“The goal is to turn data into information and information into insight.” –Carly Fiorina
☑️ #100 Feb 1, 2023
Amazon announces Rufus, a new generative AI-powered conversational shopping experience
https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-rufus : Rufus is an expert shopping assistant trained on Amazon’s product catalog and information from across the web to answer customer questions on shopping needs, products, and comparisons, make recommendations based on this context, and facilitate product discovery in the same Amazon shopping experience customers use regularly.
Launching today in beta to a small subset of customers in Amazon’s mobile app, Rufus will progressively roll out to additional U.S. customers in the coming weeks.
💲 EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENT: : Feb 1, 2023
Amazon.com Announces Fourth Quarter Results
Press Rlease | Related content:
☑️ #99 Ene 19, 2024
AWS plans to invest 2.26 trillion yen into its Japanese cloud infrastructure by 2027
press.aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] TOKYO–January 19, 2024–Today, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced its plans to invest 2.26 trillion yen into its existing cloud infrastructure in Tokyo and Osaka by 2027 to meet growing customer demand for cloud services in Japan. According to the new AWS Economic Impact Study (EIS) for Japan, this planned investment is estimated to contribute 5.57 trillion yen to Japan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and support an estimated average of 30,500 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in local Japanese businesses each year. Having already invested 1.51 trillion yen in Japan from 2011 to 2022, AWS’s planned total investment into cloud infrastructure in the country by 2027 will be approximately 3.77 trillion yen.
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☑️ #98 Dec 14, 2023
The latest updates from Project Kuiper’s satellite test mission
aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] Over the coming months, we’ll share periodic updates as Project Kuiper tests the capabilities of its satellites and ground network.
Optical mesh network in space will support global connectivity
Project Kuiper revealed the last critical system on board its satellites with the announcement of an optical inter-satellite link (OISL) capability that uses infrared lasers to send data directly between satellites. We’ve completed multiple successful demonstrations of OISL technology during our Protoflight mission, maintaining 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) links over a distance of nearly 621 miles (1,000 kilometers) for the entirety of the test windows. The test results ensure OISLs will be operational on our first production satellites in 2024. These high-speed laser cross-links will form a secure, resilient mesh network in space, allowing us to increase throughput and reduce latency across our satellite constellation, and providing more flexibility to connect Kuiper customers across land, sea, air, and space. Learn more about this milestone and watch our OISL team in action.
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☑️ #97 Dec 4, 2023
Modular partners with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to bring MAX Enterprise Edition exclusively to AWS services
modular.com: [Transcription] [Excerpt] Today, Modular is excited to announce an exclusive partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world’s leading and largest cloud server provider. Together, we are bringing the benefits of the MAX Platform to AWS production services everywhere, powering innovative AI features for billions of users around the world.
🔹Continue reading | Max Platform
Available in Q1 2024
- Expanding our partnership to bring MiAX to NVIDIA customers.
- Targeting NVIDIA A100's, H1O's & H200's, L40's & many more.
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☑️ #96 Dec 1, 2023
Amazon secures 3 launches with SpaceX to support Project Kuiper deployment
aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] Additional capacity will supplement existing launch contracts to support Project Kuiper’s satellite deployment schedule.
Project Kuiper recently launched two prototype satellites, and tests from the mission have helped validate our satellite design and network architecture. We are preparing to start satellite manufacturing ahead of a full-scale deployment beginning in the first half of 2024, and we expect to have enough satellites deployed to begin early customer pilots in the second half of 2024.
🔹Related content:
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☑️ #95 Nov 27- Dec 1, 2023
Live updates from AWS re:Invent 2023
aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpt] Get the latest news from AWS re:Invent, including all things generative AI, new service announcements, tech demos, and more.
Some Featured announcements
AWS chips to support a more sustainable future for data centers
Peter DeSantis kicks off AWS re:Invent with serverless and quantum computing updates
../
🔹See more top announcements of re:Inverst 2023
🔹Related content:
5 things you need to know about AWS re:Invent 2023:
Generative AI everywhere
AWS news and announcements
5 keynotes and 17 innovation talks
Immersive experiences for sports fans > re:Invent Rec Center
2024 tech predictions from Amazon CTO Dr. Werner Vogels > All Things Distributed blog.
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☑️ #95 Nov 28, 2023
Amazon Q features: Your business expert (Preview)
aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpt] LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At AWS re:Invent, Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. company (NASDAQ: AMZN), today announced Amazon Q, a new type of generative artificial intelligence-(AI) powered assistant that is specifically for work and can be tailored to a customer’s business. Customers can get fast, relevant answers to pressing questions, generate content, and take actions—all informed by a customer’s information repositories, code, and enterprise systems. Amazon Q provides information and advice to employees to streamline tasks, accelerate decision making and problem solving, and help spark creativity and innovation at work.
