🌐 Tech Power Shift: Silicon Valley, Apple’s Small Bets & Musk’s Decline

Good morning. It’s Monday, November 11. Today we are covering:

• A new era dawns. America's tech bros now strut their stuff in the corridors of power 

• Apple's Future Hinges on Smaller Bets, Rather Than Next Big Thing 

• Elon Musk's X is losing users in the U.S., UK, and EU. X's own data proves it. 

• Amazon developing driver eyeglasses to shave seconds off deliveries, sources say

• A Positive Path Forward

Let’s dive in

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A new era dawns. America's tech bros now strut their stuff in the corridors of power 

By Carole Cadwalladr via The Guardian

• Silicon Valley elites now wield unprecedented influence in politics, with figures like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg shaping public discourse and aligning with state power, creating a new oligarchic landscape in the U.S.

• Social media has become the main source of information, spreading misinformation and amplifying cultural shifts that empower divisive figures; this shift has disrupted traditional fact-based journalism and threatens democratic norms.

• The convergence of tech and government power signals the end of conventional political practices and introduces a volatile era where unchecked influence and information manipulation drive societal divisions.

𝕏: Please read this. It's literally been 8 years in the writing. The first wave of tech disruption of democracy 2016-2024 is over. What starts now is something much, much worse: the age of information chaos. - Carole Cadwalladr (@carolecadwalla)

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Apple's Future Hinges on Smaller Bets, Rather Than Next Big Thing 

By Mark Gurman via Bloomberg 

• Apple is focusing on smaller-scale projects, like the Apple Watch and iPad, rather than searching for the next iPhone-level success, as it expands its portfolio with incremental innovations.

• The company is exploring opportunities in smart glasses with a new internal project and continues developing Vision Pro features, including a helpful new head strap.

• Recent product updates, including the M4 Mac mini game console alternative, highlight Apple’s approach of diversifying with specialized devices rather than a single groundbreaking product.

𝕏: The new ultrawide virtual Mac external monitor feature for the Vision Pro is a game changer and the device’s first killer app, especially when combined with the new Belkin over head strap that should come standard in the box.- Mark Gurman (@markgurman)

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Elon Musk's X is losing users in the U.S., UK, and EU. X's own data proves it. 

By Matt Binder via Mashable

• Elon Musk's X platform has seen a sharp decline in daily active users, losing nearly one-fifth in the U.S. and one-third in the UK, with similar drops reported in the EU, based on internal data and third-party analytics.

• EU regulations reveal that X's user numbers have consistently fallen over recent months, dropping from 112.2 million in early 2023 to 105.9 million by mid-2024, reinforcing SimilarWeb's findings of a broader decline.

• Musk's controversial statements and his support for Donald Trump have contributed to user losses in key markets, with analysts questioning the platform's long-term viability.

𝕏: If there’s a silver lining to Musk sabotaging this platform for his own ego and idea of a “free speech” (lol, ok dude) it is that he has clearly shown what an awful business model that concept is. People don’t want to be on 4chan. It’s vile and annoying. - Jared Holt (@jaredlholt)

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Amazon developing driver eyeglasses to shave seconds off deliveries, sources say

By Greg Bensinger via Reuters

• Amazon is developing smart eyeglasses, codenamed Amelia, to guide delivery drivers with turn-by-turn navigation and provide proof of delivery, aiming to streamline the final "last 100 yards" of each delivery.

• The glasses, which could replace handheld GPS devices, face challenges like battery life for full shifts, data gathering on delivery locations, and potential resistance from drivers, especially those already wearing corrective eyewear.

• If successful, the glasses could help Amazon reduce delivery costs and boost efficiency as it competes with Walmart and aims to cut reliance on third-party couriers like UPS and FedEx.

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A Positive Path Forward

By Miles Jennings via a16zcrypto

• a16z sees a unique opportunity to advance crypto regulation in the U.S. following bipartisan support, aiming to foster innovation while addressing consumer protection and regulatory clarity.

• The firm encourages crypto founders to explore decentralized models, emphasizing reduced reliance on central entities to avoid regulatory scrutiny, and plans to advocate for frameworks supporting decentralization.

• Upcoming regulatory changes are expected to protect consumers by curbing scams and fostering a more secure environment, encouraging legitimate projects while deterring bad actors in the crypto space.

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Trending in AI

• OpenAI Shifts Strategy as Rate of ‘GPT’ AI Improvements Slows

• With AI, the Future of Augmented Reality is in Your Ears

• What OpenAI’s ‘brain drain’ can teach us about leadership and innovation

• X is testing a free version of AI chatbot Grok

• AGI is coming faster than we think — we must get ready now

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Thanks for reading to the bottom and soaking in our Newslit Daily fueled with highlights for your morning.

I hope you found it interesting and, needless to say, if you have any questions or feedback let me know by hitting reply.

Take care and see you tomorrow!

— Jose Montes de Oca

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