Last week, pet products and services giant Petco confirmed that it experienced a data breach involving customers’ personal information, without specifying what type of data was affected.On Friday, in a legally required filing with Texas’ attorney general’s office, Petco reported that the affected data included: names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial information such as account numbers, credit or debit card numbers, and dates of birth.  Petco filed similar legally required notic ...

Paramount Skydance on Monday launched a hostile, $108.4 billion bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), days after Warner agreed to be acquired by Netflix for $82.7 billion. Paramount is going straight to WBD’s shareholders with an all-cash offer of $30 per share, and it noted that its offer provides shareholders $18 billion more cash than the Netflix deal, which offered $23.25 in cash and $4.50 in Netflix shares for a total of $27.75 per share. Paramount is bidding for all of WBD, while Netflix’s deal wi ...

In Brief IBM is buying data infrastructure company Confluent for $11 billion in cash in a bid to bolster its data and automation products as ever more companies move their tech operations to the cloud and deploy AI technology.The tech giant said it would offer $31 for each Confluent share, which is about 50% more than what the smaller company’s shares closed at on Friday, before news of the deal. Confluent offers a platform that helps enterprises manage streams of data in real time, a use case that’s expl ...

Group 1 - Netflix is pursuing an $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros, raising questions about federal regulatory approval [1] - Paramount was initially seen as the leading candidate for the acquisition due to CEO David Ellison's ties to the Trump administration [1] - Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos met with President Trump, who suggested that Warner Bros. should sell to the highest bidder, indicating potential non-opposition to the deal [2] Group 2 - Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav was hesitant to sell and was surprised by Paramount's interest in acquiring the studio [3] - Warner Bros. is open to considering other bids, which has led to a competitive bidding process that Netflix ultimately won [3] - Paramount may still pursue a hostile bid for Warner Bros. despite Netflix's acquisition [3]

Core Insights - Meta is developing new mixed reality glasses, codenamed Phoenix, with a delayed release from the second half of 2026 to the first half of 2027 [1] - The new glasses are expected to have a format similar to the Apple Vision Pro, featuring a puck-like power source [1] Development and Strategy - Meta executives announced the delay after CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized the need for a sustainable business model and higher quality experiences [2] - The delay is seen as an opportunity to refine the product details, according to metaverse leaders Gabriel Aul and Ryan Cairns [2] Financial Adjustments - Meta plans to reduce its metaverse budget by up to 30%, indicating a strategic shift in resource allocation [2]

Core Viewpoint - The acquisition of Warner Bros. by Netflix for $82.7 billion has sparked significant concern within Hollywood, with many viewing it as a potential threat to the industry and calling for the merger to be blocked due to antitrust implications [1][4][6]. Group 1: Industry Reactions - The Writers Guild of America has strongly opposed the merger, stating it would eliminate jobs, lower wages, and reduce content diversity [1]. - Other Hollywood unions have expressed serious concerns regarding the acquisition's impact on the future of the entertainment industry [1]. - Senator Elizabeth Warren has labeled the deal an "anti-monopoly nightmare," emphasizing the potential for higher subscription prices and fewer choices for consumers [4][6]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The acquisition followed a competitive bidding process, with Paramount and Comcast also vying for Warner Bros., but Netflix emerged as the winner [2][3]. - Paramount's initial bid aimed to acquire the entire company, while Netflix's focus was on the film and television studios and streaming business [2]. Group 3: Regulatory Scrutiny - The deal is expected to face significant regulatory scrutiny, not only from Trump appointees but also from broader political figures concerned about Big Tech [4][6]. - If the acquisition is blocked, Netflix would incur a breakup fee of $5.8 billion, raising questions about Warner Bros.' future operations [8]. Group 4: Company Strategy and Future Plans - Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos expressed confidence in the regulatory process, framing the deal as beneficial for consumers and creators [9]. - Sarandos indicated that HBO would continue to operate largely as it is, and Warner Bros. would maintain its production of TV shows for other networks [9]. - There are questions about how Netflix will handle theatrical releases for the combined entity's films, with Sarandos suggesting that the approach would not change significantly [10].

Core Viewpoint - Waymo plans to voluntarily issue a software recall to address concerns regarding its robotaxis' operation around school buses, following scrutiny from federal regulators and local officials [1][6]. Group 1: Incident Overview - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated an investigation into Waymo after observing footage of its robotaxi maneuvering around a stopped school bus with its stop sign extended and lights flashing in Atlanta [2]. - Reports from the Austin School District indicated that Waymo's robotaxis illegally passed school buses 19 times in the current year, prompting further inquiries from regulators [4]. Group 2: Company Response - Waymo updated its software on November 17, claiming that the update significantly improved performance in scenarios involving school buses, asserting that it now performs better than human drivers [3][6]. - The company emphasizes its commitment to safety, stating that no injuries have occurred related to the behavior addressed by this recall, and it will continue to analyze and improve vehicle performance [6][7]. Group 3: Industry Context - Software recalls are increasingly common in modern vehicles, including robotaxis, where operations are primarily managed by software. These updates often occur before an official recall is filed with the federal government [8].

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has identified at least 80 instances in which Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software violated road rules by running red lights or crossing into the wrong lane, according to a new letter sent to the automaker this week.NHTSA said in the letter it has received 62 complaints from Tesla drivers, 14 reports submitted by Tesla, and four media reports that describe potential violations. That’s up from around 50 violations NHTSA cited when it opened an inv ...

Core Insights - Limitless, an AI startup previously known as Rewind, has been acquired by Meta, ceasing the sale of its hardware devices while providing support for existing customers for one year [1][4]. Company Overview - Limitless was founded by Brett Bejcek and Dan Siroker, who previously co-founded Optimizely. The company transitioned to AI device manufacturing last year, launching the Limitless pendant priced at $99, which could be worn like a necklace or attached to clothing [3][6]. - The startup had raised over $33 million in funding from notable investors, including a16z, First Round Capital, and NEA [9]. Product and Service Changes - Following the acquisition, customers will no longer pay a subscription fee and will be transitioned to the Unlimited Plan. The non-pendant software "Rewind," which recorded desktop activity, will also be phased out [2]. - Limitless will provide customers with options to export or delete their data from the app [9]. Strategic Direction - Limitless aligns with Meta's vision of creating AI-enabled wearables, focusing on supporting existing Meta products rather than developing new hardware like an AI pendant [4][6]. - The company acknowledged increased competition in the market, particularly from larger players like OpenAI and Meta, which are also developing their own hardware [5].

The New York Times filed suit Friday against AI search startup Perplexity for copyright infringement, its second lawsuit against an AI company. The Times joins several media outlets suing Perplexity, including the Chicago Tribune, which also filed suit this week.The Times’s suit claims that “Perplexity provides commercial products to its own users that substitute” for the outlet, “without permission or remuneration.”  The lawsuit – filed even as several publishers, including The Times, negotiate deals with ...