WIRED Business: Startups, Cryptocurrency, Tech Culture, and More

San Francisco's Killer Robots Threaten the City's Most Vulnerable Dec 05, 2022

Law enforcement says that in some scenarios a lethal robot is the only way to protect public safety. Experts say the policy will harm communities of color.

Crypto Contagion Is Spreading, Fast Dec 05, 2022

The collapse of FTX has set off a chain reaction that threatens to topple one of crypto’s oldest and most well-respected institutions.

They Wanted a Baby, Then Twitter Fired Them Dec 02, 2022

From IVF treatments to parental leave, Twitter staff laid off without notice have had their lives upended.

Elon Musk’s Twitter Risks Big Fines From US Regulators Dec 01, 2022

The company’s past failings place its security under scrutiny by the Federal Trade Commission until 2042. Any new mishaps could lead to heavy penalties.

Truth Social Is Rising as the Anti-Mastodon Nov 30, 2022

Amid Twitter chaos and Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential bid, the conservative social network is having a moment of its own.

Here's Proof Hate Speech is More Viral on Elon Musk's Twitter Nov 28, 2022

Researchers monitoring a "firehose" of public tweets found signs of increasing toxicity—before Elon Musk reversed bans on Trump and other divisive figures.

The Race To Save Sam Bankman-Fried’s Other Crypto Exchange Nov 24, 2022

Following the collapse of FTX, a group of volunteers has gathered to try and salvage Serum. But the work is far from straightforward.

This Copyright Lawsuit Could Shape the Future of Generative AI Nov 23, 2022

Algorithms that create art, text, and code are spreading fast—but legal challenges could throw a wrench in the works.

Twitter’s Moderation System Is in Tatters Nov 22, 2022

Disinformation researchers have spent years asking Twitter to remove toxic and fake posts. After Elon Musk’s staff cuts, there’s hardly anyone to talk to.

The Pandemic Bike Boom Survives—in Cities That Stepped Up Nov 21, 2022

Covid lockdowns prompted a surge of new cyclists. But the trend has faltered in places that didn't build bike-friendly infrastructure.

Lyft Aspired to Kill Car Ownership. Now It Aims to Profit From It Nov 18, 2022

The company once claimed that ride-hail services and robotaxis would make personal cars obsolete. Mounting losses have prompted a rethink.

TikTok’s Format Breeds Sassy Customer Service Nov 16, 2022

Unlike the old days of replying to someone’s tweet, brands now poke back at their consumers on social media.

Elon Musk Has Put Twitter’s Free Speech in Danger Nov 16, 2022

Authoritarian countries around the world want to suppress criticism and public opinion. Can this new Twitter fight back?

Elon Musk Is Overloaded Nov 15, 2022

Twitter’s new CEO also leads Tesla, SpaceX, and startups working on tunnel digging and brain implants. His social media project will make it harder to juggle them all.

How to 'Quiet Quit' Twitter Nov 14, 2022

The chaos engulfing the platform provides an opportunity to reclaim control of your online life, without logging off for good.

The Reason for Meta's Massive Layoffs? Ghosts in the Machine Nov 11, 2022

The social media company's failed projects required thousands of staffers who swelled the ranks and never left.

Fintech in Latin America and Africa Is Breaking the Mold Nov 10, 2022

The US and Europe can learn a lot from startups that are nimbler, more digitized, and potentially better at serving underserved people.

Algorithms Quietly Run the City of DC—and Maybe Your Hometown Nov 09, 2022

A new report finds that municipal agencies in Washington deploy dozens of automated decision systems, often without residents’ knowledge.

The Strange Death of the Uyghur Internet Nov 08, 2022

China’s Muslim minority used to have its own budding cluster of websites, forums, and social media. Now that’s been erased.

Cannabis Banking Startups Want to Make It Easy to Buy Weed Nov 07, 2022

In dispensaries, cash is king—and it's a nuisance for business owners and buyers. Fintech players are entering the fray.

Uber Squeezed Europe’s Taxi Drivers. Now It Wants to Hire Them Nov 04, 2022

The ride-sharing giant is trying to end a yearslong battle by offering EU cabbies aggressive financial incentives.

Ford Abandons the Self-Driving Road to Nowhere Nov 03, 2022

Ford and Volkswagen sank nearly $4 billion into developer Argo. Now, amid wider signs of slow progress in autonomous tech, they're shutting it down.

