The Information

Alibaba Chairman Jack Ma. Photo by Bloomberg.

2017 Predictions

What Trump Could Mean for China’s Tech Industry

By Shai Oster · Jan 4, 2017 10:00am PST · 3 comments

The new year promises to be exceptionally rough for the always-complicated relationship between the U.S. and China. As President-Elect Donald Trump threatens tariffs, China’s leaders heed calls to prepare countermeasures. There’s a chance that Mr. Trump’s saber-rattling could accelerate a push already underway toward reforms in... The new year promises to be exceptionally rough for the always-complicated relationship between...

An Amazon delivery truck. Photo by Flickr/SounderBruce.

2017 Predictions

Why Amazon Will Launch Self-Driving Car Effort

By The Information Staff · Jan 3, 2017 10:00am PST · 1 comment

Developments in self-driving car technology will be a big theme in tech in 2017, including at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. One company to watch is Amazon.com, which is likely to jump into the field this year by unveiling an effort to develop autonomous truck software.Amazon isn’t trying to go up against other... Developments in self-driving car technology will be a big theme in tech in 2017, including at...

Couriers of Baidu Waimai on the road in Taicang city. Photo by AP.

2017 Predictions

Settling China’s Food Fight

By Shai Oster · Dec 28, 2016 10:00am PST · 2 comments

Prepare for a wave of mega-mergers in China’s food delivery apps, the last major holdout in that country’s subsidy-fueled on-demand services.The market is dominated by just three players: Ele.me, Meituan Waimai, and Baidu Waimai. Like Cold War proxy states, each one is backed by one of China’s Big Three technology titans:... Prepare for a wave of mega-mergers in China’s food delivery apps, the last major holdout in...

Alphabet CEO Larry Page. Photo by Bloomberg.

Why Google Might Sell Its Fiber Business

By Kevin McLaughlin · Dec 28, 2016 7:00am PST · 3 comments

Alphabet CEO Larry Page. Photo by Bloomberg.

2017 Predictions

Why Google Might Sell Its Fiber Business

By Kevin McLaughlin · Dec 28, 2016 7:00am PST · 3 comments

Google’s Access unit, home to Google Fiber, hit major turbulence this year, laying off staff, cutting back on the scope of the project and parting ways with its CEO. That paves the way for Alphabet next year to sell or spin. Potential acquirers could include another fiber internet provider like CenturyLink, said one telecommunications... Google’s Access unit, home to Google Fiber, hit major turbulence this year, laying off...

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel. Photo by Flickr/TechCrunch.

2017 Predictions

How Snap’s App Could Break in Two

By Tom Dotan · Dec 22, 2016 7:01am PST · 7 comments

When Snapchat rebranded itself as Snap earlier this year, it had a few audiences in mind. For one, it wanted to present itself to Wall Street as a grownup. While Snapchat is merely a fun app for teens, Snap is a serious technology firm creating a series of products redefining mobile, visual communication. (Not to mention the perfect ticker... When Snapchat rebranded itself as Snap earlier this year, it had a few audiences in mind. For...