TECH - Page 12

Tech giant Microsoft has reached a settlement of $14 million with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) to resolve allegations of unfair treatment towards employees who took protected leave. The CRD claimed that Microsoft retaliated against California-based workers who utilized parental, disability, pregnancy, and family care leave between 2017 and now. This retaliation reportedly denied these employees raises, promotions, and stock options. The CRD’s director, Kevin Kish, expressed disappointment in Microsoft’s prior stance on leave, stating that the company failed

In a move that could significantly alter the Italian digital payments landscape, Nexi, a leading European payments company, has joined forces with Amazon Italy. This partnership will allow Amazon. It allows customers to seamlessly pay for purchases using Bancomat Pay, a local debit card service. This collaboration signifies a significant win for both parties and is poised to accelerate the digitization of payments in Italy. With investment from private equity fund FSI, which became BANCOMAT’s biggest shareholder, the focus has

June witnessed a significant surge in the market capitalization of artificial intelligence (AI)- focused tech firms. This jump comes amidst a broader market environment grappling with softening economic growth and concerns about inflation. While the overall market showed some volatility, AI stocks emerged as a bright spot, attracting investor interest and confidence. This bullish trend in AI stocks can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the rapid integration of AI into various industries is undeniable. From healthcare and finance to

OpenAI, the research and development company known for its powerful language models like ChatGPT, has announced a delay in the rollout of its highly anticipated “Voice Mode” feature. Initially slated for a June release, Voice Mode will arrive in July. The company cited several reasons for the postponement, prioritizing safety and user experience at the forefront. In a social media post, OpenAI emphasized its commitment to ensuring the model’s ability to “detect and refuse certain content.” This suggests the development

The race for artificial intelligence (AI) hardware dominance just got hotter. AI startup Etched announced a hefty $120 million Series A funding round to develop a specialized chip aimed at dethroning Nvidia, the current king of the castle. With its general-purpose processors, Nvidia currently holds a staggering 80% share of the AI server chip market. While versatile, these chips are notorious for their high energy consumption. Etched is taking a different approach, focusing on building a chip optimized explicitly for

In a move that could potentially reshape the tech landscape amidst the backdrop of US-China tensions, ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of the popular social media platform TikTok, is reportedly teaming up with US chip designer Broadcom to develop a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) processor. This strategic partnership not only holds significant implications for both companies but also serves as a microcosm of the ongoing US-China tech relations and the global AI race. The heart of this collaboration lies in

Apple’s ambitious plans for its mixed-reality headset lineup have hit a snag. According to industry sources, the highly anticipated Vision Pro 2 development has been reportedly halted due to disappointing sales figures for the original Vision Pro. However, this news comes with a silver lining, as Apple is said to prioritize developing a more affordable AR headset for a late 2025 launch. The first-generation Vision Pro, unveiled at WWDC 2023, aimed to be a premium “spatial computer,” offering users a

In a move that surprised many in the AI industry, Ilya Sutskever, former chief scientist and co-founder of OpenAI, announced the launch of his artificial intelligence (AI) company just a month after leaving his previous position. The new venture, aptly named Safe Superintelligence, underscores Sutskever’s unwavering focus on building safe and beneficial AI. Sutskever’s departure from OpenAI was shrouded in controversy. He reportedly led an attempt to oust OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, and, upon its failure, stepped down from the

Joby Aviation, a frontrunner in the electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft industry, has received a crucial nod from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its in-house software system, ElevateOS. This marks a significant milestone for Joby’s ambitious plans to launch an on-demand air taxi service in the United States. ElevateOS is more than software; it’s the brain behind Joby’s envisioned air taxi network. The system encompasses a suite of programs designed for various operational and scheduling functions. It includes

Ferrari, the legendary Italian automaker synonymous with roaring engines and sleek design, is taking a historic step towards electrification. Their first fully electric car is expected to debut in late 2025, and according to sources, it will carry a hefty price tag – exceeding $500,000. Ferrari’s EV is in a league of its own, targeting a niche market of ultra-luxury electric car enthusiasts. While the specifics of the car remain under wraps, industry insiders suggest it will be a high-performance