Big Tech is lobbying antitrust with big dollars: The biggest technology monoliths collectively spent twice as much as big pharma in lobbying and could gain the upper hand as Congress heads into fall recess
25 new wearables: Qualcomm’s new chips promise 2x the performance for smartwatches that can last twice as long—but will devices running the chips be able to beat the Apple Watch?
Google takes the nuclear road less traveled: Funding a fusion startup’s novel idea shows how badly Big Tech needs power as energy demand grows exponentially.
Pumping out Europe’s heat: Record temperatures on a continent where most people lack air conditioning is an emergency that heat pumps could help alleviate. But barriers mean adoption won’t happen overnight.
An end to password authentication: Poor password security resulted in $52B in losses in 2021. There’s an opportunity to compete in the passwordless authentication market.
Paving the path to the metaverse: Unprecedented interest in the emerging metaverse might cool if the tech industry can’t sustain momentum on innovation and public enthusiasm during the downturn.
Samsung stands to gain from foldable surge: The global market is forecast to reach $29B in sales by 2025, and Samsung’s constant iteration on form factor makes it the smartphone maker to beat.
Cloud can’t take the heat: The UK’s heat wave causes Google and Oracle cloud data centers to shut down. Data infrastructure needs better cooling technologies to adapt to climate change.
Tech needs faster broadband: The FCC chair’s plan to raise broadband minimums to 100 Mbps is necessary for US global competitiveness but faces an uphill political battle.
Focusing on TikTok: As the social video platform cuts jobs around the world and deals with the departure of its chief security officer and accusations of data harvesting, we weigh in on what’s next.
Shopify broadens the services it offers merchants: It partnered with YouTube to allow creators and merchants to sell products on their channels and bolstered its logistics platform by buying Deliverr.
Big Tech pauses office expansion: The economic downturn has pushed beleaguered companies like Meta to rethink their strategies. Workers’ reluctance to return is another reason for companies to stall expansion plans.
FCC needs $3B more to ditch Huawei, ZTE networks: The “rip and replace” initiative is short on funds. Prolonged pushback on reimbursements could result in a dodgy patchwork of suboptimal equipment.
Tech execs worry about population growth: With rising robotics and automation set to disrupt human labor, the tech industry needs a highly skilled workforce.
EV sticker shock softens with time and perks: EVs are paying for themselves faster as automakers offer deals on free charging that could become a decisive factor for inflation-weary consumers.
AI startups target corporate fear: Mounting recession anxiety is infusing accounting AI startups with cash. Long-term investor interest in AI applications will remain diverse, but startups may have to pivot.
3D-print your inner superhero: A Hasbro-Formlabs partnership delivers personalized 3D printed action figures. It could be a sign of a manufacturing revolution yielding an array of customizable consumer goods.
The global effects of China’s economic slump: The world’s factory has been forced to cut down production for months. Tight government regulation has made investors cautious.
CPUs, storage, and Wi-Fi chips face price hike: Intel is warning that “inflationary pressures” will drive up prices this fall, indicating the end of a two-year boom period in semiconductors.
The scale of Big Tech’s lobbying efforts: Sides lobbying for and against Big Tech regulation are intensifying their efforts before the Senate’s recess. Companies like Amazon are backing groups to stall regulation.