Dear Studio Fam,

This week, we're doing a deep dive on a new EV brand that presents some fascinating parallels to the smartphone app ecosystem. The brand is called Slate, and it's backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, among others. It promises total practicality and an ultra-low starting price point, as low as $20,000, thanks to domestic manufacturing that will make it eligible for the full EV tax credit.

Slate's first vehicle, the "Blank Slate," is a compact, two-door electric pickup that throws out many of the assumptions baked into modern car design. Instead of packing the truck with tech features you may or may not want, Slate strips the vehicle down to its essentials: a gray unpainted exterior, a simple analog gauge cluster, manual windows, and mounts for your devices instead of a built-in infotainment system. The idea is to keep the starting price as low as possible, and to let drivers customize their Slate over time through an expansive accessories marketplace – an "app store" for vehicle modifications and upgrades.

At launch, Slate will offer over 100 modifications and accessories that owners can purchase and install themselves. You start with a basic pickup (“the blank Slate”) and can transform it into a five-seater SUV. You can add power windows, upgrade your wheels, swap interior trims, or bolt on functional enhancements like cupholders, device mounts, and speakers. Much like adding apps to your phone to unlock new features, Slate owners will be able to build up their vehicle over time according to their evolving needs and preferences.

Slate's model calls back to an earlier era of tech, when companies like Dell encouraged users to open up their PCs and swap in new components. It's a refreshing change in a time when many tech and automotive brands increasingly lock down their products. Through its upcoming "Slate University," the company promises to provide DIY tutorials and instructional materials to make upgrades accessible even to novice tinkerers, echoing how brands like Arduino and Raspberry Pi built thriving communities by encouraging experimentation. Still, it remains to be seen how far this openness will go and whether some of the most desirable upgrades will only be available through Slate's proprietary catalog.

Beyond its unique production model, Slate also aims to offer genuinely practical specifications. The Blank Slate will feature a starting range of 150 miles, with an optional extended battery providing up to 240 miles. It uses the NACS charging standard so it supports DC fast charging at Tesla Superchargers. Its compact dimensions are almost identical to the iconic 1985 Toyota SR5 pickup truck made famous in Back to The Future. But most importantly, it’s cheap. Despite being made in the USA, the Blank Slate will reportedly cost $20,000 after the Federal EV tax credit. That’s barely more expensive than the cheapest new car for sale in the United States, the $18,330 Nissan Versa.

The approach of keeping the vehicle minimal but upgradeable echoes how the iOS and Android app ecosystems exploded by letting users personalize experiences on top of uniform hardware. But there's also a cautionary tale here. As companies like Apple and Google have learned, running a successful marketplace means deciding who gets access and under what rules. Legal battles over app store monopolies and antitrust enforcement have centered on exactly these questions. As Slate rolls out its accessory marketplace, it will be worth watching what kind of standards it sets for third-party parts and modifications. Will Slate encourage open development like Android once did, or will it curate its ecosystem with strict controls like Apple has? Will it charge fees to third-party manufacturers? Will it restrict certain types of upgrades to only its own parts? The ultimate success of Slate may depend not just on what the company builds, but on what it allows others to build alongside it.

Feedback? hello@buildwithstudio.com

Dear Studio Fam,

This week in tech, we’re watching big-money moves, ambitious comebacks, and the never-ending tension between innovation and execution. Google’s biggest acquisition ever comes with some serious strings attached, Tesla’s electric dream hits another speedbump, minimalist phones promise relief from digital overload, and a familiar CEO returns with eyebrow-raising explanations.

Feedback? Drop us a line at hello@buildwithstudio.com.

Bolt CEO Addresses Troubled Loan, Teases New Super App

Controversial CEO Ryan Breslow, no stranger to Studio Bytes, is back with more questionable explanations and grandiose promises of imminent success. Breslow was fired in 2022 from Bolt, the one-click payment startup he founded, for misrepresenting Bolt’s customer base and loaning himself $30 million of the company’s money. Breslow addressed the loan this week with self-serving logic while hyping the next version of Bolt’s one-click experience. Making the loan was actually “pro-Bolt” he argued, claiming that selling his stock in a secondary offering would have shown a lack of confidence in the company. He did not specify how exactly using existing investors’ money for the same purpose showed the opposite.

Google To Buy Wiz But Will Pay $7B If It Doesn’t

Google just made a major move, snapping up cybersecurity leader Wiz in one of the largest deals the sector has seen in recent memory. The $35 billion deal dramatically strengthens Google’s security offerings, positioning the tech giant to lead in cloud defense against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. The deal is Google’s largest acquisition ever, but also includes the largest ever termination fee, indicating that Wiz investors are not confident the FTC has completely given up on antitrust enforcement.

