A supply chain vulnerability in AWS CodeBuild recently put the entire AWS Console at risk. Learn how Wiz Research found the flaw and how Amazon responded to prevent a global security crisis.
Category: Amazon
Amazon, cyber crime, Cybersecurity, fraud, Global Security News, Scams and Fraud
Keyboard Lag Leads Amazon to North Korean Impostor in Remote Role
Amazon Security Chief explains how a subtle keyboard delay exposed a North Korean impostor. Read about the laptop farm scheme and how 110 milliseconds of lag ended a major corporate infiltration.
Amazon, Data loss, Europe, Global Security News, Podcast, Ransomware, vulnerability
Smashing Security podcast #448: The Kindle that got pwned
Think your Kindle is harmless? Think again! In this episode, we unpack a Black Hat Europe talk revealing how a boobytrapped audiobook could exploit the Amazon eBook reader – potentially letting an attacker break into your account and seize control of your credit card. Plus a blast from 2021’s “summer of ransomware” returns to haunt…
0day, Amazon, AWS, Exploits, Global Security News, Security
Amazon: Russian GRU hackers favor misconfigured devices over vulnerabilities
Amazon Threat Intelligence reports Russian GRU hackers are increasingly breaking into critical infrastructure by abusing misconfigured devices instead of exploiting software vulnerabilities.
A Little Sunshine, Amazon, Asia Pacific, Global Security News, Internet of Things (IoT), Web Fraud 2.0
Is Your Android TV Streaming Box Part of a Botnet?
On the surface, the Superbox media streaming devices for sale at retailers like BestBuy and Walmart may seem like a steal: They offer unlimited access to more than 2,200 pay-per-view and streaming services like Netflix, ESPN and Hulu, all for a one-time fee of around $400. But security experts warn these TV boxes require intrusive…
Amazon, Cybersecurity, Global Security News, Research, Threats
Amazon warns of global rise in specialized cyber-enabled kinetic targeting
Amazon said the lines between cyberattacks and physical, real-world attacks are blurring quickly — prompting the tech giant to call for a new category of warfare: cyber-enabled kinetic targeting. Nation-states have combined and understood how logical systems and the physical world interact for a long time, but more non-traditional attackers are showcasing expertise in using…
Amazon, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Exploits, Global Security News, Research, Threats
Amazon pins Cisco, Citrix zero-day attacks to APT group
Amazon’s threat intelligence team said it observed an advanced persistent threat group exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities affecting Cisco Identity Service Engine and Citrix NetScaler products before the vendors disclosed and patched the defects last summer. Amazon’s MadPot honeypot service detected active exploitation of the critical defects — CVE-2025-5777 in Citrix and CVE-2025-20337 in Cisco — and…
AI, AI Security, Amazon, Cybersecurity, Exploits, Global Security News, Research
Amazon rolls out AI bug bounty program
Amazon became the latest company to open its large language models to outside security researchers, announcing the creation of a new bug bounty program for the tech giant’s AI tools. The program will allow select third-party researchers and academic teams to prod NOVA, Amazon’s suite of foundational AI models and receive compensation for their findings.…
Amazon, AWS, Cybersecurity, Global Security News, Government, Technology
With each cloud outage, calls for government action grow louder
When a pair of high-profile internet outages took down large chunks of the internet last month, the events briefly brought hundreds of organizations to a near-halt and prevented millions of users from accessing core services for everyday business needs. From Starbucks to crypto exchanges to the messaging app Signal, the outages rippled across nearly every…
Amazon, AWS, Cloud, Cloud Security, Exploits, Global Security News, Security
Credentials and Misconfigurations Behind Most Cloud Breaches, Says AWS
New AWS report data reveals the top four security failure points in the cloud, including vulnerability exploitation (24%)…
Amazon, AWS, Cybersecurity, Global Security News, Security
Major AWS Outage Now Mitigated: Global Impact and What Happened
A global AWS outage disrupted major apps and services across regions before being fully mitigated, exposing heavy dependence on cloud infrastructure.
