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Microsoft Considers $10 Billion Investment in ChatGPT Creator

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As per a report from Semafor, Microsoft intends to invest 10 billion USD in OpenAI, the venture behind the prevalent artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT.

According to Semafor, who cited individuals with knowledge of the matter, the contract is the portion of a funding round with some other investors which would appreciate OpenAI at a hefty $29 billion.

Microsoft
Image Source: marketwatch.com

Although it is unclear if the deal has been set in stone, term sheets sent out to potential investors demonstrated that the proposal seemed to be to seal the deal by the finish of 2022, according to Semafor.

Microsoft will supposedly receive 75 percent of OpenAI profits until it recoups its investment, at which point the firm will own 49 percent of OpenAI.

When CNBC got in touch with Microsoft and OpenAI, neither company responded immediately.

ChatGPT has become the talk of the tech sector for several weeks. The software is a natural-language processing model, which means it is designed to produce content that looks like it was written by a human.

The AI model, which is a modified version of the GPT-3 group of large language models, was utilized for including everything from code development to university essay writing.

A hope on ChatGPT could aid Microsoft’s attempts in web search, which is ruled by Google. Although the firm’s Bing browser has a comparatively tiny share of the worldwide search engine market, it is hoped that the deal will assist the business chip away at Google’s supremacy by providing more innovative search capabilities.

Morgan Stanley issued a report in December analyzing whether ChatGPT could pose a threat to Google. Language models, according to Brian Nowak who is the bank’s lead Alphabet analyst, might capture market share and destabilize Google’s stance as the entrance for individuals who use the Internet.

OpenAI, founded in 2015 by Sam Altman who is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, made its ChatGPT available to the general public in late November. Despite its prospects, the project is losing money because of the massive amount of stress on its servers as a result of its virality. Altman announced that ChatGPT had reached 1 million users five days after it was released by OpenAI.

iPhone 14 Plus

Why Did The iPhone 14 Plus End Up Being A Failure?

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In late 2022, the iPhone 14 Plus superseded the iPhone 13 mini, and due to its greater size, it offered numerous benefits from the start. However, while garnering favorable reviews, the 6.7-inch phone was unable to achieve the kind of popularity that Apple had envisioned.

This year, Apple is believed to lower the price of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, indicating from the outset that one important factor in the iPhone 14 Plus’s failure was its exorbitant pricing. Apple continues to sell the standard iPhone 14 for $799, while the iPhone 14 Plus is priced at $899.

iPhone 14 Plus
Image Source: apple.com

The consumer in the US was only $100 away from switching to the iPhone 14 Pro for $899 and receiving a plethora of enhancements, including a state-of-the-art SoC, the A16 Bionic. When Apple unveiled the iPhone 13 series in 2021, there was a staggering $300 price gap between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro.

The iPhone 14 Plus should have cost $799, and even then, there would only be a $200 price gap between it and the iPhone 14 Pro if Apple had intended to compete on price.

Even the entry-level iPhone models received good advancements in previous years, and their internals was quite similar to those of the Pro models. However, the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro are entirely distinct devices.

It lacks the new 48MP main camera, a Dynamic Island, an A16 processor, and even a macro lens. It resembles an iPhone 13 with a satellite connection. The iPhone 14 Plus lacks a telephoto lens to capture images and videos with optical zoom and a 120Hz display.

The standard iPhone 14 or even an iPhone 13 will likely be chosen by someone looking to save some money on a new iPhone. And those who are prepared to pay more for a high-end smartphone will probably shell out an additional $100 for the iPhone 14 Pro. The iPhone 14 Plus simply has no room in that situation.

The Galaxy S22 Plus has three cameras on the back, a fast refresh rate display, and is less expensive than the iPhone 14 Plus.

The iPhone continues to sell in large numbers, regardless of how much people love or despise Apple products. Rumor has it that Apple has been exploring internally reducing the price of the iPhone 15 compared to the iPhone 14 to address the weak demand for these devices.

Although it’s unknown exactly how much Apple will reduce the price, it is predicted that it will be $50- $100 cheaper. The cost of the Pro versions won’t change (or even more expensive).

The company is nevertheless anticipated to release the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. And this time, it’s anticipated that the new screen design with Dynamic Island will be available for all models.

Jack Ma

Jack Ma to give up control of Chinese fintech company Ant Group

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Alongside a Communist Party clampdown on the country’s software industry which attacked the visionary billionaire, Jack Ma will relinquish control of Chinese financial technology giant Ant Group, the firm told.

Ma who is one of the most well-known entrepreneurs in china once embodied a generation of Chinese technology tycoons with his inspirational personal story as well as a knack for public flamboyance.

