In the whirlwind of news coming in all week, it can become difficult to keep up with some of the most important news stories of the week. We've put together the Weekly Tech Recap to keep readers up to date on the most important tech news of the week. This week, OpenAI unveiled its o3 family of models, Amazon unveils plans to tackle password sharing in 2025, rumors of an iPhone SE 4 rebrand, and more.
Top tech news of the week:
1) OpenAI unveils o3 mini models:
OpenAI unveiled its latest o3 and o3-minmi language models on the final day of its 'Shipmas' event. The Sam Altman-led company claims that o3 approaches AGI in some areas, under certain conditions.
The AI startup has opened up registration for o3 and o3 mini to security researchers, and Sam Altman has said there are plans to launch o3 Mini in late January, followed by the o3 launch.
2) Amazon is cracking down on password sharing:
Amazon Prime Video is taking a cue from Netflix by bringing password sharing rules to India from 2025. As part of the new 2025 rule changes, Amazon Prime Video members can log in to up to 5 devices, including up to two TVs.
“As part of your Prime membership, you and your household are entitled to Prime Video on up to five devices. Starting in January 2025, we'll be updating our terms of use in India to include up to two TVs as part of your five device entitlement. You can manage your devices on your settings page or purchase another Prime membership to watch Prime Video on more devices,” according to an email sent to Amazon Prime subscribers.
3) iPhone SE 4 to be rebranded as iPhone 16e, report says:
Apple is reportedly planning to rebrand its upcoming iPhone SE 4, possibly as the iPhone 16e, as part of a significant shift in its product lineup. According to recent leaks from a Weibo tipster, Fixed Focus Digital, the iPhone 16e could debut as early as March 2025, with Apple dropping the SE branding entirely. Instead, the new model is expected to join the iPhone 16 series, which will bring some notable upgrades.
The iPhone 16e is expected to represent a substantial leap forward compared to its predecessors. One major change is the move from the familiar iPhone 8-inspired design to a more modern look, similar to the iPhone compared to the previous one. 4.7-inch LCD screen, with better color accuracy and an immersive viewing experience.
4) WhatsApp adds many temporary features:
Meta-messaging platform WhatsApp has announced the release of several limited-time features to mark the holidays and New Year celebrations. These updates, available from December 20 to January 3, aim to improve user interactions during the holiday season.
One of the notable additions is NYE Calling Effects, which allows users to make video calls more festive with themed backgrounds, filters and effects tailored to the new year. This feature aims to add a touch of festivity to virtual gatherings.
Another temporary update is Animated Reactions, which adds a confetti animation when a message response is sent or received. This visual enhancement provides a playful way to exchange holiday greetings.
Additionally, WhatsApp has introduced a New Year sticker pack, featuring curated designs and avatar stickers that allow users to creatively share seasonal greetings or heartfelt messages. The pack includes cheerful and themed options for the occasion.
5) Google is laying off 10 percent of its workforce:
Google CEO Sundar Pichai has announced that the company will cut 10 percent of jobs in management positions, including directors and vice presidents. The company is reducing its workforce due to increasing competition in AI from peers such as OpenAI.
According to Pichai, Google has made changes in recent years to make the company more efficient and simplify its structure, Business Insider reports.
Google will cut jobs in positions such as managers, directors and vice presidents.
Some of the jobs in the 10 percent figure were moved to individual contributor roles, and some were role eliminations, the report said, citing a Google spokesperson.
Catch all Technology news and updates about DailyExpertNews. Download the Mint News App to receive daily Market updates & Live Business news.
MoreFewer