It’s time for Bits & Bytes…
… where we bring you news, innovations, and thought-provoking insights from AI, IT, and beyond. In this week’s newsletter we’re looking at:
- Amazon’s price-fixing scheme
- Major takedown gets LabHost and 37 suspects
- ISPs slicing up the open internet
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
🛒 “One-Click Buy” to “One Big Conspiracy”
Big oof for Amazon this week! The retail giant is under investigation for a potential price-fixing scheme codenamed “Project Big River.” Apparently, Amazon allegedly pressured third-party sellers on its platform to raise prices to match those of its competitors, including Walmart, Target, and eBay. Not exactly the kind of headlines Amazon wants as it continues to battle antitrust scrutiny around the globe.
The report indicates that Amazon may have enlisted the help of other major companies, including Intel, FedEx, and even Walmart, to manipulate pricing. This alleged collaboration could have a significant impact on the overall e-commerce landscape.
Is any of this surprising? Not really. Tech giants have a history of pushing boundaries, and Amazon is no stranger to controversy. In fact, when I was told of this story, they opened with “Did you hear what happened to Amazon this week?”
TL;DR
- Amazon under investigation for an alleged scheme to pressure sellers to raise prices to match competitors.
- Amazon may have involved other big companies like Walmart and Intel.
- This raises concerns about fair competition and consumer protection in the e-commerce world.
TECH HEADLINES FROM ACROSS THE WEB
🚨 FBI Sounds Alarm
The FBI issued a warning this week, stating that Chinese hackers are actively preparing cyberattacks against critical US infrastructure. This comes on the heels of some not-so-subtle snooping around the energy sector. The FBI advises organizations that manage critical infrastructure to be vigilant and take steps to bolster their cybersecurity defenses (as you should anyways).
🎣 Phishing for a Bad Time?
In a victory for online safety, a global takedown disrupted LabHost, a massive phishing platform. Not only did they shut down the service, but they also snagged 37 suspects, including the developer behind the whole operation.
♻️ Here We Go Again
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is aware that ISPs are planning to use “network slicing” to create VIP lanes for certain services. This basically throws net neutrality out the window just when we were getting it back and lets ISPs play favorites. Continue to keep your eyes open and call it out if you see it!
TECH FOR GOOD
A coffee roaster in Finland is brewing up a storm with the launch of the world’s first AI-generated coffee blend. Say hello to “AI-conic,” the brainchild of Kaffa Roastery. In partnership with experts, they’ve developed an algorithm that analyzes a treasure trove of data – customer preferences to bean origin, roast profiles, and flavor combinations.
Experienced roasters can use this algorithm to analyze vast amounts of data, uncovering flavor patterns and combinations they might have never considered before. Maybe we’re moving towards a future where this technology could even create personalized blends based on your specific preferences?
But the real beauty of this story lies in the human-AI collaboration. It’s not about replacing the expertise of skilled roasters, but rather giving them a powerful new tool to refine their craft and create even better coffee experiences.
