As a tech enthusiast with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the landscape of technology is constantly evolving, and it’s both exhilarating and overwhelming to keep pace.
This week, AI tycoons and aspiring AI millionaires dominated the news headlines. Moreover, Microsoft rolled out a significant upgrade for Windows 11, along with the newest version of Office. Add to that some early Prime Day and Anti-Prime Day deals, plus reviews of fresh gadgets and games, and you’ve got a tasty mix of tech news to keep up with. Here is a summary of the most significant tech stories from the past week.
“Art is dead, dude. It’s over. AI won. Humans lost”
According to Jason M. Allen, a digital artist who won a competition with a piece made using AI, he believes that the concept of ‘art’ as we know it may be obsolete due to rampant theft and misuse of AI-created works. His concerns have sparked discussions about the ownership and rights associated with art generated by artificial intelligence.
The fact that the Copyright Office won’t grant recognition to Theatre D’Opera Spatial has left me in a tough spot, as I have no legal means to stop others from taking my work without any payment or acknowledgment.
To produce artwork or any content, AI models require training using actual examples from the real world. In simpler terms, anything created with AI is essentially a compilation of numerous pieces of art originally made by humans. However, the extent to which these AI creations are connected to human artists is a subject of debate. Some believe that human artists have been learning by observing other works, so AI models are merely mimicking this process. On the other hand, others argue that artistic expression transcends entering prompts and having a tool produce an image. For now, the US Copyright Office leans towards the latter view, stating that work generated by AI lacks human authorship.
“Although Allen’s work involves artificial intelligence, his statements about it sound like something a conventional artist from a TV show might say. ‘I won’t apologize; I didn’t break any rules. This isn’t stopping. Art as we know it is extinct, man. It’s done. AI has triumphed. Humans have lost.’ However, it seems that even if art is no more, Allen intends for his financial success to persist.
Windows 11 2024 Update
This week, Windows 11 experienced a significant upgrade, moving computers to version 24H2. The Windows 11 2024 Update showcases several novel features, however, it’s the performance enhancements that are grabbing attention. Microsoft has implemented various under-the-hood alterations in Windows 11 with this update, leading to a perceptible speed increase in daily computer use. The operating system is expected to operate more smoothly and exhibit reduced lag after installation.
As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that the top-tier Arm laptops running Windows now offer improved emulation for apps, thanks to an innovative x86 application emulation layer. If your PC sports compatible CPUs and GPUs and updates to the Windows 11 2024 version, you can expect enhanced gaming performance. And yes, even computers that weren’t initially supported see a performance boost upon upgrading to the Windows 11 2024 Update.
Beyond enhancing performance and bolstering security, the Windows 11 2024 Update introduces a host of novel features and alterations. As an onlooker, I’ve observed that our Senior Editor, Zac Bowden, succinctly outlined the key changes upon its debut.
- File Explorer home tab now includes an updated layout with shared documents
- You can now duplicate tabs by right-clicking the tab.
- Context Menu layout has been updated with better labeling for easier use.
- You can now create .7z and .TAR archive formats.
- You can view your Android phone’s file system directly in File Explorer
- A new Outlook app for email, calendar, and contact is included
- Microsoft has updated Copilot as a standalone web app
- Photos now includes AI-enhanced generative erase and background editing
- Windows Update now supports checkpoints and hot patching for faster and less obtrusive updates
- Voice Clarity uses AI to remove background noise picked up by your microphone in supported apps
- Power settings for plugged/unplugged state can now be configured simultaneously
- A new Energy Saver mode replaces battery saver and applies to both laptops and desktops
- You can now configure the mouse scroll wheel direction in Settings
- Wi-Fi 7 hardware is now supported
- New PRISM emulation layer makes x86 emulated apps run better on Arm
- Arm-based devices should now run smoother
- Phone Link is now integrated with the Start menu
- The Taskbar system tray layout has been simplified
- Quick Settings has been rebuilt to be faster and more customizable
- Windows Spotlight image is now the default wallpaper setting
- You can now set HDR images as a desktop wallpaper
You can find our comprehensive review of the Windows 11 2024 Update, as well as a helpful guide on how to implement this update and bring your computer up-to-date with the most recent version of Windows.
OpenAI raises $6.6 billion
For a while, OpenAI can rest assured about its financial stability as it has secured a massive $6.6 billion investment from NVIDIA and Microsoft, raising its valuation to an impressive $157 billion. Even though Apple was initially set to join other tech giants in investing in OpenAI, reports suggest that they backed out at the last minute.
OpenAI, rather than being the investing party like Microsoft and NVIDIA, made demands or strongly suggested terms. Specifically, they asked their investors to abstain from funding competing AI companies such as Anthropic, xAI, Safe Superintelligence (SSI), Perplexity, and Glean. It’s worth mentioning that SSI was founded by Ilya Sutskever, who is also a co-founder of OpenAI.
OpenAI must persistently pour substantial resources into refining its models and technology, as the competition within the AI sector remains intense. This week, NVIDIA, a company renowned for its profit in the hardware aspect of AI, unveiled its own Language Model (LLM).
Office 2024
Microsoft 365 is a major service offered by Microsoft, but it isn’t the only method for utilizing Office applications. This week, Microsoft announced Office 2024, a platform that enables users to work with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook on either a Mac or PC. Unlike Microsoft 365, Office 2024 does not necessitate a subscription. Instead, you have the option to make a one-time payment of $149.99 or $249.99, depending on the apps you wish to employ.
Although Microsoft consistently champions Microsoft 365 as the optimal method for utilizing their services, there are certain scenarios where Office 2024 might prove more suitable.
2024’s Office edition boasts numerous upgrades from its forerunner, Office 2021. This latest Office iteration sports a revamped design to match the aesthetics of Windows 11, as well as an array of brand-new capabilities.
Review Roundup
This week, our team thoroughly examined the newest lineup of laptops, gadgets, and video games. Every item we got to test received a rating of 4 out of 5, and an impressive three items almost achieved a perfect score.
To begin, we examined the ASUS ProArt PX13, boasting a wheel within its touchpad. As stated by Rebecca Spear, “The built-in ASUS Dial on the touchpad, along with the ASUS Pen 2.0, allows for effortless interactions with creative software without the need to buy additional equipment.
The distinctive trait, outstanding performance of the laptop, and stunning display on the ASUS ProArt PX13 received exceptional ratings.
The Razer Kraken V4 received positive reviews. This headset is comfy, boasts RGB illumination, and pairs wonderfully with the Razer Kitty Ears V2. According to Zachary Boddy, it ticks all the necessary boxes. It’s comfortable for extended gaming periods, delivers a flexible and swift sound quality, can run for numerous hours on a single charge without hiccups, and maintains strong wireless connectivity. It stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in its price range under $200 and frequently outperforms them.
The game expansion “Starfield: Shattered Space” has garnered mixed responses on Steam and Xbox platforms, with some players criticizing Bethesda for overhyping the expansion, only to fall short of expectations. In his review, our writer Samuel Tolbert expressed his personal enjoyment of the expansion, but echoed a common criticism shared by many.
Be sure to explore all our reviews thoroughly, as they showcase both the aspects that our team adores (and finds less appealing) in the newest devices and entertainment options.
Early Prime Day deals
The Amazon Prime Big Sale Days event commences on October 8, 2024, but you don’t need to wait until then to start saving money! Various retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Best Buy have begun lowering their prices in anticipation of the holiday season and to empty their shelves. We’ve already highlighted numerous deals, with more coming next week. Here are some of the most exciting offers currently available.
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2024-10-06 13:39