Yelp has launched a series of updates, including AI-powered review insights, a personalised home feed, and an upgraded inbox for business owners. These changes aim to enhance user experience and streamline business interactions.
The new AI review insights categorise feedback into food quality, service, and ambiance, each scored from 1 to 100 with sentiment ratings. Users can access relevant reviews directly through the app. Initially available for restaurant, food, and nightlife listings, the feature is exclusive to iOS users.
Business owners also benefit from a redesigned inbox to manage customer interactions more efficiently, reflecting Yelp‘s broader effort to support businesses and users alike.
President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), signaling a dramatic policy shift for the agency. Ferguson, who joined the FTC as a commissioner earlier this year, is set to take over on ‘day one’ of Trump’s administration, replacing Lina Khan. Khan’s tenure focused on regulating Big Tech, earning praise for her aggressive antitrust stance.
Ferguson promises to reverse what he calls Khan’s ‘anti-business agenda’ and tackle what he terms ‘Big Tech censorship’ and ‘wokeness.’ He emphasises a commitment to protecting free speech and ensuring America’s leadership in technology and innovation. Ferguson’s policy blueprint, revealed in a document obtained by Punchbowl News, also includes plans to counter the ‘trans agenda’ as part of broader cultural battles tied to his vision for the FTC.
Trump also announced Mark Meador, an antitrust lawyer, as a nominee for FTC commissioner. Together, Ferguson and Meador aim to reshape the FTC into a body that prioritises competition, innovation, and what they describe as the restoration of free-market principles. These appointments mark a significant pivot from the current US administration’s regulatory approach to Big Tech.
Alphabet, the parent company of Google, is doubling down on AI to reshape its core search business, which generates the majority of its $300 billion annual revenue. At the Reuters NEXT conference in New York, Alphabet President Ruth Porat described AI as a ‘generational opportunity’ for the company, with tools like AI-generated query overviews aiming to make search more intuitive. However, challenges such as AI ‘hallucinations,’ where incorrect information is generated, remain a key hurdle.
Beyond search, Alphabet is channeling its AI expertise into healthcare advancements. Porat highlighted innovations like AlphaFold, which predicts protein structures to aid drug discovery, and AI tools that could prevent blindness or enhance the doctor-patient relationship by reducing screen time for medical professionals. These efforts reflect the company’s broader commitment to applying technology for societal benefits.
Alphabet’s financial investments in AI are substantial, with $50 billion projected in capital expenditures for 2024, including data centres and chips. Porat emphasised the need for these investments to yield tangible returns while shaping the future of both technology and human connection.
Apple is reportedly preparing to introduce satellite messaging capabilities to its smartwatch lineup in 2025. According to Bloomberg News, the feature may debut in the next version of the Apple Watch Ultra, allowing users to send messages without cellular or internet access. This development follows the company’s 2022 introduction of satellite communication on iPhones.
To support its satellite ambitions, Apple invested $1.5 billion in Globalstar in November, enhancing infrastructure for its satellite services. The move signals a broader push to integrate advanced connectivity options across its devices.
Health-focused features also remain a priority for Apple. The report highlights plans to add blood pressure monitoring to its smartwatch by 2025. However, this follows the launch of an Apple Watch model in September designed to detect conditions such as sleep apnoea and offer emergency responses.
Apple has not commented on the reports, but the company’s growing emphasis on health technology and connectivity could significantly expand the smartwatch’s utility for users.
OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar sees President-elect Donald Trump as potentially becoming ‘the president of this AI generation,’ arriving at a pivotal moment in the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI). Speaking at the Reuters NEXT conference in New York, Friar highlighted that Trump will be in office as critical infrastructure for AGI, such as autonomous systems, begins to take shape. While acknowledging Elon Musk’s public opposition to OpenAI’s corporate restructuring, Friar expressed confidence that Musk, a close advisor to Trump, would prioritise national interests in his competitive efforts.
Friar also discussed OpenAI’s recent advancements, including the release of its video generation tool, Sora, which has seen overwhelming demand. Account creation has been paused, but she emphasised the company’s careful approach to ensure safety. She predicted significant progress in AI agent products in the coming year, with more autonomous software expected to assist with everyday tasks. Friar further noted the growing collaboration with Microsoft, OpenAI’s largest investor, while also advocating for diversification within the industry.
Despite governance controversies and recent executive departures, Friar reported that OpenAI continues to expand rapidly, with ChatGPT’s weekly active users growing from 200 million to 300 million since August. This surge, she said, is driven by new reasoning models like o1, indicating that the company’s innovation trajectory is accelerating.
