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

Photo: Bloomberg

Security Vendor Fortinet Loses Key Sales Executive

By Sarah Kuranda · Jan 3, 2018 11:49am PST

Fortinet has lost one of its top sales leaders, just as the security vendor comes off months of sales challenges and fights to maintain its market share in the intensely competitive network security business. Fortinet Senior Vice President of Sales Andy Travers, who was responsible for leading sales in the U.S. and Canada, left the company... Fortinet has lost one of its top sales leaders, just as the security vendor comes off months of...

Art by Mike Sullivan.

Google Takes On Microsoft With Voice, Video Upgrades

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jan 3, 2018 7:01am PST · 1 comment

Google Cloud is working on major improvements to its G Suite productivity applications to bolster its appeal to businesses. These include voice and video conferencing upgrades along with a new service for managing user identity data, according to three people who have been briefed on the plans. Central to the G Suite makeover is a new... Google Cloud is working on major improvements to its G Suite productivity applications to bolster...

Art: Mike Sullivan

Cybersecurity Startups’ Newest Tool: Blockchain

By Sarah Kuranda · Jan 2, 2018 10:00am PST

Blockchain is best known as the technology behind bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but a growing number of cybersecurity startups plan to use the distributed network to help their clients thwart hackers.Startups increasingly see a path into the lucrative cybersecurity market long dominated by bigger companies, aided by the booming interest in... Blockchain is best known as the technology behind bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but a...

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. Photo: Bloomberg

In Major Shift, Amazon, Salesforce Move Away From Oracle

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jan 2, 2018 7:00am PST · 5 comments

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. Photo: Bloomberg

In Major Shift, Amazon, Salesforce Move Away From Oracle

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jan 2, 2018 7:00am PST · 5 comments

On Oracle’s earnings call in mid-December, a Wall Street analyst asked whether the company was losing database customers to lower-cost alternatives. Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison insisted that its huge base of Fortune 500 clients, including two of its biggest customers, weren’t going anywhere. “Amazon continues to buy Oracle... On Oracle’s earnings call in mid-December, a Wall Street analyst asked whether the company...

The Weekly Digest

The Information You Missed This Week

By The Information Staff · Dec 30, 2017 8:01am PST

Good Morning! President Trump tweeted that the U.S. Postal Service should charge Amazon more to deliver its packages. This is what happens when Amazon can’t get bronzing lotion to Mar-a-Lago in time for Christmas. Good Morning! President Trump tweeted that the U.S. Postal Service should charge Amazon more...

2018 Predictions

Why Microsoft, Amazon Will Make Their Own AI Chips

By Aaron Tilley · Dec 29, 2017 7:00am PST · 2 comments

Competing in the field of artificial intelligence requires a few key ingredients: huge amounts of data to train the systems, talented engineers and colossal amounts of computing power. That power is currently delivered, in large part, by graphics chips built by Nvidia, but there are signs that might change.I predict that 2018 will be the year... Competing in the field of artificial intelligence requires a few key ingredients: huge amounts of...

Photo: Bloomberg

SoftBank Succeeds in Buying Uber Stake

By Amir Efrati · Dec 28, 2017 11:14am PST · 8 comments

A group of investors led by SoftBank will buy at least 14% of Uber’s stock at a 30% discount to Uber’s current private valuation, a person familiar with the deal said Thursday, capping months of negotiations and gamesmanship between the Japanese conglomerate and Uber shareholders over the terms of SoftBank’s offer.The purchase... A group of investors led by SoftBank will buy at least 14% of Uber’s stock at a 30%...

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Photo: Bloomberg

Moment of Truth for Uber, SoftBank

By Amir Efrati and Alfred Lee · Dec 28, 2017 8:31am PST · 3 comments

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Photo: Bloomberg

Moment of Truth for Uber, SoftBank

By Amir Efrati and Alfred Lee · Dec 28, 2017 8:31am PST · 3 comments

UPDATE: The SoftBank offer has succeeded, said a person familiar with the deal.The offer by SoftBank and other investors to acquire a 14% stake in Uber by buying shares from existing shareholders seems likely to pass today, according to some of the shareholders who plan to sell. But the proposed deal, which expires at noon PT today, still... UPDATE: The SoftBank offer has succeeded, said a person familiar with the deal.The offer by...

Taxify CEO Markus Villig. Photo: Taxify

Why Uber Cares About a Tiny Estonian Rival

By Amir Efrati · Dec 28, 2017 7:00am PST

A small, Estonia-based startup has emerged as an unlikely chess piece in Didi Chuxing’s global proxy war against Uber for ride-hailing supremacy.Taxify, a ride-hailing app that has begun to eat into Uber’s market share in places such as South Africa where it was once a near-monopoly, was an afterthought in the industry until Didi... A small, Estonia-based startup has emerged as an unlikely chess piece in Didi Chuxing’s...

Doha, Qatar. Photo: Francisco Anzola/ Flickr

2018 Predictions

Why Saudi Arabia’s Gulf Rivals Will Launch a Mega Fund

By Shai Oster · Dec 27, 2017 10:53am PST · 2 comments

SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son created the $100 billion Vision Fund by tapping Middle Eastern petrodollars from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. But the Saudis aren’t the only ones with cash and a burning need to diversify their investments to make up for falling oil prices. I predict that in 2018, another coalition of oil-rich... SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son created the $100 billion Vision Fund by tapping Middle Eastern...

Photo: Bloomberg

Inside Huawei’s Plans to Challenge Apple in the U.S.

By Juro Osawa · Dec 27, 2017 7:02am PST · 3 comments

The U.S. may no longer be a safe refuge for Apple and Samsung from the relentless rise of Huawei. When Huawei launches its flagship phone with AT&T early next year, the Chinese tech giant is finally going after Apple's home turf.It is the culmination of more than a year of work at Huawei, including confidential negotiations with... The U.S. may no longer be a safe refuge for Apple and Samsung from the relentless rise of Huawei....

