Tag Archives: falls

OpenAI Declares Latest ChatGPT Upgrade a Significant Advancement, Yet Still Falls Short of Human Capability

Posted on by
Reply

OpenAI asserts that the recent upgrade to ChatGPT marks a “significant step” towards achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), yet recognizes that there is still no “many” in the endeavor to create a system capable of performing human tasks.

The company claims that the GPT-5 model, which serves as the foundation of its innovative AI chatbot, represents a substantial improvement over previous iterations in areas like coding and creative writing, with significantly fewer sycophants.

The enhancements in ChatGPT are now available to over 1 million weekly users.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman referred to the model as a “significant step forward” in reaching the theoretical state of AGI, which is characterized as a highly autonomous system that can outperform humans in economically significant roles.

However, Altman conceded that GPT-5 has not yet attained that objective. “[It is] missing something very crucial, something very important,” he noted, emphasizing that the model cannot “learn on a continuous basis.”

Altman explained that while GPT-5 is “generally intelligent” and represents an “important step towards AGI,” most definitions indicate it has not reached that level yet.

“I believe the way we define AGI is significantly lacking, which is quite crucial. One major aspect… is that this model doesn’t adapt continuously based on new experiences.”

During the GPT-5 launch event on Thursday, Altman described the new version of ChatGPT as akin to having “doctoral experts in your pocket.” He compared the previous version to a college student and the one before that to a high school student.

The theoretical capabilities of AGI, along with high-tech companies’ drive to realize it, have led AI executives to predict that numerous white-collar jobs—ranging from lawyers to accountants—could be eliminated due to these technological advances. Dario Amodei, CEO of AI firm Anthropic, cautioned that technology might replace half of entry-level office roles in the coming five years.

According to OpenAI, the key enhancements to GPT-5 include reduced factual inaccuracies and hallucinations, improved coding capabilities for creating functional websites and apps, and a boost in creative writing abilities. Instead of outright “rejecting” prompts that violate guidelines, the model now aims to provide the most constructive response possible within safety parameters, or at least clarify why it cannot assist.

ChatGPT retains its agent functionalities (like checking restaurant availability and online shopping) but can also access users’ Gmail, Google Calendar, and contacts—provided permission is granted.

Similar to its predecessor, GPT-5 can generate audio, images, and text, and is capable of processing inquiries in these formats.

On Thursday, the company showcased how GPT-5 could swiftly write hundreds of lines of code to create applications, such as language learning tools. Staff noted that the model’s writing isn’t robotic; it produced a “more nuanced” compliment. Altman mentioned that ChatGPT could also be valuable for healthcare advice, discussing ways to support women diagnosed with cancer last year and assisting chatbots in deciding on radiation therapy options.

The company stated that the upgraded ChatGPT excels at addressing health-related inquiries and will become more proactive in “flagging potential concerns,” including serious physical and mental health issues.

The startup emphasized that chatbots should not replace professional assistance, amidst worries that AI tools could worsen the plight of individuals susceptible to mental health challenges.

Nick Turley, director of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, claimed that the model shows “significant improvement” in sycophancy. It’s becoming too familiar, which could lead to negative experiences for users.

The release of the latest model is expected to funnel billions into tech companies’ efforts to attain AGI. On Tuesday, Google’s AI division outlined its latest progress towards AGI by unveiling an unreleased “world model,” while last week, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of parent company Meta, suggested that a future state of AI, even more advanced than AGI, is “on the horizon.”

Investor confidence in the likelihood of further breakthroughs and AI’s ability to reshape the modern economy has sparked a surge in valuations for companies like OpenAI. Reports on Wednesday indicated that OpenAI was in preliminary talks to sell shares held by current and former employees, potentially valuing the company at $500 million, surpassing Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

OpenAI also launched two open models this week and continues to offer a free version of ChatGPT, while generating revenue through subscription fees for its advanced chatbot version, which can be integrated into business IT systems. Access to the free version of ChatGPT on GPT-5 will be limited, whereas users of the $200 Pro package will enjoy unlimited use.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Garmin Forerunner 570 Review: Running Watch Falls Short

Posted on by
Reply

Garmin has introduced its latest mid-range running and multi-sport watches, which are now equipped with an ultra-bright OLED display, a voice assistant, and enhanced sensors.


