Techmeme
October 23, 2019, 9:55 AM

Top News

Cade Metz / New York Times:
Google claims “quantum supremacy” breakthrough: its quantum computer performed a mathematical calculation at a speed inconceivable with today's technology  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Google said on Wednesday that it had achieved a long-sought breakthrough called “quantum supremacy,” …
IBM Research Blog:
IBM says Google's experiment is an excellent demo of quantum computing progress, but not a proof that quantum computers are “supreme” over classical computers  —  Quantum computers are starting to approach the limit of classical simulation and it is important that we continue …
Gideon Lichfield / MIT Technology Review:
Interview with Sundar Pichai on achieving quantum supremacy and why quantum computing could be as important for Google as AI  —  In an exclusive interview with MIT Technology Review, Pichai explains why quantum computing could be as important for Google as AI.  —  Google for MIT Technology Review
More: Engadget and Fortune
Makena Kelly / The Verge:
US lawmakers debut a bipartisan bill that would force tech giants to make user data portable and interoperable via an API-like interface for secure transfers  —  Mark Zuckerberg wants his own apps to be interoperable, but not like this  —  Over the past few months, lawmakers have taken aim at Big Tech …
Josh Constine / TechCrunch:
Snap reports it added 7M DAUs in Q3 to hit 210M, up 13% YoY, revenue of $446M, up 50% YoY, and a net loss of $227M, down from $325M a year ago  —  The Snap-back continues.  Snapchat blew past earnings expectations for a big beat in Q3, as it added 7 million daily active users this quarter to hit 210 million, up 13% year-over-year.
Salvador Rodriguez / CNBC:
In prepared remarks for Congress, Mark Zuckerberg argues Libra “will extend America's financial leadership” and that China is pursuing similar projects  —  - Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg intends to tell Congress that Facebook will not launch Libra anywhere in the world unless all U.S. regulators approve it.
Tony Romm / Washington Post:
New York State's attorney general says 46 attorneys general have joined its antitrust probe into Facebook, separate from DOJ and FTC investigations  —  The expanded roster of 47 states and territories taking part reflects broad concerns among officials that ‘Facebook may have put consumer data at risk’
New York Times:
Researchers: China's state sponsored hackers have switched tactics over the last few years, focusing increasingly sophisticated attacks on its ethnic minorities  —  SAN FRANCISCO — China's state-sponsored hackers have drastically changed how they operate over the last three years …
Drew Harwell / Washington Post:
A look at HireVue's controversial AI-driven face and voice scanning “employability” assessment tool, used by 100+ employers including Hilton and Goldman Sachs  —  HireVue claims it uses artificial intelligence to decide who's best for a job.  Outside experts call it ‘profoundly disturbing.’
Brian Heater / TechCrunch:
Amazon debuts a free, ad-supported news aggregation app for Fire TV in the US, letting users watch clips and live feeds from nearly 20 outlets like Reuters, CBS  —  Beginning today, Amazon will be rolling out a news aggregation app for Fire TV users in the U.S. The app serves …
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends:
Huawei says the Mate X foldable phone will launch in China next month for ~$2,400, and has shipped 200M smartphones so far in 2019, 64 days faster than 2018  —  Though times are turbulent for Huawei, it has still managed to ship 200 million smartphones already this year, beating a previous record …
Natalie Gagliordi / ZDNet:
Former SAP CEO Bill McDermott has been named chief executive of cloud automation platform ServiceNow; he replaces John Donahoe, who will become CEO of Nike  —  McDermott will replace John Donahoe, who is stepping down from his role leading ServiceNow to become the CEO of Nike.
Conor Dougherty / New York Times:
Facebook announces a pledge of $1B in a package of grants, loans, and land as part of a partnership with California to help build more affordable housing  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook said on Tuesday it would give $1 billion in a package of grants, loans and land toward easing California's …
CNBC:
Sources: SoftBank to take control of WeWork, spending $4B-$5B on new funding and existing shares in The We Company, valuing it between $7.5B and $8B  —  KEY POINTS  — Softbank to spend $4 billion to $5 billion on new equity, existing shares, sources say.
Chris O'Brien / VentureBeat:
Report: France's AI startup scene grew 38% in 2019 with government and investor backing; from 2014 to 2019 French AI startups raised $1.27B vs. $1.24B in the UK  —  France's aggressive push to develop its AI ecosystem seems to be paying dividends as the number of startups continues to soar.
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Verizon is giving away Disney+ for free for one year to all of its wireless customers on unlimited-data plans and to FiOS and 5G home internet customers  —  New Fios broadband, 5G home wireless internet customers also eligible for 12-month free offer  —  Verizon is giving away Disney Plus …
Grady McGregor / Fortune:
Profile of Colin Yao, head of Tencent's game development subsidiary TiMi Studios, responsible for building some of the most played games in China  —  Colin Yao, head of Tencent's largest in-house game developer TiMi Studios, exudes a warm and reserved confidence, yet he is clearly antsy …

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