OpenAI says it’s disabled ad-like app promotions in ChatGPT
OpenAI says it's disabled ad-like app promotions in ChatGPT OpenAI has turned off some promotional app messages in ChatGPT after users complained that the chatbot was showing them ads. In a post on X, OpenAI’s chief research officer, Mark Chen, said that the company is working to improve the experience after showing ChatGPT users in-app […]
Square’s product chief on the death of the penny and the future of money
Square's product chief on the death of the penny and the future of money Today, I’m talking with Willem Avé, who’s head of product at Square. You know Square — it was started by billionaire Jack Dorsey, of Twitter fame, more than 15 years ago, and it got big on the back of that little […]
Segway’s new Myon e-bike will straddle past and future
Segway's new Myon e-bike will straddle past and future Segway’s modest e-bike lineup is about to gain a new entrant. The Ninebot-owned brand, once known for its pioneering self-balancing scooters, currently only sells two e-bikes: the moto-styled Xyber and the low-step Xafari. Now it’s getting a third, Myon, which it plans on officially debuting at […]
Stop, Shop, and Scroll
Stop, Shop, and Scroll In 1914 Joseph Pilates was sitting in a World War I-era internment camp watching his fellow inmates waste away when he had an idea. As he later recounted to a journalist, the skinny prison courtyard cats kept spry and limber, stretching and moving even as they starved — could the German […]
X cuts off the European Commission’s ad account after being fined €120 million
X cuts off the European Commission's ad account after being fined €120 million Friday, the EU slapped X with a €120 million fine (about $140 million) for violating the Digital Services Act (DSA). It was the first time that a company had been hit with a penalty for running afoul of the law. Elon Musk […]
What Google Glass got right — and really, really wrong
What Google Glass got right — and really, really wrong Google didn’t invent the concept of smart glasses, but it did help make them mainstream. In retrospect, 13 years after their launch, this is both a good and bad thing. Glass made a lot of people dream about new ways to use computers without staring […]
Starlink made ‘work from home’ possible from anywhere — now, I’m ready for a change
Starlink made 'work from home' possible from anywhere — now, I'm ready for a change This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on how to work anywhere, follow Thomas Ricker. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The […]
Apple’s chip chief might be the next exec to leave
Apple's chip chief might be the next exec to leave Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman is reporting that Johny Srouji, senior vice president of hardware technologies, told Tim Cook he is “seriously considering” leaving Apple for another company in the near future. It was reported in October that Srouji was “evaluating his future at the tech giant.” […]
The tech world is sleeping on the most exciting Bluetooth feature in years
The tech world is sleeping on the most exciting Bluetooth feature in years It’s been a few years since the official introduction of the Bluetooth technology Auracast, which allows devices like earbuds, headphones, speakers, and hearing aids to connect to a single source without the need for pairing. Like a radio picks up your local […]
Chamberlain blocks smart home integrations with its garage door openers — again
Chamberlain blocks smart home integrations with its garage door openers — again The MyQ garage door controller is an accessory that can connect Chamberlain Group garage door openers to the MyQ app. The MyQ platform used to support more smart home integrations, but has increasingly become focused on those that require subscriptions. Garage door opener […]