This Week in Tech: Amazon Blocks Perplexity, Scams Hit WhatsApp, Google's Big Package + More

A lot happened this week. Did you catch any of these? Amazon blocks Perplexity's AI shopping tool, scammers are back at WhatsApp, and Apple made a laptop you can actually fix. Here’s the rundown.

Amazon Blocks Perplexity AI Shopping Tool

A court temporarily barred Perplexity AI from pulling live product data from Amazon to power its shopping assistant. The tool was grabbing names, prices, stock info, and sometimes images, which Amazon said could confuse shoppers. Perplexity can still suggest Amazon products in general, but the automated scraping is on pause while the legal process plays out.

Scam Messages Are Back on WhatsApp and SMS

Fraudsters are sending fake delivery, payment, and package messages through WhatsApp and SMS. Links can steal login info or install malware. The rule is simple: if it seems off, it probably is.

Apple Makes MacBook Repairs Cheaper

The new MacBook Neo uses the A18 Pro chip but costs less than standard models. Repairs are easier and cheaper, making it an actual option for students or anyone who doesn’t need top-tier specs.

AI Facial Recognition Mistake Jails Innocent Woman

An AI facial recognition system misidentified a woman, and she ended up in jail for a short period. She’s out now, but the incident is a reminder that AI errors have real-world consequences. It just isn't cut out for this kind of work.

Google Acquires Wiz

Google officially bought cloud security startup Wiz for $32 billion. Google Cloud’s cybersecurity portfolio is strengthened, enterprise-level protection reaches more customers, and Wiz's top level execs get a ton of money. Win win, I dare say.

OpenAI Pauses Stargate Expansion with Oracle

OpenAI announced it won’t expand its Stargate data center in partnership with Oracle. The existing data center keeps running, but future growth plans are shifting elsewhere.

X Sells Existing User Handles

The platform formerly known as Twitter is selling previously registered handles to new users. People might see familiar names on new accounts, which could make identity verification a bit tricky.

Sundar Pichai Gets $692M Pay Package

Google CEO Sundar Pichai received a $692 million compensation package, mostly in stock though. It's part of a deal where the CEO receives the sum if and only if he reaches expectations of the company's board. Else, he forfeits, though it’s still a huge payout.

That’s this week. Same time next week, same place?