The Information

art via Mike Sullivan

Amazon Prepares to Test Humanoid Robots for Delivering Packages

By Rocket Drew · Jun 4, 2025 5:40pm PDT

Amazon is developing software for humanoid robots that could eventually take the jobs of delivery workers, according to a person who has been involved in the effort. In doing so, Amazon is paving the way to automate a major part of its operation, the delivery of parcels around the world. Amazon is developing software for humanoid robots that could eventually take the jobs of delivery...

You.com founder and CEO Richard Socher.

AI Search Startup You.com in Talks to Raise Funds at $1.4 Billion Valuation

By Anissa Gardizy and Miles Kruppa · Jun 4, 2025 12:39pm PDT

You.com, an artificial-intelligence search startup making a push into business software, is in talks with media conglomerate Cox Enterprises to raise funds valuing the company at $1.4 billion, said people familiar with the discussions. The funding would support You.com’s push into selling AI search tools to businesses, after the company’s... You.com, an artificial-intelligence search startup making a push into business software, is in...

Photo via AppLovin

How AppLovin Scared Google

By Catherine Perloff · Jun 3, 2025 6:00am PDT · 1 comment

In 2023, Google ad executives noticed something alarming about one aspect of their business. Once-red hot revenue growth from selling ads promoting mobile apps, a business worth double-digit billions of dollars for Google, had slowed, a former employee said. When staffers discussed what was going on, they agreed a small ad tech firm called... In 2023, Google ad executives noticed something alarming about one aspect of their business....

From left: Eddie Wu, Jack Ma and Zhou Jingren. Photos by Getty

How Alibaba Helped China Take the Lead From the U.S. in Open-Source AI

By Juro Osawa and Qianer Liu · Jun 2, 2025 6:00am PDT · 2 comments

From left: Eddie Wu, Jack Ma and Zhou Jingren. Photos by Getty

How Alibaba Helped China Take the Lead From the U.S. in Open-Source AI

By Juro Osawa and Qianer Liu · Jun 2, 2025 6:00am PDT · 2 comments

When Alibaba Group’s cloud business unit announced the first generation of artificial intelligence models developed by its own team in 2023, the Chinese tech giant said in a statement that it would integrate the models, known as Qwen, into its various businesses “in the near future.” The reality wasn’t so simple. Each of the company’s six... When Alibaba Group’s cloud business unit announced the first generation of artificial...

Christopher Young, former executive vice president of business development at Microsoft. Photo via Getty.

Microsoft’s Former Deals Chief to Join AI Roll-Ups Rush

By Natasha Mascarenhas and Aaron Holmes · Jun 1, 2025 10:00am PDT · 3 comments

It’s become one of the most popular private investing strategies of the last year: Firms including General Catalyst, Thrive Capital and 8VC have been investing in startups that buy services businesses such as call center operators, merge them with similar companies, and use artificial intelligence to boost sales and keep costs low. In... It’s become one of the most popular private investing strategies of the last year: Firms...

Art by Mike Sullivan

VC Funds Are for Sale—at a Discount

By Sri Muppidi · May 29, 2025 6:00am PDT · 3 comments

The year 2025 was supposed to bring a cash windfall to venture capital backers, as companies that had delayed going public finally made the leap. That hasn’t happened. With a roller-coaster stock market delaying many long-anticipated initial public offerings, the limited partners in VC funds have been finding new ways to cash out of their stakes... The year 2025 was supposed to bring a cash windfall to venture capital backers, as companies that...

Art by Clark Miller; Musk and Cook images via Getty.

Apple’s Satellite Ambitions Threatened by Elon Musk, Internal Resistance

By Aaron Tilley and Wayne Ma · May 27, 2025 6:00am PDT · 1 comment

Three years ago, Elon Musk approached Apple with an eleventh-hour offer. Musk had heard that Apple was about to announce a feature for the upcoming iPhone 14 in partnership with satellite firm Globalstar that would allow iPhones to send text messages to emergency services in areas without cellular reception. He wanted Apple to instead use... Three years ago, Elon Musk approached Apple with an eleventh-hour offer. Musk had heard that ...

