OpenAI Experiences Unstoppable Growth as Laser Technology Replaces Fiber Optics

OpenAI continues to show remarkable growth, with weekly users of its AI services rising by one-third since December, reaching a total of 400 million. Additionally, the number of corporate subscriptions has surged to 2 million, more than doubling in just six months. Meanwhile, Vodafone is exploring the use of drones equipped with laser technology as a temporary solution to bridge fiber optic gaps caused by construction-related disruptions. This innovative approach utilizes laser terminals developed by Alphabet's subsidiary, Taara.

The Deutsche Telekom is also adjusting its mobile coverage strategy, opting to allow its T-Mobile subsidiary in the U.S. to manage the prestigious Starlink mobile service for now. In Europe, the deployment of Starlink remains unfeasible due to the fragmented nature of mobile coverage across multiple countries with differing regulations.

Despite increasing competition from companies like DeepSeek and a potential acquisition bid from Elon Musk, OpenAI's growth trajectory remains unaffected. The company reports a significant uptick in user engagement, with 400 million individuals using services such as ChatGPT at least once weekly. The developer segment has also seen exponential growth, with the integration of AI into their applications doubling and the usage of OpenAI's Reasoning model, o3, reportedly increasing fivefold.

In Europe, fiber optic lines frequently experience damage, primarily due to construction activities, natural disasters, or extreme weather conditions. Such disruptions can lead to outages at mobile base stations, an issue Vodafone contends with every three to five days. To address this challenge, Vodafone plans to showcase its laser-equipped drones at the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. These drones are designed to maintain reliable data transmission with a success rate of approximately 99%.

The Deutsche Telekom has also reassessed its strategy for providing mobile service in underserved areas. Rather than utilizing Starlink satellites for connectivity, the company is considering alternative solutions. This decision may surprise many consumers who view satellite technology as a primary means of connecting smartphones to terrestrial networks. However, the complexity of varying mobile frequencies and regulations across European countries complicates this approach.

In a notable shift, Amazon has announced that it will cease operations of its unified communications service, AWS Chime, which will no longer accept new customers. Existing users will have one year to transition to other services, and phone numbers associated with Chime must be ported to avoid loss.

Furthermore, major adult content websites, including XNXX, XVideos, Pornhub, and Stripchat, have reported a significant decline in user engagement. New transparency reports mandated by the Digital Services Act indicate that XVideos has seen its user base drop dramatically from 150 million to just 31 million in a year, leading to its classification as no longer a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the new regulations.

In Germany, progress on employee data protection remains stagnant. A provision in the GDPR allows EU member states to implement national laws on this issue; however, Germany has yet to establish comprehensive regulations beyond the vague Paragraph 26 of the BDSG. The government coalition had aimed to address this during its term, but with the coalition's dissolution, proposed legislation has been abandoned. Recent rulings from the European Court of Justice have further complicated the legal landscape surrounding employee data protection.

Additional noteworthy updates include warnings from the Tails project against using the balenaEtcher ISO writing software, concerns over increasing incidents of Falcon 9 debris falling to Earth, and the latest advancements in robotics showcased by the humanoid robot Unitree G1, which has received updates enabling smoother movement.

In the automotive sector, Apple is finally ready to launch its long-awaited 5G modem chip, C1, which has reportedly cost billions to develop. Moreover, Amazon plans to discontinue its Android app store, while the DSL infrastructure in Germany is projected to be phased out in favor of fiber optic connections within the next eight years.