Amazon, AWS, cyber attacks, Global Security News, Security
Amazon Disrupts Russian APT29 Watering Hole Targeting Microsoft Authentication
Amazon has disrupted a Russian APT29 watering hole campaign that used compromised sites to target Microsoft authentication with…
Amazon, APT, Breaking News, Global Security News, hacking, intelligence
Amazon blocks APT29 campaign targeting Microsoft device code authentication
Amazon stopped a Russia-linked APT29 watering hole attack that hijacked Microsoft device code authentication via compromised sites. Amazon announced that it had disrupted an opportunistic watering hole campaign orchestrated by the Russia-linked cyber espionage group APT29 (aka SVR group, Cozy Bear, Nobelium, BlueBravo, Midnight Blizzard, and The Dukes). Amazon experts labeled the attacks as an opportunistic watering hole campaign using compromised…
A Little Sunshine, Amazon, Europe, Global Security News, Russia's War on Ukraine, Time to Patch, Web Fraud 2.0
Proxy Services Feast on Ukraine’s IP Address Exodus
Image: Mark Rademaker, via Shutterstock. Ukraine has seen nearly one-fifth of its Internet space come under Russian control or sold to Internet address brokers since February 2022, a new study finds. The analysis indicates large chunks of Ukrainian Internet address space are now in the hands of shadowy proxy and anonymity services that are nested…
A Little Sunshine, Amazon, Europe, Funnull, Global Security News, infrastructure laundering, Ivan Neculiti, Microsoft, Ne'er-Do-Well News, Silent Push, Stark Industrires Solutions Ltd, Suncity Group, Web Fraud 2.0, Yuri Neculiti, Zach Edwards
U.S. Sanctions Cloud Provider ‘Funnull’ as Top Source of ‘Pig Butchering’ Scams
Image: Shutterstock, ArtHead. The U.S. government today imposed economic sanctions on Funnull Technology Inc., a Philippines-based company that provides computer infrastructure for hundreds of thousands of websites involved in virtual currency investment scams known as “pig butchering.” In January 2025, KrebsOnSecurity detailed how Funnull was being used as a content delivery network that catered to…
Amazon, Global Security News, robotaxi, Transportation, zoox
Zoox issues second robotaxi software recall in a month following collision
Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox has issued its second voluntary software recall in a month, following a collision between one of its robotaxis and an e-scooter rider in San Francisco on May 8. The latest incident involved an unoccupied Zoox vehicle operating at low speed, which the company says was struck by the e-scooter after…
AI, Amazon, Global Security News
Amazon rolls out short-form AI-powered audio product summaries for select items
Amazon is testing short-form AI-powered audio product summaries on select product pages, the company announced on Wednesday. The audio summaries are voiced by what Amazon calls “AI-powered shopping experts” that discuss key product features, customer reviews, and information from across the web. The new AI product summaries can be accessed by tapping the “Hear the…
Amazon, Global IT News, Global Security News, google gemini, Luminar, techcrunch mobility, Transportation, Uber
TechCrunch Mobility: Google’s Gemini is coming to your car, chaos comes for Luminar, and the Amazonification of Uber 2.0
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! OK, who placed their bet on General Motors being the landing spot for Aurora co-founder and chief product officer Sterling Anderson? Not me. But here we are.…
Amazon, Apps, Global Security News, Transportation, Uber, uber one
The Amazonification of Uber: Part II
Three years ago, I wrote about the Amazonification of Uber, an evolution of the transportation company into a closed business loop that feeds customers back into other Uber channels. At the time, the focus was on how Uber creates customer stickiness by, for example, actively cross-selling food delivery customers into grocery, and grocery into alcohol,…
Amazon, Global Security News, Media & Entertainment, prime video
Amazon Prime Video in India to get ads starting in June
Amazon will bring ads to movies and shows on Prime Video in India starting June 17, over a year after introducing ads in markets including the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Canada. On Tuesday, Amazon emailed Prime members in India to announce the rollout of “limited advertisements” on content streaming on Prime Video. Amazon originally announced…
AI, Amazon, Global Security News, Jobs, robotics
Amazon offers peek at new human jobs in an AI bot world
The tech industry seems to have two thoughts when it comes to where human workers fit into the AI-powered world they are creating: Either they think that all the jobs, except perhaps their own, will be done by bots. (VC Marc Andreessen seems to think that his work as an investor could never be automated). …
AI, Amazon, Commerce, generative ai, Global Security News, listings, Shopping
Amazon’s newest AI tool is designed to enhance product listings
Amazon said Thursday it is releasing a new generative AI-powered tool to help merchants improve their listings with missing details or attributes. Sellers often have hundreds of products listed on Amazon, and they need to update information related to them from time to time, which can be a cumbersome task. The e-commerce tech giant wants…
AI, Amazon, Commerce, Global Security News, robotics
Amazon debuts a warehouse robot with a sense of ‘touch’
Amazon says that it has developed a new warehouse robot, Vulcan, that can “feel” some of the items it touches. The two-armed Vulcan, which can maneuver goods inside the storage compartments Amazon has in its warehouses, uses force sensors to help it know when it makes contact with an object. One arm rearranges items in a…
Amazon, Apple, Global Security News, Social, Week in Review
Week in Review: Apple won’t raise prices — yet
Welcome back to Week in Review! We’ve got lots of news for you today: Amazon earnings, Apple earnings, ChatGPT sycophancy, Alibaba’s AI models, and much more. Let’s get to it! Well? During Apple’s earnings call yesterday, Tim Cook revealed that the company paid $900 million in tariffs last quarter. But despite this, the CEO didn’t…
