Techmeme
June 29, 2021, 1:45 PM

Top News

Jordan Novet / CNBC:
Microsoft and Open AI build GitHub Copilot, an AI-based tool to recommend code to software developers in almost any programming language  —  - GitHub, GitHub's parent company Microsoft and OpenAI have teamed up to deliver a tool that comes up with source code for programmers to use as they work.
Bloomberg:
Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency co-founded by Sam Altman, launches with $25M from a16z and others and plans to develop an orb-shaped device to scan human eyeballs  —  Sam Altman has a new startup that intends to give a special type of cryptocurrency to every person on earth.  But first, it wants to scan everybody's eyeballs.
Salvador Rodriguez / CNBC:
US district court dismisses FTC's antitrust complaint against Facebook, saying its definition of market dominance was insufficient, but will let FTC refile it  —  - A federal court on Monday dismissed the Federal Trade Commission's antitrust complaint against Facebook.
Salvador Rodriguez / CNBC:
Scott Rosenberg / Axios:
The Information:
Source: Apple is on track to spend ~$300M on Google Cloud storage services in 2021, up ~50% from 2020, dwarfing ByteDance, Spotify, and other large customers  —  Apple executives have taken swipes at Google in the past over its privacy practices.  But the iPhone maker trusts Google enough …
Cameron Faulkner / The Verge:
Microsoft rolls out its Xbox Cloud Gaming service via browser to PCs, iPhones, and iPads across 22 countries for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members  —  No Xbox necessary  —  Microsoft's xCloud, the cloud game streaming component of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate that doesn't require a console to use …
Dan Goodin / Ars Technica:
After hackers wiped many of Western Digital's My Book Live devices, a look at the code suggests the manufacturer had removed authentication code  —  Western Digital removed code that would have prevented the wiping of petabytes of data.  —  Last week's mass-wiping of Western Digital …
Abner Li / 9to5Google:
Google says all Play Store developer accounts will need to enable 2-Step Verification, provide an address, and verify their contact details later this year  —  To improve developer security on the Play Store, Google is requiring those that develop for Android to abide by 2-Step Verification …
Kris Holt / Engadget:
HP unveils the 13.3-inch Pavilion Aero 13, its lightest consumer laptop, weighing under 1KG with a 90% screen-to-body ratio, starting at $749, available in July  —  HP has unveiled the Pavilion Aero 13, which is the company's lightest consumer laptop yet.  The device weighs less than a kilogram …
Dana Mattioli / Wall Street Journal:
Sources and docs: as part of contracts, Amazon has made 80+ deals for stakes in suppliers, often at below-market prices, a sign of how it leverages its power  —  Certain suppliers are asked to give Amazon the right to buy shares at potentially lower-than-market rates as part of their contract
Reuters:
TP ICAP, the world's largest interdealer broker, says it is launching a cryptocurrency trading platform with Fidelity Investments and Standard Chartered  —  TP ICAP (TCAPI.L), the world's biggest interdealer broker, is launching a cryptocurrency trading platform with Fidelity Investments …
Marcella McCarthy / TechCrunch:
Gympass, a corporate fitness app that gives employees access to 50,000+ gyms, raises $220M Series E at a $2.2B valuation, twice its previous valuation  —  Gympass, the exercise and corporate wellness unicorn that originated in Brazil, today announced a $220 million Series E. The company …
World Health Organization: WHO:
WHO publishes its first global report on AI in health care, a 2-year effort, with six guiding principles for its design and use, like protecting human autonomy  —  Growing use of AI for health presents governments, providers, and communities with opportunities and challenges
TechCrunch:
Duolingo files for US IPO, reveals revenue growth of 129% YoY in 2020, and reports $55.4M in revenue during Q1 2021  —  The edtech unicorn reveals 129% 2020 revenue growth  —  Duolingo, a Pittsburgh-based language learning business last valued at $2.4 billion, has officially filed to go public.
Faiz Siddiqui / Washington Post:
NHTSA says it will require that companies like Tesla and Waymo report incidents involving driver-assistance and automated systems within one day  —  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said companies must report incidents within one day of learning of a crash.
Brian Heater / TechCrunch:
Alphabet's Wing launches OpenSky in the US on Android and iOS, letting users find the nearest open airspace for drones, after debuting in Australia in 2019  —  I love testing drones.  It's a lot of fun, and a nice way to mix up my standard review cycle.  But I've altogether given up on testing them around here.
More: SlashGear and Engadget

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Earlier Picks

CNN:
Tim Copeland / The Block: