📫 The Weekly Download #34: TikTok goes TikFlop

Welcome to KnowTechie’s Weekly Download. Life gets busy, so we compile the most important tech stories you may have missed this week. If this is your first time here, feel free to subscribe here – it’s free. Missed an issue? Here's an archive of past newsletters. Alright, let’s get started.

Here’s what you can expect from today’s newsletter

The Download

• ⏩ The Quick Rundown

• ❓Quick Question

• 📰 This week in tech

• 🗞️ Other Headlines You May Have Missed

• Moron of the Week

• Product Launches and Updates

• Good Reads

• ⚙️ Tools

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Hi ,

Here’s a quick dive into this week's biggest headlines:

🔒 TikTok's U.S. Countdown - A legislative storm puts TikTok in a tight spot with a 230-day ultimatum to become U.S.-owned or face expulsion.

🍏 Apple & OpenAI Partnership - Anticipation builds as Apple might integrate OpenAI's tech in the upcoming iOS 18.

🔧 iCloud Glitch - A mysterious bug logs out users worldwide, stirring up concerns and expectations for a fix.

🔔 Tech Briefs:

• 📦 Amazon's Text Scandal - Top execs possibly destroy evidence amid antitrust scrutiny, stirring controversy.

• 🌐 Meta Boosts VR - Meta partners with major brands to expand its VR ecosystem, promising an immersive future.

• 📈 Alphabet's Milestone - Alphabet soars past a $2 trillion market cap, fueled by its AI prowess.

🎉 Apple's Event Tease - A special event in May might unveil major updates for the iPad Pro.

Buckle up, folks; here's your weekly tech rundown! 🚀

_{QUICK QUESTION}

📰 This week in tech 📰

_{^{JOE SAY IT AIN’T SO}}
President Biden has signed the TikTok ban. Now what?

President Biden signed a law requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the video-sharing service to a US company or face removal from US app stores, sparking a bipartisan effort to ban the app nationwide. The company has 230 days to figure it all out – KnowTechie

• 🚦 US Ban Threat: TikTok faces a potential ban unless it sells to a US-based company, pressured by escalating government regulations - BBC News.

• 🔄 ByteDance's Preference: Rather than selling, ByteDance may shut down US operations, highlighting the complexities of tech export and ownership - Al Jazeera.

• 📢 Influence Campaigns: Amid potential bans, TikTok boosts its public image with significant ad campaigns, aiming to secure its place in the US market - New York Times.

• 📊 News Platform Shift: Increasingly, Americans use TikTok for news, showing its growing role beyond entertainment - Pew Research Center.

It’s mind-boggling. We’ve got giants like Google and Facebook vacuuming up our data day in and day out, and yet we’re throwing stones at TikTok because it has ties to China.

^{_{SIRI, YOUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED}}
OpenAI and Apple in Talks to Integrate AI Features in iOS 18

Exciting news for iPhone users. Apple is reportedly in talks with OpenAI to bring its sexy AI smarts to iOS 18.

This is a huge middle finger to Google. Apple pays them like a gazillion dollars a year to bake Google into i as the default search engine.

Details are still under wraps; it seems that Apple is considering integrating OpenAI's technology into their new iPhone operating system – Bloomberg

• 📱 Designing the 'iPhone of AI': Teamed with Jony Ive, Apple and OpenAI aim to create the 'iPhone of artificial intelligence,' blending top-notch design with cutting-edge tech - Tom’s Guide

• 🔄 Strategic AI Talks: Apple discusses leveraging Google's Gemini or OpenAI's ChatGPT for iOS 18's AI features, showcasing collaboration at the intersection of innovation - Bloomberg.

• 📢 Broadening AI Horizons: With talks of integrating generative AI features from Google and OpenAI, Apple is on track to enhancing iOS capabilities significantly - Engadget

• 📊 AI Integration in Consumer Tech: Apple's potential use of OpenAI and Google technology in iPhones indicates a significant shift towards more integrated, intelligent consumer devices - Reuters.

I swear, if Apple doesn’t get this deal done, Time Cook will look like the biggest coward in Silicon Valley besides Elon Musk. It’s absolutely bonkers that Cook would ever entertain giving this company money unless there’s something else we’re not privy to.

^{_{APPLE ID LOCKOUT CHAOS}}
iCloud Web Login Glitch Forces Mass Device Log-Outs

A wave of Apple users found themselves abruptly signed out of their Apple IDs, leaving everyone scratching their heads. With Apple staying mum, the confusion and frustration are palpable, especially among the Reddit crowd — 9to5Mac.

• 🔄 Password Reset Pandemonium: Affected users had to reset their passwords to regain access. The scenario became particularly tricky for travelers or those without access to their trusted devices. Yea, it’s a complete shitshow. - Android Authority.

• 📢 Users Are PISSED: The lack of timely responses or explanations from Apple, leaving many to question the robustness of Apple's security measures - PhoneArena.

• 🔊 Community Reactions: As expected, users are all over the place, from being totally confused to downright furious! And rightfully so.

Apple owes its users a crystal clear explanation of what's happening under the hood. We're not just talking courtesy here; when you're shelling out upwards of $800 for a phone, full transparency isn't a luxury—it's downright critical.

🙋‍♂️ MORON OF THE WEEK

Baltimore Police arrested a high school teacher for allegedly framing his principal by using AI to create an audio file of the principal making racist comments - Gizmodo

Remember how we were promised flying cars in the year 2000? Well, ladies and gentlemen, the future is HERE baby!

GOOD READS

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