Venture capitalists have always focused on investing in companies that leverage technology to either disrupt established industries or create entirely new business categories. But some VCs are starting to flip the script on their investing styles. Rather than funding startups, they are acquiring mature businesses –such as call centers, accounting firms, and other professional service…
Category: AI
AI, evergreens, Global Security News, Startups
What is Mistral AI? Everything to know about the OpenAI competitor
Mistral AI, the French company behind AI assistant Le Chat and several foundational models, is officially regarded as one of France’s most promising tech startups and is arguably the only European company that could compete with OpenAI. But compared to its $6 billion valuation, its global market share is still relatively low. However, the recent…
AI, Global Security News, Grok, Marjorie Taylor Greene
Marjorie Taylor Greene picked a fight with Grok
Last week, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok experienced a “bug” that made it tell users about the “white genocide” conspiracy theory in South Africa, even when prompted with questions that had nothing to do with the topic… and soon after, Grok expressed skepticism over the Holocaust death toll, which it chalked up to a “programming…
AI, Global Security News, openai, operator
OpenAI upgrades the AI model powering its Operator agent
OpenAI is updating the AI model powering Operator, its AI agent that can autonomously browse the web and use certain software within a cloud-hosted virtual machine to fulfill users’ requests. Soon, Operator will use a model based on o3, one of the latest in OpenAI’s o series of “reasoning” models. Previously, Operator relied on a custom…
AI, Global Security News, Microsoft, weather
Microsoft says its Aurora AI can accurately predict air quality, typhoons, and more
One of Microsoft’s latest AI models can accurately predict air quality, hurricanes, typhoons, and other weather-related phenomena, the company claims. In a paper published in the journal Nature and an accompanying blog post this week, Microsoft detailed Aurora, which the tech giant says can forecast atmospheric events with greater precision and speed than traditional meteorological…
AI, ChatGPT, evergreens, generative ai, Global Security News, openai
ChatGPT: Everything you need to know about the AI-powered chatbot
ChatGPT, OpenAI’s text-generating AI chatbot, has taken the world by storm since its launch in November 2022. What started as a tool to supercharge productivity through writing essays and code with short text prompts has evolved into a behemoth with 300 million weekly active users. 2024 was a big year for OpenAI, from its partnership…
AI, Apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Security, Startups, TC, TC Sessions: AI, TechCrunch Sessions: AI
At TechCrunch Sessions: AI, Artemis Seaford and Ion Stoica confront the ethical crisis — when AI crosses the line
As generative AI becomes faster, cheaper, and more convincing, the ethical stakes are no longer theoretical. What happens when the tools to deceive become widely accessible? And how do we build systems that are powerful — but safe enough to trust? At TechCrunch Sessions: AI, taking place June 5 at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall, Artemis…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, google cloud, Startups, TC, TC Sessions: AI, TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Founders First: Iliana Quinonez of Google Cloud on AI agents, infrastructure, and democratization at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
In the startup world, access to cutting-edge tools isn’t the biggest obstacle — it’s knowing how to wield them with precision. At TechCrunch Sessions: AI, taking place on June 5 at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall, we’re digging into the frameworks and decisions that determine whether an AI startup can scale — or stall. We’re excited…
AI, Apps, Biotech & Health, Crypto, Disrupt 2025, Fintech, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Media & Entertainment, robotics, Space, Startups, TC, TechCrunch Disrupt, TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Venture
Tick tock: Just 3 days left to save up to $900 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 pass
Time’s almost up — save big before prices jump in 3 days! You’ve got until May 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT to save up to $900 on individual tickets to TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. Or double your impact — grab one Early Bird pass and get another for your +1 at 90% off. These deals will…
AI, Global Security News, Government & Policy
Tracking the Cost of Quantum Factoring
Posted by Craig Gidney, Quantum Research Scientist, and Sophie Schmieg, Senior Staff Cryptography Engineer Google Quantum AI’s mission is to build best in class quantum computing for otherwise unsolvable problems. For decades the quantum and security communities have also known that large-scale quantum computers will at some point in the future likely be able to…
AI, Global Security News, Government & Policy
Tracking the Cost of Quantum Factoring
Posted by Craig Gidney, Quantum Research Scientist, and Sophie Schmieg, Senior Staff Cryptography Engineer Google Quantum AI’s mission is to build best in class quantum computing for otherwise unsolvable problems. For decades the quantum and security communities have also known that large-scale quantum computers will at some point in the future likely be able to…
AI, Global Security News, Klarna, TC, Zoom
After Klarna, Zoom’s CEO also uses an AI avatar on quarterly call
After Klarna CEO, Zoom’s CEO opts to use AI avatar for initial comments during the earnings call
AI, Anthropic, Claude, Global Security News
Anthropic CEO claims AI models hallucinate less than humans
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei believes today’s AI models hallucinate, or make things up and present them as if they’re true, at a lower rate than humans do, he said during a press briefing at Anthropic’s first developer event, Code with Claude, in San Francisco on Thursday. Amodei said all this in the midst of a…
