Tech enthusiasts are buzzing over the features of the upcoming iPhone 15, and a recent leak has revealed some significant design changes that Apple has had in store for its customers since 2007. The physical volume up and down buttons may be replaced by a touch-activated haptic feedback button, according to recent sources.

While some iPhone users who are used to the physical buttons may not like this change, others could find it to be a refreshing one. The haptic feedback button offers a distinctive user experience that could improve the iPhone 15’s overall functionality.

These rumors claim that the iPhone 15’s volume rocker and the mute button will both use haptic feedback in place of mechanical movement to simulate button presses. We are noticing this trend on both computers and smartphones, as Apple is allegedly trying to provide customers with a wholly haptic experience.

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The good news is that not every new iPhone this year will include these button modifications. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models, according to the rumors, would still retain two independent volume buttons and a mute switch, allowing users to rely on their ingrained iPhone muscle memory.

Given that the iPhone has had a separate mute button for many years, some iPhone owners might not like the modifications in the upcoming iPhone 15. As generations of iPhone users have become accustomed to this switch’s unique feel, removing it would be considered a regressive design decision.

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Despite this, Apple’s choice could have a sound functional rationale. The iPhone 15 Pro series could have room for an extra button on the side of the mute button that could simply be turned on or off. This button could enable some software customization and increase the device’s versatility.

Even though this is speculation at the moment, it is obvious that Apple has a valid rationale for modifying a design element that has been on the iPhone for fifteen years. Before the anticipated release of the iPhone 15 series in the first half of September, we can anticipate seeing further design hints in the months to come. The iPhone 15 Pro Max might also feature the narrowest bezels ever, according to several rumors.

Apple has not yet given any hints that could confirm the official release date of the iPhone 15. However, like every year, it is anticipated to go on sale in the early weeks of September. Apple is expected to provide additional details about the new functions and aesthetics of the iPhone 15, giving us a clearer understanding of what to anticipate from this eagerly awaited smartphone.

In line with CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s “Year of Efficiency” goal to cut down expenses, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, plans to let go of another 10,000 employees. However, the announcement does directly indicate that artificial intelligence (AI) is now just as fundamental to the company as the metaverse. Mark Zuckerberg seems to believe that Meta might regain Wall Street’s favor and secure the funding it needs to advance its metaverse aspirations if it can develop its AI skills.

By stating that “our single largest investment is in improving AI and incorporating it into every one of our products,” Zuckerberg underlines the significance of AI to the company’s future in his Facebook post announcing the layoffs. Although Mark Zuckerberg made two references to Meta’s work on the metaverse in his statement, they came after talking about the company’s AI initiatives.

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In addition to the company’s aim of competing with TikTok, Meta’s shift towards embracing AI is also motivated by the sweeping hype in Generative AI brought by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing, and Google’s Bard. The For You page, which is driven by AI and offers a never-ending stream of short videos, is how TikTok first gained popularity. Meta is putting a lot of effort into making sure it can match those capabilities.

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The metaverse and artificial intelligence are at the forefront of Meta’s long-term plan, which is now one thing that is crystal evident. Yet Meta’s significant investments in Zuckerberg’s aim to make the firm a metaverse’s first business have had adverse effects on the finance. The company’s metaverse initiatives are housed in Reality Labs, which caused a $10.1 billion loss for Meta in 2021. It increased to $13.7 billion in 2022.

Meta can please investors while pursuing its metaverse goals by placing more of a focus on AI. If ever, it will be years before the metaverse is a bankable reality. As a result, Meta now wants to be called, at least momentarily, a metaverse and AI company.

Meta Platforms, the company that owns well-known social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is reportedly working on a new text-based social networking platform. The nature of the app will be decentralized and may directly compete with Elon Musk-owned Twitter.

The anticipated text-based platform would be similar to Mastodon, an open-source social network developed by a German developer. An independent, decentralized social network that would enable creators and public figures to communicate timely updates about their interests is something that Meta is looking into.

The public will be able to analyze and critique the app’s proprietary code, as well as reuse it in other programs, thanks to the usage of open-source algorithms. This is what Elon  Musk plans for Twitter, which he acquired $44 billion for last year.

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Users will be able to register and log in to the new app, codenamed “P92,” using existing Instagram credentials. The app will carry the Instagram brand. What phase of development the app is in right now is still unknown.

If Meta follows through on its rumored plans to utilize Instagram as a doorway to P92, it may help open-source microblogging gain popularity, particularly considering that Instagram alone has nearly 2 billion users, compared to Facebook’s 2.96 billion and WhatsApp’s two billion. While the micro-blogging platform  Twitter has only 556 million users.

