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☆ Where are the Apple Vision Pro's killer apps?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Peter Kafka | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Where's the killer app for the Apple Vision Pro? AdvertisementRemember back in February, when Apple launched its Apple Vision Pro headset and there was a flurry of interest in the $3,500 goggles? He notes that when Apple Vision Pro launched in February, it had four immersive video experiences available, and now there are … five. It's worth noting that Thompson isn't an Apple Vision Pro naysayer. And maybe that will happen (though people expecting an Apple Vision Pro that looks and weighs like a pair of Ray-Bans may not ever get what they want).

Persons: Ben Thompson, Apple, —, I've, Thompson, It's, you've, it's Organizations: Apple, Tech, Service, Apple Vision, NBA, Apple Vision Pro

☆ Insiders break down Amazon's sports strategy and the low-key but powerful exec behind it, as the tech giant eyes NBA rights
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

One of them is Jay Marine, who oversees Amazon's sports business as VP of Prime Video and global head of sports. Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesMarine's next move could be for the NBA, which Amazon craves for its young, global fan base. Advertisement"For us, everything starts with Prime," Marine told CNBC in a rare interview last fall. AdvertisementApart from its big bet on "TNF," Amazon's sports moves have been largely incremental. The deal lets Diamond continue airing local NBA broadcasts, which makes it more likely Amazon will bid for national NBA rights, analyst Ben Thompson of Stratechery wrote.

Persons: —, Jeff Bezos, Jay Marine, Bezos, Andy Jassy, Chris Webber, Tyrone Wheatley, scrappy, Chris Graythen, Ben Thompson, Stratechery, Marine, Patrick Crakes, it's, Marie Donoghue, Mike Hopkins, Amazon's, John Kosner, Donoghue, Kantar, signups, He's Organizations: Service, Marine, Business, US, Premier League soccer, Industry, The, Sports, WBD, NASCAR, NBC, NBA, Amazon, Disney, Warner Bros, Discovery, Apple, Netflix, CNBC, Amazon MGM Studios, Premier Boxing Champions, Diamond Sports, Diamond, Premier League, WNBA, National Women's Soccer League . Media, ESPN, DraftKings, Warner Bros . Locations: London, The New Jersey, Amazon

☆ There are growing calls for Google CEO Sundar Pichai to step down
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The slip-up was so bad it sent the company's stock tumbling, and had CEO Sundar Pichai address the troops, calling the situation "completely unacceptable." The debacle has strengthened the narrative that Google is suddenly behind in the AI race, and now there's a growing chorus of voices calling for CEO Sundar Pichai to be replaced. Pichai, who was appointed CEO of Google in 2015, and Alphabet in 2019, has proven a strong peace-time CEO for the company. He's been an effective and steady hand who protects Google's prized search business and deals diplomatically with regulators. Responding to a tweet by Color Health CEO Othman Laraki, who said Google as facing an "unsolvable problem," Mayer defended Google somewhat.

Persons: —, Sundar Pichai, Ben Thompson, Googlers, Mark Shmulik, chatbot, He's, Pichai, Aravind Srinivas, Sundar, Srinivas, Marissa, Marissa Mayer, Othman Laraki, Mayer, They've, Hugh Langley Organizations: Service, Google, Business, Color, Gartner Locations: Silicon Valley

☆ Google has another 'woke' AI problem with Gemini — and it's going to be hard to fix
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Peter Kafka | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewGoogle spent much of last week getting hammered for supposedly creating a "woke" AI chatbot and eventually apologized for "missing the mark." AdvertisementBut it's also going to be a problem for Google because it has already said it is trying to influence the way its AI produces results. And that's going to be red meat for anyone who wants to argue that Google — or any other Big Tech company — is "too woke." Last week, after getting similar criticism about the way Gemini handled race when it came to AI-generated images, Google "paused" Gemini's ability to create images. Pulling Gemini altogether would be a considerable black eye for the company, and one I think it will be incredibly reluctant to do.

Persons: —, Ben Thompson, Gemini, Hitler, Elon Musk's, Thompson, Sundar Pichai, Marc Andreessen, it's, they're, Prabhakar Raghavan, Raghavan, Google's, I'm Organizations: Service, Business, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Big Tech, Gemini

☆ Congress hasn’t been able to make social media safer. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

This has been true since the early 2010s, when tech companies began realizing the benefits of influencing policymakers on issues including net neutrality and privacy. This week, Microsoft announced its support for the Kids Online Safety Act, a leading social media bill. Even when lawmakers can agree on what the problem is, they often disagree on how to solve it, creating a smorgasbord of half a dozen or more social media bills floating around Congress. That would be a huge down payment on a future social media law, said Balkam. But even that proposal is still subject to many of the same dynamics that make social media regulation hard.