🔹Press release | aws.amazon.com/q
🔹Related content:
AWS re:Invent 2023 > How to get started with Amazon Q
AWS re:Invent 2023 > Amazon Q is your new expert assistant
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☑️ #94 Nov 28, 2023
AWS and NVIDIA Announce Strategic Collaboration to Offer New Supercomputing Infrastructure, Software, and Services for Generative AI
press.aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpt] LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At AWS re:Invent, Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. company (NASDAQ: AMZN), and NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) today announced an expansion of their strategic collaboration to deliver the most advanced infrastructure, software, and services to power customers’ generative artificial intelligence (AI) innovations.
The companies will bring together the best of NVIDIA and AWS technologies—from NVIDIA’s newest multi-node systems featuring next-generation GPUs, CPUs, and AI software, to AWS Nitro System advanced virtualization and security, Elastic Fabric Adapter (EFA) interconnect, and UltraCluster scalability—that are ideal for training foundation models and building generative AI applications.
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☑️ #93 Nov 27, 2023
AWS unveils new enterprise hardware to provide businesses with easy-to-use virtual desktops
aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] One of Amazon’s most familiar consumer devices has been reinvented by AWS for the enterprise.
For the first time, AWS adapted a consumer device into an external hardware product for AWS customers. Melissa Stein, director of product for End User Computing at AWS, oversaw the Amazon WorkSpaces Thin Client project.
🔹Related content:
New Amazon WorkSpaces Thin Client provides cost-effective, secure access to virtual desktops
Things to know
Here are a couple of things that are important to know:
Regions – The Thin Client Console is available in the US East (N. Virginia), US West (Oregon), Asia Pacific (Mumbai), Canada (Central), and Europe (Frankfurt, Ireland, London) Regions.
Device Sales – The Amazon WorkSpaces Thin Clients are available in the United States now, with availability in other countries in early 2024.
Pricing – Devices are priced at $195, or $280 with an optional hub that allows you to use a second monitor. There’s a $6 per month fee to manage, maintain, and monitor each device, and you also pay for the underlying virtual desktop service.
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☑️ #92 Nov 27, 2023
The Prime Visa or the Amazon Visa? Find out which credit card is right for you.
aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpt] Formerly known as the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card, this credit card boasts a pared down name and pumped-up benefits.
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☑️ #91 Nov 20, 2023
Amazon aims to provide free AI skills training to 2 million people by 2025 with its new ‘AI Ready’ commitment
aboutamazon.com: Amazon’s AI Ready initiative comes as new AWS study finds strong demand for AI talent and the potential for workers with AI skills to earn up to 47% more in salaries.
Courses for business and nontechnical audiences
Introduction to Generative Artificial Intelligence > AWS Educate
Generative AI Learning Plan for Decision Makers > AWS Skill Builder
Introduction to Amazon CodeWhisperer > AWS Educate
Courses for developer and technical audiences
Foundations of Prompt Engineering > AWS Skill Builder
Low-Code Machine Learning on AWS > AWS Skill Builder
Building Language Models on AWS > AWS Skill Builder
Amazon Transcribe—Getting Started > AWS Skill Builder
Building Gen AI Applications Using Amazon Bedrock > AWS Skill Builder
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☑️ #90 Nov 16, 2023
Amazon and Hyundai launch a broad, strategic partnership—including vehicle sales on Amazon.com in 2024
🔹aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpt] Hyundai has also selected AWS as its preferred cloud provider and next-generation Hyundai vehicles will be even more responsive and interactive with Alexa Built-in.
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☑️ #89 Nov 9, 2023 🔴 rumor
Scoop: Amazon is ditching Android for Fire TVs, smart displays
lowpass.cc: [Transcription] [Excerpt] Amazon is building an alternative OS for Fire TVs, other devices.
Development of the new operating system, which is internally known as Vega, appears fairly advanced. The system has already been tested on Fire TV streaming adapters, and Amazon has told select partners about its plans to transition to a new application framework in the near future. A source with knowledge of the company’s plans suggested that it could start shipping Vega on select Fire TV devices as early as next year.
Amazon didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
☑️ #88 Nov 7, 2023 🔴 rumor
Amazon Developing ‘Olympus’ AI to Narrow Gap with Microsoft, OpenAI
theinformation.com: [Transcription] [Excerpt] Amazon is developing new conversational AI software as it seeks to catch up to OpenAI and Microsoft in selling such software to corporate customers, according to a person with direct knowledge.
Amazon’s new large language model, codenamed Olympus, may also power new features in its online retail store, Alexa voice assistant on devices such as the Echo, and its Amazon Web Services unit, this...
