Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg spent Thursday in Atlanta as part of a town hall Facebook held with a number of civil rights groups. Nearly 100 people took part in the 5-hour meeting, which comes ahead of a civil rights audit due before the end of the year.
Why it matters: Facebook has come under fire for a number of actions and policies, including providing a forum for white supremacy and allowing targeted advertising that facilitates discrimination.
There are technology breakthroughs still needed before we get to strap on a pair of affordable, lightweight augmented reality-glasses with all-day battery life that seamlessly overlay information over an unobstructed view of the real world — but the time to start preparing for that future is now.
Why it matters: Augmented reality offers a range of enticing possibilities, but also will raise fresh concerns about privacy, advertising and just how much we want our lives to revolve around constant connectivity.
Google has hired Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman's chief of staff Mark Isakowitzto run its Washington, D.C. public policy office.
Why it matters: Isakowitz takes the job as Google is facing increasing regulatory pressure over its market dominance, its handing of misinformation, privacy and accusations of censoring conservative viewpoints, Axios' Kim Hart emails.
The New York City subway system recently reached 1 million “taps” in its contactless payment system, as a growing number of public transit agencies adopt the payment technology for its convenience and efficiency.
Why it matters: Contactless payment technology can bring down operating costs and act as a test case for subsequent attempts to make subways more accessible and modern.
More state Medicaid programs are making it easier for patients to use ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft as a non-emergency transportation benefit, Kaiser Health News reports.
Why it matters: More than 2 million Medicaid enrollees under 65 years old delayed their care in 2017 because they lacked transportation, per a federal survey.
Facebook has long talked about the social possibilities of virtual reality, even as the core market remains gamers looking to enjoy their own solitary fantasy world.
State of play: On Wednesday, the company offered more details on its long-term plan to transform VR into a social experience.
Many of the most important of the dozens of new devices Amazon launched Wednesday have a similar goal: to get people to use Alexa, its voice assistant, outside the house.
Why it matters: Unlike its competitors Apple and Google, Amazon doesn't have its own smartphone platform to use as a home for its voice assistant. As a result, Amazon needs to find other places to put Alexa.
Uber is rolling out several new safety features and upgrades, including the ability to send text messages to 911 dispatches from within the Uber app, and an option for riders to receive a unique PIN number to verify their driver's identity.
Yes, but: The news comes as the company and rival Lyft continue to face criticism over the safety of their services and how they handle complaints.
LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner will announce a new effort Thursday to close what he calls the “network gap” — the advantage some people have based on who they know, company executives tell Axios.
Why it matters: By organizing its users to broaden their personal networks beyond traditional connections, LinkedIn is trying to strike a blow against social inequality.
