Here are the key takeaways of the last week:

  • Investments in metaverse technology by companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Nvidia. Multiple tech giants are investing heavily in developing metaverse products and services, seeing it as a promising new platform.
  • German law proposed to ban shrinkflation. Germany aims to stop brands from deceiving consumers by imperceptibly reducing product sizes without lowering prices.
  • Europe's early-stage space tech startups. At least 80 spacetech startups exist across Europe, with backing from the ESA, EU, and accelerators.
  • Framer's $27 million Series C for web design platform. Framer raised funds to scale teams and add features like localization to grow its visual web design platform.
  • Zapier's new AI-powered workflow tool Canvas. Zapier launched Canvas, which uses AI to generate workflows from problem statements to automate business processes.
  • Belarusian tech workers struggle after fleeing to Poland. Hundreds of Belarusian tech workers who fled to Poland now struggle as aid shifts to Ukrainian refugees.
  • Google faces EU probe over ad auctions. EU investigating if Google violated antitrust laws by favoring its own ad services over third-party auction platforms.
  • Amazon gains FAA drone delivery approval. The FAA approved Amazon's Prime Air delivery drones, allowing customer testing to begin.
  • Extreme warming in 250 million years predicts mammal extinction. The formation of the supercontinent Pangea Ultima will trap heat and create an inhospitable climate that will wipe out mammals.
  • Top British shows to watch after Sex Education on Netflix. Quality options include Peaky Blinders, The Crown, After Life, and others with complex themes.
  • Mark Zuckerberg discusses Meta's progress and future with AI and VR. Meta moving forward with new AI capabilities and affordable VR headsets while pushing its vision of an open metaverse.
  • Meta's AI assistant and characters were introduced for messaging apps. Users can now access a conversational AI assistant and chat with AI personalities on WhatsApp and Messenger.
  • ChatGPT gains the ability to provide live search results. Paying ChatGPT subscribers can now get web search results cited in real-time, similar to Bing Chat.