The Forerunner 570 builds upon its predecessor with improvements to its running watch capabilities. It features upgraded GPS chips and heart rate monitoring technology. Placing itself just below the 970, it replaces the well-regarded 265. The design closely resembles the Topwatch, though some notable features have been omitted.

However, the price remains steep at £450 (€550/$550/$999), exceeding most mid-range competitors and veering too close to the premium segment.

Offering numerous enhancements in both hardware and software from the 265, the 570 comes in 42mm or 47mm sizes and a range of vibrant color options.




The speaker above the strap delivers clear alerts for laps and other notifications while running, including new Bluetooth calls and voice assistant features. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The polycarbonate body, metal buttons, and aluminum bezel contribute to a high-quality feel, complemented by a vivid and sharp OLED touchscreen.

Like the Fenix 8 and Forerunner 970, this watch includes Garmin’s new Offline Voice Command System, enabling quick timer settings, activity metrics, and more. It also allows you to connect with your mobile voice assistant to interact with Siri or Gemini, or make calls directly from your wrist.

The 570 features the same enhanced interface as the 970, providing improved smartwatch capabilities for notifications and music control. The recently Google Maps app is currently available, but exclusively for Android users.

You can access various apps via the Connect IQ App Store, including options for music streaming without a phone, such as Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music. Garmin Pay also facilitates contactless payments, although banking options in the UK remain limited.




The 570 offers numerous customizable watch faces, with additional options available on the Connect IQ App Store. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The battery life of the 47mm variant falls short compared to the 970 or 265, lasting around five days of smartwatch use. Adjusting the brightness to a lower setting can extend battery life by an extra day, while the always-on display mode can deplete it in about ten days.

Specifications

  • Screen: 1.2″ or 1.4″ AMOLED

  • Case Size: 42mm or 47mm

  • Case Thickness: 12.9mm

  • Band Size: Standard 20mm or 22mm

  • Weight: 42g or 50g

  • Storage: 8GB

  • Water Resistance: 50 meters (5 ATM)

  • Sensors: GNSS (Multiband GPS, Glonass, Galileo, QZSS, Beidou), Compass, Thermometer, Heart Rate, Pulse Ox

  • Connectivity: Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi

Running and Activity Tracking




The bright and clear display provides visibility of numerous data fields and metrics, allowing for quick reference. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The Forerunner is equipped with Garmin’s latest optical heart rate sensor, dual-band GPS, and some of the most precise tracking capabilities available. With over 85 built-in sport profiles, it covers a wide array of activities.

For running and triathlons, it encompasses nearly all the features of the 970, including wrist-based power statistics and running dynamics, training recommendations, performance evaluations, and adaptive coaching plans with various VO2 Max and fitness assessments. However, it lacks offline maps, providing only route navigation or a simple return to the starting point.

It also features Garmin’s helpful recovery tools, offering some of the best training preparation available. Unfortunately, the new shock load and running resistance feature is exclusive to the 970.

Battery life reaches approximately 14 hours, or around 8 hours with the most accurate settings while streaming offline music through Bluetooth headphones.




The watch charges via a USB-C cable, fitting into a port adjacent to the sensor cluster on the back, achieving 70% charge in about 40 minutes and a full charge in approximately 83 minutes. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The 570 includes all of Garmin’s latest health monitoring features, such as the advanced body battery system, a sleep coach, morning and evening health and recovery briefings, stress tracking, women’s health tools, and heart health metrics. However, this feels lacking compared to similarly priced offerings from Apple, Google, and Samsung, which integrate features for mental well-being.

Sustainability




The voice command feature provides quick access to offline functionalities, although it requires specific phrases to operate correctly. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The watch is generally repairable, with support options available. The battery is designed to retain at least 90% of its original capacity after two years, based on weekly charging. However, the watch does not incorporate recycled materials. Garmin commits to security updates until at least May 21, 2027, and usually provides support for extended periods. They also offer recycling programs with new purchases.

Price

The Garmin Forerunner 570 is priced at £459.99 (€549.99/$549.99/A $999).

For comparison, the Garmin Fenix 8 starts at £780, the Forerunner 970 at £630, while the Forerunner 165 is available for £250. The Coros Pace 3 is priced at £219, Suunto at £199, and the Polar Pacer Pro at £299.