AI, Anthropic, Claude, Global Security News
Anthropic’s latest flagship AI sure seems to love using the ‘cyclone’ emoji
Anthropic’s new flagship AI model, Claude Opus 4, is a strong programmer and writer, the company claims. When talking to itself, it’s also a prolific emoji user. That’s according to a technical report Anthropic released on Thursday, a part of which investigates how Opus 4 behaves in “open-ended self-interaction” — i.e. essentially having a chat…
AI, FCC, Global Security News, Government, robocalls, STIR/SHAKEN, Technology
FCC looking to expand anti-robocalling initiative
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr told Congress the agency is looking to expand the use of call authentication protocols that help crack down on robocalling more broadly, while floating the possibility that he may ask for enhanced authorities to take bad actors to court for AI-generated deepfakes over telephone and broadcast networks. While testifying…
AI, Anthropic, Claude, Global Security News
A safety institute advised against releasing an early version of Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4 AI model
A third-party research institute that Anthropic partnered with to test one of its new flagship AI models, Claude Opus 4, recommended against deploying an early version of the model due to its tendency to “scheme” and deceive. According to a safety report Anthropic published Thursday, the institute, Apollo Research, conducted tests to see in which…
AI, Anthropic, Global Security News
Anthropic’s new AI model turns to blackmail when engineers try to take it offline
Anthropic’s newly launched Claude Opus 4 model frequently tries to blackmail developers when they threaten to replace it with a new AI system and give it sensitive information about the engineers responsible for the decision, the company said in a safety report released Thursday. During pre-release testing, Anthropic asked Claude Opus 4 to act as…
AI, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Climate, data centers, Enterprise, Global Security News, Meta, renewable power, Solar Power
Meta adds another 650 MW of solar power to its AI push
The company already has more than 12 gigawatts of capacity in its renewable power portfolio.
AI, Anthropic, Apps, Global Security News
Anthropic’s new Claude 4 AI models can reason over many steps
During its inaugural developer conference Thursday, Anthropic launched two new AI models that the startup claims are among the industry’s best, at least in terms of how they score on popular benchmarks. Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4, part of Anthropic’s new family of models, Claude 4, can analyze large data sets, execute long-horizon…
AI, AI (Artificial Intelligence), Application Security, Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Copilot, Cyberlaw, Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, Digital Privacy, Endpoint, Featured, generative ai, Generative AI risks, Global Security News, Governance, Risk & Compliance, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), HIPAA, HIPAA and IT Security, HIPAA Compliance, hipaa laws, HIPPA, Humor, Incident Response, Industry Spotlight, Large Language Model, large language models, Large Language Models (LLM), Large language models (LLMs), LLM, LLMs, machine learning, Microsoft, ML, Most Read This Week, News, Popular Post, privacy, Recall, SB Blogwatch, Security Awareness, Security Boulevard (Original), signal, Signal app, Social - Facebook, Social - LinkedIn, Social - X, Spotlight, Threats & Breaches, vulnerabilities, Windows
Signal Gives Microsoft a Clear Signal: Do NOT Recall This
Black screen of DRM: Privacy-first messenger blocks Microsoft Recall The post Signal Gives Microsoft a Clear Signal: Do NOT Recall This appeared first on Security Boulevard.
AI, Global Security News, V0, Vercel
Vercel debuts an AI model optimized for web development
The team behind Vercel’s V0, an AI-powered platform for web creation, has developed an AI model it claims excels at certain website development tasks. Available through an API, the model, called “v0-1.0-md,” can be prompted with text or images, and was “optimized for front-end and full-stack web development,” the Vercel team says. Currently in beta,…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC Sessions: AI, TechCrunch Sessions: AI
The complete Side Events lineup at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Get ready to amplify your TechCrunch Sessions: AI experience with the electrifying lineup of Side Events taking Boston by storm during the week of June 1-7. As the countdown to TC Sessions: AI begins, we’re thrilled to share our Side Events lineup to foster meaningful connections within the vibrant Berkeley, California, tech community. Whether you’re a seasoned industry pro or a…
AI, Global Security News, openai
OpenAI teams up with Cisco, Oracle to build UAE data center
As rumored, OpenAI is expanding its ambitious Stargate data center project to the Middle East. On Thursday, the company announced Stargate UAE, which will bring a 1GW data center cluster to Abu Dhabi. OpenAI expects 200MW will go live in 2026, developed with partners including G42, Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco, and SoftBank. In a blog post,…
AI, Apps, Biotech & Health, Climate, Crypto, Disrupt 2025, Enterprise, Fintech, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Media & Entertainment, Real estate, robotics, Space, Startups, TC, TechCrunch Disrupt, TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Venture
4 days left: Up to $900 off your ticket and 90% off for your +1 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Here’s the deal: Only 4 days left to save up to $900 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 ticket — and an additional 90% off for your +1. From October 27–29, San Francisco’s Moscone West transforms into the epicenter of tech innovation as 10,000 tech, startup, and VC leaders gather for the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch…
AI, Fintech, Global Security News, Klarna
Klarna used an AI avatar of its CEO to deliver earnings, it said
Other than AI Siemiatkowski admission, it wasn’t obvious that this was AI. There were only a few subtle signs.
