The next crop of startups are going to need to work with all levels of government, because the world's biggest problems waiting to be solved happen to be in regulated industries.
Why it matters: Technology startups are notoriously laser-focused on innovation and building the "next big thing" — and engaging with government bureaucrats or regulators is, at best, an afterthought. As Evan Burfield — an entrepreneur, investor and co-founder of startup incubator 1776 — argues in his new book, "Regulatory Hacking," improving healthcare, energy, transportation, food distribution, education and elections is going to require a more collaborative approach.
Artificial intelligence will play an increasing role in the U.S. military, a top Air Force general told journalists on Thursday, according a Defense One report. James Holmes, the leader of the Air Force's Air Combat Command, said the government needs to work with technology companies to develop AI for military.
The big picture: After it was revealed that Google was participating in Project Maven, thousands of Google employees signed a petition and some even resigned in protest. Google decided that it won't renew its contract when it expires next year.
Uber's head of ride-hailing in the U.S. and Canada, Rachel Holt, is taking on a new role: overseeing the company's "new modalities" efforts, which include bike and scooter-sharing, and hourly car rentals.
Why it matters: The move underscores Uber's ambition to go beyond car rides to offer a number of modes of transportation to customers, as new-CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has explained. In the last few months, Uber has acquired bike-sharing company Jump and announced plans to add a scooter service.
California's privacy bill was signed into law on Thursday, and the reaction has been an assortment of mixed feelings.
The big picture: Several tech companies, nonprofits and interest groups released statements about the new privacy law anticipating what it may mean for how future policy will be introduced on a global scale.
The privacy bill signed into law in California on Thursday won’t settle the global fight over privacy, but it does usher in a new phase that could lead to a new national model for regulating data online.
The big picture: Policymakers around the globe — in Washington, Brussels and now Sacramento — are all articulating different visions of how consumer data should be handled online. There may only be one internet, but there are many jurisdictions, and tech's colossus companies must deal with all of them.
Instagram is becoming one of the most significant drivers of user growth and revenue for its parent company, Facebook Inc.
Why it matters: Facebook's acquisition of Instagram has proven to be one of its most important business moves. The Instagram surge comes as Facebook's flagship platform is experiencing slowed user growth in North America due to already-high user penetration.
Top pharmacy stocks were hammered Thursday after Amazon announced plans to purchase online pharmacy startup Pillpack for a reported $1 billion in cash.
The bottom line: Six of America's largest pharmacies lost$15.2 billion in market cap, while Amazon gained $19.6 billion.
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