The Briefing by Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

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The Briefing

By Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

Get smarter about the day’s news in tech, media and finance by following Silicon Valley’s most-read executive newsletter.

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Recent Editions

Clockwise from top-left: Chris Cox, Chris Daniels, Adam Mosseri, Will Cathcart, Jay Parikh, Javier Olivan. Photos by Bloomberg, AP, Flickr/TechCrunch, Facebook

Meet the New Faces of Power at Facebook

By Sarah Kuranda · May 22, 2018 2:32pm PDT · 6 comments

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently ceded some power to his deputies in one of the biggest management reorgs in the company’s history. Some of these leaders, like Chief Product Officer Chris Cox, have high profiles. But several others, including WhatsApp’s new chief Chris Daniels and Vice President of Growth Javier Olivan,... Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently ceded some power to his deputies in one of the biggest...

Jobs@TheInformation

Join Our Cryptocurrency Reporting Team!

By The Information Staff · May 22, 2018 10:40am PDT

The Information is building a team of reporters to cover the business of cryptocurrencies. Almost 10 years since Satoshi’s original bitcoin whitepaper, the market cap of crypto is climbing and billions more are flowing into the ecosystem. News organizations are racing to cover the slew of announcements and news. Headlines about... The Information is building a team of reporters to cover the business of cryptocurrencies....

Oracle CEO Mark Hurd. Photo by Bloomberg

Oracle’s Aggressive Sales Tactics Are Backfiring With Customers

By Amir Efrati and Kevin McLaughlin · May 22, 2018 7:02am PDT · 3 comments

Oracle’s efforts to catch up to Amazon in the cloud market are running into obstacles—from Oracle customers upset with the company’s aggressive sales tactics.Several big Oracle customers, including oil and gas exploration company Halliburton, toy maker Mattel and electricity provider Edison Southern California, have recently... Oracle’s efforts to catch up to Amazon in the cloud market are running into...

Art by Mike Sullivan

On the Market: Veterans of Etsy, Chariot, Lyft

By The Information Staff · May 21, 2018 7:01am PDT · 1 comment

Art by Mike Sullivan

On the Market: Veterans of Etsy, Chariot, Lyft

By The Information Staff · May 21, 2018 7:01am PDT · 1 comment

For our latest batch of Free Agents—high-profile executives who are in the job market, or might be soon—we profiled the former chief executives of Etsy and Chariot, a onetime top policy official at Lyft, and an Apple and Intel veteran who describes himself as retired “temporarily.”A couple became Free Agents after sudden... For our latest batch of Free Agents—high-profile executives who are in the job market, or...

People riding scooters in downtown San Francisco. Photo by Bloomberg

Lyft Explores Launching Scooter Service in San Francisco

By Cory Weinberg · May 20, 2018 8:01pm PDT

Lyft plans to seek permits to run an electric scooter service in San Francisco, The Information has learned. It is the clearest sign yet that the No. 2 ride-hailing firm plans to compete against its bigger rival Uber and a host of startups in the fast-growing market of electric scooters and bikes.A local consulting firm representing Lyft... Lyft plans to seek permits to run an electric scooter service in San Francisco, The Information...

The Information’s 411 — Social to the Left of Me, Media to the Right

By Tom Dotan · May 18, 2018 1:18pm PDT

Tom and Cory talk about how Evan Spiegel rammed through Snap's disastrous redesign and the state the company is in now. Also Cory dives into the role tech money is playing in the San Francisco mayoral race. Tom and Cory talk about how Evan Spiegel rammed through Snap's disastrous redesign and the...

Art: Mike Sullivan

To Thrive in Midwest, Investors Shouldn’t Copy Silicon Valley

By Lan Xuezhao · May 18, 2018 10:01am PDT · 3 comments

As a venture capitalist investing in applications of artificial intelligence for the future of work, especially the automation of offices, factories and farms, I try to regularly visit different places and work settings. Recently, I had the opportunity to return to the Midwest on a “Comeback Cities Tour” with Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio),... As a venture capitalist investing in applications of artificial intelligence for the future of...

