RIP Susan Wojcicki: Google Legend Passes Away at 56

RIP Susan Wojcicki: Google Legend Passes Away at 56

The woman who helped build Google from the ground up, Susan Wojcicki, has died at 56 after a battle with lung cancer.

Wojcicki wasn't just any Google employee. She was employee #16, renting her garage to Sergey Brin and Larry Page in the early days. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

She was a true OG, playing a key role in:

• Developing AdSense: This little software widget became a cash cow for Google, allowing them to place ads on millions of websites.

• Acquiring YouTube: Wojcicki championed the purchase of YouTube back in 2006, turning it into the video giant it is today.

• Leading YouTube: As CEO, she transformed YouTube into a multi-billion dollar business, navigating the tricky waters of content moderation along the way.

Beyond the tech world, Wojcicki was a vocal advocate for working mothers, taking a 15-week maternity leave when she became YouTube CEO and calling out the lack of paid leave in the US.

Wojcicki leaves behind a legacy of innovation, leadership, and a reminder that even the biggest tech empires start somewhere small.

RIP Susan. You'll be missed.

Elon Musk's Trump Love Affair is Driving Tesla Buyers Away (and Maybe Towards Conservatives?)

Ponder Road readers, buckle up. Elon Musk's recent political antics, including his full-throated endorsement of Donald Trump, are causing a rift among Tesla fans.

Here's the deal:

• Tesla's losing its cool factor: Some longtime Tesla owners are ditching the brand because they don't want to be associated with Musk's increasingly right-wing views and online behavior. Think misinformation, transphobic comments, and cozying up to Trump.

• Competition is heating up: Tesla's market share is shrinking as rivals like Rivian and Polestar offer compelling alternatives. Dealerships are reporting customers explicitly saying they want anything but a Tesla.

• The Trump effect: While alienating some, Musk's embrace of Trump might be winning over conservative EV skeptics. Some analysts see a rise in Tesla affinity among right-leaning folks.

The bottom line:

Musk's personal brand is deeply intertwined with Tesla, and his political moves are having a tangible impact on the company. It's a risky gamble that could backfire, but it might also open up new markets. Only time will tell if Tesla can weather this storm.

Bonus:

One Tesla owner is even making bank selling anti-Musk bumper stickers for disillusioned drivers. Talk about turning lemons into lemonade!

Big Tech's Sneaky A.I. Shopping Spree

Forget buying the whole store, Big Tech is just grabbing the good stuff.

Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are on an A.I. acquisition spree, but with a twist. Instead of buying entire start-ups, they're licensing the tech and poaching the top talent, leaving behind a shell of the original company.

Why the sneaky approach?

• Regulatory scrutiny: Big Tech is under the microscope for antitrust issues, and buying up promising A.I. start-ups could raise red flags. These deals let them get the goods without triggering the same level of scrutiny.

• Fast returns for investors: Investors in these A.I. start-ups are cashing out big time, sometimes seeing returns of two-and-a-half times their investment in just a couple of years.

The catch?

• Orphaned companies: The remaining employees at these start-ups are left behind, often without a clear path forward. Some are trying to keep the company afloat, while others are looking for new opportunities.

Here's the lowdown on some recent deals:

• Google & Character.AI: Google paid $3 billion to license Character.AI's technology and hired its founders and 20% of its employees. Character.AI will continue operating, but without its original leadership.

• Microsoft & Inflection: Microsoft shelled out $650 million for Inflection's tech and most of its employees, including the founder. Inflection used the money to reimburse investors.

• Amazon & Adept: Amazon paid at least $330 million for Adept's technology and hired many of its employees, including the founder.

What's next?

Expect to see more of these deals as Big Tech continues its A.I. arms race. While it's a win for investors and Big Tech, it raises questions about the future of innovation and the treatment of employees in the A.I. space.

Turkey Unblocks Instagram After Censorship Deal

TL;DR: Turkey lifted its ban on Instagram after the platform promised to work with the government on "posts related to catalog crimes and censorship."

What happened: Turkey blocked Instagram on August 2nd, accusing the platform of censoring posts about Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's death. The government, which doesn't consider Hamas a terrorist organization, saw this as an attack on free speech.

The deal: Instagram agreed to work with Turkey on content moderation, though the specifics are unclear. This comes after criticism from opposition parties and businesses who rely on the platform.

Bigger picture: This isn't the first time Turkey has restricted social media access, often citing security reasons. Critics worry this trend is a threat to freedom of expression.

What's next: We'll have to see how this "joint work" plays out and what it means for content moderation on Instagram in Turkey

Chinese Robotaxi Startup WeRide Wants to Hit the US Market (and Maybe Make $5 Billion)

Hold onto your steering wheels, folks. WeRide, a Chinese company building self-driving taxis, vans, buses, and even street sweepers, is aiming for a $5 billion valuation in its US IPO.

Talk about ambitious. This comes at a tricky time, with the Biden administration potentially banning Chinese software in self-driving cars.

But WeRide's got some big names in its corner. Renault Nissan Mitsubishi's venture capital arm, a Russian investment fund, and even German auto giant Bosch are all interested in buying shares.

Here's the deal:

• WeRide wants to raise $119 million by selling shares at $15.50 to $18.50 each.

• They're also doing a private placement, potentially bringing in another $320 million.

• WeRide's been testing its tech in 30 cities across 7 countries.

The catch? Chinese IPOs in the US have been a bit shaky lately. Remember Didi Global? Yeah, not so smooth.

WeRide's financials aren't exactly stellar either. They lost $123 million in the first half of this year.

But hey, maybe they'll be the next big thing in robotaxis. We'll be watching.