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

The Information’s 411 — I Can See for Last Miles and Miles

By Tom Dotan · Jun 22, 2018 3:47pm PDT

Amir talks about scooter mania and why the scooter-rental startups face a tougher regulatory climate than ride hailing companies did. Then he discusses the debate at Uber about whether equal pay guidelines have hurt its recruiting efforts. Amir talks about scooter mania and why the scooter-rental startups face a tougher regulatory...

Daily Show host Trevor Noah, whose Comedy Central show airs on Philo. Photo by AP.

Sports-Free Streaming Service Philo Raises Money as Competition Heats Up

By Jessica Toonkel and Tom Dotan · Jun 22, 2018 3:10pm PDT

Philo, which launched the first sports-free streaming TV service late last year, is raising a new funding round of between $40 million and $50 million, people familiar with the situation said. The fundraising comes as competition intensifies in the low-price end of the streaming TV market, including from a similar service unveiled this week by... Philo, which launched the first sports-free streaming TV service late last year, is raising a new...

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Photo by Bloomberg

Uber’s Quandary: Attracting Top Talent Without Breaking Equal Pay

By Amir Efrati · Jun 22, 2018 7:01am PDT · 1 comment

Uber last year changed how it pays people to try to eliminate the pay gap between men and women. Now some executives are complaining the new system makes it harder to recruit top talent.That has pitted human resources chief Liane Hornsey against many other executives who want to offer some sought-after candidates more money, say people familiar... Uber last year changed how it pays people to try to eliminate the pay gap between men and women....

A Google Home speaker. Photo: AP

Behind JD Deal, a Google Plan to Crack China Through Hardware

By Juro Osawa · Jun 21, 2018 1:28pm PDT · 3 comments

A Google Home speaker. Photo: AP

Behind JD Deal, a Google Plan to Crack China Through Hardware

By Juro Osawa · Jun 21, 2018 1:28pm PDT · 3 comments

When Google unveiled its $550 million investment in Chinese online retail giant JD.com, the companies described the deal as a global alliance to expand their e-commerce businesses. But behind the scenes, according to a person familiar with the conversations, Google discussed how the link-up would help it launch its sales of consumer gadgets in... When Google unveiled its $550 million investment in Chinese online retail giant JD.com, the...

Viacom CEO Bob Bakish. Photo by AP

Left on Merger Sidelines, Viacom Strikes Netflix Deal

By Jessica Toonkel · Jun 21, 2018 7:01am PDT

A frenzy of merger activity has taken over the media sector in the past week, but one company, MTV’s owner Viacom, has been left on the sidelines. Even CBS, which like Viacom is controlled by the Redstone family, rebuffed a merger proposal from Viacom. So Viacom CEO Bob Bakish is trying to revive Viacom’s business by making shows for... A frenzy of merger activity has taken over the media sector in the past week, but one company,...

Matt Zeiler, CEO of Clarifai. Photo: Bloomberg

As Walmart Eyes AI for Stores, Privacy Concerns Rise

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jun 20, 2018 7:01am PDT · 3 comments

Late last year, the world’s largest retailer, Walmart, struck a deal with a small tech startup, Clarifai, to use its artificial intelligence software, a technology that promises to shake up the experience of shopping in stores. Under their agreement, which hasn’t previously been reported, Walmart planned to use Clarifai’s... Late last year, the world’s largest retailer, Walmart, struck a deal with a small tech...

Modest Proposals

It’s Time for an American Internet Privacy Framework

By Sam Lessin · Jun 19, 2018 10:02am PDT · 8 comments

In the last several weeks, you likely received a slew of emails from U.S. internet companies updating privacy policies in response to the Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation privacy rules coming into effect.Seeing these updates has left me with a nagging question: Why are all these U.S.-domiciled companies choosing to update their... In the last several weeks, you likely received a slew of emails from U.S. internet companies...