DeepSeek’s New AI Chatbot Wants Your Attention

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has launched its flagship app, aiming squarely at industry leader ChatGPT, and bringing its cheaper, more efficient LLM to directly to smartphones. Promising richer interactions and faster responses than its competitors, DeepSeek is betting big that users are ready for an upgraded conversational AI experience.

Tesla Recalls 46,000 Cybertrucks for Flying Trim

Tesla is facing fresh headaches, as 46,000 Cybertrucks have been recalled due to loose exterior trim pieces that can detach while driving, posing crash hazards. This is the 8th recall for the entire production of Cybertrucks, though the number of affected vehicles is in the double digits. The news forced Tesla to acknowledge the total number of Cybertrucks its sold which, despite being lower than expectations, is just slightly less than all electric trucks sold by Rivian and Ford combined.

Minimalist Light Phone III Launches March 27

We wrote about the pre-order announcement for the Light Phone III, and we’re happy to see the low-fi smartphone is now ready for shipment. The stripped-down device promises users freedom from constant notifications and digital overload while still providing essential connectivity and features. Smartphones have never been a bigger source of distraction and anxiety, and never more essential to everyday life, so this might be the moment for Light Phone to take off.

Dear Studio Fam,

This week in tech, we’re seeing a collision of security concerns, regulatory battles, product innovation, and high-stakes corporate drama. Government agencies and tech platforms alike are grappling with vulnerabilities, while the tension between big tech and federal oversight continues to shape the digital landscape. Apple is making moves that hint at the future of its ecosystem, reinforcing its hold on both hardware and software. Meanwhile, the ongoing power struggle between industry giants underscores just how much influence a few key players wield over the direction of AI and online platforms.

Feedback? hello@buildwithstudio.com

DOGE Website Pwned

The Department of Government Efficiency’s new website was compromised today, according to 404 Media, also known as “pwned” in Internet slang. The website was quickly created to highlight DOGE’s day-to-day work as well as serve as a recruiting portal, but visitors this morning were greeted with unofficial announcements highlighting vulnerabilities in a third-party database. As of this writing, the website has been fixed.

TikTok Is Back In The App Store

TikTok is back in the Apple App Store in the US, indicating the Chinese-owned company may be making progress towards a deal with the US government over its sell-or-shutdown law. Existing users in the US saw their apps go dark on January 19 when the TikTok app was also removed from the App Store. Service was restored shortly after newly elected President Trump triggered the law’s 90-day extension but new iPhone users could not install the app until today. Apple was reportedly refusing to reinstate the app without explicit guarantees from the Federal government given the sell-or-shutdown law’s extreme penalties, so today’s restoration is strong evidence that TikTok is nearing a deal with the Trump administration.

New iPhone Coming Next Week

Apple confirmed rumors of a new iPhone coming next week, announcing a February 19 event to welcome a “new member of the family.” The new iPhone is likely an update to the entry-level iPhone SE, the only iPhone that still has a fingerprint sensor. The news came along with the immediate release of the Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds and rumors of other updates like a Macbook Air optimized for Apple Intelligence.

Elon Offers To Buy OpenAI, Altman Offers To Buy X

The feud between Elon Musk and OpenAI continued with an unsolicited offer to buy the non-profit company for $97.4 billion. The offer was probably made in bad faith in order to complicate OpenAI’s plan to convert to a for-profit company. Musk was one of the original funders of OpenAI’s non-profit mission and repeatedly-and-unsuccessfully sued the company for violating its original mission. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded by offering to buy X.

Dear Studio Fam,

It’s January, which means the Consumer Electronics Show is in full swing in Las Vegas. CES is famous for a wild assortment of new tech product introductions from every industry and brand, though in recent years innovation seemed to follow the same script. Flashy demos of common products made foldable may create good advertising content but leave many to view CES as nothing more than the best time to get a deal on last year’s model.

But this year marks a return to real innovation thanks to the market maturity of multiple tech paradigms and entry level market opportunities created by regulatory crackdowns on Big Tech monopolies. At the top of the list is generative AI, which is seen in multiple product categories beyond mere marketing moniker. Multiple legacy car makers debuted pure EVs to match the mainstream acceptance of electric vehicles. And while CES has seen all manner of robot vacuums and kitchen assistants, this year brings dozens of new makers of humanoid robots designed to do manual labor. And there was even a roll up TV that looks commercially viable!

