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What happened: Google plans to change up its search results by integrating an AI chatbot along with short videos and social media posts, according to The Wall Street Journal. Details: In response to Microsoft's OpenAI-powered Bing AI and other advancements, Google wants to shift away from the traditional "10 blue links" format in web results and make its search engine more “visual, snackable, personal, and human,” the WSJ writes. Why it matters: Any changes to Google Search are likely to significantly impact traffic for website owners, publishers, and content creators. According to Statista's Digital Market Insights, global search advertising revenue amounted to $260B in 2022 and is expected to reach $400B by 2026. Google's dominant position makes even a slight decrease in market share equivalent to billions of dollars in lost revenue. What's next: Google is expected to announce new features related to the search changes, including a possible AI chatbot code-named Magi, at its I/O event on Wednesday. 
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Meta executives have threatened to withdraw news content in Canada if a bill requiring internet firms to pay news publishers is passed. Additionally, a Google executive stated that the company could decide to eliminate links to news articles in Canadian search results over concerns about facing an "uncapped financial liability." More: - The proposed legislation, called the Online News Act, would require platforms like Meta and Google to negotiate and pay Canadian publishers for their news content.
- The act seeks to establish a “fair revenue sharing” system between news outlets and digital platforms, which would negotiate the deals "when they profit from their work," said Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez.
- If the legislation were to pass in its current form, Meta would withdraw news content from Instagram and Facebook in Canada, Meta global affairs president Nick Clegg said in a statement.
- Clegg described the bill as “fundamentally flawed” and criticized Canada's attempt to "put a price on free links to web pages."
- The executive also canceled his appearance at a Canadian House of Commons committee today after the title of the session was changed to focus on “Tech Giants’ Current and Ongoing Use of Intimidation and Subversion Tactics to Evade Regulation in Canada and Across the World.”
Zoom out: - In response to the proposal, Google began blocking news access on some Canadian user accounts earlier this year.
- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called it a "terrible mistake" and expressed concern about the blocking of news in the country.
BLOOMBERG 
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Invest Today
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Qualcomm is expected to pay up to $400M to acquire Autotalks, an Israeli startup that makes chips for technology designed to prevent car crashes. Qualcomm would integrate Autotalks' solutions into its Snapdragon Digital Chassis product portfolio for assisted and autonomous driving technology. More: - Autotalks specializes in chips and vehicle-to-everything communication technologies aimed at increasing road safety for both manned and self-driving vehicles.
- Its technology works with sensors to help vehicles detect road hazards and communicate with other cars.
- It would be incorporated in the Snapdragon Digital Chassis, Qualcomm's platform used by car makers and suppliers that also enables cloud connectivity and in-car infotainment.
- While the financial terms of the deal weren't made public, a source told TechCrunch that it's worth between $350M and $400M.
Zoom out: - The auto industry represents a significant growth area for chipmakers due to the rising number of chips required for EVs and automatic car features.
CTECH BY CALCALIST
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The Google Pixel Tablet's specs were leaked ahead of the device's expected reveal this Wednesday. A now-pulled listing on Amazon Japan revealed an 11-inch tablet with Google's Tensor G2 chip, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. More: - According to the listing, the Pixel Tablet's 10.95-inch LCD panel has a 2,560 x 1,600 resolution, giving it a 16:10 aspect ratio and 276 pixels per inch.
- It comes with eight-megapixel cameras in the front and rear, USB-C charging, Wi-Fi 6 and USI 2.0 stylus support, and up to 12 hours of video streaming.
- It will come in four colors, including green/black and beige/white combos.
- Google is expected to announce the device during its I/O event this Wednesday, May 10, and launch it on June 20 at a price point starting at around $600.
- The Pixel Tabet is Google's first tablet since it released the underperforming Google Pixel Slate in 2018.
Zoom out: THE VERGE
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House Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan has threatened Google with enforcement action, including potential contempt of Congress, for failing to provide documents related to the tech giant's communications with the Biden administration. Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, subpoenaed Google's Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft in February for documents related to their content moderation and government communications. More: - At the time, Jordan said the inquiries were connected to the "alleged collaboration between Big Tech and the federal government."
