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.
Jeff Bezos Pledges to Give Most of His Wealth Away
Amazon founder and the world’s fourth-richest person, Jeff Bezos, announced he plans to give most of his wealth to charity during his lifetime.
In a CNN interview Monday, Bezos made a verbal commitment to donate a significant portion of his wealth to philanthropic causes such as fighting climate change and supporting people who can help unify the fractured political landscape.
He did not offer specific details about where the money allocated.
It was the first time Mr. Bezos, 58 years old, had promised to give away much of his earnings, which currently totals around $124 billion, according to CNN.
Bezos has been criticized for failing to contribute as much as his billionaire peers in the past, declining to sign the Giving Pledge started by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.
“It’s not easy,” Bezos told CNN about philanthropy, making an apparent dig at other high-profile donors, adding, “There are a bunch of ways that I think you could do ineffective things, too.”
Andor Episodes 1 and 2 Will Be Available on Networks Thanksgiving Day
To bolster viewership, Disney’s latest Star Wars series, Andor, is heading to multiple Disney-owned broadcast channels and Hulu on Thanksgiving weekend.
Initial numbers showed below-anticipated ratings, but those numbers were corrected shortly after being released. The viewership for Andor is reasonable, but Disney believes the series can convert more people to Disney+ subscribers by teasing the show’s first two episodes on Hulu, ABC, Freeform, and FX on Thanksgiving Day at 9 p.m.
Andor’s creators take a more in-depth look at the Star Wars universe than ever before, revealing the destruction the rise of the Empire has wrought on citizens all over the galaxy. Without delving too far into politics, Andor poignantly shows what unchecked fascism does to communities and society.
It’s a marked departure from previous Star Wars projects, but a welcome one for fans with space wizard burnout.
Amazon to Lay Off 10,000 Employees
The numbers are in. Amazon is set to lay off as many as 10,000 employees this week, according to a report from the New York Times.
The move would follow wide-reaching firings at Twitter and Meta; last week, the latter announced it would lay off 11,000 employees.
Amazon’s cuts are likely to focus on the company’s devices business (which includes numerous Alexa-powered products), human resources, and its retail unit, according to The Verge.
While 10,000 employees may sound like a lot, the number only constitutes 3% of the company’s corporate ranks and 1% of its overall workforce.
Amazon is reportedly “rethinking” its priorities, downgrading its attention to Alexa-enabled devices.
Black Friday Amazon Deals
Black Friday is quickly approaching, and Amazon is going to be the first stop for many shoppers. This year, Amazon is not waiting until cyber Monday to start offering its biggest discounts of year.
Instead, Amazon is kicking off its annual Black Friday deals event on November 24, on Thanksgiving Day. Deals will drop every 30 minutes during select periods of the 48-hour event, including discounts on coveted gifts like laptops, jewelry, and top beauty products.The latest updates on deals will be available at Amazon’s Black Friday deals page and in the Amazon shopping app.