Development of the model is being led by Rohit Prasad, former head of Alexa turned lead scientist for artificial general intelligence (AGI)
Source: Reuters
🔹Related content:
💲 EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENT: Oct 26, 2023
Amazon.com Announces Third Quarter Results
☑️ #87 Oct 18, 2023
IBM Expands Relationship with AWS to Bring Generative AI Solutions and Dedicated Expertise to Clients
newsroom.ibm.com: [Transcription] [Excerpt] ARMONK, N.Y., Oct. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced an expansion of its relationship with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help more mutual clients operationalize and derive value from generative artificial intelligence (AI). As part of this, IBM Consulting aims to deepen and expand its generative AI expertise on AWS by training 10,000 consultants by the end of 2024; the two organizations also plan to deliver joint solutions and services upgraded with generative AI capabilities designed to help clients across critical use cases.
Delivering joint solutions upgraded with generative AI capabilities for critical uses cases
Providing clients with dedicated AWS expertise and plans to train and skill 10,000 consultants
Plans for further integration of IBM watsonx with AWS
☑️ #86 Oct 18, 2023 🔴 rumor
Amazon Introducing Warehouse Overhaul With Robotics to Speed Deliveries
wsj.com: [Transcription] [Excerpt] Company to use new AI systems at its fulfillment facilities that will work alongside employees
WSJ: The company said it will integrate its robotics system Sequoia into its warehouses to identify and sort through orders more quickly and work alongside its employees "in a way that should reduce injuries."
🔹Continue reading | Related content:
[Transcription] [Excerpts] Amazon Robotics designs, codes, builds, and manufactures game-changing software applications, control systems, robotics and related hardware that is revolutionizing Amazon's operations across the globe.
Robotics AI's Mission Is To Enable Robots To Interact Safely, Efficiently, And Fluently With The Clutter And Uncertainty Of Real-World Fulfillment Centers At Amazon Scale. We Are Developing AI Solutions That Enable Robots To Learn From Their Own Experiences, From Each Other, And From People To Build AI That Feeds Itself
☑️ #85 Oct 16, 2023
Amazon shares an update on how Project Kuiper’s test satellites are performing
aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] With the first critical steps of Project Kuiper’s Protoflight mission complete, our prototype satellites are operating as designed and ready for the next phase of testing.
At 2:06 p.m. EDT on Friday, October 6, Project Kuiper sent its first two satellites into space on board an Atlas V rocket from United Launch Alliance (ULA). The launch kicked off the Kuiper Protoflight mission, a monthslong series of tests to validate our system design and network performance. Already, our engineers have collected some of the most critical data from the mission.
☑️ #84 Oct 3, 2023
How Amazon’s Project Kuiper is preparing for its first satellite test mission, and what we hope to learn
aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] Two prototype satellites will help the Project Kuiper team improve the technology and operations required to deliver fast, affordable broadband from space.
Project Kuiper, Amazon’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband initiative, is preparing to put its first two satellites into space during its “Protoflight” mission. The prototype satellites—KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2—are the first iterations of more than 3,200 satellites Project Kuiper plans to manufacture and deploy over the next six years.
🔹Continue reading | Related content:
Launch Date: October 6, 2023 1800 UTC
Launch Window: The two hour launch window opens at 2 p.m. EDT
(Updated) Passing L-10 minutes > GO for Launch! > Liftoff!
Oct. 6 UTC 17:53 This is Atlas Launch Control, now passing L-minus 14 minutes. Still targeting 2:06 p.m. for launch and we remain on schedule. Today marks the 681st Atlas launch since 1957 and the 99th Atlas V.
Oct. 6 UTC 17:54 We are 12 minutes away from liftoff time of the Atlas V rocket. This is United Launch Alliance's 158th launch and the 20th in service to a commercial client. Today begins a new era for ULA as we fulfill nine Atlas V and 38 Vulcan Centaur rocket launches for Project Kuiper.
Oct. 6 UTC 17:56 Passing L-10 minutes. The Project Kuiper satellites launching today are prototypes of the final satellite design. They will allow Amazon to test its technology in space before beginning full-scale production launches next year.
Centaur will deploy the satellites approximately 18 minutes after liftoff, at which point Amazon will assume control of the satellites and proceed with testing.
Oct. 6 UTC 17:57 Launch Conductor Scott Barney is reminding all console operators that if a constraint is observed after the L-minus 7 minute readiness poll, the team member shall announce "hold, hold, hold" on the communications loops, identify their station and briefly state the reason for the hold.
Oct. 6 UTC 17:58 We are standing by for the readiness poll to proceed with the terminal count. Launch Conductor Scott Barney will poll the collective team for the "go" to launch today.
Right now, Launch Director James Whelan is receiving status inputs on technical readiness, the results of which will feed into the readiness poll.
Oct. 6 UTC 17:59 Poll for terminal count
Polling is underway to proceed with terminal count. ULA Launch Conductor Scott Barney is performing this status check of two dozen console operators and mission managers to ensure all systems are ready to continue with the countdown to liftoff.
Oct. 6 UTC 18:00 GO for Launch!
The ULA Launch Director James Whelan has given final permission to launch.
