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Thursday, July 20, 2023

Talking Tech: The biggest tech stories of 2023 (so far)

We've past the halfway point of 2023. Time to look back at the biggest stories in tech, so far.

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Talking Tech

Thu Jul 20 2023

 

Brett Molina  Consumer Tech Reporter

@brettmolina23

Happy Thursday, Talking Tech readers! It's Brett Molina ready with your weekly dose of technology news.

It's July, which means we've crossed the halfway point of 2023. Yes, we're six months away from a new year. Hard to imagine.

With that in mind, let's take a moment to reflect on some of the biggest stories in technology, so far. This could all likely change by the time we hit Dec. 31, 2023, but here are some of the big topics dominating tech in the first six months.

The rise of AI

The use of artificial intelligence through tools like ChatGPT is undoubtedly the biggest tech story of 2023. It's starting to upend how we search online. AI has infiltrated health, education and travel, and it's got a lot of people worried we'll lose our jobs . So yeah, it's kind of a big deal.

Americans fear AI will make society's ills worse, and want top tech companies to do something about it, said a May survey from the Anti-Defamation League.

I just have one question: Has anyone working on AI watched "The Terminator"?

The (possible) fall of Twitter

A lot has changed since Elon Musk formally took over Twitter last year. They've laid off staff, eased up on content moderation, and are pushing users to subscribe to Twitter Blue for perks such as blue-check verification. In May, Twitter hired a new CEO, former NBCUniversal exec Linda Yaccarino, to help turn things around.

But it won't get any easier with the arrival of Threads, the Twitter competitor from Facebook parent company Meta that drew 100 million users in less than a week.

What will Twitter look like by the end of 2023? Stay tuned.

The end of an era at Netflix

Breakups are hard, even when it means telling your kids, or parents, or friends they can't use your Netflix account anymore. In May, Netflix cracked down on password sharing . If you have a Netflix account and want to add someone outside your household, you have to pay an extra $8 a month. Sorry, kids, but you're going to have to watch Outer Banks on your dime. (Oh, and Netflix just changed up pricing plans again.)

Apple dives into mixed reality

Tough to revisit the year's biggest tech stories so far without addressing Apple. Their long-rumored mixed reality headset became official with the introduction of Apple Vision Pro during its annual Worldwide Developers Conference.

The headset that appears straight out of "Ready Player One" uses both augmented and virtual reality, is controlled with only your voice, head and hands, and costs a mere $3,499. Safe to say this isn't a tech gadget for the masses.

Thursday tech tip

Got a big trip planned this summer? If it involves hitting the road, make sure to take these seven apps with you.

One more thing

More of us are using payment apps like Venmo or PayPal to receive or give money. That's got the attention of the Internal Revenue Service. Should you worry? Here's what to know.

Thanks for reading! Until next Thursday.

This photo illustration created in Washington, DC, on July 5, 2023, shows Threads, an Instagram app, on the App Store, in front of the logos of Instagram and Threads. Facebook owner Meta's new Threads app, meant to compete with Twitter, was available for pre-order on mobile app stores on iPhone and Android operating systems on July 5, 2023. Listed as "Threads, an Instagram app," the new program should be available in the coming days,   and is described on Apple's app store as "Instagram's text-based conversation app."

This columnist is using and enjoying Threads quite a bit but wishes there was more clarity about how data is collected and used.

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In this file ilustration photo taken on March 31, 2020 a computer and a mobile phone screen display the Netflix logo in Arlington, Virginia.
 

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