No more likes on Twitter?
Twitter is weighing up removing its ‘Like’ button for good, as a way to improve debate on the platform. Company CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey said that the Like button could be gone “soon” at a Twitter event last week, according to The Telegraph. “As we've been saying for a while, we are rethinking everything about the service to ensure we are incentivising healthy conversation, that includes the Like button,” Twitter said in a post. The Like button replaced the star-shaped ‘favourite’ button three years ago.
IBM acquires Red Hat for $US33bn
IBM has purchased open-source software company Red Hat for $US33bn ($46.6bn) as it looks to catch up with cloud competitors. The cash purchase is the biggest in IBM’s long history. IBM will buy Red Hat shares at $US190 per share – a 63% premium on its closing price on Friday. The two companies have worked together for the past 20 years and intend on focusing on the hybrid multi-cloud market in the merger. Neither company is expected to face any job cuts as a result of the move.
FaceTime upgrades in iOS 12.1 update
Ever wanted to be on a FaceTime call with 31 other people? Well, with Apple’s latest iOS12.1 update, now you can. Apple’s video chat feature has long lacked the ability to host group calls. The group call feature was promised ahead of the iOS 12 launch earlier this year, however it had to be pulled at the last minute. But with iOS12.1 users can seamlessly add another person to an active FaceTime call. FaceTime then uses “on-device intelligence” to display the most prominent speaker on the call.
Queensland AI hub
The Queensland government will build an AI hub in the newly expanded precinct in Fortitude Valley. “Queensland has a shortage of talent in the artificial intelligence space. Currently we have up to eight times more AI jobs on offer in the state than people with the right skills available to fill them,” Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. According to the government, the hub has already “attracted great interest from global corporate giants”. The AI hub is part of the government’s $650 million Advance Queensland initiative.