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel. Photo by AP

How Evan Spiegel Fumbled Snap’s Redesign

By Tom Dotan · May 18, 2018 7:01am PDT · 5 comments

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel. Photo by AP

How Evan Spiegel Fumbled Snap’s Redesign

By Tom Dotan · May 18, 2018 7:01am PDT · 5 comments

Last fall, on a flight back from China, Evan Spiegel decided to remake Snapchat.Inspired by apps he’d seen in that country, Mr. Spiegel wanted to create a new version separating users’ friends’ content from the professional media. Each category would be sorted by an algorithm rather than Snapchat’s existing chronological... Last fall, on a flight back from China, Evan Spiegel decided to remake Snapchat.Inspired by apps...

Mira Ricardel, shown during her Senate confirmation hearing last year, is leaving her post as head of the Bureau of Industry and Security to become deputy national security adviser. Photo by Bloomberg

The Obscure Agency That Brought Down ZTE Is in Middle of Trade Fight

By Matt Drange · May 17, 2018 11:52am PDT

Chinese officials are visiting Washington, D.C., this week, in a bid to rescue telecom giant ZTE after President Trump suggested he might walk back sweeping trade penalties against the company. The saga has put the spotlight on a little-known division of the Commerce Department that is expected to gain new authority to regulate technology... Chinese officials are visiting Washington, D.C., this week, in a bid to rescue telecom giant ZTE...

Ze Frank. Photo by Cody Glenn/Web Summit

Inside BuzzFeed’s Hollywood Adventure

By Beejoli Shah · May 17, 2018 7:01am PDT

BuzzFeed set out to reinvent Hollywood. It turns out that Hollywood reinvented BuzzFeed.Five years after launching a film and TV business with an unconventional emphasis on audience data and fast program development, BuzzFeed Studios is changing tack. The company’s recent hiring of former MTV executive Lauren Dolgen to lead its studio... BuzzFeed set out to reinvent Hollywood. It turns out that Hollywood reinvented BuzzFeed.Five...

San Francisco mayoral candidate and Board of Supervisors President London Breed. Photo: AP

Tech Money Looms Over Race for San Francisco Mayor

By Cory Weinberg · May 16, 2018 10:01am PDT · 2 comments

Emmett Shear moved to San Francisco more than a decade ago. His time in the city has been lucrative. His video livestream startup Justin.tv amassed a cult-like following, pivoted into a gaming platform called Twitch, and then was sold to Amazon for nearly $970 million in cash. But Mr. Shear, who is still Twitch’s CEO, says he doesn’t... Emmett Shear moved to San Francisco more than a decade ago. His time in the city has been...

Art by Mike Sullivan

How Sonos Played Patent Hardball to Strike Google Deal

By Aaron Tilley · May 16, 2018 7:01am PDT · 4 comments

Art by Mike Sullivan

How Sonos Played Patent Hardball to Strike Google Deal

By Aaron Tilley · May 16, 2018 7:01am PDT · 4 comments

Sonos had a big announcement last October: Its new voice-activated speaker would be the first to work with both Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant. What hasn’t been reported is that Sonos achieved this by using its patent portfolio to play hardball with Google.The tech giant previously had resisted allowing Google Assistant to work... Sonos had a big announcement last October: Its new voice-activated speaker would be the first to...

An employee packages a product at the Amazon Fulfillment center in Robbinsville Township, N.J. Photo: AP

To Bypass UPS, Amazon Mimics Uber Tactics

By Priya Anand · May 15, 2018 10:01am PDT · 7 comments

Amazon has rapidly expanded same-day and overnight delivery service in recent years, an expensive proposition for the online retailer. To control rising costs, the company has enlisted hundreds of thousands of independent drivers who use their own cars to deliver packages to consumers. The driver initiative, dubbed Flex, is one of the ways in... Amazon has rapidly expanded same-day and overnight delivery service in recent years, an expensive...

