Welcome to Startups Weekly, where we bring you the latest news on startups and the tech industry. If you’re not already subscribed, you can sign up here to receive this newsletter in your inbox every Friday. This week, we’re diving into the challenges facing artificial intelligence and the roller-coaster journey of startups, from high-flying successes to bankruptcy.
Devin’s article on the pseudanthropy of AI and the proposed new rules for AIs to preserve our humanity is a must-read. The suggestions may not be implementable, but the article delves deep into the interesting challenges we are facing as AIs become more mature and ubiquitous. Meanwhile, Bird, the once high-flying electric scooter company, has crash-landed into bankruptcy, restructuring its finances after a wild ride from a $2 billion valuation to financial troubles. Elsewhere in the startup world, Eric Wu, co-founder of Opendoor, is returning to the startup world amid a challenging real estate market.
Devin also predicts a roller-coaster ride for AI in 2024, from hype to a reality check. Niche AI applications like agent-based models and generative multimedia could become more prevalent, while AI could be used as a tool for misinformation and manipulation in the political arena. Additionally, Microsoft Copilot is now creating music compositions through an integration with the GenAI music app Suno, and Spotify is testing AI playlists to help users discover new music.
Apple has been ordered to settle a lawsuit over its Family Sharing feature, while Google is settling a lawsuit over its Play Store monopoly antics. In the world of social media, Claim and Jagat are trying to change the way we share and connect with friends, while Linktree has acquired its competitor Koji.
As the tech industry continues to evolve, there are also important stories to keep an eye on, including Apple’s patent dispute with Masimo over its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2, Comcast’s cyberattack affecting nearly 36 million customers, and Google’s plans to store users’ location data on their devices instead of on its servers to address concerns about privacy and geofence warrants.
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