Mozilla appoints Anthony Enzor-DeMeo as its CEO amid a challenging period for Mozilla's for-profit arm with layoffs, restructuring, and its Google dependence (David Pierce/The Verge)
The Verge
Mozilla’s new CEO is doubling down on an AI future for Firefox
Anthony Enzor-DeMeo is taking charge of one of the internet’s most important — and most complicated — companies.
Techmeme
Mozilla appoints Anthony Enzor-DeMeo as its CEO, after years of its for-profit arm juggling layoffs, restructuring, its Google dependence, and the AI landscape
By David Pierce / The Verge. View the full context on Techmeme.
Databricks is raising a $4B Series L at a $134B valuation, up from $100B in August and $62B in December 2024, and had a $4.8B annual revenue run rate in October (Belle Lin/Wall Street Journal) https://www.wsj.com/articles/databricks-is-raising-funds-at-134-billion-valuation-4a2efaea?st=gxgVf7&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
Techmeme
Databricks is raising a $4B+ Series L at a $134B valuation, up from $100B in September and $62B in December 2024, and had a $4.8B annual revenue rate in October
By Belle Lin / Wall Street Journal. View the full context on Techmeme.
Visa says it will allow US banks to settle transactions using Circle's USDC stablecoin over Solana, the US' first full deployment of a stablecoin settlement (Emily Mason/Bloomberg)
Bloomberg.com
Visa Offers Stablecoin Settlement for US Banks Using Circle’s USDC
Visa Inc. is opening its US network to stablecoin settlement, expanding crypto-linked products and services enabled by the relaxed regulatory envir...
Techmeme
Visa says it will allow US banks to settle transactions using Circle
By Emily Mason / Bloomberg. View the full context on Techmeme.
Elizabeth Warren and two Democratic senators write to Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and more to investigate AI data centers' role in rising electricity costs (New York Times)
Senators Investigate Role of A.I. Data Centers in Rising Electricity Costs
Three Democrats are seeking information from tech firms about the growing energy use of data centers and the utility bills of individuals and other...
Techmeme
Elizabeth Warren and two other Democratic senators write to Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and others about AI data centers
From New York Times. View the full context on Techmeme.
Sources and a memo: Amazon plans to cut 370 jobs, or ~8.5% of its 4,370 employees, at its European HQ in Luxembourg, the country's biggest layoffs in 20 years (Benoit Berthelot/Bloomberg)
Bloomberg.com
Amazon European Hub in Luxembourg Braces for Record Job Cuts
Amazon.com Inc.’s decision earlier this year to ax 14,000 employees around the globe is reverberating at the company’s European headquarters in...
Techmeme
Sources and a memo: Amazon plans to cut 370 jobs at its European HQ in Luxembourg, or ~8.5% of its 4,370 employees, the country
By Benoit Berthelot / Bloomberg. View the full context on Techmeme.
VW plans to end vehicle production at its Dresden plant, which opened in 2001, and convert it into a research hub focused on AI, robotics, and chip design (Gregory Schmidt/New York Times)
Volkswagen to End Production at German Plant, a First in Company History
The auto giant stopped making cars at the plant in Dresden, which opened in 2001, as it faces weaker demand and steep U.S. tariffs.
Techmeme
VW plans to end vehicle production at its Dresden plant, which opened in 2001, and convert it into a research hub for tech such as AI, robotics, and chip design
By Gregory Schmidt / New York Times. View the full context on Techmeme.
As Europe rearms, Anduril is trying to break through in the UK by co-funding major programs, cutting manufacturing deals, and billing itself as "Anglo-American" (Mark Bergen/Bloomberg)
Bloomberg.com
Anduril Brings Its Billion-Dollar Drone Playbook to the UK
As Europe rearms, the US weapons maker is trying to break through in the UK by co-funding major programs, cutting manufacturing deals, and billing ...
Techmeme
As Europe rearms, Anduril is trying to break through in the UK by co-funding major programs, cutting manufacturing deals, and billing itself as “Anglo-American”
By Mark Bergen / Bloomberg. View the full context on Techmeme.
Analysis: of the 8,808 global data centers in October 2025, ~7,000 are in areas outside the optimal 18C to 27C temperature range; 600 are in areas above 27C (Rest of World)
Rest of World
We mapped the world’s hottest data centers
In 21 countries, all data centers are located in climates that are too hot.
Techmeme
Analysis: of the world
From Rest of World. View the full context on Techmeme.
China approves two cars from state-owned automakers with Level 3 autonomous capabilities, the first such approvals; the cars can drive in Chongqing and Beijing (Reuters) https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-approves-first-batch-l3-autonomous-driving-vehicles-2025-12-15/
Techmeme
China approves two Level 3 autonomous cars from state-owned Changan Auto and BAIC Motor, the first such approvals; the cars can drive in Chongqing and Beijing
From Reuters. View the full context on Techmeme.
Global smartphone shipments in 2026 are set to shrink 2.1% due to rising memory costs, led by Chinese OEMs; DRAM price surges are set to raise costs by 10%-15% (Counterpoint Research)
2026 Smartphone Shipment Forecasts Revised Down as Memory Shortage Drives BoM Costs Up
Global smartphone shipments in 2026 are expected to shrink 2.1% due to rising memory costs. We have revised down our 2026 smartphone shipment ...
Techmeme
Global smartphone shipments are set to shrink 2.1% in 2026, led by Chinese OEMs, due to rising memory costs; DRAM prices could further raise costs by 10%-15%
From Counterpoint Research. View the full context on Techmeme.