Week in Review
Welcome back to Week in Review! Tons of stuff for you today, including Nintendo’s Switch 2; capacity issues at OpenAI; a story that deserves the Hollywood treatment; and much, much more. Let’s go!
News
It’s finally (almost) here: After almost 10 years, Nintendo finally released its Switch successor, the Switch 2. According to TechCrunch’s Amanda Silberling, the $450 system “tries to take a console that’s already beloved and simply just make it better.” I’m into that! Unfortunately, preorders in the U.S. might be delayed in response to Trump’s tariffs.
Delays, delays: OpenAI’s Sam Altman said in a series of posts on X that the company’s new image-generating tool could cause unspecified product delays. “Working as fast [as] we can to really get stuff humming,” Altman wrote. The company promises it’ll release o3 (after effectively canceling the consumer release back in February).
The old college try: Zach Yadegari, who built the viral Cal AI app, wrote on Twitter that even though he has a 4.0 GPA and a $30 million ARR company, he still wasn’t accepted into 15 top universities.
More News
Oh no: The Trump administration fired the head of the National Security Agency and Cyber Command, as well as the NSA’s deputy director, who served as the agency’s top civilian leader. It’s not clear who is currently overseeing the NSA and Cyber Command following the firing.
Do my shopping for me, please: Amazon on Monday unveiled Nova Act, a general-purpose AI agent that can take control of a web browser and independently perform some simple actions. Amazon is testing a feature it calls “Buy for Me” — powered by its Nova AI models — which shows users third-party sites that have products they may want. They can then buy things off those other sites, without leaving Amazon’s site. Pretty nifty!
Yikes: One nefarious use for ChatGPT’s new image generator: faking receipts. People are already using it to generate fake restaurant receipts, potentially adding another tool to the already-extensive toolkit of AI deepfakes used by fraudsters. The receipts generated can even include food and coffee stains to make them look more authentic. Great!
A tale of two companies: Rippling announced in March that it was suing rival Deel for alleged spying, and this week released the affidavit of the Rippling employee who testified that he was working as a spy. It’s got some juicy details, like people representing Deel allegedly telling him to smash his “old phone with an axe.” Hollywood, are you listening?
Pointing fingers: Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney called out Apple and Google for their “gangster-style” business practices. You might remember that his company sued both Apple and Google for monopolistic practices over their respective app stores. Epic won its case with Google but not with Apple.
Analysis
Backsliding: Elon Musk’s push into politics — specifically his alignment with President Trump and activities within the federal government — has dragged Tesla into uncertainty. For proof, just look at the company’s disappointing first-quarter delivery numbers. The question now is whether the Tesla brand can recover.
Conclusion
This week, we saw a mix of exciting news and concerning developments in the tech industry. From the release of Nintendo’s Switch 2 to capacity issues at OpenAI, there’s been a lot to keep track of. We also saw some concerning trends, like the use of AI image generators to fake receipts and the ongoing drama surrounding Epic Games and its feud with Apple and Google. As we move forward, it will be important to stay vigilant and keep a close eye on these developments.
FAQs
Q: What is the Switch 2?
A: The Switch 2 is the successor to Nintendo’s popular Switch console, which was released in 2017.
Q: What is OpenAI’s new image-generating tool?
A: OpenAI’s new image-generating tool is a powerful AI model that can generate images based on text prompts. However, the company has warned that it may cause unspecified product delays.
Q: Who is Elon Musk?
A: Elon Musk is the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and has been known for his ambitious goals and outspoken views on various topics, including politics.
Q: What is the Tesla brand?
A: The Tesla brand is a luxury electric vehicle manufacturer founded by Elon Musk in 2003. It has become known for its innovative electric cars and solar energy solutions.
