OpenAI Launching ‘The GPT Store’, Enabling Revenue-share for GPT Creators

OpenAI is prepared to launch its store for GPTs next week after facing delays. The store called the GPT Store, will allow developers to share and potentially monetize custom AI agents they have built using OpenAI's large language models. Developers who have been creating GPTs through OpenAI's GPT Builder tool will now need to ensure their creations meet guidelines before being eligible for the store.

Initially planned for launch in November, the GPT Store rollout was postponed due to leadership changes at OpenAI when CEO Sam Altman was replaced and then rehired. More details on monetization remain unclear, such as if there will be a revenue-sharing model for GPT creators. However, the store will give developers a public marketplace for their GPTs, going beyond just sharing internally through OpenAI's websites.

GPTs allow even those without coding skills to build AI chatbots and applications through simple instructions. Examples include bots that can answer recipe questions from a cookbook or check code quality. While offering opportunities for developers, GPTs could threaten consultancies whose work involves building customized AI solutions for clients. OpenAI's broader shift to an open platform model raises questions about its business model and impact on the industry as access to generative AI becomes more widespread.

Perplexity AI Raises $74M to Rethink Search With AI-First Approach

Perplexity AI announced raising $74 million in a Series B round led by IVP to further develop its AI-native search engine and take on leaders like Google and Bing. Notable investors included Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and executives from GitHub, Shopify and Vercel. This brings Perplexity's total funding to $100 million at an over $500 million valuation as it aims to revolutionize knowledge discovery.

Perplexity argues it can outperform competitors by delivering a conversational, AI-powered experience without clicks or ads. Users can delve into detailed information and citations directly within the results. The free version uses Perplexity's default model, while the $20/month Pro plan allows choosing different models like GPT-4 and API access. Perplexity Copilot removes the need for perfectly phrased questions, providing more comprehensive answers than other tools through generative user interfaces.

In its first year, Perplexity gained 10 million monthly users and over 1 million mobile users. The platform served over half a billion queries in 2023 with Copilot popular for research and academics. While off its mission to serve all global curiosity, this signifies early traction. However, Google and Microsoft have billions of users and are adding generative AI, with Google testing reduced latency and Bing using GPT-4 and DALL-E 3. Both continue surfacing ads, unlike Perplexity, so it remains to be seen how it can scale up against industry leaders given their head start and resources.

Microsoft Launches Copilot on Android and iOS, Introduces Dedicated Copilot Key on Windows PCs

Microsoft is making strides to further integrate its AI assistant Copilot across more platforms. Over the holidays, Microsoft quietly launched the Copilot app on Android and iOS, granting mobile access for the first time. The app can assist with tasks like writing and provides image generation through DALL-E 3. It has gained over 1.5 million downloads already, demonstrating its promise as a standalone service beyond prior integration through Bing. Powered by GPT-4, Copilot delivers capabilities analogous to ChatGPT but without a fee for consumers.

Additionally, Microsoft will make AI access simpler by introducing a dedicated Copilot key on Windows PCs. This represents a major change to facilitate AI-powered experiences, marking the most significant revision to the PC keyboard in decades. This development follows Copilot being incorporated directly into Windows 11 in September, offering it to all users beyond just those with a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Microsoft aims to seamlessly weave AI into Windows and establish an "intelligent computing future." It has positioned 2024 as the "year of the AI PC" by streamlining the connection between local and cloud processing. These expansions seek to universally enhance productivity and creativity by optimizing Copilot across the company's various platforms. The overarching goal appears to be tightening accessibility and improving experiences through deeper AI integration.

Jack Black Rumored to Play Steve in the Minecraft Movie

Jack Black is reportedly joining the cast of the upcoming Minecraft movie adaptation. According to rumors, Black will take on the iconic leading role of Steve, Minecraft's default playable character. While Steve is traditionally a silent avatar for the player, Black is known for big, comedic performances as game characters like Bowser in the Super Mario Bros. Movie.

His addition implies the Steve role may abandon canonical muteness in favor of a more expressive take. The Minecraft film also stars Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, and Sebastian Eugene Hansen in undisclosed roles. It has been a long-gestating project but is finally set for an April 2025 theatrical release.

With Black's involvement, fans can likely expect his signature enthusiastic and eccentric brand of humor to shape an entertaining new vision for bringing the hit sandbox game franchise to movie audiences.

