🤖 Artificial intelligence
OpenAI launches $50M consortium to boost AI research and education 🤖
- OpenAI has announced NextGenAI, a $50 million initiative partnering with 15 top research institutions to advance AI in academia.
- The consortium includes universities like Harvard, MIT, and Oxford, aiming to accelerate research breakthroughs and transform education using AI.
- This collaboration between industry and academia could lead to significant advancements in AI applications across various fields, from healthcare to manufacturing.
Amazon’s AWS launches new group for agentic AI 🤖
- Amazon’s cloud division has created a new group focused on agentic artificial intelligence, aiming to automate tasks without user prompts.
- The group will be led by AWS executive Swami Sivasubramanian and reports directly to AWS CEO Matt Garman.
- This move signals Amazon’s push into advanced AI technologies, potentially reshaping how users interact with cloud services and applications.
ChatGPT’s Deep Research feature impresses but shows quirks 🤓
- A tech writer’s experience with ChatGPT’s Deep Research tool reveals its impressive capabilities and amusing shortcomings.
- The feature excels at gathering information quickly but sometimes misses context or makes odd assumptions in its responses.
- ChatGPT Plus users, at US$20/month, are still limited to 10 queries per week, making competitor Perplexity’s Deep Research tool a much more palatable alternative.
💰 Business
Nvidia’s value takes a hit as Trump announces new tariffs 📉
- Nvidia’s stock price dropped, wiping $200 billion off its market value and hitting its lowest level since September 2024.
- The decline follows President Trump’s announcement of 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, set to begin on 5 March.
- This move could impact Nvidia’s business, as the company assembles some products in Mexico and relies on global supply chains.
Tech giants challenge YouTube’s exemption from Australia’s social media ban for under-16s 🎥
- Big tech companies are opposing Australia’s decision to exempt YouTube from a ban on social media use by children under 16.
- The Australian government classified YouTube as an educational resource, allowing its continued use despite restrictions on other platforms.
- Meta, TikTok, and Snap argue the exemption is unfair and undermines the law’s goal of protecting young people online.
North Korean hackers complete initial laundering of $1.4 billion Bybit crypto heist 💰
- Suspected North Korean hackers have reportedly finished the first stage of laundering over $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency stolen from exchange Bybit last month.
- The hackers are said to have moved all stolen Ethereum to new addresses and converted much of it to Bitcoin using decentralised finance tools.
Ontario cancels $100 million Starlink deal amid trade tensions with US 🛰️
- Ontario has announced it will cancel a $100 million contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service in response to US tariffs.
- The decision comes as part of retaliatory measures against the Trump administration’s 25 percent tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium imports.
- This move could impact rural internet access in Ontario and strain relations between the province and Starlink’s parent company, SpaceX.
YouTube TV may soon put Netflix and other top streaming services front and center 📺
- YouTube TV is reportedly testing a new feature that would highlight popular streaming services like Netflix directly in its main interface.
- The update would add a “Top Picks for You” row showcasing content from major streaming platforms that users have linked to their YouTube TV account.
- This change could make YouTube TV a more centralised hub for streaming, potentially increasing user engagement and retention across multiple services.
📱 Gadgets and gear
Apple unveils new iPad Air with powerful M3 chip 💻
- Apple has announced a refresh of its iPad Air lineup, featuring the latest M3 chip for improved performance and capabilities.
- The new iPad Air comes in 11-inch and 13-inch models, offering up to 35% faster CPU performance and 65% faster graphics than its M1 predecessor.
- With prices starting at $599, the updated iPad Air aims to attract creatives and professionals seeking a versatile, high-performance tablet for work and play.
Apple’s iOS 19 rumoured to bring major upgrades to iPhones in 2025 📱
- Apple’s next major iPhone update, iOS 19, is expected to launch in September 2025 with potentially significant improvements to Siri and the Camera app.
- The update is rumoured to introduce a more conversational Siri powered by advanced AI, capable of handling complex requests similar to ChatGPT.
- iOS 19 is also rumoured to support iPhones as old as the XS series, potentially extending the lifespan of older devices.
Google’s March 2025 Pixel Feature Drop brings exciting camera and safety upgrades 📱
- Google has announced its latest Pixel Feature Drop, introducing Connected Camera for Pixel 9 and expanding Satellite SOS to more regions.
- The Connected Camera feature allows Pixel 9 users to wirelessly connect their phone to a computer for use as a webcam.
- Satellite SOS expansion brings emergency communication capabilities to Pixel 9 users in Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, and parts of Europe and Africa.
The race for the world’s thinnest phone heats up as Apple joins the fray 📱
- Tecno has unveiled the Spark Slim, a concept phone measuring just 5.75mm thick, claiming the title of the world’s thinnest smartphone.
- The Spark Slim boasts a 5,200mAh battery and two 50MP cameras, challenging the notion that ultra-thin phones must sacrifice features.
- Apple is rumoured to be developing an even slimmer iPhone 17 Air, intensifying competition in the ultra-slim phone market.
📹 Creators
Discover unexpected Canva features for creators and businesses 🎨
- MakeUseOf reports Canva continues to expand its capabilities beyond basic graphic design, offering unexpected tools for various creative and business needs.
- The platform now includes features for creating QR codes, removing video backgrounds, building websites, and even writing AI-generated copy.
- These additions position Canva as a more comprehensive solution for content creators and small businesses, potentially reducing the need for multiple specialised tools.
🎮 Gaming and pop culture
New tariffs could spell the end for physical video games 💿
- New tariffs proposed by the US government may force publishers to abandon physical video game releases, according to an industry analyst.
- The potential 25% tariff on goods from Mexico could significantly increase production costs for disc-based games manufactured in the country.
- Higher prices for physical games may lead publishers to raise digital game prices to maintain parity, potentially accelerating the shift towards all-digital distribution.
Anticipated new puzzle game simulates 1980s Japanese manufacturing boom 🏭
- Kaizen: A Factory Story challenges players to optimise production lines for electronics like calculators and arcade cabinets in 1980s Japan.
- The game, which does not yet have a confirmed – or even anticipated – launch date, is being created by former Zachtronics developers. It explores Japan’s economic boom and the concept of continuous improvement in manufacturing.
- Players can expect intricate puzzles, historically-inspired settings, and a unique blend of engineering challenges and cultural exploration.
Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Mickey 17’ wows critics and audiences alike 🎬
- Bong Joon-ho’s latest sci-fi film ‘Mickey 17’ has received widespread acclaim following its global release, with critics praising its innovative storytelling and visual effects.
- The movie, starring Robert Pattinson in dual roles, explores themes of identity and capitalism through the story of a disposable employee on an interplanetary mission.
- This positive reception cements Bong’s status as a leading filmmaker and suggests ‘Mickey 17’ could be a strong contender for major awards in the coming season.
