OpenAI Launches GPT-4.5: The Most Powerful Model Yet

This Week in AI and Tech: A Recap

Welcome to this week’s review of the most significant developments in the technology sector. We’ll be covering OpenAI’s release of GPT-4.5, the sunsetting of Skype, Anthropic’s innovative training methods, and the surprising revival of the Fyre Festival, among other key stories.

AI Model Updates and Controversies

OpenAI has officially launched GPT-4.5, codenamed Orion, representing its most powerful AI model yet. This new model was developed utilizing a greater amount of computational resources and data than any previous release from the company.

CEO Sam Altman indicated that the rollout was deliberately phased due to a shortage of available GPUs. Currently, access to GPT-4.5 is available to subscribers of the $200 monthly ChatGPT Pro plan as part of a research preview.

A demonstration from a Y Combinator participant, Optifye.ai, generated considerable criticism. The company is developing AI-powered security cameras for factory assembly lines, intended to monitor worker presence in “real time.”

The clip faced strong backlash on social media, with some users labeling it “sweatshops-as-a-service” and “computer vision sweatshop software.”

New Tools and Platforms

Amazon has unveiled an enhanced Alexa experience, known as Alexa+. Priced at $19.99 per month, it is competitive with other generative AI chatbots. However, it will be offered at no cost to Amazon Prime subscribers.

The rollout of Alexa+ will begin in the U.S. next month with an early access program. Additionally, Amazon is introducing Alexa.com, a web platform designed for more extensive tasks, and a redesigned Alexa mobile app with updated features.

Industry Shifts and Notable Events

Microsoft is discontinuing Skype, bringing an end to a significant chapter in internet communication history. Users are advised to migrate their contacts and chat history to Microsoft Teams or export their data by May 5th.

Anthropic employed a unique method to benchmark its Claude 3.7 Sonnet model, utilizing the classic Game Boy game Pokémon Red. The model successfully completed battles against three Pokémon gym leaders, earning their badges.

Perplexity, the AI-powered search engine, is preparing to launch Comet, an AI-driven web browser. A spokesperson stated that the company aims to “reinvent the browser,” mirroring its approach to search.

Elon Musk, despite renaming Twitter to X, inadvertently referred to the platform as Twitter on X itself, highlighting a persistent habit.

Meta has reportedly terminated the employment of approximately 20 employees for leaking confidential information, responding to a recent surge in leaked details regarding internal meetings and upcoming products.

Perplexity is establishing a $50 million seed and pre-seed investment fund, utilizing capital from its recent $500 million funding round at a $9 billion valuation.

As Meta scales back its third-party fact-checking programs in the U.S., the company is reintroducing a creator program that compensates creators for viral content. This timing raises concerns about the potential increase in misinformation.

Google has released a free consumer version of Gemini Code Assist, its AI-powered code completion and assistance tool. Developers can now interact with the AI model in a chat window to access and modify their codebase.

Lucid Motors’ CEO, Peter Rawlinson, is stepping down from his roles as CEO and CTO, as well as leaving the company’s board.

Disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried made his first public posts on X in over two years while serving his 25-year prison sentence, describing himself as “unemployed.”

The infamous Fyre Festival is being revived by Billy McFarland with a sequel event, Fyre Festival 2, scheduled to take place in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, from May 30 to June 2. Tickets range from $1,400 to $1.1 million.

Analysis: DEI in Tech

In response to scrutiny from the Trump administration, many U.S. companies are reducing their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and removing public commitments.

Some companies, like McDonald’s, Walmart, and Target, have begun to scale back their DEI policies, while others, including Apple, Costco, and JPMorgan, have reaffirmed their dedication to diversity efforts. A comprehensive guide detailing the current status of DEI within tech companies is available.