 |
|
|
|||||
Apple is considering reworking its Safari web browser across its devices to place a greater emphasis on AI-powered search engines, Bloomberg reported Wednesday. The disclosure came from Eddy Cue, Apples senior vice president of services, during his testimony Wednesday in the Department of Justices lawsuit against Alphabet. Cue was speaking about the two companies $20 billion-a-year deal that makes Google the default search engine on Apples browsers. The Apple executive said he expects AI search providerslike OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexityto eventually replace standard sources like Google. Apple has already seen a decline in Safari searches for the first time last month, which Cue attributed to the growing use of AI. Still, he added, its too early for these platforms to become the default. Currently, Apple and Alphabet have a lucrative agreement that allows Apple usersacross more than 2 billion active devicesto perform searches through Google. Initially, Apple agreed to use Google in its Safari browser for free. Eventually, the two companies agreed to share revenue generated from search advertising. A shift away from Google and the entry of multiple competitors into the space could jeopardize that profitable arrangement, which contributes significantly to Apples revenue. Theres enough money now, enough large players, that I dont see how it doesnt happen, Cue said about the switch from standard internet search to AI, according to Bloomberg.
Category:
E-Commerce
The Walt Disney Company’s stock price soared on Wednesday, up by 10% at the time of publishing, as the company surpassed earnings expectations and unveiled its first new theme park development in 15 years. Following Disney’s second quarter earnings report, the entertainment giant announced an agreement to build a new resort and theme park in Yas Island, United Arab Emirates. “As our seventh theme park destination, it will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement. While no opening date or project timeline has been released yet, the Abu Dhabibased experiences company Miral Group is set to develop and build the new shoreline resort, with Disney imagineers leading operational oversight and creative design. Our resort in Abu Dhabi will be the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio,” said chairman of Disney Experiences Josh DAmaro. Prior to the theme park announcement, Disney also released its favorable second quarter earning report, recognizing “that uncertainty remains regarding the operating environment for the balance of the fiscal year,” the company said in the report. Disney reported a 7% increase in revenues this quarter in comparison to the same period last year, increasing to $23.6 billion. Notably, Disney’s entertainment saw significant growth, with a 2.5 million subscription growth for Disney+ and Hulu from this years first fiscal quarter. “We have a lot more to look forward to, including our upcoming theatrical slate, the launch of ESPNs new DTC offering, and an unprecedented number of expansion projects underway in our Experiences segment,” Iger said in the report. “We remain optimistic about the direction of the company and our outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year.”
Category:
E-Commerce
House Republicans have added a provision to their sweeping tax cut package that would authorize the sale of thousands of acres of public lands in Nevada and Utah, prompting outrage from Democrats and environmental groups who called the plan a betrayal that could lead to increased drilling, mining and logging in the West. Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committee adopted the land sales proposal early Wednesday morning. The initial draft had not included it amid bipartisan opposition. The land sale provision put forward by Republican Reps. Mark Amodei of Nevada and Celeste Maloy of Utah would sell thousands of acres of public lands in the two states, and calls for some of the parcels to be considered for affordable housing projects. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., called the plan deeply irresponsible. Public lands shouldnt have a price tag on them. But [President] Donald Trump and his allies in Congress are working like mad to hand over our public lands to billionaires and corporate polluters to drill, mine, and log with the bare minimum oversight or accountability,” said Athan Manuel, director of Sierra Clubs Lands Protection Program. The lands potentially for sale belong to all Americans. They shouldnt be given away to pad corporate bottom lines,” Manuel said. The sales were approved as the Natural Resources Committee voted 26-17 to advance legislation that would allow increased leasing of public lands for drilling, mining, and logging while clearing the path for more development by speeding up government approvals. Royalty rates paid by companies to extract oil, gas, and coal would be cut, reversing former Democratic President Joe Bidens attempts to curb fossil fuels to help address climate change. The measure is part of Trumps big bill of tax breaks, spending cuts, and beefed-up funding to halt migrants. House Speaker Mike Johnson has set a goal of passing the package out of his chamber by Memorial Day. All told, 11 different House committees are crafting portions of the bill. Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Republican and former interior secretary in the first Trump administration, had said before the vote that he was drawing a red line on public land sales. “It’s a no now. It will be a no later. It will be a no forever,” said Zinke, whose state includes large parcels of federally owned lands. Zinke and Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-New Mexico, are set to lead a new bipartisan Public Lands Caucus intended to protect and expand access to Americas public lands. The caucus was set to launch on Wednesday, hours after the resources panel vote. Oil and gas royalty rates would drop from 16.7% on public lands and 18.75% offshore to a uniform 12.5% under the committee-passed bill, which still faces a vote in the full House and Senate once it is incorporated into the final legislative package. Royalties for coal would drop from 12.5% to 7%. The measure calls for four oil and gas lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge over the next decade. It also seeks to boost the ailing coal industry with a mandate to make available for leasing 6,250 square miles of public landsan area greater in size than Connecticut. Republican supporters say the lost revenue would be offset by increased development. Its uncertain if companies would have an appetite for leases, given the industrys precipitous decline in recent years as utilities switched to cleaner burning fuels and renewable energy. Drew McConville, a senior fellow at the liberal Center for American Progress, denounced the committee vote. The Trump tax bill was already a massive and historic sellout of U.S. lands and waters to corporate interests. This dark-of-night maneuver shows how shamelessly focused congressional Republicans are on sacrificing public benefits to pay for Trumps reckless tax cuts. If this bill passes, the losses to Americas great outdoor legacy will be felt for generations, McConville said in a statement. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner in March proposed using underutilized federal land for affordable housing. Turner said some 7 million homes are needed. Officials under Biden also sought to use public lands for affordable housing, although on a smaller scale. The agencies have not yet released more details of the proposal. Matthew Daly and Matthew Brown, Associated Press
Category:
E-Commerce
All news |
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||