Techmeme
April 11, 2019, 7:15 AM

Top News

Bloomberg:
Sources describe Amazon Alexa's AI-training process, where workers transcribing voice clips see customer account numbers and hear private conversations  —  Tens of millions of people use smart speakers and their voice software to play games, find music or trawl for trivia.
Shannon Liao / The Verge:
Google says any Android device running 7.0 or later can now be used as a security key for two-factor authentication  —  An advanced form of two-factor authentication  —  Google announced today that any phone running Android 7 or higher can now be used as a physical security key …
Tom Krazit / GeekWire:
Tom Krazit / GeekWire:
Wired:
Facebook rolls out multiple changes to combat the spread of disinformation: demoting untrustworthy sources in News Feed, changes to how Groups work, and more  —  FACEBOOK IS TRYING to redefine authoritativeness on the internet as part of its efforts to fight the spread of misinformation and abuse on its platforms.
Josh Constine / TechCrunch:
Instagram says it will demote posts that are “inappropriate” but do not go against its Community Guidelines by not showing them in Explore or hashtag pages  —  Instagram is home to plenty of scantily-clad models and edgy memes that may start to get fewer views starting today.
CNN:
MIT grad student Katie Bouman helped develop the imaging algorithm for the Event Horizon Telescope that captured the first picture of a black hole  —  (CNN)Imagine trying to take a photo of an orange that's on the moon with your smartphone.  It seems impossible.
Emil Protalinski / VentureBeat:
Gartner and IDC estimate PC shipments of 58.5M in Q1 2019, with Gartner reporting shipments down 4.6% YoY, and IDC reporting them down 3% YoY  —  The PC market is still in decline, according to research firms Gartner and IDC.  That's nothing new for the duo to agree on, but coincidentally they also …
Adi Robertson / The Verge:
Democratic senators propose the Algorithmic Accountability Act, which would require large companies to audit machine learning-powered systems for bias  —  US lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require large companies to audit machine learning-powered systems — like facial recognition or ad targeting algorithms — for bias.
Karen Weise / New York Times:
The Pentagon says Amazon and Microsoft are the final candidates for its $10B JEDI contract and that IBM and Oracle didn't meet the minimum requirements  —  The Pentagon said Wednesday that Amazon and Microsoft were the final candidates for a hotly contested $10 billion contract to bring modern cloud computing to the Defense Department.
Romain Dillet / TechCrunch:
Coinbase launches Coinbase Card, a Visa debit card for UK customers to spend cryptocurrencies in-store and online, will expand to other EU countries in months  —  When you buy cryptocurrencies on Coinbase, many users simply don't know what to do with them.  Customers in the U.K …
Karen Weise / New York Times:
Over 4,200 Amazon employees publicly call on the company to give clear commitments on tackling climate change, the largest staff-driven movement thus far  —  SEATTLE — Employees at big tech companies have pushed back against their employers for working with the military and law enforcement offices …
Tony Romm / Washington Post:
During a hearing, Republicans led by Sen. Ted Cruz continue to say big tech companies are stifling conservative speech even as experts say no evidence exists  —  Republicans led by Sen. Ted Cruz on Wednesday pilloried Facebook, Google and Twitter over allegations they censor conservative users …

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Steve Blank:
Financial Times:
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Eugene Kim / CNBC:
Guilherme Rambo / 9to5Mac:
Bloomberg: