Spotify has introduced a new payment policy where artists with fewer than 1,000 streams annually will receive no royalties, aiming to reduce fraud and redistribute funds to more popular artists. This decision excludes small artists and certain “noise” content from earnings. Despite claiming the changes will redirect $1 billion to artists over five years, details of the distribution remain vague. Concurrently, Spotify is exiting Uruguay following legislation requiring fair artist pay, which the company claims would double royalty costs, rendering their business model unsustainable.
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President Joe Biden has joined Mark Zuckerberg’s social media platform, Threads, in the wake of Elon Musk’s recent endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory. Following criticism from the White House, Biden’s move coincides with advertisers leaving Musk’s platform and challenges facing Biden’s presidential election campaign, particularly regarding his stance on Israel and Gaza. The President’s Threads debut quickly garnered responses calling for a Palestinian ceasefire.
Sunbird, the iMessage app for Android, has shut down temporarily due to major privacy concerns. The app failed to deliver on its promise of end-to-end encryption and allowed access to user data. Sunbird’s collaboration with Nothing for the “Nothing Chats” app also faced privacy issues. The company has paused the usage of both apps while it investigates the concerns. Sunbird has not made a public statement regarding the shutdown.
Investors of OpenAI are considering legal action against its board after CEO Sam Altman was fired, risking a significant loss of their investment and prompting over 700 employees to threaten resignation. The legal path for investors appears challenging due to OpenAI’s unique structure, which emphasizes its nonprofit mission over investor control, diluting investors’ influence and potentially their ability to sue.
YouTube users report a mysterious five-second delay when loading videos on Firefox and Edge browsers, which does not occur on Chrome. Evidence suggests the presence of JavaScript code on YouTube’s desktop site that may intentionally slow down the loading process. The reason behind the code, whether it is an ad-related measure or a browser-specific issue, remains unconfirmed.
Sam Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman are willing to return to OpenAI if the board members who fired Altman step aside, say sources. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said it’s for the OpenAI board and employees to decide if Altman will become a Microsoft employee. The promised mass exodus of OpenAI employees, including board member Ilya Sutskever, is pressuring the board, with only two of the three remaining members needing to flip. Negotiations for Altman’s return reached a stalemate after he was fired, but attempts are being made to find a graceful exit for the board.
Apple is facing a class action lawsuit from Venmo and Cash App customers who claim the company is using its market power to hinder competition and inflate transfer fees. The lawsuit also alleges that Apple’s restrictions on cryptocurrency wallets have further stifled competition. The plaintiffs are seeking injunctive relief to require Apple to allow crypto wallets and separate its Apple Cash business.
A Tumultuous Turn in OpenAI’s Governance The AI industry witnessed a significant upheaval at OpenAI, as Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever…
Apple is reportedly working on a cellular MacBook, but the release may be challenging. The company’s success with its Apple Silicon chips and plans to develop its own cellular modem suggest integration of cellular capabilities into all products, including the MacBook. However, the development of Apple’s own cellular chip is facing difficulties, potentially delaying the release of a cellular MacBook. If successful, a cellular MacBook could be released by 2028, offering users the ability to use their laptops on the go without relying on personal hotspots.
Former Twitch CEO and co-founder Emmett Shear has been named interim CEO of OpenAI, according to sources. This comes after negotiations over the potential return of Sam Altman, who was fired as CEO, failed. OpenAI’s nonprofit board, including Microsoft as its largest investor, refused to step down and reinstated Altman, prompting him to join Microsoft with former president Greg Brockman to lead a new advanced AI research team. Shear’s appointment as CEO of OpenAI, a surprising choice given his lack of experience in the field, comes amidst internal turmoil and a growing user base for the company’s ChatGPT service.