September 2023

What is Amazon’s [redacted] ‘Project Nessie’ algorithm?

September 26, 2023
The FTC’s lawsuit against Amazon alleging anti-competitive practices is largely full of things we already knew in a general sense: price hikes, pressure to use Amazon fulfillment, and so on. But then we get to a sea of redactions and the mysterious “Project Nessie.” What is it, and could it possibly be as alarming as […]

Sources: Palo Alto in advanced talks to buy Talon and Dig in a $1B security sweep

September 26, 2023
Palo Alto Networks’ stock price has been on the rise on the back of strong earnings and growing demand for cybersecurity services, and now the company is using that momentum to do a little shopping. TechCrunch has confirmed with multiple sources that Palo Alto is in advanced negotiations to buy not one, but two, security […]

Talkdesk conducts third round of layoffs in less than 14 months

September 26, 2023
Talkdesk, a company once valued at $10 billion that sells software to help large corporations improve customer service, has laid off more employees — the third round of cuts in less than 14 months. A Talkdesk spokesperson confirmed Tuesday via email that it had made “limited headcount reductions in a few areas.” She declined to […]

OpenAI is reportedly raising funds at a valuation of $80 billion to $90 billion

September 26, 2023
OpenAI is in discussions to possibly sell shares in a move that would boost the company’s valuation from $29 billion to somewhere between $80 billion and $90 billion, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing people familiar with the talks. In April, OpenAI picked up just over $300 million in funding from backers such […]

YouTube relaxes advertiser-friendly guidelines around controversial topics, like abortion, abuse and eating disorders

September 26, 2023
YouTube today announced an update to its advertiser-friendly guidelines that relaxes some of its rules around controversial issues, including sexual and domestic abuse, abortions, and eating disorders. The changes will allow YouTube creators to monetize their videos on these topics under some circumstances, though not if they go into graphic detail. YouTube monetization policy lead […]