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Jared Kushner's Affinity is stepping away from the Paramount-Warner Bros. bid
Business Insider· 2025-12-17 03:32
Kushner's father-in-law's presence looms large in the deal. President Donald Trump, who said he would be involved, has long-standing ties to David Ellison's father, Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison, who is backing the Paramount bid. Jared Kushner is walking away from Paramount's bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Affinity Partners, a Florida-based private equity firm founded by President Donald Trump's son-in-law, will not participate in financing Paramount's $108 billion bid for WBD, a person close to the mat ...
A California judge rules that Tesla misled consumers on how autonomous its cars are
Business Insider· 2025-12-17 00:14
Core Points - Tesla has been given 90 days to amend its advertising language or face a 30-day suspension from selling in California [1] - The California DMV has proposed a suspension of Tesla's license to sell and manufacture vehicles in the state, but has opted for a temporary stay on the suspension of the manufacturing license [3] - The DMV's actions follow a lawsuit filed in 2022, accusing Tesla of misleading consumers regarding its driver assistance technologies [4][5] Summary by Sections Advertising and Legal Actions - The California DMV has accused Tesla of misleading consumers by advertising its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system as capable of conducting trips without driver intervention [5] - Administrative Judge Juliet E. Cox has made a proposed decision regarding Tesla's advertising practices, which will be publicly released on December 22 [2] - Tesla's legal team has denied any intent to mislead consumers, stating that the company has always informed buyers about the limitations of FSD and Autopilot [5][6] Regulatory Response - The DMV sought to suspend Tesla's ability to sell cars for at least 30 days and to award monetary damages to consumers [5] - The DMV's proposed suspension of Tesla's selling license is currently on hold for 90 days to allow the company to make necessary amendments [3]
iRobot filed for bankruptcy: How the Roomba maker got here
Business Insider· 2025-12-16 16:30
iRobot, the maker of the Roomba robot vacuum cleaner, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week after years of mounting financial struggles and a failed $1.4 billion acquisition deal with Amazon.The 35-year-old company once reigned supreme in the world of robotic vacuums, but its dominance waned amid rising competition from lower-cost rivals and weakening consumer demand. Here's a look back at how this once mighty, pioneering robotics company arrived at this moment. iRobot was founded by MIT ...
Netflix has done its second big podcast deal as it prepares to launch a slate of shows in early 2026
Business Insider· 2025-12-16 16:01
Core Insights - Netflix has entered into a significant partnership with iHeartMedia to exclusively host video versions of over a dozen popular podcasts, including "The Breakfast Club" and "My Favorite Murder," set to launch in early 2026 in the US [1][3] - This move is part of Netflix's broader strategy to diversify its content offerings beyond traditional TV series and movies, aiming to include various genres such as pop culture, true crime, sports, and comedy [3][6] - The deal with iHeartMedia complements Netflix's previous agreement with Spotify, indicating a strong push into the video podcasting space [3][4] Content Strategy - Netflix aims to have between 50 to 75 shows available at the launch of its video podcasts, with aspirations to expand that number to as many as 200 over time [5] - The partnership with iHeartMedia allows Netflix to provide exclusive video content that will not be available on platforms like YouTube, while iHeartMedia retains audio-only rights [2][6] - The inclusion of popular shows like "The Breakfast Club," which ranks as the 15th most listened to podcast, is expected to help Netflix establish itself as a regular destination for podcast viewers [6] Market Trends - A report from Edison Research indicates that over half (51%) of people in the US aged 12 and up have watched a video podcast, highlighting a growing trend in the consumption of video content [8] - The demand for video exclusivity from Netflix may pose challenges for some podcasters, as it could limit their ad revenue and audience reach on platforms like YouTube [7] - Netflix's exploration of partnerships with individual podcasters, such as Alex Cooper, suggests a targeted approach to curating content that appeals to diverse audiences [4]
Instagram is coming to bigger screens with Reels for TV
Business Insider· 2025-12-16 16:00
If you miss the days of gathering around the TV surfing channels, you're in luck. Instagram launched Instagram for TV on Tuesday, bringing its popular Reels content to the big screen via Amazon Fire TV devices.The app, which is first being rolled out in the US, groups Reels into channels, including trending comedy, sports, or hidden travel gems. Users can choose a channel and start watching, with the Reels playing automatically. Instagram for TV is part of the platform's ongoing effort to adapt to the way ...