The pronouncement was made following the readiness poll of the launch team by Launch Conductor Scott Barney that verified all systems are "go" to resume the countdown.
L-minus 5 minutes. Standing by to pick up the countdown clocks once again. The rocket, payload and pad systems are confirmed to be in the proper configuration for terminal count.
Countdown resumes. T-minus 4 minutes and counting. The final phase of today's countdown is underway at Cape Canaveral to launch the Atlas V rocket on the Project Kuiper Protoflight mission for Amazon. The countdown clocks have resumed, leading us to liftoff of this commercial mission.
T-minus 3 minutes and counting. The Atlas first stage liquid oxygen replenishment is being secured so that the tank can be pressurized for launch. And the ground pyrotechnics have been armed to release the vehicle from the launch pad at liftoff.
T-minus 1 minute, 55 seconds. The start command has been issued to the launch sequencer. The sequencer will perform independent verifications of systems for the rest of the countdown, control the detachment of umbilicals from the vehicle and release the rocket from the pad at liftoff.
The first stage RP-1 kerosene fuel and the liquid oxygen tanks have stepped up to proper pressure levels for flight and the Atlas and Centaur stages have switched from ground power to internal batteries.
In the next few seconds, the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellant topping to the Centaur upper stage will be secured and the tanks go be confirmed stable at flight pressures.
T-minus 80 seconds. The rocket's ordnance controller and the vehicle safety system have been armed. The flight software on the Atlas V is going active at this time.
T-minus 55 seconds. The Range Operations Commander confirms that the Eastern Range at the Cape is in a "green" condition for launch.
Coming up at T-minus 25 seconds, a final status check will be announced on Atlas, Centaur and payload readiness by each stage's prop lead engineer and the launch conductor.
The RD-180 will roar to life at T-minus 2.7 seconds. Once the engine ready indication is received and hold down bolts fired to release the vehicle from the pad for liftoff at T+plus 1.1 seconds.
Oct. 6 UTC 18:06 LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launching the Project Kuiper Protoflight to demonstrate advanced communications technology for Amazon!
☑️ #83 Sep 28, 2023
AWS announces the general availability of Amazon Bedrock and powerful new offerings to accelerate generative AI innovation
aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] Amazon Bedrock goes GA with new AI models in the mix, plus AI-assisted coding customized for your organization, a generative AI boost for business analysts, and more (free) ways to get your AI skills dialed.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced five generative artificial intelligence (generative AI) innovations, so organizations of all sizes can build new generative AI applications, enhance employee productivity, and transform businesses.
Amazon Bedrock is now generally available to help more customers build and scale generative AI applications.
Amazon Titan Embeddings now generally available.
Meta’s Llama 2 coming in the next few weeks.
New Amazon CodeWhisperer capability—coming soon—will allow customers to securely customize CodeWhisperer suggestions using their private code base to unlock new levels of developer productivity.
New generative BI authoring capabilities in Amazon QuickSight help business analysts easily create and customize visuals using natural-language commands.
☑️ #82 Sep 26, 2023
FTC Sues Amazon for Illegally Maintaining Monopoly Power
ftc.gov: [Transcription] [Excerpts] Amazon’s ongoing pattern of illegal conduct blocks competition, allowing it to wield monopoly power to inflate prices, degrade quality, and stifle innovation for consumers and businesses.
[PDF[] available here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. NATURE OF THE CASE.
II. JURISDICTION AND VENUE.
III. THE PARTIES.
IV. AMAZON’S OPERATIONS.
A. Amazon’s First-Party Retail And Third-Party Marketplace Business Units.
B. Amazon’s Online Superstore.
C. Amazon’s Advertising Services.
D. Amazon Prime.
E. Fulfillment By Amazon.
V. AMAZON POSSESSES MONOPOLY POWER IN TWO RELEVANT MARKETS.
A. Amazon Has Durable Monopoly Power In The Online Superstore Market.
B. Amazon Has Durable Monopoly Power In The Online Marketplace.
Services Market.
C. Feedback Loops Between The Relevant Markets Further Amplify The Cumulative Impact Of Scale And Related Network Effects.
D. Direct Evidence Further Demonstrates Amazon’s Monopoly Power.
VI. AMAZON IS ENGAGED IN A COURSE OF CONDUCT THAT ILLEGALLY.
MAINTAINS ITS MONOPOLIES IN BOTH RELEVANT MARKETS.
A. Amazon Maintains Its Monopolies In Both Relevant Markets Through Exclusionary Anti-Discounting Conduct That Stifles Price Competition.
