Kurt Wagner / Bloomberg:
Meta VP of AI Research Joelle Pineau says she plans to leave in May 2025 after nearly eight years; she has led the FAIR group since early 2023 — Joelle Pineau, the VP running Meta’s FAIR group, to depart company in May — Meta Platforms Inc.’s head of artificial intelligence research plans …
The Information:
OpenAI says ChatGPT has hit 20M paid subscribers, up from 15.5M at the end of 2024, suggesting the company is making at least $415M in monthly revenue — Before today’s main column about the AI attention war between OpenAI and Google, there’s OpenAI news from my colleague Natasha …
Financial Times:
TTP: Apple’s and Google’s app stores host popular “private browsing” apps operated by Shanghai-listed Qihoo 360, sanctioned by the US in 2020 for military ties — New findings reveal free ‘private browsing’ apps popular with US users have ties to blacklisted Qihoo 360
Kendra Barnett / Adweek:
Google is bringing its immersive Rewarded Video ads to Roblox, letting users watch ads in exchange for in-game benefits like virtual currency or power-ups — Advertisers can buy Rewarded Video ads on Roblox via Google Ad Manager, the company announced Tuesday
Takashi Mochizuki / Bloomberg:
Ahead of the Switch 2, Nintendo is branching out to use its characters in cinema, theme parks, and merch in a Disney-like way to create more consistent revenue — Tech Across the Globe … Sequoia Capital and Spark Capital are in talks to co-lead the round. — Revalued
Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:
Google rolls out a new Gmail encryption model in beta for enterprise that doesn’t require senders or recipients to use custom software or exchange certificates — The beta feature for enterprise accounts allows Gmail users to simply toggle encryption for external emails.
Nicole Sperling / New York Times:
In a new strategy, Amazon plans to release 14 to 16 movies per year in theaters, rivaling other major studios, with most running for 45 days before streaming — The streaming giant is planning to release at least 14 movies a year in theaters around the country, rivaling other major studios.
Yogita Khatri / The Block:
Tether acquired 8,888 bitcoin worth $735M in Q1 2025, taking its total holdings to $7.8B and making it the sixth-largest bitcoin holder in a single wallet — – Tether acquired 8,888 BTC (worth about $735 million) in Q1 2025, following its reserve strategy.
Yoolim Lee / Bloomberg:
Samsung says TM Roh, who oversees mobile, will temporarily step into a broader role overseeing its consumer electronics, after the death of co-CEO Han Jong-Hee — Roh will fill the vacancy at the top of Samsung’s Device Experience group until the company’s board approves a formal successor to Han …
Megan Specia / New York Times:
How some UK parents created a “Smartphone Free Childhood” pledge, signed by 124K+ people, after the UK government watered down a bill banning phones in schools — In Britain, amid growing evidence of harm to young people from extreme content online, a “Smartphone Free Childhood” campaign is going viral.