Persons: Washington CNN —, ”, Danny Weiss, Ben Thompson, Adam Kovacevich, “ That’s, hasn’t, Republican stonewalling, Weiss, Kovacevich, ” Kovacevich, I’m, ” Weiss, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, Schumer, Nancy Pelosi’s, “, Johnson didn’t, Evan Greer Organizations: Washington CNN, Big Tech, Tech, Sense, Microsoft, Kids, LinkedIn, of, Republican, CNN Locations: Washington, United States

☆ The raw materials for creating AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Alistair Barr | Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The AI models behind this technology are built using high-quality datasets from millions of different sources. These are the raw materials for model "training," in industry parlance. Nvidia GPUs are the main hardware required for AI model training. AdvertisementAdvertisementOver 8,000 authors, including Margaret Atwood and James Patterson, signed an open letter demanding compensation from AI companies for using their works to train AI without permission. Got a tip or insights about the leading AI companies OpenAI, Google, Microsoft and Meta?

Persons: ChatGPT, Nat Friedman, Ben Thompson, Friedman, There's, OpenAI, Reddit, Sarah Silverman, Margaret Atwood, James Patterson, JK Rowling's Harry Potter, Alistair Barr Organizations: Service, Nvidia, Tech, Amazon, LexisNexis, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Twitter Locations: Wall, Silicon, abarr@insider.com

☆ Some of the 'big macro issues' worry us: J.P. Morgan
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSome of the 'big macro issues' worry us: J.P. MorganBen Thompson, head of EMEA Leveraged Finance Capital Markets at J.P. Morgan, discusses the macro-economic outlook, U.S. interest rates and markets sentiment.

Persons: J.P, Morgan Ben Thompson, Morgan Organizations: EMEA, Finance Capital Markets, J.P

☆ How Bob Iger's big plan to shrink Disney could pay off and how it could backfire, according to industry insiders
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

After a run of acquisitions during his first tour as Disney CEO, Bob Iger is looking to shrink the company. "They are our film studios, our parks business, and streaming, all of which are inextricably linked to our brands and franchises." Verizon has reached out to Disney about partnering on a new ESPN streaming service, The Information reported. 2024 will bring some clarity to Disney's streaming business. "The streaming business with ESPN going direct to consumer can generate a lot of subscriptions and hopefully be a positive earnings contributor.

Persons: Bob Iger, He's, Iger, Wells, Steven Cahall, MoffettNathanson's Michael Nathanson, Iger's, hasn't, Macquarie, Tim Nollen, Doug Shapiro, Shapiro, Disney, It'll, there's, Tim Cook, Eddy, Drew Angerer, Disney's, Penn, Joel Simkins, Stratechery's Ben Thompson, Thompson, — Iger, mused, signups, he's, Kevin Lansberry, I'm, Nollen Organizations: Disney, ABC, FX, Geographic, ESPN, Google, Netflix, Warner Bros, Discovery, Warner Bros . Discovery, Comcast, Marvel, Pixar, Apple, Walt Disney, Turner Broadcasting System, Apple's, Hulu, ESPN Iger, Penn Entertainment, Houlihan, Global Technology Group, LightShed Partners, Verizon, Flagship Locations: Orlando , Florida, Sun

☆ Bob Iger is moving to shrink Disney — here's how industry insiders see his playbook and its potential pitfalls: 'Everything is not OK'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

After a run of acquisitions during his first tour as Disney CEO, Bob Iger is looking to shrink the company. He's looking to Disney's IP-driven parks, streaming, and film studios to drive growth. "They are our film studios, our parks business, and streaming, all of which are inextricably linked to our brands and franchises." 2024 will bring some clarity to Disney's streaming business. "The streaming business with ESPN going direct to consumer can generate a lot of subscriptions and hopefully be a positive earnings contributor.

☆ Stop comparing Zuck and Cook's headsets. They're built around sharply different visions of the future.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Matt Turner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Apple revealed its new headset, the Vision Pro, at its developer conference. But this comparison forgets that the two headsets are built around differing visions of future. Apple this week revealed its new Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, and comparisons were instantly drawn with Meta's own Quest headset. Then the price of Apple's headset, at $3,499, has been compared with the $500 cost of the Quest headset. Apple didn't mention the metaverse once when it unveiled the Vision Pro at WWDC, and barely mentioned gaming.

