Fri. 04/18 – The Google Antitrust Snowball

Apr 18, 2025 18m

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Google is ruled an illegal monopoly. Again. But for a different reason this time. Switch 2 pre-orders are back on. Americans are flocking to Temu and Shein alternatives. And in the Weekend Longreads Suggestions, what if I told you 25 percent of community college applicants are now AI bots? And not only that, the bots are now “attending classes” in quotes.

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Links:

Google Broke the Law to Keep Its Advertising Monopoly, a Judge Rules (NYTimes)
Google loses online advertising monopoly case (Axios)
Google Found GUILTY of Monopolization Again (The Big Newsletter)
Nintendo Switch 2 preorders start April 24th and the price is still $449.99 (The Verge)
The latest viral ChatGPT trend is doing ‘reverse location search’ from photos (TechCrunch)
Chinese shopping app Taobao joins DHgate in Top 5 on US App Store (TechCrunch)

Weekend Longreads Suggestions:

As ‘Bot’ Students Continue to Flood In, Community Colleges Struggle to Respond (Voice Of San Diego)
Astronomers Detect a Possible Signature of Life on a Distant Planet (NYTimes)

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AI-Generated Summary

Google's Antitrust Ruling: A Landmark Decision

In a significant legal development, a US judge ruled that Google acted illegally to maintain its monopoly in online advertising technology. This ruling is the second antitrust finding against Google within a year, with Judge Leoni Brinkama stating that Google's actions to dominate the ad tech space harmed both competitors and consumers. The judge found Google to hold monopolies over publisher tools and ad software, leading the Department of Justice (DOJ) to present potential remedies, including divestiture of parts of Google's ad business. This decision could significantly impact Google's revenue model as the government explores ways to address its monopolistic behaviors.

Switch 2 Pre-orders Announced

Nintendo has confirmed the launch of pre-orders for the Switch 2 starting April 24th, maintaining the initial pricing of $450 for the console while raising prices on various accessories such as the Joy-Con and Pro Controller. This announcement follows some delays in the pre-order process, as Nintendo aims to enhance customer satisfaction while navigating market dynamics.

Emerging Competition in E-commerce: Chinese Marketplaces on the Rise

US consumers are increasingly turning to Chinese e-commerce platforms such as DhGate and Taobao as alternatives to rising prices on established sites like Shein and Temu. This shift has been attributed to heightened awareness from social media regarding Chinese manufacturers and luxury goods. Notably, Taobao has seen a dramatic 514% increase in downloads, indicating a shift in consumer shopping habits.

Bots in Community Colleges: A Growing Concern

Community colleges are facing unprecedented challenges due to the influx of bot students applying for enrollment and submitting AI-generated coursework to collect financial aid. In 2024 alone, California community colleges reported over $11 million lost to fraudulent enrollments. This situation has created additional hurdles for educators, complicating their relationships with genuine students and making it increasingly difficult to maintain academic integrity.

Signs of Extraterrestrial Life: Exciting Discoveries

In an intriguing scientific breakthrough, researchers examining the planet K2-18b have detected molecules indicative of life, including dimethyl sulfide, a compound traditionally associated with biological sources on Earth. This discovery has reignited discussions surrounding the Fermi Paradox and the search for extraterrestrial life, as scientists express excitement over the potential implications of their findings.