13-Year-Old Player Beats NES Tetris, Reaching “True” Killscreen

On January 1st, a 13-year-old player known as Blue Scuti online achieved what was previously considered impossible - reaching level 157 in the game Tetris. Through new techniques like "hyper tapping" and "rolling" discovered in recent years, players are now able to climb through levels much further than the 30s, the previous highest point thought possible. It took Gibson 38 minutes to reach level 157, where the game serves up a "kill screen" and crashes, unable to process any higher level.

Along with setting this new milestone, Gibson also obtained the highest score ever in Tetris. Experts believe players can theoretically make it to level 255 before the game loops back to level 1, and players are actively trying to push the boundaries even further through random chance. Gibson has been playing Tetris seriously for about two years, since age 11, mastering techniques that allow unprecedented runs beyond what was ever broken before in the decades since Tetris was created.

The achievement marks a new pinnacle for human gameplay in Tetris, whose difficulty was thought insurmountable beyond a certain point. However, as techniques are discovered and players' skills progress, the considered "impossible" levels will continue falling to extraordinary talent and perseverance.

MapleStory Creator Nexon Fined $8.9M for Misleading Players

The Korea Fair Trade Commission has fined South Korean publisher Nexon $8.9 million for misleading customers. The fine involves Nexon altering drop odds for special upgrade items called "Cubes" in MapleStory and Bubble Fighter without informing players. Specifically, some Cubes had their drop chance reduced to zero. Cubes were originally introduced in 2010 with equal drop probabilities, but Nexon later adjusted the odds to make popular Cubes appear less frequently.

From 2010 to 2021, Nexon earned $550 million solely from Cube purchases in MapleStory. The large fine was imposed as Cubes are core to MapleStory's gameplay, the violation period was extensive, and this represented Nexon's second offense following an earlier incident. The regulator aimed to sanction Nexon's covert practice of manipulating virtual item probabilities without customer awareness.

While Nexon says it will humbly accept the penalty, it may opt to appeal the decision. The ruling from the Korea Fair Trade Commission demonstrates governmental intervention in the growing issue of game publishers utilizing psychological monetization tactics through misleading randomized reward systems.

LG Reveals Fastest OLED Gaming Display Yet

LG Display has introduced a new 27-inch 1440p OLED gaming monitor display with an incredibly fast 0.03ms response time and 480Hz refresh rate. This makes it the fastest OLED panel to date and surpasses LG's previous 32-inch model which requires dropping to 1080p for 480Hz. The panel competing display from Samsung offers a lower but still impressive 360Hz refresh rate at 1440p resolution. LG Display claims its technology provides better brightness, viewing angles, and the lowest blue light emission in the industry. This positions them to compete for adoption by gaming companies in high-end monitors. LG plans to release the 27-inch 480Hz panel in the first half of this year and showcase its full OLED lineup, ranging from 27 to 45 inches, at CES 2024.

As Samsung is already utilizing their competing panel in monitors from Odyssey and potential options from MSI and Dell, gaming displays embracing OLED appear poised to proliferate.

With LG Display and Samsung spearheading developments in high-refresh OLED, it signifies the growing utilization of the panel technology for minimizing input lag and maximizing frame rates in PC gaming monitors.

Steamboat Willie Mickey Mouse Horror Game ‘Infestation: Origins’ Gets Official Reveal Trailer

With Mickey Mouse entering the public domain, one studio is taking advantage by developing a horror game called Infestation: Origins featuring a mutant, murderous mouse. The four-player co-op game tasks exterminators with tracking and killing giant-infested vermin, including one modeled after Mickey. Like similar titles, players will use tools and cameras to locate threats while maintaining power. Originally called Infestation 88 until concerns about Neo-Nazi references, the developer denied intentional symbolism and apologized for ignorance.

Some outlets have flagged red flags for the game's quality, noting apparent asset flipping from stores and placeholder AI voiceovers. While acknowledging purchased assets are used, the developer stated significant work is being done and the finished product will shine, hiring real voice actors. Following the failures of slapdash games, players are cautious of Indie studios hastily capitalizing on popular concepts.

Infestation: Origins is coming first to Steam Early Access this year for further development. While controversy and quality concerns exist, the title demonstrates how the public domain inspires new creative works, for better or worse, from intellectual properties like early Mickey Mouse. As with any Early Access title, players will have to wait and see if Nightmare Forge Games can deliver on their promised vision.

Arcane Gets Teaser Trailer for Season 2

Netflix has unveiled the first teaser trailer for the highly anticipated second season of its acclaimed animated series Arcane. As the trailer does not reveal much about the plot, it ominously previews mysterious experiments taking place in a sinister laboratory that will likely pose new threats to beloved characters Jinx, Vi, and others.

