Sources: Accel is in talks to lead a round in Scale AI at a $13B valuation, up from $7.3B in 2021; Scale AI generated $675M+ in revenue in 2023, up ~150% YoY — Venture capital firm Accel, an early investor in the data labeling startup Scale AI, is in talks to lead a new round of funding …
The TikTok divestment bill will not offer any meaningful privacy protection from China, but it will further entrench the dominance of US-based social networks — Earlier this month, the United States House of Representatives passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act …
The US OMB releases new guidance on AI, requiring all federal agencies to have a senior leader overseeing all AI systems they use and submit an annual AI report — All US federal agencies will now be required to have a senior leader overseeing all AI systems they use, as the government wants …
HSBC releases its HSBC Gold Token, minted on its Orion digital assets platform, via its online banking and app, after testing the service in November 2023 — The bank is claiming bragging rights for being the first bank to create a blockchain-based real world asset aimed at retail investors.
An interview with Phil Spencer on bringing Xbox to handhelds via hardware or software, how Valve, Lenovo, and Asus “innovated in a new form factor”, and more — A handheld Xbox could be hardware, an app, or both — Phil Spencer has tried all of the new PC gaming handhelds …
How Netflix co-CEOs Greg Peters, who is obsessed with data, and Ted Sarandos, who loves working with talent, overcame differences to make the partnership work — Hollywood czar Ted Sarandos and data-obsessed techie Greg Peters have gotten the streamer back on track
Despite X's push to attract creators, its strategy remains unclear, as some creators cite concerns about the state of X's ad business and inconsistent payments — Despite platform's push, many creators say X is still a long way away from becoming a major source of revenue for them
Chinese officials have begun following the new PC, laptop, and server guidelines to phase out Intel/AMD processors and Windows from government PCs and servers — China has introduced new guidelines that will mean US microprocessors from Intel and AMD are phased out of government PCs and servers …
An analysis of the DOJ's case against Apple; sources: Apple will start rolling out its system to update packaged iPhones' software to its US stores in April — With its lawsuit against Apple, the Justice Department focuses on outdated issues and irrelevant points, missing an opportunity to address more pressing concerns.
How the restructuring of Diamond Sports, with a lifeline from Amazon, might offer a new model for airing local sports fixtures in the streaming era — A lifeline to the bankrupt Diamond Sports Group might offer a new model for airing local fixtures in the streaming era
Source: Spain's High Court orders the suspension of Telegram after media companies complained it was allowing users to upload their content without permission — Spain's High Court has ordered the suspension of messaging app Telegram's services in the country after media companies complained …
BeReal's challenges show the difficulty for new consumer apps to break out absent a big platform shift, as users lack the time to try additional consumer apps — The recent reports that BeReal is struggling with either a fundraise or growth or both, is a bummer.
The Philippines' new undersea internet cable network is expected to bring jobs to remote islands, boosting the country's BPO sector, which employed 1.7M in 2023 — Project expected to bring stable internet and new jobs to more remote islands — InfiniVAN holds a cable pulling ceremony on the island of Boracay in November 2022.
Sources: YC plans to raise at least $2B across three new funds that include exposure to its next four startup batches and follow-on investments as they grow — The storied startup accelerator is targeting at least $2 billion, sources told Forbes, in its first major fundraising effort under Garry Tan.
Italy opens a probe into Booking.com, says the website's handling of hotels in its Preferred Partner Programme “seems likely to hinder effective competition” — Italy's antitrust has opened a probe into Booking.com (BKNG.O) to establish whether the travel website is in a potential abuse …
Amy Thomson / Bloomberg : OpenAI pauses the use of the Sky voice in ChatGPT after users said it sounded too much like Scarlett Johansson,...
