Amazon is continuing the cost-cutting that CEO Andy Jassy emphasized when the company reported a $2 billion loss in Q2. The company is shutting down Amazon Explore, a virtual tourism initiative launched during the COVID-19 lockdown, unplugging the robotics ventures Canvas and ORCA, and dimming the lights on the Amazon Glow, a video-calling projector for kids. In recent weeks, Amazon also confirmed the end of field tests for the autonomous delivery service Scout. This in the wake of a hiring freeze at its retail division and the closure of the Amazon Care telehealth venture. Continue reading Amazon Faces Economic Challenges, Continues Cost-Cutting

CTA senior vice president of political and industry affairs Tiffany Moore introduced Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) who convinced a bipartisan group of women senators to, for the first time, discuss technology at CES. Rosen brought senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Shelley Capito (R-West Virginia), Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), who all share a strong background and/or interest in technology issues. Rosen and Capito launched the first Women in STEM Caucus to advance women’s participation in these areas. Continue reading CES: Bipartisan Panel of Women Senators Weigh Tech Issues

ETC continues its Executive Spotlight series, in which we interview leaders from our member companies about how they are adapting operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a fascinating discussion with Albert Lao of the Verizon Business Group. As the Americas leader of Verizon’s Global Presales Organization, Lao leads tech strategy, solution architecture, CPE design, pre-sales engineering and more with Verizon’s enterprise customers. We sat down with Lao who described his company’s plans for continued growth during the pandemic and after; addressing collaboration tools, security and troubleshooting remotely; and new ways to support customers as well as first responders and healthcare workers. Continue reading Executive Spotlight: A Talk with Albert Lao of Verizon Business