Microsoft has revamped Copilot on Windows, introducing a floating quick view UI and a new keyboard shortcut. The updated feature, now described as a ‘native’ experience, allows users to trigger Copilot through the Alt + Space shortcut or the system tray. The floating quick view stays on top of other applications until dismissed or deactivated with the same shortcut.
The update is available for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 users, despite ongoing plans to phase out Windows 10 by October 2025. It offers a simplified way to access Copilot, similar to Microsoft’s Companion apps for files and calendar management. However, the choice of the Alt + Space shortcut has raised concerns due to potential conflicts with other applications using the same command.
Copilot initially debuted as a sidebar in Windows 11 before being demoted to a basic web app. While Microsoft now labels the latest version as ‘native,’ it remains essentially a web view with enhanced functionality. Further refinements to keyboard shortcuts are being explored to address usability challenges.
Microsoft shareholders have voted against a proposal to add Bitcoin to the company’s balance sheet during the firm’s annual meeting on 10 December. The resolution, presented by the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), suggested that diversifying into Bitcoin could offer significant value to shareholders by tapping into the growing cryptocurrency market.
The NCPPR argued that Bitcoin adoption would not only generate potential profits but also mitigate risks for Microsoft’s investors. The proposal recommended investing between 1% and 5% of the company’s profits into Bitcoin, citing the example of major investors like BlackRock, who offer Bitcoin ETFs. However, the company’s board dismissed the proposal, stating that it was unnecessary and that Microsoft already carefully considered its investments.
Microsoft’s board emphasised that Bitcoin’s volatility made it unsuitable for the company’s treasury, which requires stable and predictable investments. Despite the push from Bitcoin proponents like Michael Saylor, who argued that Bitcoin could add trillions to Microsoft’s market value, shareholders sided with the board’s recommendation, rejecting the resolution. The NCPPR has made a similar proposal to Amazon, which will be discussed at its 2025 meeting.
Kyrgyzstan’s Parliament has approved a draft law to establish the legal framework for the digital som, a central bank digital currency set to modernise the nation’s financial system. Overseen by the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan, the currency will undergo prototype testing in early 2025, with full implementation expected by January 2027.
The digital som will function as legal tender and be issued exclusively by the central bank through a secure, centralised platform. The system promises accessibility through features supporting online and offline transactions, enabling usage even in areas with limited connectivity. However, the feasibility of offline functionality remains a global concern for central banks.
Public discussions on constitutional changes to accommodate the digital currency began in August. Unlike many central bank initiatives, Kyrgyzstan’s model does not rely on blockchain but instead incorporates smart contracts whilst maintaining centralised oversight.
Italy is set to begin trials in January to evaluate the feasibility of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network for enhancing high-speed internet coverage. The initiative aims to address delays in meeting broadband targets set under the EU Recovery Plan. With only one-third of targeted buildings currently connected, satellite solutions like Starlink could complement fibre-optic networks to provide coverage in remote regions.
The pilot, expected to conclude by March, will assess whether combining satellite and fibre systems can deliver the required 1-gigabit-per-second speeds. Starlink’s low-latency broadband already serves 55,000 users in Italy, but previous trials failed to meet peak-speed benchmarks. Opposition parties, however, have raised cybersecurity concerns over involving a non-EU provider like Starlink, proposing legislative amendments to limit its role in Italy‘s internet infrastructure.
If successful, the plan could deploy Starlink gateways in remote areas, facilitating fibre operators to connect the final stretch to homes, potentially saving time and reducing costs in achieving coverage goals.
Morris Chang, the founder of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), has criticised Intel’s former CEO Pat Gelsinger for focusing on becoming a contract chipmaker rather than prioritising AI. Speaking at an event to launch his autobiography, Chang suggested that Intel’s strategy under Gelsinger may have lacked direction, noting the company’s struggles in regaining leadership in chip manufacturing.
Gelsinger’s departure earlier this month followed frustrations over slow progress on Intel’s costly foundry initiative. Chang observed that finding a new CEO and strategy would present significant challenges for the company. He also recalled Intel’s historical missteps, such as rejecting an invitation to invest in TSMC during its early years, only to become a key customer later.
Intel’s foundry ambitions led to strained relationships with partners, including TSMC. Chang described Gelsinger as ‘a bit rude’ during his tenure, with reports of lost contracts compounding the company’s struggles. Intel has not commented on these remarks.
