ChatGPT: All the frenzy around AI as Google makes move

Hello there! Hope plans for Valentine’s going well as the day approaches. If you are still confused about what to get, maybe you should consider asking ChatGPT to give you some ideas.

Currently, there is a global frenzy around AI, which is not unrelated to the launching of ChatGPT last year in November By OpenAI.

Experts have started to discuss the impact of the technology and how it may affect future formal education, social interaction, professional duties, and more. What do you think? Have you ever utilized ChatGPT?

Apart from the news that Microsoft has invested heavily in the AI chatbot, with plans to integrate it into its products, this week, niche web browser Opera said it was planning to integrate ChatGPT into its products too.

In a similar move, Google has said it is working on an AI product named ‘Bard’, which would rival the now-popular AI chatbot ChatGPT. Google has not released Bard to the public, but it seems the chatbot will be just as free-ranging as OpenAI’s ChatGPT

If you missed all the news and buzz around the AI chatbot trend and Google’s announcement, sit back, relax and enjoy this read. We have curated all the useful bits for you. We are also bringing you the latest layoffs and other important stories from the global tech space

Summary of the bulletin

• Web browser Opera is planning to incorporate ChatGPT
• Google unveils ‘Bard’ AI tool to rival ChatGPT
• Dell has laid off 6,650 employees
• Netflix has started cracking down on password sharing
• Meta fails bid to stop exploitation lawsuit against it in Kenya

Read also: Layoffs persist as Google, Luno, and Spotify cut staff

Opera plans to integrate ChatGPT

Although global concerns have recently risen about the potential problems accompanying AI’s introduction to everyday life after the launch of OpenAI Chatbot, ChatGPT, AI continues to gain support from major tech companies.

Web browser Opera said it was planning to integrate ChatGPT into its products this week. This was according to an announcement made by Opera’s parent Kunlun Tech. According to CNBC, no details were shared on timing or whether the functions would be available across all of Opera’s products, including desktop and mobile browsers for iOS and Android.

After Microsoft, the browser becomes the second to make known its intentions to integrate ChatGPT into its product. The news also comes as Google announced plans to incorporate artificial intelligence chatbot technology with their search engines this week. 

ChatGPT, developed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI, has surged in popularity since its release in late November. According to Statcounter data for January, Google’s Chrome browser has the largest market share worldwide at 65.4%, while Microsoft’s Edge browser has a 4.5% share.

The data showed that opera ranks sixth in the worldwide browser market with a 2.4% share.

Google unveils ‘Bard’ AI tool to rival ChatGPT

In the brewing AI war, Google is working on a competitor to OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT. The ‘experimental conversational AI service’ is called Bard and is currently being tested by a limited group.

The big-tech firm most famous for its search engine has continued to put AI at the core of its efforts, from presenting Transformers, the grandmother of contemporary languages, in 2017 to the introduction of the big language model, LaMDA, in 2021.

Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, announced the project in a blog post earlier this week, describing the tool as an “experimental conversational AI service” that will answer users’ queries and participate in conversations. The software will be available to a group of “trusted testers”, says Pichai, before becoming “more widely available to the public in the coming weeks.”

A screenshot encourages users to ask Bard practical queries, like how to plan a baby shower or what kind of meals could be made from a list of ingredients for lunch.

“Bard can be an outlet for creativity, and a launchpad for curiosity, helping you to explain new discoveries from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to a 9-year-old, or learn more about the best strikers in football right now, and then get drills to build your skills.”

Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO

Dell cuts employee strength

More job cuts this week. In a week when Zoom let go about 1,300 people, representing about 15% of its staff, after an unfathomable boom at the onset of the pandemic, Dell also announced that it was laying off 6,650 employees across all departments.

Dell declared that the layoff is due to the reduction of the customers’ demands and the PC makers in the economy and reduced corporate spending because of inflation and exorbitant interest rates.

In a memo sent to the employees, co-Chief Operating Officer Jeff Clarke said, “unfortunately, with changes like this, some members of our team will be leaving the company. There is no tougher decision, but one we had to make for our long-term health and success.”

In early June 2022, Dell decided to pause external hiring except for a few strategic areas to control costs. Also, the PC maker economized its travel and reduced its outside services spending. At the time, the CFO, Tom Sweet, explained it was to help the company navigate the challenges of the global economic environment and uncertainty ahead.

As of Jan. 28, 2022, Dell had 133,000 total employees, according to a company filing with the SEC.

Netflix cracks down on password sharing

This might be bad news in the build-up to Valentine’s day, in which many people would depend on Netflix to relax and chill with the movies with their loved ones, especially when they are sharing accounts with multiple persons.

The company has announced that it has kicked off its password-sharing crackdown efforts in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain. The company said it would roll out paid password sharing more broadly in the coming months.

Users in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain must now pay an additional fee to add profiles to their accounts for users not living in the same household.

“We value our members and recognise that they have many entertainment choices. A Netflix account is intended for one household,”

In terms of pricing, users in Canada can pay an extra CAD$7.99 (R105) a month per additional member. The fee in Portugal and Spain is €3.99 (R76) and €5.99 (R114), respectively. Netflix users in New Zealand can pay an extra NZD$ 7.99 (R90) to add more members.

Meta loses bid to stop exploitation lawsuit

The ongoing exploitation lawsuit against Meta in Kenya might not end soon after the parent company of Facebook lost the bid to stop it in a Kenya court.

The Kenyan court rejected Meta’s request to be removed as a party in a lawsuit filed last year against it and Sama, its main subcontractor for content moderation in Africa. Together, the two are being accused of exploitation and union busting.

By asserting that it is a foreign corporation and that Kenya lacks the authority to decide the case against it, Meta had sought to separate itself from the lawsuit. Meta will still be a party to the case, according to a decision made by Kenya’s employment and labour relations court judge Jacob Kariuki.

“The second and third respondents’ names [Meta Platforms Inc and Meta platforms Ireland Ltd] shall not be struck out at this stage,” the judge said during the ruling. “The notice of motion is disallowed.”

The court will issue further directions on the case early next month.