'Big Short' investor Michael Burry sold GameStop weeks before it skyrocketed: 'I had no idea what was coming'
Business Insider· 2025-12-16 14:30
When it comes to regrets, Michael Burry has a few. The investor of "The Big Short" fame, who bet on GameStop years before it became a meme, explained why he sold the stock before it skyrocketed in a Substack post on Monday night.Burry got in earlyBurry, who recently pivoted from hedge fund manager to online writer, first invested in GameStop in the summer of 2018. The video-game retailer's stock looked undervalued to him, and he saw an array of catalysts that could send it higher, he wrote. They included ...
Ford is pulling back on EVs and getting in on the AI boom with data center battery storage
Business Insider· 2025-12-16 13:08
EVs aren't really working out for Ford, so now it's chasing the AI boom instead. The Detroit auto giant said on Monday it would pull back from electric vehicles in a move that would cost the company $19.5 billion.In addition to scrapping planned electric models and building more hybrids, Ford said it would repurpose its EV battery factory in Kentucky to build batteries to power data centers and energy infrastructure. The Mustang maker added that it would invest $2 billion to scale the new energy storage b ...
Meta is making 'AI core to how we work' with the help of tools from Google and OpenAI
Business Insider· 2025-12-16 12:31
In its push to create an "AI-first" workplace, Meta is expanding employees' access to tools from rivals such as Google and OpenAI, Business Insider has learned. The social media giant has been encouraging employees to integrate AI tools into nearly everything they do, according to multiple internal documents and posts seen by Business Insider.One of the company's priorities is to "make AI core to how we work," Meta's chief information officer, Atish Banerjea, told employees in a June memo outlining a plan ...
Alphabet's stock surge has made its cofounders richer than anyone except Elon Musk
Business Insider· 2025-12-16 10:50
Core Insights - Alphabet's cofounders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, have seen significant increases in their net worth, surpassing other tech billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Mark Zuckerberg [1][2] - As of the latest data, Page and Brin's combined wealth stands at $511 billion, largely due to a surge in Alphabet's stock price [2][8] Wealth Increase - Since the beginning of January, Page and Brin have added $97 billion and $88 billion to their fortunes, respectively, totaling a joint increase of $185 billion [2] - Their wealth gains are notably higher than those of other tech leaders, with Ellison and Nvidia's Jensen Huang seeing increases of $46 billion and $39 billion [2] Stock Performance - Alphabet's stock has surged over 50% since mid-August, rising from $200 to over $300, contributing to the substantial increase in Page and Brin's wealth [8] - The company's market value is currently at $3.7 trillion, with Page and Brin each owning about 6% of Alphabet [8] AI Developments - Positive reception for Alphabet's new AI model, Gemini 3, has renewed investor optimism regarding the company's potential to lead in the AI sector [9] - Alphabet has also benefited from reduced antitrust concerns and a significant deal with Anthropic, which has further boosted stock prices [9]
Tech companies want flying taxis on the battlefield
Business Insider· 2025-12-16 10:27
US tech companies are hoping soon to gain clearance for flying taxis that make short commercial hops like Manhattan to LaGuardia Airport. Eyeing defense dollars, they're also equipping air taxies for the battlefield. Air taxis have wings and propellers, allowing them to take off and land like a helicopter and fly like an airplane. You can't yet hail a flying taxi anywhere in the US, though those futuristic flights could be coming in the next couple of years.Pentagon leaders have shifted their focus to the ...