Also: Duolingo removes LGBTQ content from Russian app after warning.
| For June 06, 2024 |  |
| Here’s a look at today's tech briefing: - SpaceX’s Starship completes test flight for first time.
- U.S. antitrust agencies to investigate Microsoft, OpenAI, Nvidia.
- Robinhood to acquire crypto exchange Bitstamp.
- Google Maps ending location history for web.
- Duolingo removes LGBTQ content from Russian app.
- Elon Musk's xAI to build supercomputer in Memphis.
Beth
p/beth-duckett | |
| 1 | | SpaceX successfully test-flew its Starship rocket and booster on Thursday, a key step toward sending astronauts to the moon and Mars. The world's most powerful rocket and its Super Heavy booster both returned to Earth intact, avoiding any explosions. More: - Previous tests saw Starship and Super Heavy unable to achieve controlled landings.
- Starship's first two test flights resulted in explosions, while its third test flight successfully launched but did not survive re-entry.
- In Thursday's test, Starship separated from the booster, which did a controlled descent and splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Starship flew for an hour, reaching hypersonic speeds at 125 miles of altitude. The spacecraft then made a tense controlled landing in the Indian Ocean, surviving reentry.
- SpaceX owner Elon Musk said Starship made the soft landing despite a damaged flap and loss of many tiles.
Zoom out: - NASA chose Starship to carry astronauts to the lunar surface for its Artemis III mission, which could launch in 2026.
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| 2 | | The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) agreed to split investigations into Microsoft, OpenAI, and Nvidia for possible antitrust violations. The three companies are leaders in the AI industry. The DOJ will investigate Nvidia's dominance in high-end AI chips, while the FTC will probe OpenAI and Microsoft, the ChatGPT maker's largest investor. More: - The DOJ and FTC jointly enforce U.S. antitrust laws.
- Under the tentative agreement, each agency would be given authority to investigate the AI companies' conduct and recent deals.
- The agreement, negotiated for nearly a year, could be finalized this week.
- Under the terms, the FTC will also keep its oversight of Amazon, and the DOJ will maintain its control over Google, both of which face antitrust lawsuits.
Zoom out: - The FTC is already investigating Microsoft's deal with Inflection AI.
- In March, Microsoft agreed to a $650M deal with Inflection to license the startup's AI models and hire most of its staff.
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| 3 | | Robinhood is acquiring U.K.-based crypto exchange Bitstamp for $200M in cash. The deal could bolster Robinhood's international crypto presence and draw institutional clients with new products. More: - Bitstamp will become the U.S. trading app's first institutional business, fueling the global expansion of Robinhood Crypto.
- Bitstamp, a major European crypto exchange, provides spot trading for 85+ cryptocurrencies and offers institutional lending and staking services.
- The exchange claims over 50 active licenses and registrations worldwide.
- Robinhood began providing crypto trading services to EU clients late last year. Its global expansion could take market share from Coinbase, which is also growing outside North America.
More: - The deal, expected to close in H1 2025, comes as Robinhood's crypto business faces a potential SEC lawsuit over alleged securities law violations.
- Robinhood's active monthly users have also declined since 2021, though its average revenue per user (ARPU) has increased.
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| 4 | | Google Maps will end web access to Timeline, previously known as Location History. Timeline will continue to work on Google Maps for Android and iOS, storing location data locally. More: - Timeline tracks users' routes based on their phone's location, providing a history of past locations and visited places.
- Starting in December, Google will end web access and erase most web location data.
- That data will only be stored on devices, meaning it will no longer sync across the web and phones.
- The move aims to keep users' sensitive location data more private.
- Google is advising users to save it to their mobile devices before Dec. 1.
Zoom out: - The update means Google will no longer have access to users' individual location history, and will not be able to provide the data to law enforcement.
- The policy comes after a Bloomberg investigation revealed that U.S. investigators were able to access users' location data even if users were not suspected of committing any crimes.
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| 5 | | Duolingo removed LGBTQ+ content from its Russian app following warnings from Moscow. Russia's regulator ordered the language-learning app to censor references to what it calls "non-traditional sexual relations" under its "LGBT propaganda" law. More: - A Duolingo spokesperson said the company supports LGBTQ+ rights and believes "in normalizing LGBTQ+ representation in our content."
- "Unfortunately, local laws prohibit us from including certain content in Russia," the person said.
- Last year, Russia expanded its 2013 ban on what it calls "LGBT propaganda," part of its larger "culture war" with Western countries.
- Russia's Supreme Court labeled what it called the "international LGBT movement" as "extremist," essentially banning LGBTQ+ activism.
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| 6 | | Elon Musk's AI startup plans to build "the world's largest supercomputer" in Memphis, Tennessee. The "Gigafactory of Compute" could power a more advanced version of Grok, xAI's chatbot. More: - To plan for the project, Musk and xAI have reportedly collaborated with Memphis officials since March.
- xAI plans to occupy a former manufacturing site in the city.
- The project could mark the biggest multi-billion dollar investment by a new-to-market company in Memphis history.
- The city is considering offering tax breaks to xAI for the supercomputer project, with cost and job estimates pending.
Zoom out: - xAI recently raised $6B with plans to use the funding to launch products, expand its infrastructure, and speed up R&D for future technologies
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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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