AI, Global Security News, Payment fraud & compliance, Security Bloggers Network
Securing Open Banking: How Fintechs Can Defend Against Automated Fraud & API Abuse
Open Banking is accelerating innovation, and fraud—with API abuse, credential stuffing, and fake account creation now among the top threats fintechs must defend against in real time. The post Securing Open Banking: How Fintechs Can Defend Against Automated Fraud & API Abuse appeared first on Security Boulevard.
AI, Fundraising, Global Security News, lm arena, Startups
LM Arena, the organization behind popular AI leaderboards, lands $100M
LM Arena, a crowdsourced benchmarking project that major AI labs rely on to test and market their AI models, has raised $100 million in a seed funding round that values the organization at $600 million, according to Bloomberg. Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and UC Investments, which manages an investment portfolio for the University of California, led the…
AI, Global Security News, openai
Jony Ive to lead OpenAI’s design work following $6.5B acquisition of his company
Famed Apple product designer Jony Ive will now lead creative and design work at OpenAI, the result on an usual deal announced on Wednesday. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Ive have been working on an AI device that will move consumers beyond screens for roughly two years, according to The Wall Street Journal. “Thrilled to…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, Tax accounting, Venture
Field raises $17M to automate the drudgery of tax prep
There is a new accounting software in town, coming in with a fresh $17.2 million raise and a desire to shake things up. The company, Field, hopes to automate the grunt work. “The tax industry is facing a genuine crisis,” Leroy Kerry, Field’s co-founder CEO, told TechCrunch. Many CPAs are approaching retirement while a dwindling…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, Tax accounting, Venture
Filed raises $17M to automate the drudgery of tax prep
There is a new accounting software in town, coming in with a fresh $17.2 million raise and a desire to shake things up. The company, Filed, hopes to automate the grunt work. “The tax industry is facing a genuine crisis,” Leroy Kerry, Filed’s co-founder CEO, told TechCrunch. Many CPAs are approaching retirement while a dwindling…
AI, Global Security News, Llama, Meta, Startups
Meta launches program to encourage startups to use its Llama AI models
Meta is launching a new program to incentivize startups to adopt its Llama AI models. The program, Llama for Startups, provides companies “direct support” from Meta’s Llama team, as well as funding in certain cases. Any U.S.-based firm that is incorporated, has raised less than $10 million in funding, has at least one developer on…
AI, AI chips, Asia Pacific, Global Security News, Hardware, Huawei, semicondcutors
Tensions flare between the US and China over Huawei’s AI chips
Just a few weeks after the U.S. and China made significant steps to de-escalate the growing trade war between the two countries, tensions are flaring again — this time over semiconductors. China’s Commerce Ministry in Beijing released a statement on Wednesday that threatened legal action against anyone who enforces U.S. export restrictions on Huawei’s AI chips,…
AI, Amazon, Global Security News
Amazon rolls out short-form AI-powered audio product summaries for select items
Amazon is testing short-form AI-powered audio product summaries on select product pages, the company announced on Wednesday. The audio summaries are voiced by what Amazon calls “AI-powered shopping experts” that discuss key product features, customer reviews, and information from across the web. The new AI product summaries can be accessed by tapping the “Hear the…
AI, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O
Google is bringing ads to AI Mode
Google on Wednesday detailed its plans to bring ads to AI Mode, the company’s AI-powered experience in Google Search. Ads may appear “where relevant” below and “integrated into” AI Mode responses as part of a test, Google says. AI Mode lets Google Search users ask a question and get an AI-generated response, with the ability…
AI, Global Security News, mistral
Mistral’s new Devstral AI model was designed for coding
AI startup Mistral on Wednesday announced a new AI model focused on coding: Devstral. Devstral, which Mistral says was developed in partnership with AI company All Hands AI, is openly available under an Apache 2.0 license, meaning it can be used commercially without restriction. Mistral claims that Devstral outperforms other open models like Google’s Gemma…
AI, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O
Google’s AI agents will bring you the web now
For the last two decades, Google has brought people a list of algorithmically-selected links from the web for any given search query. At I/O 2025, Google made clear that the concept of Search is firmly in its rearview mirror. On Tuesday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and his executives presented new ways to bring users the…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, TechCrunch Sessions: AI
TechCrunch Sessions: AI welcomes Tanka CEO Kisson Lin to talk AI-native startups
We’re ecstatic to announce that Kisson Lin, founder and CEO of Tanka, will be joining us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI for a provocative — and instructive — interview titled “Your Next Co-Founder Will Be AI.” She’s among the many excellent speakers joining the AI conference on June 5 at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall, and there’s…
AI, Apps, Biotech & Health, Climate, Crypto, Disrupt 2025, Fintech, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Media & Entertainment, privacy, robotics, Space, Startups, TC, TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Transportation, Venture
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 Early Bird savings end on May 25
The early bird sees the future first — and saves the most. The old saying goes, “the early bird gets the worm.” But in tech — and in life — it’s not really about the worm. It’s about spotting what’s next before the crowd rushes in and the price goes up. TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is…
AI, Commerce, Global Security News
Shopify launches an AI-powered store builder as part of its latest update
Shopify is giving its merchants a slew of new AI-powered tools designed to help them enhance the online shopping experience for their customers. This includes an AI store builder for users to set up storefronts using a single prompt, as well as an AI generator for creating elements (such as banners) without knowing how to…
AI, Artificial Intelligence, Exclusive, Global Security News, Transportation, Uber, uber freight
Uber Freight bets big on AI tools to grow its business
Three years ago, as the pandemic caused chaos for companies big and small, Colgate-Palmolive’s chief supply chain officer Luciano Sieber orchestrated a “logistics blitz.” The result gave Sieber a better understanding of how Colgate-Palmolive moves its products around the world. But it stuck Sieber with another problem: too much data. About a year ago, Sieber…
AI, Cybersecurity, defense tech, Global Security News, Israel, Security Boulevard (Original), Social - Facebook, Social - LinkedIn, Social - X, South Korea
Strategic Defense Innovation: Israel and South Korea’s Technological Partnership
The Israel-South Korea defense partnership has evolved from basic procurement relationships into a sophisticated technological alliance. The post Strategic Defense Innovation: Israel and South Korea’s Technological Partnership appeared first on Security Boulevard.
