Amazon increases fees, ChatGPT comes to the enterprise, and Apple announces a press conference

Welcome to the latest edition of Week in Review (WiR), Techfullnews’ comprehensive newsletter summarizing the week’s most significant developments in the tech world. If you’ve been too swamped to keep up with the latest news, you’ve come to the right place. WiR is here to provide you with a concise recap of what you may have missed.

Teamshares: Disrupting Small Business Succession Plans

Teamshares, a New York-based startup with strong backing from venture capital, has emerged as a game-changer in the realm of small business acquisitions. Their approach involves quietly acquiring mom-and-pop shops, often at prices below market rates, but with a unique twist. Upon acquisition, Teamshares appoints a new president and allocates 10% of the company’s stock to its employees. The real game plan, according to co-founder and CEO Michael Brown, is to generate revenue through an expanding range of fintech products offered to the acquired businesses. This innovative approach capitalizes on the opportunity presented by small businesses lacking a clear succession plan.

Zepto: India’s Newest Unicorn in 2023

Zepto, an instant grocery delivery startup, has made waves by raising a remarkable $200 million in its latest funding round, elevating its valuation to a staggering $1.4 billion. This achievement stands out in an industry where many firms have faced significant challenges or failed to thrive. Zepto operates in seven Indian cities, processing a staggering 300,000 daily orders spanning everything from groceries to electronic gadgets. The company’s ambitious plans include an IPO slated for 2025.

OpenAI: ChatGPT Goes Enterprise

Building upon the viral success of ChatGPT, OpenAI is unveiling ChatGPT Enterprise, a business-focused iteration of their AI-powered chatbot application. ChatGPT Enterprise boasts “enterprise-grade” privacy and data analysis features in addition to enhanced performance and customization options, setting it apart from the standard ChatGPT. This move positions OpenAI to cater specifically to the needs of the business world, enhancing productivity and communication.

Google: BigQuery Studio for Data Analytics

Google has introduced BigQuery Studio, a groundbreaking addition to BigQuery, their fully managed serverless data warehouse. BigQuery Studio simplifies data analytics by providing a unified platform where programming languages like SQL, Python, and Spark can be used to run analytics and machine learning workloads at a massive scale, even reaching the petabyte range. Teams can seamlessly access data while enjoying enhanced controls for governance, regulation, and compliance, making it an ideal solution for enterprise-level data management.

Apple’s Upcoming Event: iPhone 15 Anticipation

Apple enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the company’s upcoming press conference scheduled for September 12. The event will once again take place at Apple Park in Cupertino. Anticipated as the centerpiece of the event is the unveiling of the iPhone 15. Additionally, expectations include the introduction of the Apple Watch Series 9 and a sneak peek at the Vision Pro, Apple’s AR headset, set to launch in 2024.

Google Flights: Insights for Smart Travel Booking

Google Flights is enhancing the travel booking experience by rolling out a new feature that aids users in determining the optimal time to book their flights. Leveraging historical trend data, this feature provides insights into when ticket prices have historically been lowest for selected destinations on specific dates. In some instances, Google will even offer refunds if fares decrease before departure, ensuring travelers make informed decisions.

Brazilian Phone Spyware Breach

A Portuguese-language spyware known as WebDetetive has been implicated in compromising over 76,000 Android phones, primarily in South America, with a significant focus on Brazil. WebDetetive is the latest phone spyware company to fall victim to hacking. Anonymous hackers exploited security vulnerabilities to compromise WebDetetive’s servers and access user databases. This breach raises concerns about the security of personal data and privacy in the digital age.

Amazon Adjusts Shipping Fees

Amazon is modifying its shipping fee policies, increasing the minimum for free shipping to $35 for customers without a Prime membership in select regions. Previously, the minimum for free shipping stood at $25. Amazon clarifies that this change is being tested on a regional basis and that all users within a specific region will encounter the same free shipping threshold.

Babylon Health: Financial Struggles and Restructuring

Babylon Health, a London-based telehealth startup previously valued at nearly $2 billion and backed by the founders of DeepMind, has faced a turbulent financial journey. The company’s U.S. shares became worthless, leading to insolvency. This week, the UK subsidiary formally entered administration while simultaneously selling a significant portion of its assets to eMed Healthcare UK, a new subsidiary of U.S. company eMed.

EU Empowers Users to Reject Algorithmic Manipulation

Internet users in the European Union are witnessing a significant shift in their experience on mainstream social networks. Thanks to the bloc’s Digital Services Act, users on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat can now easily decline “personalized” content feeds based on AI-driven algorithms. Instead, they can opt for a more straightforward news feed, displaying posts from friends in chronological order. This empowers users to take control of their online experience and opt out of algorithmic manipulation.

If you’re looking for engaging podcasts to fill your hours, TechCrunch offers several options that cover a range of topics, from the intricacies of successful leadership to the power of collective intelligence and digital asset management. These podcasts provide valuable insights and interviews with industry experts, making them perfect for the workday commute.

Apple might space out the upcoming iPhone models to accommodate a foldable

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Without the Google search agreement, Firefox may be gone, according to an executive

Social Tech

Meta is terminating workers at Reality Labs

by George Mensah 2025-04-26

Meta has confirmed another round of layoffs, this time targeting its Reality Labs division, though the exact number of affected employees remains undisclosed. This move comes as part of the company’s ongoing “Year of Efficiency” initiative that began in 2023, which has already seen Meta reduce its workforce by about 22% across multiple waves of cuts.

Areas Most Affected by the Cuts

The restructuring has particularly impacted:

Oculus Studios teams developing games for Quest VR headsets
Hardware development groups working on future VR/AR devices
Supernatural, Meta’s flagship VR fitness platform acquired for $400 million in 2021

A message posted to the official Supernatural Facebook group suggests these changes aim to “help us work more efficiently on what the future of fitness could be,” indicating possible strategic redirection rather than complete abandonment of the fitness vertical.

