As the world awaits Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 5, tech headlines this week were dominated by Apple’s rumoured mixed reality headset, Meta’s brand new mixed reality headset, the latest WhatsApp bug, Nvidia’s trillion-dollar streak, AI players warning about AI-related concerns themselves, and more. Oh, and if you are a fan of tennis legend Roger Federer, be sure to scroll to the very bottom for a pleasant surprise.
Apple To Pop AR/VR Cherry
Apple, arguably the most recognised tech brand after Google or Microsoft, is expected to flex its mixed reality headset at the upcoming WWDC next week. Despite heavy rumours, the Cupertino giant has been staying away from unveiling its AR/VR headset so far. However, if the latest leaks are to be believed, Apple’s much-awaited headset could finally see the light of day.
Apple's mixed reality headset is likely to have micro-OLED displays with a peak brightness of more than 5,000 nits, according to Ross Young, the CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants. The leaked peak brightness in the display of Apple's XR headset is much higher than an iPhone 14 Pro's panel with a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits.
Apart from the headset, Apple is also expected to unveil multiple new MacBooks, including a 15-inch MacBook Air. A new batch of software, including iOS 17 and watchOS 10, and a brand new Mac Pro is also expected.
Meta Tries To One-Up Apple
Facebook-parent Meta, which CEO Mark Zuckerberg claims focuses heavily on metaverse-related developments, took on Apple ahead of its expected headset launch and went on to announce its brand new mixed reality headset, dubbed Quest 3.
Priced at $499, the Quest 3 will be available later this autumn. Zuckerberg highlighted some key features of the headset. He mentioned that the new headset will deliver twice the graphics performance of its predecessor, the Quest 2, while also being 40 per cent slimmer.
Notably, the Quest 3 will offer full-colour passthrough, allowing users to perceive their surroundings in vivid colour through the built-in front-facing cameras.
WhatsApp’s Woes Continue
Despite having two billion users worldwide, it appears that the Meta-owned instant messenger is far from making its platform fully secure for users. In the latest new bug that reared its head, when users are clicking on the link wa.me/settings, they are exposed to a crash loop on Android smartphones. The link should ideally have taken you to the messenger’s settings. It remains to be seen what WhatsApp says about its latest bug.
Are you facing a similar issue on WhatsApp? Check out a quick fix here.
New Chip On The Trillion-Dollar Block
Nvidia has done something quite impressive. The Santa Clara-headquartered chipmaker became the first semiconductor maker to hit the $1 trillion market cap. To put things into perspective, less than 10 companies globally have ever achieved a market capitalisation level of $1 trillion, including Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft. Meta, currently valued at about $670 billion, clinched the trillion-dollar market capitalisation milestone in 2021.
Top AI Players Warn About AI’s Risks, Maybe We Should Listen
A statement released by the Center for AI Safety, signed by hundreds of executives and academics, highlights the need to consider artificial intelligence (AI) as a societal risk on par with pandemics and nuclear wars. The signatories include notable figures such as the chief executives of Google's DeepMind, OpenAI (the developer of ChatGPT), and the AI startup Anthropic.
The concern over the regulation and risks posed by AI to humanity has been growing, with global leaders and industry experts emphasising the potential impact on job markets, public health, and the weaponisation of disinformation, discrimination, and impersonation.
Governments across the globe are taking AI regulation quite seriously now. And with AI players themselves sharing a word of warning, maybe companies readily jumping headlong into AI implementation by sacrificing human jobs should sit up and listen. Just because it's shiny, it need not be sustainable.
Perhaps to bring the point home, a Microsoft report has revealed that 74 per cent of Indian workers have expressed concerns about AI replacing their jobs. Read more here.
Gaming Isn’t Just For Fun
A new study has found that gaming is considered a primary or secondary source of income by many, indicating a significant shift towards professional gaming in India. The study has been conducted by EPWA (Egamers and Players Welfare Association), in collaboration with the Centre for Justice through Technology (CJT), Vinayaka Mission's Law School, and Research Foundation-DU Chennai, new insights have emerged about the online gaming industry in India. It sheds light on the evolving trend of gaming as a viable career option, going beyond mere entertainment.
According to the study, 83 per cent of respondents view gaming as either a primary or secondary source of income, indicating a significant shift towards professional gaming. Among them, 39 per cent consider gaming as their primary source of income, while 44 per cent see it as a secondary source. The research highlights how gamers are leveraging improved skill sets to earn better incomes, encouraging them to pursue gaming as a profession.
Need Directions? Ask Roger Federer
Roger Federer, the 20-time major winner and former tennis champion, is set to lend his voice to the popular driving app Waze, assisting commuters in navigating the roads. The multilingual Swiss star will provide directions in English, French, and German, making him the first individual to record custom navigation in three different languages, according to an announcement by the navigation app on Wednesday.
In addition to offering basic directions, Federer will also deliver motivational messages to drivers. In one recording, he exclaims, "It's drive time - I can feel the adrenaline kicking in already." Another message encourages drivers to trust their abilities, with Federer stating, "Time to ride! Trust your ability. I'm ready to coach you along the way."
Sounds fun!