Welcome back to Week in Review. This week we\u2019re diving into OpenAI\u2019s newest, biggest model GPT-4.5, Microsoft pulling the plug on Skype, how Anthropic used Pok\u00e9mon Red to train its Claude 3.7 Sonnet model, the unexpected return of Fyre Festival, and more! Let\u2019s get into it.<\/p>\n
OpenAI announced the launch of GPT-4.5<\/strong>, <\/strong>the much-anticipated AI model code-named Orion. GPT-4.5 is OpenAI\u2019s largest model to date,<\/a> trained using more computing power and data than any of the company\u2019s previous releases. CEO Sam Altman even said that OpenAI was forced to stagger the model\u2019s rollout because the company is \u201cout of GPUs.\u201d<\/a> Subscribers to the $200-a-month ChatGPT Pro plan have access to GPT-4.5 as part of a research preview, while ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Team customers should get the model sometime next week.<\/p>\n A demo from Y Combinator cohort<\/strong> member Optifye.ai sparked intense backlash that resulted in YC deleting it entirely from its social media<\/a>. According to its YC profile, Optifye says it\u2019s building software to help factory owners know who is and isn\u2019t working in \u201creal time\u201d thanks to AI-powered security cameras it places on assembly lines. The clip was heavily criticized on X, where user @VCBrags called it \u201csweatshops-as-a-service\u201d and another deemed it \u201ccomputer vision sweatshop software.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Amazon introduced a new and improved Alexa<\/strong> experience called Alexa+. The new Alexa starts at $19.99 per month, which is competitive with other generative AI chatbots on the market, but it will be free for Amazon Prime subscribers. Alexa+ will roll out in the U.S. in early access<\/a> beginning next month. Amazon is also launching Alexa.com, a new web experience designed for \u201clong-form\u201d work, as well as a refreshed Alexa mobile app with a new interface and functionality.<\/p>\n This is TechCrunch\u2019s Week in Review, where we recap the week\u2019s biggest news. Want this delivered as a newsletter to your inbox every Saturday? Sign up here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n RIP, Skype: <\/strong>Microsoft is pulling the plug on Skype, marking the end of an internet era. Skype users have until May 5 to either migrate their contacts and chat data to Microsoft\u2019s Teams platform or export their Skype data before it shuts down. Read more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Gotta catch \u2019em all:<\/strong> Anthropic used the Game Boy classic Pok\u00e9mon Red to benchmark its latest model, Claude 3.7 Sonnet. The model successfully battled three Pok\u00e9mon gym leaders and won their badges. Read more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Perplexity wants to reinvent the browser: <\/strong>The AI-powered search engine is launching sign-ups for Comet, which is expected to be an AI web browser. \u201cJust like Perplexity reinvented search, we\u2019re also reinventing the browser,\u201d a spokesperson told TechCrunch. Read more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Whoopsie: <\/strong>Elon Musk, the man who changed Twitter\u2019s name to X, has once again accidentally referred to his social media platform as Twitter \u2014 on the platform itself. Seems to be a hard habit to break for a lot of people. Read more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Zuckerberg fights the leaks: <\/strong>The Verge reports that Meta has fired \u201croughly\u201d 20 employees for leaking confidential information. The move comes in response to a surge of news stories with leaked details about Meta\u2019s internal meetings and undisclosed product plans. Read more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Perplexity chases more cash: <\/strong>Perplexity is reportedly raising a $50 million seed and pre-seed investment fund using some of the capital it raised for the company\u2019s growth to anchor it. The company reportedly raised $500 million at a $9 billion valuation in December. Read more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Surprise, surprise:<\/strong> As Meta phases out its third-party fact-checking programs in the U.S., the company is reintroducing a program for creators that pays them for viral content. The timing of these changes could intensify the prevalence of misinformation. Read more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n An easier way to code:<\/strong> Google introduced a new, free consumer version of Gemini Code Assist, its AI code completion and assistance tool. The tool lets developers use a chat window to talk in natural language with an AI model that can access and edit their codebase. Read more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Lucid Motors\u2019 CEO steps down: <\/strong>Peter Rawlinson is stepping down from the CEO and CTO roles that he\u2019s held since before Lucid Motors went public six years ago. According to regulatory filings, Rawlinson has also left the company\u2019s board. Read more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n SBF posts from prison: <\/strong>Disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried made his first public post on X in over two years as he serves the early days of his 25-year prison sentence. In the 10-post thread, he referred to himself as being \u201cunemployed.\u201d Read more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Oh, brother: <\/strong>Remember the disaster that was Fyre Fest? Billy McFarland is back with its sequel. Fyre Festival 2 will, and I can\u2019t stress this enough, allegedly<\/em> take place in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, from May 30 to June 2. Tickets are on sale now \u2014 ranging from $1,400 to $1.1 million. Read more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Where DEI stands so far:<\/strong> In response to threats from the Trump administration, companies across the U.S. have started cutting DEI programs and scrubbing public DEI commitments. The reaction to the government\u2019s anti-diversity push has taken many forms. In corporate America, companies like McDonald\u2019s, Walmart, and Target have announced some form of rollback to their DEI policies, while other companies like Apple, Costco, and JPMorgan have indicated a commitment to their diversity efforts. From Amazon to Zoom, we put together a helpful guide to where DEI stands among tech companies. Read more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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