IBM is selling its weather unit, which includes The Weather Channel, Weather.com, Weather Underground, and Storm Radar, to tech-focused private equity firm Francisco Partners. The deal also includes the weather unit's forecasting science and tech platform, as well as enterprise data services. Francisco Partners plans to pivot part of the weather business to be more consumer-facing, focusing on health and well-being tools. IBM will retain access to the company's weather data for its artificial intelligence models. The sale aligns with IBM's strategy shift towards software, cloud services, and AI.
President Joe Biden sat down for an interview with The Weather Channel, continuing the tradition of presidents engaging with weather-and-climate related TV. The interview provides an opportunity for Biden to address climate change and his climate agenda, as well as reach viewers who closely follow weather-related news. The Weather Channel, which has been focused on climate change for nearly two decades, could also benefit from the ratings boost. In other news, Biden created a new national monument at the Grand Canyon and announced a $44 million investment in climate resilience for national parks, while First Lady Jill Biden convened a cybersecurity summit for K-12 schools. The White House is pushing for increased Democratic victories in special elections, but faces challenges with the United Auto Workers over green industrial policies. The Democratic National Committee announced its Chicago Convention Leadership team, and Biden's deputy campaign manager and top labor adviser are leaving their positions. Vice President Kamala Harris voiced support for acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, and the White House unveiled a new rule that could increase pay for construction workers on federally-funded projects. EPA Administrator Michael Regan backed legislation granting farmers the right to repair their own equipment.
Android Auto is adding support for more types of apps, including IoT and weather apps, with The Weather Channel set to arrive sometime this year. Google is also bringing conferencing app support to Android Auto, starting with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Cisco WebEx, allowing users to answer calls on these apps while driving.