Europe Prepares to Rewrite the Rules of the Internet Nov 02, 2022

The Digital Markets Act will force big tech platforms to break open their walled gardens in 2023, says the EU's new ambassador to Silicon Valley.

AI's New Creative Streak Sparks a Silicon Valley Gold Rush Nov 01, 2022

Investors have got the hots for "generative AI" that can make text and images. But so far, the hype runs ahead of the business results.

A Chaotic Crypto Launch Reveals How Hard It Is to Beat Ethereum Oct 31, 2022

When Aptos rose from the ashes of Meta’s Diem digital currency project, it aimed to be the fastest crypto network. Instead, it just angered its fans.

How Retail App Temu Lures US Shoppers With Mind-Bending Prices Oct 28, 2022

The new ecommerce platform can beat Amazon on price by shipping direct from China. It’s already racing up the charts.

Apple’s App Review Fix Fails to Placate Developers Oct 27, 2022

After bad press about its App Store rules, Apple added a way to challenge app rejections. Creators say projects still get blocked for no good reason.

The Quiet Insurrection the January 6 Committee Missed Oct 26, 2022

A former congressman who helped the House select committee investigate the Capitol attack says the US is losing sight of the big picture.

High-Tech Cars Are Killing the Traditional Repair Shop Oct 25, 2022

Many independent auto shops can’t afford the equipment needed to fix today’s complex vehicles. Prepare to wait longer for repairs.

Apple Is an Ad Company Now Oct 24, 2022

Pushing more ads at users would compensate for slowing smartphone sales but risks annoying Apple fans—and antitrust regulators.

The Gig Law Causing Chaos in California Strip Clubs Oct 21, 2022

Dancers say a law to protect people working at ride-hailing and food delivery apps has been used to undercut their livelihoods.

Amazon Workers Lose Another Union Vote as Management Digs In Oct 20, 2022

Three warehouses have voted on joining the Amazon Labor Union, but organizers prevailed in only one—and the retail giant’s heavily funded opposition continues.

China’s WeChat Is a Hot New Venue for US Election Misinformation Oct 19, 2022

Ahead of US midterms, activists are fighting falsehoods circulating in Chinese-language communities that they fear will distort the vote or suppress turnout.

Meta’s VR Headset Harvests Personal Data Right Off Your Face Oct 18, 2022

Cameras inside the device that track eye and face movements can make an avatar’s expressions more realistic, but they raise new privacy questions.

The $1 Billion Alex Jones Effect Oct 17, 2022

The Infowars host now knows the cost of “free speech”—but does the landmark judgment signal a crackdown on disinformation?

How to Protect Yourself If Your School Uses Surveillance Tech Oct 14, 2022

Colleges and K-12 campuses increasingly monitor student emails, social media, and more. Here’s how to secure your (or your child’s) privacy.

These Remote Tech Workers Secretly Juggle Multiple Jobs Oct 13, 2022

Working from home makes it easier to take on several full-time posts. The extra cash is nice—but simultaneous Zoom meetings can be tricky.

How A British Teen's Death Changed Social Media Oct 12, 2022

An inquest found content on Pinterest and Instagram contributed to the 2017 death of Molly Russell. The sites say they’ve changed—with opposing strategies.

Opendoor’s iBuyer Model Is a Canary in the Economic Coal Mine Oct 11, 2022

The company is losing huge sums of money on cookie-cutter homes—suggesting a fundamental weakness in the US housing market.

Elon Musk's Half-Baked Robot Is a Clunky First Step Oct 10, 2022

Tesla’s Optimus robot did not dazzle robotics experts and can't yet walk. But if the project delivers, it could give the company an edge in manufacturing.

Facebook Freeloads Off Newspapers. This Plan Might Stop It Oct 07, 2022

The Journalism Competition and Protection Act would allow publishers to finally bargain with Meta and Google.

Google Borrows From TikTok to Keep Gen Z Searching Oct 06, 2022

Younger people seek answers on TikTok and Instagram—Google hopes to lure them back with more visual, infinite scrolling search results.

Amazon Wants to Cocoon You With ‘Ambient Intelligence’ Oct 05, 2022

The company’s new smart gadget uses radar to track your breathing while you sleep. It’s part of Amazon’s plan to weave its products invisibly into your life.

Amazon Wants Its Home Robot, Astro, to Anticipate Your Every Need Oct 04, 2022

The cutesy robot doesn’t do much now, but the company says it’s a step toward machines that understand your habits.

