Techmeme
July 5, 2023, 8:55 PM

Top News

Jonathan Vanian / CNBC:
Meta launches Instagram's Threads, now available on the App Store and Google Play in over 100 countries  —  - Threads is a text-based messaging app that looks very similar to Twitter.  — People will be able to use their Instagram usernames on Threads and follow the same accounts on Threads as they do on Meta's photo-sharing app.
Casey Newton / Platformer:
Hands-on with Threads: fairly basic text-based messaging app, log in via Instagram handle, no hashtags, can't search for anything other than user handles, more  —  Programming note: I really was trying to take a vacation, but this felt like it was worth the one-day interruption.
Alex Heath / The Verge:
Q&A with Adam Mosseri on how Threads started, why it is a “risky endeavor”, creating a standalone app off of Instagram, ActivityPub integration, and more  —  The ‘volatility’ of Twitter under Elon Musk has given Instagram an opening to compete with its new app Threads.
Adrian Weckler / Independent.ie:
Kris Holt / Engadget:
Kris Holt / Engadget:
Kyle Wiggers / TechCrunch:
OpenAI forms Superalignment, a team for developing ways to steer and control “superintelligent” AI systems, with access to 20% of its compute secured to date  —  OpenAI is forming a new team led by Ilya Sutskever, its chief scientist and one of the company's co-founders …
Washington Post:
Source: the US State Dept. cancels regular meetings with Meta about 2024 election prep, one day after a judge limited Biden officials' contact with tech firms  —  A Louisiana federal court's order limiting the Biden administration's communications with tech firms already is disrupting efforts to fight misinformation.
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Sources: Andy Jassy asked Amazon's Hollywood studio for detailed budgets to scrutinize ballooning costs; Amazon spent $7B on originals, sports, and more in 2022  —  I am off this week; that means no newsletter Sunday.  —  (Tips are still welcome at lshaw31@bloomberg.net or on Signal.
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Bluesky raised an $8M seed led by Neo and partners with Namecheap to offer easy custom domain purchasing and management, Bluesky's first paid service  —  Hours before Meta launches its anticipated Instagram competitor, Threads, another Twitter rival — Bluesky — is announcing additional funding and its first paid service.
Bloomberg:
Sources: Australia searched several local Binance offices as part of its derivatives investigation; CZ acknowledged that “external pressure” has hurt Binance  —  Binance's offices in Australia were searched by the country's financial markets regulator as governments around …
Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:
Fairphone and Murena partner to launch the user-repairable, modular Fairphone 4 in the US for $599+, unlocked and running the Google-free /e/ OS, not Android  —  The storage of both models can be expanded via microSD, and the phone features a modular design that can be easily disassembled using …
Bill Toulas / BleepingComputer:
The Port of Nagoya, Japan's largest and busiest port, plans to resume operations by July 6 after a July 4 ransomware attack; no group has claimed responsibility  —  The Port of Nagoya, the largest and busiest port in Japan, has been targeted in a ransomware attack that currently impacts the operation of container terminals.

Sponsor Posts

Okara:
Meet Okara, the AI platform that doesn't train on your data  —  Chat with 30+ open-source models (Llama, Kimi, Qwen, DeepSeek) through encrypted infrastructure.  Used by teams handling proprietary code and strategy.
Soxton:
AI-powered law for startups  —  Soxton automates startup legal so founders can move faster and sleep better.  We handle incorporation, advisor, employment and commercial contracts.  Join the waitlist for early access!
Zoho:
Saudi Arabia's data localisation era: Why compliance-ready clouds are now essential  —  Saudi Arabia is in a key phase in its digital transformation, where data governance, cybersecurity, and digital sovereignty are as vital as innovation.
IDrive:
Protecting your Cloud Applications Data  —  Backing up Office 365, Google Workspace, Dropbox & Salesforce data is critical to preventing data loss or corruption, complying with laws and avoiding critical downtime in case of a disaster.

Featured Podcasts

Access:
Building an autonomous car utopia with Rivian's RJ Scaringe
A show about the tech industry's inside conversation, hosted by tech reporter Alex Heath and founder whisperer Ellis Hamburger.
Subscribe to Access.
Lenny's Podcast:
How to show up in any room with a low heart rate: Silicon Valley's missing etiquette playbook | Sam Lessin
Interviews with world-class product leaders and growth experts to uncover actionable advice to help you build, launch, and grow your own product.
Subscribe to Lenny's Podcast.
The Nick, Dick and Paul Show:
Three New Influencers
Nick Bilton, Dick Costolo, and Paul Kedrosky pull back the curtain on AI, startups, and the future rushing toward us, all with healthy dose of irreverence.
Subscribe to The Nick, Dick and Paul Show.
Big Technology Podcast:
Who Wins if AI Models Commoditize? — With Mistral CEO Arthur Mensch
The Big Technology Podcast takes you behind the scenes in the tech world featuring interviews with plugged-in insiders and outside agitators.
Subscribe to Big Technology Podcast.
Uncapped with Jack Altman:
Daniele Perito from depthfirst
Conversations with people I admire about things I'm genuinely interested in.
Subscribe to Uncapped with Jack Altman.
Tools and Weapons with Brad Smith:
Special Edition: Key findings from the Microsoft AI Diffusion Report
Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith speaks with leaders in government, business, and culture to explore the most critical challenges at the intersection of technology and society.
Subscribe to Tools and Weapons with Brad Smith.
 

About This Page

This is a Techmeme archive page. It shows how the site appeared at 8:55 PM ET, July 5, 2023.

The most current version of the site as always is available at our home page. To view an earlier snapshot click here and then modify the date indicated.

More News

Allison Johnson / The Verge:
Jack Thompson / Rest of World:
Maria Sherman / Associated Press:

Earlier Picks

Nate Lanxon / Bloomberg:
Kevin Okemwa / Windows Central:
Stephanie Bodoni / Bloomberg: