprise to higher education and set a new precedent for how universities can improve learning, creativity and student outcomes, Arizona State University said in a release. By incorporating AI technologies into education, institutions can enhance the quality of learning and foster innovative thinking among students.

4) YouTube, Spotify and Netflix won’t launch a dedicated Apple Vision Pro app:

YouTube and Spotify have joined Netflix among the companies that won’t offer a dedicated app for the Apple Vision Pro. The latest news means that the Apple Vision Pro will be without access to some of the most popular streaming apps when it launches on February 2. This decision could potentially impact the user experience on the Apple Vision Pro, prompting users to seek alternative methods to access their favorite content.

5) Sundar Pichai’s warns about more layoffs:

Alphabet-owned Google will reportedly sack more employees in the current calendar year, CEO Sundar Pichai told employees in a memo. Google CEO told his staff that the job cuts will focus “on removing layers to simplify execution and drive velocity in some areas”. By leveraging AI and automation, the company aims to streamline its operations and boost efficiency in the face of organizational changes.

6) iPhone 16 may come with a new dedicated camera button:

Tim Cook-led Apple is reportedly working on a new button on prototypes of the upcoming iPhone 16 to help people quickly take pictures and videos while holding the device horizontally, according to a report by The Information. The report, which cites two sources close to the matter, says that the camera button could be located on the bottom right of the phone, meaning it would be directly under the index finger when taking photos and videos in landscape mode. This innovation aims to enhance user experience and convenience in capturing moments on the iPhone.

7) Sam Altman in talks to raise billions of dollars for new AI chip manufacturing venture:

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been talking to a number of potential investors in a bid to raise billions of dollars to set up a chip-making company, according to a report by Bloomberg. Notably, building a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility would require tens of billions of dollars in funding, and creating a network of such facilities will take years, Bloomberg reported. The endeavor to establish a new AI chip manufacturing venture reflects a significant leap in advancing AI hardware capabilities.

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