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Apple Reportedly Taps Samsung Display for First Foldable iPhone Screens
CNET· 2025-07-15 14:30
Group 1 - Samsung Display is set to produce crease-free displays for Apple's first foldable iPhone, expected to launch in 2026 [1][2] - Mass production of flexible folding screens by Samsung Display will begin later this year to meet the summer 2026 launch timeline [1] - Industry insider Ming-Chi Kuo indicates that Apple's reliance on Samsung Display suggests confidence in their ability to ensure stable mass production [2] Group 2 - The foldable smartphone market is becoming increasingly competitive, prompting Apple to take a cautious approach to its entry [2] - Samsung Display is recognized for its innovations, including double-folding displays and stretchable screens, which may enhance the appeal of Apple's foldable iPhone [2]
EU Slaps Google With Antitrust Complaint Over AI Overviews
CNET· 2025-07-07 21:26
Core Argument - A group of independent publishers has filed an EU antitrust complaint against Google regarding its use of AI Overviews, which are AI-generated results that appear at the top of Google searches and are trained on content from across the internet [1][2] Impact on Publishers - The complaint states that Google's AI Overviews misuse web content, causing significant harm to publishers, including loss of traffic, readership, and revenue [2] - Publishers are unable to opt out of their content being used for AI training without losing visibility in Google Search [2] - Publisher traffic has seen drastic declines, with some major sites experiencing drops of 27-59% according to Similarweb estimates [5] Industry Response - In response to declining traffic, many publishers, including CNN and The Verge, are implementing paywalls and seeking direct connections with readers, moving towards a "Google Zero" future [5][6] - The publishing industry is actively filing lawsuits against AI companies like OpenAI and Microsoft for using copyrighted material to train their models [6][7] - The publishing sector has faced significant challenges, leading to layoffs and closures, with 2,900 local newspapers shutting down in the US since 2005 [8]
Microsoft Layoffs Are Here and These 3 Games Have Already Been Canceled
CNET· 2025-07-03 13:20
Group 1: Company Actions - Microsoft is implementing mass layoffs, cutting approximately 4% of its workforce, equating to about 9,000 roles across the company [1] - Microsoft Gaming chief Phil Spencer indicated that the company will end or decrease work in certain areas to focus on strategic growth and increase agility by removing layers of management [2] - Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty confirmed the cancellation of several games, including "Perfect Dark" and "Everwild," and mentioned the closure of The Initiative studio [3] Group 2: Game Cancellations - The cancellation of "Perfect Dark," a reboot of the classic FPS series, is significant, with development ongoing since 2018 and gameplay footage shown in June 2024 [4] - "Everwild," a new IP from Rare, has also been canceled after a tumultuous development period, having been announced in 2019 and rebooted in 2021 [5][6] - An untitled MMORPG from Zenimax Online Studios, codenamed "Blackbird," which was intended as a successor to "Elder Scrolls Online," has also been put on hold [6][7] Group 3: Industry Impact - The layoffs and game cancellations highlight job instability in the gaming industry, raising concerns about the future of major game releases and overall confidence among gamers [8][9] - The cancellations of high-profile titles like "Perfect Dark" and "Everwild" could impact Microsoft's release schedule in the coming years, although all games showcased during the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase will continue development [9]
Amazon Reaches Automation Milestone by Deploying Its Millionth Robot
CNET· 2025-07-01 21:46
Core Insights - The article highlights the expertise of Tyler Graham in the field of energy and utilities, particularly focusing on community solar and state solar policy [1][2] - It emphasizes the importance of renewable energy and its accessibility, as well as the growing interest in electric vehicles [2] Group 1: Expertise and Background - Tyler Graham has a background in journalism, having graduated from Seton Hall University [1] - He has been actively involved in energy product testing and has covered significant topics such as federal solar policy [1] Group 2: Areas of Focus - The article outlines key areas of expertise including community solar, state solar policy, and the cost and accessibility of solar energy [2] - It also mentions the relevance of renewable energy and electric vehicles in the current market landscape [2]
Analyst Says Apple Has Big Vision Pro Plans For 2027, Including Smart Glasses
