Microsoft has announced the imminent cessation of its longtime communication service, Skype, which it acquired in 2005. The platform will officially be taken offline on May 5, 2024. This transition marks a significant shift as Microsoft replaces Skype with a free version of its Microsoft Teams application, which has been positioned as its successor over recent years, offering similar functionalities such as video calls and group meetings. Jeff Teper, Microsoft’s president of collaborative apps and platforms, remarked, “Skype has been an integral part of shaping modern communications and supporting countless meaningful moments, and we are honored to have been part of the journey.”
Despite the closure of Skype, Microsoft has assured that there will be no layoffs among the employees associated with the application. A spokeswoman for the company confirmed that all staff will remain employed despite the transition.
In related news within the tech industry, Meta has revealed plans to launch a standalone Meta AI app in the second quarter of this year, aiming to compete with prominent AI chatbots including ChatGPT. This announcement has stirred reactions from OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, who suggested on social media that OpenAI might consider developing its own social media platform in response to Meta's initiative. Altman humorously implied the potential for an "uno reverse" strategy, stating, “Ok fine maybe we'll do a social app”, on the social platform X.
User responses to Altman's comments varied, with some expressing their views on the necessity of another social media application. Discussions on X included remarks such as “A social chatGPT app would probably start a new paradigm” from user RexMonte, and others questioning the viability of social networks, including a user who stated, “How many social media apps have been tried yet everyone keeps coming back to this dumpster fire?”
The forthcoming Meta AI app is poised to enhance user interactions by allowing them to engage with AI technology through a dedicated platform, rather than solely within existing Meta applications like Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram. The Meta AI chatbot was initially launched in September 2023 and has garnered attention for its conversational capabilities.
Mark Zuckerberg has expressed strong ambitions for Meta’s AI initiatives this year, designating 2025 as a critical year for ventures related to smart glasses and significant advancements in Extended Reality (XR) and AI technology, as indicated by a leaked internal memo from Meta's Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth. Overall, these developments underscore a competitive landscape in the tech industry, particularly concerning AI and communication technologies.
Source: Noah Wire Services