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

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Recent Editions

Angry Birds toys in display in Finland. Photo by Bloomberg

Tencent Explores Acquisition of Angry Birds Maker Rovio

By Serena Saitto and Juro Osawa · Jun 15, 2017 10:53am PDT · 1 comment

China’s Tencent is pursuing an acquisition of Rovio Entertainment, the Finnish maker of the Angry Birds game, according to people briefed on the situation. Such a deal would consolidate Tencent’s stranglehold on the gaming business.Tencent is among several companies to approach Rovio about a possible purchase, one of the people said.... China’s Tencent is pursuing an acquisition of Rovio Entertainment, the Finnish maker of the...

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky at an Economic Club of New York luncheon in March. Photo by Bloomberg.

How Airbnb Put a Lid on Customer Service Costs

By Cory Weinberg · Jun 15, 2017 7:01am PDT · 11 comments

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky got some advice from Bill Gates two years ago. To be “truly great,” Mr. Gates told the Airbnb chief during a walk at the annual Sun Valley conference, the vacation rental site needed to improve its customer service, Mr. Chesky told employees in an email later.“What struck me was how simple and obvious... Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky got some advice from Bill Gates two years ago. To be “truly...

Alipay and Tenpay together hold 91% of the online payments market in China. Photo: Bloomberg

China Tightens Oversight of Online Finance

By Shai Oster and Shen Xinmei · Jun 14, 2017 7:01am PDT

China is tightening regulatory oversight of its booming online finance and payments industry as it moves to stop money laundering and rein in loosely regulated financial products sold online. A string of new rules will give the central bank more control over transactions of internet payment platforms and could force firms including... China is tightening regulatory oversight of its booming online finance and payments industry as...

Drive.AI president Carol Reiley with The Information's Jessica Lessin. Photo by Julie Mikos.

Drive.AI’s Reiley: Self-Driving Rollout Will Be Gradual

By Tom Dotan · Jun 13, 2017 12:49pm PDT

Drive.AI president Carol Reiley with The Information's Jessica Lessin. Photo by Julie Mikos.

Autonomous Vehicles Summit

Drive.AI’s Reiley: Self-Driving Rollout Will Be Gradual

By Tom Dotan · Jun 13, 2017 12:49pm PDT

Self-driving cars are likely to be rolled out worldwide slowly, just as cellular networks expanded gradually territory by territory, according to Carol Reiley, the president of self-driving software maker Drive.AI. That’s in contrast to the typical instant release of a new piece of hardware.As it stands now, she says, we’re still not... Self-driving cars are likely to be rolled out worldwide slowly, just as cellular networks...

Argo AI CEO Bryan Salesky with The Information's Amir Efrati. Photo by Julie Mikos.

Autonomous Vehicles Summit

Argo AI Takes Different Route to Self-Driving Cars

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jun 13, 2017 12:40pm PDT

Argo AI, a startup founded by engineers who worked on self-driving car projects at Google and Uber, has taken a different route than some of its competitors. Instead of raising venture capital, Argo AI decided the quickest way to get its technology into large numbers of vehicles was to team up with Ford Motor Co., according to founder and CEO... Argo AI, a startup founded by engineers who worked on self-driving car projects at Google and...

The Information's Amir Efrati with NuTonomy CEO Karl Iagnemma. Photo by Julie Mikos.

Autonomous Vehicles Summit

NuTonomy CEO Hopes to Launch Service Next Year

By Cory Weinberg · Jun 13, 2017 12:32pm PDT · 1 comment

Self-driving car software startup NuTonomy hopes to have a fleet of vehicles “moving people around as a service” next year, CEO Karl Iagnemma said on Tuesday at The Information’s autonomous vehicles summit.Those cars will require a human "safety driver" in the car in case anything goes wrong, at least initially. When... Self-driving car software startup NuTonomy hopes to have a fleet of vehicles “moving people...

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. Photo: Bloomberg. Graphic by Mike Sullivan and Myk Klemme.

Uber CEO to Take Leave of Absence as Holder Report Is Released

By Amir Efrati · Jun 13, 2017 10:54am PDT · 15 comments

Uber Chief Executive Travis Kalanick told employees that he will take a leave of absence as the company unveiled the findings of an investigation into the ride-hailing service’s troubled workplace culture. In his absence, a “leadership team” of his direct reports would run the company, Mr. Kalanick told employees in an email.... Uber Chief Executive Travis Kalanick told employees that he will take a leave of absence as the...

A SpaceX launch in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on June 3. Photo by Associated Press (Bill Ingalls/NASA via CNP).

Private Tech Prices Jump in Secondary Market

By Alfred Lee · Jun 13, 2017 7:02am PDT · 5 comments

A SpaceX launch in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on June 3. Photo by Associated Press (Bill Ingalls/NASA via CNP).

Private Tech Prices Jump in Secondary Market

By Alfred Lee · Jun 13, 2017 7:02am PDT · 5 comments

Shares of many large private technology companies have seen a run-up in prices and trading activity this year on the secondary markets, brokers say, rebounding from a sluggish 2016.Fueling the surge in the secondary markets, in which employees and early investors of a private company sell their shares, is growing interest from institutional and... Shares of many large private technology companies have seen a run-up in prices and trading...

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. Photo by Bloomberg.

Uber CEO Still Considering Options for a Break

By Amir Efrati · Jun 12, 2017 12:02pm PDT · 6 comments

On Monday, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick was still discussing whether to take a leave of absence from his embattled ride hailing company, as his right-hand man, Emil Michael, was pushed out of the company. But he also has told the board of directors it would be a big problem for him to do so now, given the gaping leadership holes, according to... On Monday, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick was still discussing whether to take a leave of absence from...

