Every day we wake up, drink a cup of coffee, and get ready for work. Following are a handful of stories from around the tech world condensed to fit into one single cup of coffee. These are the things you need to know before you step foot out of your door (or in front of a webcam) and into the real world this morning.
So sit back, grab a cup, and start your morning off right with a few “Quick Bytes” from Innovation & Tech Today.
Latest Big Budget Movie Will Determine Whether Netflix Sinks or Swims
It’s no secret that Netflix has been making some desperate moves lately. After a disappointing first-quarter earnings report this year, the flagship streaming service cracked down on password sharing and announced it would be introducing ads and a tier-based payment structure. Last week, Netflix laid off 150 people.
Netflix is hoping its new major feature film, The Gray Man premiering in July will help right the ship. It’s a massive gamble, as the film reportedly cost over $200 million to make, according to Showbiz 411. Furthermore, not much is known about the mysterious big-budget movie, as there is still no official trailer less than two months out from its July 15 release date.
The Gray Man is directed by the Russo Brothers – the directors behind The Avengers movies. And with stars like Chris Evans, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, and Billy Bob Thornton on board, the film could be the blockbuster Netflix needs to pull itself out of the red.
Japan & U.S. Will Work Together to Land Japanese Astronaut on the Moon, First Human on Mars
Japan and the U.S. are collaborating to put the first Japanese astronaut on the moon. No non-American has ever set foot on the lunar surface, and Japan is focusing its resources to achieve a moon landing by the end of the decade.
The two countries’ space programs are collaborating more closely than ever before. When President Biden met with Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, it was announced the U.S. led Artemis program would be a priority for both nations, aiming to put a Japanese national on the moon and eventually a human on Mars.
Biden said he was “excited” about the collaboration, including on the Gateway facility, which will orbit the Moon and provide support for future missions, according to france24.com.
Florida Monkeypox Case is the Third Reported in the U.S.
Florida has reported its first case of what it believes is monkeypox. The Florida Department of Public Health reported Sunday the case is linked to an international traveler in Broward County and the person is now in isolation.
This is the third case reported in the U.S. The first official U.S. case was reported last week in Massachusetts followed shortly by a case in New York, according to Syracuse.com.
To date, WHO has recorded more than 90 cases of monkeypox in a dozen countries including Britain, Spain, Israel, France, Switzerland, the U.S. and Australia.
Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when an outbreak occurred in monkeys used for research. The first human case was reported in the 1970s in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and, since then, it has mainly been found in central and western African countries. The most recent outbreak has been linked to sexual encounters at two large raves in Europe.
$5.5 Billion Hyundai EV Manufacturing Plant to Open in Georgia
Georgia’s booming economy will be bolstered by a $5.5 billion Hyundai EV plant in Bryan County.
The factory will be Hyundai’s first dedicated EV plant and battery manufacturing facility in the United States.
Hyundai announced the plans Friday and plans to begin construction in early 2023.
The plant will take up almost 3,000 acres in Bryan County, which is located approximately 30 miles from the Port of Savannah. Hyundai expects 30,000 units a year to be produced at the facility after it starts commercial production in 2025.
The facility is expected to create 8,100 new jobs in the state.
