Posts by Nathan Pine
California bill would require parent bloggers to delete content of minors on social media
As the daughter of a social media influencer, Caymi Barrett said she navigates life within a digital footprint she wished never existed. “Everything my mom posted is still on social media,” she said. “Photos I wish never saw the light of day, private details about my health, even when I started my first menstrual cycle.”…
Read MoreSony and Honda pull plug on the $100,000 EV that was set to debut in California
As major automakers pare back their EV offerings, Sony and Honda are scrapping their plans to launch a gadget-packed electric vehicle. The move by Sony Honda Mobility comes weeks after Honda announced a $15.7-billion write-down of its EV business and said it would cancel planned production for three of its own electric models. Sony Honda…
Read MoreLandmark L.A. jury verdict finds Instagram, YouTube were designed to addict kids
After a grueling seven weeks of court proceedings and more than 40 hours of tense deliberations across nine days in one of the country’s most closely watched civil trials, jurors handed down a landmark decision in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday, finding Instagram and YouTube responsible for the suffering of a Chico, Calif.,…
Read MoreAs streaming subscription fees rise, more consumers opt to pay less and watch ads
When video streaming platforms were first launched, they were marketed as an affordable way to watch your favorite movies without the interruption of an ad break. But, over the years, as subscription fees hit highs of nearly $25 a month and cheaper ad-supported tiers were introduced, more consumers are willing to pay less in exchange…
Read MoreEpic Games lays off 1,000 employees, citing dip in ‘Fortnite’ popularity
Epic Games, the developer of the popular video game “Fortnite,” is laying off more than 1,000 employees and cutting $500 million in costs. Chief Executive Tim Sweeney announced the cuts Tuesday morning in a message to employees. He said it has nothing to do with artificial intelligence and instead pointed to what he said was…
Read MoreZoox robotaxis to roam in more San Francisco neighborhoods and cover new cities
The Bay Area-based robotaxi company Zoox is trying to get ahead of the competition with a significant expansion in San Francisco and Las Vegas and plans to launch in Austin, Texas, and Miami. Zoox will quadruple its service area in San Francisco starting this spring, expanding rides to the eastern half of the city, including…
Read MoreSoCal’s defense startups secure vital funding boost
A bill restoring crucial federal funding to defense startups in Southern California is on its way to the president’s desk after making it through Congress on Tuesday. The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act was passed following a months-long impasse over funding the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)…
Read MoreAmazon speeds up deliveries in L.A. and elsewhere with one-hour option
Amazon is offering one-hour deliveries to hundreds of U.S. cities and towns including parts of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The e-commerce giant said that it is also offering three-hour deliveries in more than 2,000 cities and towns. It plans to expand these options to more places in the coming months, the company said in…
Read MoreAnother billionaire confirms California exit: Uber co-founder Kalanick
Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick said he moved to Texas in December, adding to the list of billionaires who have left California ahead of a proposed wealth tax. In an interview on tech talk show TBPN, Kalanick said he moved to Texas on Dec. 18. He didn’t explain the reasoning behind the move but suggested he…
Read MoreAnduril set to acquire Orange County space surveillance company
Southern California defense tech darling Anduril Industries has struck a deal to buy Orange County space surveillance firm ExoAnalytic Solutions. The purchase for an undisclosed sum is meant to boost Anduril’s capabilities in space domain awareness, battle management and fire control. With the deal, Anduril will absorb ExoAnalytic’s network of 400 commercial telescopes around the…
Read MoreHundreds of applications, no jobs and AI competition: California’s brutal tech work landscape
Laid-off tech worker Joseph Tinner has spent almost a year hunting for a job. It has been a depressing crash course on the sea change in Silicon Valley. The former product instructor from the San Francisco Bay Area has ridden the tech wave throughout his career, easily jumping from Verizon to Fitbit to Workday. Since…
Read MoreNetflix buys Ben Affleck’s AI film tech company, InterPositive
In 2022, Ben Affleck became so fixated on AI in film production that he quietly launched his own film tech company, InterPositive. Netflix brought the startup into the spotlight Thursday morning as it announced the full acquisition of the company. InterPositive’s mission, which focuses on developing “AI-powered tools built by and for filmmakers” and using…
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