Plus, Lyft announces layoffs as it cuts down its scooters and bikes division. And Microsoft spared a formal antitrust investigation in the U.K. over ties to Inflection AI. Zoe Thomas hosts.
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[00:00:01] Here's your TNB Tech Minute for Wednesday, September 4.
[00:00:05] I'm Zoe Thomas for The Wall Street Journal.
[00:00:08] Elon Musk's SpaceX is pulling employees from Brazil and has warned others against visiting
[00:00:14] the country.
[00:00:15] That's according to people familiar with an email sent by SpaceX president Gwen Shotwell.
[00:00:20] The move is the latest sign of how Musk's battle with Brazil's highest court over his
[00:00:24] social media company X is impacting his other businesses.
[00:00:28] Last week, Brazil's Supreme Court banned X.
[00:00:32] It also took action against SpaceX's satellite internet service Starlink, ordering its finances
[00:00:38] in the country frozen.
[00:00:39] According to Starlink, the court determined it should be held responsible for fines levied
[00:00:44] against X. SpaceX didn't respond to requests for comment.
[00:00:49] LIFT says it's laying off 1% of its total workforce as it cuts down its dockless
[00:00:54] bikes and scooters division and focuses on its core ride-hailing business.
[00:00:59] LIFT expects to take between $34 and $46 million in charges related to the move, which will
[00:01:06] be booked mostly in the third quarter.
[00:01:08] The job cuts are expected to boost LIFT's adjusted earnings by $20 million by the
[00:01:13] end of next year.
[00:01:14] The company says there are no changes for its largest markets, including New York,
[00:01:18] Chicago and San Francisco.
[00:01:20] And Microsoft has been spared from a formal antitrust investigation in the UK over its ties
[00:01:26] to Inflection AI.
[00:01:28] UK antitrust officials said Microsoft's hiring of former employees from Inflection
[00:01:32] AI and its partnership with the startup didn't pose a threat to competition.
[00:01:38] Regulators had launched a probe in July to determine whether the ties between the
[00:01:42] companies should be considered a de facto merger.
[00:01:45] A Microsoft spokesperson said the company was pleased with the decision.
[00:01:48] For a deeper dive into what's happening in tech, check out Thursday's Tech News Briefing podcast.