Roundup – Amazon delivers in healthcare, Primark’s click and collect crashes

Amazon unveils new US virtual healthcare clinic for common ailments

According to Amazon, it has been trying to expand its presence in healthcare for years – a sector where it has typically remained a small player. The new virtual clinic will operate in 32 US states where customers who seek treatment will be connected to healthcare providers. The ecommerce giant added that pricing will vary depending on providers but it does not include health insurance. Amazon is also sitting on a $3.49 billion deal to buy One Medical as it seeks to expand its virtual healthcare presence and add a physical doctors office to its portfolio.

https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/amazon-launches-virtual-healthcare-clinic-in-u-s-for-common-ailments-8271080/

Intel to pay VLSI $949m after violating computer chip patent trial

Intel has been forced to pay VLSI Technology $948.8 million by a federal jury in Texas after infringing a VLSI patent for computer chips. A spokesperson from Intel said the company plans to appeal and added that it “strongly disagrees” with the verdict. According to VLSI, during the six day trial Intel’s microprocessors violated the license that covered improvements to data processing. Last March, VLSI won almost $2.2 billion from Intel in a separate Texas trial over different chip patents, which Intel has also appealed. Yet VSLI lost an additional related patent trial a month later against the semiconductor company.

https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/intel-hit-with-949-mln-u-s-verdict-in-vlsi-computer-chip-patent-trial/95544030?redirect=1

Amazon plans to slash 10,000 employees, report says

According to sources, Amazon is planning to lay off 10,000 employees in what would be the largest reduction in the company’s history. A report from market analysis firm Finbold confirmed the ecommerce giant had lost 45% of its value in the past year, from $1.6 trillion on 1 January to $939 billion on 3 November. The reported layoffs will affect around 3% of Amazon’s corporate employees and less than 1% of its global workforce. Amazon added that its retail division, human resources and devices organisations will see the majority of staff cuts, which could begin as soon as this week.

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/11/14/amazon-lay-off-10000-employees-report/10697110002/

Primark website crashes on click and collect debut

Shoppers in Britain were left unable to access Primark’s new click and collect online service after it crashed following its launch on Monday. According to the retailer, the service was trialled across 25 stores in the north west of England, Yorkshire and North Wales for children’s products only. A Primark spokesperson said the trial had shown “much interest” from buyers, and reassured it is “working hard to address this to ensure that everyone can access and browse the site easily”. The retailer announced the move into click and collect in June however stressed that it does not mean Primark will offer online delivery any time soon.

https://www.lse.co.uk/news/primark-website-crashes-on-click-and-collect-debut-ek82i9qknulm3ql.html

European Union’s Digital Services Act comes into force

Social media giants are now obligated to take a stricter approach to disinformation, illegal content and user protection, according to a LinkedIn News Europe. Advertisements will be limited and compliance could result in changes if platform’s services are deemed to infringe on user’s fundamental rights.

Platforms with over 45 million users will be forced to tell the EU how they use AI to find and remove illegal content as well as the number of users suspended. They will also have to outline how they intend to protect society.

The EU won’t start cracking down on these platforms until next summer, however if they do not comply the European Commission and national regulators will issue fines worth 6% of a firm’s annual revenue.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/linkedin-news-europe_big-tech-and-social-media-platforms-are-facing-activity-6998658599241555968-Jhw1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop