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

Photos by Bloomberg, Company website. Source: The Information

The People With (Digital) Power at Walmart

By Priya Anand · Sep 12, 2018 7:01am PDT

Shortly after Marc Lore joined Walmart, an employee asked the company’s new U.S. ecommerce chief at an all-hands meeting if there were any books he read for inspiration. Mr. Lore replied that he wasn’t much of a reader, preferring instead to spend his time thinking, said one current Walmart employee who saw the presentation and... Shortly after Marc Lore joined Walmart, an employee asked the company’s new U.S. ecommerce...

Sentient CEO Babak Hodjat at a conference in New Orleans in May. Photo by Flickr/Collision Conf

AI Startup’s Stumbles Show Challenges in Crowded Market

By Kevin McLaughlin · Sep 11, 2018 10:30am PDT · 3 comments

Artificial intelligence startup Sentient Technologies seemed to have hit paydirt three years ago when it landed customers such as shoe retailer Zappos and shoe maker Skechers for its software, which uses AI algorithms to recommend products to shoppers. But in the past year Sentient has stumbled in efforts to diversify into advertising and... Artificial intelligence startup Sentient Technologies seemed to have hit paydirt three years ago...

David Gorodyansky, founder and CEO of privacy startup AnchorFree. Photo by Bloomberg

Venture Capitalists Look to Privacy Investments as Interest Rises

By Sarah Kuranda · Sep 11, 2018 7:00am PDT · 2 comments

When Dimitri Sirota approached investors two years ago to raise a seed round for his new company, BigID, many were dismissive of the idea behind the startup, which creates technology that helps companies find what personal data they have collected from customers and get recommendations on how to secure it. In the meetings, some of the venture... When Dimitri Sirota approached investors two years ago to raise a seed round for his new company,...

Justin Simien, the creator of "Dear White People." Photo by AP

At Netflix, Speed is Key

By Beejoli Shah · Sep 10, 2018 10:00am PDT · 9 comments

Justin Simien, the creator of "Dear White People." Photo by AP

At Netflix, Speed is Key

By Beejoli Shah · Sep 10, 2018 10:00am PDT · 9 comments

TV shows have been produced the same way for decades. But in its quest to revolutionize how people watch TV, Netflix is revolutionizing how TV shows are made.Take the popular show “Dear White People,” which debuted last year. After creator Justin Simien made his pitch about the show—based on the movie of the same... TV shows have been produced the same way for decades. But in its quest to revolutionize how...

A driver for Uber and Lyft alongside a New York City taxi. Photo by Bloomberg.

Uber, Airbnb Fight Cities by Lobbying States

By Cory Weinberg · Sep 10, 2018 7:02am PDT

The proliferation of Uber, Airbnb and now electric scooters has prompted city councils and mayors’ offices around the country to impose rules on how the companies can operate. But as the restrictions mount, city officials are running up against a conundrum: Tech’s urban disruptors are diminishing cities’ authority in some... The proliferation of Uber, Airbnb and now electric scooters has prompted city councils and...

Google’s Choice: Washington, D.C. or Beijing

By Jessica E. Lessin · Sep 8, 2018 8:53am PDT · 1 comment

While the tech industry was fixated on Washington D.C. this week, I was thinking about a country 12 time zones away.China wasn’t the subject of the Senate Committee on Intelligence hearings where Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg and Twitter’s Jack Dorsey dutifully said little of note. President Trump didn’t bring it up when... While the tech industry was fixated on Washington D.C. this week, I was thinking about a country...

The Information’s 411 — A Job You Could Do in Your Sleep

By Priya Anand · Sep 7, 2018 4:22pm PDT

Priya and Reed discuss whether concerns about big tech will resonate with voters. Tom and Aaron talk about Apple's Eddy Cue, who leads several services at the company such as music and video, where Apple is playing catch-up. Priya and Reed discuss whether concerns about big tech will resonate with voters. Tom and Aaron...

An Amazon Go store in Seattle. Photo by Bloomberg

Amazon to Open Cashierless ‘Go’ Store in New York

By Priya Anand · Sep 7, 2018 11:27am PDT · 2 comments

An Amazon Go store in Seattle. Photo by Bloomberg

Amazon to Open Cashierless ‘Go’ Store in New York

By Priya Anand · Sep 7, 2018 11:27am PDT · 2 comments

Amazon’s cashierless convenience store is headed for its biggest stage yet: New York. On Thursday night, the internet retailer posted at least four job listings related to an Amazon Go store in the New York area. The listings seek candidates for a store manager, an assistant store manager, a learning and development manager, and a training... Amazon’s cashierless convenience store is headed for its biggest stage yet: New York. On...

Discord CEO Jason Citron.

Q&A

Why Tencent-Backed Gaming Chat App Is Taking On Steam

By Tom Dotan · Sep 7, 2018 7:00am PDT

One of the hottest startups in gaming isn’t a game developer. It’s a chat app called Discord.While little known outside the gaming world, Discord is hugely popular with gamers, boasting 150 million users,19 million of whom use it daily. That has drawn the attention of investors: backers include Tencent and venture capitalists such as... One of the hottest startups in gaming isn’t a game developer. It’s a chat app called...

Photo by Bloomberg

Apple Hires Former Condé Nast Executive for News App

By Aaron Tilley · Sep 6, 2018 3:00pm PDT

Apple is beefing up the management of its Apple News product, with the recent hiring of veteran media executive Liz Schimel.The hiring is another sign of the increasing importance of Apple’s news operation, which has become a significant source of traffic for many media organizations at a time when Facebook is placing less emphasis on... Apple is beefing up the management of its Apple News product, with the recent hiring of veteran...

With Low Salaries, Amazon Executives Rely on Stock

By Martin Peers and Priya Anand · Sep 6, 2018 7:02am PDT · 2 comments

Amazon has a reputation for paying its warehouse workers poorly. It turns out even its top executives aren’t well paid, at least by the lavish standards of tech leaders in corporate America.Senior executives at the tech giant earn relatively low salaries—up to $175,000 in 2017, well below the $650,000 or more earned by their... Amazon has a reputation for paying its warehouse workers poorly. It turns out even its top...

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. Photo by Bloomberg

Tech Is a Bogeyman, but Will Voters Respond?

By Nick Wingfield and Reed Albergotti · Sep 5, 2018 7:01pm PDT

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. Photo by Bloomberg

Tech Is a Bogeyman, but Will Voters Respond?

By Nick Wingfield and Reed Albergotti · Sep 5, 2018 7:01pm PDT

On Wednesday, Senator Bernie Sanders escalated his attacks on Amazon with a new bill aimed at ending public subsidies for big companies whose employees rely on federal assistance. Meanwhile, top executives from Twitter and Facebook were grilled in congressional hearings over foreign election interference on social media. And after the first of... On Wednesday, Senator Bernie Sanders escalated his attacks on Amazon with a new bill aimed at...

Mike Sullivan

Crypto Newsletter

New Momentum for Ethereum Rival EOS

By Jon Victor · Sep 5, 2018 12:46pm PDT

I hope you had a fun and restorative Labor Day weekend. The unofficial end of summer must mean the unofficial start of crypto conference season, because the number of blockchain conferences and events on my radar seems to be ramping up quickly now that September has arrived. Which events will you attend? Any recommendations for ones that I... I hope you had a fun and restorative Labor Day weekend. The unofficial end of summer must mean...

Microsoft's AI research chief Harry Shum. Photo by Bloomberg.

Huawei Guns for Nvidia With Potential Microsoft AI Chip Deal in China

By Juro Osawa · Sep 5, 2018 10:00am PDT · 2 comments

Microsoft and Huawei Technologies are discussing the possibility of the U.S. company using Huawei’s newly developed artificial intelligence chips for data centers in China, people familiar with the matter said. While it is uncertain whether they will reach an agreement, a deal with Microsoft would be the Chinese company’s first step... Microsoft and Huawei Technologies are discussing the possibility of the U.S. company using...

Illustration by Mike Sullivan. Photos by Bloomberg, AP

Inside the World of Eddy Cue, Apple’s Services Chief

By Aaron Tilley · Sep 5, 2018 7:02am PDT · 3 comments

It is easy for Apple employees to tell when they have lost the attention of Eddy Cue, the leader of the company’s sprawling internet initiatives—from its music and video businesses to its maps service.During meetings, Mr. Cue is sometimes known to fall silent, shut his eyes and tilt his head back, leaving other participants to wonder... It is easy for Apple employees to tell when they have lost the attention of Eddy Cue, the leader...

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son at a news conference in Tokyo last month. Photo: Bloomberg

Under Scrutiny, SoftBank Tries New Deal Structures

By Alfred Lee · Sep 4, 2018 10:02am PDT

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son at a news conference in Tokyo last month. Photo: Bloomberg

Under Scrutiny, SoftBank Tries New Deal Structures

By Alfred Lee · Sep 4, 2018 10:02am PDT

As the U.S. government puts foreign investments into U.S. companies under the microscope, one of the world’s biggest tech investors, SoftBank, is taking complicated steps to try to insulate its deals from regulatory roadblocks.SoftBank has split some recent venture capital deals into two parts: an initial component to acquire a voting... As the U.S. government puts foreign investments into U.S. companies under the microscope, one of...

Art by Sam Lessin

Modest Proposals

How the Internet Broke and What to Do About It

By Sam Lessin · Sep 4, 2018 7:02am PDT · 7 comments

Any thinking person should realize that we face major challenges when it comes to the future of free speech and the internet. Disinformation and coordinated manipulation are a real, serious and unrelenting reality. Rightly and wrongly the claims of bias abound, and the broad lack of trust in what we read and see is palpable and growing.For... Any thinking person should realize that we face major challenges when it comes to the future of...

Spotlight: Sheryl Sandberg

By Jessica E. Lessin · Sep 1, 2018 4:00pm PDT

Next’s week’s Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on foreign influence on tech platforms will rehash themes we’re all probably a little tired of by now—while giving tech leaders a chance to show off how their efforts to dismantle information campaigns are improving.Two things about the hearing—in which Twitter CEO... Next’s week’s Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on foreign influence on tech...

The Information’s 411 — Zuck’s Army

By Tom Dotan · Aug 31, 2018 1:21pm PDT

Sarah joins to talk about Facebook's organization and why so many executives have been exiting the campus (or plan to). Kevin reveals why Alibaba has temporarily backed off its ambitions to compete in the cloud market in the US. Sarah joins to talk about Facebook's organization and why so many executives have been...

Alibaba Group CEO Daniel Zhang, speaking at a news conference in Hong Kong last year. Photo: Bloomberg

Alibaba Puts the Brakes on U.S. Cloud Expansion

By Kevin McLaughlin · Aug 31, 2018 7:01am PDT

Alibaba Group CEO Daniel Zhang, speaking at a news conference in Hong Kong last year. Photo: Bloomberg

Alibaba Puts the Brakes on U.S. Cloud Expansion

By Kevin McLaughlin · Aug 31, 2018 7:01am PDT

China’s internet giant Alibaba is putting on hold its plans to expand its cloud business in the U.S., people familiar with the matter said, after its initial efforts to take on Amazon Web Services and other big players didn’t live up to its expectations. The company also feared that an aggressive strategy would provoke a backlash in... China’s internet giant Alibaba is putting on hold its plans to expand its cloud business in...