A federal court ruling, a data center funding round, and a spyware scandal dominated recent tech news, highlighting both innovation and ongoing concerns about technology's impact. These developments include a legal victory for Cameo against OpenAI, a $60 million funding round for a solid-state transformer startup, and the reported hacking of an Angolan journalist's iPhone using Intellexa's Predator spyware.
A U.S. District Court in Northern California sided with Cameo, a platform for personalized video messages from celebrities, and ordered OpenAI to cease using the name "Cameo" in its products, specifically its AI-powered video generation app, Sora 2. The court found the name similarity likely to cause user confusion, rejecting OpenAI's argument that "Cameo" was merely descriptive. This decision follows a temporary restraining order issued in November, which initially halted OpenAI's use of the word.
In other news, DG Matrix, a startup focused on solid-state transformers, secured a $60 million Series A funding round. Engine Ventures led the round, with participation from ABB, Cerberus Ventures, Chevron Technology Ventures, and others. The company's Interport device aims to address the challenges of powering increasingly dense server racks in data centers, which rely on older technology. DG Matrix also recently announced a deal to provide its Interport device to Exowatt, a startup that builds solar-plus-storage containers for data centers.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International reported that Intellexa's Predator spyware was used to hack the iPhone of Angolan journalist Teixeira Cândido. Cândido, a press freedom activist, was targeted with malicious links via WhatsApp in 2024. After clicking on one of the links, his iPhone was compromised. This incident underscores the growing use of spyware by government customers of commercial surveillance vendors to target journalists and other members of civil society.
In a separate development, Tesla avoided a 30-day suspension of its sales and manufacturing licenses in California. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) made the decision after Tesla stopped using the term "Autopilot" in its vehicle marketing within the state. The DMV had accused Tesla of deceptive marketing practices regarding its advanced driver assistance systems, including Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. This case, which had been ongoing for nearly three years, is now officially settled.
Amidst these developments, the human element of technology continues to be a focus. According to a BBC Technology report, Reddit is gaining popularity as users seek genuine human interaction. Ines Tan, a communications professional, uses Reddit for advice and community, stating, "It's a very empathetic place." She believes people are turning to the platform as they crave human connection in a world increasingly dominated by AI.
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