Latest Software & Apps News
OpenAI expands ChatGPT into an app ecosystem with no 30% commission
OpenAI launched a ChatGPT app store that integrates third‑party services (Spotify, Canva, Figma) into conversations and lets developers publish tools while foregoing the standard 30% marketplace commission, positioning ChatGPT as an AI-centric platform for apps.
Z.ai open‑sources GLM‑4.7 optimized for developer workflows
Z.ai released GLM‑4.7, a new open‑source large language model designed for long‑running development workflows and tool use in production, signaling wider adoption of open LLMs for engineering tasks.
Google releases LiteRT to run AI on microcontrollers and edge devices
Google introduced LiteRT, a library to run AI models in browsers and resource‑constrained devices (Android, iOS, embedded Linux, microcontrollers), aiming to democratize edge AI deployment for IoT and embedded use cases.
Major funding and valuations accelerate AI‑native software startups
Several AI‑first software firms raised large rounds in December, including Lovable’s $330M Series B valuing it at $6.6B, underscoring investor appetite for no‑code/AI product builders and rapid platform expansion.
Enterprise and defense players pursue sovereign clouds and AI contracts
Airbus is shifting critical systems toward a European sovereign cloud and secured a €50M AI defense contract, illustrating national security drivers behind enterprise cloud and AI procurement.
Industry debate: Is AI a bubble or durable software revolution?
Tech commentators and industry leaders continue debating whether AI is an investment bubble or a fundamental shift; analysis highlights persistent VC funding (~$100B historically) and rapid re‑architecture of SaaS toward API/agent models.
Business Wire: sector reports highlight growth in fitness and wearable AI markets
Market reports published via Business Wire forecast high growth: fitness apps predicted to nearly double by 2030 and wearable AI markets expanding, reflecting strong demand for vertical AI-enabled consumer apps.
Cybersecurity advisories warn of privacy risks in holiday app use
Security outlets advise cleaning unused apps and treating many apps as potential 'creepware' that over‑shares data via excessive permissions, emphasizing app hygiene during holiday device use.
Edge and multimodal AI trends push smart glasses and AR adoption
Shipments of smart glasses rose sharply in H1 2025 with Meta dominating, while trends in augmented hearing and multimodal AI indicate growing app opportunities for AR/VR and wearable developers.
Startup and VC ecosystem roundup: M&A and platform partnerships heating up
Weekly startup/VC rundowns note strategic partnerships between AI startups and incumbents (NVIDIA, Microsoft, Siemens) and M&A interest from large tech firms seeking to fold AI capabilities into existing software stacks.