Today's technology briefing covers significant developments in AI monetization, supply chain challenges, and cybersecurity threats. Key updates include OpenAI's move to test ads in ChatGPT, Rackspace's drastic email hosting price increases, expanding memory shortages, and a critical password cracking tool released by Mandiant.
AI & Cloud Business Models
- OpenAI to Test Ads in ChatGPT: OpenAI plans to introduce ads in its free ChatGPT tool and a new $8/month ChatGPT Go plan in the US, indicating a push towards monetization amidst billions in expenditures.
- Rackspace Email Hosting Price Hike: Rackspace customers and resellers are grappling with a "devastating" email hosting price increase, with some reporting hikes as high as 706 percent, raising concerns for smaller businesses and partners.
- TSMC Reports "Endless" AI Demand: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest chipmaker, announced record Q4 earnings, stating that AI demand is "endless," suggesting a sustained boom in the artificial intelligence sector.
Hardware & Supply Chain
- RAM Shortage Expands: The global RAM shortage has now expanded to affect GPUs, high-capacity SSDs, and even hard drives. This could lead to manufacturers prioritizing more profitable GPU models and increased costs/scarcity for storage solutions.
Cybersecurity & Data Policy
- Mandiant Releases Password Cracking Tool: Cybersecurity firm Mandiant has released a rainbow table capable of cracking weak Windows admin passwords in just 12 hours. This serves as a critical warning for organizations still using vulnerable hashing functions.
- Anna's Archive Ordered to Delete Data: A judge has ordered Anna's Archive to delete scraped data, though compliance remains doubtful. The WorldCat operator hopes the default judgment will prompt web hosts to take action.
Emerging Tech & Regulation
- xAI Deepfakes Lawsuit: The mother of one of Elon Musk’s offspring is suing xAI over sexualized deepfakes generated by the Grok chatbot, raising ethical and legal questions about AI systems' responsibility for generated content.
- Tesla FSD Probe Extended: Federal regulators have given Tesla another five weeks to respond to a probe into its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, which is reportedly ignoring red lights and running into traffic.
- California Counters FCC on DEI: California has countered the FCC's stance on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) by imposing conditions on the Verizon/Frontier merger, impacting fiber rollout and digital access.
Referenced Sources:
- Ars Technica: Rackspace price hike
- Ars Technica: OpenAI to test ads
- Ars Technica: Mandiant password cracking
- Ars Technica: RAM shortage
- Ars Technica: TSMC AI demand
- Ars Technica: xAI deepfakes lawsuit
Sources
- Rackspace customers grapple with “devastating” email hosting price hike
- OpenAI to test ads in ChatGPT as it burns through billions
- Mandiant releases rainbow table that cracks weak admin password in 12 hours
- RAM shortage chaos expands to GPUs, high-capacity SSDs, and even hard drives
- TSMC says AI demand is “endless” after record Q4 earnings
- Mother of one of Elon Musk’s offspring sues xAI over sexualized deepfakes