Tesla told Austin workers on its Model Y and Cybertruck lines to stay home for the week of Memorial Day, three workers told Business Insider. The break is unusually long, the workers said. Production lines were up and running during the same period last year, they said.The electric-car maker notified employees earlier this week. Workers, who are paid hourly, were told they could either take paid time off or come in for cleaning and training, but would not be working on the production line. The workers s ...

Group 1 - Panasonic plans to cut 10,000 jobs, representing about 4% of its workforce of nearly 230,000, with 5,000 roles in Japan and 5,000 overseas [1][2] - The company aims to enhance operational efficiency by reviewing sales and indirect departments, and optimizing personnel globally [2] - The job cuts are expected to incur costs of nearly $900 million and will be implemented within the current financial year ending in March 2026 [2] Group 2 - Panasonic shares increased by 2% in Tokyo following the announcement [3] - The company is looking to reduce its dependence on China for electric vehicle batteries, with plans to minimize Chinese supply in the future [3] - In 2022, Panasonic adopted a four-day workweek in Japan to improve employee well-being and reduce overwork-related health issues [3][4]

Core Viewpoint - Costco's internal investigation policies are criticized for being overly broad and potentially infringing on employee rights, particularly regarding confidentiality agreements that employees must sign when raising complaints [1][7]. Group 1: Case Background - The case involves Jessica Georg, who filed a sexual harassment complaint against a co-worker in 2022 using Costco's "Open Door" policy [2]. - Georg was required to sign a confidentiality agreement that prohibited her from discussing the matter with coworkers, which raised concerns about the implications for employee rights [3][6]. Group 2: Legal Arguments - Costco's lawyer argued that confidentiality rules are designed to protect the integrity of investigations and encourage candid employee statements, especially in the retail industry [4]. - The lawyer emphasized that the rules are not meant to deter discussions about wages, working conditions, or union formation [5]. Group 3: NLRB Findings - The NLRB found that the individual Georg complained about had multiple prior complaints against him, and Georg expressed concerns that sharing information could jeopardize her job [6]. - NLRB attorneys suggested that a more tailored confidentiality agreement could protect sensitive information while ensuring workers' rights against harassment [7]. Group 4: Judge's Decision - Judge Gollin proposed that Costco post a notice in the warehouse where the violation occurred, as the NLRB did not conclusively prove that similar confidentiality forms were used across all US locations [8]. - The case will proceed to the NLRB's board, with exceptions to the decision due by June 2 [8].

Apple senior vice president of services Eddy Cue set alarm bells ringing on Wednesday after dropping a bombshell at Google's antitrust trial: Google searches through Safari dropped in April for the first time ever. While his comments triggered a frenzied sell-off in Google stock, it might not be the only reason the company's watchers should be concerned about Google's ability to keep full control over the search market.A little-noticed number in Google's latest financial disclosure may be the realest sign ...

Is Google screwed? That's the $2 trillion question the tech world is trying to understand, following yesterday's blockbuster news: A top Apple executive said search queries on Google's Safari browser were declining because people were using AI engines like ChatGPT instead.Investors immediately acted as if Google's astonishing run at the top of the tech heap was over, and slashed the company's stock by more than 8%. But a day later, Google's stock is climbing back up a bit, and there's a healthy debate a ...

Core Insights - Tesla has discontinued the Cybertruck range extender, which was previously offered as a $16,000 accessory to enhance the vehicle's range [1][2] - Customers who had reserved the range extender with a $2,000 deposit have been refunded [1] - The cancellation follows delays and a reduction in the initial range estimates for the Cybertruck [2][4] Group 1: Product Specifications and Changes - The range extender was expected to increase the dual-motor variant's range to approximately 445 miles and the tri-motor variant's range to over 415 miles [2] - Initially, the Cybertruck was marketed to deliver over 500 miles of range at a starting price of $77,000, with lower versions priced at $39,900 and $49,900 [3] - The actual launch of the Cybertruck revealed a lower range of 301 to 318 miles and higher prices, with the Foundation Series starting at $120,000 and the lowest-cost version at $60,990 [4] Group 2: Market Performance and Challenges - The cancellation of the range extender is seen as a setback for the Cybertruck, which has faced challenges in sales and production [7] - Reports indicate that Tesla delivered fewer than 50,000 Cybertrucks, and production has been scaled back [8]

Company Overview - Bumble's CEO, Whitney Wolfe Herd, acknowledged that the company's focus on growth led to a decline in user experience, resulting in more mismatches and lower-quality profiles [1] - The company reported a 7.7% decline in total revenue for Q1, from $267 million in 2024 to $247 million in 2025, with Bumble app revenue dropping 6.5% [3] Strategic Changes - Wolfe Herd plans to reduce performance marketing spend and focus on removing low-quality members to improve match quality and user trust [4] - The company aims to develop a personalized matching algorithm using AI to enhance user experience [4] Industry Context - Bumble's stock price has dropped over 90% since its all-time high in February 2021, and the company has undergone significant layoffs, reducing its workforce by about 30% [2] - The dating app industry is facing challenges, with competitors like Match Group also reporting declines in revenue and user numbers, indicating a broader trend of stagnation in the sector [6][7]

Core Insights - Dan Reed, COO of Meta's Reality Labs, is stepping down after nearly 11 years, highlighting ongoing leadership changes amid internal and external pressures [1][2] - Reed described Reality Labs as a "fast-growing, multibillion-dollar consumer technology business" focused on AI wearables, augmented reality, and the metaverse [1] - Meta has restructured Reality Labs, integrating it more closely with its core business, reversing a previous standalone focus on the metaverse [3][4] Company Developments - Reed's departure follows a major restructuring of Reality Labs, with sales, marketing, and analytics teams now reporting to broader Meta leadership [3][4] - Meta COO Javier Olivan has taken over the teams previously led by Reed, aligning other Reality Labs leaders with top executives [4] - Despite a reported 40% year-over-year sales increase in 2024, Reality Labs has incurred over $60 billion in losses since 2020, indicating ongoing financial challenges [5][6] Future Outlook - Meta's chief technology officer, Andrew Bosworth, emphasized that 2025 is a critical year for Reality Labs, with the potential to validate or undermine years of investment in the metaverse [7]

Attention, US-based residents of the Apple ecosystem: it's time to rummage through your receipts. If you bought a Siri-enabled device between September 2014 and December 31, you may be able to get in on the payout of a class-action lawsuit brought against Apple. Those who can provide proof of purchase have until July 2 to submit their claims, according to a website dedicated to the suit.Apple agreed in December 2024 to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleged users' confidential or pri ...

Core Insights - The rise of AI search engines is impacting traditional search engines like Google, with indications that users are shifting towards AI for information retrieval [1][2][3] - Apple executive Eddy Cue disclosed a decline in searches on Safari for the first time, attributing this change to the increasing use of AI [2][3] - Investors are increasingly funding AI companies, hoping to capture market share from Google, which currently holds a valuation of $2 trillion [4] Group 1 - Apple receives over $20 billion annually from Google to maintain its status as the default search engine on Apple devices [2] - Cue anticipates that AI search providers will eventually replace traditional search engines, with plans to incorporate them as options in Safari [3] - Google's attempts to transition into an AI company with its Gemini AI engine have not sufficiently protected its market share, leading to a more than 7% drop in Google shares [5]