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 — Tell Me About Kubernetes

By Tom Dotan · Jul 21, 2017 2:01pm PDT · 1 comment

Kevin talks about AWS and its latest strategic moves. Tom and Reed lay out the future of AR and how the tech giants are approaching the technology. Kevin talks about AWS and its latest strategic moves. Tom and Reed lay out the future of AR and...

Axel Springer CEO Mathias Dopfner. Photo by Bloomberg.

News Industry Can’t Put Genie Back in Bottle

By Jessica E. Lessin · Jul 21, 2017 7:00am PDT · 3 comments

This week Facebook confirmed it will begin testing new ways for news publishers to sell digital subscriptions on the social network this fall. Privately, for months, leaders of major news outlets who were being briefed by the company have been expressing enthusiasm for Facebook’s plans. Frankly, I’ve been a little surprised by their... This week Facebook confirmed it will begin testing new ways for news publishers to sell digital...

Sources: The companies; The Information calculations.

Volatile Cryptocurrencies Hit ICO Market

By Jon Victor and Mike Sullivan · Jul 20, 2017 12:03pm PDT · 5 comments

A telltale sign of the risks involved in investing in the latest breed of initial coin offerings: The underlying currencies are so volatile that even the ventures creating the new batch of digital coins often sell as fast as they can.The values of Bitcoin and Ether, the digital currencies that investors use to buy into ICOs, have declined since... A telltale sign of the risks involved in investing in the latest breed of initial coin offerings:...

AWS CEO Andy Jassy. Photo by Bloomberg

Amazon Considering New Cloud Service to Combat Google

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jul 20, 2017 7:01am PDT · 4 comments

AWS CEO Andy Jassy. Photo by Bloomberg

Amazon Considering New Cloud Service to Combat Google

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jul 20, 2017 7:01am PDT · 4 comments

Executives at Amazon Web Services used to pride themselves on ignoring products offered by rivals like Microsoft and Google. Not anymore.AWS is considering developing a new cloud service based on a Google-created software tool called Kubernetes, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions. Used to run many applications at the same... Executives at Amazon Web Services used to pride themselves on ignoring products offered by rivals...

Uber HR chief Liane Hornsey. Photo by Uber.

Uber Boosts Employee Comp, Closes Gender Pay Gap

By Amir Efrati · Jul 19, 2017 12:55pm PDT · 3 comments

Uber is raising salaries for all employees, and lifting the value of equity awards for some, following complaints that its system for calculating compensation was unfair. The changes, some of which were outlined to employees by human resources chief Liane Hornsey on Tuesday, could cost Uber hundreds of millions of dollars in higher employee... Uber is raising salaries for all employees, and lifting the value of equity awards for some,...

Toutiao's app on a smartphone. Photo by Mike Sullivan.

How a News Startup Caught China’s Tencent by Surprise

By Juro Osawa · Jul 19, 2017 7:00am PDT · 5 comments

In a lush valley near the ancient Silk Road’s starting point in Western China, young farmer Wang Zheng checks his smartphone for chicken feed tips and egg prices. Mr. Wang is using a news app called Jinri Toutiao—“today’s headlines” in English—whose machine-learning algorithm feeds him personally tailored... In a lush valley near the ancient Silk Road’s starting point in Western China, young farmer...

Careem CEO Mudassir Sheikha. Art by Matt Vascellaro.

Uber’s Middle East Goals Tested by Local Rival

By Amir Efrati · Jul 18, 2017 10:00am PDT · 6 comments

As the global ride-hailing industry begins to consolidate around a handful of companies like Didi Chuxing, Uber and Yandex, one region that could get more attention is the Middle East, where Uber claims to have an edge over the local incumbent, Dubai-based Careem. Internal Uber data show Uber’s share of the market by revenue has slipped to... As the global ride-hailing industry begins to consolidate around a handful of companies like Didi...

Art by Matt Vascellaro.

Filtering Augmented Reality’s Fantasies

By Tom Dotan and Reed Albergotti · Jul 18, 2017 7:02am PDT · 8 comments

Art by Matt Vascellaro.