Season 2 is scheduled to premiere this coming November, continuing the visual spectacle and engrossing story that captivated audiences in the hit debut season. Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, Kevin Alejandro, and Katie Leung will all reprise their voice roles. Fans will have to wait for subsequent trailers to learn more about how the plot advances following the dramatic conclusion of Season 1, which saw the sisters Jinx and Vi confronting ominous changes to their hometown of Piltover.

Arcane's first season was praised for its beautifully animated world and character-driven narrative that resonated strongly with both longtime players of League of Legends and newcomers to the franchise. This teaser promises Netflix will continue striving for excellence in animation and writing to keep viewers on the edge of their seats with the mysterious new threats hinted at. All eyes will be on how the new season expands Runeterra's universe and evolves its beloved champions.

Square Enix to Modify its Organizational Structure to Support Blockchain, Web3, and AI in 2024

Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu announced that the company is modifying its organizational structure and optimizing resource allocation in 2024 to support a renewed focus on AI, blockchain, Web3, and cloud technologies. In a New Year's letter, Kiryu stated they are redefining the mission and goals for these focus areas, which were previously identified in 2021.

Kiryu explained they intend to aggressively apply AI and other cutting-edge technologies to content development and publishing. Specifically mentioning ChatGPT, he believes generative AI has the potential to reshape what is created as well as fundamentally change the creation process, including programming.

While briefly mentioning blockchain and Web3, Kiryu did not provide details on Square Enix's forthcoming plans in these areas. As one of the largest game developers and publishers, Square Enix is well-positioned to integrate these technologies.

Notably, in December 2023 Square Enix launched "Symbiogenesis," a non-fungible token project described as an interactive art experience involving collectibles and storytelling. This new intellectual property demonstrates their work integrating blockchain and Web3 with traditional video games.

Square Enix is best known for its long-running Final Fantasy franchise. The organizational changes in 2024 aim to support the company's strategic focus on emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, and cloud computing going forward.

Logan Paul Announces CryptoZoo NFT ‘Buyback’ and Files Countersuit Against Co-creators

YouTube star Logan Paul has launched a website offering refunds of up to $2.3 million for the "Base Egg" and "Base Animal" NFTs from his failed CryptoZoo project, after promising reimbursements over a year ago. However, the site lacks security protocols and asks for personal information without guarantees. Dissatisfied traders have voiced concerns in Discord. Additionally, Paul filed a countersuit against CryptoZoo co-creators Eddie Ibanez and Jake Greenbaum, alleging "nefarious trading activity" sabotaged the game. Paul claims Greenbaum quietly created a liquidity pool draining $130 million in market cap, while Ibanez lied about credentials and profited $1.7 million from timed trades. Greenbaum denies the allegations.

The legal battle began when a trader sued Paul, Ibanez, Greenbaum, and others for an alleged "rug pull" scam in February 2023. Paul now denies fraud accusations and points to others. However, former developer Zach Kelling stated the team was never fully paid. While Paul spent $400,000, he ultimately abandoned the project due to regulatory hurdles. Notably, another developer independently built a functional CryptoZoo game in hours without blockchain elements.

The saga demonstrates the legal gray areas around failed NFT projects, as Paul attempts damage control through questionable refund methods and lawsuits even as the game remains unfulfilled over two and a half years later. Participants have lost faith in the solution as mysteries continue around CryptoZoo's demise.

Crypto Betting Platform Stake Secures Naming Rights to Sauber’s F1 Team

Sauber's Formula 1 team has been officially rebranded as the Stake F1 Team after securing a naming rights deal with cryptocurrency betting and casino platform Stake for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Stake takes over the sponsorship from Alfa Romeo, whose partnership ended after the 2023 season. Sauber is set to become Audi's factory team starting in 2026.

Stake and its streaming platform Kick.com first featured on Sauber's cars in 2023 through initial sponsorship agreements. Going forward, the team will officially be called the Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber. They will unveil their 2024 season launch at an event in London in February. Canadian rapper Drake, who is a brand ambassador for Stake, took part in unveiling the rebranding and is expected to attend select races.

In addition, Kick.com will have naming rights to the chassis, to be called the Kick Sauber C44. This means Stake has essentially become an F1 manufacturer by building and maintaining the cars. Drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will remain with the team.

Many cryptocurrency companies have partnered with F1 teams in recent years to tap into the global fan base. OKX first partnered with McLaren in 2022, and Crypto.com sponsors Formula 1 and Aston Martin. This rebranding marks another major partnership between the fast-growing crypto industry and Formula 1.