Photo by The Associated Press.

Dropbox in Talks for Logo Redesign as Part of Brand Refresh

By Eugene Kim · Jun 12, 2017 10:00am PDT · 1 comment

Dropbox’s iconic blue box logo could soon get a makeover. The cloud file storage company is considering a logo change as part of a broader rebranding effort to highlight the company’s growing emphasis on the business market, according to three people familiar with the matter.The brand refresh is aimed at modernizing the look and feel... Dropbox’s iconic blue box logo could soon get a makeover. The cloud file storage company is...

A Waymo minivan in Phoenix. Source: Waymo.

The Information’s Leaders and Laggards in Self-Driving Cars

By Amir Efrati · Jun 12, 2017 7:00am PDT · 7 comments

The race to produce millions of cars that can drive themselves in almost all situations is getting more intense, and more perplexing, by the week. Integrating autonomous vehicles into regular city traffic might be many years away, but even at this early stage, some companies are further along than others. Indeed, the past year has proven that... The race to produce millions of cars that can drive themselves in almost all situations is...

Modest Conversations: Jobs, Inequality, and UBI

By Sam Lessin · Jun 11, 2017 8:21am PDT

Modest Conversations

Modest Conversations: Jobs, Inequality, and UBI

By Sam Lessin · Jun 11, 2017 8:21am PDT

Joe Lonsdale, the founder of 8VC, joins to discuss jobs, inequality, and universal base income - as well as several other dangerous topics. Joe Lonsdale, the founder of 8VC, joins to discuss jobs, inequality, and universal base income -...

Cartoon by Matt Vascellaro.

The Weekly Digest

The Information You Missed This Week

By The Information Staff · Jun 10, 2017 8:01am PDT

Good Morning!Apple finally rolled out “Planet of the Apps” this week. Stay tuned for the episode when Gwyneth Paltrow and Will.i.am realize the earth has actually been conquered by a band of Android-wielding talking apes. Good Morning!Apple finally rolled out “Planet of the Apps” this week. Stay tuned for...

The Information’s 411 — Monetizing the Peace and Quiet

By Tom Dotan · Jun 9, 2017 3:01pm PDT

Sam talks about the near-term, realistic expectations for AR and VR. Kevin talks about the future of HPE. Sam talks about the near-term, realistic expectations for AR and VR. Kevin talks about the future...

Apple CEO Tim Cook at WWDC. Photo by Bloomberg.

How Music Drowns Apple’s Innovation

By Jessica E. Lessin · Jun 9, 2017 7:01am PDT · 5 comments

Of all the things that are a little odd about Apple’s new “Planet of the Apps” reality show, perhaps the strangest is that—unlike virtually every show on television—you won’t be able to download the series through iTunes. With the exception of the first episode, you’ll have to be an Apple Music... Of all the things that are a little odd about Apple’s new “Planet of the Apps”...

Ofo bicycles available for rent. Photo by Ofo.

China’s Bike-Sharing Craze Gains Speed

By Yunan Zhang · Jun 8, 2017 10:02am PDT · 1 comment

Ofo bicycles available for rent. Photo by Ofo.

China’s Bike-Sharing Craze Gains Speed

By Yunan Zhang · Jun 8, 2017 10:02am PDT · 1 comment

In little more than a year, China’s city sidewalks have become crowded by the brightly hued bicycles of dozens of rival bike-sharing startups. As the bikes lure throngs of riders, investors have taken notice: The two largest bike rental companies, Ofo and Mobike, have raised a combined $1 billion from funders, including Yuri Milner’s... In little more than a year, China’s city sidewalks have become crowded by the brightly hued...

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel. Art by Jeff Greco.

At Snap’s New York Clubhouse: Views, No Photos

By Tom Dotan · Jun 8, 2017 7:02am PDT · 2 comments

Last December, high above Times Square, the who’s who of the New York media world gathered for an exclusive holiday party. Betwixt an atrium-like foyer abutting a well-appointed private library, NBC “Late Night” host Seth Meyers and “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski mingled among top cable... Last December, high above Times Square, the who’s who of the New York media world gathered...

Decoded - June 7, 2017

By Matt Vascellaro · Jun 7, 2017 5:41pm PDT · 1 comment

Jana CEO Nathan Eagle in 2016. Photo: Collision Conf

Verizon-Backed Jana Lays Off 19% of Staff

By Cory Weinberg · Jun 7, 2017 2:17pm PDT · 1 comment

Jana, a mobile advertising startup focused on providing internet access to people in developing countries, laid off 13 employees this week, as the company planned to shut down what had been its flagship product.The cuts, confirmed by CEO Nathan Eagle, underline Jana’s ups and downs, as it fired sales and marketing employees that had worked... Jana, a mobile advertising startup focused on providing internet access to people in developing...

Katerra CEO Michael Marks. Art by Matt Vascellaro.

Electronics Veteran Wants to Bring Tech Velocity to Housing Construction

By Cory Weinberg · Jun 7, 2017 10:01am PDT · 3 comments

Katerra CEO Michael Marks. Art by Matt Vascellaro.

The Big Interview

Electronics Veteran Wants to Bring Tech Velocity to Housing Construction

By Cory Weinberg · Jun 7, 2017 10:01am PDT · 3 comments

Several startups have tried to take a bite of the hundreds of billions of dollars spent annually on the construction of residential buildings in the United States. Few have succeeded. The latest to try, and perhaps the most ambitious, is Katerra. Led by several veterans of electronics and supply chain management, Katerra is now trying to put... Several startups have tried to take a bite of the hundreds of billions of dollars spent annually...