Overseas:
1. Google is investigated and facing lawsuits because of exposing the data of 500,000 Google+ users
2. Amazon scraps secret AI recruiting tool that showed bias against women
3. Amazon Web Services inked a deal worth US$1 billion for internet-based computing power and storage
4. Apple plans to give original content for free to device owners
5. Chipmaker Micron to invest $100 million in artificial intelligence companies
6. IKEA eyes partnership deals to boost Russian online business
7. Teeth-straightening startup SmileDirectClub gets $3 billion valuation in new fundraising
8. Shares of SurveyMonkey fall 7% to below IPO price
10. Volvo’s next generation of cars will use Nvidia’s self-driving car platform
11. Self-driving car startup Aurora becomes Pennsylvania’s first ‘authorized’ tester
12. AT&T will launch another streaming service in 2019, with HBO and other WarnerMedia content
13. Kahoot, the educational gaming startup, has raised another $15M, now at a $300M valuation
China:
1. Asia Pacific funding stayed high in Q3 and China dominated once again
2. Tencent VC Arm Is Said to Seek a New Fund of Over $650 Million
3. Didi added “black list” function where drivers and passengers can block each other
4. Tesla is close to securing land for its Shanghai factory
5. Bilibili established a e-sports company
Blockchain:
2. Cryptocurrency theft hits nearly $1 billion in first nine months
Mobile:
– Huawei denied partnership with Microsoft in terms of chipmaking
Emerging market:
2. Singapore restaurant tech startup TabSquare raises US$7.2M to ramp up APAC expansion
3. HealthXCapital launches US$25M healthcare-focussed early stage VC fund
Cover picture credits from Reuters