Stay connected in the world of tech with this week’s round-up of leading stories from across the web. From OpenAI to CoinDesk and more, we have you covered with bite-size versions of the news you need to know. Check out this week’s blog below!
Anthropic Enhances Claude Chatbot, Rivaling OpenAI’s Capabilities
Anthropic, a Google-backed AI startup founded by ex-OpenAI engineers, has upgraded its Claude chatbot to Claude 2.1, setting a new industry standard. The update allows Pro tier users to process up to 200,000 tokens at once, equivalent to over 500 pages, doubling Claude’s previous capacity and surpassing GPT-4’s 32,000-token limit. This enhancement enables Claude to analyze extensive materials like entire codebases or lengthy texts. Additionally, Claude’s accuracy has improved, with a 50% reduction in hallucinations or inaccuracies. The chatbot now incorporates customizable tools for web searches and calculations and supports custom, persistent instructions. A new feature mimics ChatGPT’s functionality, allowing Claude to choose the best API tool for given tasks based on context. Anthropic has also updated its developer console, adding a test window for new prompts and the capability for users to tailor Claude’s responses and personality.
Sonos Set to Launch an Array of New Products in 2024, Including Headphones and a Set-Top Box
Sonos is set to release a range of new products in 2024, including its first headphones, potentially debuting in April and priced between $400 and $500, and wireless earbuds. The company also plans to enter the TV streaming device market by late 2024 or early 2025, alongside updates to existing products like the Sonos Roam Bluetooth speaker. These initiatives aim to boost Sonos’ hardware revenue following a downturn in 2023. Despite recent job cuts, Sonos is focusing on its long-term strategy to encourage existing customers to update and expand their Sonos systems, while facing the challenge of standing out in the competitive audio and streaming device markets.
CoinDesk Acquired by Bullish Crypto Exchange
CoinDesk, a leading cryptocurrency news site, has been acquired by Bullish, a crypto exchange led by former New York Stock Exchange president Tom Farley, in an all-cash deal. This acquisition, following financial difficulties at CoinDesk’s parent company, Digital Currency Group (DCG), due to the FTX collapse, won’t change CoinDesk’s current management. The site will operate as an independent subsidiary under Bullish, with plans to launch an editorial committee headed by ex-Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Matt Murray. DCG, which bought CoinDesk in 2016 for $500,000, faced issues after its subsidiary Genesis got entangled in FTX’s downfall, leading to legal battles. Barry Silbert, DCG’s founder, hailed CoinDesk as one of their best investments. Despite layoffs in August, Bullish aims to fund CoinDesk’s growth initiatives. Additionally, Bullish is reportedly considering purchasing remnants of FTX, indicating a potential resurgence of the beleaguered exchange.
Bluesky, Twitter’s Decentralized Spinoff, Reaches 2 Million User Milestone
Bluesky, a decentralized Twitter competitor Twitter, has reached a milestone of 2 million users. The platform, still in its invite-only phase, will launch a public web interface by the end of the month. Likewise, this would make the app more appealing, especially to journalists and others who currently can’t view links without signing in. Bluesky, built on the AT Protocol, plans to introduce federation early next year, allowing users to post through various providers rather than a single central platform, similar to how Mastodon operates. The company has also been enhancing user experience with new features like mobile push notifications, email verification, and accessibility improvements, including better alt text.