The Weekly Authority: 👀 Pixel Fold first official look

⚡ Welcome to The Weekly Authority, the Android Authority newsletter that breaks down the top Android and tech news from the week. The 243rd edition here with a first official look at the Pixel Fold, a hands-on Pixel 7a video, Galaxy Z Flip 5 renders, and Google’s “Godfather of AI” makes  a sharp exit…

🎮 This weekend I’m cozying up to play Bramble: The Mountain King on PS5, and it looks like it’ll be a dark, creepy Nordic adventure.

Popular news this week

Google:

• Here’s the first official look at the Google Pixel Fold, launching on May 10, and a fresh leak gets up close and personal with the device.
• Unsurprisingly, the Pixel 7a already has a full hands-on video.
• Pixel 7a official materials outed: Pixel 6a comparison, freebies, and more leak.
• And it looks like the Google Pixel 7a is launching in India on May 11, available through Flipkart.
• Also: Several Pixel 7a units spotted on eBay ahead of launch.
• Leaked images revealed the Pixel 7a retail packaging and its secrets.
• And Pixel 7a could mark the end of Google’s A series phones as we know it.
• Elsewhere, the Nest Locator Tag could be Google’s AirTag competitor.
• Google and Apple team up, realizing location trackers are a big problem.
• And Android’s Finder Network could help you find third-party tracker tags.
• Plus: Google confirms fix for annoying Android volume control problem.
• Speaking of volume, your Pixel phone could soon protect your hearing with this new feature.
• And Google takes first step toward “passwordless future,” begins passkey rollout.
• And Google adds blue checkmark verification to Gmail, to confirm you’re reading an email from a legitimate brand.
• Finally: Google Photos powers up its search bar to find photos with phrases and ideas.

Samsung:

• We saw the first reliable, high-quality renders for the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
• And Galaxy Z Flip 5’s cover display may be 720p, could bring new widgets.
• Speaking of, it looks like the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5 could launch sooner than you think.
• Meanwhile, a Galaxy S23 FE leak points to an overdue main camera upgrade.
• Samsung imposes ban on generative AI tools like ChatGPT, is reportedly developing its own AI tools.
• Like it or not, Bing AI is now on your Galaxy phone.
• Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 gains astrophotography mode with Expert RAW update.
• And Samsung Galaxy S21 series finally gets astrophotography skills.
• Plus: Samsung chases Fitbit with new sleep tracking features in One UI 5 Watch.

Oppo & OnePlus:

• OnePlus might launch its first foldable in a dangerous month.

Motorola:

• Motorola launches the Moto G 5G, Moto G Stylus, and Edge Plus.
• And Motorola Razr 40 Ultra leak spills all the details you wanted to know.
• Also: The Motorola Edge 40 brings premium extras at a cheaper price.

Apple:

• Rapid Response, Apple’s take on Android security patches, is finally here.
• And Apple Watch all set to get ‘one of the biggest software updates’ ever.
• Apple increases trade-in values for select iPhones, iPads, and more.
• People put nearly $1 billion into Apple savings accounts in first four days.

Microsoft:

• Microsoft is forcing Outlook and Teams to open links in Edge, and IT admins are angry.
• And Microsoft’s Bing chatbot gets smarter with restaurant bookings, image results, and more.

Social media:

• Elon Musk says Twitter will introduce per-article charging in May, could give publishers a way to earn money from non-subscribers.
• And the entire Super Mario Bros. movie keeps getting posted to Twitter since Musk fired most of the platform’s trust and safety and compliance teams.
• Ban social media for kids? Fed-up parents in Senate say yes.

Space:

• SpaceX to spend about $2 billion on Starship this year, as Elon Musk pushes to reach orbit.
• Satellite megaconstellations are threatening astronomy. What can be done?
• Also: Something ‘we don’t understand’ is happening in ‘miles-deep oceans’ on Uranus’ moons, scientists say, as study reveals four of the moons may contain oceans beneath their icy crusts.

AI:

• Your Pixel phone’s main screen may become the home of a Bard AI widget.
• Say what? Scientists have reconstructed a 30-second movie clip using an AI reading mice’s brains as they watch.
• With that in mind, AI makes non-invasive mind-reading possible by turning thoughts into text.
• And Slack is getting in on the GPT AI trend.
• Also: White House announces executive actions on AI, including $140 million in funding for seven new National AI Research Institutes and draft policy guidance on the use of AI systems by the federal government, to be released by the Office of Management and Budget this summer.

Elsewhere: 

• The Nothing Phone 2 is US-bound and has a launch window.
• The Nokia XR21 is official: You thought an IP68 rating was great?
• And the HONOR Magic V2 foldable could be a proper Galaxy Z Fold 5 rival.
• These Xiaomi and Poco phones will get MIUI 14 in Q2 2023.
• Meanwhile, latest Pixel Buds A-Series leak provides best look yet at the new colorway.
• And brands not called Apple or Samsung are fighting for scraps.
• After 15 years, Intel may be killing the Core i5 and Core i7, using “Core Ultra” in its chip names going forward.
• And Discord is growing up, so everyone needs to pick a new username: four-digit suffixes are no more.
• Love music? Love Plex? With ChatGPT powerup, Plexamp becomes a personal DJ, with one giant caveat.
• An interesting read: Who’s excited to have their brainwaves scanned as a personal ID?

