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The Briefing

By Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

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Recent Editions

Two time CEO Eric Schmidt. Photo by Bloomberg.
The Briefing

CEO Experience Isn’t as Valuable as Believed: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Jan 5, 2021 5:31pm PST
A study reported by Harvard Business Review found that people who serve as CEOs of more than one company perform worse the second time around than chief executives without prior experience in the top job. It’s one data point that should help fuel a more diverse CEO cohort, by pushing back against the idea that experience as CEO is an... A study reported by Harvard Business Review found that people who serve as CEOs of more than one...
Google workers protesting in a 2018 walkout over how the company handled sexual harassment allegations against a senior executive. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Alphabet Workers Form Union: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Jan 4, 2021 5:01pm PST · 1 comment
Tech workers of the world unite! That could be the slogan for the new Alphabet Workers Union, which was announced Monday by the union’s leaders in an opinion piece in the New York Times. It’s an update on a famous version of a line from the Communist Manifesto, which, judging by the opinion piece, would be appropriate. In their... Tech workers of the world unite! That could be the slogan for the new Alphabet Workers Union,...
AMD's Lisa Su. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Our Year-End Tech Oscars: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Dec 31, 2020 4:05pm PST · 4 comments
As 2020 comes to an end, the news scene is quiet today. So it seemed appropriate to call out some of the year’s outstanding performances in leading roles in the tech industry. CEO of the Year: Lisa Su of AMD. After six years in the job, Su has engineered an incredible turnaround at this once-struggling chip company. Its stock is up more... As 2020 comes to an end, the news scene is quiet today. So it seemed appropriate to call out some...
Wondery's app on a phone. Photo by Bloomberg
Amazon’s Puzzling Podcasting Bet: The Information’s Tech Briefing
By Martin Peers · Dec 30, 2020 4:32pm PST · 3 comments
Wondery's app on a phone. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Amazon’s Puzzling Podcasting Bet: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Dec 30, 2020 4:32pm PST · 3 comments
Amazon confirmed Wednesday it had agreed to buy podcast creator Wondery, known for podcast series such as “Business Wars.” There is nothing particularly remarkable about this deal, which underlies the question it raises—why is Amazon buying this firm? Amazon’s explanation is that it will help expand its Music offering... Amazon confirmed Wednesday it had agreed to buy podcast creator Wondery, known for podcast series...
Daniel Loeb. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Activist Targets Intel: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Dec 29, 2020 5:31pm PST
Activist investor Daniel Loeb has targeted Intel for his next pressure campaign, reportedly urging the chipmaker to consider separating its chip manufacturing operations from its chip design. That would be an enormous step if Intel were to take it—Intel’s roots in fabricating its own chips has long set it apart from smaller rivals... Activist investor Daniel Loeb has targeted Intel for his next pressure campaign, reportedly...
Gal Gadot, star of Wonder Woman 1984, at an event in Brazil publicizing the film last year. Photo by AP.
The Briefing

What ‘Wonder Woman’ Says About Streaming: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Dec 28, 2020 5:30pm PST
The surprisingly strong weekend box office figures for “Wonder Woman 1984” should calm the Hollywood hysteria about WarnerMedia’s decision to release all of its film slate for next year both in theaters and on its HBO Max streaming service. Hollywood types freaked out that it was the end of the studio’s commitment to... The surprisingly strong weekend box office figures for “Wonder Woman 1984” should...
Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma last year. Photo: Bloomberg
The Briefing

Antitrust Alignment: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By The Information Staff · Dec 24, 2020 5:55pm PST
Government officials in the U.S. and China seem to be at odds over everything these days, but there is now an area where they appear to be on the same page: reining in Big Tech. On Thursday, Chinese regulators took the rare step of announcing an investigation of the country’s most valuable company, Alibaba, over allegations that it used... Government officials in the U.S. and China seem to be at odds over everything these days, but...
Zoom CEO Eric Yuan last year. Photo by Bloomberg
Will the Zoom Boom Last?: The Information’s Tech Briefing
By The Information Staff · Dec 23, 2020 5:32pm PST
Zoom CEO Eric Yuan last year. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Will the Zoom Boom Last?: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By The Information Staff · Dec 23, 2020 5:32pm PST
We broke the news today that Zoom Video Communications is starting to map out a post-pandemic future, one where society is no longer constantly tethered to videoconferencing to connect with colleagues, friends and family. Under consideration, Kevin reports, are email and calendar services that could compete with giants Microsoft and Google. Yet... We broke the news today that Zoom Video Communications is starting to map out a post-pandemic...
Benchmark's Bill Gurley. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

The SEC’s Gift to Startups: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By The Information Staff · Dec 22, 2020 5:01pm PST
Christmas came a few days early for Silicon Valley and one of its leading venture investors, Bill Gurley. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday greenlit new rules that will allow companies to raise capital through direct listings of their stock, a change that could provide a more appealing alternative to the traditional initial... Christmas came a few days early for Silicon Valley and one of its leading venture investors, Bill...
A pedestrian wearing a protective mask walks past signage for SoftBank Corp. in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Bloomberg.
The Briefing

