Google Cloud plans to unfreeze hiring by October, leaked memo says

Happy Friday, readers! Writing to you from New York, I'm your host, Jordan Parker Erb.

Today, we've got news from inside Google Cloud. A leaked email shows the firm plans to unfreeze hiring by October, reversing a pause that was set in motion in July.

We've got lots to dig into, so let's get to it.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app here.

1. A leaked memo shows Google Cloud plans to unfreeze hiring. In an email sent to staff and obtained by Insider, Brad Calder, Cloud's vice president of technical infrastructure, said leadership is aiming to unfreeze hiring by October.

• The news comes months after Google announced plans to pull back on hiring due to uncertain economic conditions (though the firm has been hiring for critical roles across certain teams).
• Calder also said Google Cloud must hone its priorities for 2023, and that there are "too many Code Yellows and Purples."
• Code Yellow refers to issues that may cause business problems or outages over the next quarter, and Code Purple refers to problems that could become Code Yellows if not addressed within a year.

Everything else we learned from the leaked memo.

In other news:

2. Adobe plans to acquire Figma for $20 billion. In direct competition with Adobe, Figma is a fast-growing software company that offers collaborative design tools for businesses. Insider spoke to Adobe's product chief about how the companies will work together — get the details here.

3. A hacker who appeared to compromise Uber says he is only 18 years old. Uber is investigating a cybersecurity incident after employees received a Slack message saying, "I am a hacker." The unnamed man, who claims to be behind the hack, told the New York Times he accessed the system by sending a text to an Uber worker. What we know so far.

4. Your favorite streaming services could soon get more expensive. Earlier this week, Disney CEO Bob Iger said Disney+ is "underpriced," and that increasing prices "even in big chunks" shouldn't change its value to the consumer — and other streamers could follow suit. What you'll want to know.

5. Is TikTok's growth finally slowing? New data shows that TikTok's watch time was up 9% from August the previous year — but even that increase is a significant slowdown from the 45% year-over-year growth rate it had previously been showing. A look at TikTok's slowdown.

6. Elon Musk receives weekly reports on Tesla employees' office attendance. Workers told CNBC the weekly reports are gleaned from data collected when workers scan their badges at Tesla facilities. What we know so far.

7. TikTok created a copycat version of buzzy app BeReal. Called "TikTok Now," the feature prompts users to share 10-second videos or a photo daily — a concept incredibly similar to BeReal. Get the rundown on "TikTok Now."

8. California is suing Amazon. The lawsuit accuses Amazon of using its market dominance to force third-party sellers to agree they won't sell their products cheaper anywhere else, and that sellers have no other option but to agree. Everything we know about the lawsuit.

Odds and ends:

9. Air Canada just ordered 30 electric planes. Scheduled to enter service in 2028, the planes will seat 30 passengers and can fly up to 124 miles in all-electric mode or up to 500 miles with capacity limitations. Get a look at the new electric planes.

10. A surgeon said employees from big tech firms are paying at least $75,000 to get 3 inches taller. The cosmetic surgeon, who specializes in leg-lengthening procedures, said he's had a number of software engineers from Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta as patients. Here's how the painful, months-long process works.

The latest people moves in tech:

• Mozilla announced a new chief legal officer, Carlos Torres.
• Peloton founder John Foley stepped down as the company's executive chairman.
• Per CNBC, Amazon's workplace safety chief, Heather MacDougall, will leave next month.

Keep updated with the latest tech news throughout your day by checking out The Refresh from Insider, a dynamic audio news brief from the Insider newsroom. Listen here.

Curated by Jordan Parker Erb in New York. (Feedback or tips? Email jerb@insider.com or tweet @jordanparkererb.)