B. Amazon Maintains Its Monopolies In Both Relevant Markets By Coercing Sellers To Use Amazon’s Fulfillment Service.
Case 2:23-cv-01495 Document 1 Filed 09/26/23
1 C. Amazon's Anticompetitive Tactics Work Together To Amplify Their
2 Overall Exclusionaiy Effect.
3 VII. AMAZON **********************
A. Project Nessie **********************
B. Amazon Has ********************** Project Nessie **********************
VIII. AMAZON'S CONDUCT HARMS COMPETITION AND CONSUMERS.
IX. VIOLATIONS ALLEGED.
X. REQUEST FOR RELIEF.
🔹Continue reading | Complaint (pdf)
☑️ #81 Sep 25, 2023
Expanding access to safer AI with Amazon
anthropic.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] Today, we’re announcing that Amazon will invest up to $4 billion in Anthropic. The agreement is part of a broader collaboration to develop the most reliable and high-performing foundation models in the industry. Our frontier safety research and products, together with Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) expertise in running secure, reliable infrastructure, will make Anthropic’s safe and steerable AI widely accessible to AWS customers.
AWS will become Anthropic’s primary cloud provider for mission critical workloads, providing our team with access to leading compute infrastructure in the form of AWS Trainium and Inferentia chips, which will be used in addition to existing solutions for model training and deployment. Together, we’ll combine our respective expertise to collaborate on the development of future Trainium and Inferentia technology.
🔹Amazon and Anthropic Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance Generative AI
☑️ #80 Sep 20, 2023
Previewing the future of Alexa
aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] With generative AI bringing our north star for Alexa within reach, we’re previewing a new large language model and a suite of conversational AI capabilities that will help deliver an even more intuitive, intelligent, and useful Alexa.
This is an early look at a smarter and more conversational Alexa, powered by generative AI. It’s based on a new large language model (LLM) that’s been custom-built and specifically optimized for voice interactions, and the things we know our customers love—getting real-time information, efficient smart home control, and maximizing their home entertainment. We believe this will drive the future of Alexa, enabling us to enhance five foundational capabilities:
Conversation
Real-world utility
Personalization and context
Personality
Trust
🔹Continue reading | Related content:
Amazon Rolls Out Generative AI Alexa, Launches New Speakers - Amazon will use real user conversations to train Alexa's AI model
☑️ #79 Sep 12, 2023
Introducing Supply Chain by Amazon, an automated solution to help sellers quickly and reliably ship products around the world
aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] Sellers can now spend less time managing their supply chain and more time building great products, delighting customers, and growing their business.
With Supply Chain by Amazon, Amazon will pick up inventory from manufacturing facilities around the world, ship it across borders, handle customs clearance and ground transportation, store inventory in bulk, manage replenishment across Amazon and other sales channels, and deliver directly to customers—all without sellers having to worry about managing their supply chain. The new solution allows sellers to spend more time building great products, delighting customers, and growing their business, while Amazon handles the logistics, improves delivery speed, and reduces costs for sellers.
☑️ #78 Aug 31, 2023
EVgo and Amazon Launch Seamless EV Charger Navigation Experience with Alexa
evgo.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] Alexa-enabled vehicles and automotive accessories can help drivers locate nearby charging stations while on the road
LOS ANGELES – August 31, 2023 – EVgo Inc. (NASDAQ: EVGO) (“EVgo” or the “Company”), one of the nation’s largest public fast charging networks for electric vehicles (EVs), today announced the debut of an Alexa-enabled EV charging experience with Amazon. Drivers with Alexa-enabled vehicles as well as automotive accessories like Echo Auto can now ask Alexa to help them find and navigate to nearby EV charging stations. This announcement follows the company’s previous news of supporting Amazon’s voice-initiated EV driver experience during CES 2023, building on EVgo’s commitment to delivering a best-in-class customer experience.
☑️ #77 Aug 28, 2023
Fig has joined AWS!
fig.io: [Transcription] [Excerpts] I am thrilled to announce that the Fig team will be joining Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Amazon has acquired Fig's technology!
Fig and AWS share a passion for improved developer tools and services. By combining Fig's expertise with AWS' long-term orientation and track record of delivering customer-centric products, we see an opportunity to enhance the developer experience. AWS believes that generative AI represents a major technological shift to transform the way its customers build, and we are beyond excited to be a part of that larger vision.
☑️ #76 Aug 25, 2023 🔴 rumor
Amazon in Talks With Disney About ESPN Streaming Partnership
theinformation.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] Amazon has had early talks with Disney about working on the streaming version of ESPN it is developing, said people familiar with the matter. The tech giant could offer the service through one of its streaming offerings, helping to expand its distribution, while possibly also taking a minority stake in ESPN.
Such an arrangement could shore up ESPN’s status as the biggest force in sports media, even as declining TV viewership and advertising, combined with rising sports programming costs, have squeezed the sports channel and Disney, its majority owner. It could also reposition the tech behemoth, which has been trying to make a dent in sports streaming, as more friend than foe to ESPN. And it could weaken the sports leagues’ bargaining power.
