Many major tech companies spent less money lobbying in Washington in 2016, but a handful, including Uber and Amazon, invested significantly more in attempting to influence politicians and the regulatory process. The money, which totals tens of millions of dollars, is spent on workers and companies that monitor bills and schmooze with politicians and their…
Starbucks has a new barista—and it’s a virtual assistant. On Monday, Starbucks launched a new feature for its iOS app that lets certain customers place their orders ahead of time via a voice-controlled bot. My Starbucks Barista uses artificial intelligence and a messaging interface so that customers can place their order using natural-language voice commands or…
The number of powerful chips coming out of China keeps growing as a war of words on semiconductors with the U.S. escalates. A joint venture between Qualcomm and China’s Guizhou province, called Huaxintong Semiconductor Technology, has started the development of a new server chip based on ARM technology. The joint venture is “now busy developing…
A recent IDC survey found 84% of U.S. consumers are concerned about the privacy of their personal information, with 70% saying their concern is greater today than it was a few years ago. These concerns of consumers should also alarm businesses: Consumers are willing to switch to another bank, medical center or retailer if they…
While Wall Street waits for Apple’s earnings report on Tuesday, industry analysts are already pondering the next iteration of the California company’s iPhone line. Those analysts agreed that this year’s iPhone will have special significance. After all, this month was the 10th anniversary of the iconic smartphone’s introduction by Steve Jobs, and come summer the…
Windows Cloud: That name has appeared in system files deep within some of the most recent Windows 10 Insider builds. While a few experts guess it could be a new version of Windows, what it actually is remains a mystery. As far as evidence goes, it’s pretty slim pickings. Two names, “Windows Cloud” and “Windows Cloud…
Dropbox kicked off its 2017 product launches with a pair of major announcements Monday aimed at improving users’ productivity at work. The cloud storage company announced the general availability of its Paper document collaboration service, along with the closed beta of a Smart Sync feature that gives users easy access to every file shared with…
Intel may have cut ties with Android on smartphones and tablets, but the company’s partnership with Google on Android for the internet of things is growing stronger. Google’s Android Things, a slimmed down version of Android for smart devices, will be coming to Intel’s Joule 570x computer board. The combination will allow makers to cook…
Trying to filter out phishing emails is tough work, even for organizations trying to find a better way through automation, according to a new study from security software company GreatHorn. The company makes software that seeks out phishing attempts and can autonomously block them, but even its customers don’t switch on all the features, according…
Apple has championed the causes of marriage equality and environmental sustainability in recent years, so its employees looked to the company’s leadership in the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration from predominantly Muslim countries. The order, which restricts immigration from seven countries and outright bans refugees from Syria, was handed down late…