Filtering Augmented Reality’s Fantasies

By Tom Dotan and Reed Albergotti · Jul 18, 2017 7:02am PDT · 8 comments

Snapchat’s lenses and Pokemon Go have demonstrated how augmented reality can be a popular toy-like feature on smartphones. Now the question is, when will AR drive applications that can be used for more than a moment of fun? The answer is, not for a few years. While various tech companies like Facebook and Apple have unveiled sophisticated... Snapchat’s lenses and Pokemon Go have demonstrated how augmented reality can be a popular...

The Information's San Francisco Summit in 2016. Photo by Julie Mikos.

Jobs@TheInformation

Join The Information’s Events Team!

By The Information Staff · Jul 17, 2017 4:10pm PDT

The Information is a fast-growing media startup in the heart of downtown San Francisco. Politico called us "a well respected, scoopy journalism outfit and a must-read for many global business elites." Fortune, Vanity Fair and Digiday have also recently featured our business as an innovator in media. We’re a must-read for the most... The Information is a fast-growing media startup in the heart of downtown San Francisco. Politico...

Turo’s rental-agency rivals say the car-sharing startup has enjoyed an unfair advantage because it doesn’t pay airport fees. Photo by Bloomberg.

Turo Eyes New Funding as Car-Sharing Fight Revs Up

By Cory Weinberg · Jul 17, 2017 3:29pm PDT · 4 comments

Turo, which runs an Airbnb-like marketplace for car rentals, is looking to raise about $100 million in a funding round that would value the company at roughly $700 million, two people familiar with the matter said.The round, which is expected to close by next month, could position the under-the-radar company for a more prominent role in the... Turo, which runs an Airbnb-like marketplace for car rentals, is looking to raise about $100...

VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger. Photo by Bloomberg.

Next Phase of AWS-VMware Venture Could Be Data Center Software

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jul 17, 2017 7:00am PDT · 1 comment

Amazon Web Services is discussing developing software for corporate data centers with its one-time arch enemy, VMware, said a person with knowledge of the plans. The deal, if struck, would shake up the enterprise software industry by expanding AWS’s customer base significantly and help the Michael Dell-controlled VMware retain its... Amazon Web Services is discussing developing software for corporate data centers with its...

Viewpoint From The Silicon Valley Entering Class of ‘17

By Sam Lessin · Jul 16, 2017 2:54pm PDT

Modest Conversations

Viewpoint From The Silicon Valley Entering Class of ‘17

By Sam Lessin · Jul 16, 2017 2:54pm PDT

Samantha joins as a representative of the Silicon Valley entering class of 2017 having just graduated from Columbia CS and moving on to Facebook engineering. She talks about how she got interested in tech, her personal projects, and what interests her at the intersection of tech and the broader world. Samantha joins as a representative of the Silicon Valley entering class of 2017 having just...

David VanderWaal, vice president of marketing for LG Electronics USA and Michael George, vice president of Alexa, Echo, and Appstore at Amazon, discussing an LG-Amazon Alex partnership at CES this year. Photo by Bloomberg.

The Weekly Digest

The Information You Missed This Week

By The Information Staff · Jul 15, 2017 8:01am PDT · 1 comment

Good Morning!You know things are bad in Washington when Jared and Ivanka would rather be in Sun Valley with media executives trying to save their jobs than with White House colleagues doing the same. Good Morning!You know things are bad in Washington when Jared and Ivanka would rather be in Sun...

The Information’s 411 — Throwing Shade in Sun Valley

By Cory Weinberg · Jul 14, 2017 12:56pm PDT

Kevin explains how Amazon's Echo is catching up to Google Home. Jon talks about why VCs are investing in crypto currency. Plus, Amir and Tom detail what they have seen and heard in Sun Valley. Kevin explains how Amazon's Echo is catching up to Google Home. Jon talks about why VCs are...