Persons: Nich Carlson, Apple, Mark Zuckerberg, Mark Zuckerberg's, Zuckerberg, Alex Heath, Ben Thompson Organizations: Apple, Vision, Morning, Vision Pro

☆ 10 Things in Tech: Bernstein's brutal letter to Andy Jassy, the price of our AI future, and Reels vs. TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But now, let's find out why a major Wall Street research firm has hit out at Amazon. Andy Jassy, who leads Amazon Web Services, will replace Jeff Bezos as Amazon CEO and leaves an opening for a cloud new leader. A top Wall Street firm wrote a brutal open letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. Meta's short-form video service, Reels, is starting to make headway against TikTok, according to a new survey by Morgan Stanley. Amazon is reportedly plotting an ad tier for Prime Video, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

Persons: Nathan Rennolds, —, let's, Andy Jassy, Jeff Bezos, Mike Blake, Bernstein, Amazon . Bernstein, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Morgan Stanley, I'm, Zach Smith, Z, Ben Thompson, Yuvo, YouTuber Matt Mikka, Tesla, Matt Mikka, Hallam Bullock Organizations: Amazon Web Services, Amazon, Wall, Amazon ., Getty, Facebook, TikTok, Apple, Prime, Street, Health Centers, Mastry Ventures, Samsung Locations: London, TikTok

☆ Apple's new Vision Pro is 'the future of the Mac', one of the top minds in tech says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Thomas Maxwell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Stratechery founder Ben Thompson believes that Apple's Vision Pro is the "future of the Mac." The Vision Pro will start at $3,499, which is a steep price, likely signaling the cost of manufacturing a complex product. An example of what Apple Vision Pro may look like at work. Those who attended WWDC in person and were able to try the Vision Pro have said that it's a product in search of a purpose. Apple Vision Pro AppleThompson notes that Apple is using "high-bandwidth connections" to share desktop screens with the Vision Pro, suggesting it might create a direct WiFi connection between the two devices to prevent lag.

Persons: Ben Thompson, Thompson, Apple, Apple Thompson, Meta Organizations: Apple, Vision, Mac

☆ SVB collapse was driven by ‘the first Twitter fueled bank run’
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Jennifer Korn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —The massive amount of customer withdrawals that led to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank had all the hallmarks of an old-fashioned bank run, but with a new twist befitting the primary industry the bank served: much of it unfolded online. Customers withdrew $42 billion in a single day last week from Silicon Valley Bank, leaving the bank with $1 billion in negative cash balance, the company said in a regulatory filing. “It was the speed, fueled by zero distribution costs for both rumors and withdrawals, that was so destabilizing.”Silicon Valley Bank was arguably uniquely susceptible to those factors given its tech-focused customer base. The next day, the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation stepped in and took control of the bank, which only added to the viral panic on Twitter. “THAT IS THE PROPER REACTION.”Hours later, the Biden administration stepped in and guaranteed the bank’s customers would have access to all their money starting Monday.

☆ The new Bing is acting all weird and creepy — but the human response is way scarier
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

It's a profit-making move designed to leverage our very human tendency to see human traits in nonhuman things. Look, I don't think we don't need to treat chatbots with respect because they ask us to. Making chatbots seem as if they're human isn't just incidental. So the real issue involving the current incarnation of chatbots isn't whether we treat them as people — it's how we decide to treat them as property. The robots don't care."

☆ Microsoft limits Bing A.I. chats after the chatbot had some unsettling conversations
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Microsoft's Bing AI chatbot will be capped at 50 questions per day and five question-and-answers per individual session, the company said on Friday. The move will limit some scenarios where long chat sessions can "confuse" the chat model, the company said in a blog post. In a blog post earlier this week, Microsoft blamed long chat sessions of over 15 or more questions for some of the more unsettling exchanges where the bot repeated itself or gave creepy answers. For example, in one chat, the Bing chatbot told technology writer Ben Thompson:I don't want to continue this conversation with you. I don't think you are worth my time and energy.

☆ Apple and Google have a symbiotic deal: ChatGPT will pressure the former to evaluate this relationship
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Thomas Maxwell | Alistair Barr | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Google has long benefited from a costly deal to be the default search engine on Apple devices. On top of the Apple deal, Google controls Android and Chrome, with roughly 71% and 65% of the smartphone and browser markets, respectively. Based on its understanding of Google's deal with Apple, Bernstein believes that a 3-year default search deal is coming up for renewal later this year. It's unclear whether Apple would want to change the default search engine to Bing, but it's always had a contentious relationship with Google. Apple's services business, which includes the search deal, was a bright spot in the company's most recent earnings report.

☆ The inside story of how Microsoft caught up with Google on AI, and the unlikely executive who made it happen
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

With OpenAI technology, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is challenging Google's online search monopoly. "Who'd have thought, even just a few months ago, that Google would be on their back foot," said Soma Somasegar, a former Microsoft executive. Google was also busy incorporating machine-learning and other AI technology into popular products such as Google Photos, Google Translate, and its search engine. Microsoft's new Bing search engine uses a newer version of GPT-3 to answer complex questions. Microsoft's positive feedback loopThe OpenAI deal laid the foundation for Microsoft to catch Google in the AI race.

