Apple Slashes App Store Commission Fees in China to Ward Off Antitrust Action, Adobe CEO Narayen Steps Down Amid Investor Fears Over Generative AI Competition, Substack Introduces ‘Recording Studio’ to Boost Multimedia Content and Creator Earnings.
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Show Notes
Meta’s AI Model “Avocado” Delayed
Meta’s new foundational AI model, code-named Avocado, is reportedly underperforming competitors’ models (Google, OpenAI, Anthropic) in reasoning and coding, leading to a delay in its release from March to at least May. This delay comes as CEO Mark Zuckerberg heavily invests in AI, lengthening Meta’s timeline for catching up. Internally, the company is dealing with debates over making Avocado open source and reported clashes among AI leaders, even while planning its successor, Watermelon.
Apple Cuts App Store Fees in China
Apple Inc. is reducing its App Store commission fees for developers in mainland China, effective March 15th, as a preemptive measure against potential antitrust action by Chinese regulators and to resolve disputes with major local tech companies like Tencent and ByteDance. The standard commission rate will drop from 30% to 25%, and the rate for smaller developers and mini-apps will decrease from 15% to 12%. This reduction of the “Apple tax” in its second-largest market is expected to significantly benefit Chinese developers.
Adobe CEO to Step Down After 18 Years
Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen is stepping down after 18 years, a decision driven by investor anxiety over the company’s ability to compete with generative AI startups. Despite a successful transition to a subscription model and strong fiscal first-quarter results that beat estimates, the news caused the stock to drop 7%, highlighting deep investor skepticism about Adobe’s future market share against AI-driven creative tools. Narayen will remain until a successor is named.
Substack Launches Built-In Recording Studio
Substack has introduced the Substack Recording Studio, a new desktop tool that enables creators to record and publish solo or multi-guest videos with features like screen-sharing and watermarks, automatically generating clips and thumbnails. This launch is part of Substack’s transformation from a newsletter service to a multimedia platform, aiming to compete with services like Patreon, as creators using video or audio have experienced 50% faster revenue growth.
Instagram Testing Clickable Links in Captions
Instagram is testing clickable links within post captions, a highly requested feature, but is currently restricting it to Meta Verified subscribers and limiting them to 10 links per month. Meta confirmed the test but did not provide further details on wider availability. This limited rollout, which only displays links on the mobile app, could significantly change the platform’s link-sharing policy, though the monthly cap might still keep “link in bio” solutions relevant. This test aligns with Meta’s pattern of experimenting with making link-sharing a paid feature via the Meta Verified subscription.
Peacock Pushes AI-Driven Mobile Strategy
Peacock is aggressively pursuing a mobile-first entertainment strategy, leveraging AI to transform its app into a hybrid of TikTok, a gaming hub, and a streaming service. Key features include the AI-driven vertical video experience “Your Bravoverse” narrated by a generative AI Andy Cohen avatar, mobile-optimized vertical live NBA broadcasts, and an expanded in-app gaming lineup with new mystery titles and a daily Jeopardy! trivia game. These initiatives are designed to boost viewer engagement, increase time spent on the platform, and ultimately drive subscriber growth while reducing operating losses.
Uber Relaunches Robotaxi Service in Las Vegas
Uber is relaunching its robotaxi service in Las Vegas through a partnership with Motional, integrating Motional’s autonomous Ioniq 5 vehicles into the Uber app for standard ride requests (UberX, Electric, Comfort) at no extra cost. Initially, a safety driver will be present, with plans to remove them by the end of the year. The service is part of Uber’s strategy to aggregate robotaxi services, building on a prior agreement with Motional and following a recent deal with Zoox. The initial service area is limited to key locations on the Strip, Town Square, and downtown Las Vegas, and riders cannot specifically request an autonomous vehicle.
ByteDance Expands Global AI Computing Power
ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, is reportedly investing over $2.5 billion in a significant computing power build-out outside of China to advance its global artificial intelligence goals. This involves deploying approximately 500 Nvidia Blackwell computing systems (about 36,000 B200 chips) in Malaysia through a partnership with Aolani Cloud. This new infrastructure is intended for AI research, development, and to service international customer demand, a move supported by Nvidia, which states that export rules permit such cloud infrastructures outside controlled countries, provided partners adhere to all applicable export regulations.
IDC Cuts 2026 Global PC Market Forecast
The International Data Corporation (IDC) has revised its 2026 global PC market forecast, projecting an 11.6% decline in shipments, a sharper drop than the previously anticipated 8.9%. This pessimism is primarily due to persistent memory shortages, which IDC research manager Jitesh Ubrani expects to continue “well into 2027,” with 2025’s pricing levels unlikely to return even in 2028. This forecast, made before the recent escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, suggests the actual impact on the computing industry could be even worse.