This week, a faulty software update from CrowdStrike, a popular cybersecurity firm, caused widespread IT disruptions around the world. Businesses in various sectors, including airlines, banks, retailers, brokerage houses, media companies, and railway networks, reported outages, with some experiencing the infamous Windows “blue screen of death” errors on their computers.
In other tech news, OpenAI released GPT-4o mini, a more affordable version of its latest model, GPT 3.5 Turbo, designed for simple, high-volume tasks. The new model is already being rolled out to developers and consumers through the ChatGPT web and mobile apps, with enterprise users expected to gain access soon.
Meanwhile, the USPS faced backlash after it was discovered that the postal addresses of its online customers were being shared with Meta, LinkedIn, and Snap. The USPS claimed to be unaware of the data-sharing practice and stated that they have since addressed the issue and ceased the sharing of customer information.
In other news from the tech world, PartnerOne acquired HeadSpin for $28.2 million, a fraction of its previous $1.1 billion valuation. Alphabet is reportedly in talks to acquire cloud security service Wiz for $23 billion, which could mark its largest acquisition to date. Americans spent a record $14.2 billion during Amazon’s Prime Day event, and Kaspersky announced its exit from the U.S. market following a government order banning the sale of its software due to alleged security risks.
Elon Musk announced plans to move SpaceX and X to Texas due to a California bill, while Waymo is seeking approval for robotaxi pickups and drop-offs at the San Francisco International Airport. Apple is teasing new content for the Apple Vision Pro, and scientists have identified what they believe is an accessible tunnel or cave on the moon that could impact future lunar colonization efforts.
Additionally, Dyson released new customizable OnTrac headphones with a battery life of up to 55 hours with ANC turned on. In the analysis section, Hank Green reflects on the creator economy’s growth over the past decade, and Dominic-Madori Davis explores the disparity in VC funding for female-founded startups, highlighting the challenges these companies face in raising capital.
Overall, this week’s tech news has been filled with updates, acquisitions, controversies, and advancements that continue to shape the rapidly evolving tech industry landscape.
