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Musk vs Bezos – Amazon to take on SpaceX yet again

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Amazon plans to take on Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the satellite internet arena

Amazon has outlined its plans to deliver internet from space under Project Kuiper.

The company says it will be done by sending more than 3000 small satellites in low Earth orbit.

The e-commerce giant had signed a multi-billion-dollar contract back in April, securing 83 launches for its Project Kuiper from Arianespace, Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance.

Amazon plans to take on Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the satellite internet arena. Picture: Amazon Science

The contract was the the largest rocket deal in the history of the commercial space industry

“These launch agreements reflect our incredible commitment and belief in Project Kuiper and we’re proud to be working with such an impressive lineup of partners to deliver on our mission,” Dave Limp, the Senior Vice President for Amazon Devices & Services says in a written statement.

Tech expert Greg Nibler says Amazon is an “economic powerhouse” that has bought its way into becoming a “viable competitor”.

“With Amazon securing these contracts… will give them enough to provide some pretty reliable internet to a lot of places around the globe,” Nibler says.

SpaceX has about 2000 satellites already up in the space and a clearance to put up 12,000 but Nibler says while SpaceX is ahead of its game, Amazon is already in households across the globe.

“You think of that as just ready made customers,” he says.

“I bet that’s what they’re going to do… integrate it in with everything they’ve already got,” Nibler says, calling it a huge competitive advantage.

SpaceX’s Starlink provides internet at the cost of $110 per month but Nibler says if Amazon can make its service’s price low enough, it will be a win for the company.

Billionaire’s space race

Jeff Bezos’ satellite internet project was revealed in 2019 and is expected to be launched in installments over 5 years.

On the other hand, Nibler says Elon Musk is on the top of the world.

“With Starlink he is so far ahead I doubt he is going to view Amazon as much of a competitor,” he says.

Nibler says Bezos attempts to come after Musk over anything space based have been no secret.

“They trade their barbs back and forth on Twitter which Musk now owns,” he says.

“He (Musk) is leagues ahead of everyone so he’s kind of sitting in driver’s seat right now.”

Musk’s Starlink is available to order and is said to be suited for rural and remote communities where connectivity is otherwise unreliable or unavailable.

Rijul Baath contributed to this report

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OpenAI launching AI-powered browser to rival Chrome

OpenAI to launch an AI-driven web browser, directly competing with Google Chrome and seeking user data access.

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OpenAI to launch an AI-driven web browser, directly competing with Google Chrome and seeking user data access.

In Short:
OpenAI is set to launch an AI-powered web browser to compete with Google Chrome, aiming to transform internet navigation and collect valuable user data. This initiative seeks to leverage OpenAI’s technology and user base, potentially affecting Google’s advertising strategy.

OpenAI is preparing to launch an AI-powered web browser aimed at competing with Google Chrome.

Sources indicate this new browser will be released in the coming weeks and intends to transform how consumers navigate the internet.

The browser could provide OpenAI with access to valuable user data, a significant asset for competing against Google, where Chrome plays a crucial role in advertising revenue.

If the browser gains traction among ChatGPT’s 500 million weekly users, it may impact Google’s advertising strategy. The design aims to maintain user interactions within a ChatGPT-like chat interface, streamlining the browsing experience.

This development is part of OpenAI’s broader initiative to integrate its AI services into daily consumer activities.

Forefront of innovation

OpenAI remains tight-lipped about the project, and the sources requested anonymity. CEO Sam Altman has been at the forefront of innovation since the launch of ChatGPT, while OpenAI seeks new growth opportunities amidst fierce competition, notably from Google and others.

The browser will harness the same open-source technology that underpins Chrome and other browsers, while OpenAI has also brought on board key talent from Google’s original Chrome development team.

In a strategic move, OpenAI opted for developing its browser over creating a plug-in, prioritising control over data collection. Google currently maintains more than two-thirds of the global browser market, posing a significant challenge for OpenAI in this new venture.

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Linda Yaccarino resigns as CEO of Elon Musk’s X

Linda Yaccarino resigns as CEO of X following merger with xAI and internal financial conflicts.

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Linda Yaccarino resigns as CEO of X following merger with xAI and internal financial conflicts.

In Short:
Linda Yaccarino has resigned as CEO of X after the merger with xAI, facing challenges in shifting focus to AI and tensions with the new CFO. Despite some revenue recovery and improved advertiser relationships, ongoing content moderation issues and Musk’s heavy involvement in decisions complicate the platform’s operations.

Linda Yaccarino has announced her resignation as CEO of X, following the merger with xAI. Her tenure has faced challenges, particularly after the integration of the chatbot company into X, which shifted focus towards artificial intelligence over traditional social media growth.

Investor interest has increasingly gravitated towards AI potential. Tensions arose between Yaccarino and new CFO Reza Banki, who was hired to address financial issues and originally replaced Yaccarino’s finance head.

Banki reportedly pressured her regarding spending on celebrity content. Yaccarino viewed the return of some advertisers and the revenue changes resulting from the merger as an appropriate time to step down.

Broader platform

In her post about her departure, she expressed gratitude to Elon Musk for the opportunity to lead and transform X into a broader service platform. Musk acknowledged her contributions through a social media post.

Yaccarino, who took over in 2023, dealt with initial advertiser concerns related to content moderation and Musk’s management style. Despite challenges, including threatening brands to encourage them back to the platform, she made strides in rebuilding ad relationships and fostering new advertising opportunities.

Financial improvements have been noted, with X reporting adjusted earnings growth and revenue recovery efforts reflecting progress. However, the platform continues to deal with content moderation issues, especially after recent controversial comments from the chatbot, highlighting ongoing operational challenges.

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Amazon extends Prime Day to week-long sales event

Amazon extends Prime Day to a week, aiming for higher sales and new Prime memberships amid consumer tariff concerns.

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Amazon extends Prime Day to a week, aiming for higher sales and new Prime memberships amid consumer tariff concerns.

In Short:
Amazon is extending Prime Day to a full week to boost sales and attract new members, with projections of $12.9 billion in U.S. sales. The longer event allows for more advertising opportunities and themed discount days to entice shoppers amidst declining consumer confidence.

Amazon is extending Prime Day to a full week, aiming to attract more shoppers and gain new Prime members. The promotion, starting Tuesday, is projected to generate $12.9 billion in U.S. sales, a 53% increase from last year.

Previously a one-day event offering significant discounts, Prime Day has expanded, now including themed days like book day and pet day. Sales growth during Prime Day has slowed, remaining in single digits recently, prompting Amazon to innovate with discounts year-round.

Shoppers are expected to look for bargains on electronics and goods potentially affected by tariffs this year, reflecting declining consumer confidence. Brandon Fuhrmann, a third-party seller, expects to see notable sales but cannot predict demand due to the promotion’s length. He anticipates outpacing regular July sales, even toward the end of the week. The longer event increases advertising opportunities, contributing to Amazon’s growing advertising revenue, which exceeds $50 billion annually.

Many sellers plan to invest heavily in advertisements to outperform competitors during this extended period. Ryan Close, CEO of Bartesian, intends to use the event to test Amazon’s advertising tools and attract attention to his products with significant discounts.

Amazon aims to recruit new subscribers for its $139 annual Prime membership, promoting benefits like rapid shipping and streaming services.

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