The Browser Company Kills Arc

Front-End Fire

OpenAI has a new API in beta called the Realtime API, which enables speech conversations with LLMs. Real-time text and audio processing means users can have conversations with voice agents and voice-enabled apps, and OpenAI makes it simple to connect via WebRTC or WebSockets.
Several months ago, The Browser Company, abruptly announced they were stopping work on Arc browser in favor of building a completely new, AI-first browser called Dia. Now, the company’s CEO has released a letter detailing why these decisions were made and what the future holds for The Browser Company. Details on Dia are vague, but the team is optimistic they can build “a true successor to the browser”.
AI-enabled coding IDE Cursor hit v1.0, this week with a bunch of notable features. Notable highlights in this release include: BugBot, which automatically reviews PRs and identifies bugs and issues, Background Agent (Cursor’s remote coding agent) for all users, Memories to help Cursor remember facts and conversations within projects for future use, and one-click MCP install and OAuth support.

In this episode:

• OpenAI is changing how we do AI chats, and adding voice into the mix,
• The Browser Company shares the real reason it stopped Arc development,
• Cursor’s agent levels up with the release of 1.0,
• And React Router gets an open governance model

Timestamps:

• 1:10 - OpenAI’s realtime agent API
• 10:03 - The Browser Company Kills Arc
• 16:53 - Cursor 1.0
• 28:04 - Codex gets internet access
• 31:09 - React Router’s open governance
• 34:18 - Fire Starter
• 39:55 - What’s making us happy

News:

• Paige - Cursor 1.0
• Jack - OpenAI’s Realtime Agent for AI chat
• TJ - The Browser Company stops developing Arc

Lightning News:

• React Router Open Governance
• Codex gets access to the internet

Fire Starter:

• console.log formatting strings

What Makes Us Happy this Week:

• Paige - Clarkson’s Farm season 4
• Jack - Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 headphones
• TJ - Rotary cheese grater

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