Investigators examined a self-driving Uber vehicle that fatally struck a woman in Tempe, Ariz., in March. Photo: AP

Uber Neglected Simulation Testing on Self-Driving Cars, Insiders Say

By Amir Efrati · Jun 19, 2018 7:02am PDT · 8 comments

Investigators examined a self-driving Uber vehicle that fatally struck a woman in Tempe, Ariz., in March. Photo: AP

Uber Neglected Simulation Testing on Self-Driving Cars, Insiders Say

By Amir Efrati · Jun 19, 2018 7:02am PDT · 8 comments

When a self-driving car prototype operated by Uber fatally struck a pedestrian in Tempe, Ariz., in March, Uber quickly identified the likely cause in software that caused the vehicle to ignore certain objects that its sensors detected. But a further realization dawned on some executives and members of the team: The rush to develop a commercial... When a self-driving car prototype operated by Uber fatally struck a pedestrian in Tempe, Ariz.,...

George Kurtz, co-founder and CEO of CrowdStrike. Photo: Bloomberg

As Attacks Rise, Cybersecurity Firms Court Public, Private Markets

By Sarah Kuranda · Jun 18, 2018 12:26pm PDT

There are few sectors as exciting to investors these days as cybersecurity, thanks to the never-ending barrage of online attacks on governments, companies and individuals. Now two of the best known cybersecurity startups are seeking to capitalize on that interest with new fundraising moves aimed at the public and private markets.... There are few sectors as exciting to investors these days as cybersecurity, thanks to the...

A Juul e-cigarette device. Photo: AP

Juul Soars Despite Investor Discomfort With E-Cigarettes

By Alfred Lee and Cory Weinberg · Jun 18, 2018 7:01am PDT

One of the most valuable consumer products startups in the U.S.—Juul Labs—is a company some investors won’t even touch. Still, enough institutional investors have been impressed by its growth that they agreed to buy shares in the electronic cigarette maker from early shareholders on the secondary market, propelling its... One of the most valuable consumer products startups in the U.S.—Juul Labs—is a...

A bird scooter in San Francisco. Photo by Bloomberg

One Year in, Bird Founder Sells Some Shares

By Amir Efrati and Alfred Lee · Jun 17, 2018 9:13am PDT · 3 comments

The founder of Bird, a year-old scooter rental service that has attracted $450 million from investors, including Sequoia Capital, already has sold some of his shares, according to people who were briefed on the unusual move. A regulatory filing suggests that the founder, Travis VanderZanden, might have received at least several tens of millions... The founder of Bird, a year-old scooter rental service that has attracted $450 million from...

The Information’s 411 — TV on the Radio

By Tom Dotan · Jun 15, 2018 1:05pm PDT

The Information’s 411 — TV on the Radio

By Tom Dotan · Jun 15, 2018 1:05pm PDT

Jessica Toonkel talks about what the media landscape will look like after ATT won a decisive victory over the DOJ and has officially acquired Time Warner. Priya recaps her interview with the CEO of Poshmark and how it has built up an online fashion marketplace. Jessica Toonkel talks about what the media landscape will look like after ATT won a decisive...

A Waymo car on a test drive. Photo: AP

Apple Ramps Up Self-Driving Car Program With Waymo Hire

By Amir Efrati and Jessica E. Lessin · Jun 15, 2018 11:20am PDT · 6 comments

Apple has hired a high-profile senior engineer of Alphabet’s Waymo self-driving vehicle unit, Jaime Waydo, to join the iPhone maker’s own self-driving vehicle project, known as Titan, according to a person briefed about the move.Ms. Waydo’s hiring could elevate the stature of Apple’s self-driving car efforts. It also... Apple has hired a high-profile senior engineer of Alphabet’s Waymo self-driving vehicle...

Airbnb’s China Rival in Talks to Raise $100 Million

By Juro Osawa and Yunan Zhang · Jun 15, 2018 10:02am PDT

One of Airbnb’s major Chinese rivals is in talks with investors to raise about $100 million in a new funding round, people familiar with the matter said. Beijing-based Xiaozhu was valued at $1 billion in its previous round in November when it raised $120 million from investors including Yunfeng Capital, a private equity fund backed by... One of Airbnb’s major Chinese rivals is in talks with investors to raise about $100 million...

