The Verge – Page 18

Apple responds to the Beeper iMessage saga: ‘We took steps to protect our users’

A few days after the team at Beeper proudly announced a way for users to send blue-bubble iMessages directly from their Android devices without any weird relay servers, and about 24 hours after it became clear Apple had taken steps to shut that down, Apple has shared its take on the issue. The company’s stance here is fairly predictable: it says it’s simply trying to do right by users, and protect the privacy and security of their iMessages. “We took steps to protect our users by blocking techniques that exploit fake credentials in order to gain access to iMessage,” Apple senior PR manager Nadine Haija said in a statement.
https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/9/23995150/beeper-imessage-android-apple-statement

Instagram and Facebook cross messaging is coming to an end

“A few years ago, we introduced a new Messenger experience in Instagram DMs which enabled people to message and call a FB account (Messenger) from an Instagram account and vice versa,” spokesperson Alex Dziedzan said. “Starting in mid-December, we will begin removing this feature. However, people can continue to message and call their contacts on Facebook, Instagram or Messenger.”
https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/5/23988879/instagram-facebook-meta-cross-platform-messaging-discontinued-mid-december-2023

Mass layoffs reportedly hit Marvel Snap publisher Nuverse

Parent company ByteDance is ‘restructuring’ its gaming subsidiary following a recent review, with employees being given until December to keep working on unreleased titles. ByteDance is reportedly looking to rid itself of the gaming titles it’s already launched under Nuverse, such as Marvel Snap and Crystal of Atlan, and informed employees on Monday that they must stop working on unreleased games by December.
https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/27/23977673/bytedance-nuverse-gaming-layoffs-restructure

Sam Altman to return as CEO of OpenAI

Sam Altman will return as CEO of OpenAI, overcoming an attempted boardroom coup that sent the company into chaos over the past several days. Former president Greg Brockman, who quit in protest of Altman’s firing, will return as well.
https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/22/23967223/sam-altman-returns-ceo-open-ai

Hundreds of OpenAI employees threaten to resign and join Microsoft

OpenAI employees signing the letter accuse the company’s board of jeopardizing their work and having “undermined our mission and company.” They also reject the idea that OpenAI was pushing ahead too quickly without concern for safety. “Our work on AI safety and governance shapes global norms,” they write.
https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/20/23968988/openai-employees-resignation-letter-microsoft-sam-altman

Biden releases AI executive order directing agencies to develop safety guidelines

President Joe Biden signed an executive order providing rules around generative AI, ahead of any legislation coming from lawmakers. The order has eight goals: to create new standards for AI safety and security, protect privacy, advance equity and civil rights, stand up for consumers, patients, and students, support workers, promote innovation and competition, advance US leadership in AI technologies, and ensure the responsible and effective government use of the technology.
https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/30/23914507/