Reddit acquires short video platform Dubsmash in cash & stock deal

In a statement social network firm Reddit said, it would acquire TikTok rival short-video platform Dubsmash. Although Reddit did not disclose the financial terms of the deal its spokeswoman said the acquisition was based on a combination of cash and stock. TikTok’s proliferance has led many social media companies to add short-video services to their…

Electronics Arts acquires Codemasters for $1.2 billion

On Monday, computer gaming giant Electronic Arts said, it had agreed to acquire Codemasters for $1.2 billion, trumping an earlier agreement between the British company and rival Take-Two Interactive Software. Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of Codemasters will receive 604 pence per share, compared with the 485 pence per share Take-Two had offered.

SolarWinds products have been injected with malicious code by state-backed hackers

In a statement, SolarWinds, an IT company said, monitoring products that it had released earlier this year in March and in June may have been surreptitiously tampered with in a “highly-sophisticated, targeted and manual supply chain attack by a nation state.” The statement by SolarWinds comes even as the U.S. intelligence community is investigating cyber…

Hyundai Motor Group acquires 80% stake in Softbank Group-owned Boston Dynamics

According to a source familiar with the matter at hand, Hyundai Motor Group has agreed to acquire a 80% stake in Boston Dynamics from SoftBank Group in a deal worth around $736 million to $828 million (800 billion to 900 billion won). The development assumes significance since Hyundai can leverage the technology to expand automation…

Chinese electric vehicle startup Great Wall Motor to launch new brand targeting premium segment

According to sources familiar with the matter at hand, Chinese electric vehicle startup Great Wall Motor plans on launching a new standalone brand for electric and smart vehicles in China, as it tries to pursue growth in this burgeoning segment. Inspired by U.S. technology and auto giant Tesla Inc, several Chinese automakers have announced plans…

Uber Technologies Inc sells self-driving unit Uber Advanced Technologies Group to self-driving startup Aurora

In a statement Uber Technologies Inc said, it is selling its autonomous driving unit, Uber Advanced Technologies Group (ATG), to self-driving car startup Aurora; the development underscores Uber Technologies Inc’s drive to accelerate its goal to achieve profitability. According to sources familiar with the matter at hand, the equity deal values ATG at $4 billion,…

UAE seeing higher incidents of cyber attacks after establishing formal ties with Israel

In a statement the head of cyber security at the United Arab Emirates stated the Arab state is facing increased incidents of cyber attacks after establishing formal ties with Israel. In August, breaking a decades old policy, in a landmark shift the UAE agreed to formally establish diplomatic ties with Israel, Following the move, Bahrain…

Autonomous cars to hit the market after 2025: VW CEO Herbert Diess

In an interview, to Germany’s Wirtschaftswoche weekly magazine, Herbert Diess, Volkswagen’s CEO stated the carmaker expects autonomous vehicles to be ready for sale between 2025 and 2030. Improvements in artificial intelligence, as well as improvements in the performance of computer chips are speeding up the development of autonomous vehicles. “It is foreseeable that the systems…

Trump signs executive order for increased AI usage by federal agencies

In a significant development, U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order setting the stage for increased usage of artificial intelligence in the decision making process of federal agencies. In a statement, the White House said, it was setting nine principles for the design, development, acquisition and usage of artificial intelligence in government departments.…