Amazon, CISA, crowdstrike, Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Global Security News, Google, Government, intelligence sharing, Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative, Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC), National Security Agency, Palo Alto Networks, Research, Technology, Threat Intelligence, Threats
Amazon, CrowdStrike, Google and Palo Alto Networks claim no change to threat intel sharing under Trump
SAN FRANCISCO — Threat intelligence sharing is flowing between the private sector and federal government and remains unimpeded thus far by job losses and budget cuts across federal agencies that support the cyber mission, according to executives at major security firms. Top brass at Amazon, CrowdStrike, Google and Palo Alto Networks said there’s been no…
AI, Alexa, Amazon, Global Security News, Hardware
Amazon CEO says 100,000 users now have Alexa+
Amazon’s upgraded digital assistant powered by generative AI, Alexa+, has rolled out to over 100,000 users, CEO Andy Jassy said on the company’s earnings call Thursday. While that’s a far cry from the 600 million Alexa devices out there, the company is making some progress on the rollout of Alexa+, which was first unveiled in…
AI, Amazon, AWS, Global Security News, Nova
Amazon launches Nova Premier, its most capable AI model yet
Amazon on Wednesday released what the company claims is the most capable AI model in its Nova family, Nova Premier. Nova Premier, which can process text, images, and videos (but not audio), is available in Amazon Bedrock, the company’s AI model development platform. Amazon says that Premier excels at “complex tasks” that “require deep understanding…
AI, Amazon, AWS, chatbot, Enterprise, Global Security News, q business
Amazon updates Q Business to let companies build public-facing chatbots
Amazon wants companies to build public-facing chatbots using its Q Business assistant. On Wednesday, the company announced that Q Business, its AWS-hosted AI assistant that can answer questions, provide summaries, and complete tasks, now supports anonymous user access. This effectively means that AWS users can now create Q Business chatbots for websites, support portals, and…
Amazon, crowdstrike, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Global Security News, Government, law enforcement, Research, RSAC 2025 Conference, Threat Intelligence, Threats
Amazon, CrowdStrike leaders say private threat intel can quickly bring cybercriminals to justice
SAN FRANCISCO — Threat intelligence flowing from private companies to cybersecurity authorities and law enforcement agencies is critical to the disruption of malicious activities and the arrests of cybercriminals, security leaders at Amazon and CrowdStrike said Monday during the RSAC 2025 Conference. When the private sector and governments interact well, actively participating and sharing resources…
Amazon, Global Security News, Project Kuiper, Space
Amazon’s first 27 internet satellites launch to space
The first 27 satellites in Amazon’s effort to create a space-based internet network have finally made it to orbit, paving the way for the company to attempt to compete with Elon Musk’s well-established Starlink service. A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket lifted off late Monday from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in…
Amazon, Commerce, E-Commerce, Global Security News, prime day, Tariffs
Amazon Prime Day to return in July despite threat of tariffs
Amazon is bringing back its annual sales event, Prime Day, in July, the e-commerce giant said on Tuesday. This year, consumer demand for the popular sale event could be dampened by the possibility of tariffs increasing the cost of goods. To highlight the impact of President Trump’s tariffs, Amazon will reportedly begin to display the…
Amazon, Commerce, Global Security News, Independent Bookstore Day, Media & Entertainment
Amazon’s big book sale just happens to overlap with Independent Bookstore Day
Amazon is raising eyebrows with the timing of its big book sale for 2025, which runs from April 23 to 28 — which means it’s competing directly with Independent Bookstore Day. As writer Maris Kreisman explained in Lit Hub, Independent Bookstore Day is an annual event organized by the American Booksellers Association (ABA), with events,…
A Little Sunshine, Amazon, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, doge, GitHub, Global Security News, Lasharn Hamilton, Latest Warnings, Microsoft Azure, NPR, NxGen, SpaceX, The Coming Storm, Tim Bearese, US-CERT
Whistleblower: DOGE Siphoned NLRB Case Data
A security architect with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) alleges that employees from Elon Musk‘s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) transferred gigabytes of sensitive data from agency case files in early March, using short-lived accounts configured to leave few traces of network activity. The NLRB whistleblower said the unusual large data outflows coincided with…
AI, Amazon, Global Security News, Startups
Columbia student suspended over interview cheating tool raises $5.3M to ‘cheat on everything’
On Sunday, 21-year-old Chungin ‘Roy’ Lee announced he’s raised $5.3 million in seed funding from Abstract Ventures and Susa Ventures for his startup, Cluely, that offers an AI tool to “cheat on everything.” The startup was born after Lee posted in a viral X thread that he was suspended by Columbia University after he and…
Amazon, EVs, Global Security News, Rivian, Transportation
Rivian’s first non-Amazon van customer is HelloFresh
Meal-kit company HelloFresh has added 70 all-electric Rivian vans to its fleet, the first major customer to buy the commercial EVs since the automaker ended its exclusive deal with Amazon. The 70 all-electric commercial vans represent nearly one quarter of HelloFresh’s fleet, which has already helped the company save an estimated 20,000 gallons of gasoline,…
Amazon, Commerce, Global Security News
Could an Amazon driver could be the one who saves your life?
