Friday, February 19, 2021

Facebook Back at Negotiating Table, Says Australia After Site Blocks News

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday that Facebook was back at the negotiating table after the tech giant this week blocked news on its site in the country. https://ift.tt/3pAUhAv

Apple May Introduce a Magnetic Battery Pack That Charges iPhones Wirelessly

Apple is working on a magnetically attached battery pack for the newest iPhones that would wirelessly charge the handset. It could provide the company with another potentially lucrative MagSafe add-on... https://ift.tt/37u2Xmc

Mars Rover Beams Back Selfie from Moment Before Landing

NASA has released a stunning picture of its Mars Rover Perseverance being lowered into the dusty red surface moments before a successful landing. NASA has promised more photos in the next few days and... https://ift.tt/2OMQIKM

Google AI Chief Apologises for Timnit Gebru's Acrimonious Exit

Google CEO Sundar Pichai in an email to staff acknowledged the fault in Timnit Gebru's acrimonious exit and said Google will start grading executives based on workforce diversity goals and increase... https://ift.tt/3s4Sx46

Sequoia Capital says it experienced a cybersecurity incident, and reportedly told investors some of their personal and financial info may have been hacked (Kia Kokalitcheva/Axios)

Kia Kokalitcheva / Axios:
Sequoia Capital says it experienced a cybersecurity incident, and reportedly told investors some of their personal and financial info may have been hacked  —  Sequoia Capital told its investors on Friday that some of their personal and financial information may have been accessed by a third party …



SaaS startup ReverseLogix, which helps businesses automate and manage workflows surrounding product returns, repairs, and after-sales care, raises $20M Series A (PYMNTS.com)

PYMNTS.com:
SaaS startup ReverseLogix, which helps businesses automate and manage workflows surrounding product returns, repairs, and after-sales care, raises $20M Series A  —  The last mile can often be the most taxing — and in logistics, customers' expectations continue to intensify when it comes to shipping and delivery.



Google will add these features to your phone in the next big Android update

https://ift.tt/3dzkEV5

Google Fires Another AI Ethics Leader as Dispute Over Research, Diversity Grows

Google has fired Margaret Mitchell, another top AI ethics researcher and leader, months after dismissing Timnit Gebru. Google said in a statement that Mitchell violated the company's code of conduct... https://ift.tt/3ugEXg8

Facebook, Twitter, and Zoom join Silicon Valley Leadership Group's "25X25" pledge to boost diversity from underrepresented groups in leadership roles by 2025 (Levi Sumagaysay/MarketWatch)

Levi Sumagaysay / MarketWatch:
Facebook, Twitter, and Zoom join Silicon Valley Leadership Group's “25X25” pledge to boost diversity from underrepresented groups in leadership roles by 2025  —  Silicon Valley Leadership Group's 25×25 initiative seeks to boost diversity in leadership by 25% by 2025



Google fires second AI ethics leader as dispute over research, diversity grows

Alphabet Inc's Google fired staff scientist Margaret Mitchell on Friday, they both said, a move that fanned company divisions on academic freedom and diversity that were on display since its December dismissal of AI ethics researcher Timnit Gebru. https://ift.tt/37wJS2D

Facebook has 'tentatively friended' us again, Australia says

Facebook Inc is back at the negotiating table, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday after the tech giant this week blocked news on its site in the country. https://ift.tt/3k662h7

Microsoft has a tip on how not to ‘embarrass’ yourself in group video calls

Online video calls have become the new normal in the last one year, just like work from home. When people are kind of forced to socialise virtually over various chat mediums, there are many who may be slow to get used to some online practices. https://ift.tt/3k64gww

Internal email: Mailchimp CEO tells staff that "we have work to do" on pay equity and inclusion, after company denied allegations of bias from engineer who quit (Tyler Sonnemaker/Insider)

Tyler Sonnemaker / Insider:
Internal email: Mailchimp CEO tells staff that “we have work to do” on pay equity and inclusion, after company denied allegations of bias from engineer who quit  —  - MailChimp CEO Ben Chestnut said the company has “work to do” on pay equity.  — Chestnut's email to employees followed …



Russian cryptocurrency payment network A7 expands to Africa, as Moscow builds an alternative payments system amid western sanctions after its Ukraine invasion (Financial Times)

Financial Times : Russian cryptocurrency payment network A7 expands to Africa, as Moscow builds an alternative payments system amid weste...