Tech
Social media goes sci-fi with Zuckerberg’s proposal for ‘Facebook Metaverse’
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says he plans to transform the social media platform into a “Metaverse” in the next five years
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg recently said that he wants the social media giant to become an ‘online Metaverse’. It’s “an embodied internet where instead of just viewing content, you are in it,” he said.
The Facebook CEO told The Verge people shouldn’t live through “small, glowing rectangles.”
“That’s not really how people are made to interact,” he added. “That’s not how we process things.”
What is the Metaverse?
A metaverse is an digital world where you can game, work and communicate virtually, usually through a VR headset
“You feel present with other people as if you were in other places, having different experiences that you couldn’t necessarily do on a 2D app or webpage, like dancing, for example, or different types of fitness,” he said.
Zuckerberg says that Facebook is also working on the ‘Infinite Office’ – a feature that will allow users to design a workplace using VR.
“In the future, instead of just doing this over a phone call, you’ll be able to sit as a hologram on my couch, or I’ll be able to sit as a hologram on your couch, and it’ll actually feel like we’re in the same place, even if we’re in different states or hundreds of miles apart,” he said. “I think that is really powerful.”
Facebook invests in Oculus, betting on the future of VR
Facebook has continued to invest in VR products, recently spending over $2 billion on Oculus. This comes two years after Oculus launched its invitation-only Facebook Horizon. Using the software, users can use a headset to chat in a virtual space with an avatar.
Although Zuckerberg admitted the current VR headsets are “a bit clunky”, he promised improvements are in the works.
He says Facebook’s Metaverse will be “accessible across… different computing platforms” including VR, AR, PC, mobile devices and games consoles.
Tech
Airbus A320 fleet faces software upgrade due to risk
Airbus alerts A320 operators to urgent software fix after JetBlue incident raises safety concerns
Airbus alerts A320 operators to urgent software fix after JetBlue incident raises safety concerns
– Airbus warns over half of A320 fleet needs software fixes due to potential data corruption risks.
– Affected airlines must complete upgrades before next flights, with operational disruptions anticipated during a busy travel season.
Airbus has issued a warning regarding its A320 fleet, indicating that over half of the active jets will require a software fix.
It follows a recent incident involving a JetBlue Airways aircraft, where “intense solar radiation” was found to potentially corrupt data crucial for flight control system operation.
The European plane manufacturer stated that around 6,500 jets may be affected. A regulation mandates that the software upgrade must occur before the next scheduled flight.
Operational disruptions for both passengers and airlines are anticipated. The issue arose from an incident on October 30, where a JetBlue flight experienced a computer malfunction that resulted in an uncommanded descent. Fortunately, no injuries occurred, but the malfunction of an automated computer system was identified as a contributing factor.
Airlines, including American Airlines Group, have begun to implement the required upgrades.
The majority of affected jets can receive an uncomplicated software update, although around 1,000 older models will necessitate an actual hardware upgrade, requiring grounding during maintenance.
Hungarian airline Wizz Air has also initiated necessary maintenance for compliance, potentially affecting flights. This announcement has surfaced during a busy travel season in the US, with many facing delays due to other factors as well.
Regulatory Response
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has mandated that A320 operators replace or modify specific elevator-aileron computers. The directive follows the JetBlue incident, where a malfunction led to a temporary loss of altitude.
Airbus’s fix applies to both the A320 and A320neo models, representing a vital response in ensuring aircraft safety.
Tech
China blocks ByteDance from using Nvidia chips in new data centres
China blocks ByteDance from using Nvidia chips, tightening tech control and pushing for domestic AI innovation amid U.S. restrictions.
China blocks ByteDance from using Nvidia chips, tightening tech control and pushing for domestic AI innovation amid U.S. restrictions.
Chinese regulators have moved to block ByteDance from deploying Nvidia chips in newly built data centres, tightening control over foreign technology used by major Chinese tech giants. The decision comes after ByteDance made substantial purchases of Nvidia hardware amid fears of shrinking supply from the United States.
Washington has already restricted the sale of advanced chips to China, allowing only weakened versions into the market. Beijing’s latest move reflects its push to reduce dependence on U.S. technology and accelerate home-grown AI innovation.
The ban places operational and financial pressure on ByteDance, which must now work around a growing pile of Nvidia chips it is no longer allowed to use. Domestic suppliers like Huawei are expected to step in as China intensifies its pursuit of tech self-reliance.
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Tech
OpenAI launches shopping research tool for ChatGPT users
OpenAI launches shopping research tool to enhance e-commerce experience ahead of holiday season spending boost
OpenAI launches shopping research tool to enhance e-commerce experience ahead of holiday season spending boost
– OpenAI’s “shopping research” tool helps users find detailed shopping guides tailored to their preferences.
– Users can access Instant Checkout for purchases while ensuring user chats are not shared with retailers.
Users can customise their guides based on budget, features, and recipients. OpenAI notes that while the tool takes a few minutes to generate responses, users can still use ChatGPT for quicker queries like price checks.
When users ask specific prompts, such as finding a quiet cordless stick vacuum or a gift for a niece who loves art, the shopping research tool will appear automatically. It can also be accessed via the menu.
Shopping Research
OpenAI has been expanding its e-commerce capabilities, with the introduction of the Instant Checkout feature in September, enabling purchases directly through ChatGPT.
Soon, users of the shopping research tool will also be able to use Instant Checkout for making purchases.
OpenAI assures that shopping research results are derived from publicly available retail websites and will not disclose user chats to retailers, although it does warn that inaccuracies may occur in product availability and pricing.
Shopping research is now available to OpenAI’s Free, Go, Plus, and Pro users logged into ChatGPT.
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