13 Insane Tech Stories You Missed in June 2024

Congratulations! If you’re reading this blog post, you’ve survived another month riding the hockey stick towards the singularity, and you get to add a new badge to your vest. However, by the end of this read, you’ll be five minutes closer to being dead. In the ever-evolving world of tech, every day brings a new JavaScript framework, AI breakthrough, corporate lawsuit, or Tech bro drama. As an “antique flesh-based carbon unit,” I can’t turn every story into a video, so here’s a roundup of the most insane tech stories you might have missed in June 2024.

1. Figma’s AI Tools: The End of UI/UX Developers?

Yesterday, Figma launched a groundbreaking collection of AI tools that could render UI/UX developers obsolete. As someone who uses Figma daily for side projects and YouTube thumbnails, this advancement is both exciting and unsettling. Now, with a simple text prompt, users can generate entire UIs. The most thrilling feature is the visual asset search, which allows users to find assets based on their appearance rather than text descriptions. This represents a significant leap forward in design technology, potentially transforming the workflow of designers around the globe.

2. Claude Sonet 3.5: The Best LLM for Coding

Just when it seemed like AI progress might be slowing down, Claude Sonet 3.5 arrived on the scene. This new model has quickly established itself as the best language model for writing code, surpassing GPT-4 in both benchmarks and personal experience. One of its standout features is called artifacts, which allows users to save code snippets individually. These snippets can then be pieced together into cohesive applications, streamlining the coding process and enhancing productivity.

3. Critic GPT: OpenAI’s New Model

Not to be outdone, OpenAI released Critic GPT, a specialized model based on GPT-4 designed to find errors in GPT-4’s own code. This innovation highlights the remarkable capabilities of transformer models. The soaring demand for AI tools even briefly made Nvidia the most valuable company in the world, underscoring the immense impact of these technologies on the market.

4. Etched: A Game-Changing AI Chip

A startup called Etched has introduced a revolutionary new chip that burns transformer architecture directly onto silicon, significantly increasing the speed of inference. This technology promises to accelerate AI computations dramatically. However, the company’s future hinges on the continued dominance of transformer models. If a new, superior architecture emerges, Etched’s innovative approach could quickly become obsolete.

5. Intel’s Lunar L Chip: Power Efficiency Meets x86

Intel is aiming to shake up the AI landscape with its new Lunar L chip, an x86 chip designed to be highly power-efficient. This development is particularly significant for laptop users, as it allows for powerful AI computations without the risk of overheating. The Lunar L chip represents a crucial step forward in making advanced AI capabilities more accessible and practical for everyday use.

6. Meta’s LLM Compiler Model

Meta has introduced a new LLM compiler model based on Llama, trained on a staggering 546 billion tokens of LLVM IR and assembly code. This model’s potential is both exciting and terrifying. It could eventually learn to create its own programming languages, potentially rendering years of coding expertise obsolete. The implications for the future of software development are profound, as this model could fundamentally alter how we approach programming.

7. Kaspersky Antivirus Banned in the U.S.

In a significant move, Kaspersky Antivirus has been banned in the U.S. due to potential ties to the Russian government and President Putin. This decision has major implications for users who rely on Kaspersky for their cybersecurity needs. If you’re affected by this ban, reach out—I might know someone who can help you stay virus-free.

8. Cloudflare Extortion: A Risky Move

Cloudflare found itself in hot water this month after demanding a $120,000 upfront payment from an online casino for an enterprise plan. The company threatened to take down the casino’s domains within 24 hours if the payment wasn’t made. This heavy-handed approach has been widely criticized, particularly given the additional risks associated with online casinos. The situation has raised serious questions about Cloudflare’s business practices and customer relations.

9. Adobe’s Controversial Terms and Conditions

Adobe sparked outrage by updating its terms and conditions to state that any content created using its products becomes Adobe’s property. This controversial move has significant implications for creators who rely on Adobe tools. In addition to this, Adobe is now facing a lawsuit from the U.S. government for making its subscriptions notoriously difficult to cancel. These developments have fueled a growing backlash against the software giant.

10. Apple Faces a $30 Billion Fine

Apple is facing a staggering $30 billion fine after being accused of violating the EU’s Digital Markets Act. This landmark case highlights the increasing regulatory scrutiny on major tech companies and could have far-reaching implications for Apple’s business operations in Europe.

11. Tech Lead’s Controversial Tactics

Tech Lead, a popular YouTuber known for his satirical and often controversial content, was accused of abusing YouTube’s copyright system this month. Despite the backlash, Tech Lead continues to attract attention with his dramatic and provocative videos. His channel has evolved significantly over the years, shifting from programming tutorials to commentary on tech culture and personal dramas.

12. GitHub Drama: A Spy Among Us?

A notable GitHub incident involved a prolific open-source contributor who opened a pull request to expand support for Node.js 0.4, a version that is almost obsolete. The request received over 200 downvotes and zero upvotes, sparking speculation about the contributor’s motives. Some accused him of being a Chinese spy or seeking financial gain from Tidelift, a platform that pays open-source contributors. The author has denied these conspiracy theories, but the incident has highlighted the often intense and contentious nature of the open-source community.

13. YouTube’s War on Ad Blockers

YouTube has escalated its battle against ad blockers by deploying server-injected ads. Unlike traditional ads that load asynchronously with JavaScript, these new ads are embedded directly into video files, making them much harder for ad blockers to bypass. This development could significantly change the landscape of online advertising, as it becomes increasingly difficult for users to avoid ads.

Thank you for reading the Code Report. Stay tuned for more updates and insights into the ever-evolving world of technology. See you in the next one!