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| Here are today's top Tech stories: - Facebook and Instagram allow political ads claiming stolen 2020 election.
- Amazon to allow online car sales in 2024.
- TikTok and Meta challenge EU tech law.
- Alibaba cancels spinoff of cloud unit.
Beth
p/beth-duckett | |
| 1 | | Meta is allowing political ads on Facebook and Instagram that challenge the 2020 U.S. presidential election results, according to The Wall Street Journal. President Joe Biden's reelection campaign criticized Meta on Thursday, accusing the company of profiting off of "election denialism." More: - Meta's year-old policy update, not widely reported at first, was covered by The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.
- While the company will allow ads that claim past election rigging, it will block those that question the legitimacy of ongoing or upcoming elections.
- Sources told the Journal that Meta executives made the decision to allow the ads based on "free-speech considerations."
Zoom out: - The updated policy is part of broader changes by Meta, including changing its algorithm to curb organic political content on Facebook.
- Its electoral misinformation policy still bans content that could disrupt people's voting, like false claims about election timing.
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| 2 | | Amazon and Hyundai said they will offer online car sales in the U.S. next year. Auto dealers, starting with Hyundai, will be able to sell vehicles on Amazon starting in 2024. More: - The arrangement will allow customers to buy vehicles on Amazon.com and arrange delivery or pickup through local Hyundai dealers.
- Buyers will be able to search on Amazon for nearby vehicles by model, color, and features, and finalize the purchase with their preferred payment and financing.
- Hyundai will also incorporate Amazon's Alexa technology into its cars starting in 2025.
Zoom out: - According to a Cox Automotive study, 80% of EV buyers plan to make their next purchase mostly online, compared to 61% of new internal combustion engine (ICE) buyers.
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| 3 | | TikTok and Meta are challenging the European Union's new law targeting Big Tech dominance. Both companies have appealed their "gatekeeper" status under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which imposes stricter regulations on large tech companies. Background: - The law, which fully takes effect in March, will force tech firms to make it easier and cheaper for other companies to compete on their platforms, or face hefty fines.
- Under the DMA, companies with 45 million+ monthly active users and a 75B euro ($81B) market cap are deemed "gatekeepers" of core tech services.
- This means they must make their messaging apps work with competitors and allow users to choose which apps to install on their devices.
What's new: - In September, the EU officially identified 22 gatekeeper services operated by six major tech firms: Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon, Meta, and ByteDance's TikTok.
- The services, which are "gateways" between businesses and consumers, include browsers like Chrome and Safari, WhatsApp, Google Maps, and more.
- Meta is contesting the gatekeeper labels applied to its Messenger and Marketplace platforms, but not the labels for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
- China's ByteDance is also appealing TikTok's gatekeeper status, stressing its role as a newer competitor in the social media space.
- Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have not filed challenges, while Apple has yet to respond.
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| 4 | | Alibaba has abandoned plans to spin off its cloud computing business. The Chinese e-commerce giant cited recent U.S. export curbs on AI chips, which it says are creating uncertainty and hindering Chinese access to crucial U.S. chip supplies. The news shocked investors, causing Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s shares to plummet by up to 10%. More: - In a statement, Alibaba expressed doubts about the full spin-off of its Cloud Intelligence Group, suggesting it may not improve shareholder value.
- The company has decided not to proceed with the cloud group's spin-off and IPO, instead focusing on organic growth and doling out a $2.5B annual dividend.
- The cloud division will continue to operate independently.
Zoom out: - The news marks a setback in Alibaba's ambitious restructuring plan to create six distinct business units, most of which would seek outside funding and pursue their own IPO.
- Alibaba said it is its "most significant" overhaul since it was founded in April 1999.
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| 5 | | Amazon says it will begin producing its Kuiper internet satellites next month following successful testing of two prototypes. Amazon's Kuiper network will compete against SpaceX's Starlink and others to offer broadband internet services globally. Its two prototypes have been operating successfully in orbit, paving the way for Kuiper's first operational launches by mid-2024. 
Details: Project Kuiper satellites will enter production next month, without design changes, after last month's successful launch of KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2. Amazon has reportedly used the prototype satellites for short two-way video calls, streaming a high-def movie via Prime Video, and making purchases from its shopping website. What's next: Amazon hopes to offer its broadband service in select areas by late 2024, with an early beta phase scheduled for early 2025. Partners like Vodafone and Verizon will be among the first to beta test the service. Meanwhile, the FCC has ordered Amazon to deploy over half of its planned 3,000+ satellite constellation by 2026, though Amazon asked the FCC to increase its constellation to 7,774 satellites. What brands should care: Starlink, its primary rival, has already deployed around 4,800 satellites and reported over two million active customers, generating $1.4B in revenue last year. Meanwhile, OneWeb, a subsidiary of France's Eutelsat Group, is already offering services via its 630+ satellite communications network. | | | |
| 6 | | Health tech startup Forward plans to deploy AI-powered kiosks for automated healthcare checkups across the U.S. The primary care provider is rolling out its "CarePod" modules in the Bay Area, New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia, targeting malls, gyms, and offices. More: - The CarePods, described as standalone medical stations, can read patients' blood pressure, swab throats, and draw blood.
- A robotic voice directs patients to perform the readings. Custom AI technology helps reach a diagnosis, with licensed doctors or nurses interpreting the results via video or chat.
- The cost is $99 per month for access to all CarePods.
- Forward said it recently raised $100M to help it launch an initial 25 CarePods, with plans to scale up to 3,200 within a year.
- The startup has raised $657M to date.
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| 7 | | Quick Hits: - The Kubernetes Cookbook is your comprehensive companion equipping you with the knowledge and techniques to harness the full potential of Kubernetes.*
- Federal regulators have cleared SpaceX to launch the second test flight of its Starship system, setting up the launch attempt for as early as Friday. The world's most powerful rocket aims to transport NASA astronauts to the moon and eventually Mars.
- TikTok is taking down videos that reference Osama bin Laden's letter justifying the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S.
- Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings said it will seek domestic sources for AI training chips due to the latest U.S. restrictions on chip exports to China. In the near term, Tencent has stockpiled enough Nvidia AI chips to continue working on its AI model, Hunyuan.
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 | AI and technology writer | | Beth is an editor and writer of Inside's AI and Tech newsletters, with a career spanning journalism since 2007. She has written for publications including The Arizona Republic and USA Today and authored a book on the solar industry in 2016. Reach her at Beth.Duckett@yahoo.com. | | This newsletter was edited by Eduardo Garcia | |
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