Photo: Bloomberg

Why Microsoft Will Make a Big Security Acquisition

By Sarah Kuranda · Dec 26, 2017 10:00am PST

Photo: Bloomberg

2018 Predictions

Why Microsoft Will Make a Big Security Acquisition

By Sarah Kuranda · Dec 26, 2017 10:00am PST

When it comes to cybersecurity companies, Microsoft isn’t usually the first name that comes to mind. CEO Satya Nadella has been trying to change that by buying several small security firms in the past couple of years. Next year, I predict he will get more ambitious and make a major, multibillion dollar security acquisition. One target... When it comes to cybersecurity companies, Microsoft isn’t usually the first name that comes...

Art: Mike Sullivan

Which Digital Media Firms Are Best Positioned for Tough 2018

By Tom Dotan · Dec 26, 2017 7:00am PST · 6 comments

It was a year of upheaval in the media industry. The Murdochs decided to sell most of their Fox entertainment properties to Disney, in a very public acknowledgement that Fox lacked the scale to compete effectively. Meanwhile, Mashable was sold at a fire sale price to Ziff Davis, and companies like BuzzFeed and Vice missed their ambitious revenue... It was a year of upheaval in the media industry. The Murdochs decided to sell most of their Fox...

The Weekly Digest

The Information You Missed This Week

By The Information Staff · Dec 23, 2017 8:02am PST

Happy Holidays!We are shocked that Apple admitted it deliberately slows older iPhones. What’s next? Will Facebook admit it doesn’t actually care about you? Happy Holidays!We are shocked that Apple admitted it deliberately slows older iPhones....

The Information’s 411 — Why Are They Mad at Tech?

By Tom Dotan · Dec 22, 2017 1:45pm PST

Live from the Pianofight theater in downtown San Francisco, Tom talks to the editorial team at The Information about the biggest stories of the year: sexual harassment, Uber, and political scrutiny. Plus Cory interviews Airbnb's head of policy Chris Lehane. Live from the Pianofight theater in downtown San Francisco, Tom talks to the editorial team at...

Google Cloud chief Diane Greene and her deputy, Diane Bryant. Photos by Bloomberg.

Why Google Will Replace Its Cloud Chief Diane Greene

By Kevin McLaughlin · Dec 22, 2017 7:02am PST · 4 comments

Google Cloud chief Diane Greene and her deputy, Diane Bryant. Photos by Bloomberg.

2018 Predictions

Why Google Will Replace Its Cloud Chief Diane Greene

By Kevin McLaughlin · Dec 22, 2017 7:02am PST · 4 comments

Google Cloud CEO Diane Greene is one of the most respected executives in enterprise technology, in large part because she co-founded VMware. But Ms. Greene hasn’t managed to move the needle on Google Cloud’s business since joining two years ago. That’s why in 2018, I’m betting that Ms. Greene will give power to former... Google Cloud CEO Diane Greene is one of the most respected executives in enterprise technology,...

Illustration by Mike Sullivan

Google Ramps Up Mobile Chipmaking With Talent From Apple

By Aaron Tilley · Dec 21, 2017 9:47am PST · 4 comments

Google has hired John Bruno, a well-regarded chip designer from Apple who had worked on the company’s series of iPhone chips since 2012. The hiring is part of a brewing effort by Google to design its own chipsets for consumer devices like the Pixel phone.Mr. Bruno follows a number of other experienced chip engineers who have defected to... Google has hired John Bruno, a well-regarded chip designer from Apple who had worked on the...

Didi President Jean Liu. Photo by Bloomberg.

China’s Didi in Talks to Buy Brazil’s 99, Threatening Uber

By Yunan Zhang · Dec 21, 2017 5:27am PST · 1 comment

Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing is in talks to buy a majority stake in Brazilian ride hailing app 99, according to a person familiar with the talks. If the deal is completed, it would threaten Uber, which now dominates the Brazilian market.It could also accelerate a broader reorganization in the global ride-sharing sector pursued by Didi... Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing is in talks to buy a majority stake in Brazilian ride...

A Pinterest-branded banner on the New York Stock Exchange earlier this year. Photo by Bloomberg.

Pinterest, After Just Missing 2017 Revenue Target, Plans Sales Ramp-Up

By Amir Efrati, Alfred Lee and Serena Saitto · Dec 20, 2017 3:39pm PST

Pinterest is likely to slightly fall short of its revenue projection for 2017, says a person briefed on the numbers. The company is expected to wait until 2019 to go public, giving it more time to accelerate growth and justify its $12.3 billion valuation, say people familiar with the situation. Pinterest, which people use to bookmark and search... Pinterest is likely to slightly fall short of its revenue projection for 2017, says a person...

An artists' rendering of the roof deck at Treehouse's first Los Angeles apartment building. Image by Treehouse.

Startups Take On More Risk to Popularize ‘Co-Living’

By Cory Weinberg · Dec 20, 2017 10:02am PST · 2 comments

An artists' rendering of the roof deck at Treehouse's first Los Angeles apartment building. Image by Treehouse.

Startups Take On More Risk to Popularize ‘Co-Living’

By Cory Weinberg · Dec 20, 2017 10:02am PST · 2 comments

Venture capitalists have been slow to warm to startups wanting to rent out shared living spaces like college dorms. Now, new coliving companies have emerged with a different approach to the business—one they say promises a higher return but carries much more risk.The new approach, pursued by startups like Starcity and Treehouse, involves... Venture capitalists have been slow to warm to startups wanting to rent out shared living spaces...