Tech Brew Ride Home Tue. 03/26 – Musical Chairs As Microsoft Reorganizes Itself Around AI
Mar 26, 2024
Microsoft's leadership shake-up signals its commitment to AI, while Canva makes waves with a major acquisition aimed at Adobe. Cybersecurity tensions rise as sanctions target a Chinese hacking group linked to U.S. threats. OpenAI courts Hollywood with its new Sora tool, raising ethical questions in creative fields. Meanwhile, the tech IPO atmosphere shows signs of optimism, highlighted by Reddit’s promising launch. Meta introduces a way for users to limit political content, and Starlink's kits face scrutiny in black market dealings.
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Microsoft's AI Focus
- Microsoft is reorganizing around AI, exemplified by Pavan Davaluri's appointment to lead Windows and Surface.
- This restructuring follows Mustafa Suleiman's arrival to lead Microsoft's consumer-facing AI products.
Canva's Strategic Acquisition
- Canva acquired Affinity Creative Suite, bolstering its professional tools and AI capabilities.
- This acquisition positions Canva as a stronger competitor to Adobe, particularly after Adobe's failed Figma acquisition.
APT31 Sanctioned
- The US and UK sanctioned a Chinese state-backed hacking group (APT31) for targeting critical infrastructure and political figures.
- APT31's activities included espionage, targeting critical infrastructure, and compromising election systems.