Verdict

The Forerunner 570 stands out as a strong running watch, albeit with a price tag that detracts from an unreserved recommendation.

It boasts a stunning design with vibrant colors, an exceptionally bright and crisp display, and many desirable features taken from the Forerunner 970. The watch excels in GPS and heart rate accuracy, encompassing nearly every available metric while providing access to Garmin’s exceptional training and recovery ecosystem. It’s also effective as a daily smartwatch.

However, the absence of offline maps, integrated beacons, ECG monitoring, and advanced running resistance features, along with a relatively shorter daily battery life, are drawbacks that would be more acceptable if the price were lower. The £460 cost of the 570 places it unfavorably against more feature-rich competitors.

Pros: Daylight-readable OLED screen, phone capabilities and offline voice control, Garmin Pay functionality, extensive tracking and recovery analysis for running and various sports, offline music support, buttons and touch functionality, and highly accurate GPS.

Cons: High price point, absence of ECG, lack of offline maps, limited running resistance features, no torch, restricted Garmin Pay support, and lesser smartwatch functions compared to Apple/Google/Samsung devices, plus shorter battery life compared to other leading models.




Offline support for Spotify and other music streaming services remains a standout feature that other running watches struggle to match. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Source: www.theguardian.com

Foundation Review: The New Season Promises Drama but Ultimately Falls Flat

Posted on by
Reply

Kassian Billton stars as Dawn, a clone of the galaxy.

Patrick Redmond/Apple TV+

Foundation
Apple TV+

Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner had a nightly movie ritual, often indulging in cheesy films where phrases like “ensure you have boundaries!” get thrown around. So, why bring this up in relation to Foundation? This adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s work started with provocative ideas but has since become a formulaic experience—something like a ticking clock.

It’s been two years since the last season of Foundation, so if you’re a bit hazy about the plot, here’s a quick recap: the empire has long been governed by genetic dynasties. Three clone emperors—representing dawn, day, and dusk—come to rule, under the watchful eye of Demerzel (Laura Birn), the last existing robot. Approximately 150 years after Season 2, the first Foundation, conceived to replace the empire, now governs the outer planets.

Hari Seldon (Jared Harris), with the ability to foresee the empire’s fall through the mathematical theory of psychohistory, has uploaded his consciousness to a secure location just before the impending “Seldon Crisis.” These crises signify pivotal moments that can plunge the galaxy into epochs of darkness. Meanwhile, the second Foundation—a secretive colony with telepathic prowess—operates covertly, aiming to prevent the third Seldon crisis, led by a version of Seldon and his protégé, Dornik (Rurbell).

Visually stunning—an array of exquisitely rendered planets render the cosmos seemingly infinite.

That’s the essential backdrop as we venture into Foundation‘s third season. There’s much to unpack, especially with new characters joining the narrative. There’s Quento (Cherry Jones), the inaugural ambassador of the Foundation, navigating a complicated rapport with the Empire; Han Pritcher (Brandon P. Bell), a spy operating between the two Foundations; and Toran Marrow (Cody Fern), a descendant of Wily Hober Marrow from Season 2.

This ensemble is designed to create a rich and intricate universe filled with well-crafted characters. The show skillfully merges drama with grand concepts, particularly involving DeMerselle, giving it a visually spectacular quality as numerous planets are rendered beautifully.

However, herein lies the paradox: while Foundation strives for intellectual stimulation through its lore and epic scope, many of its plotlines come off as ridiculous and superficial. The most captivating elements—the two Seldons, the potential alliance between the Foundation and the Empire, and the intrigues among the three emperors—remain largely unexplored. The narrative often feels intellectually shallow at times. And don’t get me started on the awkward dialogue; phrases like “we have a partnership” made me cringe, not to mention the repeated insistence to “ensure you have boundaries!”

It’s disheartening to watch a promising show decline while retaining traces of its former brilliance. After viewing nine episodes, I’m hopeful the tenth episode will tie everything together, much like Seldon’s Vault, with its buried secrets finally unearthed. Until then, whether you can overlook its shortcomings may determine your enjoyment of Foundation, which feels a step removed from the television gems it once resembled, at least offering some form of unsatisfactory entertainment.

