Bits: When Tech Titans Go to Washington

View in [Browser]( | Add nytdirect@nytimes.com to your address book. [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( Tuesday, June 20, 2017 [For the latest updates, go to nytimes.com/bits »]( [Tech leaders and investors, some of whom have disagreed with President Trump, met at the White House on Monday.]( Tech leaders and investors, some of whom have disagreed with President Trump, met at the White House on Monday. Stephen Crowley/The New York Times [When Tech Titans Go to Washington]( A bunch of top technology executives and investors visited the White House on Monday. What unfolded? Among the highlights: Peter Thiel, a Facebook investor and a supporter of President Trump, praised the president and his administration for “doing well.” Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s chief executive, urged Mr. Trump to think about artificial intelligence. And Mr. Trump joked about how he had created $3.5 trillion in market value since the election. Those were among the scenes from Monday’s event, [writes Cecilia Kang]( a technology reporter for The New York Times. The White House meeting was being closely watched for the Trump administration’s ability to gather tech industry titans, even though [some have objected]( to the president’s immigration and climate policies. During Mr. Trump’s transition period before he assumed office, he gathered many tech chief executives together for [a visit to Trump Tower]( which turned into a photo-op spectacle. But that was before Mr. Trump tried enacting a travel ban against some majority Muslim nations and before he announced that he would be pulling the United States [out of the Paris climate accord](. Even so, White House officials said there was no reluctance by executives or investors to participate in Monday’s meeting, which was aimed at discussing how to upgrade government technology. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a professor and associate dean at the Yale School of Management, summed up the pros and cons facing tech executives and investors attending the event. “This is a double-edged sword for the tech C.E.O.s because they don’t want to be window dressing and used for photo ops,” he said. “But on the other side, this is the most business-friendly administration since Eisenhower and is much more open than any administration to influence on the spot.” — Pui-Wing Tam ADVERTISEMENT Read More [Tech Titans Make Pilgrimage to White House to Discuss Government Systems]( By CECILIA KANG Timothy Cook, Jeff Bezos and Eric Schmidt were among 18 tech executives at a forum held by an administration they have had conflicts with. More From The Times [Move Over, Bitcoin. Ether Is the Digital Currency of the Moment.]( By NATHANIEL POPPER Ethereum, a digital currency network that is winning over tech geeks and big companies, may soon surpass Bitcoin, its inspiration. Or it may fizzle. [Amazon Will Let Customers Try On Clothes Before Buying]( By NICK WINGFIELD Amazon Wardrobe, part of the Prime service and part of the company’s effort to expand in apparel, will let customers order three to 15 items of clothing without buying it. DealBook [Conglomerates Didn’t Die. They Look Like Amazon.]( By ANDREW ROSS SORKIN Just as investors were mourning the demise of the old-style conglomerate, Jeff Bezos’ company announced it would stretch its boundaries by buying Whole Foods. [Blue Apron Pursues I.P.O. as Amazon Looms Over Industry]( By MICHAEL J. DE LA MERCED The meal-delivery service’s plans for a public debut come amid upheaval in the food retail industry generated by Amazon’s takeover bid for Whole Foods. [Want to Work for Jaguar Land Rover? Start Playing Phone Games]( By AMIE TSANG The carmaker wants potential employees to download an app with a series of puzzles it says will test for the engineering skills it hopes to bring in. [U.K. to Decide on 21st Century Fox Deal for Sky by June 29]( By MARK SCOTT AND EMILY STEEL Regulators handed recommendations to the country’s culture minister on whether the deal should go through. Global Health [The High-Tech Device That’s Like a Bouncer for Mosquitoes]( By DONALD G. MCNEIL JR. New traps that use infrared beams to identify insects are helping researchers capture more of the disease-carrying insects they need. Tech Tip [What to Do When Chrome Wants to Update — but Can’t]( By J. D. BIERSDORFER If Google’s browser trips up trying to install a new version, check your system and settings before reinstalling the software. HOW ARE WE DOING? We’d love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to [bits_newsletter@nytimes.com](mailto:bits_newsletter@nytimes.com?subject=Bits%20Newsletter%20Feedback%20223). ADVERTISEMENT LIKE THIS EMAIL? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up [here](. FOLLOW BITS [Twitter] [@nytimesbits]( Get more [NYTimes.com newsletters »]( | Get unlimited access to NYTimes.com and our NYTimes apps. [Subscribe »]( ABOUT THIS EMAIL You received this message because you signed up for NYTimes.com's Bits newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( | [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Change Your Email]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Contact]( | [Advertise]( Copyright 2017 The New York Times Company 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018