10 things in tech you need to know today
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1. Amazon "ambassadors" defended the firm on Twitter as the company battled its first union vote. Several of the accounts started in March 2021 and didn't become active until late in the month - just as Amazon began publicly pushing back on unionization at its Bessemer, Alabama fulfillment center.
2. An unlikely figure helped WeWork secure its SPAC merger. Reuters reported that WeWork's ousted CEO Adam Neumann helped the company cinch a deal with BowX Acquisition Corp. Here's what we know about his role.
3. Silicon Valley can be toxic for healthcare startups. While other startups can "move fast and break things," healthcare founders who move too fast face enormous consequences when their actions affect patients. Those that do take shortcuts risk failure. An inside look at how Silicon Valley's growth-hack mindset dooms healthcare startups.
4. Not sure what an NFT is, but feel like it's too late to ask? We understand. Luckily, Saturday Night Live took on the task of explaining the multi-million dollar crypto phenomenon in an Eminem parody. Watch the skit here.
5. If you've noticed particularly loud commercials lately, you're not alone. Complaints are on the rise - especially with streaming services. And while there's a law meant to control commercials, the FCC hasn't enforced it in the better part of a decade. Why commercials are bursting your eardrums.
6. Snap-backed Volv bills itself as "TikTok for news." The app creates news stories, averaging at around 70 words, which users can read in less than nine seconds. Take a look at the news app aimed at millennials.
7. A rare video shows robots jumping and dancing inside one of America's leading robotics firms. "60 Minutes" got an inside look at the Boston Dynamics' headquarters, where robots like Spot and Atlas, the company's dog-like and humanoid robots, leap and dance. See the video here.
8. Facebook is monopolizing the global supply of GIFs. UK regulators have accused the tech giant of monopolizing the world's GIFs through its purchase of Giphy. Here's how Facebook's $300-400 million purchase could be stifling competition.
9. SPACs are ruining a key part of Silicon Valley's magic formula for innovation - letting crappy startups fail. As special-purpose acquisition companies boom, they're taking low-quality startup ideas public, rather than letting them die. We investigated how the SPAC craze affects Silicon Valley's startup ecosystem, where failure is considered vital.
10. Meet the most powerful people at Google. We identified the people with the most power under CEO Sundar Pichai, and compiled a comprehensive org chart. Check out the who's who of the $1.3 trillion company.
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Compiled by Jordan Erb. Tips/comments? Email jerb@insider.com or tweet @JordanParkerErb.
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