AI, Global Security News, Google I/O
Google’s Sergey Brin: ‘I made a lot of mistakes with Google Glass’
Google co-founder Sergey Brin said he “made a lot of mistakes with Google Glass” during an onstage interview at Google I/O 2025 on Tuesday. Brin was a surprise addition to an interview with Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis conducted by Big Technology Podcast’s Alex Kantrowitz. Brin went on to say he “didn’t know anything about…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC Sessions: AI, TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Last Week: Exhibit your startup at TechCrunch Sessions AI
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to showcase your newest innovation to a massive AI community, this is it! You have until this Friday, May 23 at 11:59 p.m. PT, to secure one of the few remaining exhibit tables at TechCrunch Sessions: AI and position your brand at the center of the conversation…
AI, Enterprise, Global Security News, Hardware, Intel, Lip-bu Tan, semiconductor
Intel is reportedly exploring a sale for its networking and edge unit
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan continues to consider ways to help semiconductor giant refocus on its core business. Intel is allegedly considering selling its networking and edge unit, according to reporting to Reuters, as Tan looks to shed business divisions that aren’t considered critical. This unit builds makes chips for telecom equipment and was responsible for…
AI, Apps, Biotech & Health, Climate, Crypto, Disrupt 2025, Fintech, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Space, Startups, TC, TechCrunch Disrupt, TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Transportation, Venture
You’ve got 6 days to save $900 on TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 tickets
Less than one week left to save big on TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 passes! Disrupt 2025 prices increase on May 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Grab your pass now and: The clock is ticking — lock in your massive savings here. Why attend TechCrunch Disrupt 2025? From October 27–29, join the ultimate gathering of startups, VCs,…
AI, Apps, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O, Hardware
Google I/O 2025: Everything announced at this year’s developer conference
We’ve got plenty of news relating to Android, Chrome, Google Search, YouTube, and — of course — Google’s AI-powered chatbot, Gemini.
AI, ai agent, Global Security News, Google I/O
Google rolls out Project Mariner, its web-browsing AI agent
Google announced during Google I/O 2025 that it’s rolling out Project Mariner, the company’s experimental AI agent that browses and uses websites, to more users and developers. Google also says it’s significantly updated how Project Mariner works, allowing the agent to take on nearly a dozen tasks at a time. U.S. subscribers to Google’s new…
AI, gemini, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O
Google updates the Gemini app with real-time AI video, Deep Research, and more
Google announced several updates to the Gemini AI chatbot app during Google I/O 2025, including more broadly available multimodal AI features, updated AI models, and deeper integrations with Google’s suite of products. Starting Tuesday, Google is rolling out Gemini Live’s camera and screen-sharing capabilities to all users on iOS and Android. The feature, powered by…
AI, Android, Apps, developers, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O
Android Studio adds ‘agentic AI’ with Journeys feature, Agent Mode
Android Studio, the integrated development environment (IDE) for Android app developers, is getting an AI upgrade, Google announced at its developer conference, Google I/O 2025, on Tuesday. In addition to the rollout of the latest Gemini 2.5 Pro model, Android Studio is gaining a new “agentic AI” capability called Journeys and will soon introduce an…
AI, Commerce, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O
Google introduces Shop with AI Mode with price tracking, agentic checkout and virtual try-on
Google announced at Google IO 2025 that it is adding multiple AI-powered features for online shoppers, including a new visual panel in Google Search’s AI Mode, personalized price tracking notifications with agentic checkout, and virtual try-ons. The new shopping experience is rolling out in AI Mode, where shoppers can view product visuals and other AI-powered…
AI, Apps, Global Security News, Google I/O, google meet
Google Meet is getting real-time speech translation
