Sharing security advice can go a long way in protecting your loved ones from the most common and damaging online threats. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Category: Global IT News
Global IT News, Global Security News
$2m boost for messaging startup 8seats aims to ‘transform business communication’
Next generation messaging platform startup for businesses 8seats has raised A$2 million in seed funding from a consortium of investors including Black Nova, former Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci, and tech entrepreneurs Mike Priddis and Greg Miller, with the funding to enable the homegrown startup to scale its platform and accelerate its go-to-market strategy in preparation…
evergreens, Global IT News, Global Security News, Layoffs, Startups, tech layoffs, TechCrunch 2023 Recap, Venture
A comprehensive list of 2024 tech layoffs
A complete list of all the known layoffs in tech, from Big Tech to startups, broken down by month throughout 2024. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Global IT News, Global Security News, onyx motorbikes, Startups, Transportation
Onyx Motorbikes is back, one year after its owner died leaving the company in shambles
A year after Onyx Motorbikes owner James Khatiblou died suddenly, leaving customers with unfulfilled orders and millions in unpaid debts, the brand has been revived by its original founder. “I’m excited to announce I have resurrected my original brand Onyx with incredible backers!” founder Tim Seward wrote in a LinkedIn post on Monday. “Onyx is…
CES, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Sony
Sony’s CES 2025 press conference: How to watch
Sony knows how to put on a show at CES. The company’s pressers are high octane, star-studded affairs, as these things go. In addition to standard Sony fare like TVs and audio systems, there’s always a curve ball or two, be it a car, a drone, or a “Gran Turismo” movie. That’s one of the…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, humanoid, In Brief, openai, robotics
OpenAI ‘considered’ building a humanoid robot: report
OpenAI has recently explored building its own humanoid robot, according to The Information. The report cites “two people with direct knowledge” of those conversations. The ChatGPT maker has been involved in the space for some time now, by way of financial backing. It has thus far invested in Figure and 1X, along with the “general…
AI, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Research, synthetic, synthetic data, Training
The promise and perils of synthetic data
Is it possible for an AI to be trained just on data generated by another AI? It might sound like a harebrained idea. But it’s one that’s been around for quite some time — and as new, real data is increasingly hard to come by, it’s been gaining traction. Anthropic used some synthetic data to…
AI, CES, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Samsung
Samsung’s CES 2025 press conference: How to watch
Samsung’s CES presser is always an odd duck. The Korean electronics giant generally keeps its powder dry when it comes to consumer electronics. After all, it’s expected to announce its latest flagship handset — the Galaxy S25 — toward the end of January. CES 2025 is going to continue the company’s tradition of TVs and…
AI, Anthropic, Claude, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google
Google is using Anthropic’s Claude to improve its Gemini AI
Contractors working on Google Gemini are comparing its responses to Claude’s, according to internal correspondence seen by TechCrunch. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Financing, Fintech, Global IT News, Global Security News, MENA, rbf, Startups
Revenue-based financing startups continue to raise capital in MENA, where the model just works
In an era where it’s become tougher to raise venture capital, many companies have turned to non-dilutive, Revenue-Based Financing (RBF) as an alternative. As a result, plenty of startups have risen to meet that challenge, none more so than in the MENA region, which has taken to the model like a duck to water. The…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, robotics
Watch Boston Dynamics’ electric Atlas do a backflip
A little early holiday surprise from Boston Dynamics this week, as Santa suit-wearing electric Atlas performs a backflip. The feat occurs about 13 minutes into a new video, showcasing yet another trick in the humanoid robot’s arsenal. It’s worth noting that – unlike with humans – a robot performing a backflip isn’t necessarily more complicated…
EVs, eVTOLS, Global IT News, Global Security News, Lilium, Transportation
Shuttered electric air taxi startup Lilium may be saved after all
A consortium of investors has resurrected Lilium just days after the electric air taxi startup ceased operations and laid off about 1,000 employees. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Cybersecurity, Global IT News, Global Security News, Security
These are the cybersecurity stories we were jealous of in 2024
The very best work from our friends at competing publications. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
electric vehicles, Evergreen, EVs, Ford, Global IT News, Global Security News, GM, North American Charging Standard, Supercharger, Tesla, Transportation
Tesla Superchargers: GM, Ford, Rivian, and other EV brands with access
EV owners of GM vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado EV and Cadillac Lyriq will now officially have access to Tesla’s Superchargers. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Biotech & Health, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Health, Healthtech, medtech, Startups, wearable devices, wearables
