Also: X updates policy to officially allow adult content.
| For June 04, 2024 |  |
| Here’s a look at today's tech briefing: - Microsoft cuts jobs in Azure cloud, mixed reality.
- Databricks to acquire Tabular.
- New York to restrict social media algorithms for minors.
- X updates policy to officially allow adult content.
- Intel unveils new AI chips for data centers.
- Max raises prices.
Beth
p/beth-duckett | |
| 1 | | Microsoft is laying off hundreds of employees in its Azure Cloud and mixed-reality businesses. The job cuts will affect roughly 1,000 employees, a source told CNBC. More: - Microsoft is cutting hundreds of jobs in Azure Cloud, including Azure for Operators and Mission Engineering.
- The company confirmed that it is also restructuring its mixed reality organization, though it will continue to sell the HoloLens 2, its mixed reality goggles.
- The Hololens 2 forms the basis for Mucrosoft's Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program with the Pentagon, which the company remains "fully committed to."
- Microsoft's mixed-reality military devices offer improved battlefield awareness including night vision, health stats, and infantry position tracking.
Zoom out: - In January, Microsoft reduced its workforce by 1,900 positions across its Activision Blizzard, Xbox, and ZeniMax teams.
- The gaming layoffs came three months after Microsoft finalized its $69B acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
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| 2 | | Data analytics software maker Databricks plans to acquire data-management company Tabular for $1B to $2B. Tabular provides data management tools based on Apache Iceberg, an open-source data storage method developed at Netflix. More: - Iceberg competes with Databricks' Delta Lake open format in the data lakehouse architecture space.
- While the two have been largely incompatible, Databricks plans to merge Delta Lake and Iceberg into a unified standard.
- Merging the two leading open-source Lakehouse standards will provide customers with more options and fewer incompatibilities, Databricks said.
- Tabular founders Ryan Blue, Daniel Weeks, and Jason Reid will join Databricks. The three formerly worked at Netflix and co-founded Tabular in 2021.
Zoom out: - Databricks and rival Snowflake aid companies in managing and storing data, which is crucial for AI/ML workloads.
- Nearly three-quarters of organizations have a data lakehouse, according to MIT Tech Review.
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| 3 | | New York is set to ban social media companies from using algorithms to target children without parental consent. State lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul have tentatively agreed on a bill, which is set to be voted on this week. More: - The bill would require platforms like Instagram and TikTok to default to chronological content feeds for young users. Algorithm-driven content feeds would require parental approval.
- Supporters argue that removing the algorithmic feeds would cut down on the apps' addictiveness.
- The bill would also block minors from viewing in-app notifications overnight without parental consent.
- A separate measure would ban platforms from collecting and selling the personal data of people under 18 without consent.
Zoom out: 
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| 4 | | Social media platform X updated its policy to officially allow adult content. While X has never had a blanket ban on NSFW posts, its latest adult content policy now formally allows sexual content, including AI-generated imagery. More: - X users are allowed to post and share sexual content and nudity as long as it's "properly labeled and not prominently displayed," the policy states.
- Sexually themed material is permitted as long as it is produced and distributed consensually.
- The content is still banned from "highly visible places," such as a user's profile photo and banner.
Zoom out: - In 2022, an estimated 13% of X posts contained adult content, a figure that has likely increased due to so-called "porn bots" on the platform.
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| 5 | Intel unveiled new AI chips for data centers shortly after Nvidia and AMD announced similar products. Intel said the Xeon 6 processor promises superior performance and power efficiency in data centers compared to its predecessor. More: - Intel debuted the 5th Gen Xeon processors six months ago.
- The new Xeon 6 chips are tailored to fulfill the demands of AI and high-performance computing.
- Intel also shared more details about its upcoming Lunar Lake processors for AI PCs.
- Lunar Lake, launching in Q3, offers a boost in on-device AI capabilities with up to 40% less power consumption.
Zoom out: - The announcement comes just days after Nvidia and AMD revealed new AI processors.
- AMD announced new AI chips for data centers and PCs, while Nvidia announced its next-generation AI chip platform, Rubin, due out in 2026.
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| 6 | | Streaming service Max, formerly HBO Max, has raised its prices for ad-free plans. For new subscribers, the basic ad-free subscription now costs $16.99 a month, up from $15.99. More: - Max's 4K ad-free plan also increased by $1, to $20.99 a month.
- The ad-supported plan remains the same at $9.99 a month.
- The new rates take effect immediately for new subscribers. Existing customers will see the changes reflected in their bills after July 4.
Zoom out: - Warner Bros. Discovery increased Max's price for the first time last year
- The latest increase comes ahead of the return of "House of the Dragon," Max's "Game of Thrones" prequel, for a second season on June 16.
- Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney recently announced a bundle of their streaming services, Disney+, Max, and Hulu, with no price disclosed yet.
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| 7 | | Quick Hits: *This is sponsored content | | | |
 | AI and technology writer | | Beth is a contributing editor and writer of Inside's AI and Tech newsletters. She has written for publications including USA Today, the Arizona Business Gazette, and The Arizona Republic, where she received recognition with a Pulitzer Prize nomination and a First Amendment Award for collaborative reporting on state pension cost increases. You can reach her at Beth.Duckett@yahoo.com. | | This newsletter was edited by Beth Duckett | |
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