In a quiet transformation from merchandising giant to (also) healthcare giant, Amazon may be positioning its sprawling logistics network and growing medical footprint to potentially save lives, starting with your front door. According to Bloomberg, back in 2023, Amazon piloted a several months-long pilot program called Project Pulse, equipping delivery vans with defibrillators and training…
AI, Amazon, Artificial Intelligence, AWS, chips, Enterprise, Global Security News
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy urges companies to invest heavily in AI
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy thinks companies should invest “aggressively” in AI now to reap the full financial rewards in the future. In his annual letter to Amazon shareholders published Thursday, Jassy said “substantial capital” is required to keep up with the pace of AI innovation and customer demand for AI products. He added that Amazon,…
AI, Amazon, Global Security News
Amazon unveils a new AI voice model, Nova Sonic
On Tuesday, Amazon debuted a new generative AI model, Nova Sonic, capable of natively processing voice and generating natural-sounding speech. Amazon claims that Sonic’s performance is competitive with frontier voice models from OpenAI and Google on benchmarks measuring speed, speech recognition, and conversational quality. Nova Sonic is Amazon’s answer to newer AI voice models such…
AI, Amazon, Commerce, Global Security News
Amazon’s new AI agent will shop third-party sites for you
Amazon is starting to test a new AI shopping agent, a feature it calls “Buy for Me,” with a subset users, the company announced in a blog post Thursday. If Amazon doesn’t sell something that users are searching for, the Buy for Me feature will display products to users that other websites are selling. Then,…
AI, Amazon, Apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Kindle, Media & Entertainment
Amazon Kindle’s new feature uses AI to generate recaps for books in a series
Amazon is introducing a new “Recaps” feature for Kindle users to help them recall plot points and character arcs before picking up the latest book in a series. While the company’s press release for the new feature doesn’t mention AI, Amazon confirmed to TechCrunch that recaps are AI-generated. “We use technology, including GenAI and Amazon…
Amazon, Apps, Global Security News, Social, TikTok, TikTok Ban
Amazon reportedly submits last-minute bid to acquire TikTok
Amazon has submitted a bid to acquire all of TikTok, according to a new report from The New York Times. The last-minute bid comes as TikTok faces an April 5 deadline to shed its Chinese ownership or face a ban in the U.S. However, the parties involved in the deal talks do not appear to…
AI, Alexa, Amazon, Global Security News
Some Alexa+ features reportedly won’t arrive for months
Amazon has delivered on its promise to launch an upgraded Alexa experience, Alexa+, by the end of March. But the service reportedly lacks many of the features Amazon demoed at a press event in late February. Alexa+ can’t yet perform certain “agentic” AI tasks showcased in the company’s marketing, like ordering takeout on Grubhub or…
AI, Alexa, Amazon, Global Security News
Amazon unveils Nova Act, an AI agent that can control a web browser
Amazon on Monday unveiled Nova Act, a general-purpose AI agent that can take control of a web browser and independently perform some simple actions. Alongside the new agentic AI model, Amazon is releasing the Nova Act SDK, a toolkit that allows developers to build agent prototypes with Nova Act. Nova Act, developed by Amazon’s recently…
Amazon, Artificial Intelligence (AI), cisco, Climate, data centers, Enterprise, evergreens, Global Security News, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Solar Power
Data centers love solar: Here’s a comprehensive guide to deals over 100 megawatts
New and expanded data centers are expected to double the sector’s power demand by 2029 as tech companies rush to capitalize on AI.
AI, Amazon, Commerce, E-Commerce, generative ai, Global Security News
Amazon launches personalized shopping prompts as part of its generative AI push
Amazon continues to infuse AI into its shopping tools to encourage customers to make more purchases. The company announced on Wednesday a new feature called “Interests,” aimed at creating a more personalized and conversational search experience. With the new feature, customers can enter tailored prompts in the search bar, reflecting their interests, preferences, and even…
Alphabet, Amazon, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud, Cloud Security, cyber security, Developer, developers, Global Security News, Google, google cloud, M&A, Mergers and Acquisitions, Microsoft, multicloud, Security, wiz
Google Acquires Startup Wiz for $32B to Make ‘Cybersecurity More Accessible And Simpler’
Google’s agreement to buy cloud security startup Wiz will face antitrust scrutiny amid Alphabet’s ongoing legal battles.
