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 a 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.
Bob Iger Back as Disney CEO
Walt Disney Inc’s stock price shot up during pre-market trading Monday after news broke that Robert Iger has returned as chief executive of the media megalith.
Iger assumed the CEO role once again Sunday after Disney’s board of directors ousted former CEO Bob Chapek.
This month, the company reported weaker-than-expected fourth quarter financial results, killing the momentum built up over a strong year that saw record revenue and profits in multiple divisions. Disney’s streaming division was particularly hard hit, having lost $1.47 billion in the most recent quarter — more than twice the year-earlier loss.
“The board has concluded that as Disney embarks on an increasingly complex period of industry transformation, Bob Iger is uniquely situated to lead the company through this pivotal period,” said Susan Arnold, chairman of Disney’s board, in a statement.
Theranos Founder Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison.
The former Silicon Valley darling was convicted of defrauding investors in a yearslong scheme at her blood-testing company. U.S. District Judge Edward Davila passed down the sentence after a jury found her guilty on four charges that she misrepresented the startup’s technology, finances, and business prospects to investors.
Holmes’s sentence falls in the mid-range compared to similar white-collar offenses. Bernie Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison, while Martha Stewart served only five months. Holmes will begin her 135-month sentence on April 27, 2023, after she carries her current pregnancy to term.
Amazon Customer Satisfaction Down Ahead of Black Friday
Amazon has long been heralded for its dedication to customer service, offering lightning-fast delivery and convenient return policies. However, recent information shows customer satisfaction has slipped over the past two years.
Last year, customer satisfaction at Amazon declined to a record low on the American Customer Satisfaction Index, which tracks shopper approval at more than 400 of the largest companies in the U.S.
Amazon scored 78 out of 100, down from 86 out of 100 five years earlier and its worst performance since 2000—the year the index started tracking the Seattle-based company. In 2020 and 2021, Amazon fell behind the shopping sites of Costco Wholesale Corp. and Nordstrom Inc.
With the Black Friday rush already in full swing, sales numbers for the event will show how much the drop in customer satisfaction has affected the world’s largest online retailer.
Twitter Reinstates High-Profile Accounts
As anticipated, Twitter has reinstated numerous accounts since Elon Musk’s highly publicized takeover. Here’s a list of some of the well-known and controversial figures back on the social media platform:
- Donald Trump
- Andrew Tate
- Jordan Peterson
- The Babylon Bee
- Kathy Griffin
- Kanye West
