With Its AI Powered Alexa+, Amazon Just Put Apple on Notice

Ovomind will show its Gen AI game tech that detects gamer reactions at GDC

Ovomind, an AI and "affective computing" startup, detects player reactions to a game.

VentureBeat - 2d

Salesforce’s growth hits a bad milestone. Can its AI agents provide a boost?

The cloud software pioneer delivered an annual revenue growth rate in the single digits for the first time.

MarketWatch - 2h

Google makes Gemini Code Assist free with 180,000 code completions per month as AI-powered dev race heats up

Google’s decision to provide a free version with significantly higher usage limits positions Gemini Code Assist as a compelling choice.

VentureBeat - 2d

Alexa relaunched with ambition to be 'your best digital friend'

It is available from March and included in a Prime subscription - or $19.99 to non-members.

BBC News - 1d

Weekly quiz: What did a kayaker notice when a whale swallowed him?

How much attention did you pay to what else has been going on in the world over the past seven days?

BBC News - Feb. 20

Trump administration eliminating 2,000 USAid positions in US, notice says

All but handful of agency’s personnel around world to be placed on paid leave, according to notice sent to workers. The Trump administration on Sunday said it was placing all but a handful of USAid ...

The Guardian - 4d

Apple expands India manufacturing

Also in this newsletter: better-off Indians’ growing reliance on borrowing, and foreign direct investment shrinks

Financial Times - Feb. 21

Martin Bakole to face Joseph Parker on short notice after Daniel Dubois falls ill days before event

The heavyweight showdown was expected to produce the next challenger to unified king Oleksandr Usyk

CBS Sports - Feb. 20

Amazon is taking control of the James Bond movie franchise

Amazon MGM Studios, the tech giant's film unit, plans to take "creative control" of the James Bond series under a new deal with the franchise's longtime producers.

NBC News - Feb. 20

Amazon surpasses Walmart in revenue for the first time

Walmart reported $180.5 billion in sales during the most recent quarter while Amazon reeled in $187.8 billion.

CNBC - Feb. 20

Neighbours cancelled for second time as Amazon backs out

Long-running Australian soap will be ‘resting’ from December, after streaming giant withdraws from production. Neighbours: the 10 best memories, from Scott and Charlene to Madge’s ghost The ...

The Guardian - Feb. 21

Trump is correct on Ukraine and right to put Zelensky on the spot

I have no problem with anyone being vehemently opposed to Vladimir Putin and Russia. But such opposition should not blind them to the obvious questions that must still be asked about what is best ...

The Hill - 5d

Brutal flu season puts strain on doctors, hospitals

This flu season is shaping up to be the worst in years, with 19,000 people already dead halfway through the season. Elise Preston reports.

CBS News - 4d

Democrats blast Trump for putting Bongino at FBI

President Trump’s selection of Dan Bongino as deputy FBI director adds another conservative firebrand to the top of the agency, fueling concerns from Democrats the bureau will be politicized. A ...

The Hill - 3d

The Case Against Greenpeace Puts a Spotlight on Native History

Indigenous activists behind protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline say a lawsuit against Greenpeace is trying to rewrite their role and history.

The New York Times - 10h

Maduro surrenders to Trump but clings to power

Nicolas Maduro, the communist Venezuelan tyrant, has offered to the new Trump administration fully paid return flights for migrants, deported of Tren de Aragua criminals, increased oil production, ...

The Hill - 4d

Apple Pulls iPhone Security Feature in UK

Law enforcement in the country was pressuring the company to create a tool that would act like a back door into customers’ data.

The New York Times - 6d

Apple’s diversity policies and OpenAI deal targeted by shareholders

iPhone-maker is rare holdout in Silicon Valley against conservative efforts to force rollback on DEI issues

Financial Times - 3d

Apple announces $500 billion investment in U.S.

Apple has announced a $500 billion investment in the U.S. over the next four years. The company also said it will hire 20,000 additional workers in the U.S. CBS MoneyWatch Correspondent Kelly ...

CBS News - 3d

Apple shareholders reject proposal to scrap DEI program

Apple credits its DEI program as helping make the iPhone maker the most valuable company in the world.

CBS News - 2d

Apple shareholders reject ban on diversity programs

Apple shareholders rejected a proposal to eliminate internal programs intended to boost the diversity of the company's workforce on Tuesday before its public shareholder meeting.

NBC News - 2d

Apple Shareholders Reject Proposal to Scrap Diversity Programs

Unlike other tech firms, the iPhone maker isn’t walking back its DEI initiatives. And shareholders have now backed that decision.

Inc. - 2d

Apple iPhone 16e Review: Questionable Value

Apple’s latest $599 iPhone isn’t the best bang for your buck.

Wired - 1d

This country was just named the most relaxing destination on Earth

Yahoo News - 6d

Germany's AfD insists it is not just a party of the east anymore

Yahoo News - 6d

Prosus to acquire Just Eat Takeaway in €4bn deal

Deal to create ‘European tech champion’ follows tumultuous few years for food delivery group

Financial Times - 3d

Your Fable Nemesis Might Just Be This Giant Chicken

Turn10's upcoming Fable game has plenty of enemies for you to swing your sword at, from werewolves to a really big version of roving travel show host Richard Ayoade, but it looks like your ...

GameSpot - 1d

Trump’s New Crackdown on China Is Just Beginning

The administration is positioning itself to clamp down on Chinese investment and access to technology. But the wild card may be the president himself.

The New York Times - 1d

Trump's AI safety cuts

Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter {beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story AI safety institute faces cuts under Trump Potential cuts to the U.S. AI Safety Institute (AISI) are ...

The Hill - 3d

Amazon to gain creative control of James Bond franchise from Broccoli family

Amazon reached a deal with the Broccoli family, the James Bond franchise's longstanding producers, to form a new joint venture.

CNBC - Feb. 20

Amazon MGM to take creative control of James Bond franchise

Amazon MGM announced it is taking over the creative reins of the James Bond franchise. The Broccolis, who controlled the Bond franchise for decades, will still share intellectual property rights.

CBS News - 6d

Amazon MGM gets creative control of James Bond franchise in new deal

Amazon MGM Studios and longtime Bond custodians Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli formed a new joint venture in which they will co-own James Bond intellectual property rights.

CBS News - 6d

Amazon paid more than $1bn to take creative control of James Bond

007 stars offer mixed reactions to deal with the British-American heirs to the film producer Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli. Business live – latest updates Amazon has paid more than $1bn for ...

The Guardian - 6d

Amazon Gains Creative Control Over the James Bond Franchise

The family that has for decades held complete control over everything involving the globe-trotting superspy is relinquishing it to Amazon.

The New York Times - 6d

Victrix Modular Xbox, PlayStation, And PC Controllers Get Nice Discounts At Amazon

Victrix Pro BFG Wireless Controllers $139 (was $180) for Xbox & PC --- $159 (was $180) for PS5 & ...

GameSpot - 6d

Brazilian city in Amazon declares emergency after huge sinkholes appear

In Buriticupu, about 1,200 people risk losing their homes, and residents have seen the problem escalate in 30 years. Authorities in a city in the Brazilian Amazon have declared a state of ...

The Guardian - 6d