This Student’s Side Project Will Help Decide Musk vs. Twitter Oct 03, 2022

In the battle over Twitter’s future, the number of bots on the platform is a key issue. Problem is, nobody knows how to count them.

Brazil's Far Right Plots Its Own January 6 Insurrection Sep 30, 2022

Extreme content is spreading rapidly on the country's social networks, sparking fears of a violent uprising.

Twitch's Crypto Casino Ban Ignores the Bigger Play Sep 29, 2022

The company is going after cryptocurrency gambling—but will that be enough to satisfy concerned streamers?

California Voted for Cheaper Uber Rides. It May Have Hurt Drivers Sep 28, 2022

Uber and Lyft spent millions promoting a controversial ballot measure. A new study suggests it has lowered driver wages.

This Uncensored AI Art Tool Can Generate Fantasies—and Nightmares Sep 27, 2022

Open source project Stable Diffusion allows anyone to conjure images with algorithms, but some fear it will be used to create unethical horrors.

Electric Vehicles Could Rescue the US Power Grid Sep 26, 2022

By 2035, the batteries in California’s zero-emission cars could power every home in the state for three days.

It’s Time for Cities to Ditch Delivery Trucks—for Cargo Bikes Sep 23, 2022

A new study shows that cycling packages the final few miles to their recipients isn’t just greener than using a van, but often quicker too.

YouTube’s ‘Dislike’ Button Doesn’t Do What You Think Sep 22, 2022

Users try to control the video platform’s algorithm by giving content a thumbs-down, but Mozilla researchers say it’s not so simple.

Banning Gas Cars Is Good, but It’ll Take More to Save the Planet Sep 21, 2022

People must both drive less and switch to electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions enough to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

A US Rail Strike Was Averted—but the Crisis Is Far From Over Sep 20, 2022

A preliminary agreement prevented a total shutdown, but many supply chains still face delays and disruption caused by staff shortages.

Satellite Data Shows How Russia Has Destroyed Ukrainian Grain Sep 19, 2022

The Russian blockade and bombardments are cutting off thousands of tons of grain, threatening the food supply in countries that rely on wheat exports.

The Twitter Whistleblower's Testimony Has Senators Out for Blood Sep 16, 2022

Peiter "Mudge" Zatko's allegations about the social media platform renewed a sense of urgency for lawmakers to rein in Big Tech.

Undocumented Workers Protest Uber Eats Crackdown Sep 15, 2022

In France, the gig economy platform welcomed thousands of immigrants during the pandemic, unions say. Now it’s deactivating them en masse.

Google and Amazon Want More Defense Contracts, Despite Worker Protests Sep 14, 2022

The tech giants' corporate offices across the US drew demonstrations over an Israeli government cloud contract that opponents say could have military uses.

The FTC Is Closing In on Runaway AI Sep 13, 2022

The US regulator is eager to end unfair use of artificial intelligence and commercial surveillance, but experts remain skeptical.

How Drought and War Are Really Affecting the Global Food Supply Sep 09, 2022

Blistering temperatures and the invasion of Ukraine have fed fears of global shortages—but some regions are suffering much more than others.

Silicon Valley’s Most Powerful ‘Mafia’ Gets a New Boss Sep 08, 2022

Startup incubator Y Combinator birthed big names like Airbnb and Stripe. Incoming CEO Garry Tan says he’ll tap the program’s alumni network to generate new tech giants.

Trans Researchers Want Google Scholar to Stop Deadnaming Them Sep 07, 2022

The academic search engine’s policy on name changes is out of step with other search tools and publishers.

GM's Cruise Recalls Self-Driving Software Involved in June Crash Sep 06, 2022

After two people were injured in the incident, Cruise blocked its robot vehicles from making left turns for several weeks before issuing a software update.

Europe Set Itself Up for This Energy Crisis Sep 02, 2022

The region’s unified approach to energy predates Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but countries suffering from shortages may now have to watch gas flow past.

The Climate Bill Is Poised to Electrify Delivery Vans and Trucks Sep 01, 2022

Tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act could transform how goods get to stores and consumers by incentivizing US business owners to buy zero-emission electric vehicles.

Get Used to Startups Trying to Reinvent Housing Aug 31, 2022

WeWork’s controversial cofounder Adam Neumann is not the only entrepreneur to see opportunity in the generation of Americans unable to buy homes.

Raising Startup Funding Used to Be Easy—Not Anymore Aug 30, 2022

In recent years investors greeted founders with generous checks and warm smiles, but now CEOs seeking cash encounter cold shoulders.

