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OpenAI's ChatGPT now supports apps, allowing users to perform tasks like booking travel and editing designs without switching apps, sparking debate about its potential to replace the Apple App Store.
Apple aims to modernize app usage with an AI-powered Siri, eliminating the need for app icons. This would allow users to interact with apps through voice commands, offering a more intuitive experience.
While ChatGPT's app system requires users to name apps in prompts, Apple plans for Siri to seamlessly integrate with apps, understanding user requests contextually.
Apple's ecosystem advantages include pre-existing app installations, user familiarity, and privacy controls. OpenAI's app platform requires developer adoption and relies on the Model Context Protocol, currently supporting only a limited number of apps.
Apple is reportedly testing its upgraded Siri internally, which will work with major apps. Meanwhile, OpenAI is exploring its own AI device with Jony Ive, but faces challenges in creating a superior computing paradigm.
The success of OpenAI's app model depends on its advantage over native app usage, while Apple's approach emphasizes seamless integration and user privacy.
In a recent interview, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff expressed his full support for President Trump and suggested deploying National Guard troops to patrol San Francisco streets. This political transformation, which even surprised his own communications team, highlights a broader trend of Silicon Valley's accommodation of Trump. Benioff praised Trump's efforts and Elon Musk's government efficiency initiatives, while admitting he hadn't closely followed news about immigration raids or Trump's attacks on the media. The interview concluded abruptly, leaving questions about whether other tech CEOs will follow Benioff's lead.
Corporate travel management company Navan has updated its IPO documents with the SEC, proceeding despite the government shutdown. Navan is utilizing new SEC rules that allow companies to continue their IPO process, with potential automatic approval after 20 days.
The updated filing reveals Navan's plan to sell 30 million shares, with insiders offering an additional 7 million, priced between $24 and $26. This could raise up to $960 million, valuing the company at $6.45 billion. Key backers include Lightspeed, Andreessen Horowitz, Zeev Ventures, and Greenoaks.
Navan's financials show a rolling 12-month revenue of $613 million, a 32% increase, but also losses of $188 million.
Google Chrome is introducing a new feature to automatically disable browser notifications for websites with low user engagement. This feature, launching on Android and desktop, expands on existing safety check functionality that revokes permissions from infrequently visited sites. Google acknowledges that users rarely interact with the high volume of notifications they receive. Users will be informed when notification permissions are removed and can change the setting back or disable the auto-revocation feature. Testing showed minimal impact on notification clicks, indicating low engagement with these pop-ups.
Instagram's Adam Mosseri discussed the impact of AI on content creation, acknowledging both its potential to democratize creativity and the risks of misuse. He countered MrBeast's concerns about AI threatening creators' livelihoods, suggesting AI will enhance content creation rather than replace it entirely.
Mosseri highlighted the need for societal adaptation to AI-generated content, emphasizing media literacy for children. He also mentioned Meta's efforts to label AI-generated content and explore systems like Community Notes for context. Furthermore, he touched on Instagram's future plans, including a TV app and focus on Reels and DMs, as well as the competitive landscape with TikTok.