AI, Amazon, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Cloud, Cloud Security, data centers, Global Security News, privacy, Security, storage
Amazon’s Controversial Change to Echo’s Privacy Settings Takes Effect Soon
Amazon is mandating cloud-based processing for Echo voice commands, removing local storage and disabling Alexa’s voice ID to expand its generative AI capabilities.
AI, Alexa, Amazon, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware
Amazon’s Echo will send all voice recordings to the cloud, starting March 28
Amazon Echo users will no longer have the option to process their Alexa requests locally, which means all of their voice recordings will be sent to the company’s cloud. Ars Technica reports that on Friday, Amazon sent an email to customers who have “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” enabled on their Echo smart speakers and…
Amazon, AWS, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Security, Spyware, stalkerware
Amazon is still hosting stalkerware victims’ data weeks after breach alert
Amazon won’t say if it will stop hosting data from three phone surveillance operations that spilled private data on millions of people. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Amazon, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Global Security News, Grok, openai, Podcast, psychopath, Rorschach test, Super Mario, The AI Fix
The AI Fix #41: Can AIs be psychopaths, and why we should be AI optimists
In episode 41 of the AI Fix, our hosts learn that society needs to be completely reordered by December, Grok accuses Trump of being a Russian asset, Graham discovers that parents were wrong about computer games all along, and Mark wonders if a kung-fu kicking robot from Unitree is the hero that we need. Graham…
AI, Amazon, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Global IT News, Global Security News, Media & Entertainment, prime video
Prime Video tests AI dubbing for select movies and TV series
Prime Video is now experimenting with AI-assisted dubbing for select licensed movies and TV shows, as announced by the Amazon-owned streaming service on Wednesday. According to Prime Video, this new test will feature AI-assisted dubbing services in English and Latin American Spanish, combining AI with human localization professionals to “ensure quality control,” the company explained. …
AI, AI agents, Amazon, AWS, Global IT News, Global Security News, In Brief
Amazon reportedly forms a new agentic AI group
Amazon has formed a new group within AWS dedicated to creating AI agents, systems that help people automate parts of their lives, Reuters reported on Tuesday. In an email to staff seen by Reuters, AWS CEO Matt Garman said agentic AI has the potential to be “the next multi-billion business for AWS.” A longtime AWS…
AI, Amazon, Global IT News, Global Security News, Nova
Amazon is reportedly developing its own AI ‘reasoning’ model
Amazon reportedly wants to get in on the AI “reasoning” model game. According to Business Insider, Amazon is developing an AI model that incorporates advanced “reasoning” capabilities, similar to models like OpenAI’s o3-mini and Chinese AI lab DeepSeek’s R1. The model may launch as soon as June under Amazon’s Nova brand, which the company introduced…
AI, Amazon, Europe, Global Security News
No part of Amazon is ‘unaffected’ by AI, says its head of AGI
“There’s scarcely a part of the company that is unaffected by AI,” said Vishal Sharma, Amazon’s VP of Artificial General Intelligence, today at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. He also dismissed the idea that open-source models might reduce compute needs and demurred over the question of whether European companies would change their GenAI strategies in…
Amazon, AWS, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, Ocelot, quantum computing
Amazon debuts Ocelot, its first quantum computing chip
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has introduced Ocelot, its first quantum computing chip. The news brings it into line with its big cloud rivals Microsoft and Google, which have also unveiled their own quantum chips in recent months, respectively Majorana and Willow. The cloud computing giant has long been investing in the quantum computing space, starting…
AI, Alexa, Amazon, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News
Alexa+ can read, summarize and recall lengthy documents
At Amazon’s annual Devices & Services event on Wednesday, the company introduced Alexa+, an enhanced version of its voice assistant, now powered by generative AI. During the demonstration, Amazon showcased how users can share documents with Alexa+, allowing it to recall important details and answer questions about those documents. Mara Segal, director of Alexa, provided…
Alexa, Amazon, Commerce, Global IT News, Global Security News, groceries
Alexa+ can do your grocery shopping, too
Amazon is not giving up on making its Alexa a virtual shopping assistant, On Wednesday, the company announced that Alexa+, its revamped Alexa experience, will be able to help consumers grocery shop from home using more natural conversations and requests. The feature will work with Amazon Fresh or any other grocery partner working with Amazon,…
AI, Alexa, Amazon, Apps, Artificial Intelligence, Global IT News, Global Security News
Amazon’s new Alexa+ brings AI-powered ‘Explore’ and ‘Stories’ features for kids
As part of the reveal of Amazon’s new AI-powered Alexa+ assistant, the tech giant announced that it’s launching two new features designed for kids called “Explore with Alexa” and “Stories with Alexa.” The features, which leverage Alexa’s new AI capabilities, will be available to Amazon Kids+ subscribers. The company demonstrated the new features at a…
