Technology news items that caught our attention this week:

Google’s AI can now lip read better than humans after watching thousands of hours of TV: Link

Instagram takes a shot at YouTube, further distances itself from other social media platforms by rolling out long-form video: Link

One million people use Bank of America’s AI-powered virtual assistant “Erica”: Link

GM is considering an IPO for autonomous driving unit Cruise Automation: Link

Amazon faces push back related to its facial recognition platform “Rekognition”: Link

AT&T launches new streaming service – “WatchTV” – $15 per month for 30 channels: Link

Disney is willing to divest more Fox assets for deal clearance: Link

U.S. venture capitalists didn’t fund this Duke professor’s powerful facial recognition platform, so the Chinese government did: Link

Gamers rule the world. Now they have their own stadiums: Link

Twitter finds new life with young people. On Instagram: Link