Technology Weekly News: Week 1, May 2024

Screenshots suggest TikTok is circumventing Apple App Store commissions

TikTok appears to be testing a feature that allows some users to purchase virtual coins through its website, bypassing Apple's in-app purchase system and avoiding the 30% commission. This option seems to be selectively available to certain users, particularly those who frequently buy large coin packs. By directing users to tiktok.com, TikTok offers various payment methods and advertises savings compared to in-app purchases. This move could potentially violate Apple's rules, similar to the situation with Fortnite, which led to its removal from the App Store. However, it's uncertain how Apple will respond, especially amid the ongoing political scrutiny of TikTok in the U.S., where a bill to ban the app has been signed into law.

Yelp is launching a new AI assistant to help you connect with businesses

Yelp has introduced an AI-powered chatbot within its iOS app to assist users in connecting with relevant businesses for their needs, with plans to expand to Android later. The chatbot utilizes OpenAI's language models and user data to understand and address user queries, streamlining the process of finding services. It employs natural language interaction, prompting users to describe their issue and then asks follow-up questions, ultimately connecting them with professionals. Yelp also plans to introduce personalized project suggestions and checklists in the summer. Additionally, Yelp is launching an API for third-party websites to integrate the AI-powered bot for business discovery. This API returns relevant suggestions with Yelp ratings, price details, review highlights, and photos. Yelp is also updating its guest manager experience for restaurants and rolling out waitlist updates for customers, including more accurate waiting times and dish recommendations via text messages.

Copilot Workspace is GitHub’s take on AI-powered software engineering

GitHub is introducing Copilot Workspace, an AI-powered development environment aimed at assisting developers throughout the coding process. It builds on GitHub's Copilot coding assistant, utilizing natural language processing to help developers brainstorm, plan, write, and test code. Workspace can suggest code fixes or new features based on a repository's context and history, and it allows for collaboration among team members. While there are concerns about the quality and security of AI-generated code, GitHub emphasizes the importance of human review in conjunction with AI assistance. Copilot Workspace is entering technical preview, with a focus on reducing complexity and enhancing developer creativity through the combination of human and AI input.

Pinterest shares soar 18% on earnings beat, strong revenue growth

Pinterest reported strong first-quarter results, with revenue of $740 million, beating analyst expectations of $700 million, and adjusted earnings per share of 20 cents, higher than the expected 13 cents. The company's revenue growth of 23% year-over-year marked its fastest growth since 2021. Monthly active users (MAUs) reached 518 million, surpassing Wall Street's expectations of 504.9 million, with Generation Z being the fastest-growing and most engaged demographic. Pinterest's average revenue per user was $1.46, exceeding expectations of $1.40. CEO Bill Ready attributed the success to investments in AI and shoppability, resulting in improved returns for advertisers. The company expects revenue between $835 million and $850 million for the second quarter, indicating continued growth.

Meta hit with major EU probe into disinformation handling ahead of European elections

The European Commission has launched a major investigation into Meta's compliance with the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) regarding the handling of disinformation ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections. The commission suspects Meta of failing to effectively combat deceptive advertisements, disinformation campaigns, and inauthentic behavior. It also alleges that Meta may have infringed the DSA by demoting political content without transparency. Meta is accused of depreciating its CrowdTangle tool, which monitors elections, and the commission is concerned about the lack of an effective third-party monitoring tool. Meta faces potential fines of up to 6% of its global turnover for non-compliance with DSA rules. The commission will continue gathering evidence and can take further enforcement steps, including interim measures or accepting commitments from Meta to address the issues. No deadline has been set for concluding the investigation.

Bumble’s Opening Move feature takes the pressure off women to come up with a new message every time

Bumble is introducing a new feature called "Opening Move," allowing women to pre-write opening messages to send to matches. This feature aims to ease the burden of initiating conversations and enhance user experience. Bumble is also updating its app with additional features such as pre-composed questions, expanded dating intention preferences, and a new Interests section. The company is responding to dating app fatigue among Gen Z users by introducing these changes and plans to further improve with AI-powered features. The updates aim to make the app more user-friendly, cater to diverse preferences, and enhance profile visibility. Additionally, Bumble is refreshing its logo and app design to align with user feedback and modern aesthetics.

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