Welcome to Next, a weekly newsletter highlighting some of our unique news and research on how technology is reshaping the future of industries across global markets. As part of our expanded cross-sector tech coverage, we will curate some of our best insights and features on topics such as artificial intelligence, internet of things, cybersecurity, 5G, smart cities, autonomous vehicles, clean energy, telehealth and fintech.
Top News
Privacy is playing a growing role in shaping the future of the search market as the biggest names in the tech and communications industries react to the evolving regulatory environment. Google said it would phase out support for third-party cookies in Chrome within the next two years, marking a significant shift for online publishers and advertisers. Cookies, small text files that track users across the web, are frequently used to offer targeted advertising. Google said it planned to manage the phase out in a way that sustains a healthy, ad-supported web while still offering users the enhanced privacy protections they are looking for.
Meanwhile, Verizon launched an ad-supported consumer search engine called OneSearch that does not track, store or share data with advertisers. All of these changes come after California's new privacy law, the California Consumer Privacy Act, went into effect Jan. 1, compelling companies across industries to give consumers more access and control over their data. Although technically in effect, California's attorney general has not yet released the final rules for the law, bringing concern and uncertainty to many in the business community.
Read more about California's privacy law and its impact on businesses big and small
Chart of the Week
Amazon could face antitrust suit in 2020, but asset breakup unlikely
While Amazon Inc. and other U.S. technology companies face potential enforcement action from regulators in 2020, antitrust experts say history suggests that rule changes are more likely than a big tech breakup.
Tech trade groups welcome 1st phase of trade deal but urge strict enforcement
Trade groups across the tech, media and telecom sectors lauded the "phase one" signing of a trade deal between the U.S. and China, though they urged robust enforcement and further relaxation of tariffs.
CES 2020: From cars to content to foldable phones, annual trade show did not disappoint
Several burgeoning technologies powered by the new powerful 5G mobile standard will advance toward consumer and enterprise markets in 2020. Crowds at CES, the Consumer Technology Association's annual technology and media trade show, gathered expectantly in Las Vegas last week to witness a glimpse of the future.
End of 2019 sees robocalls decline as prevention efforts ramp up
The U.S. saw a significant drop in the number of robocalls at the end of 2019, signaling that either federal prevention efforts are working — or that even scammers need a holiday break.
Energy
Wind, solar total more than half of new US capacity added in 2019
Wind and solar plants totaled about 52% of the new power generation resources added in the U.S. in 2019.
Consumer
Retailers intensify investment in technology to tackle organized theft, violence
Retailers are reporting an uptick in violence linked to organized retail crime, so they are increasing investments in technological solutions and strengthening collaborations with law enforcement agencies, according to experts.
Fintech
FDIC looking to end industrial bank charter purgatory
Financial tech and payment processing companies like Square Inc. and Nelnet Inc. that have applied for an industrial loan company charter in recent years have been stuck in limbo waiting for regulators' response. With an application filed as recently as October 2019, the long-running debate of industrial banks' legality has resumed on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers of both parties are questioning the ILC charter.
Healthcare
Pharmaceutical industry embraces digital health for drug development, trials
Artificial intelligence and big data collection are playing a larger role in the drug development process, shaping the way precision therapies are matched to a patient and driving changes in the clinical trial process along the way, according to experts.
Top Research
Virtual reality tries 8K on for size at CES
According to new research from Kagan, virtual reality headsets on the show floor at CES, held Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas, laid out a distinctly more immersive future for virtual reality, even if their price points are moving further from the mass market.
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