Big Tech
Tracking the heavyweights of innovation. Insightful reporting on how legacy tech giants wield global influence, scale infrastructure, and compete for market dominance.
139 articles
Amazon Targets 500 US Locations for 30-Minute Drone Deliveries by 2026
Amazon plans to expand Prime Air drone deliveries to nearly 500 US cities and towns by end of 2026, offering 30-minute drop-offs. The plan marks a sixfold increase from its current footprint.
Google Pays $10 Million for Spirit Airlines Data to Fuel Aviation AI
Google LLC won a bankruptcy auction to purchase Spirit Airlines' operational data for $10 million. The dataset includes emails, Teams chats and flight records. Personal information is excluded.
Google Pitches AI as a Cure for Smartphone Dependency
Google is marketing its latest phones by promoting AI features that reduce screen time, a strategy that both acknowledges and exploits users' problematic relationship with devices.
Duolingo Broadens Math Curriculum With Advanced and Adaptive Options
Duolingo expands math services with more advanced topics and personalized learning paths, strengthening its position beyond language instruction.
Near-Packaged Optics Gains Ground as Interim Data Center Connection Solution
Near-packaged optics (NPO) is gaining traction as a practical interim solution for data center interconnects, offering field-serviceable modules and assembly simplicity while CPO faces production hurdles. Analysts at SemiAnalysis predict NPO volume will extend through the end of the decade.
Google Meet Extends AI Note-Taking to In-Person Meetings
Google Meet now records and transcribes in-person meetings, saving notes to Google Drive and emailing them.
Enterprise SSDs Now Consume Nearly Half of Global NAND Output
Enterprise SSDs now account for 48% of global NAND flash supply, a shift driven by generative AI inference workloads. The trend tightens supply and may raise costs for consumer SSDs.
Microsoft Unifies Copilot and Copilot 365 Into One App, Drops Three Features
Microsoft merges its two Copilot apps into one and retires three features to reduce confusion. The new unified app aims to simplify the AI assistant experience.
Zuckerberg's AI Manifesto Sparks Debate Over Technology and Human Connection
Mark Zuckerberg's AI manifesto faces criticism for missing human connection. A rock climbing anecdote highlights the cultural gap. The debate raises questions about AI's role in daily life.
How Immersion Lithography Became the Backbone of Modern Chips
Immersion lithography used water to overcome the physical limits of light, extending Moore's Law by over a decade. This technology became the foundation of modern chip manufacturing.
AI Workers Say the Technology Makes Their Jobs Harder
Employees at OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta report that building AI leads to extreme hours and burnout, undercutting promises of efficiency.
Microsoft Faces Backlash Over Unauthorized Beta Photos App Install on Enterprise Devices
Microsoft responded to outcry after quietly installing a beta version of the Photos app on enterprise systems, raising concerns over software management and user consent.
YouTube Raises Monetization Threshold for Creators
YouTube doubled the watch hours needed to join its Partner Program to 8,000. Shorts creators now need 20 million views in 90 days. The change targets higher engagement before revenue sharing kicks in.
Windows 11 Weather App Consumes Over 1GB of RAM While Serving Ads
Windows 11's built-in MSN Weather app uses up to 1.2GB of RAM, far more than macOS's weather app, due to its web wrapper design and ad integration. This bloat highlights ongoing issues with Microsoft's software optimization.
Zoox Nears Robotaxi Launch as Uber Expands Autonomous Vehicle Empire
Amazon-owned Zoox prepares to launch its purpose-built robotaxi in 2025, while Uber expands autonomous vehicle partnerships. The moves signal a new phase in commercial self-driving services.
Google Pushes Gemini Into Gmail and Docs, Users Seek Control
Google is adding Gemini AI to Gmail and Google Docs by default. Users are looking for ways to turn it off.
Meta CTO Tells Staff to Use AI Gains for More Work, Not Time Off
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth told staff to use AI productivity gains to do more work, not take time off. His comments reject calls for extra days off and raise questions about how tech companies will distribute AI benefits.
WhatsApp Widens Group Chat Tools With @all, Polls and Private Subchats
WhatsApp adds an @all mention feature for group chats, anonymous polls and quick private subchat creation. The updates aim to improve large group communication.
X Ends Revenue Sharing Program, Launches Original Content Rewards
X is replacing its Revenue Sharing program with Original Content Rewards, citing misalignment with creator priorities. The new system emphasizes exclusive, original posts over reposted content.