FuboTV CEO David Gandler

The Big Interview

For Streaming Sports Upstart, a Potential World Cup Boost

By Matt Pressberg · Jun 15, 2018 7:02am PDT

For soccer fans, the World Cup that kicked off Thursday in Russia is one of the signature events of international sports. For fuboTV, an upstart battling for share in the burgeoning television streaming market, there is no better moment to lure more cord-cutters to join the growing number of subscribers it has in the U.S.FuboTV has launched an... For soccer fans, the World Cup that kicked off Thursday in Russia is one of the signature events...

Zoox co-founders Tim Kentley-Klay (l.) and Jesse Levinson, at The Information's autonomous vehicles summit on Thursday. Photo: Erin Beach for The Information

Autonomous Vehicles Should Be Built From Scratch, Says Zoox CEO

By Priya Anand · Jun 14, 2018 1:15pm PDT · 3 comments

Zoox co-founders Tim Kentley-Klay (l.) and Jesse Levinson, at The Information's autonomous vehicles summit on Thursday. Photo: Erin Beach for The Information

Autonomous Vehicles Summit

Autonomous Vehicles Should Be Built From Scratch, Says Zoox CEO

By Priya Anand · Jun 14, 2018 1:15pm PDT · 3 comments

Self-driving vehicles are such a radical shift for the transportation industry that it is critical to build new cars from the ground up to take advantage of the technology, the head of Zoox, a startup that is doing just that, said on Thursday. Tim Kentley-Klay, the co-founder and CEO of Zoox, said in an on-stage interview at The... Self-driving vehicles are such a radical shift for the transportation industry that it is...

Cruise co-founder Daniel Kan, speaking at The Information's autonomous vehicles summit in San Francisco on Thursday. Photo: Erin Beach for The Information

Autonomous Vehicles Summit

Cruise Still Open to Deals With Ride-Share Partners, Investors

By Sarah Kuranda · Jun 14, 2018 11:34am PDT · 1 comment

Cruise, the autonomous vehicle unit of General Motors, is keeping its options open when it comes to partnerships with ride-sharing companies. “Anything is possible,” said Daniel Kan, the company’s co-founder and chief operating officer. “We are constantly looking for partners to [help us] accelerate our timeline. ...We... Cruise, the autonomous vehicle unit of General Motors, is keeping its options open when it comes...

HBO CEO Richard Plepler. Photo: AP

With Time Warner Win, AT&T Inherits HBO’s Challenges

By Jessica Toonkel · Jun 14, 2018 7:00am PDT · 3 comments

When AT&T shortly takes control of Time Warner, it aims to put a bigger emphasis on direct-to-consumer streaming services that it can promote with its cellular phone offerings. HBO, which operates the HBO Now streaming service, will be key to those plans, said a person familiar with AT&T’s thinking.But to make HBO more competitive... When AT&T shortly takes control of Time Warner, it aims to put a bigger emphasis on...

Poshmark CEO Manish Chandra

The Big Interview

Poshmark Gains on eBay by Going Narrow

By Priya Anand · Jun 13, 2018 10:02am PDT

When he founded Poshmark, Manish Chandra chose not to compete directly with eBay by creating a broad platform for selling everything from cars to toys. Instead, he built a site for buying and selling fashion, demonstrating how niche ecommerce startups can still thrive in the shadow of eBay, the giant online marketplace. In doing so, Mr.... When he founded Poshmark, Manish Chandra chose not to compete directly with eBay by creating a...

Screenshot of Supercell game “Clash Royale.” Photo by throttlelwp44/ Flickr

Tencent’s Deal-Making Image Clouded by Supercell’s Slowdown

By Juro Osawa · Jun 13, 2018 7:00am PDT

Screenshot of Supercell game “Clash Royale.” Photo by throttlelwp44/ Flickr

Tencent’s Deal-Making Image Clouded by Supercell’s Slowdown

By Juro Osawa · Jun 13, 2018 7:00am PDT

Tencent’s 2016 megadeal to buy Supercell cemented the Chinese tech giant’s stature as a global powerhouse in the $100 billion-plus videogame industry. The roughly $8 billion transaction by a Tencent-led group of Chinese investors was a huge bet that the Finnish mobile game maker behind worldwide hit “Clash of Clans” would... Tencent’s 2016 megadeal to buy Supercell cemented the Chinese tech giant’s stature as...