Read on for a rundown of the week’s best new products at CES.

Feedback? hello@buildwithstudio.com

NVIDIA Announces Personal AI Supercomputer - The NVIDIA Digits is a desktop computer with massive memory and computing power that is capable of running the largest models locally for just $3,000.

Unitree G1 Personal Android - The G1 costs $16,000 and can theoretically do a lot of manual tasks, if they get the software right.

NVIDIA Cosmos AI Goes Open Source - Intelligent robots rely on AI “world models” to navigate their environment (like Tesla Autopilot) and NVIDIA wants Cosmos to be the go-to for third party robot manufacturers.

Honda Unveils “Nearly Complete” Pure EVs - The Honda Zero is the brand’s biggest investment in a pure EV platform, purpose built around electrification and automation rather than an augmented gas model.

BMW’s New HUD Is Gorgeous - BMW unveiled the newest version of its iDrive interface, a beautiful and immersive holographic projection designed to further distinguish its EVs from spartan Teslas.

Lucid Shows Off Gravity SUV - The first Gravity SUVs rolled off the Lucid assembly line this month and the Saudi-backed company showed them off at CES.

BYD Super EV Literally Flies (A Little) - BYD makes more EVs than any company in the world and it’s new Yangwang super EV can fly (well, jump).

Dear Studio Fam,

As the year winds down, we saw an interesting theme in this week’s tech news: updates. OpenAI kicked off twelve days of product announcements that seem to suggest a major update to its business model. There are zero profitable providers of gen AI technology, and OpenAI’s initial announcements indicate that the willingness of investors to cover losses is coming to an end. At the same time, tech leaders are previewing updates to something unexpected: the Federal government.

Feedback? hello@buildwithstudio.com

OpenAI Announces Holiday Updates

OpenAI announced its “12 Days of OpenAI” event, promising new capabilities announcements every day over the coming weeks.. At face value, it feels like a festive countdown for tech enthusiasts. But OpenAI still has a long way to go in proving gen AI can be sold profitably, particularly as open source competitors continue to match OpenAI’s pace of innovation. Read on for details of the first two days’ announcements.

Day 1 of OpenAI: o1 Model Launch

The first day of the 12 Days of OpenAI spotlighted the official release of the o1 “reasoning” model, components of which have been previewed inside the last update to the GPT4 model. ChatGPT users may recall seeing more and more “analyzing” moments inside their consoles these past months as OpenAI has refined the compute requirements for breaking down requests into actionable steps. The o1 model takes these innovations to a new level with even greater speed, going so far as to return each result with an analysis of how much time it spent “thinking” about the prompt.

Day 2 of OpenAI: ChatGPT Pro

The second day of the 12 Days of Open AI is ostensibly dedicated to the most intense GPT customers, but it’s really for OpenAI investors. OpenAI announced ChatGPT Pro for researchers, scientists, and engineers, promising these power users “scaled access to the best of OpenAI’s models and tools”. This means dedicated infrastructure with no caps on “reasoning” time for the newest models.There’s even a new progress bar to show how long it’s going to take to return answers to prompts.  But it’s also good news for OpenAI investors. ChatGPT Pro is $200 per month, literally 20x more expensive than ChatGPT.  

Elon Musk Previews Government Updates

Elon Musk visited Capitol Hill this week in his capacity of co-leader of the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), the unofficial initiative announced by President-elect Trump to streamline the Federal Government. But go into the details and you’ll find familiar Republican cost-cutting proposals that have little to do with efficiency. Proposals range from privatizing $125 billion of veterans health services to eliminating the $5 million per year the Army spends on Christmas dinner lobsters for soldiers deployed overseas. Government agencies run quite efficiently compared to their private sector counterparts so we’re left to wonder if these “updates” to governance are just branding for trimming budgets in a digital cloak.

NASA Updated With Tech Exec Leader

President-elect Trump announced tech executive Jared Isaacman as his nominee to run NASA, adding yet another billionaire to his new team. Isaacman founded payment technology firm Shift4, which may seem like an odd choice for a NASA Administrator. But he’s also an aerospace engineer and founder of Draken International, a private company that works with the US Air Force and Navy to train fighter pilots.

Dear Studio Fam,

Tech giants seem to be racing to the future, but many are hitting speed bumps along the way. This week, we’re diving into a mix of product recalls, delayed features, and bold competitive moves that are reshaping the landscape. From Apple and Microsoft’s struggles to deliver on their AI promises to OpenAI challenging Google’s search dominance, the common thread is clear: tech dreams don’t always roll out smoothly.

