Good morning readers. It looks like Apple is breaking up with the "green bubble" blues. In a surprising twist, the tech giant plans to support the RCS standard on iOS next year, ending the age-old rivalry between iPhones and Androids when it comes to text messaging compatibility. Apple's "change of heart" comes after Google's relentless pursuit of RCS adoption. This move is like a tech rom-com plot twist, where the once-divided messaging world is finally coming together for a happy ending, making the "green bubble" dread a thing of the past.

But we all know, in the end, the blue bubble always reigns supreme.

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• The rise of women’s sports

• Headline Hustle: You can now buy cars on Amazon, Canadian man found guilty in hit-and-run targeting Muslims, IBM suspends ads on X due to antisemitic content

• US wraps up antitrust case against Google

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

SPORTS

How women athletes are redefining sports history

Gone are the days when the sports section skipped the ladies. In a year of slam dunks and goal-scoring glory, women athletes have been stealing the show, dribbling up to the limelight with a victorious year across basketball, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. From the echo of sneakers in packed stadiums to the cheers of fans who no longer see gender but only game, the rise in both viewership and attendance is not just a trend—it's a triumph.

The evolution of women’s sports

This isn't a spur-of-the-moment uprising; it's a legacy in motion, a tribute to the 1970s, a decisive decade when "Monday Night Football" debuted and the free agency era began. It was the era that witnessed women stepping up the game – quite literally – transitioning from bystanders to active participants in sports, a leap as significant as the inaugural women's basketball event at the 1976 Summer Olympics.

Behind this seismic shift was Title IX, the unsung hero of legislation, that, while not initially penned for sports, swung open the doors to school athletics for women. It's been 50 years, but every jump shot and goal today is part of Title IX's broad hoop dreams. The AIAW’s purist vision for women’s sports, Marjorie Blaufarb’s rallying cry, and Billie Jean King’s tireless advocacy were all bricks in the path paved for equality.

The work doesn’t stop here. The NCAA’s takeover from AIAW was more than just a changing of guards; it was a baton passed in a race that's still on. The '70s set the stage, but it’s the relentless spirit of those pioneers that fuels today's victories and tomorrow’s dreams. As we cheer for the awe-inspiring feats of today's women athletes, we're not just witnessing sports history; we're watching the continuous rewriting of women’s roles in a society that's learning to champion equality, both on and off the field.

Headline Hustle

🚗 You can now buy cars on Amazon. In a groundbreaking move announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Hyundai is set to revolutionize car buying by partnering with Amazon.com. Starting in 2024, U.S. customers can purchase new Hyundai vehicles directly through Amazon's platform, a first-of-its-kind offering in the automotive industry. This game-changing initiative comes as customers increasingly seek the convenience of online shopping for cars, mirroring their experiences with everyday products on Amazon. Buyers can browse available vehicles by model, color, and features, then complete the transaction with their preferred payment and financing options. Hyundai also plans to integrate Amazon's Alexa technology into its cars from 2025.

🇨🇦 Canada jury finds man guilty in fatal hit-and-run targeting Muslim family. In a significant development, a Canadian jury has found a 22-year-old man guilty of a horrific hate crime in which he struck and killed a Muslim family with a pickup truck in 2021. The verdict, which includes four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, carries profound implications for justice in Canada. The incident, labeled a terrorist act, sent shockwaves across the nation and led to a nationwide condemnation. The sentencing is scheduled for December 1, raising questions about the nature of the crime.

🚫 IBM suspends advertising on X after ads ran next to antisemitic content. IBM has hit pause on its advertising on X (formerly Twitter) following a report revealing that their ads were appearing next to antisemitic content on the platform. The tech giant expressed zero tolerance for hate speech and discrimination, promptly suspending all ads while investigating the situation. X, under CEO Linda Yaccarino, has been trying to win back advertisers who left when Elon Musk took over. The platform has faced increasing controversy, with a rise in problematic content. While X denies intentional brand placement next to such content, Media Matters has been actively searching for and flagging these instances. Comcast, Bravo's parent company, is also investigating, while Apple and Oracle remain silent on the matter. This comes as Musk himself drew attention to an antisemitic X post, sparking backlash.

TECHNOLOGY

What happens to Google now? Even the judge doesn’t know

In recent months, the legal landscape surrounding tech giants has been significantly reshaped by the antitrust case brought against Google. Under the supervision of U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, this intricate legal battle has unfolded, captivating professionals and industry observers alike. Spanning a grueling 10 weeks and featuring testimony from over 50 witnesses, the evidentiary phase of the trial concluded with Judge Mehta expressing a degree of uncertainty regarding his upcoming ruling.

At the core of the lawsuit lies a pivotal question: Has Google illegitimately solidified its dominant position in internet search, which currently commands approximately 90% of global queries? The case, initiated by the Justice Department, contends that Google's monopoly is the result of unfair practices that warrant legal intervention. Key aspects of the case include:

• Potential Remedies: If Google is found to have violated antitrust laws, Mehta could oversee remedies to restore competition. This could involve changing Google's agreements with other tech companies or even forcing Google to divest parts of its business, although the latter is deemed unlikely.

• Details of Google’s Agreements: The trial revealed Google's lucrative deal with Apple, where Google pays billions to be the default search engine on Apple's Safari browser, including a 36% cut of all search ad revenue from Safari.

• Google’s Defense: Google argues that its dominance is due to early investment in Chrome and ongoing innovation. Google's executives, including CEO Sundar Pichai, emphasized continuous improvements in search technology.

Big picture: This case is the first of two distinct antitrust lawsuits against Google, with a future trial focusing on Google's internet advertising business. As we await Judge Mehta's verdict, the outcome promises to shape the application of antitrust law in the tech industry and impact the competitive landscape in internet search and beyond.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

• Sean "Diddy" Combs faces a civil lawsuit alleging rape and sex trafficking of his former romantic partner, singer Cassie, spanning a decade.

• Meta debuts Emu Video, bringing us a step closer to AI-generated movies.

• YouTube is revising its guidelines to permit the monetization of certain adult content, such as videos featuring breastfeeding nudity and non-sexually explicit dancing.

• Google DeepMind has unveiled a new music generation model called Lyria, a gen-AI model for music.

• OpenAI is considering the integration of its widely-used ChatGPT chatbot into classrooms, aiming to explore its educational potential.

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