This week in tech: major cloud outages, record-breaking AI spending, and bizarre new uses for artificial intelligence. Plus, the best deals on hardware and software you should know about.
Black Friday Deals: What’s Worth It?
Several standout deals emerged this week. Ninja Slushi is offering its lowest Black Friday prices yet, making it an opportune time to upgrade your home beverage setup. In cookware, All-Clad nonstick pans are discounted, giving consumers a chance to invest in professional-grade equipment without breaking the bank. Finally, the Pixel Watch 3 is available for $200, a significant drop from its original price.
Cloud Outages and the Fragility of Modern Infrastructure
Microsoft Azure experienced a major outage this week, marking the second such incident in under two weeks. This highlights a critical weakness in cloud-dependent systems: their reliance on a few major providers who are not immune to failure. The incident underscores that even the most robust digital infrastructures are vulnerable to disruption. The question now is whether companies will diversify or continue betting everything on centralized cloud services.
The Rise of AI: Spending, Manipulation, and the Absurd
Tech giants Meta, Google, and Microsoft reported record profits alongside massive increases in AI infrastructure spending. This fuels debate about a potential AI market bubble, as companies race to dominate the next technological frontier.
Meanwhile, Adobe unveiled “Corrective AI,” a tool that can alter the emotional tone of voice-overs. This raises ethical concerns about manipulation and authenticity in audio content. In even stranger news, a director used AI in his raunchy Dracula film because he found it “gross and slimy,” yet still useful for production.
Platform Evolution: OnlyFans Goes Corporate
OnlyFans is expanding into business education, inviting entrepreneurs like Rachael McCrary to teach creators how to monetize content. This move signals the platform’s ambition to move beyond adult entertainment and establish itself as a broader creator economy hub.
Essential Tools: Password Managers and Popcorn Poppers
For security, experts recommend using dedicated password managers instead of browser-based solutions. These apps offer superior protection across all devices. On a lighter note, air-popped popcorn is superior, according to experts, and hot-air poppers are the best way to achieve it.
In conclusion, this week’s tech developments range from practical deals to unsettling AI capabilities and systemic infrastructure failures. The underlying trend is clear: technology is advancing rapidly, but resilience and ethical considerations remain critical challenges.
