Tech Weekly Roundup : December, 2023 | Tech's Wild Week: Monkeys, Mansions, and Metaverse Millions

Welcome back to your weekly dose of tech news, code24.in style! As Santa prepares his sleigh for tonight's big journey, let's take a look at some of the hottest headlines that have been keeping the tech world buzzing this week:

1. Elon Musk's Neuralink Under Fire After Monkey Deaths (Dec. 20, Fremont, CA):

• The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) filed a complaint with the USDA alleging animal welfare violations at Neuralink's California facility.
• The complaint claims that "invasive head implants" and "extreme suffering" led to the deaths of at least 15 monkeys.
• Neuralink has defended its research, stating it is "absolutely committed to working with animals in the most humane and ethical way possible."

2. ChatGPT-4 Launches with Enhanced Creativity and Controversy (Dec. 21, San Francisco, CA):

• OpenAI released ChatGPT-4, boasting improved text generation, translation, and code completion.
• Its ability to create stories, poems, code, scripts, musical pieces, email, letters, etc., has drawn both praise and concern.
• Experts warn of potential misuse for misinformation, spam, and abusive content generation.

3. Metaverse Land Price Hits Record $3 Million in Decentraland (Dec. 22, Virtual World):

• Tokens.com, a Canadian investment firm, purchased a virtual estate for 618,000 MANA (~$3 million) in Decentraland's Fashion Street district.
• This marks a record for virtual land sales, highlighting growing interest in the metaverse.
• Other virtual worlds like The Sandbox and Somnium Space also see rising land prices.

4. Hackers Steal $15 Million in Wormhole Bridge Exploit (Dec. 23, Solana Network):

• A vulnerability in the Wormhole bridge, connecting Solana and Ethereum blockchains, allowed hackers to steal 120,000 wETH (~$325 million).
• Wormhole patched the issue and restored funds, but the incident highlights Web3 security challenges.
• Experts urge users to prioritize security measures and choose reputable platforms.

5. Top Holiday Tech Gadgets for 2023 (Global):

• Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: New camera features, extended battery life, and augmented reality capabilities.
• Samsung Galaxy Fold 5: Enhanced foldable design, upgraded S Pen, and powerful performance.
• Sony PlayStation VR2: Immersive gaming experience with eye-tracking, haptic feedback, and 4K HDR visuals.
• Meta Quest 3: Lighter, more powerful standalone VR headset with improved resolution and social features.
• Google Pixel Watch: Sleek smartwatch with Wear OS 4, health tracking, and seamless integration with Google services.

That's it for our Tech Weekly Roundup this week! Stay tuned next time for more tech news, insights, and code24.in exclusives. We wish you a joyful and tech-filled holiday season!

Remember, you can share your thoughts and discuss these news stories in the comments below. Let's keep the tech conversation going!

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