In Short:
– Elon Musk announced X’s transition to the AI-driven Grok recommendation system within four to six weeks.
– Grok will personalise content based on real-time user engagement and improve visibility for smaller creators.

Elon Musk has announced that X will transition to a fully AI-driven recommendation system called Grok within four to six weeks. This move will eliminate all heuristic-based algorithms and represents a significant shift in how content is distributed on the platform.Grok will analyse over 100 million posts and videos daily to tailor content to individual user interests. Unlike traditional algorithms, it will learn from real-time user engagement to provide personalized recommendations.

The evolution aims to solve issues faced by smaller content creators, ensuring their quality posts gain visibility. Grok will assess posts holistically, rather than strictly adhering to predetermined rules.

Feed Control

Users will have enhanced control over their feeds through natural language commands. Musk stated that users can request overall adjustments, such as “show more tech news” or “less politics,” simplifying the customization process.

This aligns with Musk’s vision of integrating AI across his ventures, including Tesla and SpaceX. Grok, a product of Musk’s xAI, started as a conversational assistant and now has 64 million monthly users.

Alongside this AI-centric strategy, Musk acknowledged shortcomings in X’s creator payment system, admitting it has failed to compensate content creators adequately compared to platforms like YouTube. This reflects ongoing efforts to improve sustainability for creators as technology evolves on the platform.

In Short:
– Representative John Moolenaar warns of national security risks with TikTok’s algorithm licensing deal.
– Moolenaar seeks details on the agreement while emphasising concerns over Chinese influence and ownership limitations.

The chair of the House Select Committee on China, Representative John Moolenaar, expressed serious concerns regarding a potential licensing agreement for TikTok’s algorithm.

The deal would arise from Chinese company ByteDance’s efforts to sell its U.S. assets related to the short video app.Moolenaar awaits further details about the arrangement, which White House officials indicated would involve the new ownership licensing the algorithm.

He explained the risks associated with China maintaining influence over the algorithm, stating, “anytime you have (China) with leverage over the algorithm, I think that’s a problem.”

President Donald Trump previously signed an executive order asserting that the sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations meets national security requirements, allowing 120 days for the transaction’s completion. Moolenaar noted that technology experts question whether the algorithm can be effectively reprogrammed.

Detailed Concerns

The executive order also stated that the U.S. company’s security partners would retrain and monitor the algorithm, placing it under the control of the new joint venture.

Under the agreement, ByteDance would appoint one board member out of seven in the new entity, while Americans would occupy the remaining six seats.

The arrangement mandates that ByteDance maintain less than a 20% ownership stake in TikTok U.S. to comply with a 2024 law threatening to shut down the app by January 2025 if the Chinese parent company does not divest its U.S. assets.

Holders of key positions worry about potential national security risks linked to algorithm control.

In Short:
– Apple launched new MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro with updated M5 chip for faster performance.
– Devices start at $1,599 for MacBook Pro, $999 for iPad Pro, and $3,499 for Vision Pro, available for preorder.

Apple has announced new models of the MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro featuring the updated M5 chip.

The devices are designed to run faster than their predecessors and include advanced features aimed at enhancing user experience.The new MacBook Pro starts at $1,599, the 11-inch iPad Pro at $999, and the Vision Pro at $3,499 with a Dual Knit Band.

The devices are available for preorder and will be on sale from October 22.

This launch follows the September release of the iPhone 17 and Apple Watch Series 11. Apple’s December quarter typically sees the highest sales, fueled by holiday shopping, prompting the company to update its popular products during this season.

Powerful Chip

The M5 chip delivers quadrupled peak compute performance over the previous M4, enhancing the capabilities of AI workloads significantly. Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Technologies, Johny Srouji, indicated that the chip greatly improves performance, particularly for the new 14-inch MacBook Pro.

Analysts are closely monitoring these releases, as they examine whether Apple is adjusting prices in response to tariffs affecting semiconductors. Notably, the starting prices for the M5 models remain consistent with earlier versions.

While iPads and MacBooks are not as vital as iPhone sales, they contribute substantially to Apple’s revenue.

The company reported an 8% decline in iPad sales during the June quarter, while Mac sales saw a year-over-year increase.

Apple does not disclose Vision Pro sales figures, but this device is estimated to generate negligible revenue compared to iPhone sales, which comprised over 47% of the June quarter’s revenue.