In Brief Stripe is considering a deal to buy some or all of PayPal Holdings, sources told Bloomberg, though talks are still in their very early stages and the deal may not happen.The news comes the same day Stripe released its annual letter, giving updates on the business. The big news was that Stripe is making a tender offer that values the company at $159 billion, a 74% increase from last year. The investors buying employee shares this time around include Andreessen Horowitz and Thrive Capital. Stripe wil ...

Google announced Tuesday that it will build a data center in Minnesota that’s backed by 1.9 gigawatts of clean power, including a massive 300-megawatt battery made by startup Form Energy.The new data center, Google’s first in Minnesota, will be located in Pine Island, about an hour southeast of Minneapolis. The tech company is working with Xcel Energy to build 1.4 gigawatts of wind power and 200 megawatts of solar power. Both will feed Form’s battery, which will be capable of delivering its rated power for ...

In Brief Automotive marketplace CarGurus was the target of a data breach in which the names, email addresses, phone numbers, and physical addresses of millions of customers were stolen. Have I Been Pwned, a data notification site provider by security researcher Troy Hunt, reported that 12.5 million CarGurus accounts were compromised in the data breach. CarGurus, founded in 2006, operates an online marketplace that allows customers to buy, sell, and finance vehicle purchases.Have I Been Pwned attributed the ...

Meta plans to purchase potentially up to $100 billion worth of AMD chips, enough to drive roughly six gigawatts of data center power demand, the companies announced Tuesday.As part of the multiyear agreement, AMD has issued Meta a performance-based warrant for up to 160 million shares of AMD common stock — or about 10% of the company — for $0.01 each, structured to vest alongside certain milestones. The full stock award is conditional on AMD’s share price, which would need to hit $600 for Meta to receive it ...

The spillover from a ransomware attack on one of the largest government contractors in the United States keeps getting bigger: more than 25 million people have now had personal data stolen in the hack.Conduent provides printing, mailroom services, and document and payment processing services for state government benefit operations, such as food assistance, as well as workplace and unemployment benefits for large corporations. As such, the company handles a large amount of personal information belonging to a ...

Core Viewpoint - Tesla has initiated a lawsuit against the California DMV to challenge a ruling that claims the company engaged in deceptive marketing regarding its vehicles' automated driving capabilities [1]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit comes after the DMV ruled that Tesla overstated its automated driving features, violating state law [1]. - The DMV had previously decided not to suspend Tesla's sales and manufacturing licenses for 30 days, as Tesla complied by ceasing the use of the term "Autopilot" in its marketing materials [2]. - An administrative law judge supported the DMV's request to suspend Tesla's licenses, but the DMV opted to give Tesla 60 days to comply instead of enforcing the suspension [3]. Group 2: Company Actions - In response to the ruling, Tesla not only stopped using the term "Autopilot" but also discontinued the Autopilot feature entirely in the U.S. and Canada as of January [4]. - The decision to discontinue Autopilot may indicate that Tesla regrets this move and is seeking ways to reinstate the feature [4].

Core Insights - Uber has launched a new division called Uber Autonomous Solutions to manage all aspects of operating autonomous vehicles, including software and support services [1] - The company has formed partnerships with nearly two dozen autonomous vehicle technology firms, covering various applications from robotaxis to delivery robots [2] - Uber aims to make itself indispensable to these partners by providing operational support, allowing them to focus on software development [3] Partnerships and Investments - Uber has invested in companies like Lucid, Nuro, Waabi, and WeRide, and has allocated $100 million for building fast-charging stations for autonomous vehicles [2] - The company has established a shared robotaxi service with Waymo in Atlanta and Austin, and has partnerships with Chinese firms such as Baidu and Pony.ai [9] Operational Goals - The initiative aims to reduce costs per mile for partners and accelerate the deployment of robotaxis to over 15 cities by the end of the year [4] - Uber plans to handle infrastructure needs such as training data, mapping, fleet financing, and regulatory services [7] User Experience and Fleet Management - The new division will also focus on enhancing user experience, including customer support and fleet management, which involves remote assistance and insurance [8] - Uber's approach to fleet management is particularly relevant given recent scrutiny over labor practices in the autonomous vehicle sector [8] Strategic Context - The launch of this division follows Uber's sale of its in-house AV development unit, Uber ATG, in 2020, which was a response to internal challenges and external pressures [9] - The new division is seen as a way for Uber to protect its business model against potential revenue loss from the rise of autonomous vehicles [10]

Core Insights - Spotify is expanding its AI-powered "Prompted Playlists" feature to Premium subscribers in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and Sweden after initial testing in New Zealand and a recent launch in the U.S. and Canada [1] Feature Overview - "Prompted Playlists" allows users to create custom playlists by describing their desired listening experience in their own words, focusing on themes like moods, scenarios, and inspirations [2][3] - Users can specify details such as musical eras, genres, activities, and even personal milestones, and can choose whether to include mostly new music or music from their library [3] AI Functionality - Once a prompt is submitted, Spotify's AI generates a customized playlist based on the user's listening history and current music trends, providing explanations for song selections [4] - Users have the option to refine their playlists by adjusting prompts or starting over, and playlists can be set to refresh automatically on a daily or weekly basis [5] Beta Status and Limitations - The feature is currently in beta, with potential changes based on user feedback, and there are usage limits, with some users reporting limits after approximately 20 to 30 prompts [6] Broader AI Integration - Spotify is expanding AI features across its platform, including tools like Page Match for audiobooks and enhanced song lyrics features, as well as a partnership with SeatGeek for concert ticket links [7]

Core Insights - Apple is set to host a "special Apple experience" on March 4, which may differ from its traditional press events [1] - The company plans a "three-day flurry of announcements," culminating in the March 4 event, featuring hands-on opportunities with new products in New York, London, and Shanghai [2] - At least five new products are expected to be announced, including a low-cost MacBook, an iPhone 17e, an iPad Air with an M4 chip, a new entry-level iPad, and upgraded MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models [2]

Core Viewpoint - President Trump has threatened Netflix with consequences if it does not terminate Susan Rice from its board of directors, following her comments on corporate accountability in relation to political affiliations [1][4]. Group 1: Company Actions and Reactions - Susan Rice, a board member at Netflix since 2018, suggested that corporations aligning with Trump will face repercussions when Democrats regain power [2][3]. - Trump's social media post demanded Netflix to fire Rice immediately, labeling her as a "political hack" and questioning her qualifications [4]. - The controversy arises amidst Netflix's significant acquisition of Warner Bros., which requires federal regulatory approval [5]. Group 2: Political Context and Implications - Rice's remarks indicate a belief that corporations will not be forgiven for their actions during Trump's presidency when Democrats return to power [3]. - Trump's previous similar demands for corporate firings, such as that of Microsoft’s Lisa Monaco, highlight a pattern of political pressure on companies [5].