☑️ #75 Aug 24, 2023
The Path to $4.5B ✅: Funding Round (Hugging Face)
@ClementDelangue: Super excited to welcome our new investors @SalesforceVC, @Google, @amazon, @nvidia, @AMD, @intel, @QualcommVenture, @IBM & @sound_ventures_ who all participated in @huggingface’s $235M series D at a $4.5B valuation to celebrate the crossing of 1,000,000 models, datasets and apps on the platform. These partners alone already shared over 1,000 open models and datasets and have over 10,000 users on Hugging Face. It takes a village to democratize good machine learning thanks to open-source and we’re just getting started!
🔹Related content:
Funding Round•Aug 23, 2023
Hugging Face raised $235,000,000 / Series D from Amazon and 8 other investors
☑️ #74 Aug 13, 2023
How Amazon Is Making Custom Chips To Catch Up In Generative A.I. Race
@CNBC: [Transcription] [Excerpts] Despite its firm footing as the world’s biggest cloud provider, Amazon Web Services got a slow start to the generative AI race. AWS released its large language model, Titan, months after Microsoft’s reported $13 billion investment in ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and Google’s release of Bard. But AWS is also designing its own custom AI microchips, shown to CNBC in an exclusive tour of its Austin chip lab. Now analysts say AWS may gain a long term advantage in AI by offering an alternative to Nvidia GPUs.
Chapters:
00:00 — Introduction
03:00 — Designing custom silicon
07:06 — Generative A.I. race
09:39 — Full-stack approach
11:31 — Leveraging cloud dominance
☑️ #73 Aug 9, 2023
Amazon and the Problem of Reverse Plagiarism
plagiarismtoday.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] Authors, typically, have had two separate but related problems to worry about.
The first has been piracy, where their books are unlawfully traded on various sites, often overshadowing and harming their ability to sell legitimate copies.
The second has been plagiarism, other authors using plots, concepts or even text from their work to write “new” works to sell as their own.
Though the two issues are different in many ways, both ultimately fall under the realm of copyright, as that is the legal tool used to resolve those kinds of misuse. However, author Jane Friedman has discovered a new kind of issue, one that is likely to grow in the coming years. In a post on her website, Friedman told the story about how she learned books were being uploaded under her name that she didn’t write.
🔹Related content:
I Would Rather See My Books Get Pirated Than This (Or: Why Goodreads and Amazon Are Becoming Dumpster Fires) by Jane Friedman
Fake Jane Friedman books on Goodreads (now removed)
☑️ #72 Aug 4, 2023
Yesterday's AMZN earnings call was *wild*.
Quartr_App: $AMZN is surging +10% today (now up ~70% since the bottom in December last year) following its Q2 2023 earnings report. Here are 10 highlights from the earnings call
1. Five consecutive quarters of improved operating margin for the North America stores segment
⚡️
Quartr_App: "I think it's going to transform virtually every customer experience that we know."
2. @ajassy on the future of Generative AI:
⚡️
Quartr_App: 3. Same or next day deliveries to U.S. Prime members have increased by nearly 4x since 2019
⚡️
Quartr_App: "AWS remains the clear cloud infrastructure leader with a significant leadership position."
4. Comments on AWS:
⚡️
Quartr_App: 5. $AMZN is regionalizing the logistics network, leading to both cost savings and increased speed:
⚡️
Quartr_App: 6. The benefits of fast deliveries explained:
⚡️
Quartr_App: "We're optimistic that the largest number of these will be built on AWS."
7. @ajassy's thoughts on AWS acting as a building block for Generative AI:
⚡️
Quartr_App: 8. Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh:
⚡️
Quartr_App: 9. Vastly increased FCF on a trailing 12-month basis:
⚡️
Quartr_App: 10. Expects to continue decreasing capital investments:
💲 EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENT: : Aug 3, 2023
Amazon.com Announces Second Quarter Results
Press | Related content:
☑️ #71 Jul 21, 2023
Amazon’s Project Kuiper will open a new satellite-processing facility at Kennedy Space Center
aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] Project Kuiper’s newest facility brings jobs and economic growth to Cape Canaveral while bolstering innovation within the commercial space industry.
The facility is the latest long-term investment in Project Kuiper, a low Earth orbit satellite network that will provide fast, affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities around the world. The space will be used to prepare and integrate Kuiper satellites with rockets from Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance (ULA) ahead of launches. It stems from an expected partnership with Space Florida’s Spaceport Improvement Program—a matching investment initiative to boost critical spaceport infrastructure—and is one of several Amazon investments that will drive innovation and job growth in the state of Florida.
Current Facilities
Kirkland (Washington): Satellite research, development, and prototype manufacturing facility
Projected Facilities ("Project Comet")
Space Florida - Kennedy Space Center: Satellite-processing facility
Space Florida - Kennedy Space Center: Landing Facility
*Amazon will build the facility at the former Launch and Landing Facility, which served as the landing site for NASA's Space Shuttle missions in the past.
