HeyWhatsNew: Apple Releases the iPhone 16E and Humane Shuts Down
Hey there, Heyuppers. This week has been filled with highs and lows, so let’s look at everything trending in tech, in the week beginning 17/02/2025.
Google’s AI-Powered ‘Career Dreamer’ Helps You Discover Your Next Job Adventure
Google has introduced Career Dreamer, an AI-powered tool designed to help users explore career possibilities based on their experiences, skills, education, and interests. Instead of linking to job postings like LinkedIn or Indeed, Career Dreamer provides a visual web of career options that align with your background, making it easier to discover new opportunities without endless Google searches. Users can create a career identity statement, which can be added to resumes or used for interview prep. Additionally, Google’s AI assistant, Gemini, can help fine-tune resumes, workshop cover letters, and suggest potential career paths.
Currently available as an experimental tool in the U.S., Career Dreamer is aimed at job seekers from all walks of life. Google highlights that people today hold multiple jobs and even switch industries several times throughout their careers, making it challenging to connect past experiences into a clear narrative. Career Dreamer helps users frame their skills in a way that makes sense for new opportunities, providing guidance for anyone curious about what’s next in their professional journey.
Apple at an Affordable Price
Apple has officially launched the iPhone 16E, bringing Face ID, USB-C, and Apple Intelligence to its most affordable iPhone yet, starting at $599. Replacing the home button with a 6.06-inch OLED display and a notch similar to the iPhone 14, the 16E packs the A18 chip, 8GB of RAM, and at least 128GB of storage—making it more powerful than even last year’s iPhone 15. It features a 48MP rear camera, Apple’s first in-house modem, and the Action Button, but lacks MagSafe and fast wireless charging, limiting it to 7.5W Qi charging. Available in black or white, the 16E is up for preorder on Friday and ships on February 28th.
Everything Coming (and Leaving) Xbox Game Pass This Month
Microsoft has revealed the Xbox Game Pass February 2025 Wave 2 lineup, featuring exciting additions and notable departures. The update kicked off on February 18 with Obsidian’s fantasy RPG Avowed. On February 20, EA Sports F1 24 (Cloud, Console, and PC) joins via EA Play, alongside Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, an isometric RPG set in the Warhammer universe. The biggest addition arrives on February 25, when Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs: Legion lands on Cloud, Console, and PC, offering players an expansive open-world London to explore. Meanwhile, several games will leave Game Pass on February 28, including F1 22, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, and Yakuza 3 & 4 Remastered. Subscribers can save up to 20% on departing games before they leave the library.
Humane Shuts Down AI Pin as HP Buys Up Business for $116M
AI startup Humane is shutting down its struggling AI Pin and selling parts of its business to HP for $116 million. The deal, expected to close by the end of February, includes Humane’s employees, software, and patents, with co-founders Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri joining HP’s new AI innovation lab, HP IQ. The AI Pin will stop functioning after February 28, and refunds will only be available for devices shipped on or after November 15, 2024, with requests due by February 27. Launched in November 2023, the AI Pin was initially hyped but faced poor reviews and a price drop from $699 to $499 before its abrupt discontinuation.
Microsoft Unveils Breakthrough Quantum Chip That Could Change Computing Forever
Microsoft has unveiled a breakthrough quantum computing chip powered by the world’s first topoconductor, a new state of matter enabling more reliable, compact quantum systems. The company claims this innovation could scale to a million qubits, accelerating quantum computing development from decades to just years. The U.S. military’s Darpa has already selected it as a key approach in its push for a practical quantum computer by 2033.
Unlike traditional quantum bits, Microsoft’s topological qubits are more resistant to interference, using Majorana fermions, exotic particles created with magnetic fields and superconductors. While experts see this as a major step forward, challenges remain in proving its scalability and real-world viability.
TikTok Staff Cuts Continue as Platform Adapts to New Challenges
TikTok is restructuring its trust and safety team, leading to global layoffs in its content moderation unit, sources say. Operations head Adam Presser reportedly informed staff of the move in a memo, with job cuts beginning the same day across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This comes amid ongoing uncertainty over TikTok’s future, as its Chinese owner, ByteDance, faces U.S. pressure to sell or risk a ban. Despite pledging over $2 billion for trust and safety efforts, TikTok has been shifting towards AI-driven moderation, previously laying off hundreds of employees in 2024. The full extent of the latest cuts remains unclear.
That’s all for this week, catch up with us next week for everything new and buzzing in the tech world.
