⚙️ AI gets visual, Nvidia slides, Smashing shuts
Good morning. It’s Thursday, April 17. Today we are covering:
OpenAI's new o3 and o4-mini models are all about 'thinking with images
Nvidia, ASML Drive Tech Rout
Smashing, the reading curation app by Goodreads' founder, shuts down
Microsoft Copilot can now 'see' what's on your screen in Edge
China bans 'smart' and 'autonomous' driving terms from vehicle ads
Let’s dive in
OpenAI's new o3 and o4-mini models are all about 'thinking with images
By Igor Bonifacic via Engadget
OpenAI has released two new models, o3 and o4-mini, just days after GPT-4.1; o3 is its most advanced reasoning model yet, while o4-mini offers similar capabilities at a lower cost.
Both models can now “think with images”, interpreting and reasoning over visuals like diagrams and whiteboards, and use all ChatGPT tools (e.g., browsing, image generation) for complex tasks.
A new developer tool, Codex CLI, debuts alongside the models, and o3-pro, a more powerful version of o3, is expected to roll out soon to Pro subscribers.
𝕏: o3 and o4-mini are out! they are very capable. o4-mini is a ridiculously good deal for the price. they can use and combine every tool within chatgpt. multimodal understanding is particularly impressive. - Sam Altman (@sama)
Bloomberg
Nvidia and ASML led a broader tech stock selloff amid renewed concerns over Trump-era tariffs impacting the semiconductor sector.
Lyft announced its expansion into Europe with a nearly $200 million acquisition of ride-hailing platform FreeNow.
A conversation with Michael Kratsios, President Trump’s top tech advisor, explored the administration’s strategy on science and technology policy.
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Smashing, the reading curation app by Goodreads' founder, shuts down
By Ivan Mehta via TechCrunch
Smashing, the AI-powered content curation app founded by Goodreads' Otis Chandler, is shutting down due to failure to scale and achieve sustainable growth.
Launched in June 2024, the app let users follow interests, submit and vote on content, and access AI-generated summaries and a chatbot for questions.
Backed by $3.4M in funding and a team of seven, Smashing joins a growing list of shuttered AI news apps, including Artifact, as competition from newer entrants like Bulletin, Particle, and Tapestry intensifies.
𝕏: Today I say goodbye to @smashing_app, which I spent the last 3 years of my life focused on. When I set out to build it I had one big idea: the internet is full of brilliant content—but most of it is nearly impossible to find. And yet, when you do find a gem, it can be so meaningful… - Otis Chandler (@otown)
Microsoft Copilot can now 'see' what's on your screen in Edge
By Wes Davis via The Verge
Microsoft Copilot Vision is now available for free in the Edge browser, allowing the AI assistant to interpret what's on your screen and assist via voice commands in real time.
The feature is opt-in and can guide users through tasks like cooking or resume writing, but it does not perform actions on behalf of the user (e.g., clicking links).
Full system-wide capabilities remain exclusive to Copilot Pro subscribers, who can access Vision across apps like Photoshop, video editors, and games.
𝕏: Microsoft Copilot can now “see” what’s on your screen in the Edge browser. The opt-in feature is now free to use, but you still need a Copilot Pro subscription for the full Copilot Vision features - Tom Warren (@tomwarren)
China bans 'smart' and 'autonomous' driving terms from vehicle ads
Reuters
China has banned the use of terms like "smart driving" and "autonomous driving" in vehicle ads, following a fatal crash involving Xiaomi's SU7 sedan that reignited safety concerns.
Automakers must now get government approval before pushing remote software updates for advanced driving systems and must conduct extensive testing before deployment.
The stricter regulations come amid a fierce price war and rapid EV growth in China, raising costs for carmakers and potentially driving consolidation in the overcrowded auto sector.
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