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Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference placed a significant focus on AI. Apple has unveiled Apple Intelligence, a generative AI product that will be available on iOS later this year. iOS 18 adds a variety of new features, including the ability to schedule text messages, the ability to personalize your home screen, major upgrades to Siri including ChatGPT integration, AI-generated emoji, and more. In case you missed it, we've put together a handy recap of everything Apple announced.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk secured enough shareholder votes to get his 2018 stock option compensation package approved. The vote means he could receive up to $56 billion in compensation, the largest CEO compensation package in history, but a final decision must still be made after a judge in Delaware ruled the package was unfair.
In funding news, Mistral AI has closed its much-rumored Series B funding round. The company has 600 million euros (about $640 million at current exchange rates) in equity and debt. The new round values the startup at $6 billion as it continues to compete with OpenAI, Anthropic, and other AI giants.
News
Former NSA head joins OpenAI: Retired Army General Paul Nakasone, former director of the NSA, will join OpenAI's board of directors and sit on the board's “Security and Safety” subcommittee. read more
Tesla shareholders sued Elon Musk. Shareholder Tesla sued Elon Musk and board members over Musk's decision to launch xAI. They argue that talent and resources are being diverted from Tesla to new startups. read more
BeReal was bought: French mobile app and games publisher Voodoo has acquired BeReal for €500 million. BeReal co-founder and CEO Alexis Barreyat will leave the company following a transition period. read more
You can discard the ring: Apple has finally created a way for users to pause the Activity Ring on their Apple Watch. This is especially helpful if you are sick or unable to do physical activity. read more
Raspberry Pi is released: The company, a maker of small, inexpensive single-board computers, priced its IPO 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
iPad finally has a calculator app. For the first time, iPad comes with a dedicated calculator app. But teachers, be careful. This app includes Math Notes, a new feature that calculates math for you. read more
Your new unobtrusive smartphone: Minimalist smartphone manufacturer Light has announced its latest model. The Light Phone III doesn't have access to social media or the internet, but it sports a larger OLED display and camera. read more
Spotify is going in-house. Spotify is moving further into the advertising space with its first in-house creative agency, Creative Lab. The company also said it will begin testing generative AI ads. read more
Does your device have iOS 18?: Apple's iOS 18 will be compatible with many Apple devices this fall, but you may need to upgrade if you want the full Apple Intelligence experience. read more
analyze
Apple Intelligence doesn't try to be flashy. With iOS 18, Apple is taking a more cautious approach. Rather than overwhelming users with countless AI features, the company is carefully rolling out AI where it believes it could actually be useful. Apple's AI certainly isn't all that flashy, but Sarah Perez argues that it's the company's way of defining the table stakes for what AI-powered devices can do. read more
Tesla fans take to the polls. Tesla and its fans have engaged in an unprecedented battle over Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package. Over the past few months, Tesla enthusiasts have been working tirelessly to get out the vote. Sean O'Kane has taken countless actions against X to get shareholders to vote in favor and reinforce the belief that Tesla is nothing without Musk. read more
Why Y Combinator encourages small seed rounds: In 2024, many Y Combinator startups will only want small seed rounds, but this may turn off many institutional seed VCs. If YC startups treat these rounds like pre-seed funding, it might not be so bad. But as Rebecca Szkutak writes, there are risks if companies target their next Series A investment and label these smaller rounds as “seed rounds.” read more
