Good Morning! Nintendo unveils the development journey behind "Super Mario Bros. Wonder," set to redefine the classic 2D series. In economic news, the US contemplates the introduction of a 'Robot Tax' to address the challenges of automation and its impact on employment. Meanwhile, Russian courts impose fines on Tinder and Twitch, continuing their crackdown on tech giants over data localization and content issues.

— Forrest Knight & Meghanadh Vasireddy

Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s Interesting Development Process

Nintendo's upcoming game, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, is set to bring a fresh experience to the beloved franchise. In a recent interview with Wired, producer Takashi Tezuka and director Shiro Mouri shared insights into the game's development process and their focus on freedom and secrets.

During the prototyping stage, the team had no deadline, allowing them to explore a wide range of ideas without constraints. This approach led to the generation of over 2,000 ideas, from which the best ones were refined and incorporated into the game.

The developers aimed to create an environment where players have more freedom to decide how they want to play. Instead of focusing solely on action, they wanted to keep things interesting by incorporating unexpected elements. This led to the introduction of Wonder effects, which transform courses in various ways, offering players a unique experience in each level.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is set to release on October 20th for Nintendo Switch, offering a fresh take on the classic 2D series.

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US Considers Implementing a 'Robot Tax'

The basic idea behind a robot tax is that firms pay a tax when they replace a human worker with a robot. Such a tax would serve two main purposes. First, it would disincentivize firms from replacing workers with robots, thereby maintaining human employment. Second, if the replacement were made anyway, a robot tax would generate revenues for the government that would cover the loss of revenue from payroll taxes.

A study conducted by economists at MIT suggests that a sweet spot for taxing robots lies in the range of 1% to 3.7% of their value. This level of taxation takes into account the potential impact on income inequality while minimizing efficiency losses. The researchers emphasize that a robot tax should be balanced with other policies, such as the income tax, which plays a crucial role in redistributing wealth.

One of the main challenges in implementing a robot tax is defining what constitutes a robot. The current definition is so broad that it would categorize almost all technology – including most modern household appliances, computers, and smartphones – as robots. Another challenge is proving a direct correlation between the introduction of a robot and the loss of a specific job.

The debate on implementing a robot tax in the US is ongoing, with South Korea being the only country to have come close to passing legislation so far. It is crucial to consider the potential impact on innovation and the economy as a whole when discussing the implementation of a robot tax.

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Russian court fines Tinder, Twitch for refusing to localise data

A Russian court has fined Match Group, the operator of Tinder, and streaming service Twitch for repeated failure to localise data in accordance with Russian law. Match Group was fined 10 million roubles ($104,000) and Twitch was fined 13 million roubles ($135,000). This is not the first time that Russian courts have fined tech companies for failing to comply with Russian laws. In recent months, Russian courts have fined Twitch, TikTok, Google, Facebook, and Twitter over the personal-data issue, as well as for refusing to delete content deemed to be banned by Russian laws.

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Continental Integrates Google Cloud into Vehicle Cockpit

Continental, a German automotive manufacturing company, announced on Monday that it will integrate Google Cloud services into its vehicle cockpit system. This partnership will enable drivers to use Google's Conversational AI technologies to interact with their cars, allowing them to ask for directions, play music, and more, without having to type anything. The integration of Google Cloud services into Continental's Smart Cockpit High-Performance Computer (HPC) solution is expected to accelerate automotive innovation and create an intuitive experience for drivers. This partnership is a significant step towards bringing artificial intelligence to the vehicle cockpit and making driving safer.

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Fun Fact

The "C" in C Programming Language

Many programmers use the C programming language, but not everyone knows the history behind its name. C was developed in the early 1970s by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs (Nokia Bell Labs). But before C, there was a lesser-known language called "B". B was developed by Ken Thompson, also at Bell Labs, as a simplified version of the BCPL (Basic Combined Programming Language). When Ritchie set out to improve upon B, the resulting language was naturally named "C".

More Notes

1. Twitter accused of helping Saudi Arabia commit human rights abuses

2. Back Microsoft plans to remove WordPad software from Windows 12.

3. Threads Adds Reposts to 'Following' Feed, Enhancing User Experience

4. Alibaba Cloud Eyes State Firms for Up to $3 Billion Fundraising

5. Huawei chip shows US curbs on China's semiconductor are porous, not useless

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