☆ Ex-Google engineer said his former employer isn't taking AI seriously after demoing its new tools in Paris
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Maarten Bosma, an ex-Google Brain engineer, said in a tweet that Alphabet isn't taking AI seriously. Bosma's tweet comes after Google demoed its latest AI tools in Paris, including ChatGPT rival Bard. Some critics called Google's demo "frankly, bad" and a "disaster" amid a growing AI arms race. "I think the Google presentation signaled (rightfully or wrongly) that they are not really taking it seriously," Bosma tweeted. Microsoft' demo "was presented as a revolution," while Google's demo was presented as a "disaster," Marcus wrote.

☆ The walls are closing in on Google. Here's what it needs to do to survive.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Paayal Zaveri | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Google needs to focus on building up its AI business while also keeping costs under control. Building up its AI business needs to be a top priorityThe events of the last few days show Microsoft and Google are clearly in an AI arms race — one that Google needs to win for its own sake. Google needs to double down on its own AI prowess right now, given the threat, Wall Street analysts said. However, they emphasize that Google needs to be thoughtful and show why its technology is better than OpenAI rather than being reactive. Maintaining efficiency while retaining an innovative cultureTo win in AI, however, Google needs to maintain its culture of innovation.

☆ ChatGPT's founder blasts Google as a 'lethargic search monopoly' as the tech giant's AI war with Microsoft heats up
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called Google a "lethargic search monopoly" in an interview on Tuesday. Google has said it's own ChatGPT rival, Bard, will be coming to the public in a matter of weeks. Altman said he sees tremendous upside to Microsoft's decision to incorporate OpenAI's technology into its search engine. Microsoft announced the integration of an AI language model into its "new Bing" search engine on Tuesday. Google's search engine represented over 91% of the global search market in the past 12 months, while Bing accounted for about 3%, according to data from SimilarWeb.

☆ Disney and other Hollywood giants spent billions chasing Netflix. But their strategy appears to have a major flaw.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Media companies are trying to get to streaming profitability but their underlying businesses are in worse shape than previously thought. The remedy is to cut content spending, which throws the whole business model out the window. After cheering on Hollywood players for massively spending on streaming content, Wall Street is looking less impressed. Bottom line is, the media business isn't as good as it used to be." But another warning sign for these companies is that in streaming, content may not be as valuable as once thought.

☆ Apple and Google are both at their biggest risk of disruption in over a decade
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Matt Weinberger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

This year, Apple and Google will both face their first real tests in a very long time. Apple could finally open its walled garden, potentially disrupting the App Store juggernaut. Google has spent the last decade-plus guarding its advertising business; Apple has built as many moats around its all-important iPhone business as possible, happily collecting App Store fees and Apple Music subscriptions. Let's look at how this is finally the year that Apple and Google will face their most meaningful competition yet. If the App Store opens up and the iPhone doesn't become a toxic hellstew, perhaps Apple will reconsider its approach.

☆ The world's biggest chipmaker is making a multi-billion dollar investment in the US even though it'll cost way more to make chips there. Here's why it decided to do it anyway.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Taiwan-based TSMC, the world's biggest chipmaker, announced a $40 billion investment in Arizona last week. That's despite TSMC's founder previously calling US chip production an "expensive exercise in futility." In the event China — which claims the island as its own — invades the island and chip production screeches to a halt, there could be trillions of dollars in economic losses. First, the cost of chip production in the US might not ultimately be "50% more expensive." The factories will be partially subsidized by the US government through the CHIPS and Science Act, a package passed in August that provided $52 billion to boost US semiconductor chip production.

☆ Coinbase CEO slams Sam Bankman-Fried: 'This guy just committed a $10 billion fraud, and why is he getting treated with kid gloves?'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The CEO of Coinbase said that it's "bizarre" Sam Bankman-Fried is "getting treated with kid gloves." "I mean, this guy just committed a $10 billion fraud, and why is he getting treated with kid gloves?" "We appreciate that you've been candid in your discussions about what happened at #FTX," Waters tweeted. Criminal Activity!," Waters tweeted. He's not the only crypto CEO who's criticized the former FTX CEO recently.

☆ Apple could sink Elon Musk's Twitter by yanking it from the App Store. But it would put Apple in jeopardy too.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Paayal Zaveri | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Elon Musk is claiming that Apple threatened to remove Twitter from its App Store. While Apple could find a reason to take Twitter off the App Store, it likely will not, experts said. Experts say Apple could find a reason to take Twitter off the App Store, and doing so would devastate the company. That could be a basis for Apple to remove Twitter from the App Store, Carolina Milanesi, an analyst with Creative Strategies said. Even then, Apple still likely won't remove Twitter from its App Store, because picking a fight with Elon would exacerbate antitrust criticism of Apple.

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