AI, Alexa, Amazon, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware
What to expect from Amazon’s Alexa event on Wednesday
Amazon is hosting an Alexa-focused press event in NYC on Wednesday. Considering the company hasn’t held a major device presser in nearly two years — the last one was September 2023 — we’re expecting some splashy announcements. The event will not be live streamed. However, TechCrunch will be reporting on the ground. The festivities, emceed…
Amazon, Apps, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, Zoom
Amazon shuts down Chime, its Zoom alternative
Amazon Chime, the tech giant’s underwhelming alternative to Zoom and Google Meet, is shutting down for good. The company on Wednesday confirmed it will end support for Chime, including its Business Calling features, on Feb. 20, 2026. As part of this transition, Amazon stopped accepting new Chime accounts as of Feb. 19, 2025. From now…
Amazon, Android, Apps, Global IT News, Global Security News
Amazon is shutting down its app store on Android
Amazon will discontinue its app store for Android on August 20 this year. The company sent a notice to developers indicating that they will no longer be able to submit new apps to the store. The company said on a support page that it will also discontinue its Coins digital currency, which could be used…
Amazon, Climate, Enterprise, exxon, Global IT News, Global Security News, Microsoft
Amazon, Microsoft, and Exxon want to make scandal-plagued carbon markets more trustworthy
A task force, organized by the Bipartisan Policy Center think tank, is hoping to improve credibility of voluntary carbon markets. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Amazon, Apps, Commerce, Global IT News, Global Security News
Amazon kills ‘Inspire,’ its TikTok-style feed for discovering products
Amazon is shutting down “Inspire,” its TikTok-like, short-form video and photo feed that was previously available in its mobile app. The feed allowed users to discover products and shop from content created by influencers, brands, and other customers. A company spokesperson confirmed the move to TechCrunch, saying “We regularly evaluate various features to better align…
Amazon, Commerce, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy
North Carolina Amazon workers vote against unionizing
Workers at an Amazon warehouse in Garner, North Carolina voted against unionizing in election results announced today. According to Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment (CAUSE), the worker group seeking to form the union, 3,276 ballots were cast in the election, with 25.3% of votes in favor of unionizing and 74.7% against. The results…
AI, Alexa, Amazon, Apple, Global IT News, Global Security News, siri
AI Alexa and AI Siri face bugs and delays
Amazon and Apple are struggling to put generative AI technology in their digital assistants – Alexa and Siri, respectively – according to a pair of reports that came out on Friday. Amazon hoped to release its new Alexa during an event in New York on February 26. Now Amazon plans to delay the release of…
Amazon, Apps, Commerce, E-Commerce, Global IT News, Global Security News, Shopping
Amazon tests sending customers directly to brands’ websites when it doesn’t stock their products
Remember that Christmas movie “Miracle on 34th Street,” where Macy’s in-store Santa, Kris Kringle, sends a frazzled shopper to a competitor’s store to find the Christmas present her son wanted because Macy’s was out of stock? Now, Amazon is doing the same thing online. The retailer announced on Tuesday the test of a new Amazon…
Amazon, EVs, Global IT News, Global Security News, Rivian, Transportation
Rivian opens commercial van sales to all businesses
Rivian will sell its commercial electric vans to any U.S. business that wants one — more than a year since ending an exclusivity deal with backer Amazon. The company will sell two vans — the smaller 500 and the larger 700 — but buyers will have to be registered businesses, according to the company. That…
Amazon, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy
Coalition ‘concerned’ over UK appointing ex-Amazon exec as antitrust regulator chair
A coalition of organizations and individuals have signed an open letter expressing concern at the U.K. government’s decision to appoint a former Amazon executive as chair of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The group, which includes U.S. tech outfits such as Yelp, DuckDuckGo, and Mozilla, say that the CMA must be “free from political…
Amazon, DEI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy
Amazon deletes ‘inclusion and diversity’ language in latest filing
Amazon is the latest tech company to remove references to “inclusion and diversity” from its 10-K report. The filing has removed reference to diversity and inclusion as it pertains to the workplace. In its 2023 10-K form, the company had a sentence that read “As we strive to be Earth’s best employer, we focus on investment and…
Amazon, Climate, emerson collective, fission, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, nuclear power, X-Energy
Laurene Powell Jobs joins Amazon in backing nuclear startup X-Energy in $700M round
X-Energy is one of many nuclear startups to have benefitted from the AI-driven data center boom. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Amazon, Global IT News, Global Security News, GPUS, Meta, Microsoft
Amazon doubles down on AI with a massive $100B spending plan for 2025
