A startup is using machine learning and better data to more accurately assess wildfire risk for insurers.
Why it matters: Wildfires are one of the fastest-growing risks to properties, but insurers have struggled to accurately price policies — and some have abandoned the field altogether, leaving property owners unprotected.
New video game sales rankings released in the U.S. and Japan show demand for Switch games is strong, even by Nintendo's standard measures of success.
Why it matters: With the next-gen Xbox and PlayStation still low in supply — and marquee new releases for Switch competitors delayed due to COVID — we're seeing the strength of Nintendo's steady, stubborn approach to the gaming business.
Apple's plan to scan iPhones for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) provoked immediate criticism that it was opening a door to much broader efforts by governments seeking a way into citizens' devices.
Between the lines: That debate is important, but Apple is also laying out a technical approach that's worthy of the industry's attention.
House Judiciary lawmakers on Friday introduced legislation meant to boost competition in app stores by setting rules for how companies like Google and Apple control their marketplaces.
Why it matters: The bipartisan bill is the House companion to Senate legislation introduced earlier this week, showing the appetite from both chambers of Congress to take on the app store battle.
A bipartisan group of senators wants to know how Amazon is protecting data privacy and security as it promotes a new palm-print recognition system that will allow consumers to pay for in-store purchases with a wave of the hands.
Why it matters: Amazon's move into biometrics opens up the tech giant to additional Washington scrutiny on a new front.
