TECHSWU

TikTok is standing on shaky ground in the U.S.

, facing a potential ban by January 19, 2025, unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells it to an American owner. This follows a key ruling by a U.

S. Court of Appeals, heightening the stakes for the popular app.

Interestingly, former President Donald Trump, who once labeled TikTok a national security threat, might be the wild card in this drama. During his 2024 campaign, he hinted at saving the platform, even though he had previously pursued a ban.

The deadline for TikTok’s sale intriguingly coincides with Trump’s inauguration day, leaving many wondering if he'll flex his influence to alter the outcome. While TikTok users await clarity, the possibility of a 90-day extension looms if progress is shown in the sale.

As the digital clock ticks down, the fate of TikTok—and possibly a piece of America’s online culture—hangs in the balance.

Nvidia and Uber are backing Serve Robotics, a $400 million company revolutionizing last-mile delivery with autonomous robots. Despite its small size, Serve is rapidly gaining traction, having completed over 50,000 deliveries with impressive reliability ratings.

The company’s Gen3 robot, powered by Nvidia’s technology, promises faster speeds and lower operational costs, predicting deliveries could drop to just $1 each as scaling occurs.

Uber and Nvidia hold significant stakes in Serve, indicating their confidence in the venture’s potential.

However, there are some risks to consider: Serve posted only $221,555 in revenue last quarter and is currently burning through cash, with a net loss of $8 million. While the market anticipates substantial growth—with projections estimating revenues could hit $13.

3 million by 2025—the current price-to-sales ratio may alarm cautious investors.

Nonetheless, Serve’s potential in the burgeoning robot and drone delivery market, projected to exceed $450 billion by 2030, makes it a speculative but intriguing opportunity for those willing to take a chance.

Exciting news for gamers! A recent report hints that Apple Vision Pro may soon support PlayStation VR controllers. This move could bridge the gap between Apple's cutting-edge headset technology and the immersive gaming experiences offered by PS VR, making it a must-have for enthusiasts.

Imagine the potential of enjoying your favorite titles with greater precision and control! Apple is gradually stepping into the gaming arena, and this integration might signal the start of something big. Meanwhile, the tech world buzzes with other stories, like a beauty startup addressing employee stress by letting some go after a workplace survey, and the launch of India’s first personalized matrimonial app.

In a separate update, users in Manipur can finally breathe easy as mobile internet restrictions lift after weeks. Plus, WhatsApp rolls out a nifty feature for sharing entire sticker packs.

In the latest buzz from the AI world, British mobile company O2 has unveiled an innovative AI character, Daisy, the "AI Granny" designed to outsmart scammers. Rather than falling prey to their tricks, Daisy engages fraudsters in conversation, buying time for real customers and reducing scam attempts.

This lifelike AI utilizes advanced technology to hold real-time discussions, making it indistinguishable from a real person—perfect for keeping scammers occupied.

Meanwhile, Nvidia has announced its groundbreaking generative AI sound machine, Fugatto, promising an incredible array of audio creations just from text prompts.

It's poised to revolutionize music and sound design, although concerns loom about its potential misuse in scams.

In a different vein, Coca-Cola's AI-generated Christmas ads have sparked debate, with critics claiming they lack the emotional depth of traditional storytelling.

As AI continues to influence various industries, its benefits and pitfalls are becoming increasingly evident, making it a hot topic in today’s tech landscape.

A revolutionary new lithium-metal battery developed by Harvard researchers promises to transform the electric vehicle (EV) landscape, boasting a lifespan of 20 years—over three times longer than current lithium-ion batteries. Co-founded by Harvard alumni, start-up Adden Energy has secured $5.

15 million in funding to scale up this game-changing technology. The intricately designed battery, inspired by the structure of a BLT sandwich, effectively prevents harmful dendrites that plague traditional lithium-metal batteries, enabling an astounding 10,000 charge cycles.

Notably, it can fully charge in just three minutes! This innovation stands to eliminate the significant costs associated with battery replacements, significantly extending the lifespan of EVs to match that of traditional petrol and diesel vehicles. With this leap, EV enthusiasts can look forward to reliable, long-lasting, and fast-charging vehicles, paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future in transportation.

Google has announced a groundbreaking breakthrough in quantum computing with its new chip, Willow, capable of solving complex mathematical problems in just five minutes—challenges that would take a classical computer an unfathomable billion years to tackle. This achievement signals a significant leap towards practical quantum applications, particularly in fields like medicine and artificial intelligence.

The Willow chip boasts 105 qubits, which are the essential elements of quantum computers. Google has developed a method to link these qubits effectively, reducing error rates that have historically plagued quantum computing endeavors.

While other tech giants like IBM also vie for dominance in this sector, Google emphasizes reliability over mere quantity, focusing on creating qubits that can deliver consistent performance. Hartmut Neven, head of Google's Quantum AI unit, proudly states that the company has reached a milestone where real-time error correction is achievable, setting the stage for a new era of quantum innovation that could transform technology as we know it.

Samsung is stirring up excitement with its latest One UI 7 Beta launch! Packed with advanced AI features and fresh design enhancements, this update is designed to elevate your user experience to new heights. As Samsung continues to innovate, users can expect a more personalized and intuitive interface, making navigation smoother and more enjoyable.

Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just someone who loves a sleek smartphone experience, the One UI 7 Beta promises to deliver a revamped look and feel. Dive into the beta program to explore all the new functionalities and see how they can transform the way you interact with your device.