Amazon is joining other Big Tech companies by announcing huge AI spending plans for 2025. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Alexa, Amazon, Gadgets, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, In Brief
Amazon reportedly gears up to release next-gen Alexa
Amazon may be gearing up to release a next-gen, AI-powered Alexa experience, according to Reuters. Per the outlet’s report, Amazon plans to preview an upgraded version of Alexa, the company’s smart home assistant that runs on a number of first- and third-party devices, at an event on February 26. The revamped Alexa is said to…
Amazon, AWS, Climate, energy storage, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, renewable power, Solar Power, Wind power
Amazon continues renewable energy spree with 476 MW purchase
Amazon’s power bill has been soaring lately as it adds data centers to deal with rising demand for AI and cloud services. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Amazon, Commerce, Global IT News, Global Security News, Layoffs
Amazon cuts jobs in Sustainability department
Amazon is eliminating roles in its Communications and Sustainability departments, per an internal memo seen by TechCrunch. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Amazon, Apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, Media & Entertainment, Spotify
Amazon hikes prices for its Music Unlimited subscriptions
Amazon is the latest company to announce a price hike for its music streaming subscriptions. The company revealed this week that the price of an Amazon Music Unlimited Individual plan for Prime members is going from $9.99 per month to $10.99. As for subscribers without a Prime membership, the price of their subscription is going…
Amazon, Apps, ereaders, Global IT News, Global Security News, Kobo, Media & Entertainment
Bookshop.org challenges Amazon with new e-book platform
Indie bookstore backer Bookshop.org launched an e-book platform on Tuesday, making it easier for readers to buy e-books without padding Jeff Bezos’s pockets. For years, Amazon’s chokehold and sway in the publishing industry have been so strong that authors and booksellers have accused the company of operating a monopoly. Amazon is dominant in the sale…
Amazon, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Prime Air, robotics, Transportation, U.K.
Amazon’s Prime Air drone service is headed to this UK town
Amazon announced Monday it has picked the north England town of Darlington as the first site for its planned U.K. drone delivery expansion. Amazon was expected to expand Prime Air to the U.K. and Italy in 2024. After missing that initial target, the company opted to not share a timeline for this latest launch. Instead,…
Amazon, Commerce, fake reviews, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Government & Policy
Google commits to combatting fake reviews in the UK after 5-year probe
The U.K.’s antitrust regulator has reached an agreement with Google to counter the scourge of fake online reviews. The internet giant has committed to several remedies. Bogus endorsements have blighted the web since the creation of user reviews, which is why regulators around the world have been upping the ante on tech companies to put…
Amazon, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Madrona Ventures, Snowflake, Venture
Madrona just announced its biggest fund ever, closing on $770M as other venture funds grow smaller
Seattle-based Madrona Capital is celebrating its 30 years in business by raising $770 million in fresh capital. This is the firm’s largest fundraise to date, exceeding $690 million across two funds Madrona closed in 2022. While an 11% capital pool upsize may not seem significant, any increase at a time when many venture outfits are…
Amazon, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy
UK appoints ex-Amazon executive Doug Gurr as interim chair of antitrust body
The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has a new interim chairman: former Amazon executive Doug Gurr (pictured above). The announcement comes as the U.K. seeks to position itself as a pro-growth, pro-tech nation by cutting red-tape and bureaucracy, with artificial intelligence (AI) taking center stage. The country is also nearing the end of a…
Amazon, Global IT News, Global Security News, imdb, Media & Entertainment, movies, succession, tv
IMDb founder steps down as CEO after 35 years
IMDb, the Amazon-owned online database that provides information on movies, TV shows, and celebrities, announced on Tuesday that its founder, Col Needham, is stepping down as CEO. Nikki Santoro, who has served as the Chief Operating Officer since 2021, has been appointed as his successor. Santoro’s appointment is significant, as she is the first woman…
AI, Alphabet, Amazon, Anthropic, Enterprise, FTC, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Government & Policy, Microsoft, openai
FTC says partnerships like Microsoft-OpenAI raise antitrust concerns
The Federal Trade Commission said in a staff report issued Friday that there are potential competitive issues in partnerships between big tech companies and generative AI developers — specifically, Microsoft’s backing of OpenAI and Amazon and Alphabet/Google’s partnerships with Anthropic. “The FTC’s report sheds light on how partnerships by big tech firms can create lock-in,…
AI, Amazon, Global IT News, Global Security News, In Brief, Prime Air, Transportation
Amazon suspends US drone deliveries following crash at testing facility
