HeyWhatsNew: Amazon’s New Warehouse Robot Can Feel and GTA VI Trailer Breaks Records
Hey there, Heyuppers, this week has been a busy one for tech and gaming, let’s take a look at everything in the week beginning 05/05/2025.
Skype Signs Off
After 21 years, Microsoft has officially retired Skype, folding its core features into Microsoft Teams and giving users until January 2026 to export their data. Once a verb and the go-to for global video calls, Skype’s failure to evolve with the rise of remote work and mobile-first demands sealed its fate. Despite Microsoft’s $8.5B acquisition and Skype’s early dominance, it missed the moment to become essential during the pandemic, a time when platforms like Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet skyrocketed by offering simpler, more reliable, cloud-based solutions.
Skype’s decline came from technical missteps and poor user experience, including confusing interfaces, sluggish updates, and outdated architecture. While Teams soared to over 320 million users and Zoom became a household name, Skype clung to clunky logins and inconsistent performance. The shutdown is less a surprise than a belated formality. Skype’s place in tech history remains, but its relevance faded long before Microsoft pulled the plug.
GTA VI Trailer Breaks Records, Sparks Music Comeback
The second trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI has shattered all records, racking up over 475 million views in just 24 hours across platforms, making it the biggest video launch of all time, according to Rockstar Games. That’s more than Deadpool & Wolverine’s 365 million and Fantastic Four: First Steps’ 200 million. With the game now delayed until May 26, 2026, fan anticipation remains sky-high, further fueled by the trailer’s cinematic reveal and promise of an expansive open-world sequel to the wildly successful GTA V.
The buzz isn’t just limited to gameplay. The Pointer Sisters’ “Hot Together,” featured in the trailer, exploded on Spotify, a testament to GTA’s cultural impact. Rockstar's use of music, deeply embedded in the franchise via in-game radio and story missions, continues to revive classic tracks and connect with new generations. With over $1 billion reportedly spent on development, expectations for GTA VI are nothing short of monumental.
Instacart CEO Fidji Simo to Join OpenAI as Chief of Applications
OpenAI has announced that Fidji Simo, CEO of Instacart and former Meta executive, will become its CEO of Applications, overseeing how AI products like ChatGPT reach and benefit the public. Simo, who’s served on OpenAI’s board for the past year, will transition out of her role at Instacart over the coming months and join OpenAI full-time later in 2025.
Simo will report directly to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who remains in charge of broader operations, including research and infrastructure. Altman described Simo as “uniquely qualified” to scale the company’s consumer-facing products and internal operations. While details on her expanded responsibilities are limited, her move signals OpenAI’s deeper focus on real-world product deployment.
Simo brings a strong track record in product and monetization. At Meta, she helped launch Facebook News Feed ads, led the app’s monetization, and oversaw Facebook Video. At Instacart, she guided the company through its 2023 IPO and now plans to remain chair of the board.
Amazon’s New Robot ‘Vulcan’ Can Feel What It Touches
Amazon has unveiled Vulcan, a new warehouse robot capable of “feeling” items it handles, thanks to AI-powered touch sensors that let it determine the exact pressure needed for various objects. Designed to stow products into tall bins, Vulcan can handle about 75% of Amazon’s inventory, operating 20 hours a day and matching human speed. Unlike previous robots relying on suction and cameras, Vulcan’s sensitive grip allows for a more versatile range of tasks, especially in hard-to-reach upper shelves.
Despite the tech leap, Amazon insists Vulcan won’t replace human workers. Instead, it aims to reduce injuries by keeping staff in ergonomic “power zones” and creating new skilled jobs in robot maintenance and operations. With $1.2 billion invested in upskilling 350,000 employees and more robotic roles expected, Amazon says full automation is decades away. Vulcan is live in Spokane, WA, and is being tested in Hamburg, Germany, with a broader rollout planned for 2026.
Xbox Handheld Leaks Ahead of Launch
Leaked photos have revealed Microsoft and Asus’ long-rumored Xbox handheld, likely “Project Kennan”, a black variant of the upcoming ROG Ally 2 featuring a dedicated Xbox button and redesigned, more ergonomic grips. Regulatory listings show two models: the Xbox version with a powerful 8-core AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme CPU, and a standard white version with a 4-core chip, both sporting a 7-inch, 120Hz LCD display and dual USB-C ports.
While the hardware tweaks make the device look chunkier, they may boost comfort and performance. With FCC and Indonesian certifications filed, and major tech events like Microsoft Build (May 19) and Computex (May 20) around the corner, an official unveiling seems imminent. This marks a bold new step for Microsoft in portable gaming, and direct competition with the Steam Deck and Switch.
That’s all for this week, Heyuppers, catch up with us again next week for all things tech and trending.
