The Briefing by Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

Five times/week

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.

By providing your email, you agree to The Information’s Privacy Policy

Recent Editions

An Uber autonomous vehicle. Photo by AP.

Ex-Uber Map Execs Develop Routing Service for Self-Driving Cars

By Amir Efrati · Oct 19, 2017 4:27pm PDT

Three recently departed Uber managers have started a mapping company to help ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft introduce autonomous vehicles to the public, according to two people briefed about it. The startup, which is called rideOS, will focus on something few others are focused on: determining whether an autonomous vehicle is able... Three recently departed Uber managers have started a mapping company to help ride-sharing...

People walk past Google Fiber's store in Austin, Texas in April, 2015. Photo by Bloomberg.

Google Fiber Loses Key Wireless Executive

By Kevin McLaughlin · Oct 19, 2017 12:09pm PDT

Charles Barr, founder and president of Webpass, the high-speed wireless internet provider acquired by Google Fiber last year to help fuel its expansion, abruptly left the company last week, according to two people close to Webpass. The circumstances of his departure aren’t known. But it adds to uncertainty surrounding Google Fiber’s... Charles Barr, founder and president of Webpass, the high-speed wireless internet provider...

The site of the planned Sidewalk Labs development in Toronto. Photo: Sidewalk Labs

Sidewalk Labs Chose Toronto Despite Pushback From Larry Page

By Cory Weinberg · Oct 19, 2017 7:01am PDT · 5 comments

Before Alphabet subsidiary Sidewalk Labs could move forward with a grand plan for a new tech-enriched neighborhood in Toronto, Sidewalk CEO Dan Doctoroff had to persuade Alphabet CEO Larry Page of his vision. It was no easy task. The two clashed over some initial fundamentals of the project, which was announced Tuesday. Mr. Page preferred... Before Alphabet subsidiary Sidewalk Labs could move forward with a grand plan for a new...

Pedestrians in Shanghai. Flickr/Drew Bates

Big Data Strengthens China’s Grip

By Shai Oster · Oct 18, 2017 12:35pm PDT · 3 comments

Pedestrians in Shanghai. Flickr/Drew Bates

Big Data Strengthens China’s Grip

By Shai Oster · Oct 18, 2017 12:35pm PDT · 3 comments

There was a time when the internet seemed to pose a mortal threat to the Communist Party’s iron grip over China. Free-flowing information was going to trigger an irreversible and inevitable weakening of the party’s dominance. Instead, the same advances in technology that have spawned multibillion-dollar startups also have been... There was a time when the internet seemed to pose a mortal threat to the Communist Party’s...

Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt. Photo by Bloomberg.

GM’s Cruise Talks to Uber as Lyft Relationship Fades

By Amir Efrati · Oct 18, 2017 7:02am PDT · 1 comment

General Motors’ autonomous vehicle unit, Cruise, is in discussions to launch fully self-driving cars for Uber customers in San Francisco by next year, said two people with knowledge of the effort. The talks reflect a growing distance between GM and Uber’s main U.S. rival, Lyft, which previously engaged in a public love affair.In... General Motors’ autonomous vehicle unit, Cruise, is in discussions to launch fully...

Zuora CEO Tien Tzuo. Photo by Zuora.

Benchmark-Backed Zuora Eyes IPO in 2018

By Serena Saitto · Oct 17, 2017 2:34pm PDT

Zuora, which makes billing and forecasting software for subscription software firms, is in talks to hire underwriters for an initial public offering next year, co-founder and CEO Tien Tzuo said in an interview. The move is in the latest sign that 2018 is likely to be a busier year for tech IPOs than 2017. “We have passed the magic... Zuora, which makes billing and forecasting software for subscription software firms, is in talks...

Photo by Bloomberg.

The Crypto World’s Fake Advisers

By Reed Albergotti, Jon Victor and Juro Osawa · Oct 17, 2017 7:01am PDT · 5 comments

Steve Chen is a longtime Silicon Valley engineer who lately has turned his attention to blockchain. One of two blockchain startups he founded, Echolink.io, aims to check resumes for accuracy. The startup’s own website could have used the service.Until recently, Echolink’s website listed a team of respected blockchain industry people... Steve Chen is a longtime Silicon Valley engineer who lately has turned his attention to...

Docker founder Solomon Hykes. Photo by Flickr/Techcrunch

When Docker Said No to Google

By Kevin McLaughlin · Oct 16, 2017 10:44am PDT · 4 comments

Docker founder Solomon Hykes. Photo by Flickr/Techcrunch

When Docker Said No to Google

By Kevin McLaughlin · Oct 16, 2017 10:44am PDT · 4 comments

In 2014, Google approached a startup called Docker proposing the two collaborate on software each was developing to help companies manage lots of complex applications, according to people with knowledge of the proposal. But Solomon Hykes, Docker’s founder and CTO, said no. He wanted to go it alone. Three years later, the cost of Mr.... In 2014, Google approached a startup called Docker proposing the two collaborate on software each...

Photo: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg

The People Behind SoftBank’s Global Deal Spree

By Juro Osawa and Serena Saitto · Oct 16, 2017 7:02am PDT · 3 comments

SoftBank is synonymous with Masayoshi Son, the charismatic founder of the Japanese telecom and internet giant that is reshaping global tech with its colossal $93 billion Vision Fund. But behind Japan’s richest man is a team of trusted company veterans, recent banking hires and Silicon Valley tech executives. Mr. Son’s management team... SoftBank is synonymous with Masayoshi Son, the charismatic founder of the Japanese telecom and...