Feedback? hello@buildwithstudio.com

Apple’s Mac Upgrades: Faster Chips, Same Shells

Apple’s recent Mac announcements revealed refreshed iMac and MacBook Pro models boasting faster chips and enhanced capabilities. But here’s the catch: they’re unchanged on the outside. While the new internals bring more power to users, the physical design remains static, leaving some to wonder if Apple’s “new” is really just old in a faster suit. It’s a safe play, but in a landscape where competitors are innovating form factors and pushing design boundaries, is it enough to keep fans engaged?

Humane’s AI Pin Recall: A Misstep or Just Plain Misguided?

Humane’s much-criticized AI Pin, already struggling to convince the market of its worth, hit another roadblock—a recall due to charger issues. A product already met with confusion and skepticism, this recall feels like piling on problems for what many see as an unnecessary addition to the tech landscape. It’s a stark reminder that novelty without solid execution can be a recipe for failure, or as some might say, proof that sometimes, just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

Delayed Again: Microsoft’s AI Recall Feature Keeps Users Waiting

In the realm of AI enhancements, Microsoft’s “Recall” feature for Windows 11 is experiencing yet another delay. Billed as a tool to help users retrieve lost data and boost productivity, its repeated postponements echo a broader trend seen in tech today. This stumbling block mirrors Apple’s struggles with “Apple Intelligence,” a feature that has been in beta since the iPhone 16 launch, leaving users to question the timeline of promised AI advancements. These delays underscore a key lesson: flashy announcements are easy, but delivering them is where the challenge lies.

Apple Intelligence: All Hype, Little Help (For Now)

Apple’s “Apple Intelligence” feature, promised to revolutionize how iPhone users interact with Siri and their devices, remains a work-in-progress. It’s still in beta, frustrating those who anticipated seamless AI integration by now. Similar to Microsoft’s delayed “Recall” feature, Apple’s inability to fully release its flagship AI capabilities highlights an industry-wide pattern. While these tech behemoths push the boundaries of what’s possible, they seem to be finding out the hard way that AI innovation can’t be rushed.

OpenAI Takes Aim at Google with “SearchGPT

OpenAI has launched “SearchGPT,” a tool that integrates real-time web search with its ChatGPT model, marking a bold move against Google’s dominance. Following the footsteps of Perplexity, OpenAI’s new feature signals its ambition to go beyond generative AI and delve into everyday utilities. This isn’t just about answering questions with pre-trained knowledge; it’s about live data and dynamic search capabilities that challenge Google’s stronghold. With this shift, OpenAI is positioning itself as more than just a chatbot company—it’s an AI powerhouse setting its sights on reshaping how we search the web.

Dear Studio Fam,

OpenAI is once again at the heart of tech news. While no stranger to sudden staff departures, OpenAI experienced its most significant management changes amidst reports of major changes to its corporate structure. We think these changes signal significant shifts in how OpenAI and other gen AI companies do business, informed by our own experience leveraging the enterprise versions of their tools.

Studio is building a number of products on top of gen AI models. Our recent experience with a data project deployed on Azure OpenAI has made clear the real costs of utilizing gen AI systems at scale. Relatively trivial test runs of a gen AI document scanner incur $1 to $5 charges and will incur thousands of dollars of ongoing costs when deployed at scale. While there is a clear path towards some efficiencies, it's never been more obvious to us how much money ChatGPT loses on its $20 per month subscription to any daily user.

It feels like gen AI is still in its "First 5 Uber rides for $5" phase. Read on for all of the OpenAI news that that foretells massive price increases for ChatGPT and other gen AI tools.

Feedback? hello@buildwithstudio.com

OpenAI Goes For-Profit

Originally founded as a non-profit to develop AI for the public good, OpenAI is re-organizing into a for-profit company according to anonymous sourced reporting by Reuters. This shift includes giving CEO Sam Altman equity for the first time, a decision that could signal growing financial incentives for all staff. While the non-profit arm will allegedly retain a minority stake, this change has raised concerns about the potential for price increases and decreased transparency of the governance required of non-profits.

OpenAI Loses CTO, Research Leaders

Mira Murati, OpenAI’s Chief Technology Officer, shocked the industry by announcing her sudden resignation after over six years at the company. Murati played a pivotal role in driving development of signature products like DALL-E and ChatGPT. Murati, alongside other departing executives in the research team including Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew, was deeply committed to OpenAI’s original non-profit mission, indicating likely disagreement with Sam Altman’s plan to transition to a for-profit business.

