President Trump recently demanded more information about how the Pentagon crafted a massive cloud-computing contract it’s poised to award to Amazon.com Inc. or Microsoft Corp., in order to decide whether he should intervene.The Defense Department is set to award the contract, worth as much as $10 billion over 10 years, to one of the two companies next month. Amazon, whose cloud-computing technology leads the market, is seen as the favorite.But Trump recently was made aware of letters Republican members of Congress have written to the White House and military leaders complaining that the contract’s terms froze some companies — including Oracle Corp. — out of the competition, according to two people familiar with the matter. Trump expressed frustration he wasn’t aware of the concerns and asked aides to show him the correspondence, the people said.Trump said he’s interested in looking into the circumstances of the bid but didn’t indicate … [Read more...] about Trump expressed concerns about Pentagon cloud-computing contract
Technology
Elon Musk-backed Neuralink unveils brain-implant technology
Neuralink, the Elon Musk-backed company seeking to build brain implants to communicate with machines, unveiled the microscopic products it has been developing since 2017 and said it hopes to begin trials on human patients by the end of next year.The secretive, 100-employee company revealed its vast ambitions in a presentation on Tuesday night aimed at recruiting more experts. “We want to have the best talent in the world,” Musk said at the California Academy of Sciences.The chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX said the ultimate goal of Neuralink is to allow humans to achieve “a sort of symbiosis with artificial intelligence.” Musk said humans risk being overtaken by AI-equipped machines, but if the brain can be enhanced with computer connectivity, “we can go along for the ride.” Neuralink is just one player in an emerging field that could enhance human functionality or equip paraplegics with robots they could control with their minds.Others include … [Read more...] about Elon Musk-backed Neuralink unveils brain-implant technology
EU probes Amazon over use of retailer info to gain edge
Raf Casert, Associated Press Updated 7:24 am CDT, Wednesday, July 17, 2019 European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager, center, speaks with European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici, second left, and European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos, left, during the weekly college meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, July 3, 2019. less European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager, center, speaks with European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici, second left, and European Commissioner for Migration and ... more Photo: Virginia Mayo, AP Photo: Virginia Mayo, AP Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Image 1 of 4 European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe … [Read more...] about EU probes Amazon over use of retailer info to gain edge
Finance execs meet in Paris to haggle over tech and trade
Updated 4:07 am CDT, Wednesday, July 17, 2019 Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin speaks during a news briefing at the White House, in Washington, Monday, July 15, 2019. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin speaks during a news briefing at the White House, in Washington, Monday, July 15, 2019. Photo: Carolyn Kaster, AP Photo: Carolyn Kaster, AP Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Image 1 of 4 Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin speaks during a news briefing at the White House, in Washington, Monday, July 15, 2019. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin speaks during a news briefing at the White House, in Washington, Monday, July 15, 2019. Photo: Carolyn Kaster, AP Finance execs meet in Paris to haggle over tech and trade 1 … [Read more...] about Finance execs meet in Paris to haggle over tech and trade
Cryptocurrencies, digital tax top the agenda for G-7 meeting
David Mchugh and Thomas Adamson, Associated Press Updated 2:13 pm CDT, Tuesday, July 16, 2019 Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin takes questions as he speaks during a news briefing at the White House, in Washington, Monday, July 15, 2019. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin takes questions as he speaks during a news briefing at the White House, in Washington, Monday, July 15, 2019. Photo: Carolyn Kaster, AP Photo: Carolyn Kaster, AP Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Image 1 of 3 Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin takes questions as he speaks during a news briefing at the White House, in Washington, Monday, July 15, 2019. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin takes questions as he speaks during a news briefing at the White House, in Washington, Monday, July 15, 2019. … [Read more...] about Cryptocurrencies, digital tax top the agenda for G-7 meeting