Fri. 01/03 - What To Expect From CES

Jan 3, 2020 18m

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Google’s AI has a medical breakthrough, Apple raids HBO for maybe it’s biggest name, Instagram seems to be plateauing by one metric—going gangbusters in another, what to expect from CES and, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions.

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Links:

A.I. Is Learning to Read Mammograms (NYTimes)
Apple Deal Returns Former HBO Boss Richard Plepler to Spotlight (NYTimes)
HERE’S WHAT’S NEXT FOR GADGETS IN 2020 (The Verge)
Snapchat quietly acquired AI Factory, the company behind its new Cameos feature, for $166M (TechCrunch)
Instagram User Growth in the US Will Drop to Single Digits For the First Time (eMarketer)

Weekend Longreads Suggestions:

How to lose a monopoly: Microsoft, IBM and anti-trust (Benedict Evans)
Windows: Facing the New Decade (2010–2020) (Steven Sinofsky)
Ghosts in the Clouds: Inside China’s Major Corporate Hack (WSJ)
'Shattered': Inside the secret battle to save America's undercover spies in the digital age (Yahoo News)
This time, for sure! Ars Technica’s 2020 Deathwatch (Ars Technica)

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AI-Generated Summary

Google’s AI and Medical Breakthroughs

In a groundbreaking study, Google's AI system demonstrated superior performance over radiologists in reading mammograms for breast cancer detection. Tested on around 90,000 images, the AI reduced false negatives by 9.4% and false positives by 5.7% in the US, and also outperformed radiologists in the UK. The implications of this advance have potential to improve diagnosis reliability as 33 million mammograms are conducted annually in the US.

Apple’s HBO Heist

Apple has secured a significant player in the entertainment industry by signing Richard Plepler, the former CEO of HBO, to a five-year deal to produce exclusive content for Apple TV+. Plepler was instrumental in establishing HBO's success during his tenure, accumulating over 160 Emmys. His return to the spotlight is seen as a strategic move for Apple in the competitive streaming landscape, taking advantage of HBO's legacy amid shifts in ownership under AT&T.

Expectations from CES 2020

CES 2020 is gearing up to shine a light on various technology innovations. Expectations highlight 5G technology, foldable devices such as phones and computers, and advancements in gaming laptops and processors from AMD and Intel. The event is also likely to spotlight smart home devices, electric vehicles, and consumer-friendly gaming features. The keynote presentations will discuss trends in TV technology as well as cloud gaming.

Snapchat's Acquisition of AI Factory

Snapchat has reportedly acquired AI Factory, a Ukrainian startup known for its AI-driven animated selfie video feature, Cameos, for approximately $166 million. This acquisition is a continuation of Snapchat's investment in enhancing its platform's capabilities, with AI Factory previously having contributed to features that integrate creative visuals into responsive content on social media.

Instagram's Growth Challenges

Instagram's user growth in the US has seen its first significant drop, with expectations for growth revised downward to 4.5% in 2020. The slowdown is attributed to a lack of engagement from older demographics, although ongoing ad revenue growth indicates a thriving advertising space. As competition from platforms like TikTok increases, Instagram faces challenges in maintaining its user base.

Weekend Longreads Suggestions

This episode closes with recommendations for weekend reading, featuring topics like historical insights on monopolies in tech, reflections on Windows and Microsoft’s ongoing evolution, analyses of major corporate hacks from China, and speculations about companies on the edge of decline, alongside a critical look at the impact of surveillance on espionage.