The year 2018 was an exciting one for tech news, from the many high-profile developments to the viral trends that dominated social media. From the Google Duplex AI demo to the Facebook cryptocurrency, there was never a dull moment. While there are several key takeaways from the past year, it’s also obvious that there is still a lot of room for improvement in the ecosystem. This is especially true when it comes to accurately informing users on the latest developments in the world of tech news. When it comes to exploring trending topics and headlines, it’s important to understand the audience and their interests. If you’re interested in exploring the most popular news articles related to tech that were shared online, keep reading.
Google Duplex AI Demo Surfaces
The news of the Google Duplex AI was first reported by “The New York Times,” which shared details on the technology that can make a user’s voice sound like that of a professional. The report also mentioned how the tech works, which is able to make the sound echo even if the speaker is in a quiet room. This is what Google has been working on for several years, and its first public demonstration was on a national stage.
The “Duplex” demo surfaced during the “Shark Tank” episode in which the tech giant was also featured. In the episode, which aired on May 30, the Google team tried to explain the tech and its potential impact on the future. The demo saw one of the engineers using an “AI” to call a hair salon and schedule an appointment while the other engineer acted as the customer and was able to ask the business owner questions. The “Shark Tank” demo showcased how the AI works, which is able to make the user’s voice sound like a professional.
Facebook Begins Test of Cryptocurrency
Facebook’s cryptocurrency, named “Libra,” first made headlines back in September after the “Wall Street Journal” reported on the test. The social media giant soon moved on from the discussion, but it was still enough to make it to the list. Blockbuster news aside, the cryptocurrency was still tested in the region of Europe, Switzerland, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Facebook has always been tight-lipped about its plans for cryptocurrency, but the fact that it began testing the tech in the U.S. was enough to make it to the list.
In September, social media giant Facebook began testing a cryptocurrency called “Libra” in partnership with the Calibra banking consortium. The test was set up in the countries of Switzerland, Spain, and the U.S. The fact that the tech giant is testing a cryptocurrency may seem like a bombshell, but the reports were already public. The only news worth mentioning is how Facebook might be getting ready to launch its own cryptocurrency.
Netflix Adds Disney, Pixar Shows
In the world of Netflix original content, the streaming service was unstoppable in 2018. It added several new shows, including “Coco,” “Disney’s Christopher Robin,” “A Series of Unfortunate Events: season 2,” and “Tuca & Bertie.” “Coco,” the story of a boy who is transported to the Land of the Dead, was the most popular of the year. It was also the first time Netflix featured a Pixar movie, and it was also the first Pixar movie to be released under a streaming service.
The success of “Coco” and other new additions was great news for the streaming service, but it was also a sign of things to come. The company’s 2019 slate is expected to have several big releases, and they could all be on the list of top content. “Coco,” the animated film about a boy who is transported to the Land of the Dead, was the most popular of the year.
Elon Musk Announces Neuralink
Neuralink is a brain-computer interface (BCI) company led by Elon Musk. Musk announced his decision to join the company in October 2018, but it was a surprise for many, who did not expect him to leave Tesla and SpaceX. The move may change the way advanced BCIs are developed, but for now, it is important to understand how popular it is. The announcement was made during the “Code Conference” in the U.S. Musk talked about how Neuralink will work, explaining that the technology will allow humans to connect with computers.
Neuralink started in 2017, as a separate venture from Tesla and SpaceX. The idea was to develop a technology that can help people with disabilities and diseases. The announcement of Musk joining the company was unexpected, and it suddenly turned it into one of the most popular tech news stories. The fact that Neuralink is working on advanced BCIs that can help people with disabilities and diseases is important, as this is one of the most pressing issues in the world. The launch of a new company led by Musk, however, was what made this story so popular.
The Year of Self-Driving Cars
The year of self-driving cars was undoubtedly the most popular topic of 2018. The announcement and the subsequent release of several self-driving vehicles made it to the list, including Tesla’s Autopilot and Waymo’s self-driving Chrysler Pacifica minivans. The release of these vehicles ensured that the self-driving car trend continued to be popular, as there were new announcements and releases each month.
In October, Tesla released a software update to its self-driving Autopilot system. The update, called “ Version 9,” includes several improvements to the autonomous driving technology. The release of the software was important, as it was the first major update the Tesla Autopilot system has received in more than a year. The software update was followed by a trend in which users were posting videos of the Autopilot system crashing, which were a popular topic in the news.
Google Stops Testing Artificial Intelligence Guns
When it came to Google’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, it was only a matter of time before the company decided to stop testing the gun-like weapons. In August, the company announced that it would be ending the testing of the Artificial Intelligence gun, which is able to fire a projectile at a superhuman speed. The AI gun, which was developed by Google, was able to fire a projectile at a speed close to 1,000 mph.
The decision to stop testing the AI gun was likely the result of extensive backlash. The decision to start testing the gun was made in January 2018 and was met with criticism, but the decision to end it was a clear sign that Google was listening to its critics. Google made headlines in August when it announced that it would no longer be testing a gun-like weapon.
VR Takes Over the Tech World
Virtual reality (VR) was a popular topic in 2018, and it was a trend that broke many records. For example, the amount of hardware sold in the VR market was higher than the amount sold for any other type of hardware. The VR trend was also reflected in the popularity of the Oculus and Google Daydream names. Oculus, which was acquired by Facebook in 2014, became the most popular name in the VR industry, while Daydream, the name of Google’s VR platform, was most popular among the Daydream-compatible devices.
VR was one of the most popular topics in the world of tech news, and it was a trend that continued to be popular throughout the year. The virtual reality trend was first introduced in March 2018, when Facebook revealed the Facebook Spaces VR app. The VR app, which was released in 2018, was the first VR app to be released under the Oculus brand. The VR trend was also reflected in the popularity of the Oculus and Google Daydream names.
The Year of AI and Virtual Reality
When it came to the most popular tech news stories of 2018, it was only a matter of time before artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) made it to the list. The two trending topics were both important, with AI being a key trend in the tech industry and VR being a popular topic among the social media users.
