Issue #48

Temu most downloaded app of 2024, World told to delete iris scans, Spotify accused of promoting ghost artists, and more

News from December 19 - December 26, 2024

Temu Most Downloaded App of 2024 

Temu was number one on the U.S. App Store in 2024. Instagram's Threads app was second, and TikTok fell to third place despite facing a U.S. ban. ChatGPT made it to fourth place, surpassing Google Search.

The rest of the list showed big changes: Instagram was sixth, WhatsApp seventh, and Facebook dropped all the way to thirteenth place. Apps like CapCut, YouTube, Gmail, Google Maps, Telegram, Snapchat, and Amazon filled out the remaining spots.

For games, Block Blast! was the most popular free download. Monopoly Go! and Roblox came next. On Apple Arcade, NBA 2K24 was the most played, followed by Snake.io+ and Hello Kitty Island Adventure.

Source 

AI Startups Attracted 25% of EU’s Funding 

Money in European tech stayed flat this year, but AI companies are taking over - they grabbed $13.7 billion, a quarter of all venture funding. That's nearly double what they got four years ago, and it's creating new billion-dollar companies like Poolside and Wayve.

Europe's AI sector has exploded in value to $508 billion, twice what it was worth in 2020. The industry now employs 349,000 people - a massive jump of 168% in just four years.

Most interesting? Even small AI companies in Europe can now raise hundreds of millions, though often from American investors. And companies using AI tools say their engineers are twice as productive, saving 20% on costs.

Source

‍World Told to Delete Iris Scans 

Sam Altman’s Worldcoin, which offers free cryptocurrency in exchange for iris scans, has been ordered to delete all biometric data collected since launch. Spain’s data watchdog AEPD ruled the project violated EU privacy laws, echoing a decision by Bavarian regulators. 

Worldcoin, rebranded as "World," operates out of Erlangen, Germany. The initiative aims to build a global identity system but has faced backlash for its data practices. 

Spain’s High Court upheld a ban on the project in March, citing privacy concerns tied to the collection of sensitive biometric information for digital IDs.

Source 

Bulletin Board

• Spotify Accused of Promoting Ghost Artists. Spotify’s "Perfect Fit Content" program reportedly prioritizes low-cost, generic music from partnered production firms to reduce royalty payments. These tracks, often featured in playlists like "Deep Focus" and "Morning Stretch," are said to replace music by traditional artists. Former employees describe internal pressure to include such tracks, while contributing musicians report minimal upfront fees and no ownership rights. Spotify denies involvement in creating music in-house. Source
• Pollution Linked to Mental Illness. Long-term air pollution exposure has been tied to increased hospital admissions for respiratory, heart, and mental health issues, according to Scottish research. The study found a significant link between polluted air and behavioral disorders, highlighting the need for stricter environmental regulations. Researchers suggest policies like zero-emission zones and renewable energy adoption to reduce health risks and ease the burden on hospitals, emphasizing pollution's wide-reaching impact on both physical and mental health. Source 
• Cocoa Shortage Hikes Chocolate Prices. Osem-Nestlé, following Unilever and Strauss, announced a 2.2% price increase on products like chocolate, coffee, and sauces starting January 2025. Unilever recently raised chocolate prices by 12%-16%, citing a 100% surge in global cocoa costs. Strauss also announced up to 18% price hikes for chocolate and coffee, blaming soaring raw material prices. These increases, driven by rising cocoa prices and production costs, will compound broader cost-of-living spikes hitting consumers. Source 
• Google Training Gemini on Claude. Google is comparing its Gemini AI against Anthropic’s Claude, as revealed by internal correspondence showing contractors tasked with evaluating Gemini’s outputs also assessing Claude’s responses. These contractors score responses on truthfulness, verbosity, and safety, noting differences such as Claude avoiding unsafe prompts while Gemini being been flagged for violations. Source
• Durov Says Telegram Now Profitable. Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced the app is now profitable, with revenue exceeding $1 billion in 2024 and 12 million paying subscribers. The company, with over 950 million active users, has $500 million in cash reserves, excluding crypto assets. Telegram repaid a significant portion of its $2 billion debt bonds this fall. Recent monetization efforts include ad revenue sharing, paid content for creators, and a mini app store, positioning Telegram for future growth and a potential public listing. Source  

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