Two recent news articles caught my attention regarding the surprising cooperation of two of tech’s biggest companies. The first is that Apple and Google have agreed upon a standard to alert people when an unknown Bluetooth device may be tracking them. Tracking devices such as AirTags can be helpful to keep track of keys and wallets, but have also been used by bad actors for stalking people. Users now get an alert if an unknown device is moving with them, and don’t have to install any separate software. The second article revealed that Google paid Apple $20 billion in 2022 (and continues to pay billions each year) to make Google the default search engine in Apple’s Safari browser. These payments are at the heart of the massive lawsuit against Google, alleging it is monopolizing the search engine and advertising industry. These behemoth companies continue to push and pull for market share, as well as user trust and loyalty.
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