The Daily Index — Wednesday, July 31, 2024 · TLDR Index

Across today’s newsletters

Today’s Index

TLDR

OPENAI STARTS ROLLING OUT ITS HER-LIKE VOICE MODE FOR CHATGPT

OpenAI has started to roll out its advanced voice mode to a small number of ChatGPT Plus subscribers. The feature was previously criticized for sounding similar to Scarlett Johansson and was delayed for safety reasons. OpenAI has implemented four preset voices trained with voice actors. The new mode will likely be available to all ChatGPT Plus users in the fall.

theverge.com · 2 min

TLDR AI

OPENAI HAS RELEASED A NEW CHATGPT BOT THAT YOU CAN TALK TO

OpenAI is launching a new AI voice chatbot powered by the GPT-4o model with features that include natural, fluent conversation capabilities. It is initially available to select ChatGPT Plus subscribers.

technologyreview.com · 2 min

TLDR Web Dev

GOOGLE'S SECRET TO PAINLESS CODE REVIEWS

Google's internal code review tool Critique is highly rated among software engineers. This article looks at what makes Critique so good and explains how it pairs with Google's process of code review. It covers Google's guidelines for efficient code review, internal statistics on Google code reviews, and how Google uses AI effectively to speed up code reviews. Critique will never be open-sourced, but Google maintains a similar open-source code review tool called Gerrit.

stacksweep.substack.com · 9 min

TLDR InfoSec

THOUSANDS DOWNLOAD NEW MANDRAKE ANDROID SPYWARE VERSION FROM GOOGLE PLAY

A new version of Mandrake Android spyware infiltrated Google Play in 2022 and remained undetected for two years with over 32,000 downloads. This sophisticated spyware allows attackers to steal data, control devices, and blackmail victims. Five apps carried the malware, with AirFS being the most recent one.

securityweek.com · 2 min

TLDR Crypto

SEC MIGHT SHELVE ALLEGATION THAT SOLANA IS A SECURITY IN BINANCE LAWSUIT

The SEC plans to amend its lawsuit against Binance, delaying the decision on whether cryptocurrencies like Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), and Polygon (MATIC) are considered securities. This move temporarily postpones a court ruling on these specific allegations but does not dismiss them outright.

decrypt.co · 3 min

TLDR

META'S NEW AI STUDIO HELPS YOU CREATE YOUR OWN CUSTOM AI CHATBOTS

Meta's new AI Studio allows users to create, share, and discover AI chatbots. Creators will be able to create AI chatbots as extensions of themselves - no technical skills required. The feature has started rolling out to Instagram Business accounts in the US and will expand to all Meta users over the next few weeks. It will be accessible through the web, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp.

zdnet.com · 4 min

TLDR

YOUR NEW AI FRIEND IS ALMOST READY TO MEET YOU

'Friend' is an AI Friend designed to be supportive, validating, encouraging, and accessible to users all the time. The Friend device is a round glowing orb that can be worn around the neck or clipped onto clothes or accessories. The orb can record prompts, but it can only communicate back through text via the Friend app on mobile. The Friend device will ship next January for $99 with no ongoing subscription fee.

theverge.com · 6 min

TLDR

NEURALINK RIVAL SYNCHRON'S BRAIN IMPLANT NOW LETS PEOPLE CONTROL APPLE'S VISION PRO WITH THEIR MINDS

Neurotech startup Synchron has connected its brain implant to Apple's Vision Pro headset, allowing patients with limited physical mobility to control the device using only their thoughts. The company is building a brain-computer interface to help patients with paralysis to operate technology with their minds. It has implanted its device in six patients in the US and four in Australia. The device still needs approval from the US Food and Drug Administration before it can be commercialized more broadly.

cnbc.com · 4 min

TLDR

MAKE SOFTWARE SIMPLE AGAIN

The software industry is more driven by profit and unnecessary complexity than by the ability to build and launch innovative products. Companies can save a lot of money by leaving the cloud. The old pricing model where users pay once for software rather than through monthly subscriptions can be very appealing to customers, but it makes it more difficult to scale a company if customers only pay once. A lower bar to entry for solo developers and small teams will allow more ideas to get the opportunity to prosper.

shiftmag.dev · 5 min