Blog #Technology Trends

Bluesky, a Twitter-like platform for short-form updates, has experienced rapid growth, reaching 17 million users in just a week and topping Apple’s app store. Similarly, Threads, Meta's alternative to Twitter, gained 15 million users in November alone, signaling a surge in interest for new social platforms.

Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite feature, introduced with the iPhone 14, has surpassed its initial two-year free period without any charges being implemented yet.

The Biden administration has tackled ransomware as a national security threat, disrupting networks, recovering payments, and targeting key operators. Despite these efforts, ransomware attacks have continued to rise, with 2024 set to break records.

Heroku CEO Bob Wise has left Salesforce, confirmed by a spokesperson who expressed appreciation for his contributions. Wise initially joined Heroku as General Manager from Amazon Web Services, where he was head of Kubernetes and the open-source program office.

Ben Zhao, a computer security researcher at the University of Chicago, became involved in the fight between artists and generative AI when he was approached to help protect images from AI usage.

Google Chrome on iPhone is rolling out four new upgrades, focusing on enhanced Google Lens search, online shopping, and better integration with Google Drive, Photos, and Maps.

Ecosia and Qwant, two European search engines, are collaborating on a new European search index to reduce their dependence on Big Tech providers like Microsoft and Google. This joint index aims to drive innovation, particularly in generative AI, while managing rising API costs as both currently rely on Bing’s APIs (and Ecosia on Google’s results as well).

CRISPR technology has revolutionized genetic engineering, making it easier to edit genes and raise concerns about altering human evolution. Jennifer Doudna, co-inventor of CRISPR, warned of the ethical implications of creating "CRISPR babies" with genes that could be passed down to future generations.

At TechCrunch Disrupt 2024, Andreessen Horowitz general partner Martin Casado criticized attempts to regulate AI, saying lawmakers are focusing on a mythical future version of AI rather than addressing the current risks.

As Firefox celebrates its 20th anniversary, Mozilla reflects on how to revive the browser's popularity. Once holding over 30% of the global market share, Firefox faced a decline after Google Chrome’s launch, as Mozilla’s focus shifted away from its flagship browser.

Exosonic, a supersonic aircraft startup focused on quiet supersonic flight and UAV technology, has announced its closure after five years due to a lack of customer support needed to sustain operations.

Jack Dorsey's Block (formerly Square) is scaling back its investments in TIDAL, the music streaming platform, and winding down TBD, its Bitcoin-focused division that aimed to create a decentralized internet.