Movies/TV

• Need something to watch this weekend? Check out this week’s best new streaming movies, from Zola to romantic drama Both Side of the Blade.
• Or dive into the best new streaming shows this week, like season 3 of HBO Max’s The Other Two, or Netflix Bridgerton spin-off prequel Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
• We’ve also rounded up the 22 Apple TV Plus shows you should be watching, from period drama The Essex Serpent to M. Night Shyamalan’s Servant.
• Meanwhile, Google TV is reducing app sizes and speeding up performance.
• And Fire TV Channels is a free TV service just for Fire TV owners.
• Also: OLED vs LCD vs FALD TVs — What are they, and which is best?
• With the WGA Writers Strike underway, here are all the TV shows and movies affected.
• And Christopher Nolan unveils nail-biting Oppenheimer footage to huge applause at CinemaCon.
• We also saw Michelle Yeoh in a trailer for A Haunting in Venice, Hercule Poirot’s next outing after Death on the Nile, out September 15.

Gaming: 

• We’ve got everything you need to know about Xbox Cloud Gaming, from its benefits to how it works and more.
• And speaking of Microsoft, it announced final details of its summer Xbox Games Showcase for June 11 at 6 PM UK time, with an in-depth look at Starfield.
• Also, here’s how to watch Paramount Plus on your Xbox, if you want to catch up on the Halo series.
• Meanwhile, Meta announced its Quest VR gaming showcase for June 1.
• Redfall launched Tuesday and was met with mostly negative reviews, plus check out this Redfall Xbox Series X Vs. Xbox Series S Vs. PC comparison.
• We saw full details on Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0 Season 03 Reloaded, out May 10, including the new Alboran Hatchery Core Multiplayer map, Raid Episode 03, a new DMZ experience, and more.
• Elsewhere, F1 23 hits the track on June 16, with a nod to gamepad drivers.
• And upcoming MMO Chrono Odyssey gets a massively impressive first gameplay trailer.
• Studio Ghibli-inspired platformer Planet Of Lana comes to PC and Game Pass on May 23.
• Playing Honkai: Star Rail? Here’s all you need to know about redemption codes and how they work.

Reviews

• Roborock S8 Pro Ultra review: The ultimate hands-free robot vacuum cleaner — “The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra does it all: mops, vacuums, self-empties dust, auto-refills water, and washes and dries the mop.”
• Oura Ring vs Apple Watch: A battle of form factors — “From how you wear them to what they track, dig into the details of two leading wearables.
• Xiaomi Mi Band 8 vs Mi Band 7: What’s new on the latest budget tracker? “A flexible new strap elevates an old favorite.”
• Xiaomi Mi Band 8 vs Mi Band 6: Is it time for an upgrade? “Two generations later, Xiaomi has brought a lot of new features to the lineup.”
• Obsidian vs Notion: Which note-taking app reigns supreme? “Which service is better for note-taking, journaling, and productivity management?”

Features

• Google I/O 2023 is happening next week, and here’s what to expect (Android Authority).
• I still don’t want a foldable phone: “Despite Samsung’s best efforts, I still think they are a solution to made-up problems” (Android Authority).
• The best AI image generators available right now: From Midjourney to DALL-E (Android Authority).
• These ChatGPT rivals are designed to play with your emotions: “Startups building chatbots tuned for emotionally engaged conversation say they can offer support, companionship — and even romance” (Wired).
• Geoffrey Hinton on why he’s now scared of the tech he helped build: “I have suddenly switched my views on whether these things are going to be more intelligent than us” (MIT Technology Review).
• The secretary who helped uncover one of America’s strangest Ponzi schemes: “Carpet cleaning, reputed mobsters, and a woman who refused to be fleeced” (The Hustle).

Weekly Wonder

There’s been so much in the news lately about the possibility of AI taking jobs done by humans, and it looks like the US’ largest bank is keen to jump on the AI bandwagon.

JP Morgan Chase wants to patent a method to use machine learning to recruit candidates for vacancies, essentially taking the place of a recruitment team or outside recruiters to find future talent.

• The tech will use “employee public data,” such as internal and external networks, to hunt for candidates.
• It will generate a “confidence score” based on whether the candidate seems like a good fit for the job, how easy or difficult they may be to recruit, etc.
• The system will send a “targeted recruitment communication” to the candidate and monitor their application and the results.
• Because this is a machine learning algorithm, it will also keep track of how well it did its job, learning and improving from its past experiences.
• The bank believes it will eliminate issues where external recruiters, such as agencies, don’t understand company culture when finding talent.
• It may also help eliminate any unconscious biases present in human recruitment professionals, helping companies to recruit a more diverse workforce.

The opposite could also apply though, as the tech could potentially develop its own biases, leading to a workforce lacking in diversity. And can recruitment and HR, jobs that are based entirely around people connecting with each other, really be done by AI?

If you’re enjoying reading more on AI, why not check out this week’s AI news as the “Godfather of AI” exits Google, concerned about multiple ethical problems, or dive into our guides to Notion AI, How to use ChatGPT for free, and Google Bard vs Bing Chat.

Tech Calendar

• May 9: HUAWEI Mate X3 and P60 series Europe launch
• May 10: Google I/O 2023
• May 11: Sony Xperia 1 V launch
• May 11 @ 10 AM ET: ASUS ROG Ally release date
• May 12: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom launches on Switch
• June 1 (TBC): Motorola’s two Razr foldables launch?
• June 1: Meta Quest VR gaming showcase
• June 5: Apple WWDC (Reality One or Reality Pro mixed-reality headset?)
• June 8: Summer Game Fest
• June 11: Xbox Games Showcase
• June 12: Ubisoft event

Tech Tweet of the Week

Something extra: The original 1950s recording session of the famed Wilhelm Scream has been rediscovered (h/t The Hustle).

Have a great week!

Paula Beaton, Copy Editor