Search results for "new ai"

'It's exhausting.' A year of distance learning wears thin

At first, many schools announced it would last only a couple weeks. A year later, the unplanned experiment with distance learning continues for thousands of students who have yet to set foot back in classrooms. Comfortable homes and private tutors have made it easier for those with access. Expectations are higher at some schools than […]

Walmart, Tencent, Japan Post acquire 13% of troubled Rakuten

Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten sold on Monday 13 percent of its shares, worth $2.2 billion, to several new investors, as the company attempts to strengthen its balance sheet, while rolling out a more aggressive mobile strategy. The new investors into Rakuten are Japan Post – the country’s largest insurer and bank by deposit, as well […]

Black Lives Matter backs Amazon union push in Alabama

Organizers trying to form the first union at an Amazon warehouse are getting support from another big name: Black Lives Matter. The group plans to hold an event Saturday near the warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, making it the latest high-profile supporter of the union push, which is the biggest in Amazon’s nearly 30-year history. Most […]

Automakers embrace electric vehicles. But what about buyers?

The world’s major automakers have made something abundantly clear: They believe electric vehicles will dominate their industry in the years ahead. Yet for that to happen, they’ll need to sell the idea to people like Steve Bock. When Bock recently replaced his family’s 2013 Honda Pilot SUV, he considered — and then dismissed — the […]

Facebook launches vaccine finder tool, other features for vaccine awareness

Facebook announced Monday plans to assist in informing the public about COVID-19 vaccine options, vaccinations sites, and related information, using a vaccine finder tool and other features. “We’re launching a global campaign to help bring 50 million people a step closer to getting COVID-19 vaccines,” said Mark Zuckerberg, company founder and CEO, in a press […]

Oman blocks Clubhouse, app used for free debates in Mideast

Oman has cut off access to the buzzy new audio chat app Clubhouse, the country’s telecommunications regulator confirmed Monday, setting off fears that authorities across the Persian Gulf may censor a rare forum for discussion of sensitive topics in the region. The Omani government has “forbidden the app because it was operating without the proper […]

Despite hacks, US not seeking widened domestic surveillance

The Biden administration is not planning to step up government surveillance of the U.S. internet even as state-backed foreign hackers and cybercriminals increasingly use it to evade detection, a senior administration official said Friday. The official said the administration, mindful of the privacy and civil liberties implications that could arise, is not currently seeking additional […]

Japan Post, Rakuten tie-up in digital delivery, cashless pay

Japan’s postal system is investing 150 billion yen ($1.4 billion) in an 8% stake in the e-commerce venture Rakuten to strengthen a partnership in deliveries, fintech and other areas. Rakuten’s shares shot up 8.6% in Tokyo trading Friday on news of the tie-up with Japan Post. Japan Post’s gained 4.9%. Japan Post Holdings President Hiroya […]

Ooredoo reaches top 40 global telcos for the first time

Qatari telecoms giant Ooredoo Group announced on Sunday that it has reached the 40th position in the top 50 global telecommunications brands, up one place from 41 in 2020, as confirmed by the Brand Finance Telecoms 150, 2021 report. This is the fifth consecutive year where Ooredoo Group has appeared on the list, as it […]

'Big burden' for schools trying to give kids internet access

When the coronavirus pandemic shut down schools, educators had to figure out how to get kids online. Fast. In a patchwork approach born of desperation, they scrounged wireless hot spots, struck deals with cable companies and even created networks of their own. With federal relief money and assistance from state governments and philanthropists, they have […]