Google announced at Google I/O 2025 that it’s bringing real-time speech translation to Google Meet. The feature leverages a large language audio model from Google DeepMind to allow for a natural, free-flowing conversation with someone in a different language, Google says. Speech translation in Meet translates spoken words into the listener’s preferred language in real…
AI, Gadgets, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O, Hardware, Warby Parker
Google shows off Android XR-based glasses, announces Warby Parker team-up
Google is taking on Meta’s Ray-Ban Meta glasses by announcing new partnerships at Google I/O 2025 with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to create smart glasses based on Android XR. Google launched the Android XR platform with Qualcomm and Samsung last year. While it didn’t talk about specific devices then, the latest announcement indicates the…
AI, Apps, Exclusive, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O
Stitch is Google’s AI-powered tool to help design apps
At the Google I/O 2025 developer conference, Google launched Stitch, an AI-powered tool to help design web and mobile app front ends by generating the necessary UI elements and code. Stitch can be prompted to create app UIs with a few words or even an image, providing HTML and CSS markup for the designs it…
AI, Apps, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O, video generation
Google debuts an AI-powered video tool called Flow
Google on Tuesday announced a new AI-powered video tool geared towards filmmaking called Flow at its Google I/O 2025 developer conference. The company said it’s using a trio of its AI models — Veo for video generation, Imagen for image generation, and Gemini for text and prompting — to power the new tool. Flow is…
AI, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O, Lyria, Media & Entertainment
Google brings a music-generating AI model to its API with Lyria RealTime
Google announced at Google I/O 2025 that it is making the AI model that powers its experimental music production app, MusicFX DJ, available via an API. The model, Lyria RealTime, is now in Google’s Gemini API and AI Studio platform. It can mix musical genres, change instruments, and alter the mood of AI-generated music, giving…
AI, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O, Imagen, Media & Entertainment
Imagen 4 is Google’s newest AI image generator
Google is rolling out a new image-generating AI model, Imagen 4, that the company claims delivers higher-quality results than its previous image generator, Imagen 3. Unveiled at Google I/O 2025 on Tuesday, Imagen 4 is capable of rendering “fine details” like fabrics, water droplets, and animal fur, Google says. The model can handle both photorealistic…
AI, Global Security News, Google I/O, project astra
Project Astra comes to Google Search, Gemini, and developers
Google announced on Tuesday during Google I/O 2025 that Project Astra — the company’s low latency, multimodal AI experience — will power an array of new experiences in Search, the Gemini AI app, and products from third-party developers. Most notably, Project Astra is powering a new Search Live feature in Google Search. When using AI…
AI, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O, Media & Entertainment, synthid
Google’s new SynthID Detector can help spot AI slop
Google is launching a way to quickly check whether an image, video, audio file, or snippet of text was created using one of its AI tools. SynthID Detector, announced Tuesday at Google I/O 2025, is a verification portal that uses Google’s SynthID watermarking technology to help identify AI-generated content. Users can upload a file, and…
AI, gemma, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O
The latest Google Gemma AI model can run on phones
Google’s family of “open” AI models, Gemma, is growing. During Google I/O 2025 on Tuesday, Google took the wraps off Gemma 3n, a model designed to run “smoothly” on phones, laptops, and tablets. Available in preview starting Tuesday, Gemma 3n can handle audio, text, images, and videos, according to Google. Models efficient enough to run…
AI, Apps, gemini, Global Security News, Google I/O
‘Deep Think’ boosts the performance of Google’s flagship Google Gemini AI model
Google is upgrading its most capable Gemini AI models. On Tuesday at Google I/O 2025, the company announced Deep Think, an “enhanced” reasoning mode for its flagship Gemini 2.5 Pro model. Deep Think allows the model to consider multiple answers to questions before responding, boosting its performance on certain benchmarks. “[Deep Think] pushes model performance…
AI, Apps, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O, Media & Entertainment
Google AI Ultra: You’ll have to pay $249.99 per month for Google’s best AI
AI Ultra, which is U.S.-only for now, joins a growing group of ultra-premium AI subscriptions.
