Latest news with #Ribera
Business Insider
11 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Sector Spotlight: Instagram, TikTok coming to a TV screen near you
Welcome to the latest edition of 'Sector Spotlight,' where The Fly looks at a new industry every week and highlights its happenings. Confident Investing Starts Here: TECH SECTOR NEWS: Germany's data protection commissioner, Meike Kamp, has asked Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOGL) to remove Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from their app stores in the country due to concerns about data protection, Reuters reported. The two U.S. companies must now review the request promptly and decide whether to block the app in Germany, she said in a statement on Friday, according to the report. According to EU's competitive chief Teresa Ribera, the European Union's crackdown on Apple, Meta (META), and Google (GOOGL) is not a bargaining chip in negotiations with the U.S. President Donald Trump, Samuel Stolton and Oliver Crook of Bloomberg wrote. In an interview, Ribera rejected suggestions that the enforcement of the Digital Markets Act, DMA, may be sacrificed to dodge punitive EU tariffs pitched by the White House. 'Of course not,' Ribera said on Bloomberg TV. 'We do not challenge the United States on how they implement their rules or how they adopt regulations. We deserve respect in the same way.' Meta's Instagram and TikTok are working on versions of their apps customized to run on TV screens, following YouTube's success in attracting a TV audience, The Information's Kaya Yurieff and Kalley Huang reported. A group of authors have filed a lawsuit against Microsoft in a New York federal court, claiming the company used nearly 200,000 pirated books without permission to train its Megatron AI model, Reuters' Blake Brittain wrote. Kai Bird, Jia Tolentino, Daniel Okrent and several others alleged that Microsoft used pirated digital versions of their books to teach its AI to respond to human prompts. The complaint against Microsoft came a day after a California federal judge ruled that Anthropic made fair use under U.S. copyright law of authors' material to train its AI systems but may still be liable for pirating their books. Earlier in the week, a federal judge has found Anthropic's use of books to train its AI models was legal in some circumstances, but not others, Meg Tanaka of The Wall Street Journal reported. Judge William Alsup of the Northern District of California ruled Anthropic's use of copyrighted books for AI model training was legal under U.S. copyright law if it had purchased those books. The ruling does not apply to the more than 7M books the company obtained through 'pirated' means. Anthropic is backed by Amazon (AMZN) and Google. Vasi Philomin, Amazon Web Services' VP overseeing generative AI development, told Reuters in an email that he has left the e-commerce giant for another company, without providing details. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has hired three AI researchers from Microsoft-backed (MSFT) OpenAI to help with his superintelligence efforts, the Wall Street Journal's Meghan Bobrowsky wrote. The social media giant poached Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov and Xiaohua Zhai from OpenAI's Zurich office. The three staff established the Zurich office late last year. OpenAI and Microsoft are in contract negotiations that hinge on when OpenAI's systems will reach artificial general intelligence, The Wall Street Journal's Berber Jin reported. The contract stipulates that OpenAI can limit Microsoft's access to its tech when its systems reach AGI, which Microsoft is fighting. Microsoft hopes to remove the AGI clause or secure exclusive access to OpenAI's IP even after AGI is declared, according to the report. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had a 'super nice' call with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Monday and discussed their future working partnership, Altman said this week in a New York Times podcast. 'Obviously in any deep partnership, there are points of tension and we certainly have those,' Altman said. 'But on the whole, it's been like really wonderfully good for both companies.' Cloud computing currently generates large profits for Amazon (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT), and Google (GOOGL), but this now faces a threat with the rise of AI cloud specialists and Nvidia, a new industry power broker, Asa Fitch of The Wall Street Journal wrote. Nvidia launched its own cloud-computing services two years ago and has nurtured upstarts competing with big cloud companies, investing in CoreWeave (CRWV) and Lambda. Amazon plans to invest GBP 40B in the UK over the next three years. Amazon said via LinkedIn: 'This investment builds on Amazon's 27-year history in the UK, where we've grown to employ over 75,000 people across over 100 sites, reaching every region of the country. This historic investment will create thousands of full-time jobs, including 2,000 jobs at the previously announced state-of-the-art fulfillment center in Hull, 2,000 jobs at another in Northampton, and additional positions at new sites in the East Midlands and at delivery stations across the country.' OpenAI has quietly designed a rival to compete with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace, with features that allow people to collaborate on documents and communicate via