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Topic: Silicon Valley

Earlier, Google argued that it couldn’t be expected to treat its competitors the same as it does its own businesses. (AP) News 

Google Challenges EU’s €2.4 Billion Penalty for Shopping Service Alleged Violation

Adriana Marais, ,

The legal team of the European Union responded to Google’s attempt to dismiss a €2.4 billion ($2.6 billion) fine for showing bias towards its own shopping services. They argued before the top court of the bloc that the crux of the case revolves around determining whom to place greater trust in. A unit of Alphabet Inc. is appealing a 2021 ruling by a lower EU court that upheld a European Commission ruling that the company violated competition rules by favoring its own shopping service over its rivals. It was forced…

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Alphabet Inc.’s Google said Thursday that it’s making several changes to comply with the EU’s Digital Services Act. (Pexels) AI 

EU Investigates Google, Twitter, and Facebook as New Regulations Take Effect

Jim Hendler, , , , , , , , ,

Starting from Friday, Meta Platforms Inc., Google, and X (previously known as Twitter) will be required to comply with stringent content moderation regulations in the European Union. These regulations will be legally enforceable under a new law that governs social media platforms. Alphabet Inc’s Google said on Thursday it is making several changes to comply with EU digital services laws, including expanding access to online ad targeting data and disclosing more about its content monitoring practices on services such as Google Search. It also adds risk analysis to its largest…

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Bengaluru Auto driver's smartwatch QR code hack stuns passenger and amazes the Internet. ((X (formerly Twitter))) News 

Auto Driver in Bengaluru Impresses Passenger with Tech-Savvy Skills

Adriana Marais,

A heartwarming story from Bengaluru has caught the interest of social media users as an auto driver, who is well-versed in technology, has cleverly integrated modern technology into his payment system. This unique approach has earned him praise and drawn comparisons to the brilliant Tony Stark from the Iron Man movies. QR code payment with a smart watch The case unfolded when a Bengaluru man used the Namma Yatri app to hire an autorickshaw. What happened next surprised and amused him in equal measure. Instead of producing a conventional laminated…

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Race towards 'autonomous' AI agents grips Silicon Valley (REUTERS) AI 

Silicon Valley Accelerates Development of Autonomous AI Agents

Febin Mathew, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A new generation of AI assistants, equipped with advanced technology similar to ChatGPT and its competitors, is emerging, intensifying the competition in the field. This comes approximately ten years after the introduction of virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa. These new AI helpers possess enhanced autonomy, taking the capabilities of virtual assistants to a whole new level. Experimental systems running on GPT-4 or similar models are attracting billions of dollars as Silicon Valley races to capitalize on advances in artificial intelligence. The new assistants — often called “agents” or “co-pilots”…

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Employees say Roblox’s efforts have not gone far enough to address their concerns (REUTERS) Gaming 

Roblox Confronts Calls for Increased Diversity Among Staff

Adarsh V.K, , , ,

During a virtual all-hands meeting on Zoom in spring 2021, Roblox Corp., a prominent video-game company, addressed the issue of gender diversity among its top leadership. An employee raised the question via text, expressing concern about the limited representation of women in higher positions. Sources present at the meeting reported that David Baszucki, the co-founder and CEO of Roblox, acknowledged the query and explained that the company maintains rigorous hiring standards. Several women said they found the comment disparaging, but not surprising. In public and private forums, Baszucki, 60, and…

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Google's parent company Alphabet early this year announced it would cut about 12,000 jobs globally, citing a challenging economic reality News 

Google suspends construction of its massive Silicon Valley campus due to cost-cutting measures

Adriana Marais, ,

Google has halted construction of a massive campus in the Silicon Valley city of San Jose as it curbs costs, CNBC reported Friday. Google’s parent company Alphabet announced at the beginning of this year that it would cut around 12,000 jobs worldwide, citing challenging economic realities. Alphabet reported lower-than-expected revenue and profit in the final three months of last year as tough economic times cooled its advertising business. The Internet titan is scheduled to release its latest quarterly earnings numbers next week. A plot of land in San Jose had…

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