Source: BoxOfficeMojo

How Fate of Fox Affects Future of Hollywood

By Matt Pressberg · May 15, 2018 7:01am PDT · 1 comment

Disney and Comcast are in a high-stakes showdown for control of Fox. Beyond Fox’s cable channels and its vast film and TV library of old movies and TV shows, the winner gets control of Fox’s valuable movie franchises, such as X-Men. And that could help determine whether Comcast’s Universal can catch up to Disney’s share... Disney and Comcast are in a high-stakes showdown for control of Fox. Beyond Fox’s cable...

Hillhouse founder Zhang Lei. Photo by Bloomberg.

Dogs (and Cats) Are Next Big Thing for China’s Hillhouse

By Yunan Zhang · May 14, 2018 10:01am PDT

Hillhouse Capital Group, one of China's most prominent venture capital and private equity firms, struck gold by investing early in today's tech giants including Tencent, Didi Chuxing and Meituan. Now it’s added a new focus: pets. The firm has acquired more than 500 veterinary clinics, including five pet hospital chains, over the... Hillhouse Capital Group, one of China's most prominent venture capital and private equity...

Art by Mike Sullivan

In One VC Sector, Women Are Gaining Ground

By Serena Saitto · May 14, 2018 7:01am PDT · 3 comments

Art by Mike Sullivan

In One VC Sector, Women Are Gaining Ground

By Serena Saitto · May 14, 2018 7:01am PDT · 3 comments

While women still represent only about 15% of decision makers at Silicon Valley’s major venture capital firms, another subset of the industry, corporate venture capital, has a higher proportion of women calling the shots.At least four of the 20 biggest corporate venture capital funds, including those operated by Comcast, Time Warner, GE... While women still represent only about 15% of decision makers at Silicon Valley’s major...

The Information’s 411 — Uber’s Got 99 Problems

By Tom Dotan · May 11, 2018 1:42pm PDT

Juro explains how the ride-hailing market in Brazil turned into a proxy war between Didi and Uber. Alfred explores the bank in San Diego that's at the center of the cryptocurrency market. Juro explains how the ride-hailing market in Brazil turned into a proxy war between Didi and...

Ring CEO Jamie Siminoff. Photo by Flickr/Christopher Michel

How Amazon’s Latest Security Device Let People Spy on You

By Reed Albergotti · May 11, 2018 7:01am PDT · 4 comments

In January, Miami resident Jesus Echezarreta’s ex-boyfriend told him he needed to walk his dog more. Taken aback, Mr. Echezarreta asked how he would know that. It turned out it his ex was checking up on him through Mr. Echezarreta’s camera-equipped doorbell, made by Amazon-owned Ring. Ring’s software allowed people who... In January, Miami resident Jesus Echezarreta’s ex-boyfriend told him he needed to walk his...

Illustration by Scotty Reifsnyder

Tech’s New Housing Frontier: Furniture on the Ceiling

By Cory Weinberg · May 10, 2018 10:02am PDT

One of the more out-there experiments in how the tech industry wants to shape the future of housing will kick off this summer in San Francisco’s South Park neighborhood, which is dotted with venture capital offices. In some small apartments in a renovated building, beds, closets and cabinets will hang from the ceiling like light fixtures,... One of the more out-there experiments in how the tech industry wants to shape the future of...

One of 99's taxis. Photo by Thetechnews.com

How Didi Launched a Brazilian Beachhead in Uber’s Backyard

By Juro Osawa and Yunan Zhang · May 10, 2018 7:00am PDT

One of 99's taxis. Photo by Thetechnews.com

How Didi Launched a Brazilian Beachhead in Uber’s Backyard

By Juro Osawa and Yunan Zhang · May 10, 2018 7:00am PDT

Two years ago, Uber, already dominant in Brazil, considered buying a small local rival called 99. But then-Uber CEO Travis Kalanick wasn’t interested. He believed Uber could crush 99 instead.That left an opening for Uber’s archrival, China’s Didi Chuxing, to establish a beachhead in Uber’s second largest market and to... Two years ago, Uber, already dominant in Brazil, considered buying a small local rival called 99....