Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is expected to announce plans to build a second production facility in Arizona and boost its investment in the state from $12B to $40B. The Apple supplier and world’s largest contract chipmaker will make the announcement today during an event at its site featuring President Joe Biden, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and AMD CEO Lisa Su. More: - While visiting Arizona today, Biden is expected to highlight recent efforts, including the new CHIPS and Science Act, to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing and enable the U.S. to better compete against China.
- TSMC is now building the $12B plant in Phoenix, its first major production site in the U.S., where it plans to produce 5-nanometer chips starting in 2024.
- By 2026, the chipmaker plans to start manufacturing more advanced 3-nanometer chips at a second facility at the same site.
- This second phase will expand TSMC’s total investment in Arizona to $40B.
- During a recent meeting, Cook confirmed that Apple plans to buy some of its chips from the TSMC factory starting in 2024. The chips will presumably be used for iPhones.
THE NEW YORK TIMES 
| |
An internal oversight board has called for changes to Meta's system that exempts high-profile users from the same moderation rules as other users. The board found that Meta's “cross-check” system gives special protections to influential Facebook and Instagram users based on company business interests. The program allows content that would normally be removed quickly to remain on the platform for longer, potentially causing harm, according to the board. Background: - Cross-check adds an extra layer of human moderation review for millions of high-profile Facebook and Instagram accounts, allowing them to occasionally post content that violates Meta's policies.
- Meta created the Oversight Board to address concerns related to moderation, free speech, and human rights.
- The independent body began investigating cross-check last year after a Wall Street Journal report found that Meta “exempted high-profile users from some or all of its rules.”
Update: - The board's findings and concerns were outlined in a report published today. It recommends that Meta institute new transparency requirements around the program, as well as perform audits and remove flagged content before official review, among other suggestions.
- In a blog post, the board said cross-check content "should not be allowed to remain on the platform accruing views simply because the person who posted it is a business partner or celebrity."
- In response, Meta VP Nick Clegg said the company has already made certain changes in line with the recommendations.
- To address all of them, the company has agreed to review the report and respond within 90 days, he said.
THE GUARDIAN
| |
 A message from SNAPPY Employee (and customer) recognition - it’s gifting season! From holidays to work anniversaries, Snappy makes employee and customer gifting simple and fun. Unlike a gift card, with Snappy you can sprinkle on some magic with digital gift wrapping, personalized branding and messaging, video greetings, and more. Three reasons Snappy is perfect for sending gifts: - Stress-free gifting - Take the guesswork out of gifting with expert-curated options from the best brands that let recipients choose what they love most.
- Seamless and scalable - Send 100's of gifts in seconds. No addresses are needed! (We handle all the logistics).
- Memorable experiences - Add branding, personalize messages, and explore interactive gift reveals to make your gifts stand out!
Experience a Snappy gift for yourself and find out why leaders at 40+ of the Fortune 100 use Snappy for their gifting needs. Get Your Free Gift
| |
The U.S. federal government is investigating brain-chip company Neuralink over potential animal welfare violations during testing. A Reuters report found that an estimated 1,500 rats, mice, and other animals have been killed at Neuralink since 2018, including more than 280 sheep, pigs, and monkeys. More: - Many of the deaths were attributed to errors made during the testing process caused by a rushed and hurried work environment, current and former employees told Reuters.
- The errors involved implants of incorrectly-sized brain chips or the use of the wrong surgical glue, for example.
- Employees said they faced pressure under Neuralink co-founder and owner Elon Musk, who expressed concerns about the company not moving fast enough.
- Last year, Neuralink installed a brain-computer interface into a monkey that enabled it to play video games with its mind. It recently demonstrated another monkey typing characters on a screen using a brain implant.
- At the request of a federal prosecutor, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Inspector General Office recently opened an investigation into Neuralink focused on potential violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
REUTERS
| |
Meta said it may consider removing news from Facebook in the U.S. if Congress adopts legislation allowing media publishers to negotiate payments from tech companies for providing news. The proposed legislation, called the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA), is now under consideration by lawmakers, who could include it in an annual defense bill. More: - The JCPA, introduced by Sen. Amy Klobuchar and others in 2021, was recently attached to the National Defense Authorization Act.
- The proposed law would open the door for publishers to negotiate with Facebook, Google, and other platforms over the distribution of their news content, including a requirement that they be allowed to bargain collectively with the tech companies for payment.
