Google commits a record $1 billion to promote innovation
Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, recently announced a five-year plan to contribute one billion dollars in grants and one million volunteer hours to promote technology and innovation. The plan focuses on impacting three areas: education, economic opportunity and inclusion. The grants will go to nonprofit innovators who work to improve the aforementioned areas.
Last year Google committed $50 million to support innovative educators. According to Google.org, the grantees are in the process of launching new learning platforms, building self-directed learning apps and introducing new online lesson plans for educators.
According to the World Economic Forum, by 2020 a third of the jobs will require skills not common in today’s workforce. In early 2017, Google committed $50 million to prepare for the need for certain skills in the future.
Google’s one billion dollar commitment may be the largest advance toward offering and improving technology opportunities.
Uber objects to London ban
Last month, London’s government organization responsible for transportation, Transport for London (TfL) decided to seize Uber’s licence of operation. TfL rejected Uber’s operation due to four main concerns, including the way Uber reported criminal offences, processed background checks for drivers, obtained medical certificates and used alleged unsafe software.
“While we have today filed our appeal so that Londoners can continue using our app, we hope to continue having constructive discussions with Transport for London. As our new CEO has said, we are determined to make things right,” an Uber spokesperson said in a press release.
Currently there are three and a half million users in London and forty thousand drivers. Although Uber’s license expired on Sept. 30, service will continue for the millions of registered passengers until after the end of the appeal process.
U.S. consumers are buying more iPhone 7s than iPhone 8s
According to a recent report by Reuters, Apple’s older model, the iPhone 7, is outselling the newly launched iPhone 8. Traditionally the newest models of the iPhone have sold quickly as soon as they are released on the market. The iPhone 8 includes new features such as a glass back for wireless charging but otherwise resembles the iPhone 7.
“Many respondents indicated that a meaningful portion of customers are buying iPhone7 in lieu of the new iPhone8 given the lay of significant enhancements in the new phone,” John Vinh, KeyBanc analyst, said according to Reuters.
The iPhone 8 is marketed starting at $699, while the iPhone 7 costs $549 after the recent price cut. U.S. carriers have also been slow to advertise the new iPhone, compared to previous models. Furthermore, the iPhone X, a stainless steel and glass anniversary version of the iPhone will start to ship on Nov. 3. These are all reasons that may contibute to the lower sales of the recently launched iPhone 8. Still, Apple’s shares have gone up a little more than one percent since the release of the phone.
