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apple Worldwide Developers Conference had a considerable focus on AI. Apple presented its generative AI offering, apple intelligence, which will be available on iOS later this year. iOS 18 will have a number of new features, including the ability to schedule text messages and customize your home screenimportant updates to Siri – including ChatGPT Integration – and AI-generated emojis. If you missed it, we prepared a handy summary of Everything Apple announced.
tesla CEO Elon Musk has assured enough shareholder votes to get his 2018 stock option compensation package approved. The vote means he could get a payout of up to $56 billion, the largest CEO compensation package in history, but a judge in delaware It has yet to issue its final decision after deeming the package unfair.
In financing news, Mistral AI has closed his Much-rumored Series B funding round. The company has secured €600 million (around $640 million at current exchange rates) in a combination of equity and debt. New round values startup at $6 billion as it continues to compete with Open AI, anthropic and other AI giants.
News
Former NSA Director Joins OpenAI: Former NSA chief, retired Army General Paul Nakasone, will join OpenAI’s board of directors and serve on the board’s “safety and security” subcommittee. Read more
Tesla shareholders sue Elon Musk: Shareholders of Tesla is suing Elon Musk and members of his board of directors over Musk’s decision to start xAI. They argue that talent and resources are being diverted from Tesla to the new startup. Read more
Be real is purchased: French mobile game and app publisher Voodoo has acquired BeReal for €500 million. BeReal co-founder and CEO Alexis Barreyat will leave the company after a transition period. Read more
You can get rid of rings: Apple has finally created a way for users to pause the activity rings on Apple Watches, which is especially useful if you are sick or unable to engage in physical activities. Read more
Raspberry Pi becomes public: The maker of tiny, cheap single-board computers priced its initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange at £2.80 per share, valuing it at $690 million at current exchange rates, and quickly jumped to £ 3.70 per share. Read more
iPads finally get a calculator app: iPads will have a dedicated calculator app for the first time. But, teachers, be careful. The app includes Math Notes, a new feature that does the math for you. Read more
A new smartphone without distractions: Minimalist smartphone maker Light announced its newest model. The Light Phone III doesn’t have access to social media or the internet, but it does have a larger OLED display and camera. Read more
Spotify goes internal: Spotify is venturing further into the advertising space with its first in-house creative agency, Creative Lab. The company said it will also begin testing AI generative ads. Read more
Will your device have iOS 18?: Apple’s iOS 18 will be compatible with many Apple devices this fall, but you may need to update if you want the full Apple Intelligence experience. Read more
Analysis
Apple Intelligence does not try to be flashy: With iOS 18, Apple is taking a more cautious approach. Instead of overwhelming users with too many AI features to count, the company is carefully implementing AI where it thinks it could be truly useful. While Apple’s AI certainly isn’t that flashy, Sarah Perez maintains that it’s the company’s way of defining the risks of what an AI-powered device should be able to do. Read more
Tesla fans come out to vote: Tesla and its fans waged an unprecedented battle over Elon Musk’s $56 billion pay package. In recent months, there has been a relentless effort to get out the vote from Tesla’s biggest fans. Sean O’Kane explores the countless calls to action on X to get shareholders to vote yes and reinforce his belief that Tesla is nothing without Musk. Read more
Why Y Combinator encourages small seed rounds: In 2024, many Y Combinator startups only want small seed rounds, but this could be repelling many institutional VCs. If YC startups treat these rounds more like seed funding, it may not be so bad. But, as Rebecca Szkutak writes, there is a risk if companies label these smaller rounds as “seed rounds” with an eye toward raising a Series A next. Read more