Modest Conversations

Modest Conversations: The Human Side of Building Technology

By Sam Lessin · Oct 15, 2017 9:58am PDT

Blake joins to discuss the human side of technology - growth mindset, failure, and success. How do the people who build technology, and the ways they collaborate on teams, and the culture of tech companies define the products that come out? Blake joins to discuss the human side of technology - growth mindset, failure, and success. How...

The Weekly Digest

The Information You Missed This Week

By The Information Staff · Oct 14, 2017 8:02am PDT

Good Morning!We’re thinking of all those affected by the California wildfires. If you’d like to help with a donation, here’s a link. Good Morning!We’re thinking of all those affected by the California wildfires. If...

The Information’s 411 — What Happens After Weinstein?

By Tom Dotan · Oct 13, 2017 2:11pm PDT

The Information’s 411 — What Happens After Weinstein?

By Tom Dotan · Oct 13, 2017 2:11pm PDT

Jessica talks about the similarities in the power dynamics in Hollywood and Silicon Valley, leading to sexual harassment scandals in both industries. Serena breaks down the latest hurdles in the Softbank-Uber deal. Jessica talks about the similarities in the power dynamics in Hollywood and Silicon Valley,...

Art by Matt Vascellaro

Why the Tech Industry Is No Better Than Hollywood

By Jessica E. Lessin · Oct 13, 2017 7:01am PDT · 4 comments

When Amazon suspended its movie and film chief on Thursday after a producer accused him of sexual harassment, two things flashed through my head. The first was how meaningless internal corporate “investigations” have become. The producer, Isa Hackett, first told The Information of the 2015 alleged incident and internal investigation... When Amazon suspended its movie and film chief on Thursday after a producer accused him of sexual...

Amazon Suspends TV and Movie Chief Roy Price

By Jessica E. Lessin · Oct 12, 2017 5:31pm PDT · 2 comments

The head of Amazon.com’s movie and television business Roy Price has been put on a leave of absence, following an allegation of sexual harassment. An Amazon spokesman confirmed the move which he said was “effective immediately.” The Information in August reported a sexual harassment allegation was made against Mr. Price by... The head of Amazon.com’s movie and television business Roy Price has been put on a leave of...

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. Photo: Bloomberg

Airbnb Tackles Home Improvements

By Cory Weinberg · Oct 12, 2017 12:12pm PDT

For years, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has told employees that one of his regrets about how he shaped the company was that it didn’t vet hosts to make sure their homes were high quality, two people who spoke with him said. Now that the company plans to launch a program that will spotlight hand-picked homes, it is grappling with how to manage... For years, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has told employees that one of his regrets about how he shaped...

Spotify's offices in Berlin. Photo: Bloomberg

Fast Growth, Losses Continue as Spotify Eyes IPO

By Alfred Lee · Oct 12, 2017 7:03am PDT

Spotify's offices in Berlin. Photo: Bloomberg

Fast Growth, Losses Continue as Spotify Eyes IPO

By Alfred Lee · Oct 12, 2017 7:03am PDT

As eyes turn to a potential Spotify public offering next year, the company’s recent financial performance might bolster its case to investors. But questions about profitability remain.The music streaming service recorded revenue of 1.9 billion euros ($2.2 billion) in the first half of this year, according to two people briefed on the... As eyes turn to a potential Spotify public offering next year, the company’s recent...

Bill Gurley of Benchmark and Masayoshi Son of SoftBank. Photo by Bloomberg.

SoftBank, Benchmark Face Final Hurdle in Uber Deal

By Serena Saitto and Amir Efrati · Oct 11, 2017 2:38pm PDT · 1 comment

It’s been a week since the Uber board agreed, in theory, to sell between $7 billion and $10 billion worth of Uber’s shares to SoftBank—yet nothing has happened. The reason: SoftBank and major Uber investors, including Benchmark, still haven’t been able to agree on the deal’s structure and price.Benchmark wants every... It’s been a week since the Uber board agreed, in theory, to sell between $7 billion and $10...

Huawei executive Richard Yu. Photo: Bloomberg

Huawei Hosts Private AI Confab in Vancouver

By Juro Osawa · Oct 11, 2017 10:02am PDT

Some executives and researchers from Amazon.com, Microsoft and Google are gathered this week in Vancouver, to talk artificial intelligence. Their host: Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies.The conference, which Huawei kept confidential and didn’t announce, reflects the Chinese company’s eagerness to work more closely with American... Some executives and researchers from Amazon.com, Microsoft and Google are gathered this week in...

Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy. Photo by Bloomberg.

Q&A

Flipkart CEO Plays Down Amazon Threat

By Priya Anand · Oct 11, 2017 7:00am PDT · 3 comments

Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy took the helm of India’s homegrown e-commerce company in January, about six months after Jeff Bezos pledged Amazon would invest $5 billion in its India business. But Mr. Krishnamurthy claims to be unconcerned about Amazon. “Committing a lot of money doesn’t matter,” he said.Amazon in the... Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy took the helm of India’s homegrown e-commerce company in...

Photo by Karen Obrist.

Announcing the Summit Lunch Breakouts

By The Information Staff · Oct 10, 2017 11:32am PDT

Photo by Karen Obrist.

Announcing the Summit Lunch Breakouts

By The Information Staff · Oct 10, 2017 11:32am PDT

We're so excited to see everyone on October 20th at our sold-out San Francisco Subscriber Summit. An important part of the Summit are our lunch breakouts: a chance for you to hear straight from big names in tech about the state of their businesses. If you're registered for the Summit, you'll receive an email from... We're so excited to see everyone on October 20th at our sold-out San Francisco Subscriber...