Business Archive

Richard LawlerFeb 28, 2024

Aston Martin’s first electric car has been pushed back another year.

Aston Martin boss Lawrence Stroll is probably focused on F1 at the moment, but he just revealed another delay in its plan to build an EV with help from Lucid Motors.

While its first plug-in hybrid EV is on track to enter production in 2024, the report says, “the Company’s first battery electric vehicle (BEV) is now targeted for launch in 2026.” Automotive News Europe reports Stroll said that there’s “much more driven demand” for it to offer a plug-in hybrid right now.

An outline of two car bodies over a drwing of an electric car platform with wheels and battery cells, demonstrating what Aston MArtin is building.

Aston Martin BEV platform

Image: Aston Martin

Wendy’s says ‘dynamic’ pricing won’t tack surge pricing onto your nuggets

Emma RothFeb 28, 2024

Emma RothFeb 27, 2024

Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount have reportedly hit pause on merger talks.

Warner Bros. Discovery has stopped pursuing an acquisition of Paramount, sources tell CNBC. However, other potential buyers are reportedly still exploring a deal to acquire Paramount, including the production company Skydance Media and media mogul Byron Allen.

Although Comcast isn’t interested in buying Paramount Global, CNBC reports that the company is still looking into a partnership with the brand, which could involve bundling or merging streaming services.

Warner Bros. Discovery halts merger talks with Paramount Global, sources say

[CNBC]

Emma RothFeb 26, 2024

Google is giving advertisers more control over where their ads go.

Last year, a report from Adalytics found that Google had been placing search ads on questionable websites (something Google refutes). But now, it seems like Google is responding to these concerns.

In a statement to The Verge, Google spokesperson Farrell Sklerov says the company “decided to unify our brand suitability preferences so that account level placement exclusions will apply to the Search partner network, in addition to YouTube and Display” ads. That means advertisers should get the ability to exclude certain websites from search ad campaigns.

Google gives advertisers more visibility and control over search following scathing Adalytics report

[Ad Age]

Crunchyroll president Rahul Purini on how anime took over the world

The head of the fast-growing streaming service discusses the Funimation merger and shutdown and where he sees growth in anime.

Nilay PatelFeb 26, 2024

Wes DavisFeb 25, 2024

Here’s five bucks for your trouble.

Following its hours-long nationwide disruption on Thursday, AT&T has announced it is reaching out to “potentially impacted customers” and is slapping a whole $5 credit on their accounts, which it says is the “average cost of a full day of service.”

Hooray?

Wes DavisFeb 24, 2024

David S. Goyer is stepping down as Foundation’s showrunner.

Goyer will reportedly continue script-writing for the expansive Apple TV Plus sci-fi show that he helped create, while the head honcho reins to executive producer Bill Bost.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Goyer was butting heads with Skydance over the budget for the show, which Goyer has said before he has an ambitious eight-season plan for.

‘Foundation’ Shakeup: David S. Goyer Stepping Back From Duties Amid Budget Clash

[The Hollywood Reporter]

A lot of Redditors hate the Reddit IPO

Elizabeth LopattoFeb 24, 2024

Lauren FeinerFeb 23, 2024

Temu dominates app download charts even as US lawmakers reportedly float import ban.

China hawks in Congress are concerned that shopping giant Temu has not done enough to ensure it’s not working with suppliers using forced labor. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) is among those pushing to list Temu as a violator of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which could effectively ban its imports, The Information reports.

Meanwhile, the Chinese e-commerce app sits among the top free apps on iOS and Android.

U.S. Lawmakers Demand Temu Shipment Ban Over Forced Labor Concerns

[The Information]

Reddit’s biggest risk factor is Google

Alex HeathFeb 23, 2024

Nvidia’s role in the AI wave has made it a $2 trillion company

Emma RothFeb 23, 2024

What’s the point of Elon Musk’s AI company?

Elizabeth LopattoFeb 23, 2024

Alex HeathFeb 22, 2024

Sam Altman owns a big chunk of Reddit.

A fun fact from Reddit’s IPO filing: Sam Altman owns more shares than CEO Steve Huffman! Reddit’s three largest shareholders in order are: Advance Publications (which owns Condé Nast), Tencent, and Altman.

The OpenAI CEO owns 8.7 percent of the stock versus Huffman’s 3.3 percent. He has more than double Huffman’s voting power, too.

While he isn’t a co-founder, Altman has been deeply involved in Reddit since basically the beginning. He quietly stepped off the board in 2022 as OpenAI was rising to prominence and Reddit was gearing up to go public. Now, he owns a big chunk of a company that really wants AI companies to pay for its data. Interesting times!