Joelle Emerson, left, and Noreen Farrell. Photo of Farrell by Chuck Revell

More Than a Pledge: Using the Law to Combat VC Sexual Harassment

By Noreen Farrell and Joelle Emerson · Jul 14, 2017 10:00am PDT · 7 comments

There seems to be an unending list of examples of sexism and bias in the venture capital industry. Whether it is the latest news of widespread harassment and subsequent “apologies” from harassers, or the longstanding pattern of female entrepreneurs struggling to get funding (and women of color receiving virtually none),... There seems to be an unending list of examples of sexism and bias in the venture capital...

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump at the Allen & Co conference in Sun Valley, Idaho on Thursday. Photo by Bloomberg.

What We Learned in Sun Valley

By Tom Dotan and Amir Efrati · Jul 14, 2017 7:02am PDT

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump at the Allen & Co conference in Sun Valley, Idaho on Thursday. Photo by Bloomberg.

What We Learned in Sun Valley

By Tom Dotan and Amir Efrati · Jul 14, 2017 7:02am PDT

SUN VALLEY, Idaho—Despite the intense heat, the air at this year’s media-and-tech gathering run by investment bank Allen & Co. had a familiar energy. Media and telecom executives are struggling to retain their grip on power while complaining about tech companies exerting their overwhelming influence.Among the highlights: ad... SUN VALLEY, Idaho—Despite the intense heat, the air at this year’s media-and-tech...

Ofo bikes on a sidewalk in Shanghai. Photo by Bloomberg

China’s Bike-Share Upstarts Face Tough Road in U.S.

By Cory Weinberg · Jul 13, 2017 7:01am PDT

Like several other local transportation officials in the U.S. in recent weeks, Eric Bourassa of the Boston area’s planning council has fielded meeting requests from Ofo, China’s fast-growing bike-share company. Ofo is considering a major expansion into the U.S. and is discussing options with officials in New York, Philadelphia, San... Like several other local transportation officials in the U.S. in recent weeks, Eric Bourassa of...

David VanderWaal, vice president of marketing for LG Electronics USA and Michael George, vice president of Alexa, Echo, and Appstore at Amazon, discussing an LG-Amazon Alex partnership at CES this year. Photo by Bloomberg.

Facing New Rivals, Amazon May Open Up Alexa Data for Developers

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jul 12, 2017 10:01am PDT · 4 comments

Amazon.com is mulling a far-reaching policy change that would give Alexa developers access to raw transcripts of what people say when using Alexa applications, said three people familiar with the matter. It comes as the market for voice-activated speakers and digital assistants is getting more crowded, spotlighting the value of signing up... Amazon.com is mulling a far-reaching policy change that would give Alexa developers access to raw...

Union Square Ventures partner Fred Wilson. Photo by Bloomberg.

Risks Facing VCs Planning to Invest in Cryptocurrencies

By Jon Victor and Serena Saitto · Jul 12, 2017 7:01am PDT · 5 comments

Some venture capital firms, including Bessemer Venture Partners and Union Square Ventures, are planning to invest in initial coin offerings, giving them direct exposure to cryptocurrencies after years of investing in startups operating in the sector. Making such investments would be risky and unorthodox for VCs.ICOs are crowdfunding campaigns... Some venture capital firms, including Bessemer Venture Partners and Union Square Ventures, are...

A man walking past Ofo bikes in Shanghai last May. Photo by Bloomberg.

SoftBank May Invest in Chinese Bike Rental Firm Ofo

By Shai Oster, Juro Osawa and Yunan Zhang · Jul 11, 2017 8:14am PDT

A man walking past Ofo bikes in Shanghai last May. Photo by Bloomberg.

SoftBank May Invest in Chinese Bike Rental Firm Ofo

By Shai Oster, Juro Osawa and Yunan Zhang · Jul 11, 2017 8:14am PDT

Masayoshi Son’s SoftBank Group is in talks to invest in Chinese bike rental firm Ofo, people familiar with the matter said, the latest sign of how the hugely popular bike-sharing business in China is drawing big name investors. Ofo’s backers already include Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group, ride-sharing giant Didi Chuxing and... Masayoshi Son’s SoftBank Group is in talks to invest in Chinese bike rental firm Ofo,...