Should VCs back the FTC suit against Amazon?
Which do you prefer: Regulators working to contain market power or a potential ceiling being set on exit values for the companies that you back?
Amazon CodeWhisperer gains an enterprise tier
On the heels of the debut of its Bedrock service for building generative AI apps, Amazon has launched a new enterprise plan for CodeWhisperer, its AI-powered service to generate and suggest code. The new plan, aptly called CodeWhisperer Enterprise Tier, introduces new functionality that allows a company to integrate their internal codebases and resources to […]
Amazon launches its Bedrock generative AI service in general availability
Amazon today announced the general availability of Bedrock, its service that offers a choice of generative AI models from Amazon itself and third-party partners through an API. Bedrock, which was unveiled in early April, allows AWS customers to build apps on top of generative AI models and customize them with their proprietary data. Leveraging these […]
Ex-Microsoft exec Panos Panay will head Amazon’s Devices business
Microsoft alum Panos Panay has been tapped to lead Amazon’s Devices & Services (D&S) business, the e-commerce giant confirmed today. Panay was previously with Microsoft for over 19 years, most recently serving as its EVP and chief product officer, leading the Windows + Devices division. Panay began his tenure at Microsoft in the role of […]
What is Amazon’s [redacted] ‘Project Nessie’ algorithm?
The FTC’s lawsuit against Amazon alleging anti-competitive practices is largely full of things we already knew in a general sense: price hikes, pressure to use Amazon fulfillment, and so on. But then we get to a sea of redactions and the mysterious “Project Nessie.” What is it, and could it possibly be as alarming as […]
The FTC just hit Amazon with a major antitrust lawsuit
The Federal Trade Commission made its big move against online shopping giant Amazon on Tuesday, accusing the company of illegally stifling competition on its way to becoming a ubiquitous retail presence and one of the world’s most valuable companies. Attorneys genderal from 17 states joined the FTC in the lawsuit, alleging that Amazon leverages a […]
Amazon to invest up to $4 billion in AI startup Anthropic
Amazon has agreed to invest up to $4 billion in the AI startup Anthropic as the e-commerce group steps up rivalry against Microsoft, Meta, Google and Nvidia in the fast-growing sector that many technologists believe could be the next great frontier. The e-commerce group said it will initially invest $1.25 billion for a minority stake […]
Amazon Prime Video will start showing ads from early next year
After Netflix and Disney+ introduced ad-supported plans last year, Amazon said in an update today that it will start showing ads on Prime Video early next year. The company said it will offer an ad-free tier additional $3 per month. to Prime members. Amazon noted that ads will be introduced in the U.S., U.K., Germany, and […]
Amazon’s $180 Echo Hub is a wall-mounted smart home control panel
Echo Hub is easily one of the more interesting hardware devices introduced at today’s Amazon Devices event in Arlington, Virginia. In fact, it’s one of those things Amazon should have introduced years ago. The system is effectively a wall-mounted tablet designed to serve as a centralized control panel for smart home devices. “Today, smart home […]
Amazon’s new Map View feature scans your home
Amazon is making it easier to map smart home devices. During a press event this morning at its HQ2 headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, the company demoed Map View, an upcoming feature in the Alexa mobile app that’ll let customers create a digital map of their house and pin connected devices to it. From Map View, […]