Apple’s Auto Moonshot; SoftBank’s SPAC: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By The Information Staff · Dec 21, 2020 5:32pm PST
Last week, we wrote that as Apple gets closer to nailing down a prototype electric self-driving car, leaks about the vehicle would be inevitable next year. Turns out we were a few days off. Reuters on Monday provided the most detailed update about Apple’s Project Titan in quite a while, though there’s still a lot unknown, including... Last week, we wrote that as Apple gets closer to nailing down a prototype electric self-driving...
Zoom CEO Eric Yuan. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Feds Charge Former Zoom Executive With Conspiracy: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Dec 18, 2020 5:31pm PST
News that the Justice Department had filed conspiracy charges against a former China-based Zoom Video executive seems sure to shine a laser focus on the high-flying videoconference company in the coming days. Zoom said it had fired the executive and was cooperating with the government. The allegations underlying the charges are sure to shock... News that the Justice Department had filed conspiracy charges against a former China-based Zoom...
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai in January in Brussels. Photo by Bloomberg
Google’s Antitrust Trifecta: The Information’s Tech Briefing
By Martin Peers · Dec 17, 2020 5:02pm PST
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai in January in Brussels. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Google’s Antitrust Trifecta: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Dec 17, 2020 5:02pm PST
Another day, another Google antitrust lawsuit. Today’s installment from 38 states and territories, attacking Google’s dominance in search, covers much of the ground laid out in the Justice Department’s lawsuit against Google in late October. But the list of allegations spelled out today paints an unflattering picture of the... Another day, another Google antitrust lawsuit. Today’s installment from 38 states and...
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

What Facebook-Apple Battle Could Mean: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Dec 16, 2020 5:01pm PST · 4 comments
It’s hard not to feel that Apple CEO Tim Cook has only himself to blame for the battle he now finds himself in with Facebook. Over the past few years he spent an inordinate amount of time preaching about the evils of the advertising-based business model of Facebook and others. It’s not a surprise Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg would... It’s hard not to feel that Apple CEO Tim Cook has only himself to blame for the battle he...
Margrethe Vestager, competition commissioner of the European Commission with Thierry Breton, industry commissioner of the European Union, on Tuesday. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Europe’s Tough New Rules of Digital Road: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Dec 15, 2020 5:31pm PST
It may take a couple of years for the ramifications of Europe’s proposed new digital regulations to crystallize. But on first look, it appears the regulations could lead to far-reaching changes for U.S. tech giants. And given the U.S. antitrust actions underway, it’s quite possible the companies will make changes on a global basis,... It may take a couple of years for the ramifications of Europe’s proposed new digital...
Apple CEO Tim Cook. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Apple’s Labor Challenges: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Dec 14, 2020 5:31pm PST
There may be few things in the tech industry that demonstrate the gulf between rich and poor more than workers in India who manufacture iPhones rioting over low pay. That’s what happened over the weekend at Wistron’s Bangalore factory. It’s a reminder that, while complaints from Silicon Valley workers about their... There may be few things in the tech industry that demonstrate the gulf between rich and poor more...
Oracle's office in Redwood City, Calif. Photo by Bloomberg
Oracle Joins Tech Migration to Texas: The Information’s Tech Briefing
By Martin Peers · Dec 11, 2020 5:31pm PST
Oracle's office in Redwood City, Calif. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Oracle Joins Tech Migration to Texas: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Dec 11, 2020 5:31pm PST
Warning to Austin home buyers: Prices are about to skyrocket. That’s one likely result of the wave of tech companies moving their headquarters from the Bay Area to the Texas capital, a group that today expanded to include Oracle. Oracle’s news came a couple of days after Elon Musk said he had moved to Texas, and 10 days after Hewlett... Warning to Austin home buyers: Prices are about to skyrocket. That’s one likely result of...
Airbnb's founders displayed on Nasdaq's Times Square screen in New York today. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Airbnb’s $100 Billion Day: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Dec 10, 2020 5:02pm PST
Airbnb’s opening day stock trades, at more than double its $68 a share IPO price, demonstrate just how much ultra-low interest rates are inflating asset prices, even if they aren’t causing inflation among everyday goods and services. At today’s closing price of $144.71, Airbnb’s valuation of nearly $100 billion is more... Airbnb’s opening day stock trades, at more than double its $68 a share IPO price,...
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Photo by Bloomberg.
The Briefing

The Antitrust Case Against Facebook Begins: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Dec 9, 2020 5:32pm PST
The long-anticipated antitrust battle against Facebook has begun. Separate lawsuits, from the feds and the states, read at times like a business thriller. For example, the states’ lawsuit quotes an email from CEO Mark Zuckerberg to Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom warning of the competitive threat Instagram faced if it turned down... The long-anticipated antitrust battle against Facebook has begun. Separate lawsuits, from the...
Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Tesla Cashes In on Roaring Market: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Dec 8, 2020 5:30pm PST
For the third time this year, Elon Musk is selling new shares in Tesla to raise cash. It’s a smart move by Musk, given how much money is flowing into the stock market. And it raises the question of why other growth companies that need cash, like Netflix, haven’t taken the same approach. Tesla said today it would sell up to $5 billion... For the third time this year, Elon Musk is selling new shares in Tesla to raise cash. It’s...
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Photo by Bloomberg
Uber’s Costly Exit From Self-Driving Car Business: The Information’s Tech Briefing
By Martin Peers · Dec 7, 2020 5:01pm PST
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Photo by Bloomberg
The Briefing

Uber’s Costly Exit From Self-Driving Car Business: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Dec 7, 2020 5:01pm PST
Uber finally unloaded its self-driving car unit, after five years and the expenditure of $2.5 billion. As The Information noted in an in-depth article in late September, that effort had produced a car that couldn’t drive more than half a mile without encountering a problem. The final bill is even higher. Uber is investing $400 million in... Uber finally unloaded its self-driving car unit, after five years and the expenditure of $2.5...