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AI presents 'risk of extinction' on par with nuclear war, industry leaders say
A group of high-profile industry leaders has issued a one-sentence statement on the risks of AI, equating it to pandemics and nuclear war.
Japan pledges $2 billion in funding for pandemic vaccine research initiative
The country lagged behind other regions when it came to COVID-19 vaccine development and rollout.
Google relaxes COVID-19 rules for its US employees
Google is also reportedly reopening amenities for employees.
Microsoft will fully reopen its headquarters on February 28th
Microsoft plans to fully reopen its Washington state offices on February 28th, although hybrid work will leave those offices changed.
Meta delays return to office to an optimistic March 28th
The company, which was known as Facebook at the start of this pandemic, has updated its guidance a half dozen times.
CES 2022 will end one day early amid COVID-19 surge
The 2022 installment of CES is still happening next week, but the event will be one day shorter.
YouTube cancels its much-maligned Rewind once and for all
YouTube has permanently cancelled Rewind after the pandemic and years of criticism.
Apple employees likely won't return to the office until 2022
Apple is delaying its return to the office until at least January of next year as it grapples with complications caused by a surge in COVID-19 cases in the US.
Zoom is buying a cloud call center company for $14.7 billion
Zoom has made its first major acquisition by purchasing cloud contact center company Five9 for $14.7 billion.
Jackbox is offering 'practice friends' to rebuild your social skills
Jackbox Games is offering the chance to hire 'practice friends' that remind you how to socialize in a post-pandemic world.
Apple employee group rejects planned return to the office
Apple employees sent a letter objecting to a policy that will require them to return to offices in September, arguing that they should be allowed to work remotely unless necessary.
Uber and Lyft rides are pricier due to a lack of drivers (and the waits are longer, too)
Uber and Lyft rides have been almost twice as expensive, because the ride-hailing companies have been having difficulties meeting demand.
India orders Twitter to pull tweets criticizing its COVID-19 response
India has ordered Twitter to pull dozens of tweets criticizing the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
GE is working to put COVID-19 virus-detecting sensors in phones
Scientists at GE Research have been awarded a grant to develop tiny sensors that can be embedded inside phones to identify COVID-19 particles on surfaces.
Microsoft delays full reopening of its offices to at least September
Microsoft has delayed the full reopening of its offices until September 7th at the earliest as it comes to terms with the possible end of the pandemic.
Gamescom 2021 is planned as a hybrid in-person and virtual event
Gamescom 2021 is planned as a hybrid in-person and virtual event — although it's not guaranteed to go as planned given the pandemic.
Chromebook demand more than doubled in 2020 due to the pandemic
Chromebook shipments more than doubled in 2020 as the pandemic forced many people to learn and work at home.
AMC avoids bankruptcy, at least for now
AMC says it has enough funding to avoid a near-term threat of bankruptcy during the pandemic, although its future is still far from certain.
Amazon offers to help the incoming Biden admin with COVID response
Fast on the heels of now-President Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday morning, Amazon Consumer CEO Dave Clark sent a letter on behalf of his employer to the incoming administration pledging its help with Federal government’s ongoing COVID pandemic response, per NBC News. “Amazon stands ready to assist you,” the statement reads. In his letter, Clark notes that Amazon and its subsidiary Whole Foods, have already partnered with a third-party company in order to to rapidly inoculate its 800,000-person workforce and will do so “once vaccines are available.”
US COVID-19 relief bill includes $7 billion for broadband internet access
Congress' COVID-19 relief bill includes $7 billion for broadband internet, including $3.2 billion to bring access to low-income families.