The specifics of P92’s interoperability with Mastodon are still being worked out. Nevertheless, given Musk’s turbulent tenure as the CEO of Twitter which has alienated both users and advertisers, a Mastodon-style software from Meta might find it easy to entice users away from Twitter.

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As soon as Elon Must took control over Twitter, his decisions were a shock for all. He fired more than half of the company’s employees and closed down offices and units throughout the world.  Other platforms now have a chance to take advantage and entice users away from Twitter as a result of what is happening on Twitter.

Users are now more willing to look for alternatives if they encounter problems with the applications they already use. Mastodon became popular when users started looking for alternatives to the microblogging site after Musk secured a deal to buy it.

The utilization of open-source algorithms and possible integration with Mastodon make Meta’s new platform potentially revolutionary. The success of the platform will depend on its capacity to pull people away from Twitter and provide a superior user experience.

Microsoft has introduced the integration of GPT’s large language model (LLM) technology to both Dynamics 365 and its Power Platform developer tool. Power Virtual Agent and AI Builder are two of the upgraded tools that now will be using the power of OpenAI’s GPT technology.

The integration of ChatGPT with Power Platform and Dynamics 365 continues a trend and rise of AI utilization by digital behemoths like Google and Baidu, who have already integrated generative AI technology into their products. This integration is a logical step given Microsoft’s multibillion-dollar partnership with OpenAI, which came into light in January.

The Power Platform developer tool offers great help in building apps with little to no knowledge of coding. Businesses may program an AI bot for their company website or knowledge base to ask questions using the upgraded Power Virtual Agent, and the Conversation Booster feature will provide the bot with filtered, regulated answers that follow Microsoft’s responsible AI guidelines.

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The Azure OpenAI Service, often known as the ChatGPT API, and comparable generative AI functionalities are now available in AI Builder. Using these tools, developers can create text utilizing GPT models to do things like summarise data, come up with content ideas, and direct client communications to the right department.

Moreover, Microsoft has updated its Dynamics 365 business management software with AI integration. Dynamics 365 Copilot automates several processes, including the creation of email summaries of Teams meetings in Outlook, the writing of contextual responses to questions asked in chat and email, and the provision of an interactive chat environment over knowledge bases and case studies.

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To simplify enterprises’ sales and customer support operations, Copilot connects with customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

However, these technologies’ sophisticated language models have an issue with hallucination, or a tendency to invent things. Microsoft is aware of this problem and has made a conscious effort to address it by fine-tuning OpenAI’s models. Despite this, the Bing Chat debacle has left some company owners concerned about turning over vital jobs to potentially unreliable AI systems.

On March 16, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will discuss how artificial intelligence could redefine productivity. Microsoft’s plans to include AI into its Office productivity suite, which includes Word and Excel, have not been made public yet. The IT juggernaut has, however, previously disclosed that it intends to include AI in the Windows Operating System. It is unclear whether Clippy, the notorious Office assistant, will ultimately get the last laugh as software developers turn to generative AI assistants.

The advent of AI technology is already disrupting the business world. Especially, the rise of AI-based applications that can auto generate images, text, and whatnot. Amid the rising popularity of AI and controversies surrounding the increasing use cases, Google has announced the launch of MusicLM, a bot that can generate music from text prompts.

According to a research paper published by Google, “MusicLM is a model that generates high-fidelity music using text prompts such as a melodious violin tune along with distorted guitar riff.”

The Google bot is capable of generating music based on text prompts such as “enchanting jazz song with a memorable saxophone solo and a solo singer” or “Berlin 90s techno with a low bass and strong kick.” Google has even shared audio examples of the corresponding results on its Github page.

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However, the public shouldn’t get their hopes up for a chance to use MusicLM just yet. Google has stated that it has no plans to release the bot to the public due to various risks including programming biases, technological glitches and the potential for copyright infringement. The study found that identifiable existing songs were present in 1% of examples.

The launch of MusicLM comes amid the rising popularity of OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT and Google’s response to the competition, with the company ramping up the release of 20 new products and a version of Google Search with AI chatbot features.

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Despite its limitations, such as the use of negations and temporal ordering in text prompts and vocal quality, researchers plan to work towards “modeling of high-level song structure like introduction, verse, and chorus.” The study highlights the need for further work to address the risks associated with music generation.

Now it will be interesting to see when Google rolls out this amazing bot and how effectively it works.

