Apple announces new accessibility features; Wipro among Vice’s creditors – report; WeWork’s Mathrani quits
Apple yesterday announced new software features for cognitive, speech, and vision accessibility. These updates, set to launch later this year, include assistive access, live speech, personal voice, and point and speak in the magnifier app, the company said in a press release. Also in this brief, Infosys and bp signed an MoU to deepen their partnership. This helps Infosys “solidify” its 20-year-old relationship as the primary provider of IT application services to the British energy company, India’s second-biggest IT company said in a press release yesterday. Vice Media, the New York media and entertainment company that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this week owes Indian IT services company Wipro around $10 million, Economic Times reports. Wipro is the largest unsecured creditor of Vice Media, whose eponymous magazines in the US and UK became famous. OpenAI is preparing to release a new open-source language model to the public, Reuters reports, citing The Information. The new model is reportedly based on OpenAI's ChatGPT model, which is known for its ability to produce human-like text. OpenAI has not yet announced a release date for the new model, but it is expected to be available in the coming months. Apple yesterday announced new software features for cognitive, speech, and vision accessibility. These updates, set to launch later this year. Assistive Access aims to lighten the cognitive load for users with cognitive disabilities by distilling apps and experiences to their essential features. It offers a customized experience for essential activities such as making calls, sending messages, taking photos, and listening to music. Live Speech enables users who are nonspeaking or at risk of losing their ability to speak to type what they want to say, and the text is then spoken out loud during calls and conversations. Personal Voice is designed for users at risk of losing their ability to speak, such as those with conditions like ALS. It allows users to create a synthetic voice that sounds like them by recording 15 minutes of audio using randomized text prompts. For individuals with vision disabilities, the Detection Mode in Magnifier offers Point and Speak. This feature uses the device's camera, LiDAR Scanner, and on-device machine learning to identify and announce the text on physical objects such as household appliances. Separately, MacRumours reports that according to analyst Ross Young, Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models are expected to feature larger screen sizes, while the standard iPhone 16 will retain a 6.1-inch display. WeWork CEO Sandeep Mathrani has announced his resignation amidst the company's ongoing restructuring efforts, Reuters reports. Mathrani's decision comes as WeWork strives to regain stability following a tumultuous period in its history. The co-working space provider had faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a shift towards remote work. Mathrani, who joined WeWork in 2020, will continue to serve as CEO until a suitable successor is appointed. WeWork, once valued at $47 billion, has encountered setbacks including mounting losses and controversies surrounding its governance. Infosys has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with bp to consolidate its position as the British energy company’s primary partner for end-to-end application services, the IT services company said in a press release yesterday.