🗞️2023 Wrap and headlines

Good morning and Happy New Year! You’re allowed to say that until January 7, January 8 is not that far of so...

If 2023 seemed to fly by, brace yourself for 2024—it might unfold more slowly, This is due to it being a leap year. Finally people who were born on February 29, 2020, can finally turn one.

The 366-day year also means you’ll have to dig out your calendar from 1996 for the most recent match to 2024. . Keep your 2023 calendar safe because you can use it again in 2034. Fun fact: There are only 14 different calendar patterns.

Thanks to our 1000+ new subscribers since the last edition.

Biggest tech stories of 2023:

1.Leap in AI

Generative AI, like ChatGPT and LLMs, gained fast popularity due to their human-like text abilities. They promise to transform education, translation, and content creation.

However, these AI models have limits. They carry biases from their training data and struggle with true understanding. This raises ethical concerns about their use and potential consequences.

In 2023, popular LLMs made significant changes. For instance, ChatGPT upgraded to GPT-4, improving accuracy, factual consistency, and understanding of complex instructions. Bard introduced Gemini, offering better reasoning and understanding of different types of data.

The tech landscape of 2023 was marked by the rise of generative AI and major setbacks. While these AI models, like ChatGPT and others, generated excitement with their ability to mimic human language and creativity, concerns about bias, ethical considerations, and limitations in genuine comprehension require careful attention.

Governments across the world tried to understand Artificial Intelligence so as to regulate the AI industry.

2.Metaverse

2023 the saw big companies such as Meta and Apple burn billions of money in metaverse. This goes to show that metaverse may not be that far from reach in near future we may have a big breakthrough. In 2023, the metaverse experienced notable shifts driven by key trends. Technological strides in VR and AR, exemplified by Meta's Horizon Worlds and platforms like Decentraland, transformed immersion and interconnectedness. Simultaneously, personalized experiences, as seen in VRChat, and initiatives for inclusivity, such as Google's Project Starline, shaped the metaverse.

Economically, the metaverse offered diverse opportunities. Educational platforms like Engage VR expanded learning avenues, while virtual tourism initiatives by organizations like VisitScotland showcased the metaverse's potential in the tourism industry. These trends outlined a dynamic metaverse landscape, where technology not only redefined digital experiences but also impacted various sectors, blurring the lines between the real and virtual worlds.

3.Twitter re-branding

In 2023, Twitter made significant changes, rebranding itself as "X" in July. This move sparked debates—some saw it as innovative, while others criticized it as unnecessary.

Under Elon Musk's leadership, Twitter implemented several key policy changes:

1. Relaxed content moderation: Twitter shifted its stance, allowing more freedom of speech. Concerns arose about increased hate speech and misinformation.

2. Paid verification for all users: Twitter announced paid verification for all users, democratizing verification but raising worries about impersonation.

3. API changes: Significant alterations to the API affected developers and third-party apps, frustrating some who claimed it hindered innovation.

Elon Musk's influence stirred controversy due to his tweets, decisions, and public persona. Users reacted differently—some appreciated more freedom and democratization, while others worried about abuse and disinformation, leading some to switch to alternatives like Threads.

The future of "X" remains uncertain. Challenges include maintaining user trust, balancing content moderation, and developing a profitable model that doesn't solely rely on advertising, potentially encouraging disinformation.

4..OpenAI saga

The CEO upheaval at OpenAI made headlines in November when Sam Altman, co-founder of the company behind the ChatGPT AI chatbot, was unexpectedly ousted by the board. Shortly after, Altman swiftly transitioned to Microsoft, a prior investor of $13 billion in OpenAI, where he had been working on integrating AI capabilities into the tech giant's products and services throughout 2023.

Surprisingly, OpenAI swiftly announced Altman's return as CEO, accompanied by significant reshuffling within the company's board. As a prominent player in the rapidly expanding AI industry, these leadership changes hint at potential further developments, indicating that AI will continue to dominate tech news throughout 2024.

5.Industrial layoffs

Continuing the trend from 2022, widespread layoffs persisted across the tech industry as companies adjusted to a return to pre-pandemic consumer behaviors. While the early COVID era saw a surge in hiring, 2023 witnessed an even greater acceleration in layoffs within the sector. By November 2023, tech companies had collectively let go of over 240,000 employees, marking a 50% increase in job reductions compared to the previous year.

This trend affected not only smaller startups but also major industry leaders like Microsoft (MSFT) and Meta Platforms (META), both of which dismissed thousands of employees. The cost-cutting measures implemented may have contributed to a significant surge in the stock prices of many tech firms throughout 2023, potentially benefiting investors.

Tour De Headlines

world

1. ChatGPT app

   

   Have come across ChatGPT app, capable of conversing in over 4 languages. Unlike Google Assistant, this app allows for complete and engaging conversations across multiple languages, marking a significant leap in conversational AI technology.

   OpenAI also intends to launch the GPT Store this week, offering custom apps based on its text-generating AI models like GPT-4. According to TechCrunch, developers creating GPTs will need to adhere to updated usage policies and brand guidelines to list their GPTs in the store.

2. Microsoft copilot app

   Over the holiday season, Microsoft quietly launched its Copilot app on Android and iOS, along with iPadOS. The app gives users access to Copilot, formerly known as Bing Chat, which operates similarly to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

   Like other AI chatbots, you can type in a question or a prompt and receive responses generated by artificial intelligence.

3.  AI button on PC.

   Microsoft is doubling down on its commitment to AI with the introduction of a new keyboard key dedicated specifically to the company’s Windows Copilot.

   The first update to the Windows PC keyboard in almost 30 years, the Copilot key will be available on laptops and desktop keyboards from Microsoft’s OEM partners beginning in February.

4.Tesla loses No. 1 EV seller spot to BYD:

Tesla lost its top spot in Q4 2023 EV sales to Chinese giant BYD for the first time ever. Despite a record-breaking quarter and leading global sales in 2023 with 1.8 million EVs, BYD's rapid growth presents fierce competition. BYD's 526,000 all-electric vehicles sold outpaced Tesla's 484,500, marking a 73% year-over-year increase and signaling its intent to expand beyond China, including plans for its first European EV plant in Hungary. However, potential obstacles loom, with EU investigations into China's EV subsidies and the likelihood of higher tariffs on Chinese electric cars in Europe.

Kenya

1.Peter Njonjo exite from the board:

Peter Njonjo, the founder and former CEO of Twiga Foods, has resigned from the company's board, marking a significant departure a month after his exit as chief executive. His departure signifies a transfer of control to foreign stakeholders in the company, which has grown into a prominent wholesaler and food distributor in Nairobi. Twiga faces operational challenges, including layoffs, delayed payments to suppliers, and salary issues, resulting in a substantial reduction in its workforce by 40% last year. Despite securing a $35 million funding round and accumulating $160 million in capital since inception, Njonjo's departure includes a six-month transition period to aid in recruiting a new CEO, as requested by the board.

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