Snapchat, the popular social media platform, popular among youngsters has brought an exciting chatbot feature called ‘My AI’ for its users. The latest Snapchat chatbot uses OpenAI’s ChatGPT generative text technology. This exclusive feature will be available for Snapchat+, members who pay $3.99 a month for access to exclusive, experimental, and pre-release features.

“My AI” is touted as a “fun and experimental assistant” that can converse with users about their days, compose a haiku about their bestie, suggest birthday presents, assist with weekend plans, and offer supper cooking suggestions. The chatbot might have a name given to it by the user, according to Snapchat.

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The release of “My AI” follows the rapid adoption of ChatGPT by professionals from a variety of industries, who have since used it for office work, content creation, and even legal responsibilities. Despite its powerful features, AI technology has also caused confusion surrounding information accuracy.

When Chat GPT was initially made accessible to the general public in December, its first month had 57 million monthly active users. Even the most well-liked consumer applications have not grown at the same rate as it has. Experts have been astounded by its powers despite its faults.

The future availability of “My AI” for all users or its continued exclusivity for Snapchat+ members is not yet disclosed by Snapchat.

A first-generation iPhone that was still unused and in its original factory-sealed packaging was sold at an auction for an astounding $63,356.40. Initially, the 8 GB phone was expected to bring in a minimum of $50,000 but made much more money. Given that the phone initially cost $599 in 2007, this is a remarkable accomplishment. The phone grabbed the attention of many relic collectors when it started receiving 100x price on the original cost of the phone in 2007.

The first ever smartphone from the house of Apple proved to be a cutting-edge gadget. It consisted of a touchscreen, web browser, and 2-megapixel camera. The phone was available to buy in two variants; $499 model with 4 GB of storage or the $599 model with 8 GB of storage. In 2007, the iPhone quickly became the top selling Apple product. Also, the Time Magazine featured this first generation gadget as the invention of the year.

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When Karen Green, the seller of this decade  old  iPhone, began a new job in 2007, her friends gave her the phone as a present. She didn’t want to transfer cellular providers in order to activate the iPhone, though, as she already had a new phone. So, the phone remained in sealed condition for more than 12 years until she had it appraised on the daytime TV programme “The Doctor & The Diva” in 2019. The resident appraiser for the programme at the time gave it a $5,000 value.

But, Green noticed in October that a brand-new, unopened iPhone went for $39,339 in a previous LCG auction. Green made the decision to sell the phone after saving it for all those years in order to fund her New Jersey cosmetic tattoo parlour, which is her current line of work. “I am selling this iPhone because I need to sustain this business,” she said.

It’s incredible that the phone received a whopping price. It proves that the iPhones are still a high priced possession for many users even after all these years. Over the years, Apple has improved far in terms of its technology and product line. However, it is still intriguing to imagine what Apple has in its fold for us in the future.

The federal judge in San Francisco has directed Meta Platforms Inc. and its legal department Gibson Dunn to pay a substantial sum of $925,078 for attempting to make the litigation process challenging and burdensome for the opposing party in a data privacy dispute. According to the case, which was lodged in California, Facebook, which is owned by Meta Platforms, exchanged confidential information with other businesses.

The social media conglomerate and its legal team were creating delay, misdirection, and baseless arguments, the U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria ruled on Thursday. The judge continued by stating that even though this sum may appear to be insignificant to businesses like Facebook and Gibson Dunn, it is crucial for courts to shield litigants from monetary loss brought on by the improper conduct of their adversaries throughout the case.

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Chhabria cited multiple instances of the firm’s denials of the plaintiff’s claims and referred to them as “ridiculous” and “repeated over and over and over again.” Facebook and Gibson Dunn kept making the same assertions despite the presiding magistrate judge constantly informing them that their justifications were illogical.

According to the judge’s ruling, the plaintiffs were unable to gather critical information during depositions because of Facebook witnesses and attorneys. The judge deemed it “improper” that a Gibson Dunn attorney during one deposition gave the witness instructions not to respond to at least 22 questions. Without even waiting for objections, the witness refused to answer any further questions during the hostile deposition.

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In addition to claiming that the plaintiffs’ attempts to acquire discovery were pointless, Facebook and Gibson Dunn also accused the plaintiffs’ attorneys of dragging out the proceedings. The court, on the other hand, believed that this was part of a “sustained, coordinated, bad-faith effort to hurl hurdle after roadblock in front of the plaintiffs” in an effort to settle the case for less than it was worth.