Art by Clark Miller.

Deel Bolsters Governance as It Fights Spying Claims

By Michael Roddan · May 25, 2025 7:00am PDT

Art by Clark Miller.

Deel Bolsters Governance as It Fights Spying Claims

By Michael Roddan · May 25, 2025 7:00am PDT

Global payroll startup Deel is bolstering its governance and ending some of its unusual practices as it fights accusations in a lawsuit that its CEO and board chair recruited and paid a corporate spy at its archrival, Rippling. Deel is moving its official corporate headquarters from its current location: a two-bedroom apartment in a San... Global payroll startup Deel is bolstering its governance and ending some of its unusual practices...

Art by Mike Sullivan

How Netflix Is Winning Over YouTubers

By Kaya Yurieff and Sahil Patel · May 23, 2025 6:00am PDT

Hollywood used to shrug off social media influencers. But in the last year, five big streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu, between them have announced or released more than 25 new shows featuring creators, ranging from reality TV series to scripted comedies to licensing deals. And streaming services hope to strike... Hollywood used to shrug off social media influencers. But in the last year, five big streaming...

AI Agents Are Popular, but Accuracy Concerns Linger

By Akash Pasricha · May 22, 2025 10:30am PDT · 2 comments

Artificial intelligence agents that can carry out tasks like coding, customer service or scheduling with little human oversight are generating a lot of hype. Tech users are generally eager to try them out—and say they’re mostly happy with the results. Three in four of our readers have used an AI agent, and most said they are at least... Artificial intelligence agents that can carry out tasks like coding, customer service or...

Art by Clark Miller; Abilene image via Getty.

JPMorgan to Lend More Than $7 Billion For OpenAI Data Center

By Anissa Gardizy · May 22, 2025 8:02am PDT

JPMorgan Chase has agreed to lend more than $7 billion to the firms building OpenAI’s giant artificial intelligence data center campus in Abilene, Tex., according to two people with direct knowledge of the deal. The deal with JPMorgan, which has not been previously reported, reflects continued interest from lenders and investors in backing the... JPMorgan Chase has agreed to lend more than $7 billion to the firms building OpenAI’s giant...

Art by Mike Sullivan

Nike to Sell on Amazon for First Time Since 2019

By Theo Wayt and Sara Germano · May 21, 2025 2:15pm PDT · 1 comment

Art by Mike Sullivan

Nike to Sell on Amazon for First Time Since 2019

By Theo Wayt and Sara Germano · May 21, 2025 2:15pm PDT · 1 comment

Six years after Nike stopped selling through Amazon in favor of going direct to customers through its own stores and website, the two companies are getting back together. Amazon plans to start selling Nike products with supplies coming directly from the company, an Amazon spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday. Winning back one of the world’s... Six years after Nike stopped selling through Amazon in favor of going direct to customers through...

Art by Clark Miller.

Banks Are Shifting Quickly to Crypto as New Rules Loom

By Yueqi Yang · May 21, 2025 6:00am PDT · 1 comment

Banks are racing to embrace cryptocurrencies, triggered by pending legislation in Washington that could set off the biggest shift toward crypto yet in the traditional financial system. Banks and the companies whose technology underpins much of the finance industry say the shift could become clear as soon as this summer, when banks’ business... Banks are racing to embrace cryptocurrencies, triggered by pending legislation in Washington that...

A doctor uses the Abridge listening and transcription app while meeting with a patient. Photo via Getty.

Abridge in Talks to Raise at $5 Billion Valuation as AI Health Startups Draw Investors

By Stephanie Palazzolo, Natasha Mascarenhas and Sri Muppidi · May 20, 2025 3:01pm PDT

Abridge, a seven-year-old startup that sells artificial intelligence software for transcribing physicians’ conversations with patients, is in discussions with investors to raise hundreds of millions of dollars at around a $5 billion valuation before the investment, according to two people with knowledge of the plans. The funding would nearly... Abridge, a seven-year-old startup that sells artificial intelligence software for transcribing...

