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February 5, 2025, 1:35 PM
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Annie Palmer / CNBC:
The USPS resumes accepting China and Hong Kong mail hours after suspension due to Trump's EO, disrupting e-commerce, and is implementing “the new China tariffs”  —  WATCH NOW  —  The U.S. Postal Service said Wednesday it will resume accepting inbound mail and packages from China and Hong Kong …
Mathieu Pollet / Politico:
The EU unveils e-commerce shipping rules that would add more customs checks and fees, potentially impacting Chinese platforms like AliExpress, Shein, and Temu
Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:
Google releases Gemini 2.0 Flash via its API, an experimental Gemini 2.0 Pro version via its apps, Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking, and 2.0 Flash-Lite in AI Studio  —  Gemini 2.0 AI updates include cheaper access for developers, and AI that can use other Google apps like YouTube.
Pei Li / Bloomberg:
Sources: China's State Administration for Market Regulation is examining Apple's policies, including its up to 30% App Store fees, ahead of a potential probe  —  - Company under fire for app commissions, barring outside stores  — Beijing is investigating Google as response to new US tariffs
Kevin Collier / NBC News:
The US OPM plans to make each government agency's chief information officer a political appointee who can be fired at will, helping Trump exert more control  —  The change could smooth Elon Musk's efforts to access the technology systems of various federal agencies through his Department of Government Efficiency.
Olivia Reingold / The Free Press:
a16z hires former Marine Daniel Penny, who in December a New York jury acquitted in a controversial subway chokehold case, to work on its American Dynamism team  —  “Daniel acted with courage in a tough situation,” said partner David Ulevitch in a statement explaining the hire.
Rafe Uddin / Financial Times:
Uber reports Q4 revenue up 20% YoY to $12B, Gross Bookings up 18% to a record $44.2B, operating profit up 18% to $770M, and trips up 18% to 3.1B; UBER drops 5%+  —  Ride-hailing group's weaker forecast comes after record fourth quarter  —  Uber's shares fell almost 6 per cent on Wednesday …
Lina M. Khan / New York Times:
Lina Khan says that DeepSeek's breakthroughs highlight that there isn't enough US competition and that foreign startups could surpass Big Tech in AI innovation  —  When Chinese artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek shocked Silicon Valley and Wall Street with its powerful new A.I. model …
More: Fortune.  Bluesky: @stacyfmitchell and @areidross.  Threads: @carnage4life
X: @bigblackjacobin, @atabarrok, @tysonbrody, and @nhegde.  LinkedIn: Yann LeCun.  Forums: r/neoliberal
Alphabet Inc:
Alphabet reports Q4 revenue up 12% YoY to $96.47B, net income up 28% YoY to $26.54B, Services revenue up 10% to $84.1B, and Other Bets revenue down 39% to $400M  —  MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - February 4, 2025 - Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG, GOOGL) today announced financial results for the quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
Reuters:
Alphabet expects 2025 capex of ~$75B, vs. ~$58B est., and reports Google Cloud Q4 revenue up 30% YoY to $11.96B, vs. $12.16B est.; GOOG drops 7%+
Jonathan Bell / Wallpaper*:
OpenAI unveils a visual rebrand, featuring a new bespoke typeface called OpenAI Sans, a refined “Blossom” logo, and a new color palette based in greys and blues  —  A new typeface, word mark, symbol and palette underpin all the ways in which OpenAI's technology interacts with the real world
Chris Welch / The Verge:
Sources: Sonos will release an Android-based streaming box in the coming months, priced between $200 and $400, combining Netflix, Max, Disney+, and more content  —  After the most tumultuous nine months in Sonos' history, the brand is trying to find its footing again.
Chainalysis:
In 2024, ransomware attackers received ~$813.55M in payments from victims, down 35% on 2023's record $1.25B, as more victims refused to pay  —  The ransomware landscape experienced significant changes in 2024, with cryptocurrency continuing to play a central role in extortion.
New York Times:
Sources: the US SEC is moving to scale back a special unit of 50+ lawyers and staff members that had been dedicated to bringing crypto enforcement actions  —  Some in a special unit of 50 lawyers and staff members that had been assigned to regulate cryptocurrency are being reassigned in the agency.
Brody Ford / Bloomberg:
Workday is cutting about 1,750 workers, or 8.5% of its workforce, as it plans to hire in areas such as AI and take on more people overseas; WDAY jumps 5%+  —  - Figure represents roughly 8.5% of company's workforce  — Salesforce, Amazon, Microsoft recently cut personnel
Daniel Cooper / Engadget:
Oura Ring 4 review: comfortable, better data collection, and gorgeous, clean app, but requires a paid subscription to use basic features and colors cost more  —  It remains the smart ring to beat, but is still limited by its form.  —  Smart rings have been a niche inside a niche in the wearables world for more than a decade.
Washington Post:
Google drops language from its AI Principles that said it would not pursue AI applications “likely to cause overall harm”, such as for weapons and surveillance  —  In 2018 the company updated its policies to explicitly exclude applying AI to weapons.  Now that promise is gone.
Jennifer Maas / Variety:
Brookhaven, a top title on Roblox with 120M+ monthly players, was sold by its anonymous creator Wolfpaq to game developer Voldex for an undisclosed sum  —  Popular Roblox life simulation game “Brookhaven” has been acquired by game developer Voldex in a deal funded by Raine Partners and Shamrock Capital.
Nikkei Asia:
Chinese chip firms blacklisted by the US are turning to universities, state-backed labs, and “pilot production lines” to keep their development efforts on track  —  TAIPEI — Chinese chip and chip equipment makers blacklisted by the U.S. are turning to universities and state-backed chip labs and …

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From Mediagazer

K.J. Yossman / Variety:
BAFTA host Alan Cumming thanks the audience for its “understanding” after outbursts from Tourette's campaigner John Davidson that weren't cut from the broadcast

Matt Grobar / Deadline:
Comedians weigh risks of video podcast licensing deals with Netflix, which would require them to remove new episodes from YouTube, potentially alienating fans

New York Times:
A US judge rebukes a DOJ prosecutor for not mentioning a 1980 law protecting journalists when seeking a warrant to search WaPo reporter Hannah Natanson's home

More News

Earlier Picks

Foo Yun Chee / Reuters:
The EC releases its prohibited AI practices guidelines under the EU's AI Act, like using AI to track employees' emotions or to manipulate app and website users
Brian Heater / TechCrunch:
Robotics startup Figure exits its February 2024 OpenAI deal, which aimed to develop AI models for robots, to focus on in-house AI after a “major breakthrough”
Ian King / Bloomberg:
AMD reports Q4 revenue up 24% YoY to $7.66B, Data Center revenue up 69% to $3.86B, vs. $4.09B est., and forecasts Q1 sales of $6.8B to $7.4B, vs. $7.04B est.
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