How to Grease a Chatbot: E-Commerce Companies Seek a Backdoor Into AI ResponsesRead more

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Photo by Bloomberg

The Perils of Prospering From the Pandemic: The Information’s Tech Briefing

Photo: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Photo by Bloomberg

Greetings!

Businesses that are able to sidestep a recession are usually happy to shout that from the rooftops. But, as Amazon’s statement on Thursday reminded us, no company wants to be seen to be profiting from the pandemic.

Not only did the company declare it would spend its entire $4 billion operating profit this quarter on Covid-related expenses, such as keeping employees safe, its press release listed in about 30 bullet points all the things Amazon is doing to help employees, customers and communities. In reading the details, I was reminded of Instacart. 

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