*More than 1,000 people are working on Project Kuiper across the U.S., including in cities like San Diego, Austin, New York City, and Washington, D.C.
Continue reading | Project Kuiper launch contracts?
Arianespace
Arianespace signs unprecedented contract with Amazon for 18 Ariane 6 launches to deploy Project Kuiper constellation (4/5/22)
United Launch Alliance
Amazon signs contract with United Launch Alliance for 38 Project Kuiper Launches on Vulcan Centaur (4/5/22)
Amazon secures ULA’s Proven Atlas V Rocket for 9 Project Kuiper Launches (4/19/21)
Blue Origin
Amazon selects Blue Origin’s New Glenn for up to 27 Project Kuiper Constellation Launches (4/5/22)
ABL Space Systems
Amazon to launch first two internet satellites in 2022 (The New York Times, 11/21/21) [ablspacesystems.com]
☑️ #70 Jul 20, 2023
Amazon One Palm Payment is Coming to Whole Foods
@AmazonNews: [Transcription] [Excerpt] Whole Foods Market customers will soon have the option to pay and receive Prime member benefits with just their palm.
☑️ #69 Jul 11, 2023
The first day of Prime Day was the single largest sales day ever on Amazon, helping make this the biggest Prime Day event ever
aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] Prime Day 2023 was also the biggest Prime Day event ever for independent sellers, whose sales growth in Amazon’s store outpaced Amazon's retail business.
Behind the scenes of Prime Day 2023 with our CEO of Worldwide Amazon Stores
Continue reading | Related content: The History of Prime Day
Prime Day came to life on July 15, 2015 as a way to celebrate Prime members on Amazon's 20th birthday
📌 Notes
⇢ AWS’s data center project represents the second-largest single private sector company investment in Ohio's history: Estimated $7.8 Billion Investment by Amazon Web Services in Central Ohio to expand Data Center operations (6/26/23)
☑️ #68 Jun 22, 2023
AWS Announces Generative AI Innovation Center
press.aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] AWS invests $100 million in a new program that connects AWS machine learning and artificial intelligence experts with customers and partners worldwide to accelerate enterprise innovation and success with generative AI
Highspot, Lonely Planet, Ryanair, and Twilio are engaging with the Innovation Center to explore developing generative AI solutions
🔹What generative AI means for businesses and how AWS can help
☑️ #67 May 28, 2023
Bezos bought one single share
@unusual_whales: Jeffery Bezos, executive chairman of $AMZN, bought one single share of Amazon. It was the first time he (or any insider) purchased $AMZN stock this year, and the first purchase transaction for the founder since at least 2005. Yes, one single share.
☑️ #66 May 23, 2023
Amazon to demolish nine office buildings in Sterling, Virginia, and build four data centers
datacenterdynamics.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] Can't find greenfield space in Virginia? Knock down some offices
This isn’t the first time AWS has looked to acquire and demolish office complexes in Virginia. In 2021, AWS filed plans to demolish a pair of office buildings on Loisdale Road that it had acquired that year and replace them with a data center in Springfield, Fairfax County. BJ notes the demolition work on this project has begun.
"AWS data centers bring job creation, investment, and educational programs that are benefitting communities across the United States. Since 2006, AWS has invested more than $35 billion in Virginia, has supported thousands of highly skilled jobs, and helped grow the GDP of the Commonwealth by billions of dollars in that time. We are proud of the ways we benefit our communities and look forward to helping the continued growth in Sterling."
Amazon spokesperson
☑️ #65 May 5, 2023
Amazon: Everyone gets an LLM
appeconomyinsights.com: AWS slows down, advertising accelerates, and cash flow improves
☑️ #64 May 2, 2023
Prime Visa and Amazon Visa
@amazonnews: Say hello to the Prime Visa and Amazon Visa from Amazon and @Chase. With a new look and added benefits (including daily rewards and 2% back on rideshare!), customers can now earn even more while they shop. Learn more.
☑️ #63 May 2, 2023
Many Amazon employees are returning to the office today. Here’s what the Seattle headquarters looks like
aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpt] Tens of thousands of Amazon employees are returning to the office this week. Here are photos of employees headed back to work at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters today.
💲 EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENT: Apr 27, 2023
Amazon.com Announces First Quarter Results
☑️ #62 Apr 13, 2023 (AI 2)
Amazon CodeWhisperer (2022 preview), Free for Individual Use, is Now Generally Available
aws.amazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] Build applications faster and more securely with your AI coding companion
CodeWhisperer is trained on billions of lines of code and can generate code suggestions ranging from snippets to full functions in real time based on your comments and existing code. Bypass time-consuming coding tasks and accelerate building with unfamiliar APIs.