AI, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O, Hardware
Google’s 3D teleconferencing platform, now called Beam, will ship later in 2025
Google announced at Google I/O 2025 that it is rebranding Project Starline, its corporate-focused teleconferencing platform that uses 3D imaging, and recommitting to shipping it this year. Starline, now called Google Beam, will come to “early customers” like Deloitte, Salesforce, Citadel, NEC, and Duolingo later in 2025 via Google’s previously announced partnership with HP, Google…
AI, Apps, gemini, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O
Google’s Gemini AI app has 400M monthly active users
Google’s Gemini AI app now has more than 400 million monthly active users, CEO Sundar Pichai said during a press briefing ahead of Google I/O 2025. Google’s AI chatbot app is now approaching a similar scale to OpenAI’s ChatGPT app. According to recent court filings, Google estimated in March that ChatGPT had around 600 million…
AI, Apps, Global Security News, gmail, Google, Google I/O
Google unveils new AI features coming to Gmail, Docs, and Vids
At Google I/O 2025, the company unveiled a slew of new AI Workspace features coming to Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Vids. Most notably, Gmail is getting personalized smart replies and a new inbox-cleaning feature, while Vids is getting new ways to create and edit content. Personalized smart replies in Gmail will help you draft…
AI, Apps, Global Security News, google ai mode, Google I/O, Google Search
Google’s AI Mode rolls out to US, will add support for deeper research, comparison shopping, and more
Google’s AI Mode, the experimental Google Search feature that lets users ask complex, multi-part questions via an AI interface, will roll out to everyone in the U.S. starting this week, the company announced at its annual developer conference, Google I/O 2025, on Tuesday. The feature builds on Google’s existing AI-powered search experience, AI Overviews, which…
AI, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O, Media & Entertainment
Veo 3 can generate videos — and soundtracks to go along with them
Google’s latest video-generating AI model, Veo 3, can create audio to go along with the clips that it generates. On Tuesday during the Google I/O 2025 developer conference, Google unveiled Veo 3, which the company claims can generate sound effects, background noises, and even dialogue to accompany the videos it creates. Veo 3 also improves…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC Sessions: AI, TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Twelve Labs CEO Jae Lee is coming to TechCrunch Sessions: AI
When you claim to have the world’s most powerful video intelligence platform, you probably know a thing or two about foundational models. We’re pleased to announce that Twelve Labs’ CEO, Jae Lee, will be joining us on the main stage at TechCrunch Sessions: AI, happening June 5th at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall. One of the…
AI, Apple, Apple Intelligence, Global Security News
Apple reportedly plans to let developers build on top of its AI
Apple plans to release a new set of AI products and frameworks at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) this June, including tools that’ll let third-party developers create software using Apple AI models, per a Bloomberg report. Apple’s hope is that expanding its AI tech in this way will draw more attention — and users —…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Last 2 weeks: Savings of up to $600 on TechCrunch Sessions: AI tickets
AI is evolving fast, and access to valuable insights and powerful networking shouldn’t be reserved for those who pay top dollar. We’re rolling back TechCrunch Sessions: AI ticket prices! Save up to $300 on your pass, and get an extra 50% off when you bring a plus-one. Learn from the brightest minds in AI and…
AI, AI Cybersecurity, Blog, Cybersecurity News, Global Security News, MixMode News, Ponemon, Preemptive AI, Preemptive Cyber Defense, Security Bloggers Network, Third Wave AI, Threat Intelligence Research, Threat Research
The State of AI in Cybersecurity 2025: What’s Working, What’s Lagging, and Why It Matters Now More Than Ever
This second annual study offers a deeper look at how organizations are using AI to detect and respond to attacks faster, where it’s making the biggest impact, and what’s holding adoption back. The post The State of AI in Cybersecurity 2025: What’s Working, What’s Lagging, and Why It Matters Now More Than Ever appeared first…
AI, Enterprise, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O
Google I/O 2025: How to watch all the AI and Android reveals
Google is gearing up to hold its largest developer conference of the year, Google I/O 2025, on May 20 and May 21. CEO Sundar Pichai, DeepMind CEO and co-founder Demis Hassabis, and executives in charge of Search, Cloud, and Android will announce major updates to Google’s product offerings. We’re expecting Google I/O 2025 to focus…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC Sessions: AI, TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Amazon’s Danielle Perszyk is coming to TechCrunch Sessions: AI
We’re thrilled to announce that Danielle Perszyk, the leader of Amazon AGI SF Lab’s human-computer interaction efforts, will be taking the main stage at TechCrunch Sessions: AI on June 5 at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall. The AGI SF Lab is at the forefront of developing foundational capabilities for AI agents that can operate in the…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News
Once worth over $1B, Microsoft-backed Builder.ai is running out of money
AI software company Builder.ai is entering insolvency proceedings, a company spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch. The Microsoft-backed unicorn, which has raised more than $450 million in funding, rose to prominence for its AI-based platform that aimed to simplify the process of building apps and websites. According to the spokesperson, Builder.ai, also known as Engineer.ai Corporation, is…
AI, AI agents, Apps, Global Security News, manus
Agentic AI platform Manus launches a paid plan for teams
Manus, the once-buzzy AI agent platform, on Tuesday launched a plan aimed at small businesses and organizations. The plan, dubbed Manus Team, starts at $39 per seat per month with a five-seat minimum, totaling $195 per month. Each team gets 19,500 credits in a sharable pool, as well as access to certain features in beta,…
AI, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Global Security News, Google, openai, Podcast, The AI Fix
The AI Fix #51: Divorce by coffee grounds, and why AI robots need your brain
In episode 51 of The AI Fix, a Greek man’s marriage is destroyed after ChatGPT reads his coffee, a woman dumps her husband to marry an AI called Leo, and Graham wonders whether it’s time to upload his brain into a lunchbox-packing robot. Meanwhile, a humanoid robot goes full Michael Crawford in a Chinese factory,…
AI, Apps, generative ai, Global Security News, music streaming service
Amazon Music tests an AI-powered search experience for fans to learn more about their favorite artists
Amazon Music announced Tuesday that it’s testing a new AI-powered search feature called “Explore,” designed to help fans learn more about their favorite artists. To use this feature, users can tap the “Find” button at the bottom of the screen and enter an artist’s name in the search bar. Then, by selecting the “Explore” tab…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC Sessions: AI, TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Google DeepMind’s Logan Kilpatrick is coming to TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Google DeepMind is at the forefront of AI innovation, and no one is more poised to speak to this than Senior Product Manager Logan Kilpatrick. We are pleased to announce he will be joining us on the main stage at TechCrunch Sessions: AI, happening June 5th at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall. TC Sessions: AI is…
acquisition, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, Numbers Station, startup acquistion, Startups
Alation acquires Numbers Station to bolster its AI agent offerings
Alation plans to integrate Numbers Station’s products into its own as soon as the end of this quarter, Alation co-founder and CEO Satyen Sangani told TechCrunch.