Proton’s device aims to help those with kidney disease, and cut heart failure risks
People with chronic kidney disease, or those at risk of heart failure, are greatly affected by potassium imbalances in the body. These can even be life-threatening. While wearable glucose monitors are now commonplace and have transformed the lives of diabetes patients, potassium monitoring is in its infancy as it’s hard to do. Now, startups are…
Apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, halide, iOS app, iphone camera
Halide’s next version will come with new film filters, HDR
Lux, which makes the iPhone camera app Halide, published a roadmap on Monday detailing the app’s next version, called Halide Mark III, to be released sometime next year. The company said Halide Mark III will ship with two new features: Color Grades, and its own take on HDR (High Dynamic Range) photos. The company plans…
Channel Insider, Cybersecurity, Global IT News, Global Security News, IT, IT Channel, Managed Services, MSP, MSP Unplugged, Paco Lebron, Partner POV, Partners, Podcast, ProdigyTeks, Renactus Technology, Rick Smith, Video
Video: MSP Unplugged On The Shifting MSP-Vendor Power Dynamic
Paco Lebron and Corey Kirkendoll of podcast MSP Unplugged return in Part 2 of their Channel Insider: Partner POV interview with host Katie Bavoso. In this half of the interview, Lebron and Kirkendoll explain how they try to help their MSP audience members learn at their own pace and why it’s important to consider what…
AI, ai models, ChatGPT, Global IT News, Global Security News, o3, openai, Startups, TC
OpenAI’s o3 suggests AI models are scaling in new ways — but so are the costs
Last month, AI founders and investors told TechCrunch that we’re now in the “second era of scaling laws,” noting how established methods of improving AI models were showing diminishing returns. One promising new method they suggested could keep gains was “test-time scaling,” which seems to be what’s behind the performance of OpenAI’s o3 model –…
AI, Elon Musk, Enterprise, Funding, Fundraising, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, startup, Startups, xAI
Elon Musk’s xAI lands $6B in new cash to fuel AI ambitions
xAI, Elon Musk’s AI company, has raised $6 billion, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday. Investors gave a minimum of $77,593, per the filing (97 participated, but the document doesn’t reveal their identities). xAI later announced (confirming some earlier reporting) that Andreessen Horowitz , Blackrock, Fidelity, Kingdom Holdings,…
evergreens, Founders Fund, Global IT News, Global Security News, investors, Keith Rabois, Startups, Venture, venture capital
Venture capitalists continue to play musical chairs
From Keith Rabois to Matt Miller, a lot of VCs have switched firms or spun out of storied VC institutions this year. These employment changes are surprising because unlike in many other fields, venture capitalists don’t traditionally move around very much — especially those who reach the partner or general partner level. VC funds have…
AI, CES, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, nvidia, robotics
Nvidia’s CES 2025 keynote: How to watch
Nvidia will no doubt have the biggest CES 2025. After all, the company has pretty much the biggest everything nowadays. The chip giant is sporting a $3.4+ trillion market cap, due largely to its foundational position in the ongoing AI boom. Companies like OpenAI and Meta have purchased Nvidia processors by the boatload, and that’s…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Google Maps, In Brief, Transportation, west bank, Wired
An investigation finds that Google Maps fails users in the West Bank
A Wired investigation found that Google Maps can be near impossible to use in the West Bank, especially since the start of the war. Users told the publication that the navigation app would direct them into walls, fail to account for time-consuming checkpoints, or steer them onto restricted roads leading to Israeli settlements, which can…
AI, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, TC
Coralogix acquires AI observability platform Aporia
Coralogix, the well-funded observability platform, on Monday announced that it has acquired Aporia, a startup that focuses on giving businesses tools to observe and secure their AI workloads, as well as set guardrails for them to avoid hallucinations or unintended disclosures. As part of this acquisition, Coralogix will launch a dedicated AI research center, Coralogix…
CES, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Transportation
CES 2025 is coming: TechCrunch wants to meet your hardware startup
According to the calendar, we’re a mere weeks out from CES — the perfect gift for your gadget blogger who has everything. The massive consumer electronics and automotive event kicks off in Las Vegas on January 7. TechCrunch is returning to future home of the Oakland Athletics for the event, and — as always —…
Eero, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, mesh networks, review
Eero’s Outdoor 7 long-distance mesh unit solved our yearslong Wi-Fi quandary in 10 minutes
So far in life, I haven’t needed be a “mesh guy.” A well chosen and carefully placed Wi-Fi router has worked fine in our modest abodes, but one particular situation has resisted simple solutions until Eero put out a device in November seemingly made exactly for the purpose. This won’t be a thorough examination of…
Apps, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Instagram, Meta, Social
Instagram tests a way to show you Story Highlights you didn’t get a chance to see
