Weekly Tech Update: Apple Issues Warning of ‘Mercenary Attack’ on iPhone, Advances in AI Models, and Other Technology News

Tech News of the week (Second week of April 2024): Several companies, including OpenAI, have unveiled improved versions of their generative AI models, and Apple warns high-profile iPhone users about a possible cyber attack.

In a significant development in the tech world, companies like xAI, OpenAI, Google, and Krutim have introduced updated versions of their AI models, enhancing their capabilities and accuracy. Google’s Gemini 1.5 Pro is now available in over 180 countries, while Ola’s Krutim has been upgraded to run on the company’s cloud network. OpenAI has announced the launch of GPT-4 Turbo with Vision capability, and Elon Musk’s Grok 1.5 Vision is in the preview phase. These advancements mark a significant leap in the field of AI technology, offering users more sophisticated and accurate models.

However, amidst these technological advancements, Apple has issued a warning to high-profile iPhone users about a potential cyber attack. The company sent out messages and emails to iPhone users working in the public domain, such as politics and journalism, alerting them about a possible Pegasus-like cyber attack. Apple advised users to put their iPhones in lockdown mode if they suspect any threat to protect their data. The official email from Apple mentioned a “mercenary spyware attack” targeting iPhones associated with the users’ Apple IDs.

In other news, Google has released the first public beta build of Android 15 for eligible smartphones, introducing new features like an edge-to-edge app display, enhanced NFC experience, app archiving, and secured background activity. Additionally, Meta is testing AI features for WhatsApp and Instagram, powered by its in-house Llama mode. The company is also set to launch the Llama 3 model, touted as the most capable large language model from Meta.

These developments underscore the rapid pace of innovation in the tech industry, with companies pushing the boundaries of AI and mobile technology to deliver enhanced user experiences and security measures.