The Information's 411

We talk to Wayne Ma about Apple's attempts to have robots handle the manufacturing process at their factories and why it hasn't worked. Then we speak with Kate Clark about the federal paycheck protection program loan and the startups that took advantage of it. 

Special guests this episode included David Bourne, a scientist at the Robotics Institute at the Carnegie Mellon University and Jonathan Wasserstrum, the CEO of SquareFoot.

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What Apple Learned From Automation: Humans Are Better

After Chaotic Start, Federal Loan Program Helped Startups Avoid ‘Deep Layoffs’

Cory talks with two black women in tech to see what tech companies have done and still need to do to address racial inequality. Sherrell Dorsey, a journalist and entrepreneur and the founder of The Plug, has been cataloguing the responses from tech companies showing support for the black community. Sarah Kunst, a venture capitalist at Cleo Capital, explains the importance of firms funding more diverse founders.

Zoe and Cory join to discuss how the pandemic has hit the job market in tech. Zoe talks about the phenomenon of job postings that turn out not to be real. And Cory gives some historical context around how the current job losses in tech compare to previous recessions.

Cory joins to discuss Mark Zuckerberg's announcement that Facebook is fully embracing the work from home office. We explore the reasons tech is rushing to adopt the policy and whether it will have a big effect on cities. Then Tom gives the backstory on Kevin Mayer, TikTok's new US CEO. He explains what it means for Disney to lose its top streaming executive and the challenges Mayer will face coming to the controversial Chinese company.

Chris Stern gives us an update on the ongoing battle to win the Pentagon's cloud computing contract. He explains why Amazon is still fighting to win the account back from Microsoft in the courts. And how Oracle fits into the puzzle.

Background Reading

Microsoft’s Secret Ally Against Amazon in Cloud Deal: Oracle

Amir joins to talk all things ride hailing, including why Uber and Lyft had to undergo massive layoffs. We also explain how Uber's side businesses like food delivery and bikes are on diverging paths during the crisis.

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Uber Discusses Plan to Lay Off About 20% of Employees

Alex walks us through the first quarter earnings for Snap, Twitter and Facebook to see how they faired at the onset of the pandemic.

Tom and Jessica Toonkel talk about the chaotic world of the movie industry as theaters across the world remain shuttered. We discuss what it will take to get people to feel comfortable again going to theaters and whether the movie industry will finally change from its hard set ways of not making new releases available to rent at home.

Background Reading

Pandemic Forces Studios to Think Outside the Box on Movie Releases

Studios Look to Offload Movies to Netflix, Amazon

Nick Wingfield walks us through the ways Silicon Valley execs—and the rest of us—step up their at home video conference technology.

Background Reading

How to Zoom Like a CEO

Cory joins to talk about the major layoffs at Opendoor. We also discuss how Brian Chesky is leading Airbnb through this bleak period in the company's business and if it stands a chance of going public this year.