Recommendations for Further Viewing…

Andor
Disney+
Foundation caters to historical enthusiasts intrigued by civilization’s cycles. For a similar experience, check out this Star Wars series that chronicles key figures in a very different empire’s downfall—something quite rare.

The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire
Chris Kempshall
While still rooted in Star Wars, this narrative of Emperor Palpatine’s 24-year reign, depicted from an in-universe historian’s viewpoint, makes for an engaging read.

The Art and Science of Writing Science Fiction

Engage in the craft of science fiction writing this weekend by creating new worlds and artistic creations.

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

‘Unthinkable and unprecedented’: Tower falls after nuts are taken off

Posted on by
Reply

Nut deficiency

What happens when you remove most of the nuts from the bolts on three of the four sides of a tall electricity pylon? New data answers that question.

News Hub report Police said a tower collapsed in Glorito, North Island, New Zealand on June 24 after a “maintenance worker” removed some nuts from the bolts connecting the tower to its base plate.

News footage shows TransPower CEO Alison Andrew reading aloud what is likely a carefully worded statement: “In our view, the specifications and procedures for this type of work were not followed. All of the nuts securing the tower to the base plate at all three legs had been removed, causing the tower to lift off the base plate and fall. It is unprecedented and inconceivable that so many nuts would have been removed at one time.”

The outcome of the Glolitt nut removal could have been predicted by applying textbook engineering principles, but apparently it was not.

Hold on to your hat

The phrase “Hats are hard to get in Ireland” was featured in a magazine article. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology – This does not refer to all hats, but to some hats, especially sun hats.

Marion Leahy and her colleagues at Galway University Hospital have used the phrase title A 2022 study into risky head conditions in men, particularly older men, in the West of Ireland.

They note that Irish men are demographically at higher risk of melanoma and traditionally wear hats to protect themselves, but that “most hats available to the Irish male population are [do] “Does not provide adequate light protection.”

When properly chosen and worn, a hat can protect your head from the sun's relentless assault. In 1992, B. L. Diffie and J. Cheeseman penned a hymn in praise of a good sun hat and the evils of a bad sun hat: British Journal of DermatologyDiffie and Cheeseman's paper “Hats to protect against sunburn” is (or should be) famous for its main photo, so to cap off your viewing, try to find a copy online.

This portrait of scientific equipment runs counter to the typical image of rows of test tubes that has been implanted in children's minds for decades. The painting depicts six artificial heads at an angle, without plastic bodies or hair. They are outdoors, mounted at intervals along a 8-foot-long pole. Five of the six are wearing hats; the third head is bare. Each head is adorned with small squares of sunlight-degrading polysulfone film affixed with Blu-Tack to its forehead, nose, cheeks, chin and neck.

A second, less avant-garde photograph shows “28 hats worn in the study,” with seven hats or hat-like objects arranged in four rows. The styles range from a green plastic visor without a crown, an “airline pilot's peaked cap,” a “checked deerstalker,” and a “Russian fur hat.”

Diffie and Cheeseman would have us believe that much of this is dermatological insanity, manifesting itself under the hot sun.

Space superpowers

Bruce Stubbert reminds Feedback's ever-growing collection of little superpowers that talent alone doesn't guarantee success.

“I wanted to contribute to the discussion about psychic abilities in space,” he says. “My psychic sense of north is super impaired in the Northern Hemisphere, and I constantly find myself driving or walking in the opposite direction to what I intend to go.”

“Obviously the position of the sun plays a big role for these superpowers. Before you decide on a direction you have to stop and think: 'Here the sun is in the south'. I was once at a conference dinner in the US and talking to an American participant about this issue. He asked: 'Does the sun still rise in the east?' Incidentally, he was also incredulous that it was winter in Australia while we were enduring the scorching heat in Boston.”

The Limits of Goddam

Bapu Deokar and his colleagues explain the basics of water management at Goddam in their paper. Asian Journal of Environmental and Ecological Sciences“Estimation of water used for washing vehicles in Shrigonda town, India“When the dam's water level drops suddenly, local car washes explain their response by pumping more groundwater, which results in a drop in the groundwater table and a groundwater shortage,” the study warns.

