MarTech Today: IBM’s Watson joins H&R Block, Amazon launches Alexa hub & FTC reports on cross-device tracking

Here’s our recap of what happened in marketing technology, as reported on MarTech Today, Marketing Land and other places across the web.

From MarTech Today:

• IBM’s Watson joins H&R Block to explain taxes to humans
  Feb 3, 2017 by Barry Levine
  The cognitive supercomputer is adding tax preparation to his seemingly endless resume of occupations.
• Amazon launches an Alexa hub to help marketers create voice skills
  Feb 3, 2017 by Matt McGee
  New resource targets brands and agencies that want a presence in the Alexa ecosystem.

From Marketing Land:

• FTC issues report and guidelines on cross-device tracking
  Feb 3, 2017 by Greg Sterling
  Transparency, consumer choice, data sensitivity and security are the four principles that companies must respect.

From Around The Web:

• Growth Through Analytics with Andy Abbar, E-Nor
• Google sells Terra Bella satellite unit to startup Planet Labs, VentureBeat
• Medium plans to launch a consumer subscription product this quarter, TechCrunch
• How to Improve Your WordPress Website’s Security, WPExplorer
• Why You Need to Use AI in Email Marketing Now, CMS Wire
• Ad Tech All In: Publisher First in 2017, MarTech Advisor
• New default placeholders for ads in AMP, Accelerated Mobile Pages Project

About The Author

Barry Levine

Barry Levine covers marketing technology for Third Door Media. Previously, he covered this space as a Senior Writer for VentureBeat, and he has written about these and other tech subjects for such publications as CMSWire and NewsFactor. He founded and led the web site/unit at PBS station Thirteen/WNET; worked as an online Senior Producer/writer for Viacom; created a successful interactive game, PLAY IT BY EAR: The First CD Game; founded and led an independent film showcase, CENTER SCREEN, based at Harvard and M.I.T.; and served over five years as a consultant to the M.I.T. Media Lab. You can find him at LinkedIn, and on Twitter at xBarryLevine.