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Apple announces WWDC 2025 returns June 9-13
TechCrunch· 2025-03-25 17:46
Group 1 - Apple will host its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) from June 9 to June 13, featuring updates on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, along with new developer tools [1] - The event will be held online and will include an in-person keynote at Apple Park on June 9 [1] - Significant software overhauls are expected for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with iOS 19 being described as the biggest revamp since iOS 7 [2] Group 2 - WWDC25 will be free for all developers, highlighting the latest advancements in Apple software and providing unique access to Apple experts [3] - The conference aims to support developers by offering insights into new tools, frameworks, and features [3] - New hardware products and potentially an upgraded Siri may also be introduced during the event [2]
Waymo to launch robotaxi service in Washington D.C. in 2026
TechCrunch· 2025-03-25 11:00
Group 1 - Waymo plans to offer robotaxi rides in Washington D.C. via the Waymo One app starting in 2026, but must first enhance its lobbying efforts to change current regulations requiring a human driver for autonomous vehicle permits [1][5] - The company is expanding its robotaxi services to maintain its competitive edge against rivals like Amazon's Zoox and Tesla, which is set to launch its own robotaxi service in Austin and California this year [2][3] - Waymo currently operates a commercial robotaxi service in several cities, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin, and plans to launch in Atlanta and Miami by 2026 [3][4] Group 2 - To increase awareness and enthusiasm, Waymo will begin mapping in 10 cities this year, including Las Vegas, San Diego, and Nashville [4] - The company has recently tested a small fleet of Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis in D.C., where it has been conducting manual driving and autonomous testing with a safety driver present [4] - Waymo's business model relies on the removal of human drivers, and it aims to collaborate with policymakers to update permitting rules for fully autonomous vehicles [5]
Meta settles UK ‘right to object to ad-tracking' lawsuit by agreeing not to track plaintiff
TechCrunch· 2025-03-22 00:01
Core Points - A human rights campaigner, Tanya O'Carroll, has successfully forced Meta to stop using her data for targeted advertising through a legal settlement [1][3] - The settlement is based on U.K. and E.U. data protection laws that grant individuals the right to object to the use of their personal data for direct marketing [2][5] - O'Carroll's case sets a precedent for others to exercise their rights against Meta's data processing practices [3][5] Legal Context - O'Carroll argued that Meta's personalized ads constitute direct marketing, which should be subject to user objections under existing data protection laws [2][5] - Meta claimed that its personalized ads are not direct marketing, but the settlement indicates a shift in the legal landscape regarding data privacy [3][5] - The case highlights the ongoing challenges in enforcing privacy laws against surveillance-based advertising models like Meta's [5][7] Regulatory Environment - The U.K.'s Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) supported O'Carroll's position, suggesting that other users may have stronger grounds for objecting to data processing [8] - Meta has faced numerous GDPR complaints and fines since the regulation came into effect in May 2018, but its core business model remains largely unchanged [6][7] - There are indications that enforcement actions are beginning to impact Meta's operations in Europe [7] Future Implications - O'Carroll anticipates that Meta may adopt a "pay or consent" model in the U.K., similar to its approach in the E.U., requiring users to either consent to data tracking or pay for ad-free services [9] - The specifics of the tracking-free access provided to O'Carroll remain undisclosed, but she confirmed that she will not incur any costs [9]
Meta has revenue sharing agreements with Llama AI model hosts, filing reveals
TechCrunch· 2025-03-21 20:40
Core Insights - Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously stated that selling access to Llama AI models is not the company's business model, yet recent court filings reveal that Meta does earn revenue through revenue-sharing agreements related to Llama [1][2] Revenue Generation - Meta shares a percentage of the revenue generated by companies hosting its Llama models, although specific hosts are not disclosed in the filings [2][3] - Notable partners that host Llama models include AWS, Nvidia, Databricks, Groq, Dell, Azure, Google Cloud, and Snowflake [3] Business Strategy - Zuckerberg has mentioned the potential for licensing access to Llama models and monetizing them through business messaging services and advertisements in AI interactions, although no specifics were provided [4] - The majority of the value derived from Llama is attributed to improvements made by the AI research community, which enhances various Meta products, including Meta's AI assistant [5][6] Capital Expenditures - Meta plans to significantly increase its capital expenditures, estimating $60 billion to $80 billion for 2025, primarily for data centers and AI development teams, which is roughly double the CapEx for 2024 [7] - To help offset these costs, Meta is reportedly considering launching a subscription service for Meta AI that would add unspecified capabilities [7]
Google claims news is worthless to its ad business after test involving 1% of search results in eight EU markets
TechCrunch· 2025-03-21 11:36