Jack Ma
Image Source: primebusiness.africa

However, the former English teacher has withdrawn from the view of the public seeing as Beijing sabotaged Ant’s scheduled IPO in Hong Kong in response to his scornful remarks regarding government regulators in 2020.

His company said in a statement on Saturday it was adjusting its ownership structure so that “no shareholder, alone or jointly with other parties, will have control over Ant Group”.

Source: theguardian.com

Establishing the previous complex structure of the firm, the official statement had shown Ma implicitly handled 53.46 percent of Ant’s shares as well as regarded the firm’s “control person”.

As stated in the statement, he will receive only 6.2 percent of the political rights after the adjustment.

“The adjustment is being implemented to further enhance the stability of our corporate structure and sustainability of our long-term development,” the Ant statement said.

Ten individuals – including the founder, management, and staff – would “exercise their voting rights independently”, it said.

Source: theguardian.com

The modification would have no impact on the financial expectations of any stockholders.

Ant’s anticipated IPO was expected to be a world-record ranking at the moment, as well as its destructive withdrawal occurred as Ma’s other corporate interests were being scrutinized by the government.

Beijing also struck a record 2.75 billion USD fine on Alibaba which is the internet titan co-founded by Jack Ma which functions famous Chinese e-commerce platforms Taobao and Tmall.

Authorities announced last month that Ant had received approval to raise 10.5 billion yuan which is approximately $1.5 billion for its consumer finance arm, indicating that the formal grip may be weakening.

As per a notice given on December 30, a China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission bureau in the southwestern city of Chongqing will enable the company to increase its registered capital from 8 billion yuan to 18.5 billion yuan.

The permission sent Alibaba shares up nearly 9 percent in Hong Kong trading, whereas other tech companies were also ramped up in hopes that the sector backlash would be loosened.

In November, Alibaba reported a loss of 20.6 billion yuan for the 3rd quarter. For the very first time, the firm did not provide full sales numbers for its Singles Day purchasing extravaganza in 2022.

The e-commerce festival, which had once seen Ma with important Chinese as well as Western celebrities, has grown more subdued in recent times.

Ma has kept a low profile as of Ant’s failed IPO, with only a few outings at fundraising events as well as trips abroad. Bloomberg stated on Saturday that he had been in Thailand this week.

WhatsApp

WhatsApp will soon enable local chat transfers on Android

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A recent revelation from WABetaInfo claims that users will be able to move WhatsApp data between Android devices without the use of Google Drive thanks to the upcoming version of the app. In other words, using a local network will soon be possible for WhatsApp chat transfers. 

Image Source: gizbot.com

According to reports, WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, is developing a new feature dubbed “Chat Transfer” that will let users transfer data from one Android device to another via a local network.

As the software is still being developed, the new feature will be added in a later update, according to WABetaInfo. By simply scanning the QR code, the user will be able to move their conversation history to a new smartphone with this feature.

As data is typically sent over a local network rather than being downloaded from a cloud service, this future feature in WhatsApp will not only make the process of transferring chats simpler but also substantially faster than it is now. Currently, under development, the additional features may soon be made accessible to beta testers.

The new feature ought to be added to WhatsApp’s stable version after the company has finished testing it. The deployment date, however, is not known with any certainty.

Switching between the two most widely used smartphone platforms has become considerably simpler ever since WhatsApp started enabling users to transfer their chat backups from Android to iOS and vice versa. 

The App has introduced proxy support for its users worldwide, including the millions of individuals in Iran and other countries who continue to be deprived of the freedom to communicate in private and openly. By selecting a proxy, they can connect to WhatsApp using servers set up by volunteers and groups working to support free communication all over the world. 

Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp noted, “We are making it easier for anyone to connect to WhatsApp using a proxy. So when a connection to WhatsApp is blocked, people have the power to restore access.”

The App announced the proxy support noting,” We’re mindful that just as we’ve celebrated the start of 2023 through private texts or calls, there are many people who continue to be denied the ability to reach their loved ones because of internet shutdowns.

To help, today we’re launching proxy support for WhatsApp users all over the world. What this means is we’re putting the power into people’s hands to maintain access to WhatsApp if their connection is blocked or disrupted.”

According to WhatsApp, using a proxy connection will provide the same level of security and privacy that the social media site already provides. End-to-end encryption will still be used to safeguard users’ private messages, it claims. 

YogaBook 9i

CES 2023: Lenovo unveils YogaBook 9i hands-on dual-screen laptop

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Dual monitor installations are awesome, but have you ever thought about having dual screens in an unusually tall laptop? Lenovo is responding by introducing the YogaBook 9i laptop at CES which is the first-ever laptop with dual Screens.

