If you want to stay up to date with the biggest tech news of the week, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got a handy update for you that breaks down the most important events of the past week into easy-to-digest chunks.
The high-profile story came from AT&T after it suffered a massive outage across the US that lasted 12 hours and became so bad that some affected people were unable to call 911. They say there’s no such thing as bad publicity, but this is one time AT&T probably wishes it didn’t make headlines.
There was also a meltdown of AI tools, Apple launched a new Sports app, the first Borderlands movie trailer was released and there’s so much more you need to know. So in case you missed it, here are the seven biggest tech news stories of the week.
7. AT&T had a major telephone outage in the US
This week, AT&T inadvertently gave its customers a trip back to the early 1990s, when a massive outage crippled cell phone service in several major U.S. cities. The problems started early Thursday morning when thousands discovered they had no mobile signal – with the outage eventually affecting more than 1.7 million customers.
So what caused it? Was it a solar flare, a cyber attack or an extended Netflix promo for Leaving the world behind? According to AT&T, it was actually a simple user error. The network said the outage was caused by the “application and execution of an incorrect process” as it expanded its network. So if you’re feeling bad about an IT-related blunder at work, it should at least make you feel better.
6. ChatGPT had a meltdown and Google Gemini struggled with precision art
ChatGPT had another behavioral glitch this week – and it might have been the strangest yet. Users reported that the AI chatbot got stuck in nonsensical loops, spoke incomprehensible Spanish, and even claimed at one point to be “in the room” with the user.
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, released a statement telling users not to worry and that the issue has been identified and fixed, but it doesn’t explain the bot’s bizarre behavior. Speculation is rife among users, with some suspecting that a glitch in the chatbot’s creativity temperature resulted in overly imaginative responses to common questions. ChatGPT (including the paid GPT-4 model) now appears to be back to normal, so whatever solution OpenAI implemented behind the scenes appears to have worked.
Google Gemini also had some issues this week, as users noticed it struggled to create accurate images of historical figures, especially white men. The problem appears to have arisen from well-intentioned equality measures that Google implemented to ensure that Gemini produces a wide range of people in its AI art in an effort to counteract biases in its training data. For now, Gemini’s ability to generate images of people has been disabled while the bug is fixed.
5. Apple launched its sports app
Apple is no newcomer to the sport. It has been making deals with the major leagues in baseball and soccer (soccer for our European friends) for ages, but this is the first time it has developed something specifically for sports, or, more specifically, for sports fans.
Apple’s Sports app is a wonderland of statistics and real-time game scores that makes the wide world of sports clear. What might be even more interesting than the customizable, card-based system is how Apple built its new iOS app. Apple’s head of services Eddy Cue told us, among other things, that the leagues didn’t have the real-time data Apple needed to build the app, but they helped them find it and then Apple did the massive lift by massaging that data. and make sure it works and looks good on Apple Sports.
4. The first Borderlands movie trailer gave us a sense of déjà vu
It seems you can’t keep Marvel out of the news. After a successful week full of exciting announcements, the comic giant has once again made headlines in recent days, although through no fault of its own.
First, the Disney subsidiary’s name is reportedly changing Avengers: The Kang Dynasty as it continues to revise its Marvel Phase 5 and Phase 6 plans in the wake of a turbulent twelve-month period. As interesting as that is, however, the studio found itself at the center of a different kind of discourse after movie fans compared the upcoming film Borderlands film for Guardians of the Galaxy – after which the online chatter ensued BorderlandsThe first trailer was released on Wednesday.
Still, as the saying goes, there is no such thing as bad publicity, and the MCU can use all the good word of mouth – direct or otherwise – it can get.
3. Apple Vision Pros have been returned, but could this be a good thing?
The returns period for the first batch of Apple Vision Pros has officially closed after two weeks, which has sparked some interesting discussions about why many people are returning the headset. While there has been some talk on social media about a sharp increase in returns, insider sources paint a different picture and offer some interesting insights into who is returning their headset and why.
In our review of the Vision Pro, we delved into both the good and the not-so-good aspects of this groundbreaking venture into mixed reality. It seems the high price tag of $3,499/£2,788, AU$6349 might cause buyer’s remorse for some people. Additionally, influencers and YouTubers, always on the lookout for the latest technology trends, have used return policies to create content for their channels without the big financial commitment.
But here’s the silver lining: every return comes with a detailed investigation, giving users the chance to share their experiences and suggestions. This feedback can shape future versions of the Vision Pro. Mark Gurman, a trusted Apple insider, also chimed in, citing inconvenience, motion sickness and the high price as common reasons for returns.
2. Garmin launches a more affordable Forerunner watch
Garmin is known as the maker of a number of the best running watches around, but many of the best models such as the Garmin Forerunner 265 and 965 are premium purchases. So it was great to see Garmin release a cheaper model this week, the Garmin Forerunner 165. In our initial testing we found it to be a great GPS watch for exercise and a well-designed, cheaper version of the Forerunner 265.
However, it’s missing some features that really take the line to the next level, like Garmin’s Training Readiness score, and it’s made of much lighter plastic and not heavy polymer or stainless steel. Nevertheless, with Samsung also releasing the Galaxy Fit 3 fitness tracker, it’s a good time to want a high-quality, affordable workout tracker.
It’s only February, but Fujifilm has already released perhaps the most popular camera of 2024. This week, our hands-on Fujifilm largest pre-order numbers in history.”
Considering how good smartphone cameras have become, that’s impressive and also somewhat surprising – especially considering the X100VI has a fixed 23mm f/2 lens. On the other hand, it’s also a beautiful little camera that combines modern conveniences like built-in image stabilization and powerful autofocus with classic film camera design and fun film simulations. We’ll see you in line.
