Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
OpenAI whistleblowers urge SEC to investigate restrictive confidentiality agreements
The Washington Post received a letter from whistleblowers asserting that OpenAI broke federal laws by gagging them on tech safety concerns.
Tesla reports lowest profit margin in over five years
Tesla reported its lowest profit margin in over five years and missed earnings targets in Q2 due to price cuts and increased AI spending.
VinFast delays $4B Factory, cuts deliveries amid uncertainties
OUR TAKEVinFast’s electric vehicle factory in North Carolina has been delayed again, pushed back from 2025 to 2028. That’s quite a significant change. Looking back, Tesla’s factory construction journey was also filled with obstacles, but they eventually emerged as the industry leader. VinFast’s adju…
Harvey raises $100M to revolutionise legal industry with AI
OUR TAKE Harvey’s got some serious backing with that $100 million Series C. Google Ventures leading the way, along with OpenAI and other big names, shows they’re on the right track. But let’s not forget that AI in law is still a young field. It’s great that Harvey’s making life easier for lawyers wi…
Musk delays robotaxi reveal to October 10 amid design changes
OUR TAKEElon Musk’s robotaxi reveal got pushed back? Sounds like he’s building a rocket, not a taxi! But at least he’s taking his time to get it right. Remember that Cybertruck delay? It’s like Tesla’s got a thing for keeping us on the edge of our seats. With Tesla’s profits dipping and EV sales flu…
Foxconn invests $138M in new headquarters to boost operations
OUR TAKEFoxconn, the giant behind countless iPhones, is pulling out all the stops. They’re not just dipping their toes into the Zhengzhou waters, they’re diving in headfirst with a billion yuan splash. That’s right, one billion yuan – it’s a game-changer.After last year’s COVID chaos, Foxconn knows …
FCA lifts year-long ban, unlocking Modulr’s partner expansion
OUR TAKEModulr, the London-based electronic money institution, has finally had its restrictions lifted by the FCA. Last year, Ant Group also faced similar regulatory issues, but they regained trust through a series of reforms and transparency measures. Modulr has also put in a lot of effort, upgradi…
US spot ether ETFs debut, boosting crypto industry
OUR TAKEThe US financial markets recently celebrated a notable milestone with the successful launch of ether-based exchange traded funds (ETFs), signalling the growing interest in cryptocurrency-based financial products. While these ETFs attracted a robust $1.07 billion in trades on their debut day,…
Plum secures $20M investment, boosting assets to over $1.5B
OUR TAKEPlum really knows how to charm investors. It’s like they’ve hit the jackpot with that $17.4 million haul. And Eurobank doubling down with their second investment. That’s a vote of confidence, for sure. But let’s not forget, remember when Revolut also raised a whopping round and then faced so…
Spanish banks bow to pressure: 11% pay rise after March strikes
OUR TAKESpanish banks and unions have reached an agreement to give employees an 11% pay rise over the next three years. While this sounds positive, it follows strikes and protests in March. Consider that major banks like Santander have been raking in substantial profits, with employees demanding fai…
Terradepth to map 70% of ocean floor with advanced tech
OUR TAKEJoe Wolfel’s startup is shaking things up in ocean exploration just like Elon Musk, pushing boundaries. But while SpaceX aims for stars, Terradepth dives deep. Wolfel’s Navy days must’ve been eye-opening, like when we found out Mars had water, but barely scratched the ocean’s surface. His ro…
Apple’s AirTag: Waterproof secrets you need to know
Apple‘s AirTag is a well-designed smart tracker with excellent water resistance to protect it from water during everyday use. By understanding its waterproof rating and protection method, you can better understand how to effectively use and protect AirTag, thereby extending its service life and ensu…
3 different levels of EV chargers
Level 1 chargers are slow but convenient for overnight charging, Level 2 chargers are ideal for daily use with a 4-8 hour full charge, and Level 3 DC fast chargers can power up an EV to 80% in just 20-40 minutes.
4 differences between tethered and untethered EV chargers
Tethered chargers are highly convenient with built-in cables, while untethered chargers offer flexibility by allowing any compatible cable.
Elon Musk silent: Will Tesla robotaxi have a steering wheel or not?
Musk didn’t address a steering wheel’s presence in Tesla’s robotaxi during an earnings call, prompting speculation on its development status. Tesla faces regulatory challenges, including the need for potential FMVSS exemptions for deploying vehicles without traditional controls, similar to other aut…
Terradepth aims to map the entire seabed
Terradepthhas announced a project to map the uncharted regions of the ocean floor,this initiative aims to uncover what lie beneath the waves.