- Rather than engage in government-mandated negotiations over news content payments, Meta said on Monday that it would be "forced to consider removing news from our platform altogether."
- The company claims the legislation unfairly disregards the value it provides to media companies through increased web traffic and subscription sign-ups.
Zoom Out: - Last year, Facebook temporarily removed news from its platform in Australia after the country adopted a law requiring tech companies to pay for news.
- Shortly after, the company negotiated with the Australian government, which altered the legislation, prompting Facebook to restore news on its platform there.
THE VERGE
| |
 A message from REALPHA Invest In the Startup Turning Airbnbs Into An Asset Class Short-term real estate has 70% higher revenue potential than long-term, but massive barriers to entry have kept the everyday investor out. reAlpha’s mission is to give millions of people the opportunity to become part-owners in property through their app-based platform. The company uses machine learning and AI to select the most viable investments, renovate them, maintain them, and allow users to buy shares of them like stocks. But even before they launch their platform, you can invest in the company itself. Along with it's $6 million seed led by multi-billion-dollar real estate group, reAlpha is already revenue generating and has: - A portfolio of vacation properties with a new $200M financing deal (one of the largest in industry history)
- $40.8 million in equity to acquire more properties
- Demand-side community of 50,000
- The only platform giving people an easy way to access the the $1.2 trillion vacation rental market.
Now is your chance to join 50,000 others in the community alongside industry titans as they revolutionize real estate for good. Become a reAlpha shareholder before the December 8th deadline. Invest Here
| |
Apple violated federal law when it interrogated and made coercive statements to employees in Atlanta during a unionization drive, U.S. labor board prosecutors have determined. The Apple workers at an Atlanta store became the first to file to hold a union election earlier this year. While 70% signed authorization cards, the union seeking to represent them later withdrew the election request, citing Covid concerns and Apple's influence during the process. More: - The Atlanta workers had filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to join the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
- The CWA accused Apple of conducting mandatory "captive audience" meetings that attempted to coerce the Atlanta workers through anti-union messaging.
- After withdrawing the petition for a union election, the CWA filed an Unfair Labor Practice complaint with the NLRB on the employees' behalf, accusing Apple of unfairly influencing the election.
- The NLRB's Atlanta regional director recently "found merit" in the allegations and concluded that Apple did violate the law through the meetings and other actions.
- Apple can either settle the case or face a complaint from the NLRB.
THE VERGE
| |
Cryptocurrency operator Circle Internet Financial said it has scrapped plans to go public via a $9B deal with a blank-check firm. Boston-based Circle is the issuer and operator of usd coin (USDC), the second largest crypto stablecoin. It first announced the deal to merge with Concord Acquisition Corp. in July 2021. More: - On Monday, Circle said it decided to mutually terminate the business merger with Concord, a special purpose acquisition company backed by former Barclays chief Bob Diamond.
- The companies didn't specify why they chose to end the transaction, which was set to expire later this week and comes during a time of turmoil for the crypto industry.
- For the time being, Circle will remain a private entity, though CEO Jeremy Allaire told Axios that it's committed to going public in the future.
- Circle has a $43B market cap. Allaire said the company had Q3 revenue of $274M and currently has a balance sheet of $400M.
COINDESK
| |
QUICK HITS - Final days to invest in the startup disrupting the $1.2T vacation rental industry. Become a reAlpha shareholder before 12/8.*
- Microsoft had recently weighed the development of a "super app" that would offer messaging, shopping, search, and other services, according to The Information.
- Apple will soon launch Sing, a karaoke experience in the Apple Music app that works with iPhones, iPads, and the latest Apple TV 4K.
- The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) plans to expand testing of its facial recognition ID system to airports nationwide as early as 2023.
- Attendees of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar can view game details in augmented reality using the FIFA+ app.
- Taking care of yourself matters, and BetterHelp connects you to a therapist within 48 hours, without having to leave home. Get 25% off your first month.*
*This is a sponsored post.
| |
| |
 |  | Beth is a writer and editor at Inside.com covering artificial intelligence and daily technology news. You can reach her at Beth.Duckett@inside.com. |   | | Editor | Eduardo Garcia is a writer and editor based in New York. He is the author of "Things You Can Do," an illustrated book about climate action. Bylines in The New York Times, The Guardian, Slate, Scientific American, and others. In one of his previous lives, Eduardo worked as a Reuters correspondent in Latin America for nearly a decade. | |
| |
| |
Comments
Post a Comment