Feedback learned the basics about Goud Dam by digging up a copy of a 1997 study called “Volcanic Vents in the Goud Dam Area,” a study that should be endearing given its title. Pune University JournalGoddam has been identified as being located “near Chinchini in the Poona district of India.”

recently, International Journal of Advanced Applied ResearchHanumant Dattatray Shinde of Shri Padmamani Jain College of Arts and Commerce said that in one year, “up to 1.56 TMC [thousand million cubic metres]” of water evaporates from the God Dam. Regardless of how you describe it, the “God Dam” or simply the “dam,” this structure lets a lot of water flow.

Marc Abrahams is the founder of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founder of the journal Annals of Improbable Research. He previously worked on unusual uses of computers. His website is Impossible.

Do you have a story for feedback?

You can submit articles for Feedback by emailing feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address. This week's and past Feedback can be found on our website.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Arup, a British engineering firm, duped out of £20m in deepfake scam

Posted on by
Reply

Arup, a British engineering firm, fell victim to a deepfake scam when an employee mistakenly transferred HK$200 million (approximately 20 million yen) to criminals during an artificial intelligence-generated video call.

Reports from Hong Kong police in February revealed that an employee of an unnamed company was duped into sending a large sum of money in a fraudulent call impersonating a company executive.

Arup confirmed that they were the company involved and had reported the incident to the Hong Kong police earlier this year. They admitted that fake audio and video had been used in the fraud.

The company stated, “Our financial stability and business operations remained unaffected, and there was no compromise to our internal systems.”

Arup’s global chief information officer, Rob Greig, mentioned that the organization faces frequent cyberattacks, including deepfakes, as seen in this incident.

Greig emphasized the need for increased awareness regarding the sophistication of cyber attackers, especially after Arup’s experience.

A report from the Financial Times newspaper first identified Arup as the target of the scammers.

Arup, known as one of the world’s leading consulting engineering firms, employs over 18,000 individuals and is recognized for its involvement in projects like the Sydney Opera House and London’s Crossrail transport scheme.

Another recent case involving a deepfake scam targeted WPP CEO Mark Read, as reported by The Guardian last week.

Hong Kong police disclosed that employees transferred HK$200 million in total to five local bank accounts in 15 transactions during a video conference call where the perpetrators posed as senior company officials.

The investigation into the scam is ongoing, but no arrests have been made yet, with the case classified as “obtaining property by deception.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Seven nations adhere to WHO air quality standards, US falls short

Posted on by
Reply

A report released on Tuesday by Swiss air quality monitoring company IQAir suggests that the World Health Organization's air pollution ranking will increase in 2023 due to the continued reliance on fossil fuels and the impacts of climate change, posing a threat to human health. Only seven countries currently meet the WHO guidelines.

According to the report, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India have the most polluted air, with particulate pollution levels exceeding the WHO’s recommendations by at least 10 times. More than 92% of countries and territories analyzed surpassed the guidelines for particulate matter pollution, including the United States.

The report also highlights that Canada has become the most polluted country in North America, primarily as a result of a record wildfire season that burned over 45 million acres. Smoke from Canadian wildfires has affected air quality in the United States and contributed to an overall increase in particle pollution from 2022 to 2023.

It is evident from this analysis that air pollution from fossil fuel combustion, coupled with other factors like wildfires exacerbated by climate change, is impacting human health globally. While some regions such as Western Europe are seeing improvements in pollution levels as economies shift towards electrification, in other areas, air pollution control measures are regressing. The report authors emphasize that air pollution transcends national borders, making it a global issue even for countries making efforts to reduce emissions.

According to IQAir, this data is based on inputs from over 30,000 air quality monitors in 134 countries and territories. The company installed monitoring devices to assess average annual pollution levels in cities and calculate people’s exposure to particulate matter around 2.5 microns in size, known as PM2.5, which is considered a crucial indicator of pollution’s impact on human health.

“PM2.5 particles can penetrate every cell in our bodies, from skin cells to lung and brain cells,” stated IQAir Global CEO Frank Hames at a press conference.

Air pollution is linked to approximately 6.7 million premature deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, air pollution levels experienced a slight increase, with Canadian wildfires causing a 30 to 50% rise in average annual pollution in cities like Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Detroit in the upper Midwest.

A study by Stanford University researchers published in Nature last year revealed that smoke from wildfires in some parts of the US has reversed decades of air quality progress achieved through the Clean Air Act, with the situation now deteriorating.