Pro-crypto Trump drives split between bitcoin, global equities
OUR TAKEThe recent divergence between bitcoin and global equities has been striking, largely influenced by Donald Trump’s shifting stance on cryptocurrencies. As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Trump’s adoption of a pro-crypto position has seemingly decoupled Bitcoin’s performance from tr…
NTT Data and DCConnect unveil Indonesia’s first cloud automation project
OUR TAKEThe collaboration between NTT Data and DCConnect is more than a technological milestone; it’s a practical revolution for Indonesia’s digital economy. This cloud automation project will streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve service reliability, providing tangible benefits to busine…
TruDoc and e& enterprise partner to transform MENA healthcare communications
The engageX solution enhances patient engagement across channels, ensuring secure, innovative healthcare communication with HIPAA compliance.
Meta releases powerful Llama 3.1 AI model for free, sparking debate
OUR TAKE Meta’s decision to release Llama 3.1 for free demonstrates a bold move in the AI industry, challenging the prevailing closed-source approaches and potentially reshaping the landscape of AI development and deployment. This open model could drive innovation but also raises concerns about the …
UK school is warned for illegally using facial-recognition technology
OUR TAKEChelmer Valley High School has been given a formal warning by the data protection regulator for using facial-recognition technology without a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) and without students’ clear agreement. This incident highlights the importance of strict compliance with data…
Tesla faces 5-year low in profit margins amid price cuts
Tesla’s Q2 2024 profit margin hit a five-year low at 14.6%, missing estimates, with net income falling to $1.48 billion.
Baidu’s robotaxi ambition draws sceptics after brief stock rally
OUR TAKE Baidu faces scepticism as it aggressively expands its Apollo Go robottaxi service in China, especially after expanding to Wuhan. Despite a temporary spike in share prices, the market remains cautious and quickly returned to previous levels, with analysts downgrading the company’s shares to …
US court upholds FCC’s approval of SpaceX’s Starlink expansion
A US appeals court upheld the FCC’s decision to approve SpaceX’s satellite deployment plan, rejecting DISH Network and DarkSky challenges.
Visa blocks $40B in fraudulent transactions in 2023 with advanced tech
OUR TAKEVisa’s fraud-fighting feats are like hiring an army of digital Sherlock Holmes. Blocking 80 mil fraud transactions. That’s like catching a wave of thieves trying to steal from every other beach in the world. But with 10 Bintech upgrades and 500M on AI, it’s clear Visa’s taking this seriously…
Alphabet to invest $5B in Waymo to expedite auto-driving market
OUR TAKEAlphabet dropping $5 billion on Waymo is a bold move. It’s like Tesla’s Elon Musk doubling down on Cybertruck production, but in the world of self-driving. The fact that Waymo’s already ferrying 50K rides a week is impressive, but this injection of cash could really kickstart their expansion…
Trump’s digital comeback: Facebook and Instagram lift ban
Meta said Friday it lifts restrictions on Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts ahead of the Republican convention. These platforms are key tools for Trump’s political advocacy and fundraising.
Alphabet’s revenue boosts by cloud computing, search ads
OUR TAKEAlphabet’s second quarter revenue reached $71.36 billion, exceeding expectations due to robust demand for cloud computing and search advertising. A key contributor to this success was the profitability of Google Cloud, which reported a profit of $1.17 billion. Despite these financial gains, …
AI for breast cancer diagnosis: A new era of precision and efficiency
OUR TAKEThis AI tool aims to improve patient experience and quality of care by analysing breast biopsy samples to increase the accuracy and efficiency of pathologists in diagnosing breast cancer.-Rae Li, BTW reporter What happened Doctors at Peterborough City Hospital in the UK are taking part in a …
Kroger orders Ocado’s latest automated warehouse technologies
Ocado’s U.S. partner Kroger orders advanced automated technologies for its warehouse network, enhancing efficiency and productivity.
Cybersecurity firm Wiz scraps $23B merger agreement with Google
Israeli cybersecurity startup Wiz ended acquisition talks with Google-parent Alphabet for a $23 billion deal, choosing to focus on an initial public offering.
Boeing-owned Wisk aims for pilotless air-taxi launch by 2030s
Wisk Aero, owned by Boeing, plans to introduce a fully autonomous air-taxi service “later in the decade” and is currently seeking regulatory approval.
Reddit strikes deals with sports leagues to boost ad revenue
Reddit partners with major sports leagues to boost ad revenue, reporting a 48% Q1 revenue increase and expects an adjusted profit in Q2.