This gadget is an integration of a laptop and tablet which is unique. It includes a removable keyboard that can be connected to the front side of the laptop having the two displays stacked in the vertical position, connected to the front with the two displays spread open similar to a book, or positioned on top of the lower display for use as a slightly more traditional laptop.

YogaBook 9i
Image Source: windowscentral.com

The word slightly is used here because using the keyboard in this manner implies either a keyboard at front arrangement just like Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED and perhaps moving it forward to have a virtual trackpad in front which reminds of another artsy Lenovo laptop with a lot of modifications.

If that still isn’t enough, you can simply say no to that keyboard out of those setups and start using it wirelessly detached from the device. Lenovo may claim this as a laptop, but it’s just a tablet having a handful of choices for converting it into various laptop-like shapes.

Aside from the various keyboard or virtual trackpad configurations, the highlight of the experience here is the dual-stacked screens. These two OLED panels enable 2.8K resolution, HDR, as well as multitouch gestures, and thus are 13.3 inches wide and come with a 16:10 aspect ratio allowing for a bit more vertical space. There are four Bowers & Wilkins-branded speakers between them, each with two tweeters and Dolby Atmos assistance.

Whilst the YogaBook 9i appears massive and, to be honest like it could effortlessly demolish, the laptop as well as its kickstand scrunch down to a relatively compact bundle, similar to carrying a usual 13-inch laptop as well as a compact portfolio with a pen.

Lenovo perceives the whole laptop as perfect for hybrid and on-the-go performance, allowing you to appear as the smartest guy in the cafe while operating on certain remarkably tall spreadsheets. Unless, of course, an absolute device like this walks in.

When it launches in June, the YogaBook 9i will be available at 2,099.99 USD and include a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-U15 processor as well as an Intel Iris Xe graphics with 16GB of RAM, as well as a 512GB or 1TB SSD. It also includes a pen for taking notes or doodling on either screen.

Qualcomm

Qualcomm to Bring Satellite Connectivity to Android Smartphones

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Qualcomm recently announced plans to provide satellite-based connectivity to next-generation Android smartphones.  Cellular-to-satellite communication for Android handsets will be made possible thanks to a partnership between Qualcomm and Iridium.

The service, known as Snapdragon Satellite, will first be accessible on mobile platforms supported by the Snapdragon 5G modem, such as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform.

Qualcomm
Image Source: finance.yahoo.com

Iridium’s L-band spectrum will be used for the service’s uplink and downlink to enable two-way messaging. In the second half of the year, the first Snapdragon Satellite-equipped Android handsets are anticipated to go on sale. 

Although Qualcomm claims Snapdragon Satellite will first be used in smartphones, it may also be used in laptops, tablets, cars, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. OEMs and app developers will be able to distinguish and offer distinctive branded services that employ satellite connectivity.

The L-band spectrum used by the Iridium satellite constellation, which Snapdragon Satellite will use, is “more resilient to weather” than frequencies utilized by other networks, according to Iridium. Snapdragon Satellite-enabled Android handsets still require a clear sky to function, but with a strong connection, messages can be transferred in as low as 10 seconds. 

Similar to Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite capability, which is made possible through cooperation with Globalstar, Qualcomm claims that the Snapdragon Satellite technology will initially be utilized for emergency communications.

Qualcomm also lists SMS texting and connectivity in isolated, rural, and offshore areas as potential uses for Snapdragon Satellite, indicating that it might have more applications in the future than just responding to emergencies. 

The news from Qualcomm and Iridium comes just after Apple unveiled the iPhone 14, which has an emergency SOS satellite message service that uses the Globalstar satellite network.

Users of Apple iPhones can get this service, named Emergency SOS through Satellite, for free for two years. Apple spent $450 million to make this service available. It’s not a great surprise that Iridium and Qualcomm announced their partnership because there was much anticipation that Iridium would compete in the smartphone-to-satellite market.

Earlier this week, Space News reported that Iridium and Samsung had a cellular-to-satellite agreement after Samsung disclosed in a regulatory filing that it is entitled to royalties, development fees, and network usage fees from an unnamed new technology. 

According to Qualcomm, the manufacturer of GPS-based devices Garmin Ltd will organize emergency response services for users. 

Qualcomm was able to update the Snapdragon platform to connect to the Iridium network without needing to make any hardware upgrades to the baseband or the transceiver, according to Francesco Grilli, VP of product management at Qualcomm.

Grilli claimed that a number of Android smartphone devices are already under development that would support Snapdragon He said that Western Europe and North America would be the first regions to sell smartphones with this feature.