Good morning. It’s Monday, June 23. Today we are covering:
WhatsApp banned on House staffers' devices
Tesla to launch robotaxi service in Austin
Amazon launches second batch of Kuiper internet satellites, taking on Elon Musk's Starlink
Google Cuts Smart TV Budget as It Doubles Down on YouTube
Chromebook Plus laptops like Lenovo's sleek, new 14-incher are getting free Gemini AI features
Let’s dive in
WhatsApp banned on House staffers' devices
By Andrew Solender via Axios
WhatsApp has been banned on all U.S. House-managed devices due to concerns over data transparency, lack of encryption, and security risks, according to an internal email from the Office of Cybersecurity.
The move follows previous restrictions on apps like DeepSeek, ByteDance platforms, Microsoft Copilot, and ChatGPT, reinforcing a broader clampdown on high-risk digital tools in Congress.
Microsoft Teams, Wickr, Signal, iMessage, and FaceTime are approved alternatives, and staffers are being warned to stay alert for phishing scams and suspicious messages.
𝕏: NEW: The House has banned the use of WhatsApp on official devices. CAO says the ban is "due to the lack of transparency in how it protects user data, absence of stored data encryption, and potential security risks involved with its use." - Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender)
Tesla to launch robotaxi service in Austin
By Kana Inagaki via Financial Times
Tesla has launched a robotaxi service in Austin, marking a major milestone in its autonomous vehicle rollout.
The service is part of Tesla’s broader push to commercialize self-driving technology and reduce dependence on human drivers.
The announcement underscores CEO Elon Musk’s strategy to transform Tesla into a leader in AI-powered mobility solutions.
𝕏: The @Tesla_AI robotaxi launch begins in Austin this afternoon with customers paying a $4.20 flat fee! - Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
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Amazon launches second batch of Kuiper internet satellites, taking on Elon Musk's Starlink
By Annie Palmer via CNBC
Amazon launched its second batch of 27 Kuiper internet satellites aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Florida’s Cape Canaveral, advancing its effort to build a broadband constellation in low Earth orbit.
The company plans to deploy 3,236 satellites to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink, which currently dominates with over 8,000 satellites already in orbit.
Amazon must launch at least 1,618 satellites by July 2026 to meet FCC deadlines, and has booked over 80 launches, including some with SpaceX.
Google Cuts Smart TV Budget as It Doubles Down on YouTube
By Sahil Patel via The Information
Google is slashing its smart TV advertising budget as part of a strategic pivot to prioritize its dominant video platform, YouTube.
The shift reflects Google’s increasing reliance on YouTube to drive ad revenue and compete more aggressively with connected TV rivals like Roku and Netflix.
This move underscores a broader trend within Alphabet to consolidate resources around high-growth platforms amid a tightening of overall spending.
Chromebook Plus laptops like Lenovo's sleek, new 14-incher are getting free Gemini AI features
By Antonio G. Di Benedetto via The Verge
Google is rolling out free Gemini AI features to Chromebook Plus laptops, including select-to-search for images and text, smart tab/document grouping, and automated image editing via the Gallery app.
The new Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 launches with these tools, featuring a 14-inch OLED display, MediaTek Kompanio Ultra chip (50 TOPS), up to 16GB RAM, and Wi-Fi 7, priced from $649.
Buyers of any Chromebook Plus in 2025 get one year of the Google AI Pro Plan for free, including access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, Veo 3, and 2TB of cloud storage.
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