In a move that underscores the growing global interest in artificial intelligence (AI), Microsoft has announced an investment of $1.7 billion over the next four years in Indonesia. This investment, part of a broader trend of increasing AI investments worldwide, will focus on building new cloud and AI infrastructure, providing AI skills opportunities for 840,000 people, and supporting the nation’s burgeoning developer community.Microsoft’s investment in Indonesia is just one example of the AI investment boom ...

Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced the general availability of its generative artificial intelligence-powered assistants for software development and business decision-making.One assistant, Amazon Q Developer, generates code, tests, debugs and implements new code generated from developer requests, the company said in a Tuesday (April 30) press release.Amazon Q Developer generates code suggestions and recommendations in near real time, autonomously performs tasks like software upgrades, and performs securit ...

Walmart is shutting down its health centers and telehealth offering, saying there is not a sustainable business model for these operations to continue.The company will close all 51 Walmart Health centers across five states and Walmart Health Virtual Care, Walmart said in a Tuesday (April 30) press release.“This is a difficult decision, and like others, the challenging reimbursement environment and escalating operating costs create a lack of profitability that make the care business unsustainable for us at t ...

Apple has reportedly hired away dozens of artificial intelligence experts from Google.That’s according to a Tuesday (April 30) report by the Financial Times (FT), which analyzed hundreds of LinkedIn profiles, along with job postings and research papers. The analysis showed a hiring spree by the tech giant to expand its AI and machine learning operations, with Apple recruiting at least three dozen specialists from Google.Most of the company’s AI team operates from California and Seattle, per the report, alth ...

Walmart is expanding its private-label offerings with the debut of “chef-inspired” food brand bettergoods.Announced Tuesday (April 30), bettergoods represents Walmart’s largest private-brand food rollout in two decades, the company said in a news release. It’s happening as a number of other retailers delve deeper into the world of private-label goods.“Today’s customers expect more from the private brands they purchase — they want affordable, quality products to elevate their overall food experience,” Scott ...

Goldman Sachs is reportedly closer to exiting its General Motors credit card business.The banking giant is in discussions with Barclays to transfer the issuance of the cards, the latest in its long-term project to move away from consumer lending, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Tuesday (April 30).Barclays is the top contender to take over the GM cards, which have around $2 billion in outstanding balances, and could reach a deal by this summer, the report said, citing sources familiar with the matter. ...

Thursday (May 2) will see Apple announce its latest quarterly earnings results.Amid the volatility of hardware sales that springs to mind, there may be signs of pressure as the tech giant seeks to expand its ecosystem.Some of what we might term the company’s “core” or “bread and butter” top-line contributors, through apps and iPhones, as well as tougher sledding in China, may temper at least some of the near-term outlook.App Store Regulatory Scrutiny in Europe (and Elsewhere)Apple has been on a multiyear jo ...

ECommerce solution provider PrestaShop has partnered with Mastercard to offer Click to Pay in Europe.The Click to Pay functionality will be integrated into the PrestaShop platform for merchants based in France, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom and then extended to other European and international markets, the companies said in a Monday (April 29) press release.“We are proud to enable our merchants to benefit from Click to Pay, a technology that represents the future of online transactions,” Eric Senechal ...

Amazon says its Prime deliveries have reached their fastest speed on record.The eCommerce giant announced Monday (April 29) that more than 2 billion items had arrived the same day or on the next day to members worldwide during the first quarter of 2024.“In March, nearly 60% of Prime member orders arrived the same or next day across the top 60 largest U.S. metro areas, and we delivered three out of four items the same or next day in London, Tokyo, and Toronto,” Amazon Stores CEO Doug Herrington said in a new ...

UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty will testify before two Congressional committees Wednesday (May 1), addressing the cyberattack that hit the company’s Change Healthcare unit.The Senate hearing is titled “Hacking America’s Health Care: Assessing the Change Healthcare Cyber Attack and What’s Next,” while the House hearing is called “Examining the Change Healthcare Cyberattack.”When announcing the upcoming House hearing, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Subcommi ...