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This week: Elon's theater of the absurd is a sign of the times
The tech world celebrated its version of a royal baby on Monday with the news that Elon Musk and the musician Grimes have welcomed their first child together. Say hello to X Æ A-12. (The name is probably a joke — we think?)
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It was an appropriately absurdist moment for a topsy-turvy week that showed how the coronavirus pandemic's toll on tech companies is spreading, and highlighted the best and worst tendencies within the tech industry.
On the positive side, we witnessed inspiring moments:
The tweetstorm sent Tesla's stock down 10% on Friday. The stock has since recovered all the lost ground and then some.
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So where do we go now?
I wish I could tell you which of the above examples represent the future of the tech industry that will emerge from this challenging period.
Some of the most powerful businesses created during the past decade now look incredibly fragile — on the same day that Airbnb announced its job cuts, Uber's CEO told employees to expect layoffs in the coming weeks. But it's way too early to write these businesses off.
And just when we were ready to dismiss the idealism that once defined Silicon Valley, the recent actions of some tech workers and execs raise the possibility of a more equitable system taking root in a land of increasingly dominant mega-corporations and excessively paid CEOs.
In truth, no one really seems to know what to make of our technorati right now.
Maybe Apple and Google will save us from COVID-19 thanks to their contact tracing alliance. Or maybe we're just being played for fools.
So far, the public outrage directed at loan recipients like Shake Shack and AutoNation hasn't hit the startups (this may simply be because the startups that received the loans aren't as well known). With tech startups in a sort of no-mans-land, many are choosing to play it safe and give the money back.
The deal's critics warn that Google will obtain reams of personal health data collected by Fitbit devices — an argument that fits neatly into the distrust of Big Tech that was on the ascent a year ago.
But with tech now seen as a valuable ally in the fight against COVID-19, Google may be able to make the case that Fitbit is an important tool that will enhance its ability to fight pandemics.
And if all else fails, maybe Elon Musk will tweet about it.
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