AI, Global Security News, vibe coding
OpenAI’s Codex is part of a new cohort of agentic coding tools
Last Friday, OpenAI introduced a new coding system called Codex, designed to perform complex programming tasks from natural language commands. Codex moves OpenAI into a new cohort of agentic coding tools that is just beginning to take shape. From GitHub’s early Copilot to contemporary tools like Cursor and Windsurf, most AI coding assistants operate as…
AI, Fintech, Global Security News, IPO, Klarna
Klarna’s revenue per employee soars to nearly $1 million thanks to AI efficiency push
Last year, Klarna announced a significant initiative to leverage its internally developed AI systems, powered by OpenAI, across its operations. This wasn’t empty talk for the buy now, pay later giant. The company not only ended its pricey contract with Salesforce CRM, but also curtailed its hiring efforts, allowing AI to do some of the…
AI, deepfake, Global Security News, Government & Policy, In Brief
Trump signs bill criminalizing revenge porn and explicit deepfakes
President Donald Trump is expected to sign the Take It Down Act today, a bipartisan law that enacts stricter penalties for distributing non-consensual explicit images, including deepfakes and revenge porn.
AI, amd, Enterprise, Global Security News, Sanmina, semiconductors, ZT Systems
AMD strikes a deal to sell ZT Systems’ server-manufacturing business for $3B
Semiconductor giant AMD followed through with its plan to spin out ZT Systems’ server-manufacturing business. AMD announced on Monday that it was selling ZT Systems’ server-manufacturing business to electronic manufacturing services company Sanmina. The $3 billion deal is a mix of cash and stock: $2.25 billion in cash, a $300 million premium including 50% cash…
AI, Apps, Global Security News, Google, Google I/O, notebooklm
Google launches standalone NotebookLM app for Android
Google has officially released the NotebookLM app for Android, a day before Google I/O 2025 and a day before the company said it would roll out. Since its launch in 2023, the AI-based note-taking and research assistant has only been accessible via desktop. Google has now made the service available on the go. The iOS app…
AI, deepfake, Global Security News, Government & Policy
Trump to sign bill criminalizing revenge porn and explicit deepfakes
President Donald Trump is expected to sign the Take It Down Act today, a bipartisan law that enacts stricter penalties for distributing non-consensual explicit images, including deepfakes and revenge porn.
AI, Enterprise, Global Security News, Grok, Microsoft Build, xAI
xAI’s Grok 3 comes to Microsoft Azure
Microsoft on Monday became one of the first hyperscalers to provide managed access to Grok, the AI model developed by billionaire Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI. Available through Microsoft’s Azure AI Foundry platform, Grok — specifically Grok 3 and Grok 3 mini — will “have all the service-level agreements Azure customers expect from any Microsoft product,”…
AI, Apps, Enterprise, Global Security News, Microsoft Build, open source
Microsoft open-sources a command-line text editor and more at Build
At its Build 2025 conference, Microsoft open-sourced a number of apps and tools, including a new command-line text editor for Windows called Edit. Open source software may not earn the company direct revenue, but it can serve as a form of market research — and a funnel to paid applications and services. By contributing to…
AI, Enterprise, GitHub, Global Security News, mcp, Microsoft, Microsoft Build
GitHub, Microsoft embrace Anthropic’s spec for connecting AI models to data sources
GitHub and Microsoft, GitHub’s corporate parent, are joining the steering committee for MCP, Anthropic’s standard for connecting AI models to the systems where data resides. The announcement, which was made at Microsoft’s Build 2025 conference on Monday, comes as MCP gains steam in the AI industry. Earlier this year, both OpenAI and Google said they…
AI, Apps, Global Security News, Microsoft Build, Microsoft Edge
Devs can now tap Microsoft Edge to power AI web apps
Microsoft is launching new APIs for Edge, its web browser, to let developers incorporate AI functionality into web apps using models built into Edge. Unveiled at Build 2025, the AI APIs mirror some of the functionality in Google Chrome, which also offers “built-in AI” that developers can tap to power their web applications. Microsoft’s move…
AI, Global Security News, Microsoft, Microsoft Build
NLWeb is Microsoft’s project to bring more chatbots to webpages
As part of an effort to make building AI-powered chatbots on the web simpler, Microsoft is launching an open project called NLWeb. Announced at Build 2025, NLWeb lets websites provide a “conversational interface” — i.e. a text field and a submission button — for their users with a few lines of code, the AI model…
AI, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, Microsoft, Microsoft Build, science