Babylon Disrupted the UK’s Health System. Then It Left Aug 29, 2022

The AI-powered online doctor app is ditching its controversial NHS contracts as it focuses on the US market.

How to Stop Robots From Becoming Racist Aug 26, 2022

Algorithms can amplify patterns of discrimination. Robotics researchers are calling for new ways to prevent mechanical bodies acting out those biases.

Ethereum's 'Merge' Is a Big Deal for Crypto—and the Planet Aug 25, 2022

One of the most influential cryptocurrency projects is set to finally ditch proof-of-work mining.

Algorithms Can Now Mimic Any Artist. Some Artists Hate It Aug 24, 2022

A new generation of AI image tools can reproduce an artist’s signature style. Some creatives fear for their livelihoods.

Spyware Scandals Are Ripping Through Europe Aug 23, 2022

The latest crisis that rocked the Greek government shows the bloc’s surveillance problem goes beyond the notorious NSO Group.

Colleges Are Already Ditching Income-Share Agreements Aug 22, 2022

The financial aid model more closely associated with coding boot camps has made its way to traditional universities. Now it's coming under scrutiny.

Smiling Dogs? Horses Made of Clouds? Captcha Has Gone Too Far Aug 19, 2022

Users face increasingly impossible challenges to prove they are not bots.

Machine Learning Is Causing a ‘Reproducibility Crisis’ in Science Aug 18, 2022

AI hype has researchers in fields from medicine to sociology rushing to use techniques that they don’t always understand—causing a wave of spurious results.

TikTok Is ‘Shadow-Promoting’ Banned Content in Russia Aug 17, 2022

The company said it would prevent Russia-based users from uploading fresh content—but some new videos are still showing up on FYPs.

A Suspected Killer’s Fans Are Still Promoting Him Online Aug 16, 2022

After a local politician and two others were gunned down in the Philippines, posts supporting the suspect continue to gain traction on social media.

Tech’s Offshore Hiring Has Gone Into Overdrive Aug 15, 2022

Companies that once battled to hire employees close to home are now turning to Latin America and other markets for talent.

Amazon Workers in the UK Walk Out in a Cost-of-Living Rebellion Aug 12, 2022

After news of a “pointless” pay increase spread, workers at three warehouses stopped work to demand higher wages as inflation and interest rates surge.

Beware the Contract Clause Loading US Workers With Debt Aug 11, 2022

Nurses, retail workers, and other employees can owe thousands of dollars just for quitting their job—or getting laid off.

What Twitter’s Move to Shutter Offices Signals for Big Tech Aug 10, 2022

Companies are cutting costs by embracing remote setups, but what happens to the hubs they leave behind?

The Rise and Fall of a Bitcoin Mining Sensation Aug 09, 2022

Compass Mining grew quickly during crypto’s halcyon days. Now, its customers and their thousands of mining machines are stuck.

Wikipedia Articles Sway Some Legal Judgments Aug 08, 2022

An experiment shows that overworked judges turn to the crowdsourced encyclopedia for guidance when making legal decisions.

Kenya’s Threat to Ban Facebook Could Backfire Aug 05, 2022

Meta has allowed ads that include hate speech and calls for violence ahead of the country’s elections. But experts warn that a shutdown isn’t the answer.

Data Centers Are Facing a Climate Crisis Aug 04, 2022

Companies are racing to cool down their servers as energy prices and temperatures soar. And the worst is yet to come.

Big Tech Can’t Stop Obsessing Over Apple and TikTok Aug 03, 2022

Earnings season was dominated by two companies—both existential threats to their competition.

Why Google Sued the Descendants of a Railroad Tycoon and a Civil War General Aug 02, 2022

To secure the land for its multibillion-dollar Downtown West development, the company has had to track down dozens of distant relatives of 19th-century landowners.

The Fallout From Apple’s Bizarre, Dogged Union-Busting Campaign Aug 01, 2022

Workers are calling on management to stop inflicting “traumatic” pressure on other workers trying to unionize.

EV Makers Think They’ve Figured Out What Women Want Jul 29, 2022

Men are more likely to buy electric vehicles, and carmakers are eager to diversify their base. But what will it take to close the gender gap?

The Chip Shortage is Easing—But Only For Some Jul 28, 2022

Certain chips have caught up with demand, thanks to stockpiling and reduced consumer spending, but the semiconductor supply chain is still snarled up.

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