Daily Tech Headlines: Episode Summary Hosted by Tom Merritt | Episode: A U.S. Senator Proposes A Bill To Extend The TikTok Sell-By Date 270 Days - DTH | Release Date: January 14, 2025
1. Extended TikTok Deadline Act Introduced by Senator Ed Markey
Timestamp: [02:23]
Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts has unveiled the Extended TikTok Deadline Act, aiming to grant TikTok an additional 270 days to divest from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. This legislative move seeks to provide TikTok with more time to comply and avoid a potential U.S. ban.
Rob Dunwood highlights, “The bill wouldn't overturn the original Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications act, but would provide more time for a deal as TikTok's legal options narrow.”
The Supreme Court is anticipated to render a decision this week regarding whether the initial law infringes upon the First Amendment rights as applied to TikTok. Industry insiders largely predict that the court’s ruling is unlikely to favor TikTok, narrowing the company's legal avenues for defense.
2. UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Investigates Google
Timestamp: [02:23]
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched its first official investigation into Google under newly enacted regulations effective this month. The focus is on Google's market dominance in search, encompassing its advancements in AI search and its substantial search advertising business.
Dunwood notes, “The CMA is looking into market dominance of Google in search, including new work it's doing in AI search as well as its giant search advertising business and what remedies it might impose to improve competition in the space.”
The public is invited to submit comments on this investigation by February 3rd. This inquiry marks the beginning of two significant tech investigations the CMA plans to announce in January, signaling a robust approach to regulating big tech companies within the UK.
3. DirecTV Launches 'My Sports' Streaming Package
Timestamp: [02:23]
In response to the downfall of Venue—a joint live sports streaming venture by ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery—DirecTV is introducing a new sports streaming package named My Sports. Priced at $69.99 per month, this service offers live access to major sports leagues including NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL across 40+ channels, such as ESPN, Fox Sports, TNT Sports, USA Network, and local ABC, Fox, and NBC stations.
Dunwood explains, “This launch follows the collapse of Venue, a live sports streaming venture by ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery, which was abandoned after an antitrust lawsuit from Fubo.”
Users can access these channels via DirecTV's mobile and smart TV apps without the need for a satellite subscription, providing flexibility and a comprehensive sports viewing experience.
4. Threads Tests Community Notes Feature
Timestamp: [02:23]
Threads, Meta's social media platform, appears to be testing a Community Notes feature following Meta's recent announcement to replace its professional fact-checking program with an X-style system.
Rob Dunwood states, “Community Notes developer Alessandro Paluzzi, known for leaking details about Meta's apps, shared screenshots revealing an early look at Community Notes on Threads.”
The screenshots indicate that users will have the option to write Community Notes on Threads posts. If these notes are rated as helpful by the community, they will appear beneath the original posts, fostering a crowd-sourced approach to content verification and discussion.
5. Samsung Revamps Galaxy Trade-In Program
Timestamp: [02:23]
Samsung has updated its Galaxy Trade-In program, now allowing consumers to trade in select Galaxy smartphone models year-round without the necessity of a simultaneous new purchase.
Dunwood highlights, “Operated by insurance and repair company, the program introduces two major changes: removing the need for new purchases during the trade-in process and expanding year-round availability.”
The revamped program launched today in South Korea and France, with plans to extend to more markets throughout 2025. The initiative aims to enhance the long-term value of Galaxy devices by providing significant savings to consumers and simplifying the upgrade process.
6. Microsoft Forms New AI-Focused Engineering Group
Timestamp: [02:23]
Microsoft is establishing a new engineering division dedicated to artificial intelligence. Led by former Meta Engineering Chief Jay Parikh, the Core AI Platform and Tools division will integrate Microsoft's Dev Div and AI platform teams along with members from the Office of the CTO team.
Rob Dunwood quotes an internal memo from CEO Satya Nadella: “This effort is like entering into the next innings of an AI platform shift, predicting that AI will reshape all application categories and accelerate decades of change in just a few years.”
The new division aims to develop robust AI platforms and tools for both Microsoft and its clientele, positioning the company at the forefront of the evolving AI landscape.
7. Texas Sues Allstate Over Driver Tracking Allegations
Timestamp: [02:23]
The State of Texas has filed a lawsuit against Allstate, accusing the insurer and its subsidiary Arity of illegally tracking drivers via their mobile phones. The lawsuit alleges that Allstate amassed what it claims to be the world's largest driving behavior database without user consent.
Dunwood reports, “Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stated that Allstate and Arity paid mobile apps millions to install tracking software selling personal data to insurance companies without users' knowledge or consent in violation of the law.”
Allstate has refuted these claims, asserting that Arity's practices involve a consent-driven, transparent process that adheres to all relevant laws and regulations, providing consumers with accurate auto insurance pricing.
8. President Biden’s Executive Order on AI Data Center Energy Demands
Timestamp: [02:23]
President Joe Biden has signed an executive order aimed at addressing the substantial energy requirements of advanced AI data centers. The order directs federal support to lease sites owned by the Defense and Energy departments for the development of gigawatt-scale data centers and new clean power facilities.
Rob Dunwood summarizes, “The White House stated that the order aims to meet these significant power needs quickly, with Biden emphasizing that it will accelerate the development of the next generation AI infrastructure in the US bolstering economic competitiveness, national security, AI safety, and clean energy.”
This strategic move is intended to ensure that the United States remains competitive in the rapidly advancing AI sector while maintaining commitments to clean energy and national security.
Conclusion
Timestamp: [02:23]
In this episode of Daily Tech Headlines, host Rob Dunwood navigates through significant updates in the tech world, from legislative actions affecting major social media platforms to competitive moves within the AI and streaming sectors. The discussions highlight the ongoing tension between innovation, regulation, and consumer rights, underscoring the dynamic nature of the technology landscape.
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Note: This summary excludes advertisement segments and non-content sections to focus solely on the core discussions presented in the podcast.