Amazon has paused testing of its delivery drones following a crash involving two of its models, according to Bloomberg. It’s the latest setback for Amazon’s beleaguered Prime Air program, which aims to deliver around 500 million packages a year to customers by the end of the decade. Bloomberg reports two Amazon drones crashed in rainy…
Amazon, AWS, Climate, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, net zero, renewable energy, Solar Power, sustainability, Wind power
Amazon bought more renewable power last year than any other company
Amazon added around 100 new renewable projects last year. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Amazon, Fintech, Global IT News, Global Security News
Amazon to acquire Indian fintech Axio in credit push
Amazon has agreed to acquire Indian buy now pay later startup Axio, deepening its push into financial services in one of its fastest-growing markets as it seeks to expand credit access to millions of underserved customers. The US technology group, which has held an equity stake in Axio for six years, signed the acquisition agreement…
Amazon, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, la, la fires, la wildfires, Media & Entertainment, Netflix, Snap, Sony, Tech Companies
These tech companies are donating to LA wildfire relief efforts
Numerous tech companies have pledged millions in donations to help LA recover from wildfires that caused widespread devastation and forced thousands to evacuate the region. Those offering aid include YouTube/Google, Meta, Snap, Amazon, Netflix, and Sony. Here’s an overview of what each company is doing to aid relief efforts in the region: YouTube and Google:…
Amazon, DEI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, jeff bezos
Amazon curbs some DEI programs
Amazon is now the latest company to curb some of its DEI programs, Bloomberg reports, after Meta announced that it, too, is ending its diversity efforts earlier on Friday. An internal memo that was sent to staffers said that the company was looking to wind down outdated programs and materials as part of a review…
Amazon, CES, Global IT News, Global Security News, robotaxi, Transportation, zoox
Riding in a Zoox robotaxi at CES 2025: Everything that went right and wrong
A construction zone. A car crash. A double parked truck. A motorcycle cop with its red-white-and blues deployed. My one-hour trip along the Las Vegas Strip in a custom-built Zoox robotaxi during CES 2025 wasn’t a dull one. A second, shorter ride the following evening, proved less eventful. And in both rides, the Zoox robotaxi…
Amazon, Cybersecurity, Global Security News, Hardware, internet of things, IoT, Security, united states
US to Launch Cyber Trust Mark to Label Secure Smart Devices
The Cyber Trust Mark is designed to help consumers make more informed decisions about the cybersecurity of devices they may purchase.
Amazon, CES, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, kidde, Ring, smoke alarm
Kidde’s new smoke detectors have Ring technology built in
Amazon announced a partnership with Kidde at CES 2025 on Monday that brings its Ring technology to the home safety stalwart’s smoke alarms. There will be multiple versions of the hybrid smoke and CO2 detectors, ranging in price from $55 to $75. As a longtime owner of a Nest Protect, I can confidently say that…
AI, Amazon, Commerce, generative AI videos, Global IT News, Global Security News, Peak XV Partners, tiger global
Avataar releases new tool to create AI-generated videos for products
Generative AI models have reached a baseline capability of producing at least a passable video from a single image or short sentence. Companies building products around these models are claiming that anyone can make a snazzy promo video if they have some images or recordings — and videos usually perform better than static images or…
Amazon, amd, CES, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Hardware, LG, nvidia, robotics, Samsung, Transportation
CES 2025: What to expect from the year’s first and biggest tech show
CES 2025 officially kicks off in Las Vegas on Tuesday morning, running through the end of the day on January 10. The “official” dates are specific to when the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center is open to attendees, and ultimately belie the show’s true duration. A pair of press days kick off Sunday…
AI, Amazon, Global Security News, Podcast, Smashing Security
The AI Fix #31: Replay: AI doesn’t exist
Mark and I took a break for the new year, but we’ll be back for a new episode of “The AI Fix” podcast at the usual time next week. In the meantime, here is another chance to hear one of our favourite episodes again. The very first episode from April 2024… Graham attempts to convince…
Amazon, Donald Trump, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, jeff bezos, openai, sam altman
Sam Altman and Jeff Bezos are the latest billionaires to donate $1M to Trump fund
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Jeff Bezos’ Amazon plan to donate $1 million each to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, according to reports from Fox and the Wall Street Journal. TechCrunch has confirmed Altman’s plans to personally commit the money, which is not coming directly from OpenAI. The donations from the billionaires follow plans by…
agentic ai, Amazon, Artificial Intelligence, Developer, generative ai, Global Security News, Google, google gemini, Microsoft, openai, Security
Google Launches Gemini 2.0 with Autonomous Tool Linking
Gemini 2.0 Flash is available now, with other model sizes coming in January. It adds multilingual voice output, image output, and some trendy “agentic” capabilities.