Technology Weekly News: Week 2, April 2024

YouTube is finally cracking down on third-party apps like ReVanced

YouTube's recent crackdown on third-party apps that violate its terms of service, particularly those that block ads, reflects a strategic move to protect its ad revenue. With actions like discontinuing Vanced and now targeting other apps, YouTube aims to ensure users experience its platform with ads intact. This push underscores the value of YouTube Premium, which, for $13.99/month in the US, offers an ad-free experience, background play, offline video downloads, and access to YouTube Music's extensive library. While this subscription model represents a shift for some users, it provides significant benefits, prompting many to consider the value it offers amidst YouTube's evolving landscape.

Snap plans to add watermarks to images created with its AI-powered tools

Snapchat's recent announcement about adding watermarks to AI-generated images reflects its commitment to transparency and user safety. The platform will now display a small ghost with a sparkle icon watermark on AI-generated images when exported or saved to the camera roll, aiming to identify these creations clearly. The move follows similar initiatives by tech giants like Microsoft, Meta, and Google to label AI-generated content. Snapchat's emphasis on safety and transparency also includes partnering with HackerOne to stress-test AI image generation tools and implementing review processes to address potential biases. This step underscores Snapchat's efforts to ensure equitable access and user understanding of its AI-powered features, especially after facing issues with AI chatbots last year, leading to enhanced controls for parents and guardians.

Intel and others commit to building open generative AI tools for the enterprise

The Linux Foundation's Open Platform for Enterprise AI (OPEA) initiative, backed by industry heavyweights like Cloudera, Intel, Red Hat, and others, aims to foster the development of open, interoperable, and scalable generative AI systems for enterprise applications. OPEA seeks to standardize components and architectures to enable seamless integration of AI toolchains and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines across different hardware platforms. By defining a rubric for grading generative AI systems based on performance, features, trustworthiness, and enterprise readiness, OPEA intends to promote collaboration within the open source community and provide assessments to ensure the quality and interoperability of AI deployments. While the self-interest of member organizations could lead to proprietary solutions, the initiative's goal is to prevent vendor lock-in and empower customers to leverage diverse AI tools effectively.

Reddit keeps testing desktop UI changes ahead of its IPO

Reddit's UI evolution has caused mixed reactions, with users nostalgic for old design elements. Recent UI tweaks on Reddit, ahead of a potential IPO, are testing users' patience. The redesign mirrors the mobile app, and the removal of a setting has prompted speculation about the future of old Reddit.

Microsoft invests $1.5 billion in AI firm G42, overseen by UAE’s national security adviser

Microsoft has announced a significant $1.5 billion investment in G42, a technology firm based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser. This strategic partnership will involve Microsoft's president, Brad Smith, joining G42's board of directors. The deal, developed in consultation with both UAE and U.S. governments, will focus on running G42's AI applications on Microsoft's cloud platform and expanding digital infrastructure across the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. G42, known for its Arabic-language AI model called Jais, operates data centers globally and has committed to severing ties with Chinese hardware suppliers due to U.S. concerns about its associations with the Chinese government. The U.S. Commerce Department described the UAE as a key player in technology innovation, emphasizing the importance of responsible investments for global digital advancement.

Vorlon is trying to stop the next big API breach

Cybersecurity startup Vorlon, founded by ex-Palo Alto Networks executives, has secured $15.7 million in Series A funding led by Accel to enhance its platform that protects businesses from API abuse. Vorlon's technology detects and mitigates API security risks in real-time by analyzing network traffic, providing timely notifications to customers. Using AI, Vorlon translates API communications into human-readable summaries and offers an AI chatbot for querying security information. The startup, based in Delaware with an R&D subsidiary in Tel Aviv, plans to expand its team and product development, targeting large enterprises. Key investors include Shield Capital and cybersecurity angel investors from Demisto and other industry leader.

India scrambles to curb PhonePe and Google’s dominance in mobile payments

NPCI is addressing the dominance of Google Pay and PhonePe in India's UPI ecosystem by engaging with fintech startups like CRED, Flipkart, Fampay, and Amazon to boost UPI transactions on their platforms. This move comes amid concerns over market concentration, with NPCI and RBI exploring strategies to support alternative players and ensure a more diverse and competitive payments landscape. Efforts include encouraging incentives for users to promote emerging UPI platforms, signaling a push for a balanced digital payments ecosystem.

Silicon Valley artist Danielle Baskin launches Moonlight, an online tarot platform

Danielle Baskin, known for her creative ventures, has launched Moonlight, an online tarot platform dubbed "SaaS for witches." Moonlight offers free tarot draws, multiplayer readings, and sessions with vetted professionals. Inspired by her past project painting tarot cards on bike helmets, Baskin collaborated with game designer Caroline Hermans to develop Moonlight over two years. Despite initial skepticism, Moonlight is now monetizing through platform fees and digital deck sales, aiming to bridge tarot and technology for modern practitioners.

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