An Amazon Fulfillment center in New Jersey. Photo via Getty.

Amazon Caps Warehouse Inventory Amid Tariff Turmoil

By Theo Wayt · May 20, 2025 6:00am PDT

For many merchants selling on Amazon, a 90-day pause in steep U.S. tariffs on China should be a chance to stockpile inventory. But Amazon has already grown cautious about letting goods pile up in its warehouses, as it tries to keep its massive logistics and commerce business running efficiently amid trade turmoil. In recent weeks, Amazon told... For many merchants selling on Amazon, a 90-day pause in steep U.S. tariffs on China should be a...

Aravind Srinivas, co-founder and CEO of Perplexity. Photo via Getty

For Google Challenger Perplexity, Growth Comes at a High Cost

By Sri Muppidi · May 19, 2025 6:00am PDT · 14 comments

Aravind Srinivas, co-founder and CEO of Perplexity. Photo via Getty

For Google Challenger Perplexity, Growth Comes at a High Cost

By Sri Muppidi · May 19, 2025 6:00am PDT · 14 comments

Artificial intelligence–powered search engine Perplexity has rapidly increased its subscription revenue and users in the past year, despite tough competition from the free AI search tools of Google and OpenAI. Previously unreported financials show the cost of that growth. Perplexity generated $34 million in revenue last year. But it burned... Artificial intelligence–powered search engine Perplexity has rapidly increased its...

Art via Clark Miller

Behind Microsoft Layoffs, Automation Efforts Boom

By Aaron Holmes · May 17, 2025 1:29pm PDT · 9 comments

Jeff Hulse, a Microsoft vice president who oversees roughly 400 software engineers, told the team in recent months to use the company’s artificial intelligence chatbot, powered by OpenAI, to generate half the computer code they write, according to a person who heard the remarks. That would represent an increase from the 20% to 30% of code AI... Jeff Hulse, a Microsoft vice president who oversees roughly 400 software engineers, told the team...

Cohere CEO Aidan Gomez. Photos via Getty

Why OpenAI Challenger Cohere Fell 85% Short of Its Revenue Forecast

By Jon Victor · May 15, 2025 9:33am PDT · 3 comments

The conversational intelligence boom sparked by OpenAI unleashed a flood of venture capital dollars for the sector, but AI developers that didn’t focus on selling revenue-generating applications fast enough have been left in the dust. One of the best examples is Cohere, an OpenAI rival that was developing similar technology years before the... The conversational intelligence boom sparked by OpenAI unleashed a flood of venture capital...

Art by Mike Sullivan

China Tightens Control Over AI Data Centers

By Qianer Liu · May 15, 2025 6:00am PDT

Chinese officials in the past two months told some of the country’s top technology companies that the government will take a more active role in overseeing their data centers for artificial intelligence and the specialized chips for developing the technology, according to two people involved in the conversations. The Chinese government wants... Chinese officials in the past two months told some of the country’s top technology companies that...

Art by Mike Sullivan

TikTok Working on Photo Messaging Feature Despite Employee Concerns Over Sextortion

By Sylvia Varnham O'Regan and Kaya Yurieff · May 13, 2025 4:23pm PDT

Art by Mike Sullivan

TikTok Working on Photo Messaging Feature Despite Employee Concerns Over Sextortion

By Sylvia Varnham O'Regan and Kaya Yurieff · May 13, 2025 4:23pm PDT

TikTok has been working on a new feature that will allow users in the U.S. to share photos over direct messages inside the app, according to three people with knowledge of the situation. The move could be a way to encourage more people to use direct messaging on TikTok, a feature that hasn’t taken off as it has on Instagram and Snapchat. But the... TikTok has been working on a new feature that will allow users in the U.S. to share photos over...