Sam Altman Derided As “Podcasting Bro” By Chip Executives

Crucial to the success of a growing gen AI company is reliable access to the special hardware that powers large language and diffusion models. Chip makers like NVIDIA and TSMC have made incredible profits while companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Hugging Face compete for their limited supplies. As originally reported in the NY TImes, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman toured TSMC facilities last year to secure long term contracts and even discuss the construction of dedicated chip factories. Altman’s requests were so outlandish – going so far as to pitch the immediate construction of more chip factories than in existence today – that TSMC executives dismissed his requests as delusional and began referring to him internally as “podcasting bro.”

Dear Studio Fam,

This week we cover everything from cutting-edge AR hardware to the slow pace of AI rollout for the new iPhone. We’ll explore a major partnership aimed at improving the digital experience for travelers, as well as innovative new pricing models that could change the way developers adopt augmented reality technology. Lastly, we take a closer look at a high-profile legal case involving misleading practices in online retail.

Feedback? hello@buildwithstudio.com

New Snapchat Spectacles Are Very Big

Snapchat’s latest Spectacles are very big and not stylish at all, and it’s all on purpose. The new wearable device is targeted specifically to software developers and offers an impressive augmented reality experience for its unique price: $99 a month. The subscription model aims to lower the barrier to entry for AR development and increase the number of developers building products for what will someday be a consumer version of the product.

New iPhones Still Don’t Have Apple Intelligence

Apple has been hyping its AI system, Apple Intelligence, for over six months, but it missed the iPhone 16 launch. Despite the device being purpose-built to utilize these new features, Apple Intelligence is still not ready for general use. We wrote previously about how Apple was gatekeeping access to Apple Intelligence in the new iOS beta build, suggesting the company has still not perfected the new integration within Siri and iOS. This delay raises questions about Apple’s AI strategy, especially when the iPhone 16 was so closely tied to these capabilities. Customers of the new phone will have to wait a bit longer to access the flagship service, and developers will have to wait even longer for there to be a reason to implement Apple Intelligence into their apps.

Apple Intelligence In Public Beta

Some Apple Intelligence features are finally in public beta, and they are highly limited compared to the demos we’ve seen at the past two Apple Keynotes dedicated to them. Currently available only to users with the latest iOS 18.1 update, the beta supports U.S. English and restricts access to AI writing tools, and photo organization. These features are only accessible to those who join a waitlist and install the beta software. Apple has promised a wider rollout in December, along with support for additional languages like Chinese and French.

United Airlines Announces Starlink Partnership

United Airlines is making a significant change to its in-flight internet service by partnering with SpaceX’s Starlink to offer faster and more reliable Wi-Fi. Current in-flight connections are often slow and frustrating, especially on longer flights or when flying over oceans. With Starlink’s satellite network, United aims to provide a better experience, allowing passengers to stream videos or stay connected without the interruptions they’re used to. The new system is expected to improve connectivity, replacing the often unreliable options travelers have had to deal with. This shift could set a new standard for in-flight Wi-Fi across the industry.

Amazon Sued For False Advertising

Amazon is facing a new lawsuit filed by individual consumers, accusing the company of using misleading pricing tactics to sell Fire TVs. Unlike recent antitrust actions brought by the Federal Government, this case focuses on deceptive advertisements rather than market dominance. The lawsuit claims Amazon falsely presents TV prices as major discounts by comparing them to inflated “list prices” that do not reflect actual market values. Consumers argue that these supposed discounts mislead them into thinking they are getting a better deal than they really are. The case highlights ongoing concerns about transparency in online retail pricing.

Dear Studio Fam,

Another iPhone Keynote has come and gone, bringing with it the standard assortment of new colors, spec bumps, and software features. But buried within the presentation were two major breakthroughs that received a relatively small amount of stage time: Apple Watch’s new ability to diagnose Sleep Apnea, and AirPods Pro’s new ability to diagnose hearing loss and act as a medical grade hearing aid.

Few realize quite how disruptive Apple is about to be in healthcare. Apple has eschewed buying a primary care provider the way that Amazon bought One Medical, choosing instead to slowly but surely integrate healthcare centric features and experiences into its products. Very soon, Apple will be poised to completely take over medical care for customers fully ensconced in their ecosystem.

If you've ever helped an elderly relative get a hearing aid, you know the process is ridiculously convoluted and the devices ludicrously expensive. This is the byproduct of years of regulatory capture by dedicated medical device makers, and perhaps only a company like Apple is truly capable of breaking such a cabal. Seeing an audiologist and fitting a hearing aid costs upwards of $3000 in the United States (even after insurance!), and it looks like Apple is about to reduce that hassle to a single <$300 purchase.

