As YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram continue to dominate mobile viewing, Netflix is rethinking how its app fits into a social-first video landscape. During its fourth-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, the company announced plans to revamp its mobile app and expand its short-form video feature, which it mentions could help promote the new slate of original video podcasts it unveiled last week.Set to launch later in 2026, Netflix’s redesigned mobile app is intended to “better serve the expansion of our business ...

Core Insights - Luminar's founder and former CEO Austin Russell has agreed to accept an electronic subpoena for information related to the company's ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, with specific timelines for compliance outlined in a recent filing [1][2] Group 1: Legal Proceedings - Russell had previously been accused of avoiding the subpoena by not allowing process servers access to his Florida mansion, and he expressed concerns about the protection of his personal information [2] - The two parties have reached an agreement to clarify how Russell's personal information will be handled during the subpoena process [2] - Luminar has been seeking information from Russell since his resignation, as it considers potential legal action against him [6] Group 2: Bankruptcy and Asset Sales - Luminar filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December after losing significant contracts with major customers such as Volvo and Mercedes-Benz, alongside increasing competition from Chinese lidar companies [3] - The company has reached a deal to sell its lidar assets to Quantum Computing Inc. for $22 million and is also attempting to sell its semiconductor division for $110 million [4] - An auction is scheduled for the end of the month to solicit bids that may exceed QCI's offer [4] Group 3: Russell's Interest in Luminar - Russell attempted to buy Luminar in October, following his resignation due to an ethics inquiry, but before the bankruptcy filing [5] - His new venture, Russell AI Labs, has indicated interest in submitting a bid for Luminar's lidar assets, although no formal offer has been made yet [5]

In Brief Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says consumers are beginning to see higher prices as sellers look to absorb added costs from President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Jassy told CNBC that Amazon and many of its third-party sellers stocked up on inventory ahead of the tariffs to keep prices low, but that most of that supply run out last fall. “So you start to see some of the tariffs creep into some of the prices, some of the items, and you see some sellers are deciding that they’re passing on those higher costs to ...

Netflix today is launching a new feature that will allow users to interact with live content through voting. The streaming company said the option will be available with the premiere of its live-streamed talent show “Star Search” on January 20.Subscribers will be able to either pick a selection from a multiple-choice menu or rate someone’s performance on a scale of five stars. Votes can be cast using either a TV remote or the Netflix app. Netflix said that the feature will work globally, and on the backen ...

In Brief In an effort to sweeten the pot for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) shareholders, Netflix is now offering cash for shares of the company, revising the cash-and-stock deal it had struck with WBD’s board earlier. However, the streaming giant is still offering the same $27.75 the companies had agreed on for WBD’s movie studio and streaming assets, and the deal continues to value the company at $82.7 billion. The new offer serves to simplify the deal structure, the companies said in a statement on Tuesda ...

Group 1 - Canada will reduce its 100% import tax on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) to 6.1%, allowing companies like Geely, BYD, and Xiaomi to enter the North American market [1] - The initial cap on annual imports of Chinese EVs will be set at 49,000 vehicles, increasing to approximately 70,000 over five years [1] - This policy shift aligns with China's strategy to boost EV exports, particularly as the European Union considers lowering its tariffs on these vehicles [2] Group 2 - Chinese automakers, including Geely, are actively seeking to enter the U.S. market, with plans to announce their entry within the next two to three years [3] - Despite the lower prices of Chinese EVs compared to the average U.S. car, the previous 100% tariff has hindered their export potential to the U.S. market [5] - The U.S. has been working to distance itself from China's EV supply chain for national security reasons, which presents additional challenges for Chinese automakers [6]

Core Viewpoint - Italy has initiated two investigations into Microsoft's Activision Blizzard, accusing the company of "misleading and aggressive" sales practices related to its mobile games Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile [1][2]. Group 1: Investigations and Allegations - The Autorita Garante della Concorrenza E Del Mercato (AGCM) is investigating the use of design elements in the games that may lead users, especially children, to engage in prolonged play and make in-game purchases [2][6]. - The AGCM's statement indicates that these practices could mislead players regarding the actual value of virtual currency and encourage excessive spending, sometimes beyond what is necessary for game progression [3][4]. Group 2: Game Features and Monetization - Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile are marketed as free-to-play but include in-game purchases, which is a common monetization strategy for such games [4]. - In-game purchases in Diablo Immortal can reach up to $200, allowing players to buy cosmetics and currency to enhance their gaming experience [4][5]. Group 3: Parental Controls and Privacy Concerns - The AGCM is also examining the parental control features of the games, noting that default settings permit minors to make in-game purchases and play for extended periods without restrictions [6]. - Privacy issues have been raised, as the games seem to encourage users to select all consent options during sign-up, prompting an investigation into the company's data consent processes [6][7].

Core Insights - Symbolic.ai has signed a significant deal with News Corp to utilize its AI platform for enhancing financial journalism through Dow Jones Newswires [1][3] - The AI platform developed by Symbolic.ai claims to improve productivity by up to 90% for complex research tasks, streamlining editorial workflows [2] Company Developments - News Corp, which owns major assets like MarketWatch, the New York Post, and the WSJ, is actively integrating AI into its operations [1][3] - In 2024, News Corp entered a multi-year partnership with OpenAI to license its material, indicating a strategic move towards AI collaboration [3] Technology Impact - Symbolic.ai's platform aims to enhance various editorial processes, including newsletter creation, audio transcription, fact-checking, and SEO optimization [2]

Core Insights - The Trump administration has signed a significant multibillion-dollar trade deal with Taiwan aimed at enhancing U.S. domestic semiconductor manufacturing [1] Investment Details - Taiwanese semiconductor and tech companies will invest $250 billion directly into the U.S. semiconductor industry, covering areas such as semiconductors, energy, and AI production and innovation [2] - Taiwan will also provide an additional $250 billion in credit guarantees for further investments from these companies, although the timeline for these investments remains unspecified [3] U.S. Commitment - In exchange, the U.S. will invest in Taiwan's semiconductor, defense, AI, telecommunications, and biotech sectors, but specific dollar amounts for U.S. investments were not disclosed [3] Context and Implications - This announcement follows a proclamation from the Trump administration emphasizing the need to increase semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S., noting that only 10% of semiconductors are currently produced domestically [4] - The proclamation highlighted the economic and national security risks associated with dependence on foreign supply chains, particularly in the semiconductor sector, which is crucial for the modern economy and national defense [5]

Group 1 - The Trump administration has announced a 25% tariff on certain advanced AI semiconductors, including Nvidia's H200 chips, which are set to ship to China [1] - The U.S. Department of Commerce has approved Nvidia to start shipping H200 chips to vetted customers in China, despite the tariffs [2] - Nvidia expressed support for the decision, highlighting the balance it strikes for the American chip industry and the demand for H200 semiconductors from Chinese companies [3] Group 2 - The Chinese government is drafting regulations on semiconductor imports, which may allow for the purchase of Nvidia's chips, indicating a potential shift in its stance on chip imports [7] - China aims to enhance its domestic semiconductor industry while not falling behind in the global AI race [6] - The U.S. currently manufactures only about 10% of the chips it requires, indicating a heavy reliance on foreign supply chains, which poses economic and national security risks [8][9]