Week in Review returned with significant developments, including Nintendo’s release of the Switch 2, OpenAI’s capacity challenges, and an intriguing narrative worthy of a Hollywood film.
Switch 2 Launch: After nearly a decade, Nintendo unveiled its Switch successor, the Switch 2, priced at $450. Amanda Silberling of TechCrunch noted that the new system aims to enhance the beloved console’s features. However, preorders in the U.S. may face delays due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
OpenAI Delays: Sam Altman from OpenAI indicated through posts on X that the company’s new image-generating tool could lead to unforeseen product delays. Altman assured stakeholders that efforts are being made to resolve the issues swiftly. OpenAI plans to release O3 following a postponement of the consumer release earlier in February.
Rejection Despite Achievements: Zach Yadegari, the creator of the viral Cal AI app, revealed on Twitter that, despite having a 4.0 GPA and leading a company with a $30 million annual run rate, he was not accepted into 15 leading universities.
NSA Leadership Changes: The Trump administration dismissed the head of the National Security Agency and Cyber Command alongside the NSA’s deputy director. Their replacements have yet to be announced.
Amazon’s Nova Act: Amazon introduced Nova Act, an AI agent capable of navigating a web browser to perform basic tasks. A feature, "Buy for Me," is being tested, which utilizes Nova AI models to recommend third-party products to customers.
ChatGPT and Fraud: ChatGPT’s new image generator is being exploited to create counterfeit receipts, adding to the tools available to AI deepfake fraudsters. These generated receipts can even mimic stains to enhance authenticity.
Rippling vs. Deel Case: Rippling accused competitor Deel of espionage and released an affidavit detailing how a Rippling employee was allegedly instructed by Deel representatives to destroy old devices. This case contains elements reminiscent of a movie plot.
Epic Games Criticism: Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, criticized Apple and Google for their business practices, likening them to "gangster-style" operations. Epic Games previously sued both companies, winning a case against Google, but not against Apple.
Zelle’s App Shutdown: Zelle announced it would discontinue its app, although it remains operational through banks. Less than 2% of Zelle’s 150 million users utilized the stand-alone app.
Plaid’s Valuation: Fintech company Plaid sold $575 million in common stock, achieving a $6.1 billion valuation, significantly lower than its $13.4 billion valuation in April 2021.
AI Power Demand: The demand for power in the AI sector is anticipated to double by 2029 due to new and expanded data centers, prompting efforts to secure capacity through solar energy deals.
Tesla’s Challenges: Elon Musk’s involvement in politics and his alignment with President Trump have reportedly contributed to Tesla’s recent struggles, as reflected in the company’s first-quarter delivery figures. The future of the Tesla brand’s recovery is uncertain.