What actions Meta Platforms and Gibson Dunn will take in reaction to the judge’s decision is yet unknown. Requests for response from Meta and Gibson Dunn officials have gone unanswered. This most recent development in the litigation serves as a harsh reminder that businesses and their attorneys must treat the other side fairly in a court of law and must not try to mislead or hinder them.

It’s official! Baidu, the Beijing-based tech giant, has announced that it has completed the internal testing of its highly anticipated AI language model project called Ernie Bot. Ernie, which is the acronym of “Enhanced Representation through Knowledge Integration,” has been gaining steam since its launch in 2019, gradually expanding its capabilities to perform a range of tasks such as language understanding, language generation, and text-to-image generation.

Baidu’s stock prices also saw a positive leap as the news broke out, jumping up to 13.4% in Hong Kong. The company plans to launch the service in March, offering it as a standalone application before eventually incorporating it into its search engine by adding chatbot-generated results to users’ search requests.

The race for generative AI is heating up, with interest from tech firms and investors skyrocketing. Microsoft is also making its move, with a $1 billion investment in San Francisco-based OpenAI, the creator of the buzz-generating ChatGPT. Microsoft is set to reveal its own AI plans on Tuesday. On the other hand, Google is also proactively working on AI. Alphabet’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, announced the launch of a conversational AI service called Bard, which is set to release in the coming weeks with the aim of adding AI features to its search engine.

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Baidu has been a pioneer in China, having been the first to enter the metaverse space with the launch of XiRang in late 2021. However, the platform was widely criticized for its lack of an immersive experience, and Baidu admitted that it was still a work in progress. Nonetheless, the company remains committed to investing heavily in AI technology, including cloud services, chips, and autonomous driving, as it seeks to diversify its revenue sources.

In conclusion, the AI language model scene is getting crowded, and Baidu’s entrance into space with Ernie Bot is sure to shake things up. The competition is fierce, but with so many big players making moves, the future of AI language models looks bright.

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The advent of AI language models has revolutionized the way we interact with technology, offering us the ability to communicate with computers in a way that mimics human conversation. With the launch of Ernie Bot, Baidu is set to join the ranks of tech giants like Microsoft and Alphabet who are also making significant investments in AI technology.

However, Baidu’s entry into the AI language model space is not without challenges. The competition is intense, with several well-established players already vying for market dominance. To stand out from the crowd, Baidu will need to leverage its expertise and experience in the field of AI to create a product that stands out from the rest.

Baidu’s vision for Ernie Bot extends beyond just language generation. The company aims to make it an all-encompassing AI language model that can perform a wide range of tasks, from language understanding to text-to-image generation. This ambition is reflected in the name Ernie, which stands for “Enhanced Representation through Knowledge Integration.”

Apple, the Cupertino, California based tech giant, has just shared its Q1 earnings reports for 2023 and the results are not looking good for it. As per the report, the tech company experienced its biggest decline since 2016, with overall revenue dropping more than 5% compared to the same quarter last year. This marks the first time Apple has seen such a decline since 2019.

The iPhone, one of Apple’s most popular products, saw a 8.17% decrease in revenue, reaching $65.78 billion. The “Other Products” category, which includes the Watch, AirPods and other items, also suffered a similar fate with a 8.3% decline, bringing in $13.48 billion. The Mac was the biggest underperformer, with a staggering 30% drop in revenue, reaching $7.74 billion.

Although the company saw a slight decline in sales of its popular products, there were a few bright spots in the revenue report. Apple’s services such as Apple Music and TV+, iCloud, and AppleCare, registered a growth of 6.4%, which fetched Apple around $20.77 billion in revenue. The iPad also performed well, with a 29.66% growth to $9.4 billion.

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Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, criticizes the “challenging macroeconomic environment” and production and supply issues in China for the poor performance in Q1. He also held the strong US dollar position against other currencies responsible for the decline in sales. Cook stated that despite these challenges, the company was able to resolve many of the supply problems and managed to reach 2 billion active Apple devices worldwide.

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Despite the decline in sales, Apple’s Q1 revenue was still humongous in number. The report says that Apple could bag  $117.15 billion in terms of revenues. However, the company declined to provide guidance for the next quarter, following a trend since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

Apple’s Q1 2023 earnings report clearly indicates that the company is facing challenges in the current market situation. While the company has seen growth in some areas, the decline in revenue across its popular hardware categories seems a cause for concern. We will have to wait and see how Apple plans to navigate this “challenging macroeconomic environment” in the future.