Consumer Tech News (Dec 2-Dec 6): FBI Advises To Adopt Encrypted Messaging Apps, Elon Musk Completed First Starlink Satellite Constellation & More

Lekha Gupta

December 08, 2024

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is advising Americans to adopt encrypted messaging apps to safeguard their communications.

Gamers are spending more time watching gaming content than actually playing games. The study, conducted by Midia Research (via GamesIndustry.biz), reveals that gamers average 8.5 hours weekly watching game-related videos on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, compared to 7.4 hours actively gaming.

Gaming

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) announces Xbox Game Pass additions for December 2024, featuring Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launching on Dec. 9.

Microsoftâ€˜s Activision is offering a limited-time opportunity for those who haven't yet jumped into Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 by announcing a seven-day free trial, starting next Friday, Dec. 13.

In a recent interview with Japanese outlet Game Watch, Hidetaka Miyazaki, the studio's acclaimed creator, confirmed that Elden Ring 2 is not part of the company's plans.

Sony Group Corporation (NYSE:SONY) introduced controller-free hand tracking for PS VR2 at Siggraph Asia 2024, demoing it with a cleaning mini-game.

Retail/Media

Walt Disney Co.’s Disney+ announced its expansion in sports content via the integration of ESPN into its platform.

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) unveiled advanced AI chip clusters designed to enhance the performance of its partner, Anthropic.

Amazon.com co-founder Jeff Bezos shared his positive outlook on Donald Trump's upcoming second term, underscoring potential regulatory reductions.

Smartphone

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is facing a legal challenge from one of its own, as an ad tech manager has accused the company of violating employee privacy rights through its policies.

Apple reported it plans to launch a foldable iPhone in 2026. It could breathe new life into the foldable smartphone market, which has been experiencing waning consumer interest.

Apple is reportedly facing a delay in its ambitious smart home vision, with a key product now expected to launch in 2025.

Technology

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) CEO Mark Zuckerberg is seeking to play an "active role" in shaping technology policies under the administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

China's BYD Co., Ltd. (OTC:BYDDF) has quietly become a major force in Apple manufacturing ecosystem, now assembling more than 30% of iPads while planning an ambitious artificial intelligence venture with Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA).

Read: How Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s Clever Pick-Up Line Turned A Homework Proposal Into Marriage While Building $3.38 Trillion AI Chip Giant Along The Way

Alphabet Inc.‘s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Google introduced its Veo video generator to select Cloud customers. The AI model, capable of creating short video clips from images and prompts, is now available in private preview on Vertex AI, Google's AI development platform.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has completed its first Starlink satellite constellation aimed at direct-to-cell phone connectivity, making the service fully operational.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

ChatGPT-parent OpenAI is setting a target to reach 1 billion users by 2025, driven by new AI products, a key partnership with Apple, and significant infrastructure investments.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced a special event titled "12 Days of OpenAI."

Read: Trump’s AI Czar Plans, Alibaba’s New Model, Cathie Wood On Tesla AI, And Musk’s Combat Transformation: This Week In Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has downplayed concerns about former friend and now rival Elon Musk’s political ties with President-elect Donald Trump but acknowledged that xAI is a formidable competitor.

Read: Are ChatGPT Like LLMS ‘Digital Gods’ Or Just ‘Imitating Monkeys’ — Investor In Elon Musk’s Grok Shares His Thoughts

Misinformation expert Jeff Hancock confessed to utilizing OpenAI’s ChatGPT for organizing citations in a legal document, with hallucinations calling into question the integrity of the filing itself.

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