HeyWhatsNew: GPT-5 Hits Bumps While Diablo 4 Fans Prep for August 14
Welcome to a new week of trending stories shaping tech, gaming, and innovation. Here’s our top lineup for the week of August 11, 2025.
AI Startup Perplexity Offers $34.5 Billion to Buy Google’s Chrome Browser
AI startup Perplexity is making headlines with a bold $34.5 billion all-cash offer to buy Google’s Chrome browser, a price far above the company’s own $14 billion valuation. The move is designed to give Perplexity access to Chrome’s massive user base of over three billion people, strengthening its position in the AI search race against competitors like OpenAI. The company has promised to keep Chrome’s Chromium code open source, invest $3 billion over two years, and leave the default search engine unchanged, emphasizing a focus on user choice.
Perplexity has raised around $1 billion from investors, including Nvidia and SoftBank, and while it hasn’t revealed exactly how it will fund the deal, it says multiple funds are willing to back it. Analysts say Google is unlikely to sell, and a sale could trigger a long legal battle, especially since Chrome is central to the company’s AI strategy. This is not Perplexity’s first headline-grabbing move. Earlier this year, the startup made a similar offer for TikTok US, showing it is willing to make bold plays to shake up Big Tech.
GPT-5 Launch Stumbles as OpenAI Brings Back Fan-Favorite Models and Adds New Modes
OpenAI rolled out GPT-5 last week with big promises, aiming to make ChatGPT simpler with a built-in “one size fits all” router that would automatically pick the best way to answer any question. But the reality hasn’t quite matched the vision. Just days after launch, CEO Sam Altman revealed new “Auto,” “Fast,” and “Thinking” modes, giving users more control over how GPT-5 responds. Paid subscribers also got some familiar favorites back, including legacy models like GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, and o3, which had been removed only a week ago, sparking backlash from fans who missed their preferred AI personalities. Altman admitted GPT-5’s current tone needs work and promised a “warmer” personality soon, along with more ways for users to customize how the AI interacts.
While GPT-5 was expected to push AI boundaries like GPT-4 did, its debut has been bumpy. The much-hyped router stumbled on launch day, and some users still feel it isn’t delivering what they want. It turns out people care deeply about how their AI feels and behaves, sometimes enough to hold mock funerals for retired models. OpenAI says it’s listening, learning, and moving fast to adapt, but GPT-5’s rocky start shows just how tricky it is to make one AI personality fit everyone.
Ford Bets on New Platform to Deliver $30K EV Pickup
Ford says it’s finally figured out how to make electric vehicles that are both affordable and profitable, and it’s starting with a $30,000 midsize electric pickup in 2027. The new “universal” platform can be used for everything from trucks to SUVs, with simpler wiring, cheaper and longer-lasting lithium iron phosphate batteries, and software that can update itself over time. Ford is also shaking up the way cars are built—swapping the century-old assembly line for an “assembly tree” that builds the front, rear, and battery tray separately before putting them together. This means fewer parts, faster production, and more space for passengers and cargo. The idea comes from Ford’s Silicon Valley “skunkworks” team, who were told to scrap the old rules and start fresh.
The first truck will have more interior space than a Toyota RAV4, go from 0 to 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds, and be cheaper to own over five years than a three-year-old Tesla Model Y. Ford is investing $2 billion into its Louisville, Kentucky plant to build it, part of a larger $5 billion plan to create or secure 4,000 jobs. The process will need fewer workers, but Ford says it won’t result in layoffs. With EV sales growth slowing and over $5 billion in projected losses this year, Ford is calling this its “Model T moment”—a bold bet that a smarter design and faster build process will make electric vehicles practical and appealing for everyday drivers.
Starbucks Korea Asks Customers to Leave Printers and Desktops at Home
Starbucks in South Korea has asked customers to stop bringing bulky items like printers, desktop computers, and partitions into cafes, after some patrons went so far as to mark out office territory with multiple computers. Laptops, tablets, and mobile phones are still welcome, but the company says items that impact shared space or limit seating are not allowed. The announcement comes amid the rise of cagongjok, the trend of working and studying in cafes, which has sparked debate in Korean society since the pandemic. Many social media users praised Starbucks’ decision as a way to prevent people from occupying seats for hours after buying only one drink, while others said it was a necessary response to bad manners and freeloading electricity. Starbucks emphasized that the updated policy ensures a pleasant and accessible store experience while keeping cafes a welcoming place for coffee, conversation, and community.
Diablo 4 Fans: Sanctuary Sitdown Set for August 14
Blizzard is giving Diablo 4 fans a new way to catch up on the game with a Sanctuary Sitdown on August 14 at 11 AM PT. Moving away from the usual Campfire Chat livestreams, the event will be hosted on Diablo 4’s Sanctuary Discord channel, where developers Aislyn Hall, Charles Dunn, and Ben Fletcher will chat about all things Diablo 4 and answer key questions about the upcoming 2.4.0 Public Test Realm (PTR), including its possible release date. With Season 10 kicking off on September 23, this is a perfect chance for fans to get a sneak peek at what’s coming next. The event comes after the recent departure of Diablo series boss Rod Fergusson, and fans will be watching closely to see how the team keeps the game exciting. For anyone eager to stay ahead of the action and prepare for the new season, the Sitdown is not to be missed.
Sony’s $700 PlayStation 5 Pro Arrives November 7
Sony has officially unveiled the PlayStation 5 Pro, its $700 mid-cycle upgrade to the PS5, launching on November 7. Lead architect Mark Cerny calls it the most powerful console Sony has ever built. The Pro features a refreshed look with three ridged black stripes and, controversially, removes the optical disc drive, though players can buy one separately if they want to use physical games.
The new console packs a punch with a faster GPU for 45 percent quicker gameplay rendering, improved ray tracing, and a new AI upscaling feature called Spectral Super Resolution, which promises sharper, more detailed visuals. At launch, around 40 to 50 games, including Alan Wake 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Gran Turismo 7, and Horizon Forbidden West, will get performance upgrades through patches. The PS5 Pro is compatible with existing PS5 accessories and comes with a 2TB ultra-fast SSD. Fans online have mixed reactions, with some concerned about the price and lack of a disc drive, while others are excited for the graphical boost and faster performance. Preorders start September 26.
Thanks for catching up with us, Heyuppers! We’ll see you next week with fresh stories and updates.
