Meta announced on Wednesday that data collected from user interactions with its AI products will soon be used to sell targeted ads across its social media platforms. The company will update its privacy policy by December 16 to reflect the change, and will notify users in the coming days. The new policy applies globally, except for users in South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, where privacy laws prevent this type of data collection. Meta’s core business has long relied on building detail ...

Core Insights - Toyota is investing $1.5 billion in the startup ecosystem, focusing on the entire lifecycle of startups from inception to maturity [1] - The company has established a strategic investment subsidiary, Toyota Invention Partners Co., with approximately $670 million in capital, alongside a second $800 million fund from its growth-stage venture arm, Woven Capital [3][11] Investment Strategy - Toyota Invention Partners will adopt a long-term strategy targeting Japan-based startups, avoiding traditional fixed investment periods [4] - The investment structure includes three tiers: Toyota Invention Partners for early-stage, Toyota Ventures for early-stage, and Woven Capital for growth-stage investments [5] - The total commitment across these investment arms exceeds $3 billion, indicating a strong focus on meeting the evolving needs of market founders [8] Recent Developments - A recent investment was made in Machina Labs, an advanced manufacturing startup that integrates AI and robotics, highlighting Toyota's interest in innovative technologies [8][9] - Woven Capital has invested in 18 companies from its first fund, which launched in 2021 with an $800 million capital, and will continue to support follow-on investments [10]

Core Viewpoint - Fubo's shareholders have approved the merger with Disney, combining Fubo with Hulu Live TV, which is expected to disrupt the streaming industry and enhance Hulu's competitive position against YouTube [1][2]. Group 1: Merger Details - The merger was initially announced in January and aims to close the competitive gap between Hulu Live TV and YouTube TV, which has around 10 million subscribers, while Hulu Live TV and Fubo together have about 6 million subscribers [2]. - If executed effectively, the merger could provide sports fans with more flexible viewing options, including a potential new Hulu-branded package that offers access to Disney's streaming services (Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN) at no additional cost [3]. Group 2: Regulatory and Ownership Aspects - The approval from Fubo's shareholders is still subject to regulatory approvals, as the merger will create a larger entity and affect market competition by reducing the number of independent streaming players [4]. - Once finalized, Disney will own approximately 70% of Fubo, but Fubo will continue to operate as an independent offering, with David Gandler, co-founder and CEO of Fubo, overseeing the merged operations [5].

Core Insights - Venmo and PayPal will enable users to pay each other directly, enhancing compatibility between the two platforms [1] - This integration addresses a long-standing issue for users who have had to use workarounds to transfer money between the services [1] - PayPal's broader network of payment systems, named PayPal World, will facilitate international money transfers without barriers and fees [2] Group 1 - Venmo users and PayPal users will be able to pay each other in the U.S. and worldwide starting in November [1] - PayPal users can find Venmo users using their phone numbers and later email addresses [1] - The integration may have been delayed to discourage users from creating accounts on both platforms [1] Group 2 - PayPal announced the expansion of its payment systems in July, starting with Venmo [2] - PayPal World will also include partnerships with Mercado Pago, NPCI International Payments Limited, and Tenpay Global [2] - Venmo and PayPal combined have 2 billion global users, according to PayPal [2]

In Brief Music streaming giant Spotify said on Tuesday that its founder, Daniel Ek, is stepping down as CEO and will become the company’s executive chairman by the year’s end.The company is replacing Ek with two co-CEOs chosen in house: Gustav Söderström, co-president, and chief product and technology officer; and Alex Norström, co-president and chief business officer. “Over the last few years, I’ve turned over a large part of the day-to-day management and strategic direction of Spotify to Alex and Gustav ...

Core Viewpoint - A Faraday Future electric SUV caught fire at the company's Los Angeles headquarters, leading to significant damage and raising concerns about the company's future operations at the site [1][2][3]. Incident Details - The fire occurred early on September 28, 2024, and was reported at 4:37 a.m. local time, with firefighters extinguishing it by 5:17 a.m. [6][8]. - The fire was severe enough to cause an explosion that damaged part of the building, which has since been "red tagged" by the city's Department of Building and Safety, indicating it may require structural repairs before reoccupation [2][9]. - No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation, with no human factors identified by fire department investigators [3][8]. Company Background - Faraday Future has faced financial struggles for years, having sold its headquarters in 2019 to generate cash and subsequently leasing it [4]. - The current lease situation is uncertain, as the property is being advertised for lease by CBRE, and the company’s communications director was unsure of the lease's current status [5][4]. - The FF91 SUV, which was unveiled in 2017 as an ultra-luxury electric vehicle, has seen limited production, with only a few dozen units delivered to high-profile customers [9][10]. Future Prospects - The company is attempting to pivot by promoting a more affordable electric van and exploring a crypto-focused business model [11]. - Regulatory scrutiny is increasing, as the SEC has issued "Wells Notices" to Faraday Future and its founder, indicating potential legal action following a lengthy investigation [11].

Core Viewpoint - Electronic Arts (EA) is reportedly in talks to go private, reflecting broader concerns among executives about the future of the video game industry as it shifts towards consolidation [1] Industry Trends - The video game industry has experienced a shift where gamers are increasingly sticking with old favorites rather than purchasing new titles, which has implications for revenue generation [1] - Following a period of rapid growth in the 2010s and during the pandemic, the current trend indicates a potential decline in new game purchases [1] Company Performance - In fiscal year 2025, 75% of EA's revenue is expected to come from live services rather than new game purchases, highlighting a significant change in revenue sources [1] - Analysts suggest that the industry is moving away from innovation towards a model where players spend repeatedly on the same games [1] Valuation Insights - The reported $50 billion price tag for EA may be viewed by executives as the company's "peak valuation," as the industry enters a phase where profits may rise but valuations could decline [1]

Core Viewpoint - President Donald Trump has called for Microsoft to terminate Lisa Monaco, the company's president of global affairs, due to her previous roles in the Obama and Biden administrations, which he claims give her access to sensitive information that is "unacceptable" [1][2]. Group 1 - Lisa Monaco joined Microsoft in May, overseeing the company's cybersecurity policy and relationships with world governments [2]. - Trump previously rescinded Monaco's security clearance earlier this year, along with those of Biden, Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, and the Biden family [2]. - Far-right activist Laura Loomer has publicly criticized Microsoft's hiring of Monaco and called for the cancellation of all of Microsoft's government contracts [3]. Group 2 - This incident is part of a broader trend where Trump has targeted tech executives, previously calling for Intel President Lip-Bu Tan to resign over alleged conflicts of interest [3].

Group 1 - Electronic Arts (EA) is nearing a $50 billion sale to a group of investors including Silver Lake and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund [1] - EA is known for its annual sports titles in franchises like Madden NFL, FIFA, and NBA Live, as well as popular video game series such as The Sims, Battlefield, Need for Speed, and Star Wars [1] - The potential deal could be the largest leveraged buyout in history, primarily funded with debt [2] Group 2 - Following the news of EA potentially going private, the company's stocks surged by 15% on Friday afternoon [2]

A wider leadership shakeup at Hyundai’s electric air taxi startup Supernal is underway just a few weeks after it paused work on its vehicle program and its CEO and CTO left, TechCrunch has learned.Supernal’s chief strategy officer Jaeyong Song and chief safety officer Tracy Lamb are no longer with the company, the startup confirmed Friday. Lina Yang, the chief of staff to Suprernal’s recently-departed CEO Jaiwon Shin is also out. (Yang had previously served as Supernal’s “Head of Intelligent Systems” until ...