While the details of "AirPods as Hearing Aids" are still somewhat vague, it seems obvious that Apple has done something incredible. When was the last time that the cost of treating a medical condition dropped 90% overnight because of a new invention?

Sleep apnea detection on Apple Watch foretells similar improvements to the hassle of sleep therapy treatment. Not long ago, diagnosing sleep apnea required an overnight stay in a sleep clinic. In the last few years, at-home diagnosis became possible with dedicated devices that still required a medical doctor’s order. And the devices themselves are finicky and cumbersome. But soon, every new Apple Watch customer can be alerted to a possible sleep apnea condition by simply wearing their watch to bed.

We don’t mean to say that the primary announcements of the Keynote are unremarkable. The new touch sensor on the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro enables a new level of professional photography. And we’ve already written extensively about Apple Intelligence and the direct integration of iOS with ChatGPT. Read on for a rundown of others’ analysis of the Keynote.

Another iPhone Keynote has come and gone, bringing the usual assortment of new colors, spec upgrades, and software features. But tucked within the presentation were two major breakthroughs that received surprisingly little attention: the Apple Watch’s new ability to detect sleep apnea, and the AirPods Pro’s ability to diagnose hearing loss and function as a medical-grade hearing aid.

Few people realize just how disruptive Apple is about to be in healthcare. Instead of following Amazon’s path of acquiring a primary care provider like One Medical, Apple has chosen to steadily integrate health-centric features and experiences into its products. Soon, Apple will be positioned to take over significant aspects of medical care for those deeply embedded in its ecosystem.

If you’ve ever helped an elderly relative get a hearing aid, you know the process is ridiculously complicated, and the devices are outrageously expensive. This is the result of years of regulatory capture by medical device manufacturers, and Apple might be the only company capable of breaking that monopoly. Seeing an audiologist and fitting a hearing aid costs upwards of $3,000 in the United States (even after insurance!), but Apple seems ready to reduce that hassle to a single purchase under $300.

While the details of using AirPods as hearing aids are still somewhat unclear, it’s obvious Apple has achieved something remarkable. When was the last time the cost of treating a medical condition dropped by 90% overnight because of a new product?

The Apple Watch’s sleep apnea detection promises similar improvements in the treatment of sleep disorders. Not long ago, diagnosing sleep apnea required an overnight stay at a sleep clinic. In recent years, at-home diagnosis became possible, but only with specialized devices that still required a doctor’s prescription. These devices are often cumbersome and difficult to use. Soon, however, anyone wearing an Apple Watch to bed could be alerted to a potential sleep apnea condition.

This isn’t to say that the primary announcements of the Keynote were unimpressive. The new touch sensor on the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro enables a new level of professional photography, and we’ve already covered Apple Intelligence and its integration with ChatGPT extensively. Read on for a roundup of other analysts’ takes on the Keynote.

Feedback? hello@buildwithstudio.com

iPhone 16 Keynote Rundown

WaPo: FDA Approves Apple AirPods as Hearing Aids

CNN: Two Words Missing from the iPhone 16 Event

The Verge: All The News from Apple’s iPhone 16 Event

CNET: The One Thing Missing From Apple’s Event

MacRumors: New AirPods Pro 2 Firmware Review

TechRadar: Apple Watch Series 10 Review

DigitalTrends: Apple Officially Discontinues Three Phones

Dear Studio Fam,

It’s iPhone season, so read on for details of what to expect at next week’s Apple Keynote. There’s also news directly from the founder of Telegram in response to his arrest in France and an update on Telegram’s approach to content moderation. Finally, Google is facing even more antitrust scrutiny around the world, this time from a country with much more significant punishments for anticompetitive behavior.

Feedback? hello@buildwithstudio.com

New iPhone “Glowtime” Preview

September means its time to go back to school, and for Apple to unveil its newest iPhones. Due to the standard assortment of supplier leaks, provider screw ups, and outright speculation, there is a good sense of what exactly to expect at next week’s Keynote. Of course Apple will introduce the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, rumored to feature slightly larger screens within the same physical dimensions of the iPhone 15s. There’s a new dedicated camera button as well, indicating a major step up in picture and video quality. September is also when we’ve come to expect updates to Apple Watch, and this year’s models are expected to feature not just physical enhancements but new features to diagnose medical conditions like sleep apnea. Finally, we’ll get to see exactly how Apple Intelligence, announced last June, will be rolled out.