CNET· 2025-06-30 19:12
Group 1: Apple’s Product Development - Apple plans to release multiple head-mounted AR and VR products in 2027, including an upgraded Vision Pro headset later this year [1][2] - Three Vision series products and four pairs of smart glasses are currently in development, with expectations to ship over 10 million AR/VR products in 2027 [2] - The Vision Air, a lighter headset with a 40% weight reduction, is set for release in 2027, while a second-generation Vision Pro is planned for 2028 [3] Group 2: Market Trends and Competitors - The global smart glasses market is projected to grow from $1.93 billion in 2024 to $8.26 billion by 2030, attracting major tech players [5] - Meta is actively developing smart glasses and has introduced the Orion prototype, which features a transparent display [5][7] - Apple’s entry into the AR and VR space poses a significant threat to Meta's market dominance, given Apple's strong brand loyalty [8]
Meta Won Its AI Fair Use Lawsuit, but Judge Says Authors Are Likely 'to Often Win' Going Forward
CNET· 2025-06-28 11:59
Core Viewpoint - AI companies, particularly Meta and Anthropic, have achieved significant legal victories regarding the use of copyrighted materials for AI training, but these rulings do not establish a blanket legality for such practices in the future [1][2][8]. Group 1: Legal Rulings - Meta won a motion for partial summary judgment in a case involving 13 authors who claimed copyright infringement due to the use of their books for training Llama AI models [1]. - Judge Vince Chhabria emphasized that the ruling does not imply that Meta's use of copyrighted materials is lawful, but rather that the plaintiffs failed to present compelling arguments [2]. - The rulings are significant as they are among the first to provide substantive legal analyses on the fair use doctrine in the context of AI [8]. Group 2: Fair Use Doctrine - The core issue revolves around whether AI companies' use of protected content qualifies as fair use, which allows for certain uses of copyrighted work without permission [2]. - The fair use evaluation considers four key factors, with Meta's ruling focusing on the impact of AI on the existing publishing market [2][5]. - Judge Chhabria noted that while AI-generated works could diminish the market for human-created books, the plaintiffs did not provide sufficient evidence of harm [6]. Group 3: Industry Implications - The victories for AI companies may reduce the need for costly licensing agreements with content creators, which has raised concerns among authors [3]. - A group of authors has publicly urged publishers to take a stronger stance against AI, highlighting the lack of permission and compensation for the use of their works [4]. - The rulings may influence future cases, as they set precedents that judges can reference in similar copyright disputes involving AI [9][10].
Amazon's Targeting 4,000 More Towns for Faster Prime Delivery This Year
CNET· 2025-06-25 15:50
Core Points - Amazon plans to expand its delivery network to reach over 4,000 communities, particularly in rural areas, by the end of 2025 [1] - The company aims to triple its delivery network by the end of 2026, reaching more than 13,000 ZIP codes [2] - The expansion is expected to create over 100,000 new jobs across various positions [3] Delivery Network Expansion - The expansion will include over 200 delivery stations to enhance the rural delivery network [3] - The initiative is designed to provide same-day and next-day delivery services to small towns [1] Economic Impact - The expansion is anticipated to support small businesses in rural areas by allowing them to utilize the Amazon Hub Delivery program [7] - Making deliveries cheaper is crucial for Amazon, especially in light of potential price increases due to tariffs [5] Strategic Insights - Experts view the expansion as a strategic move for Amazon to reduce reliance on other carriers, potentially lowering costs in the long run [4] - There may be resistance from rural communities regarding the establishment of large warehouses [6]
Amazon Doubles Project Kuiper Satellite Fleet in Race to Catch Up to SpaceX's Starlink
CNET· 2025-06-23 19:02
Core Insights - Amazon successfully launched 27 Kuiper satellites, increasing its operational broadband satellite count to 54 [1] - Project Kuiper is a $10 billion initiative aimed at creating a network of 3,236 satellites to provide high-speed internet, particularly in underserved areas [2] - The launch was executed without issues, following a previous scrub due to a rocket booster problem [3] Launch and Operations - The Atlas V rocket released the satellites approximately three hours post-launch, transferring control to Amazon's mission center [3] - Amazon plans to conduct around 80 launches to complete its satellite network, utilizing various rockets including Atlas V, Vulcan Centaur, Blue Origin, and SpaceX [4] Regulatory and Competitive Landscape - Amazon must launch half of its satellite fleet by mid-2026 to comply with FCC regulations, making each launch critical [5] - Competing with SpaceX's Starlink, which has a significant lead in launches and market share, presents challenges for Amazon despite its financial resources and retail presence [5]
