OpenAI launches GPT 4.5, its largest model yet
Welcome back to Week in Review. This week, we’re looking at OpenAI’s newest and biggest model GPT 4.5, Microsoft’s decision to pull the plug on Skype (and more), how Anthropic trained its Claude 3.7 Sonnet using Pokemon Red, the unexpected return Fyre Festival and much more! Let’s get started. OpenAI announced
the launch of GPT 4.5 and the much-anticipated AI code-named Orion. GPT-4.5, OpenAI’s biggest model to date is trained using more computing power than any previous release. OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman said that the company was “out of GPUs” and had to stagger its model rollout. ChatGPT Pro subscribers will have access to GPT 4.5 as part of the research preview. ChatGPT Plus, ChatGPT Team, and ChatGPT Plan customers should receive the model next week.
An Optifye.ai demo from Y Combinator cohort 19459026 sparked a backlash so intense that YC removed it from its social media. Optifye’s YC profile states that it is building software to let factory owners know in real time who is working and who isn’t, thanks to AI-powered cameras placed on assembly lines. The clip was heavily criticized on X, where user @VCBrags called it “sweatshops-as-a-service” and another deemed it “computer vision sweatshop software.”
Amazon introduced a new and improved Alexa experience called Alexa+. The new Alexa will cost $19.99 per month. This is comparable to other AI chatbots available on the market. However, it will be offered free of charge to Amazon Prime subscribers. Alexa+ is coming to the U.S. as an early access program next month. Amazon also launches Alexa.com – a web experience for “long form” work – as well as a refreshed Alexa app with a brand new interface and functionality. This is TechCrunch Week in Review where we recap the biggest news of the week. Want this delivered to your inbox each Saturday? Sign up.
News (
R.I.P. Skype:Microsoft has pulled the plug on Skype. This marks the end of the internet era. Skype users have until 5 May to migrate their contacts and chats to Microsoft Teams or export their Skype data. Read More
Gotta Catch ’em All: Anthropic benchmarked its latest model, Claude 3.7 Sonnet, using the Game Boy classic Pokemon Red. The model defeated three Pokemon gym leaders, earning their badges. Read More
According to Perplexity, it wants to reinvent the web browser. Sign-ups are now open for Comet. A spokesperson told TechCrunch that “just as Perplexity reinvented the search, we are also reinventing browser.” Read More
Whoopsie! Elon, the man who changed Twitter to X, once again accidentally referred his social media platform to Twitter — on the platform. It seems to be a difficult habit to break for many people. Read More
Facebookberg fights leaks: According to The Verge, Meta has fired ‘roughly’ 20 employees for leaking information. The move is in response to an influx of news stories containing leaked details about Meta’s internal meetings and undisclosed products plans. Read More
The Perplexity chases cash: According to reports, Perplexity will raise a $50 million pre-seed and seed investment fund by using some of its capital raised for the company’s growth. The company raised $500 million in December at a valuation of $9 billion. Read More
Surprise! As Meta phase out its third-party facts-checking programs, the company is reintroducing an incentive program for creators to pay them for viral content. These changes could increase the spread of misinformation. Read More
A new way to code: Google has introduced a free consumer version of Gemini Code Assist. This AI code completion tool is designed to assist and guide coders. The tool allows developers to use a chat window and talk in natural language to an AI model who can access and edit the codebase. Read More
Lucid Motors CEO steps down Peter Rawlinson will step down from his roles as CEO and CTO, which he has held since Lucid Motors first went public six year ago. Rawlinson, according to regulatory filings has also left the board of the company. SBF posts in prison: Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced FTX co-founder who is serving a 25-year sentence for his crimes against humanity, made his first public posting on X since over two years. In the 10-post thread he described himself as “unemployed.” Continue reading
Oh brother: Do you remember the disaster that was Fyre Festival? Billy McFarland has returned with the sequel. Fyre Fest 2 will – and I cannot stress this enough – allegedly take place on Isla Mujeres in Mexico from May 30 to Juni 2. Tickets are now on sale — prices range from $1,400 up to $1.1million. Read More
Analysis of
Where DEI stands so far:In response to threats from the Trump administration, companies across the U.S. have started cutting DEI programs and scrubbing public DEI commitments. The reaction to the government’s anti-diversity push has taken many forms. In corporate America, companies like McDonald’s, Walmart, and Target have announced some form of rollback to their DEI policies, while other companies like Apple, Costco, and JPMorgan have indicated a commitment to their diversity efforts. From Amazon to Zoom, we put together a helpful guide to where DEI stands among tech companies.Read more
Cody Corrall is the Audience Development Producer at TechCrunch. Based in Chicago, he previously ran social media accounts for BuzzFeed News and WTTW’s daily flagship program on PBS, “Chicago Tonight.” When they’re not tweeting, Cody can be found yelling about vampires on the Into the Twilight podcast.
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