What I Read This Week…

Federal judge rules Google violated U.S. antitrust law, U.S. hourly labor market shows signs of strain, and Caltech researchers develop novel device for blood pressure measurement

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Caught My Eye…

• Earlier this week, a federal judge ruled that Google violated U.S. antitrust law by maintaining its monopoly in search through exclusive agreements, including its deal with Apple to make Google the default search engine on the iPhone. This decision has far-reaching implications. Depending on the court's final ruling, Google could be forced to break up its search business or modify its agreements to foster competition with other search engines. While Google intends to appeal the decision, the ruling sets a significant precedent for future antitrust cases against other major technology companies.

• The U.S. hourly labor market, which once faced severe shortages, is now showing signs of strain similar to those in the white-collar labor market. What's happening? Companies are pulling back on hiring for roles that were previously in high demand, such as retail workers and airport cleaners. Moreover, many firms report increased ease in filling hourly positions and decreased employee turnover for these positions. This shift signals a cooling labor market and serves as another indicator of a potential economic slowdown.

• Researchers at Caltech have developed a device that continuously and noninvasively measures blood pressure anywhere on the body, using an innovative technique called resonance sonomanometry. How does it work? The method employs sound waves to induce arterial vibrations, then uses ultrasound imaging to measure the artery's resonance frequency. These vibration frequencies correlate with the tension in the artery walls, which directly relates to the blood pressure within the vessel. By analyzing these frequency changes, researchers can accurately calculate blood pressure without using the conventional cuff-based method. This device, currently in the prototype phase, could make blood pressure readings more accessible for both home and clinical use.

Other Reading…

• The Yen Carry Trade Sell-off Marks a Step Change in the Business Cycle (Financial Times)

• Has the U.S. Economy Reached a Tipping Point? (WSJ)

• Multinationals Sound Alarm Over Weak Demand in China (Financial Times)

• Microsoft Detects Fake News Sites Linked to Iran Aimed at Meddling in U.S. Election (NPR)

• LLM Progress is Slowing — What Will it Mean for AI? (VentureBeat)

• Russian Reinforcements Fail to Push Back Ukrainian Incursion (Financial Times)

• US FDA Approves Nasal Spray Alternative to EpiPen for Allergic Reactions (Reuters)

• Cable TV Business Crumbles as Paramount, Warner Bros. Take Big Losses (Axios)

• How Getty Beams Those Incredible Olympic Images Around the World Within Seconds (Axios)

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