Core Insights - Google conducted an experiment removing news from search results for 1% of users over 2.5 months in eight European markets, concluding that news has negligible value to its advertising business [1][2] - The experiment was motivated by European copyright laws requiring payment to news publishers for content snippets, with Google asserting that publishers overestimate the value of their journalism [2] - The results of the experiment may serve as leverage for Google in negotiations with European publishers regarding payment for news content [2] Regulatory Context - Germany's competition authority has increased scrutiny on Google's practices related to news, leading to required changes in the company's behavior [3] - Google previously faced significant antitrust fines in France, including over half a billion dollars related to copyright negotiations with publishers [2] - The company abandoned plans to include French users in the news removal test after a court warned of potential fines for violating an agreement with the antitrust authority [4] Market Impact - The experiment was conducted in Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, and Spain, but not in France or Germany due to regulatory concerns [4] - Google's claim that the value of news could not be statistically distinguished from zero may provoke further regulatory scrutiny and challenges in the EU [3][4]
GTC felt more bullish than ever, but Nvidia's challenges are piling up
TechCrunch· 2025-03-20 23:24
Core Insights - Nvidia is currently leading the AI industry with record financials and high profit margins, but faces significant risks from U.S. tariffs and competition from emerging companies [2][9][10] Group 1: Company Performance and Strategy - Nvidia attracted a record 25,000 attendees at GTC 2025, showcasing its strong market presence [1] - CEO Jensen Huang emphasized the ongoing demand for Nvidia's chips, introducing new powerful chips and personal supercomputers [3][5] - Despite a dip in share price post-keynote, Nvidia aims to reassure investors about the future demand for its products [8] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Huang addressed concerns about competition from Chinese AI lab DeepSeek and other emerging companies developing low-cost inference hardware [4][6] - Major tech companies like OpenAI and Meta are exploring in-house hardware solutions to reduce reliance on Nvidia chips, which could weaken Nvidia's market dominance [12] Group 3: Tariff and Economic Considerations - Nvidia is currently not facing tariffs on chips sourced from Taiwan, but Huang acknowledged potential long-term economic impacts [9] - The company plans to invest hundreds of billions in U.S. manufacturing to diversify supply chains, which may affect profit margins [10] Group 4: New Business Ventures - Nvidia is expanding into quantum computing, launching a new center in Boston to collaborate with leading hardware and software companies [11][13] - The introduction of products like DGX Spark and DGX Station aims to position Nvidia in the personal AI supercomputer market, although these products are priced at thousands of dollars [14][15]
Apple faces lawsuit over Apple Intelligence delays
TechCrunch· 2025-03-20 22:19
Core Points - Apple is facing a federal lawsuit alleging false advertising regarding its Apple Intelligence features, with plaintiffs seeking class-action status and damages for those who purchased devices with these capabilities [1] - The complaint claims that Apple's advertisements created a reasonable expectation for consumers that advanced AI features would be available upon the iPhone's release, but the actual performance was significantly limited or absent [2] - This lawsuit adds to Apple's challenges as it attempts to deliver the anticipated Apple Intelligence capabilities, with reports indicating that CEO Tim Cook has lost confidence in the AI head's ability to execute product development [2]
Apple is reportedly losing $1B per year on its streaming service
TechCrunch· 2025-03-20 21:11
Core Insights - Apple is incurring losses exceeding $1 billion annually on its streaming service, Apple TV+ [1] - Apple TV+ is the only service in Apple's portfolio that is not profitable [1] - The company has invested approximately $5 billion in content each year since the service's launch in 2019, reducing this figure to $4.5 billion for 2024 [1] - Despite receiving over 2,500 award nominations and wins, Apple TV+ has not kept pace with competitors like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video in subscriber numbers [1] Subscriber Estimates - Apple TV+ is estimated to have around 45 million subscribers, although Apple does not disclose exact figures [2] - In comparison, Netflix leads the streaming market with 301 million subscribers [2]
Apple puts Vision Pro exec in charge of Siri in exec shaekup
TechCrunch· 2025-03-20 19:07
Core Insights - Apple is restructuring its leadership for Siri's AI features due to dissatisfaction with current performance [1][2] - CEO Tim Cook has appointed Mike Rockwell to lead the Siri team, replacing John Giannandrea [2] - Siri's inability to compete with modern AI has led Apple to integrate third-party AI services [3] Leadership Changes - Tim Cook has lost confidence in John Giannandrea's ability to execute product development for Siri [2] - Mike Rockwell will report to software chief Craig Federighi, while Paul Meade will take over the Vision Products Group [2] Performance Issues - Siri has struggled to answer basic queries, prompting Apple to delay the rollout of a more personalized version until next year [3] - Recent tests revealed Siri's failure to answer simple questions correctly, indicating a need for improvement [3]
One of Tesla's top Wall Street supporters says Elon Musk faces a ‘moment of truth'
TechCrunch· 2025-03-20 16:40
An analyst who is one of the biggest boosters of Tesla on Wall Street says Elon Musk is facing a “moment of truth” at his EV company because of a “crisis” he’s created by spending so much in the Trump administration.The analyst, Wedbush’s Dan Ives, pleaded with Musk in a note published Thursday to reduce his role working with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). “If you agree or disagree with DOGE it misses the point that by Musk spending 110% of his time with DOGE (and not as Tesla CEO) since P ...