Waymo's Self-Driving Service Expands in California, With Eyes on New York. What to Know
CNET· 2025-06-18 19:29
Core Insights - Waymo is expanding its autonomous vehicle services into more cities, including recent expansions in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, with plans to test in New York City next month [1][3] Expansion of Services - Bay Area riders can now hail fully autonomous rides in Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, and Burlingame, with select access to Mountain View and parts of Palo Alto and Menlo Park [2] - In Los Angeles, the service area has expanded to over 120 square miles, including Playa del Rey, Ladera Heights, Echo Park, Silver Lake, and Mid-City to Inglewood [2][16] - Waymo plans to launch its service in Atlanta via Uber later this year, covering 65 square miles, and will also begin operations in Washington, DC, and Miami in 2026 [3][25][24] Partnerships and Collaborations - Waymo is expanding its partnership with Uber, allowing riders to hail Waymo vehicles through the Uber app in Austin and soon in Atlanta [20][18] - A collaboration with Toyota was announced to explore developing autonomous driving technology for personal vehicles [4] - Waymo is also partnering with Hyundai to integrate its sixth-generation technology into the Ioniq 5 SUVs, with testing expected to start by late 2025 [6][31] Manufacturing and Fleet Expansion - Waymo is opening a new 239,000-square-foot factory in Phoenix to add 2,000 fully autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles to its fleet, which currently consists of 1,500 vehicles [5] - The factory's design will allow for the integration of upcoming sixth-generation self-driving technology into new vehicles [5] Safety and Performance Metrics - Waymo reports providing over 250,000 paid trips each week, with its autonomous technology showing 88% fewer crashes leading to serious injuries compared to average human drivers [7][8] - The company has driven over 71 million autonomous miles, reporting significantly fewer crashes involving pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists [8] Future Developments - Waymo's sixth-generation self-driving technology aims to enhance vehicle capabilities, including better navigation in extreme weather [30] - The company is also testing fully autonomous rides on freeways in Phoenix and plans to expand these capabilities to everyday riders soon [31][32]
Waymo Expands Its Self-Driving Service Throughout California. Here's Everything to Know
CNET· 2025-06-17 18:37
Core Insights - Waymo is expanding its self-driving car services into more cities, including additional areas in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, making autonomous rides more accessible to the public [1][2] Expansion of Services - Waymo's robotaxi service now covers Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, and Burlingame in the Bay Area, with plans to extend to Mountain View and parts of Palo Alto and Menlo Park [2] - In Los Angeles, the service area has expanded to over 120 square miles, including Playa del Rey, Ladera Heights, Echo Park, Silver Lake, and Sunset Boulevard [2][16] Current Operations - Waymo operates fully autonomous rides in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin, Texas, using all-electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles [3] - The company is set to launch its services in Atlanta via Uber later this year and plans to begin operations in Washington, DC, and Miami by 2026 [3][25] Manufacturing and Technology Development - Waymo is opening a new 239,000-square-foot autonomous vehicle factory in Phoenix, aiming to add 2,000 Jaguar I-Pace vehicles to its fleet [5] - The company has reached a preliminary agreement with Toyota to explore collaboration on autonomous driving technology [4] Safety and Performance Metrics - Waymo reports providing over 250,000 paid trips weekly, with its autonomous technology showing 88% fewer serious injury crashes compared to average human drivers [7][8] - The company has recorded significant reductions in crashes involving pedestrians (93%), cyclists (81%), and motorcyclists (86%) [8] Future Developments - Waymo is testing its sixth-generation self-driving technology, which includes enhanced sensors for better navigation in extreme weather [29] - The company has partnered with Hyundai to integrate its technology into the all-electric Ioniq 5 SUV, with plans for significant production over multiple years [30]