chat in ChatGPT, The Information's Amir Efrati and Natasha Mascarenhas reported, citing two people who have seen the designs. Launching these features would allow OpenAI to compete more directly against Microsoft, its biggest investor and business partner, the report notes. Starting June 24, a limited number of Waymo autonomous vehicles will gradually become available on the Uber (UBER) app for riders in select areas of Atlanta, Georgia, the company announced in a blog post. The Competition and Markets Authority is proposing to designate Google with 'strategic market status' in general search and search advertising. The CMA will consult on the proposal ahead of a final decision in October. If designated, the CMA would be able to introduce targeted measures to address specific aspects of how Google operates search services in the UK. The CMA has also published a roadmap of potential actions it could prioritize were Google to be designated. Early priorities include: requiring choice screens for users to access different search providers; ensuring fair ranking principles for businesses appearing on Google search; more transparency and control for publishers whose content appears in search results; and portability of consumer search data to support innovation in new products and services. Google search accounts for more than 90% of all general search queries in the UK, the CMA said. CMA CEO Sarah Cardell said: 'These targeted and proportionate actions would give UK businesses and consumers more choice and control over how they interact with Google's search services – as well as unlocking greater opportunities for innovation across the UK tech sector and broader economy.' The CMA welcomes views on its proposed designation decision and accompanying roadmap. A final decision on SMS designation will be made by the deadline of October 13. Apple is in last-minute talks with EU regulators over making changes to its App Store to avoid a series of escalating EU fines due to come into effect this week, The Financial Times' Barbara Moens wrote. People involved in the negotiations say Apple is expected to offer concessions on its 'steering' provisions that stop users accessing offers outside the App Store. Regulators had ordered the company to revise its rules within two months of its initial EUR 500M fine, and people with knowledge of the talks say Apple is expected to announce some concessions that buy the company more time, as the commission would first assess those changes before making a final decision. Discussions have also involved Apple's 'Core Technology Fee,' which requires developers to pay for each annual install after 1M downloads.
Euronews
a day ago
- Business
- Euronews
Delay to EU's 2040 climate goals ‘a mistake', Ribera answers Macron
It would be a mistake for the European Commission to follow French President Emmanuel Macron's advice and slam the brakes on its proposals for 2040 climate targets, the Commission's Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera told Euronews' Europe Today show on Friday morning. Ribera, responsible for the EU's green transition portfolio, is slated to present the 2040 targets after next Wednesday's meeting of the college of commissioners. The French president raised his opposition to the EU executive's tabling of the proposal next week in an unusual intervention at the leaders' level during the EU Council summit in Brussels on Thursday. After the summit he told reporters that the EU should take more time to come to an agreement on the new targets because "we want to make this climate ambition compatible with European competitiveness". "I believe in the possibility of a Europe that reconciles an ambitious climate agenda with respect for the commitments of the Paris Agreement and that preserves its competitiveness. All that requires is technological neutrality, the ability to invest and consistency in trade policy,' Macron said. Targets are essential to economic and social welfare, says Ribera "The 2040 targets can't be a technical debate that takes just a few weeks. It has to be a democratic debate at 27 (member states). And I say this because I love Europe. And I say it because, in two years' time, I'll no longer be in charge of my country. But I would be unwise to leave my successor a situation that had been debated outside the framework of the 27," he added. 'I think it could be a mistake,' Ribera told Europe Today, asked by presenter Meabh McMahon whether she was prepared to accede to Macron and delay the proposal. 'This year is the 10th anniversary of the Paris agreement, and we want to identify how we can keep on going in something we that we think is quite essential for the economic and social welfare of Europeans and worldwide,' Ribera said. 'We have already identified that we want to be a fully decarbonised economy by 2050, we have targets for 2030, we need some clear orientation around 2040, and the reduction of 90% is a clear goal,' the Spanish commissioner said. 'Then how we can combine the different pieces, the eventual flexibilities is the thing to be discussed, but we are working hard and we will table our proposal in the coming days.' The EU is committed to net-zero by 2050, after bringing its carbon emissions to 55% below 1990 levels by the end of this decade. The missing element is the 2040 target, which the EU executive was originally supposed to table last year, but which has been subject to delay.
