Google CEO Sundar Pichai Calls for AI Regulation
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| Google CEO Sundar Pichai Calls for AI Regulation | |
| Number | 1052 |
| Broadcast Date | JANUARY 20, 2020 |
| Episode Length | 4:57 |
| Hosts | Rich Stroffolino |
Google CEO Sundar Pichai calls for AI regulation in a Financial Times op-ed, ByteDance reportedly put together a gaming division, and TomTom closes a deal with Huawei for map tech.
Headlines
- Google CEO Sundar Pichai published an op-ed in the Financial Times outlining the need for world governments to set regulations on artificial intelligence. In it, he argues that companies can not let market forces dictate how AI advances get used, and that governments can adapt existing legal frameworks like the EU's GDPR to oversight AI rather than passing new legislation, saying that any laws take a "proportionate approach, balancing potential harms, especially in high-risk areas, with social opportunities." He also stated that international alignment is needed to make standards work.
- Bloomberg reports that ByteDance has rapidly build a gaming division by buying up studios and acquiring exclusive title distribution rights, according to sources. The gaming division reportedly has over 1000 employees, with plans to release its first two titles this spring, with a massively multiplayer online game with Chinese fantasy elements in the pipeline according to sources. The games will reportedly be released worldwide, not limited to a China-only release. ByteDance has released several ad-supported casual mobile titles distributed through its video apps, but its new gaming efforts will be completely separate.
- Google's Director of Product Management for Chrome OS, Kan Liu told Android Police's David Ruddock that Google is working to bring Steam to Chromebook. Liu said this was made possible by Chrome OS's Linux compatibility. Steam is available for Linux. Chrome OS users can install Steam using Linux compatibility but there's no official support and reported performance is not very good. More powerful Chromebooks are apparently on the way that would make playing Steam games viable.
- Instagram removed the IGTV button from its app homepage. A spokesperson told TechCrunch the change reflected a lack of use by users, and an attempt to keep the interface simple. User can also now choose IGTV as a source in the Instagram app upload tool. The longer form IGTV experience can still be accessed within the Instagram app, using in-feed teasers or a tab of the Explore page. SensorTower estimates that since launching 18 months ago, IGTV has been downloaded by 7 million of Instagram's 1 billion users, with 1.1 million downloads in the US.
- TomTom announced it closed a deal with Huawei to provide maps and services for the company's smartphone apps. According to a TomTom spokesperson, the deal closed some time ago and is only now being made public. The deal will give Huawei access to TomTom's maps, traffic information and navigation software for app development.
- UK ISP BT announced that three of its service plans will come with Stadia Premiere Edition. That gives you a White Stadia Controller, Chromecast Ultra and three months of Stadia Pro. The plans that include Stadia range from £39.99 to £49.99 a month with speeds from 67Mbps to 300 Mbps. The offerings are good until January 30 with a new offering planned for February 7.
- Gerard Williams led mobile chip development at Apple, but left the company in February 2019 to start Nuvia, spurring a breach of contract lawsuit from Apple. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Mark Pierce rejected Gerard's petition to drop the suit, which claimed that a clause in his Apple contract violated California law that allows for developing new business while employed elsewhere. Judge Pierce said the law doesn't allow an employee “to plan and prepare to create a competitive enterprise prior to termination if the employee does so on their employer’s time and with the employer’s resources.” The Judge also denied Williams assertion that Apple invaded his privacy by reviewing text messages critical of the company, and denied Apple's request for punitive damages.
- Google Cloud announced a partnership with Airtel, India's third largest telecom operator, which will offer G Suite to small and medium business as part of the telco's service portfolio. Airtel serves over 325 million people in India, including 500,000 small and medium businesses. Microsoft announced a similar deal with India's largest telco, Reliance Jio, back in August.
- Mobile app developers have filed a class action complaint in the US against Facebook. The suit claims Facebook “identified and categorized potential market threats, then extinguished those threats” by cutting them off access to Facebook data.
- Samsung electronics named Roh Tae-moon as the new CEO of its smartphone division. Outgoing CEO DJ Koh will continue to head Samsung's IT and mobile and communication divisions. Roh's will reportedly focus on building Samsung's reputation for device quality and to further expand shipments into India and China. Roh has been with Samsung since 1997 and oversaw development of Galaxy mobile devices.
Links
| Preceded by: "Week in Review for the Week of 1/13/20" |
Google CEO Sundar Pichai Calls for AI Regulation |
Followed by: "Report: Apple Scrapped Encrypted iCloud Plans to Appease FBI" |