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FTC Lawsuit Details Amazon's Undisclosed Ad Auction Price Manipulation

A federal lawsuit filed by the FTC alleges that Amazon secretly raised minimum price thresholds in some advertising auctions after bids were already submitted, effectively changing the rules mid-game. The suit claims this practice forced advertisers to pay more than they should have, generating billions in extra revenue for Amazon.

Apple submits new evidence in trade-secrets suit against ex-employee now at OpenAI

Apple has filed fresh court evidence, including a forensic review of former engineer Chang Liu's old work laptop, alleging he used a confidential Apple circuit schematic and an internally named engineering tool while working at OpenAI. Apple also claims Liu enlisted OpenAI colleague Yu-Ting Peng to destroy evidence once he learned of the investigation, and that he exploited an authentication flaw to retain system access after leaving.

Researchers embrace themed parties to mark PhD defenses and tenure milestones

Hydrologist Anu Li hosted a 'doctorette party' at her Minnesota home to celebrate her upcoming thesis defense, complete with a tiara, a 'Mrs to Dr' sash, a themed photo booth and trivia about her research. The event reflects a broader trend among academics who are creating personalized celebrations for milestones like dissertations and tenure that traditionally go unmarked.

Nature commentary urges plastics treaty negotiators to factor in conflict-driven energy insecurity

A commentary published in Nature argues that ongoing negotiations for a global plastics treaty should explicitly address how armed conflicts and energy insecurity affect plastic production and waste management. The authors contend that wars and fuel shortages can shift countries toward greater reliance on plastics for energy or materials, complicating efforts to curb plastic pollution worldwide.

AI-driven science raises unresolved accountability questions

As artificial intelligence tools increasingly contribute to scientific research, generating hypotheses, analyzing data and even drafting findings, questions are emerging over who bears responsibility when errors occur. Researchers, publishers and institutions are grappling with how existing norms of scientific accountability apply when machines play a substantial role in discovery.

FTC and 22 states sue Amazon over hidden ad auction surcharges

The Federal Trade Commission, joined by attorneys general from 22 states, has filed suit against Amazon alleging it secretly altered its ad auction system starting in 2019 to charge advertisers more than they were told. The complaint claims Amazon added an undisclosed 'soft reserve price' and even used a fictitious bidder to drive up costs, despite marketing its system as a fair second-price auction. Regulators estimate the practice may have extracted over $20 billion from advertisers since 2019.

FTC and 22 states sue Amazon over hidden ad auction surcharges

The Federal Trade Commission, joined by 22 states, filed suit against Amazon on Monday alleging the company secretly inflated prices in its Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands and Display ad auctions for more than seven years. The complaint says Amazon told over 500,000 small and medium businesses they'd pay just a penny above the next-highest bid in a 'second-price' auction, but from 2019 quietly inserted a hidden 'soft reserve price' using a fabricated bidder to push winning advertisers to pay their full bid instead.

FTC and 22 states sue Amazon over alleged hidden ad-pricing surcharges

The Federal Trade Commission, joined by 22 state attorneys general, filed suit against Amazon alleging it covertly altered its ad auction rules starting in 2019 to overcharge advertisers by more than $20 billion. The complaint targets Amazon's sponsored products, brand, and display ads, claiming the company misrepresented its 'second-price' auction system while quietly adding surcharges. Amazon has rejected the allegations, calling the lawsuit misguided and saying its auction changes actually saved advertisers billions.

ButterflyMX founder says AI hiring priority is system-design skill

ButterflyMX founder argues that as AI automates routine execution, companies should prioritize hiring people who can design and improve workflows rather than just perform tasks. He says traditional hiring focused on whether someone could do a job, but AI's ability to scale execution now makes builders who can refine processes and teach AI quality standards more valuable.

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