In 2023, Americans, on average, inhaled more wildfire smoke compared to any other year on record, as per Stanford University researchers.

Wildfire smoke can deeply penetrate lungs and enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of asthma, lung cancer, and other chronic respiratory diseases. Studies have also linked exposure to wildfire smoke to premature births and miscarriages.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Adobe left with a big gap as $20 billion Figma deal falls through

Posted on by
Reply

Adobe and Figma ended their $20 billion takeover dream this morning after regulators signaled tough times ahead. Figma still receives a $1 billion stipend as part of the deal, and as co-design lead, he should stand up well.

But it could be a different story for Adobe. They knew that the product they offered to compete with this company, XD, was not very strong, and they really wanted this company. They sought to use their corporate influence to seize advantageous aspects of their core creator businesses by acquiring market leaders.

But ultimately, the regulatory hurdles proved too much for them, and after more than a year of back and forth in regulatory meetings, both companies realized it wasn’t going to happen and decided to exit. decided.

Adobe put on a brave face their official statement, but I can’t help but be deeply disappointed with this result. “Adobe and Figma have shared a vision to jointly redefine the future of creativity and productivity, and we continue to leverage the huge market opportunity and mission to change the world through personalized digital experiences. We remain in a good position to do so.”

It’s not clear that Adobe could be in such a strong position without Figma, but it’s certainly true that Adobe is willing to pay a hefty price to have it under its wing. They were never able to convince regulators that this was not a blatant power grab by wealthy corporations to use their economic clout to take over the market.

Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s chief executive officer for competition, has made it clear that she believes this is just such an attempt. her official statement. “By merging these two companies, the proposed acquisition would end all current and stop all future competition between the two companies. Our thorough investigation shows that this We found that this could lead to higher prices, lower quality, or less choice for customers.”

Ray Wang, founder and principal analyst at Constellation Research, says this is a major setback for Adobe, forcing it to return to its design collaboration tool, XD. “Adobe realized that in a world of Generative AI, the value is not in content creation, but in coordinating the work of content. This deal takes Adobe back two years and expands the reach of this important market. “This will give us an incentive to revamp XD to cover this,” he said.

Adobe General Counsel Dana Rao told TechCrunch in October that the company has largely dismantled its XD team and is fully committed to meeting its product needs with Figma. “We tried to get in there [collaborative design] I used XD but it failed. We abandoned the product. Basically, our annual revenue never exceeded $15 million to $17 million. “I think he’s down to five full-time employees, but they continue to work according to their contractual requirements,” he said. “So if we’re going to get into the product design space, for us it’s going to be acquiring Figma,” he said at the time.

On the plus side, the company now has a lot of cash on hand that it wouldn’t have had had the deal gone through, and it could probably put it to better use in a post-generation AI world. Brent Leary says. Co-founder and Partner of CRM Essentials. “This deal was announced before ChatGPT, and the world has changed dramatically since then. And this could mean that Adobe could take back his $20 billion and adjust and shape the content creation process post-ChatGPT.” It might actually work better because of its gender,” he said.

Wang said the company may also consider acquiring other collaboration startups such as Milo, web flow or invision, which raised $476 million, $335 million, and $356 million, respectively (according to Crunchbase data). None of this would make him a perfect successor to Figma, but perhaps he could give the company a head start in the collaboration space without the kind of scrutiny it received in the Figma acquisition attempt. Sho.

Figma, for its part, hasn’t stopped since this deal was announced, moving forward and planning as an independent company. In fact, this startup has employed 500 people since September 2022. Additionally, we have developed new features including tools. For developers And we have a generative AI layer on top of the popular FigJam whiteboard tool.

John Lilly, an early investor in Figma, said he was enthusiastic about the company remaining independent. “This team is a very special team. Over the last 10 years, they have completely changed the way design works. And this market for designing products is much larger and growing faster.” Lilly told TechCrunch.

If he’s right, that’s exactly why Adobe wanted to buy the company. Now, with Figma continuing to operate on its own and a startup full of the same potential it had before the acquisition was announced in September 2022, Adobe will need to rethink its design collaboration strategy, and perhaps at this point You basically have to start from scratch, not in the position you were in.

Source: techcrunch.com