🔹Real-time AI coding companion
☑️ #61 Apr 13, 2023 (AI 1)
Announcing New Tools for Building with Generative AI on AWS
aws.amazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpt] The seeds of a machine learning (ML) paradigm shift have existed for decades, but with the ready availability of scalable compute capacity, a massive proliferation of data, and the rapid advancement of ML technologies, customers across industries are transforming their businesses. Just recently, generative AI applications like ChatGPT have captured widespread attention and imagination. We are truly at an exciting inflection point in the widespread adoption of ML, and we believe most customer experiences and applications will be reinvented with generative AI.
🔹Continue reading | Related content:
Amazon Bedrock: The easiest way to build and scale generative AI applications with foundation models (FMs)
Amazon Titan: Innovate responsibly with high-performing foundation models (FMs) from Amazon
☑️ #60 Apr 5, 2023
Amazon Looks to Grow Diamonds in Bid to Boost Computer Networks
e6.com: Perfect imperfections. How aws is innovating on diamond materials for quantum communication with Element Six
[Transcription] Color centers in diamond are a leading technology platform for quantum communication and networking. In this announcement, we introduce you to key concepts of quantum communication and discuss how diamonds can be used in quantum networking nodes. We are also announcing a new research collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to explore ways to develop and improve synthetic diamond for quantum networking.
☑️ #59 Apr 3, 2023
S&P 500 Map - Year to Date performance
finviz.com: Standard and Poor's 500 index stocks categorized by sectors and industries. Size represents market cap.
☑️ #58 Mar 28, 2023
Amazon Invites Developers to Test Sidewalk and Build the Next Billion Connected Devices
aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpts] Amazon, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN 0.00%↑) today announced that Amazon Sidewalk, a secure, low-bandwidth, long-range network designed to connect the next billion devices, is now open for developer testing.
Low-cost, long-range coverage now extends to more than 90% of the U.S. population.
Calling all developers: test kits are available today—validate Amazon Sidewalk coverage for yourself
AWS IoT Core helps developers easily connect Sidewalk-enabled devices to the cloud
🔹What is Amazon Sidewalk? Amazon Sidewalk, a secure, free-to-connect, long-range and low-power shared community network designed to provide connectivity for billions of devices, is now open to developers. Using new tools and technology from Amazon Sidewalk, AWS, and partner silicon companies, we provide developers and device makers the ability to independently create and rapidly onboard new Amazon Sidewalk-enabled devices and applications on to the shared network.
🔹AWS IoT Core for Amazon Sidewalk
☑️ #57 Mar 21, 2023
Employees added during the past three years compared with pre-Covid level
@MarketRebels: $AMZN almost doubled the size of its workforce during the pandemic
☑️ #56 Mar 21, 2023
Amazon’s Cloud Crisis: How AWS Will Lose The Future Of Computing
@JerryCap: "We believe that $AMZN will not be a good provider of AI infrastructure, let alone platforms and software."
☑️ #55 Mar 16, 2023
Amazon doubling down on RTO (return to office)
The Pragmatic Engineer: The tech giant is not blinking: after the unprecedented pushback on its 3-day return to office policy last month, Amazon just made it clear that the policy is going ahead. Exclusive.
🔹The Scoop: Amazon doubling down on Return to Office (RTO)
☑️ #54 Mar 15, 2023
Here’s your first look at Project Kuiper’s low-cost customer terminals
aboutamazon.com: [Transcription] [Excerpt] Learn how small, low-cost antennas are helping Project Kuiper bring fast, affordable broadband to customers and communities around the world.
“First Look” by CNET Highlights
Who will Project Kuiper help connect?
Why is Amazon taking this on?
Is Project Kuiper part of Blue Origin?
When did Amazon start Project Kuiper?
When will Project Kuiper service be available?
Why is it called Project Kuiper?
Where is Project Kuiper based?
How many people work on Project Kuiper?
What kinds of technologies does Project Kuiper use?
How many satellites will Project Kuiper have?
What is low Earth orbit (LEO)?
How do the satellites get into space?
Is it safe to have so many satellites in space?
How fast will Project Kuiper internet be?
How much will Project Kuiper service cost?
Everything you need to know about Project Kuiper, Amazon’s satellite broadband network »
🔹Amazon expands satellite manufacturing at newly acquired Project Kuiper facility
Inspiring Spring Quotes: “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
Winter break
Last highlights:
One Medical Joins Amazon to Make It Easier for People to Get and Stay Healthier (02-22-23)
AWS Announces AWS Telco Network Builder (02-21-23)
Hugging Face and AWS partner to make AI more accessible (02-21-23 partnership to enable next generation ML models in the AWS cloud)
☑️ #53 Feb 11, 2023
☑️ #52 Feb 3, 2023
@simon_ree: If $AAPL $AMZN $GOOGL has posted misses like that 6 months ago, they would have dropped 10%+ post earnings Small drops after mkt are an indication that sentiment has shifted more bullish (ie market steps over bad news rather than frets over it)
☑️ #51 Feb 2, 2023
@CNBCtelevision: Amazon beats on revenue, AWS revenue down slightly