aurora Aurora Acquires Uber's Self-Driving Unit in Major Industry Shake-Up Aurora absorbs Uber's Advanced Technologies Group to accelerate its self-driving technology, while Uber invests $400 million in the new strategic partnership.
personio German HR Startup Personio Reaches $1.7 Billion Valuation After $125M Raise Personio secures $125 million in Series D funding to expand its all-in-one HR platform for small and medium-sized businesses across Europe. The funding round elevates the company to unicorn status after it doubles its revenue over the past year.
signal Encrypted Messaging Apps See Slight User Uptick in China Amid WhatsApp Privacy Fallout Signal and Telegram experience a surge in Chinese downloads as users react to WhatsApp's updated privacy policies. Despite the growth, these encrypted apps still face significant usage hurdles due to China's strict internet controls.
ces CES Startups Showcase New Technology to Help Seniors Age at Home This year's CES features a wave of age-tech startups aiming to help elderly people live independently and assist their overwhelmed caregivers. These innovative tools address health monitoring, fall prevention, and end-of-life planning.
social media Social Platforms Scramble to Thwart Inauguration Day Violence After Capitol Riot Major tech companies take unprecedented steps to remove extremist content and prevent armed gatherings ahead of Inauguration Day. Despite aggressive new moderation tactics, dangerous conspiracy theories still linger online.
virgin orbit Virgin Orbit Achieves First Successful Orbital Launch With Air-Dropped Rocket Virgin Orbit successfully reaches orbit for the first time using its unique air-launched rocket system, delivering NASA satellites to low-Earth orbit.
israel Israeli Investors Predict Record Growth Beyond Cybersecurity Israeli venture capitalists report strong momentum following a record-breaking 2020 for startup funding and IPOs, pointing to emerging sectors like AI, fintech, and biotech as the next major drivers of growth.
joe biden Biden Elevates Science Adviser to Cabinet Rank for First Time in History President-elect Joe Biden introduces key members of his White House science team and elevates the presidential science adviser to a Cabinet-level position.
autonomous vehicles Autonomous Vehicle Startups Shift Focus Away From Lidar Toward New Sensing Tech As the autonomous vehicle industry stalls, startups are exploring alternative perception methods beyond lidar to improve vehicle safety. New approaches include vehicle-to-x tracking networks and multispectral camera systems.
apps Parler Goes Offline as Mobile App Economy Hits Record Numbers The mobile app industry experiences record growth in 2020, while major tech platforms simultaneously remove Parler from their stores and cut off backend support.
whatsapp WhatsApp Delays Controversial Privacy Update Amid Global Backlash WhatsApp pushes its disputed data-sharing policy enforcement from February 8 to May 15 after facing legal threats and user confusion. The company promises to clear up misinformation before implementing the changes.
antitrust Antitrust Scrutiny Reshapes Tech Valuations Amid Frenzied IPO Market Federal regulators are aggressively blocking major acquisitions like Visa and Plaid's $5.3 billion deal, signaling a new era of antitrust enforcement that impacts tech valuations. Meanwhile, companies like Affirm and Poshmark experience massive first-day pops in a highly active IPO market.
science policy President Biden Tasks New Science Advisor With Refreshing US Tech Strategy President Biden issues a letter to Dr. Eric Lander challenging him to update the nation's science and technology strategy for the next 75 years. The directive echoes a historic 1944 mandate from FDR that originally shaped modern American scientific research.
ces 2021 CES 2021 Highlights Pandemic-Driven Tech From UV Robots to Smart Masks The all-virtual CES 2021 showcases how the COVID-19 pandemic shapes consumer electronics, featuring UV disinfecting robots and germ-killing keyboards.
joe biden Biden Elevates White House Science Role to Cabinet Level President-elect Joe Biden names Eric Lander as his top science adviser and elevates the position to a Cabinet-level role. The move underscores the new administration's commitment to prioritizing scientific guidance during the ongoing public health crisis.