- According to an insider familiar with the situation, the other tech giants involved have been more receptive than Google in meeting the request.
- Jordan claimed in a letter that Google failed to adequately comply by unilaterally redacting key information and placing some documents in a "reading room."
- The congressman has given Google a May 22 deadline to comply fully or face the possibility of "enforcement mechanisms."
- Congress has the power to hold individuals in contempt for not providing requested information to a committee. This requires a committee vote and a floor vote, with a simple majority. Presently, Republicans have a 222-213 majority in the House.
CNBC
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Striking Hollywood screenwriters are demanding restrictions on AI use, including preventing AI from writing or rewriting scripts and using writers' work to train AI. As the strike by movie and TV writers for better compensation and job security drags on, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) is pushing for safeguards to curb the use of AI in scriptwriting. More: - Screenwriters fear AI could take over their jobs by generating new scripts and ideas from their existing material.
- The WGA has proposed allowing AI in scriptwriting as long as it doesn't affect writers' credits or money earned.
- While the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) rejected the WGA's proposal, it acknowledged that AI raises important creative and legal questions.
- The WGA contract currently defines a writer as a "person." Under the contract, AI-produced content can't be credited for writing or copyrighting.
- Earlier this year, South Park creators used ChatGPT to co-write an episode.
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Community Corner Last week, we asked our tech community, "What's the most helpful software or app you use on a regular basis?" Here are some highlighted responses we received: - Jon Lusty (p/DSpaceNine), IT Manager at the Insurance industry, answered, “I have a few apps that I go to every day without fail: Day One Journal for keeping track of all the little things that come up each day. Looking back through is great for correction, learning, and reinforcement of positive aspects, as well as reminders of Honey Do's and such. SleepWatch lets me know how I slept and over time has helped me make some changes for the better. I am sleeping better than I used to because of this app's daily review and insights into my sleep patterns. Kindle because I read every day and it is always with me. Easy to get a chapter in over lunch, etc. Microsoft Teams is an app I live in all day every day at work. Telegram because it is everywhere I want to be, not just on my Apple devices.”
- Anthony Latona (p/Anthony-Latona), CMO at Redstage, answered, “I'm a big fan of Notion. It's great for everything from organizing to do lists to long form writing. You can make databases and tables for structured data and access them via API if you need. It allows for embedding of all sorts of media, images, video, tweets, etc... very helpful for research. The content organization tools like toggle sections make long form writing much easier since you can collapse each section and sub section. There are also collaboration tools for friends or teams to work in the same place and contribute in defined ways. I use it for pretty much everything.” You can read Anthony’s full comment here.
Join the conversations at Inside.com, and we may shout out your name and business, or contact you for more! ⭐️
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- Twitter is now purging accounts that have been inactive for "several years," which is likely to result in a decrease in users' follower counts, according to a tweet from Elon Musk.
- Apple will likely hold off replacing the physical volume and power buttons on the iPhone with touch-sensitive haptic feedback versions for at least another year.
- Social media users in Vietnam will have to verify their identities starting later this year as part of a measure designed to help police track scammers.
- Amazon acquired Snackable AI, a New York-based audio content discovery engine, to enhance its podcast features.
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Upcoming Events - May 11 - Testing and monitoring large language models (LLMs) with TruEra (Register Here) *
- May 17 - Monthly Meditation guided by Nicholas Whitaker (Register Here)
- May 17 - Join Vanta's webinar to see Vendor Risk Management in action and learn about automating security reviews. (Register Here) *
- May 25 - Inside.com Book Club - Zero To One by Peter Thiel (Register Here)
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 |  | Beth is a writer and editor at Inside.com covering artificial intelligence and daily technology news. She has written the Inside AI newsletter since 2019. You can reach her at Beth.Duckett@inside.com. |   | | Editor | Eduardo Garcia is a writer and editor based in New York. He is the author of "Things You Can Do," an illustrated book about climate action. Bylines in The New York Times, The Guardian, Slate, Scientific American, and others. In one of his previous lives, Eduardo worked as a Reuters correspondent in Latin America for nearly a decade. | |
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