Farewell Skype | 2 Min AI + Tech

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Skype getting shut down

It’s the end of an era. Microsoft has announced that Skype, the app that revolutionized global communication, will officially shut down in May 2025. Let’s take a moment to reflect on its incredible journey.

Launched on August 29, 2003, Skype was a game-changer. Created by Niklas Zennstr?m, Janus Friis, and a team of Estonian engineers, it introduced free voice and video calls over the internet using innovative peer-to-peer technology. By 2010, Skype had over 600 million users, connecting families, friends, and businesses worldwide.

In 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion, integrating it into platforms like Xbox and Outlook. For years, it was the go-to app for video calls and international communication. But as competition grew—especially from WhatsApp, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams—Skype struggled to keep up. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted its limitations, as users flocked to more agile platforms like Zoom for remote work and meetings.

Microsoft’s focus shifted to Teams, which now dominates enterprise communication with over 270 million daily active users. In February 2025, Microsoft announced Skype’s retirement, urging users to migrate to Teams.

Despite its decline, Skype’s legacy is undeniable. It popularized free global communication and set the stage for modern VoIP services.

This is by Perplexity. I think it’s a good summary!

You can now talk to Google Gemini from your iPhone’s lock screen

As Apple’s version of an AI-enabled Siri reportedly faces delays until 2027, competitors in the AI space are stepping in to supply iPhone users with AI assistants of their own. These features may give iPhone users a sense of what’s possible with LLMs and voice assistants, though Apple’s version of an LLM-powered Siri may be far more integrated with the iPhone’s other functions when it ultimately ships.

ChatGPT’s iOS app also lets users call up OpenAI’s near real-time voice feature, Advanced Voice Mode, from the lock screen.

Besides Gemini Live, the updated Gemini app also includes several other lock screen widgets, including one for taking pictures using the iPhone camera and uploading them to Gemini; one for setting reminders and calendar events; or another that lets users jump straight to a text chat with Gemini.

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