Top tech news stories today: June 26, 2024

Top tech news stories today: June 26, 2024 is profiled by BTW Media because public-source evidence links it to internet infrastructure, governance, operational dependencies, or market visibility.

Crypto

1. FTX seeks creditor votes on bankruptcy wind-down payments

FTX has received court approval to solicit creditor votes on a liquidation plan to repay customers in cash. Despite objections demanding higher repayments reflecting recent cryptocurrency value increases, the court ruled in favor of the cash-based plan. (Yahoo!News)

2. Bitcoin holds $61K after a brief nosedive

Bitcoin (BTC) remains stable above $61,000 after a dip to $59,200. It is down 2% in the past 24 hours and 6% over the last week, with significant sell pressure due to Mt. Gox redemptions and miner sales. (CoinDesk)

Fintech

3. E-commerce firm Shopee to adjust services in Indonesia after antitrust violation

Shopee agreed to modify its services in Indonesia following admissions of violating anti-monopoly rules. The changes, proposed after KPPU investigations, aim to comply with regulations and improve user experience. (Reuters)

IT infrastructure

4. Waymo’s autonomous ride-hailing service now available to all in San Francisco

Waymo’s Waymo One autonomous ride-hailing service now serves all of San Francisco, expanding from Phoenix after strong demand with 300,000 sign-ups. (The Star)

5. Data centres, EVs to significantly boost US power load by 2030, consultancy says

Rystad Energy forecasts a 300 terawatt-hour rise in U.S. power demand by 2030, akin to Turkey’s annual consumption, driven by data centres and electric vehicles. Despite grid vulnerability, plans for 237 GW of solar and 78 GW of wind capacity additions aim to sustainably meet this escalating demand. (Aol.)

AI

6. Reddit escalates its fight against AI bots

Reddit is updating its robots.txt file to block most automated bots from accessing its public data, requiring licensing agreements for commercial use and model training purposes. (The Verge)

7. OpenAI delays rolling out its ‘Voice Mode’ to July

OpenAI’s rollout of advanced Voice Mode for ChatGPT, initially slated for late June, faces delays until July due to lingering technical issues. The feature aims to enhance real-time, emotive AI interactions, but full availability for ChatGPT Plus users may extend into fall pending safety checks. (Tech Crunch)

8. Google to showcase AI, new Pixel phones at surprise Aug 13 event, the Verge reports

Google will unveil AI features, Pixel updates, and Android enhancements at an event on Aug. 13 at its Mountain View headquarters, with a keynote at 10 am followed by hands-on experiences. (Yahoo!Finance)

9. Chinese AI firms woo OpenAI users as US company plans API restrictions

Following reports of OpenAI’s plan to restrict API access in China and other regions, Chinese AI companies are swiftly attracting users. Baidu and Alibaba Cloud announced programs offering free migration and tokens for OpenAI API users, while Zhipu AI launched a competitive alternative emphasising security and control over technology development. (CNBC)

10. AI stocks to leave big impact on Russell reconstitution

Investors anticipate significant impacts from the final reconstitution of FTSE Russell’s benchmark indexes this Friday, driven by a year-long surge in AI-related stocks like Nvidia and Super Micro. (Datafloq)

11. Cash-strapped Stability AI raises $80 mln with new CEO and board

Stability AI, grappling with financial challenges and leadership changes, appointed Prem Akkaraju as CEO and secured approximately $80 million in funding, with support from investors like Sean Parker. (Bloomberg)

12. AI startup Etched raises $120 million to develop specialised chip

AI chip startup Etched raised $120 million in funding to expand manufacturing of its specialised chips aimed at competing with Nvidia’s products. Primary Venture Partners and Positive Sum Ventures led the funding round, with participation from investors including Peter Thiel, Thomas Dohmke, and Balaji Srinivasan. (Bloomberg)

Products

13. Surface Laptop review: Microsoft’s best MacBook Air competitor yet

Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop, featuring Qualcomm chips, marks its serious move towards Windows on Arm, addressing past app compatibility issues. The inclusion of AI-focused Copilot Plus features like Recall enhances its appeal, despite delayed launches for some features due to security concerns. (The Verge)

14. Samsung just announced a date for its next Unpacked

Samsung announced its next Unpacked event on July 10 in Paris, focusing on the latest Galaxy Z series and broader Galaxy ecosystem infused with Galaxy AI. Rumors suggest minor updates for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, while anticipation builds for the potential launch of the Galaxy Ring with health sensors. (The Verge)

15. China’s Dida prices Hong Kong IPO shares at HK$6, sources say

Dida priced its shares at HK$6 each in its Hong Kong IPO, raising US$30 million by selling 39.1 million shares. The pricing, set in the middle of its HK$5 to HK$7 range, values the company at approximately $770 million. Dida, a rival to Didi, controls about 31% of China’s ride-sharing market. (Reuters)