Facebook vs Twitter: Meta launches rival as Musk locks Tweetdeck July 4, 2023 Facebook owner Meta is launching a new app to rival Twitter this week. Threads, which will be linked to Instagram, is available for pre-order in the Apple App Store and will go live on Thursday. It is described as a “text-based conversation app… where communities come together”. The new app is the latest chapter in [...]
Twitter explainer: What are rate limits and why are they causing advertising headaches July 4, 2023 Twitter advertising troubles may have gone from bad to worse after Elon Musk has put his foot in it again – this time by restricting users’ viewing limits over data concerns. On Saturday, the billionaire ex-CEO of Twitter imposed a temporary ‘rate limit’ on all users, effectively capping the number of Tweets that accounts can [...]
Apple halves Vision Pro headset production plans as virtual reality given a reality check July 3, 2023 Apple has slashed production forecasts for its $3,499-a-piece Vision Pro headset as the company experiences teething problems in its foray into virtual reality, according to reports. The tech giant has had to halve 2024 shipments for its mixed-reality headsets with predictions down from 900,000 to 400,000 in the first year, according to a Financial Times [...]
CMA probe throws £16bn Adobe and Figma tie-up into doubt June 30, 2023 The UK’s competition watchdog has said it may move to block Adobe’s acquisition of design platform Figma unless they can resolve anti-trust concerns. In a summary of the decision, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the merger of the two companies gives rise to “a realistic prospect of a substantial lessening of competition”. Leading [...]
Salesforce £3.2bn investment a ‘ringing endorsement’ in UK economy, says Sunak June 29, 2023 Salesforce has announced a major investment of $4bn (£3.2bn) in its UK business over the next five years. The software company will use the cash injection to improve AI innovation and customer growth in the UK as companies become increasingly eager to transform digitally and capitalise on AI within their business operations. Prime Minister, Rishi [...]
Amazon launches legal action against ‘fake review brokers’ June 29, 2023 Amazon has filed four lawsuits against online fake review companies in an attempt to hold them to account for illicit behaviour that deceives consumers. The global tech company has challenged Reddit Marketing Pro, Mangocity, Littlesmm and Nice Discount with legal action this week. Amazon claims these ‘fake review brokers’ are trying to “mislead Amazon customers [...]
A ‘wasted’ year for WANdisco but growth is on the horizon, says new boss June 29, 2023 Troubled data firm WANdisco today announced loss-making results for 2022 but the new leadership hopes they can put a turbulent period behind them. WANdisco reported operative losses of $28.2m (£22.4m), a small triumph compared to 2021 profits which came in at negative $37.6m (£29.8m). The Sheffield-based company increased revenues of $9.7m (£7.7m), up by $2.4m [...]
New CMA bill could undermine UK’s tech superpower ambitions, CPS report warns June 29, 2023 The government should scrap its new Digital Markets, Competitions and Consumers (DMCC) bill because it is already too old, the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) has warned today. The report, titled ‘The Unregulated Regulator’, alleges that dynamic digital markets have “outpaced” the new legislation. What’s more, it would weaken investment and grant the CMA “extensive [...]
Salesforce warns need to train workers in AI has ‘never been more urgent’ June 29, 2023 Companies urgently need to train staff how to use artificial intelligence tools effectively and safely, Salesforce’s UK & Ireland chief told City A.M. Chief executive Zahra Bahrololoumi said the need for “highly skilled people” who can use trustworthy data sources and protect sensitive data has “never been more clear nor urgent”. The comments come as [...]
‘Get the companies under control!’: Microsoft president tells UK to get AI safety in order June 28, 2023 Microsoft president Brad Smith has reiterated that the UK needs to prioritise AI safety in its quest to become a global leader in new technologies. “Let’s get the companies under control”, Smith said, speaking at a packed Chatham House event on Wednesday afternoon, where he argued that a licensing regime is necessary on both a [...]