| Here’s a look at today's tech briefing: - Apple to unveil new AI, software features at Monday's WWDC.
- GameStop stock plummets after weak earnings, 'Roaring Kitty' livestream.
- Netflix testing biggest redesign of TV app in 10 years.
- Trump raises $12M in San Francisco tech fundraiser.
- Google won't have jury trial in U.S. antitrust case.
- WhatsApp to test AI assistant for businesses.
Beth
p/beth-duckett | |
| 1 | | Apple is expected to unveil new AI features and software capabilities at its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday. The keynote begins at 10 a.m. PT and will stream on Apple's website and its YouTube channel. AI features: - About half of the keynote will cover Apple's AI efforts, which the company will brand as "Apple Intelligence."
- The AI features, based on both Apple and OpenAI technology, will use on-device or cloud computing.
- They include summarizing content in Safari, texts, and email, and automatically generating email and text responses.
- Apple could announce an AI-upgraded version of Siri to improve the voice assistant's control over Apple apps.
- Another standout feature could be AI-created emoji. The feature generates custom emoji based on typed phrases or words on the fly.
Other announcements: - Apple is expected to unveil other updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and VisionOS for its mixed-reality headset.
- Upcoming iOS 18 features could include a more customizable iPhone home screen and RCS as the default iMessage fallback.
- Apple plans to launch its own Password app for auto-filling user data and multi-factor authentication.
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| 2 | | GameStop's stock dropped over 40% Friday after a "Roaring Kitty" livestream and disappointing quarterly results. The gaming retailer's quarterly sales fell 28.9% to $881.8M, down from $1.24B a year earlier. 
What happened: Keith Gill, known as Roaring Kitty, sparked a frenzy in GameStop shares with a livestream Friday outlining his long-term bullish stance on the stock. Gill is responsible for the craze behind the so-called "meme stock," which rallied in 2021 and recent weeks. What the numbers show: During Friday's livestream, GameStop shares were halted over a dozen times by the New York Stock Exchange as their value plummeted. The highly volatile trading also occurred after GameStop posted its earnings several days in advance. Quarterly net sales dropped to $881.8M, missing expectations of $995.3M. However, the retailer's net loss narrowed to $32.3M from $50.5M the year prior. GameStop also filed to sell up to 75 million shares of stock. What it means. GameStop, known for its brick-and-mortar stores, has been struggling to adapt as consumers shift from discs to digital downloads. The retailer has been unprofitable since early 2018, and analysts remain skeptical about its return to operating profitability. | | | |
| 3 | | Netflix is testing the biggest redesign of its TV app in 10 years. Netflix said the changes streamline navigation after seeing customers struggling to find content, More: - The fresh design consolidates information about shows and movies, making titles and descriptions more prominent on the screen.
- The design is being tested among a small group of subscribers and will expand to more if popular.
- Currently, the app's homepage shows a title's trailer and information at the top when scrolled over.
- With the new design, users can hover over a movie or show, triggering a short preview to play within an expanding tile in the middle of the screen.
- Below the box are details about the show, like synopsis, release year, and episode count.
Zoom out: - The redesign also replaces the left side menu with a top menu bar featuring search, home, shows, movies, and My Netflix.
- Users can access the bar by pressing the remote's back button.
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| 4 | | Former President Donald Trump raised $12M at a San Francisco tech fundraiser, drawing Silicon Valley support for his presidential campaign. Venture capitalists David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya hosted the event on Thursday at Sacks' Pacific Heights mansion. More: - The fundraiser drew top tech names and Silicon Valley investors disillusioned with the Biden administration's policies.
- Tickets reportedly cost $50,000 to $500,000. The sold-out event raised around $12M, according to Republican National Committeewoman Harmeet Dhillon.
- Tech and crypto leaders, including Coinbase executives and the Winklevoss twins, attended.
- Trump spoke to the audience for about an hour, covering topics like AI, cryptocurrency, and deep fakes.
- The presumptive Republican criticized U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren's stance on crypto, per Dhillon.
Zoom out: - Palihapitiya and Sacks, a friend of Elon Musk, also co-host the All-In Podcast discussing tech, economics, and more.
- Longtime conservative Sacks supported Hillary Clinton in 2016, and Palihapitiya has donated over $1M to Democratic causes.
Note: Inside.com founder and CEO Jason Calacanis also co-hosts the All-In Podcast. | | | |
| 5 | | A judge, not a jury, will decide if Google violated U.S. antitrust laws by allegedly monopolizing online advertising technology. A federal judge ruled that a jury is not needed after Google issued a $2.3M check to the U.S. government to settle financial damages in the case. More: - The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) and eight states sued Google last year, claiming the company abuses its dominance in the digital advertising market.
- The government sought a jury trial based on alleged damages owed to federal agencies, which claimed they were overcharged for Google's online ads.
- As a result, Google paid the government $2.3M to cover the damages, triple the amount plus interest.
- On Friday, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled a jury is unnecessary as damages are no longer involved. She will preside over the trial starting in September.
Zoom out: - The DOJ alleges Google uses anti-competitive and illegal tactics to maintain its alleged monopoly over the technology to buy and sell online advertising.
- As a result, the government wants Google to sell its ad manager suite.
- But Google claims a successful lawsuit would "slow innovation, raise advertising fees, and make it harder for thousands of small businesses and publishers to grow."
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| 6 | | Meta's WhatsApp will begin testing an AI assistant for businesses. WhatsApp's AI will be able to sell products through chat, answer shoppers' questions, and create targeted ads. More: - Additionally, the AI could remind customers about cart items or offer discounts on purchases.
- Meta says 200 million businesses could access the AI assistant in WhatsApp for customer communications.
- The company will begin testing with businesses in India and Singapore followed by Brazil.
Zoom out: - Separately, a European privacy group has filed complaints about Meta's use of personal data for training AI models.
- The group, NOYB (none of your business), claims Meta's new privacy policy will allow it to use data like personal posts dating back to 2007 for its AI technology.
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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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