GPT-5: OpenAI Teases Simplified Next-Gen Model

This Week in Tech: A Recap

Welcome to this week’s technology news summary. Key developments include OpenAI’s shift in AI model strategy, the reinstatement of TikTok in U.S. app stores, and ongoing developments surrounding Elon Musk’s potential acquisition of OpenAI. Further updates cover Apple’s upcoming product reveal and more. Let’s examine the details.

OpenAI has effectively discontinued plans for the release of o3, its anticipated next-generation AI model. Instead, the company will focus on a more streamlined product line. CEO Sam Altman announced via X that OpenAI intends to launch GPT-5, which will incorporate the capabilities of o3 within ChatGPT and its API. Consequently, o3 will not be released as a separate, standalone model.

TikTok has been restored to both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store in the United States, approximately one month after its removal. This reinstatement follows the enactment of a national security law that initially led to the app’s suspension. Alongside TikTok, the video editor CapCut and the social media platform Lemon8 have also been made available again.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has hinted at the imminent arrival of a “newest member of the family,” scheduled for release on Wednesday. This is widely speculated to be a fourth-generation iPhone SE. Apple hasn’t released a new iPhone SE in three years, a notable gap considering its importance in key markets like China and India. The new model is expected to replace the Touch ID home button and utilize the same chip found in the iPhone 16.

This is a weekly technology news roundup. Subscribe to receive this summary directly in your inbox every Saturday. Sign up here.

Top News Stories

Musk’s OpenAI Bid Conditions: Legal representatives for Elon Musk have stated that his $97.4 billion offer to acquire OpenAI is contingent upon the board’s commitment to maintaining the organization as a non-profit entity. The filing emphasizes the seriousness of Musk’s intention to purchase OpenAI. Read more

Meta’s Stance on Employee Concerns: Meta’s Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, has responded firmly to employee dissatisfaction regarding recent company policies. He indicated that those who disagree with the direction are welcome to resign. This followed an internal discussion where an employee voiced criticism over cuts to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Read more

Tesla Wins Defamation Case: A Chinese court has ruled in favor of Tesla in a defamation lawsuit against Zhang Yazhou. The case stemmed from a 2021 incident where Zhang alleged faulty brakes caused a crash in her Tesla Model 3. Zhang has been ordered to pay approximately $23,000 in damages and issue a public apology. Read more

Pinksky Launches Android App: Pinksky, a photo-focused social networking application, has released an Android version built on the Bluesky platform. This represents one of several attempts to attract users from Instagram by offering a comparable experience based on open-source technology. Read more

Google DeepMind’s Robotic Soccer: Researchers at Google DeepMind have demonstrated miniature humanoid robots playing a one-on-one soccer game. The robots successfully learned essential movement skills, including walking, kicking, and recovering from falls. Read more

Google Expands NotebookLM Plus: Google has broadened the availability of NotebookLM Plus, a premium, AI-powered note-taking and research tool. Subscribers to the Google One AI Premium plan now have access to increased usage limits and enhanced features. Read more

Zeta Secures Funding: Zeta, a provider of banking software for banks and fintech companies, has raised $50 million in a strategic investment, achieving a valuation of $2 billion. This represents a 70% increase in the Bengaluru-based startup’s valuation from 2021. Read more

Google Maps Updates Geographic Name: U.S. users of Google Maps will now see “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico,” following an executive order issued by President Trump. International users will see both names, while users in Mexico will continue to see “Gulf of Mexico.” Read more

Perplexity’s Super Bowl Marketing: Rather than purchasing a costly Super Bowl advertisement, the AI search engine Perplexity leveraged X (formerly Twitter) to offer users a chance to win $1 million for downloading its app. This strategy resulted in a roughly 50% increase in mobile app installs, according to data from Appfigures. Read more

Tumblr’s Move to the Fediverse: Tumblr is planning a transition to the open social web by migrating to the WordPress infrastructure. Upon completion, Tumblr users will be able to federate their blogs using ActivityPub, similar to WordPress.com users. Read more