Behind Meta’s Reality Labs Restructuring

Mixed Signals in Meta’s VR Strategy

Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton explained the changes reflect structural shifts meant to improve efficiency in developing “future mixed reality experiences.” This carefully worded statement suggests:

A continued commitment to VR/AR development
Potential reallocation of resources toward more promising projects
Possible deprioritization of certain existing VR content

The Broader Context of Meta’s VR Challenges

These layoffs occur against a backdrop of:

Disappointing Quest headset sales, with the Quest 3S already seeing price cuts
Strong performance of Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, exceeding expectations
Ongoing financial losses in Reality Labs, which reported $3.8 billion in operating losses in Q1 2024 alone

Analyzing the Implications

What This Means for the VR Industry

Content Development Slowdown: Fewer resources for Oculus Studios may mean fewer first-party VR titles
Strategic Reprioritization: Meta appears to be shifting focus from pure VR toward mixed reality
Hardware Uncertainty: Layoffs in hardware teams raise questions about future device roadmaps

The Supernatural Paradox

The treatment of Supernatural is particularly noteworthy:

Legal Victory: Meta successfully defended its acquisition against antitrust challenges
High Investment: The $400 million purchase was one of Meta’s largest VR content acquisitions
Current Downsizing: Despite this, the team is now facing cuts

Expert Perspectives on Meta’s Moves

Industry analysts suggest several interpretations:

Cost-Cutting Measure: Part of Zuckerberg’s efficiency drive amid massive Reality Labs losses
Strategic Pivot: Possibly reallocating resources toward AI integration in VR/AR
Market Realignment: Responding to slower-than-expected VR adoption rates

The Road Ahead for Meta’s Metaverse Vision

While these cuts might suggest wavering commitment, Meta maintains it’s still investing heavily in mixed reality. Key questions remain:

Will these efficiency moves accelerate profitability in Reality Labs?
How will content quality be affected by reduced development teams?
Does this signal a broader shift in Meta’s metaverse strategy?

One thing is clear: Meta continues to balance its ambitious long-term VR/AR goals with the financial realities of running a public company. These layoffs represent another adjustment in that delicate balancing act rather than a wholesale retreat from the metaverse vision.

Social Tech

On Instagram, the mothers are thrifting

by George Mensah 2025-04-12

Late one evening, my phone buzzes — it’s a notification from Instagram: “Clark’s Closet Connection’s countdown has ended.” Excited, I tap into the page, knowing that a fresh batch of coveted secondhand treasures is about to go live.

Within seconds, new posts start flooding the feed. Size 10 Mario-themed sneakers, adorable Moana-print Hanna Andersson pajamas, a vibrant 3T Boden skort — each item is claimed almost instantly. Shoppers, mainly busy moms, comment “me!” to reserve their finds, racing against one another in a first-come, first-served frenzy. Tonight, 36 items are posted; 24 are snatched up before the final listing even goes live.

The woman behind the operation is Ashley Hauri, a Kansas City-based entrepreneur who has turned reselling into a thriving, community-centered business. Once an active seller on platforms like Poshmark, Hauri is part of a growing wave of thrift store flippers shifting their efforts to more personal spaces like Instagram — even though the platform isn’t exactly optimized for online commerce.

“Instagram is one zillion percent not set up for selling,” Hauri admits. “But it’s about the community. I get to watch customers’ kids grow up. I’m connected to them beyond just a sale.”

Why Instagram? Building Relationships Over Transactions

While platforms like eBay, Depop, and Poshmark offer structured selling tools, Instagram allows resellers to build something deeper: genuine relationships. Buyers become more than just transactions — they become part of a tight-knit community. Sellers like Hauri can share life updates, celebrate milestones with their customers, and engage in real conversations.

This shift toward social-first selling reflects a broader trend where authentic connection is becoming just as valuable as the product itself.

The Rise of Resale Culture: More Than Just Saving Money

Although online reselling isn’t new — fashion entrepreneur Sophia Amoruso famously launched her brand Nasty Gal through eBay back in 2006 — the concept of “thrifting” has exploded in popularity over the past decade.

Today, buying secondhand is no longer viewed as a niche hobby; it’s a mainstream movement driven by millennials and Gen Z consumers who prioritize:

Sustainability: Secondhand shopping reduces the environmental impact of fast fashion.
Uniqueness: Vintage and one-of-a-kind finds offer a way to stand out from mass-produced styles.
Affordability: High-quality pieces at a fraction of retail prices are hard to resist.

The numbers speak for themselves: the resale industry is projected to grow nine times faster than the broader retail sector by 2027, according to market research.

Mobile-First Shopping: A Shift in Consumer Behavior

One of the most significant drivers behind this growth is convenience. Thanks to smartphones, millions of shoppers are browsing, buying, and even bidding on secondhand items through apps they already use daily. They no longer need to step inside a brick-and-mortar thrift store to score deals or support sustainable fashion.

Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook Marketplace are becoming virtual thrift stores themselves — offering curated drops, direct communication with sellers, and a personalized shopping experience that traditional e-commerce struggles to match.

The Future of Reselling: Community Is Key

As the resale economy continues to expand, it’s clear that the next wave of successful sellers won’t just be those with the trendiest inventory. The winners will be those who can build trust, foster community, and create a human-first shopping experience — even in a digital world.

Ashley Hauri’s success story isn’t just about flipping thrift finds for profit. It’s a testament to the power of authentic connection in a marketplace increasingly driven by technology.

In an era where personalization, sustainability, and community matter more than ever, platforms like Instagram — despite their limitations — are proving to be fertile ground for the future of secondhand shopping.

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