The average iPhone sales price in the US is declining, according to a report by CIRP. The average retail price peaked at $988 in the March quarter and has since decreased. The introduction of new models and the decline in sales of older flagship phones contributed to this trend. It remains to be seen if Apple can increase average selling prices in the upcoming holiday quarter.
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The Atomic Stealer malware (AMOS), historically targeting Windows users, has expanded to Mac devices as per Malwarebytes. Labeled ClearFake, this campaign misleads victims through malicious ads on compromised websites, impersonating browser updates from major tech brands to distribute the malware, which then steals various types of personal data.
OpenAI has appointed Sam Altman as CEO following his shock firing last Friday. Earlier, it seemed Altman might join Microsoft, but after negotiations, this no longer appears to be the case. The situation caused chaos, with OpenAI employees threatening to quit and join Microsoft. In response, Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott addressed the situation in a memo to employees, reassuring them of the company’s commitment to AI and OpenAI’s work. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also expressed support for OpenAI and Altman’s return as CEO.
Google’s Bard Extension for YouTube can now understand the content of videos, allowing users to have more meaningful conversations about them. This update expands on the extension’s previous function as a conversational video search tool. YouTube is also separately testing a feature that lets users ask questions about videos, with a chatbot providing summaries, recommendations, and additional information. The Bard Extension’s YouTube capabilities are now available for all users.
The reasons behind Sam Altman’s initial departure from OpenAI as CEO remain unclear. Speculations range from concerns about the potential risks of AI to possible conflicts with Quora CEO. Recent reports from The Wall Street Journal suggest that the decision may have been driven by a gradual erosion of trust and discomfort within the board, rather than a specific incident. Altman’s numerous outside AI ventures and his ability to consistently get his way were also mentioned as potential factors. The board, however, failed to provide specific examples or details, leaving the true reasons unknown.
Paris Hilton’s media company, 11:11 Media, has pulled out of its partnership with X (formerly Twitter) due to concerns about antisemitic content on the platform. This adds to the list of high-profile brands, including Apple and Disney, that have stopped advertising on X due to similar concerns. X’s ad business is projected to see a significant decline in revenue as advertisers reconsider their spending. In an attempt to attract subscribers, X has partnered with Paris Hilton to create a custom icon for Premium users.
OpenAI has announced a new board of directors, including Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo. This follows the recent firing of Sam Altman as CEO. Altman is set to return as CEO, with Taylor as board chair and D’Angelo as a holdover from the previous board. The new board is considered to be transitional. Microsoft is also expected to have a representative on the final board. The appointment of Summers, an economist and political veteran, is seen as strategic, as OpenAI faces increased scrutiny.
Sam Altman, the ousted CEO of OpenAI, is returning to the company following a power struggle that led to his firing last week. OpenAI announced that Altman will resume his role as CEO with a new initial board. Former president Greg Brockman, who resigned in protest of Altman’s firing, will also return. The new board will be led by Bret Taylor and include Larry Summers and Adam D’Angelo. Altman’s return comes after the employees threatened to defect to Microsoft if the board didn’t resign.
YouTube has confirmed that users who continue to use ad blockers may experience delays in loading videos, regardless of the browser they are using. YouTube’s parent company, Google, stated that the delay is intentional and a response to users using ad blockers. The move is seen as an effort to encourage users to either accept ads or subscribe to YouTube Premium. While users have reported the delay going away when using Chrome, Google denies that it is related to browsers. There is speculation that the change is being tested on accounts with ad blockers and may eventually be applied to all browsers.
YouTube is stepping up its efforts to combat ad blockers by warning users that using such tools may result in a subpar viewing experience. The platform is encouraging viewers to either allow ads or subscribe to YouTube Premium for an ad-free experience. Some users have complained about delays on YouTube when using browsers other than Google Chrome, but the issue is not consistently replicated. YouTube has implemented stricter measures by preventing ad blocker users from accessing videos and displaying pop-up warnings.