Digest #4: Sony’s $3.6 billion purchase
Hey! Read the news about Sony’s $3.6 billion purchase, Tesla’s new feature and Meta’s 3D avatars
Dott raised $70 million
Urban mobility startup Dott has raised $70 million. Dott is a European micromobility startup best known for its scooter sharing service. More recently, the company has also added an electric bike rental service in select cities.
The Stretch robot’s first job
The Stretch robot received its first commercial purchase for $15 million. Stretch is equipped with a long robotic arm with a “smart handle” at the end to grab boxes and other items, and a “sensor mast” allows you to skillfully and carefully handle different types of packages.
No sharing of private conversation
Crisis Text Line (which is not affiliated with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) has made a decision to stop sharing private conversation data with artificial intelligence subsidiary Loris.ai following review by data privacy experts. Loris.ai will delete all data obtained from the Crisis Text Line.
The New York Times bought Wordle
Wordle, the popular puzzle game that has taken the world by storm, has been acquired by The New York Times. The game was purchased for an unknown seven-figure price. The New York Times reports that Wordle will be free to new and existing players for the time being. The company also states that no gameplay changes will be made in the transition to The New York Times.
Sony’s $3.6 billion purchase
According to GamesIndustry.biz, Sony’s acquisition of Bungie cost the company $3.6 billion. While this acquisition may eventually mean that Bungie’s Destiny franchise becomes exclusive to the PlayStation platform, it doesn’t look like that will happen anytime soon.
Tesla’s new feature
Tesla’s new cars will include a bizarre feature designed to prevent misuse of seat adjustment controls. The new seats will track and measure the amount of adjustments users make and disable controls if they detect “excessive” changes. It may come in handy if you have a child who’s very curious.
Meta’s 3D avatars
Parent company Facebook Meta is introducing 3D avatars to Instagram Stories and direct messages, and is also updating avatars on Facebook and Messenger, the company announced Monday. People in the United States, Canada, and Mexico may appear as virtual identities in stickers, feed posts, Facebook profile pictures, and more on Meta platforms, including the Quest VR platform.
May 27, 2021
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