ai AI Startups Raise Record $6.9 Billion in Q1 Before Pandemic Hits AI startups raise $6.9 billion in Q1 2020, outpacing the broader venture capital market. However, the coronavirus pandemic is expected to sharply slow this record-setting momentum.
amazon Amazon Moves Prime Day to October to Kickstart Holiday Shopping Amazon is shifting its annual Prime Day event to October 13 and 14 to encourage early holiday shopping and avoid pandemic-related crowds. The company is also hiring over 100,000 seasonal workers to handle the expected surge in online orders.
facebook Facebook Plans Shift to Half Remote Workforce by 2030 Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announces plans to permanently allow remote work for many employees, aiming for half the company to work remotely within a decade. This gradual shift follows similar moves by Twitter and Shopify during the coronavirus pandemic.
amazon May Day Strikes Hit Amazon, Instacart, and Target Over Virus Safety Essential workers at major retailers and delivery companies stage a coordinated May Day strike to demand better coronavirus protections. The protesters urge customers to boycott the affected services for the entire day.
who WHO Monitors Cluster of Unexplained Pneumonia Cases in Wuhan, China The World Health Organization tracks 44 cases of pneumonia with an unknown cause in Wuhan, China, originating from a local seafood market. Chinese authorities isolate patients and monitor over a hundred close contacts as they investigate the source of the outbreak.
google Google Completely Cancels I/O 2020 Due to California Lockdown Google cancels its annual I/O developer conference entirely to comply with California's strict shelter-in-place orders. The company plans to share upcoming platform updates through blogs and community forums instead.
disney plus Disney Plus Drops Frozen 2 Early to Comfort Families During Pandemic Disney Plus releases the animated hit "Frozen 2" three months ahead of schedule to provide entertainment for families practicing social distancing amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
stock market Stock Market Plunges 10%, Triggering Circuit Breaker Over Coronavirus Fears The Dow suffers its worst single-day percentage drop since 1987 as coronavirus concerns trigger a second market halt this week. Both the Dow and S&P 500 officially enter bear market territory.
sxsw Austin Officials Cancel SXSW Festival Over Coronavirus Threat City leaders in Austin officially cancel the annual SXSW music and tech festival due to growing coronavirus concerns. The decision comes as Texas reports 17 confirmed cases of the virus.
google Google Cancels Physical I/O 2020 Event Over Coronavirus Concerns Google cancels the in-person portion of its I/O 2020 developer conference due to COVID-19, opting for an online-only experience instead. Ticket holders receive full refunds and guaranteed access to next year's event.
gdc 2020 GDC 2020 Indefinitely Postponed as Major Tech Firms Withdraw Over Coronavirus The Game Developers Conference 2020 is officially postponed after industry giants like Microsoft, Sony, and Epic Games pulled out due to growing coronavirus concerns.
coronavirus U.S. Grapples With COVID-19 Fallout As Europe Eases Lockdowns The global coronavirus death toll surpasses 206,000 as European countries like Italy and Spain begin lifting restrictions. Meanwhile, U.S. states remain several weeks away from reopening and adapt to new CDC guidance on symptoms.
wall street Wall Street Endures Worst Week Since 2008 Financial Crisis Amid Coronavirus Fears U.S. stocks plummet as the coronavirus outbreak wipes over $3 trillion from market values, sparking the worst weekly losses since the 2008 financial crisis. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell promises potential intervention to protect the economy.
5g Fact-Checkers Debunk False Link Between 5G Networks and Coronavirus Viral Facebook posts falsely claim that the government passes a secret 5G law amid the coronavirus pandemic and lists overlapping symptoms. Experts confirm there is no scientific evidence connecting 5G technology to COVID-19.
mwc 2020 MWC 2020 Officially Cancelled Over Coronavirus Fears The GSMA cancels Mobile World Congress 2020 after major tech companies withdraw due to the global coronavirus outbreak. The organization deems the event impossible to hold safely just weeks before its scheduled start.