Telegram Founder Speaks After Arrest

A week after his arrest, Telegram founder Pavel Durov drew a conciliatory line between his commitment to user privacy and content moderation failures in the face of Telegram’s rapid growth. “Telegram’s abrupt increase in user count to 950M caused growing pains that made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform,” Durov stated in his first public statement on the issue.  “That’s why I made it my personal goal to ensure we significantly improve things in this regard.” But the Russian-born founder made no reference to the charges against him and pointed out that Telegram’s official business contacts inside the EU have always been responsive to regulators.

Telegram To Start Moderating Private Chats

Shortly after Durov’s first public statement since his arrest, Telegram updated its website to reflect new content moderation policies. Previously private chats and group chats did not contain a reporting feature that would give the company insight into who might be misbehaving within personal conversations. According to Telegram, no source code has been changed inside the Telegram app but individual users who are reported may face consequences.

Google’s Antitrust Woes Extend to UK

Google is 0-2 against the US Justice Department in its ongoing antitrust legal saga, and it may soon face a similar outcome in the United Kingdom. In a provisional finding, the UK’s Competition and Market Authority (roughly equivalent to the US’s Federal Trade Commission), found that “Google has abused its dominant positions through the operation of both its publisher ad server and buying tools to restrict competition in the UK.” This abuse has led to inflated advertising costs, harming both businesses and consumers to which fees are ultimately passed. Potential fines can run up to ten percent of a firm’s global revenue.

Dear Studio Fam,

As we approach the spiritual end of summer, tech news continues to revolve around legal challenges to Big Tech. Our first story involves the first major arrest of a prominent technology leader for failing to cooperate with the government. Our second story involves another court loss for TikTok that might also spell doom for other social media companies. We’ve also got coverage of a conflict between NASA, Boeing, and SpaceX, and a summary of obstacles Amazon has faced in bringing gen AI features to Alexa.

Feedback? hello@buildwithstudio.com

Telegram Founder Arrested In France

Pavel Durov, the founder of messaging app Telegram, was arrested and charged by French authorities for failing to prevent thousands of instances of criminal activity on the Telegram app. The charges revolve around Durov’s refusal to assist French authorities’ to access the messages of suspected drug and sex traffickers, among other criminals. Telegram has refused to “register its encryption services with the state,” which some security analysts equate with granting “backdoor access” to Telegram’s systems. A French warrant for Durov’s arrest was outstanding for months yet the CEO still chose to go to France, indicating he has a plan to defend the charges.

TikTok Loses Section 230 Defense Argument

The success of the Internet is often attributed to an obscure section of a 1996 law, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields tech companies from liability for the content created by their users. As the lines between communication, broadcast, and editorial were blurred by social media and algorithmic content recommendations, Courts have generally sided with big tech companies when interpreting Section 230, until now. The case involves a young girl who died after reenacting a dangerous video she was repeatedly recommended to watch by TikTok. Her parents’ are free to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against TikTok, the judge ruled, because using an algorithm to recommend content is not third-party speech. If the decision is upheld, it could have far reaching implications for YouTube, Instagram, and any other social media product that uses algorithms to recommend content.

NASA Selects SpaceX To Rescue Stranded Astronauts

Once upon a time, astronauts stranded in space was a big news story. Unfortunately for the two astronauts stuck on the International Space Station, the news has mostly been about the company responsible for stranding them there, Boeing. Due to malfunctions in the Boeing Starliner capsule, NASA decided to strand astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on the ISS for months until Boeing rival SpaceX could ready its more reliable Dragon capsule to retrieve them. The decision is not sitting well with Boeing engineers, who claim their Starliner capsule is safe and that NASA is being overly cautious.

Claude To Power Amazon Alexa AI

Amazon previewed the next version of Alexa last year, promising an upgrade to its conversational abilities powered by generative AI. However due to problems scaling its own proprietary models, Amazon decided to power the new Alexa AI assistant with the Claude model from Anthropic. Reuters reports Amazon hopes to launch the new version of Alexa this October (no doubt to follow Apple’s introduction of the AI-enhanced Siri coming next month) and using Anthropic’s technology was the only way to meet the deadline.

Dear Studio Fam,

As summer comes to a close, we bring you news of a number of ups and downs in the tech industry. It’s another banner week for the Federal government’s antitrust enforcers who are now pursuing action against a major player in the proptech sector. But things are looking up for the robotaxi industry, and we’ve got news of a major new partnership to bring driverless taxis to the masses. In ecommerce, it remains to be seen if news of Bolt’s new funding announcement will end positively or negative (par for the course for founder Ryan Breslow). And in healthtech, things are looking bleak for Peloton who announced a slate of new fees.

