TLDR 2023-11-06

xAI has launched an AI chatbot called Grok. The chatbot is able to answer questions that other AIs might dodge. Grok is still in an early beta phase as it has only had two months of training. It is available to a select number of users. A link to the waitlist to sign up for a chance to use the bot is available in the article. Grok will be a feature for X Premium+, which costs $16 per month.

OpenAI is holding a developer conference on November 6. It will be unveiling major updates to ChatGPT, including custom chatbots, a business subscription, and connections to Google and Microsoft. A complete list of upcoming features has been leaked on X. This article discusses these upcoming features, which include a new tool called Gizmo that can create and manage custom chatbots.

Diamond Foundry is producing synthetic diamond wafers for use with silicon microchips. Using synthetic diamond wafers allows silicon chips to run at least twice as fast as their rated speed. Intel is producing purified glass for substrates. The glass is being used to improve power efficiency and communication between chips. These types of new technologies may be the next great turn in the hardware manufacturing industry.

Scientists working at the world's largest fusion reactor, Japan's JT-60SA experimental reactor, have achieved first plasma. The reactor was successfully switched on, but it is still a long way from being able to carry out any meaningful tests or produce any power. Lessons learned from operating JT-60SA will guide the development of ITER, the first fusion reactor expected to generate more power than it uses. JT-60SA is expected to reach full power in the next two years.

While coding is a crucial part of the software development profession, it is just the tip of the iceberg - the software development role combines many different skills, mindsets, and disciplines. The difference between a developer and a great developer is the breadth and depth of their approach to delivering value. This article looks at what makes a great developer. Topics covered include focusing beyond the code, efficiency, the joy of tinkering, tech detox, and the art of approximation.

Docusaurus helps developers build documentation websites with minimal effort. Meta Open Source has released a new major version of Docusaurus with exciting new features and upgraded dependencies. The release contains some breaking changes. This article goes through some of the highlights in the release.

Joining a startup can be exciting as you can see your work make a real direct impact and you can grow in ways that you aren't able to in other companies. The biggest reason people join startups is for the potential reward if the startup makes a successful exit. The earlier you join, the bigger your reward - joining too early increases the risk you end up with nothing, and joining too late may mean a significantly smaller payout. This article looks at this issue and discusses the optimal trade-off between risk and reward.

YouTube's crackdown on ad blockers is now in full swing, affecting virtually anyone who uses an ad blocker all around the world. Using ad blockers violates the platform's policies. The crackdown has resulted in hundreds of thousands of uninstalls for ad blockers. Some users have found that switching ad blockers temporarily stops YouTube's anti-ad blocking behavior.

SpaceX is aiming to conduct its second flight test of the Super Heavy rocket and its Starship upper stage in mid-November.

This article contains a brief recap of the major developments in the AI research, industry, and open-source space in 2023.

A team at X is building a marketplace for people to buy usernames unused by the people who originally registered them.

Companies that achieve product/market fit exhibit the same prototypical metrics curves and subjective experiences.

Orchestration is a crucial tool for getting AI applications to the shipping point.

The number of each CPU core type has diversified with the M3 Pro - this article looks at some of the factors involved in comparing CPU performance across Apple's expanded range of M-series chips.