Significant developments occurred today involving Google, Stripe, and WarnerMedia, impacting the tech and entertainment landscapes. Here's your Daily Crunch for December 3, 2020.

Key News: Google Parts Ways with Ethical AI Co-Leader

Timnit Gebru, a prominent researcher specializing in the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, announced via Twitter that Google terminated her employment following a message she sent to an internal company mailing list.

Casey Newton reviewed the email, where Gebru voiced concerns regarding her experiences within Google and expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives: “Following a recent all-hands meeting for Black researchers, characterized by strong emotional responses, what followed? A suppression of voices in a very direct manner.”

Google chose not to issue a statement, but referenced an email from Jeff Dean, the head of Google Research, which stated Gebru had indicated she would resign unless specific requests were fulfilled. (“I did not resign—I initially requested certain clarifications and stated I would respond after my vacation,” Gebru clarified.)

Major Tech Companies

YouTube introduces a new tool to combat harmful comments — This feature will appear as users are composing potentially offensive comments in a video’s comment section, prompting them to “Maintain respectful communication.”

Apple now allows developers to join its ‘Small Business Program’ for lower App Store commissions — Previously announced, Apple is reducing its standard fee from 30% to 15% for developers earning under $1 million annually through the App Store.

The Android winter update brings enhancements to Gboard, Maps, Books, Nearby Share, and other applications — A particularly noteworthy addition within the update is a substantial expansion of the Emoji Kitchen feature.

Startups, Funding, and Venture Capital

Stripe unveils Stripe Treasury, an integrated business banking solution — The company is collaborating with financial institutions to provide a banking-as-a-service API.

Everlywell secures $175M to broaden its virtual care offerings and expand its at-home health testing capabilities — Earlier in the year, Everlywell launched an at-home COVID-19 test collection kit, which was the first of its kind to receive emergency authorization from the FDA.

VSCO acquires the mobile application Trash to integrate AI-driven video editing technology — The acquisition will result in Trash’s technology being incorporated into the VSCO application.

Insights and Analysis from Extra Crunch

Venture capitalists can improve investment results by utilizing data to mitigate risks associated with founding teams — Employing an objective, data-driven approach to team evaluation will assist VCs in making more informed investment choices.

Current market conditions present a favorable opportunity to launch a proptech company — This assessment comes from Colton Pace of Fika Ventures.

Improve return on investment through the use of intent data and tailored multichannel marketing strategies — Relying on mass email campaigns will not yield the desired connections with potential customers.

(Extra Crunch is our subscription service, dedicated to providing accessible information about startups. You can register here.)

Other Notable News

Warner Bros. will release all its theatrical films simultaneously on HBO Max in the coming year — This includes films such as “Godzilla vs. Kong,” “Mortal Kombat,” “In the Heights,” “Space Jam: A New Legacy” “The Suicide Squad,” “Dune,” the “Sopranos” prequel “The Many Saints of Newark” and “The Matrix 4.”

NASA has selected four companies for lunar material collection, aiming to establish guidelines for private sector outer space mining — These four companies have secured transportation on upcoming commercial lunar lander missions.

Bill Gates has published a plan for U.S. leadership in addressing climate change, proposing $35 billion in funding — Gates emphasized the need to “fundamentally transform the global physical economy.”

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