Microsoft wants to tap AI to accelerate scientific discovery
Can AI speed up aspects of the scientific process? Microsoft appears to think so. At the company’s Build 2025 conference on Monday, Microsoft announced Microsoft Discovery, a platform that taps agentic AI to “transform the [scientific] discovery process,” according to a press release provided to TechCrunch. Microsoft Discovery is “extensible,” Microsoft says, and can handle…
AI, Global Security News, Microsoft, Microsoft Build, Windows
AI dev tools for Windows get a fresh coat of paint
Microsoft wants to make it easier for developers to build AI-powered apps on Windows devices. On Monday during its Build 2025 conference, Microsoft announced Windows AI Foundry, a rebranding and expansion of the Windows Copilot Runtime service the company launched last May. Microsoft describes Windows AI Foundry as a “unified platform for local AI development” —…
AI, Apple, Apps, ChatGPT, Global Security News, siri
Ex-Siri head reportedly wanted Apple to choose Google’s Gemini over ChatGPT
Former Siri head John Giannandrea pushed Apple to choose Google’s Gemini chatbot over ChatGPT for the first chatbot integration with Siri last year, according to a Bloomberg report looking at Apple’s uneven AI efforts. Giannandrea, an ex-Google executive who was demoted in a leadership reshuffle in March, thought that OpenAI’s bot wouldn’t have staying power…
AI, Apps, Biotech & Health, Climate, Crypto, Disrupt 2025, Fintech, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Space, Startups, TC, TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Transportation, Venture
Clock’s ticking: Save up to $900 on TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 tickets before prices rise
Tick-tock! Time’s almost up to save up to $900 on individual passes to TechCrunch Disrupt 2025! Or go big and grab an Early Bird ticket now and get a second for your +1 at 90% off — but only for a limited time. These unbeatable deals disappear May 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT — don’t…
AI, Artificial Intelligence, Global Security News, The AI Fix
The AI Fix nominated for top podcast award. Vote now!
Bloomin’ eck! I’m delighted to share with you that “The AI Fix” is up for an award!
AI, Elon Musk, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Social, X, xAI
Grok says it’s ‘skeptical’ about Holocaust death toll, then blames ‘programming error’
Grok, the AI-powered chatbot created by xAI and widely deployed across its new corporate sibling X, wasn’t just obsessed with white genocide this week. As first noted in Rolling Stone, Grok also answered a question on Thursday about the number of Jews killed by the Nazis in World War II by saying that “historical records,…
AI, Asia Pacific, Gadgets, Global Security News, Government & Policy
U.S. lawmakers have concerns about Apple-Alibaba deal
The Trump administration and congressional officials are scrutinizing a deal between Apple and Alibaba that would bring Alibaba-powered AI features to iPhones sold in China, according to The New York Times. Citing anonymous sources, the NYT says White House officials and members of the House Select Committee on China have asked Apple executives directly about…
AI, Global Security News, Media & Entertainment, Microsoft, Satya Nadella
Microsoft’s Satya Nadella is choosing chatbots over podcasts
While Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says he likes podcasts, he might not actually be listening to them anymore. That tidbit comes towards the end of a longer Bloomberg profile of Nadella, with a focus on Microsoft’s AI strategy and its complicated relationship with OpenAI. To illustrate how much he uses the company’s Copilot AI assistant…
AI, Global Security News, MIT, TC
MIT disavows doctoral student paper on AI’s productivity benefits
MIT says that due to concerns about the “integrity” of a high-profile paper on the effects of artificial intelligence on the productivity of a materials science lab, the paper should be “withdrawn from public discourse.” The paper in question, “Artificial Intelligence, Scientific Discovery, and Product Innovation,” was written by a doctoral student in the university’s…
AI, AI agents, Exclusive, Global Security News, Startups, Y Combinator
Y Combinator startup Firecrawl is ready to pay $1M to hire three AI agents as employees
Y Combinator startup Firecrawl is back on the hunt for AI agent employees, after a previous attempt to hire one didn’t go as planned.
AI, Global Security News, openai
OpenAI’s planned data center in Abu Dhabi would be bigger than Monaco
OpenAI is poised to help develop a staggering 5-gigawatt data center campus in Abu Dhabi, positioning the company as a primary anchor tenant in what could become one of the world’s largest AI infrastructure projects, according to a new Bloomberg report. The facility would reportedly span an astonishing 10 square miles and consume power equivalent…