CrowdStrike shares plummet 13% after global cyber outage
CrowdStrike shares dropped 13% after a software update caused a global cyber outage. Analysts downgraded the stock, affecting its financial outlook.
Google moves away from plan to drop ad cookies for Chrome users
OUR TAKE Google has taken a new direction in managing user privacy on its Chrome browser. Instead of eliminating third-party cookies, which are central to digital marketing, Google is introducing a choice-based system that allows users to control their privacy settings.This pivot reflects Google’s a…
Bitcoin ETF inflows top $3B in four-week period
OUR TAKEBitcoin ETFs saw a notable surge in inflows last week, attracting $1.27 billion as the price of the cryptocurrency hit its highest level in over a month. This inflow marks the fourth consecutive week of positive investment, with more than $3.1 billion accumulated over this period. The trend …
SAP cloud revenue rises 25% as AI demand boosts growth
OUR TAKESAP SE, a leading software company based in Germany, reported a significant 25% increase in cloud revenue for the second quarter, reaching $4.52 billion. This growth is in line with the booming demand for artificial intelligence(AI) applications and shows SAP’s successful change from traditi…
TikTok targets Spain, Ireland to revive European e-commerce push
OUR TAKETikTok is set to restart its e-commerce strategy in Europe with the launch of its in-app shopping feature TikTok Shop, in Spain and Ireland in October. The decision reflects a scaled-down approach, but preparations are underway to expand the platform to other European regions by 2025. From a…
Hedge funds cut equity risk amid big tech rout
OUR TAKEHedge funds have sold off their equity holdings at a rapid pace, the fastest since the meme stock phenomenon in January 2021. This sharp reduction in hedge fund equity positions, as reported by Goldman Sachs, is largely in response to significant losses in major technology companies and in a…
Logitech co-founder gets court win to name his nominee for chair
OUR TAKELogitech co-founder Daniel Borel has won a court order to put his nominee, Guy Gecht, on the agenda for Logitech’s upcoming shareholder meeting. This court ruling is a major development for Logitech, as it highlights significant tensions within the board and raises critical questions about f…
Wiz rejects Alphabet’s $23B offer, seeks IPO instead
OUR TAKECybersecurity firm Wiz recently made headlines when it rejected a hefty $23 billion takeover offer from tech giant Alphabet and instead chose to pursue an initial public offering (IPO). Wiz CEO Assaf Rappaport announced the decision in a memo to employees. The move not only demonstrates Wiz’…
China drops sanctions on US communications firm in rare reversal
OUR TAKEChina has announced the lifting of sanctions on Viasat Corporation, a US communications company. China’s decision marks a clear shift in its approach to international diplomacy and economic strategy, particularly in the high-stakes area of global telecommunications. By reversing sanctions or…
Byju’s founder confronts insolvency amidst plummeting valuation
Byju Raveendran, the founder of the Indian education technology firm Byju’s, faces a court-ordered insolvency process for his ed-tech giant. Byju’s has experienced a dramatic drop in valuation from $22 billion to under $2 billion, leading to insolvency proceedings that risk thousands of jobs.
Meta faces EU scrutiny over ‘pay or consent’ model
The EU has warned Meta that its “pay or consent” model could be in violation of consumer protection laws, demanding changes by September 1. The EU’s Consumer Protection Cooperation has highlighted concerns over Meta’s “free” service description for its platforms, which lacks transparency in regard t…
Toyota plans $5.2B share buyback from banks, insurers
Toyota is buying back $5.2 billion of its shares from banks and insurers, to enhance shareholder returns and corporate governance.
G20 talks on global tax deal continue amid US tariff threat
Negotiations on a global tax agreement have extended beyond June 30, with governments eyeing progress at the upcoming G20 meeting. The high stakes of these negotiations could lead to the reinstatement of taxes on US tech giants by several countries if a final agreement is not reached.
Grab expands dinner reservation services with Chope acquisition
Grab acquires Singapore’s Chope to expand its services, including dinner reservations, to outcompete rivals in the Southeast Asian market. The acquisition sees Chope’s team joining Grab, with no job losses, and strengthens Grab’s ecosystem and advertising capabilities.
Impact of blocking third-party cookies on your browsing experience
Blocking third-party cookies offers significant privacy benefits, however, it comes with trade-offs as well.
Find out where third-party cookies are stored
Third-party cookies are stored in the same way as first-party cookies while the key difference is who places them and what they are used for.
Renault CEO calls for flexible EV adoption timeline
Renault’s CEO Luca De Meo expressed concerns about Europe’s timeline for transitioning to electric vehicles, calling for more flexibility.