Here are today’s top trending news from the world of technology. News that every tech enthusiast should keep a tab on.
1)
Neuralink’s first brain implant patient plays chess using his own thought
On Wednesday, Elon Musk’s Neuralink livestreamed a video showcasing their first human patient, Noland Arbaugh, controlling a computer with his own thoughts. The video depicts Arbaugh playing online chess and navigating a computer interface after using only his mind. Arbaugh had become paralyzed from the shoulders down after a diving accident. He had undergone a brain transplant surgery at Neuralink barely few weeks ago. Overall, this breakthrough represents a significant step forward in Brain-Computer Interface technology. It offers new hope for individuals with limited mobility to regain control and interact with the world in groundbreaking ways.
2)
OpenAI’s Chatbot Store is getting infiltrated with spam
According to unconfirmed reports, OpenAI’s chatbot store, the GPT Store, is getting infiltrated by spams. The store is reportedly showing significant amount of low-quality or misleading chatbots. These includes chatbots generating copyright infringing GPTs, bypassing plagiarism detection tools used in education or functioning primarily as advertisements for other services. This spam is making it difficult for users to find genuine and useful chatbots. OpenAI has terms of service that restrict such spammy content on its platforms, but it seems enforcement might be lacking. However, it is important to note that OpenAI is yet to confirm this news report.
3)
Epic Games Store is arriving on Android
While Epic Games is gearing to launch its own game store on IOS, it has also announced that its game store is also coming to Android. The store is expected to be launched later this year, though a specific date hasn’t been announced yet. Epic has also announced a fair and higher revenue sharing for developers, with developers keeping 88% and Epic taking only 12% cut. As for the game selection is concerned, details are still emerging, but Fortnite is likely to be included. The full lineup of games remains to be confirmed. Overall, this is a big move for the entire gaming industry, potentially offering more competition and potentially better deals for both developers and gamers on Android.
4)
Reddit Hits $6.4 Billion Valuation Ahead of Market Debut
Social media platform Reddit reached a valuation of $6.4 billion ahead of its initial public offering on Thursday. Reddit has priced its shares between $31 and $ $34 each. The company will debut on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “RDDT.” Reddit’s first attempt at an IPO in 2021 was unsuccessful due to its weak financial fundamentals. This IPO comes amidst a slowdown in the tech sector, with fewer companies going public due to the rising interest rates. Notably, this is a first IPO by a prominent social media company since Pinterest’s IPO in 2019. If this IPO is successful then signal renewed investor confidence in the social media sector.
5)
Stability AI faces Huge Setback as key Researchers Leave the Company
Stability AI, the developers behind the open-source image generation model Stable Diffusion, has just faced a huge setback. Apparently, some of the key researchers who played a crucial role in developing Stable Diffusion have departed from the company. According to Forbes, the researchers’ exit might be connected to Stability AI’s financial struggles. Some reports also suggest Stability AI’s decision to transit from an open-source model to a closed model might also have triggered the researchers’ exit. Overall, this situation highlights the challenges faced by open-source AI companies in balancing innovation with financial sustainability. It will be interesting to see how Stability AI navigates and survives these challenging times.