Richard Lawler

Senior News Editor

Microsoft Business Chat is like the Bing AI bot but as a personal assistant

Tom Warren and Richard LawlerMar 16, 2023

SpaceX’s Starlink rolls out $200 per month ‘global’ satellite internet package

Emma Roth and Richard LawlerMar 15, 2023

Richard LawlerMar 15, 2023

Apple has generative AI plans, too.

Within an article examining the shortfalls of AI voice helpers over the last few years, like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, the New York Times has a note about Apple’s internal tech demos:

At Apple’s headquarters last month, the company held its annual A.I. summit, an internal event for employees to learn about its large language model and other A.I. tools, two people who were briefed on the program said. Many engineers, including members of the Siri team, have been testing language-generating concepts every week, the people said.

Of course, not everyone’s sure they want these freestyling AI bots taking control of their smart home devices.

How Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant Lost the A.I. Race

[The New York Times]

Richard LawlerMar 15, 2023

Microsoft’s AI shortcut is reaching more Windows taskbars.

If you hadn’t already installed the Windows 11 update that added a tiny Bing shortcut button to your taskbar (and tabs for Notepad, Phone Link for rudimentary iMessaging from your PC, and AI-powered file recommendations in the Start Menu), it’s now being delivered automatically.

It’s not quite a Cortana and Master Chief experience; however, clicking it pops up the search bar, and queries simply take you to the Edge browser’s built-in Bing AI chatbot integration.

Richard LawlerMar 14, 2023

Quick crypto updates.

Hey, remember the industry that isn’t the traditional US financial system?

Binance halted deposits and withdrawals for new customers in the UK after its local partner, Paysafe, said it would drop support because “the UK regulatory environment in relation to crypto is too challenging to offer this service at this time.”

And federal prosecutors are reportedly looking into Telegram conversations between traders at Jump Trading, Jane Street, and Alameda Research for signs of market manipulation around a possible TerraUSD bailout.

Richard LawlerMar 13, 2023

This Tesla Model S Plaid can actually hit 200 miles per hour.

When Tesla revealed the Model S Plaid Elon Musk said it was capable of 200 mph “with the right tires,” but as Electrek points out, the cars that people got were limited to 163.

According to the blog, the issue wasn’t the tires as much as it was the brakes, but Tesla Belgium loaned this driver a model fitted with a $20,000 ceramic brake kit option and the limiter removed. He says he got it up to 217 mph.

Richard LawlerMar 13, 2023

The FDIC is going to try and auction off Silicon Valley Bank again.

That didn’t quite work out on Sunday, but the Wall Street Journal reports officials told senators they have “additional flexibility” to make a deal now that the bank’s collapse has been deemed a threat to the financial system.

The move also gives regulators the ability to offer would-be buyers deal sweeteners such as loss-sharing agreements, according to former regulators.
While none of the largest U.S. banks bid on SVB during a failed auction on Sunday, at least one offer was made by another institution, but it was declined by the FDIC, officials told lawmakers on Monday.

WSJ News Exclusive | FDIC Planning Another Silicon Valley Bank Auction

[WSJ]

Ford recalls over a dozen F-150 Lightnings after battery fire, will restart production Monday

Richard LawlerMar 10, 2023

Panic! At the bank.

Silvergate is gone. The FDIC took over Silicon Valley Bank. Several other banks have lost billions in value, and it’s unclear whether a number of tech companies will be able to keep operating while all of this gets figured out.

If you’re unclear why our situation is the way it is, go back and take a look at Liz Lopatto’s article from a few weeks ago about interest rates and what they mean for tech companies right now.