Euronews
a day ago
- Business
- Euronews
Delay to 2040 climate goals ‘a mistake' Ribera answers Macron
It would be a mistake for the European Commission to follow French President Emmanuel Macron's advice and slam the brakes on its proposals for 2040 climate targets, the Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera told Euronews' Europe Today show on Friday morning. Ribera, responsible for the EU's green transition portfolio, is slated to present the 2040 targets after next Wednesday's meeting of the college of commissioners. The French President raised his opposition to the EU executive tabling the proposal next week in an unusual intervention at leaders' level during the EU Council summit in Brussels on Thursday. After the summit he told reporters that the EU should take more time to come to an agreement on the new targets because "we want to make this climate ambition compatible with European competitiveness". "I believe in the possibility of a Europe that reconciles an ambitious climate agenda with respect for the commitments of the Paris Agreement and that preserves its competitiveness. All that requires is technological neutrality, the ability to invest and consistency in trade policy,' Macron said. Targets are essential economic and social welfare, says Ribera "The 2040 targets can't be a technical debate that takes just a few weeks. It has to be a democratic debate at 27 [member states]. And I say this because I love Europe. And I say it because, in two years' time, I'll no longer be in charge of my country. But I would be unwise to leave my successor a situation that had been debated outside the framework of the 27," he added. 'I think it could be a mistake,' Ribera told Europe Today, asked by presenter Meabh McMahon whether she was prepared to accede to Macron and delay the proposal. 'This year is the tenth anniversary of the Paris agreement, and we want to identify how we can keep on going in something we that we think is quite essential for the economic and social welfare of the Europeans and worldwide,' Ribera said. 'We have already identified that we want to be a fully carbonised economy by 2050, we have targets for 2030, we need some clear orientation around 2040, and the reduction of 90% is a clear goal,' the Spanish commissioner said, adding: 'Then how we can combine the different pieces, the eventual flexibilities is the thing to be discussed, but we are working hard and we will table our proposal in the coming days.' The EU is committed to net-zero by 2050, after bringing its carbon emissions to 55% below 1990 levels by the end of this decade. The missing element is the 2040 target, which the EU executive was originally supposed to table last year, but which has been subject to delay.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Mars' acquisition of Pringles' maker triggers EU alarms
AI- Generative Image The European Union has launched an antitrust investigation into Mars' acquisition of Pringles' maker Kellanova, it announced on Wednesday, citing concerns of market price hikes. In a preliminary assessment, the European Commission said the multibillion-dollar deal between the two US-based snack makers would increase Mars' bargaining power against EU retailers. Announced last August, the $35.9 billion (roughly €31 billion) deal was meant to bring two new billion-dollar brands, Pringles and Cheez-It, into Mars' fold. Why is the EU concerned about the acquisition? The EU said alarmed retailers across the 27-nation bloc reached out, expressing concerns regarding Mars' increased bargaining power should the deal go through. "By acquiring Kellanova, Mars will add several very popular brands of potato chips and cereals to its already broad and strong product portfolio," EU competition chief Teresa Ribera said. Aside from Pringles, Kellanova also produces Kellogg's cereals. Citing inflation and high food prices across the continent, Ribera stressed the importance of ensuring "this acquisition does not further drive up the cost of shopping baskets." She added that the EU's in-depth investigation will assess the deal's impact on the price of products sold by both companies. Mars, which also makes popular snacks including M&Ms and Snickers, defended the acquisition, saying it would "deliver more choice and innovation to consumers." "We are disappointed yet remain optimistic that this investigation will be positively resolved," the company said in a statement, adding that it was cooperating with the investigation.
DW
3 days ago
- Business
- DW
Mars' acquisition of Pringles' maker triggers EU alarms – DW – 06/26/2025
The EU is worried the takeover would increase Mars' bargaining power and hike prices for consumers. The snack maker said it was hopeful the deal to acquire Pringles' maker Kellanova would go through. The European Union has launched an antitrust investigation into Mars' acquisition of Pringles' maker Kellanova, it announced on Wednesday, citing concerns of market price hikes. In a preliminary assessment, the European Commission said the multibillion-dollar deal between the two US-based snack makers would increase Mars' bargaining power against EU retailers. Announced last August, the $35.9 billion (roughly €31 billion) deal was meant to bring two new billion-dollar brands, Pringles and Cheez-It, into Mars' fold. Mars hoped the acquisition would help it meet demand in fast-growing markets, including Africa and Latin America. The EU said alarmed retailers across the 27-nation bloc reached out, expressing concerns regarding Mars' increased bargaining power should the deal go through. "By acquiring Kellanova, Mars will add several very popular brands of potato chips and cereals to its already broad and strong product portfolio," EU competition chief Teresa Ribera said. Aside from Pringles, Kellanova also produces Kellogg's cereals. Citing inflation and high food prices across the continent, Ribera stressed the importance of ensuring "this acquisition does not further drive up the cost of shopping baskets." She added that the EU's in-depth investigation will assess the deal's impact on the price of products sold by both companies. Mars, which also makes popular snacks including M&Ms and Snickers, defended the acquisition, saying it would "deliver more choice and innovation to consumers." "We are disappointed yet remain optimistic that this investigation will be positively resolved," the company said in a statement, adding that it was cooperating with the investigation. A decision is expected by October 31.