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DOJ Sues RealPage For Inflating Rents

Yet another tech company has been sued by the Federal government for violating antitrust law. This time the accused is RealPage, a real estate technology company that helps landlords figure out how much rent they can charge. According to the lawsuit, RealPage illegally leveraged pricing data from competing landlords to make pricing recommendations that artificially inflated rents. RealPage is owned by private equity firm Thoma Bravo, which previously faced antitrust action for illegally consolidating software businesses in the natural gas industry.

Uber Partnering With Cruise for Robotaxi Relaunch

Uber announced a robotaxi partnership with GM-owned Cruise this week, years after shutting down its own self-driving car initiative. The deal follows Uber’s original model of not owning the cars in its network by simply offering booking and payment facilities for Cruise-owned robotaxis. Cruise has faced its own operational and regulatory challenges after being forced by California regulators to shut down last year after a Cruise vehicle hit and dragged a pedestrian in San Francisco. The partnership is set to launch next year.

Ryan Breslow Is Back at Bolt, Maybe

One-click-checkout startup Bolt announced a new funding round this week, along with the possibility of its controversial founder Ryan Breslow returning to helm the company. Breslow left the company after a series of controversies involving inflated growth metrics, a lawsuit by one of its biggest customers, and revelations that Breslow had pocketed a significant amount of the company’s funding. Unsurprisingly, the funding announcement was immediately followed by similar controversies as the investment bank named in the funding documents disclaimed any involvement in the deal. It’s now unclear where exactly the $450 million round is coming from, or whether it’s actually a fundraise or offering of in-kind marketing services.

Peloton Is Just A Scammy Gym Now

Peloton announced new fees for purchasers of used equipment this week, signaling that the beleaguered company is desperate for new sources of revenue. Used Peloton bikes are available second hand for a fraction of the retail price. Starting next month, used Peloton buyers will have to pay $95 to activate a Peloton account in addition to the $44 monthly membership fee. Considering Peloton stock is down almost 20% this year (and 80% off its IPO price), it wouldn’t be a surprise if the company adopts even more scammy practices from the commercial gym industry like cancellation fees.

Dear Studio Fam,

Last June, Apple previewed the integration of artificial intelligence into iOS, including its proprietary Apple Intelligence system, a native integration with ChatGPT, and enhancements to Siri. This week, Google responded with multiple hardware announcements at its Made by Google event, touting the integration of its Gemini AI. Despite ominous signs that its recent antitrust loss to the Federal government might disrupt its core advertising business, Google demonstrated an unwavering commitment to distribute AI features across its devices and services. Read on for details on the major announcements.

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New Google Pixel Phones

Central to the Made by Google event was the unveiling of the Pixel 9 series of smartphones including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and the standout Pixel 9 Pro Fold. he non-folding Pixels got the usual upgrades to camera performance and battery life, but the Pixel 9 Pro Fold demonstrated an entirely new design unlike any other folding smartphone. Other folding smartphones have been criticized for being worse than a normal smartphone when closed and worse than a normal tablet when open. Early reviews of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold claim it is the first compromise-free folding smartphone.

Google Puts Gemini Into Everything

Most of the Made by Google event discussed how Google’s Gemini AI technology was being integrated into each of the new product announcements. Gemini has been brought directly into the Pixel 9s in the form of Gemini Nano, an on-device model that doesn’t need to access the cloud. The new Pixel Buds and Pixel Watch are built around AI enhancements to the Google Assistant. And spam calls will now be faced with a Gemini-enhanced blocking feature.

The Pixel Watch 3 Includes AI Recorder App

While the Pixel phones have been more or less comparable to iPhones in terms of quality and functionality for some time, the Pixel Watch has never been close to the Apple Watch. That seemed destined to change when Google acquired Fitbit in 2021, but Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 still fell short of the Apple Watch. The Pixel Watch 3 unveiled this week might have finally closed the gap with a larger display, longer battery life, and all of the biosensors of the Apple Watch, and more. It also features an AI-enhanced recorder app that opens the door to Ai companion experiences like we’ve seen from startups Humane and friend.

Google TV Streamer Kills Chromecast

Chromecast is one of Google’s most successful products, a combination of streaming hardware and streaming standard that has become ubiquitous across apps, browsers, smart TVs, and even hotel rooms. And for some reason, Google decided to kill the Chromecast brand and replace it with “Google TV Streamer”, a set-top device more akin to a cable box than the simple streaming dongles Chromecast is known for. But it’s not all bad news, as the Google TV Streamer has a killer feature: a dedicated button on the device that will make a lost remote control beep.