MORE META LAYOFFS

According to reports, Facebook’s parent company, Meta, is contemplating another round of layoffs after eliminating 11,000 jobs, or 13 percent of its global staff, in November. Meta made these cuts in an effort to reduce expenses and boost efficiency as it fights the same financial challenges as the rest of the technology industry. The company’s much-touted transition to the metaverse has yet to bear fruit, and traditional revenue streams, like advertising spending, have declined due to widespread economic concern. The scenario has reportedly disheartened employees.

TWITTER CHARGES FOR TOOLS

Twitter is receiving criticism for charging $100 per month for a service that organizations and scholars with limited funds have grown to rely on. The API, or Application Programming Interface, enables firms to search the platform for requests for assistance. Some users share their API credentials with charitable groups, while activists urge Twitter to eliminate the cost.

AMAZON ROBOTAXI

Zoox, an Amazon-owned business, is now testing autonomous robotaxis in California with passengers. Last week, the business began testing after receiving approval from the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. There are no steering wheels or pedals on the robotaxis; they are totally autonomous. In addition, they have bi-directional driving capabilities, allowing them to drive easily in any direction. The permits now only apply to a one-mile section of road between the Zoox offices and Foster City, California, and will only be used for employee transportation.

IN NYC, REMOTE WORK COSTS $12 BILLION

According to a study by Bloomberg News of exclusive data from Stanford University economist Nicholas Bloom, remote labor costs New York City about $12 billion annually. Thirty percent fewer days were spent in the office due to telecommuting, resulting in fewer commutes and fewer workers spending time in the city throughout the day. The analysis revealed that the average worker spends $4,661 less annually on items such as groceries and shopping.