Instagram is testing a way for you to see content from friends that you might have missed. The social network has started displaying unseen Story Highlights from a user’s mutual followers at the end of the Stories tray, which is the area at the top of your feed where you see Stories from your friends.…
Climate, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Juniper, synthetic biology, Venture
Juniper Ventures spins out of Climate Capital to invest in synthetic biology for the climate
The first Juniper fund is $10.6 million and is oversubscribed. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, quantization, Research, study
A popular technique to make AI more efficient has drawbacks
One of the most widely used techniques to make AI models more efficient, quantization, has limits — and the industry could be fast approaching them. In the context of AI, quantization refers to lowering the number of bits — the smallest units a computer can process — needed to represent information. Consider this analogy: When…
Automattic, Commerce, Global IT News, Global Security News, matt mullenweg, wordpress, wp engine
Yoast CEO calls for a ‘federated’ approach to WordPress repository
Days after web hosting provider WP Engine won a preliminary injunction against WordPress co-creator Matt Mullenweg and rival hosting provider Automattic, Mullenweg announced that WordPress.org is taking a holiday break. WordPress.com — a site that provides access to WordPress plug-ins, themes, and other artifacts to the community — will take a break from providing free…
electric aircraft, EVs, eVTOLS, Germany, Global IT News, Global Security News, Lilium, Startups, Transportation
Electric aircraft startup Lilium ceases operations, 1,000 workers laid off
The company’s co-founder confirmed the shutdown in a LinkedIn post. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Global IT News, Global Security News
Plaud.AI brings the perfect AI note-taking assistant for all your meetings, thoughts, and interactions
Well, I’m impressed. Plaud.AI brings to the table an attractive, seamless wearable that records your meetings and then uses AI to analyse it and create meaningful summaries with individual speakers identified and to-do items picked out. And it actually works. There’s no hype, no empty promises; instead it’s true assistive AI for the person-on-the-go.
cyberattacks, Cybersecurity, data breach, Evergreen, Global IT News, Global Security News, Security
The TechCrunch Cyber Glossary
This glossary includes the most common terms and expressions TechCrunch uses in our security reporting, and explanations of how — and why — we use them. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Commerce, Global IT News, Global Security News, Prosus, tourism, travel
Prosus buys Despegar for $1.7B, taking a bite out of Latin America’s travel sector
Yet another major investment is going down in the travel sector, underscoring its ongoing rebound after the Covid-19 pandemic. Prosus, the tech conglomerate controlled by Naspers, is paying $1.7 billion to acquire Despegar, one of the biggest online travel agencies in Latin America, to scale up its operations in the region. Despegar’s board of directors…
Apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, Telegram
Pavel Durov says Telegram is now profitable
Telegram founder Pavel Durov said today that the company is now profitable. Durov said the chat app’s total revenue surpassed $1 billion in 2024. The company, which launched its premium subscription service in 2022, now has 12 million paid users. Durov also said that the app is finishing the year with more than $500 million…
Cybersecurity, Global IT News, Global Security News, NSO Group, pegasus, privacy, Security, Spyware, WhatsApp
WhatsApp scores historic victory against NSO Group in long-running spyware hacking case
A US judge ruled that the Israeli spyware maker breached hacking laws by using WhatsApp to infect devices with Pegasus © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Grok, Twitter, xAI
xAI is testing a standalone iOS app for its Grok chatbot
Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, is testing out a standalone iOS app for its chatbot, Grok, which was available only to X users until now. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Social, TC, Twitter, X Premium+
X jacks up Premium+ prices 37.5%, hits some markets harder
X is raising prices for its top-tier subscription service by 37.5%, marking the largest price increase since the platform’s acquisition by Elon Musk in 2022. The Premium+ service will cost $22 monthly in the U.S., up from $16, effective December 21, according to a company statement. Annual subscriptions will increase to $229 from $168. X…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy
Sriram Krishnan named Trump’s senior policy advisor for AI
Incoming president Donald Trump has confirmed reports that Sriram Krishnan, until recently a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), will serve as senior policy advisor for AI at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Trump said in a statement that Krishnan will “help shape and coordinate AI policy across government, working with…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy
Palantir and Anduril reportedly building a tech consortium to bid on defense contracts
Two big defense tech players, Palantir and Anduril, are talking to tech companies including SpaceX, OpenAI, Saronic, and Scale AI about forming a consortium to bid on Pentagon contracts, according to a report in the Financial Times. The goal, the FT says, is to challenge the dominance of “prime” defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon,…
Apps, Donald Trump, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Social, TikTok
Trump says he wants to keep TikTok around ‘for a little while’
With a US TikTok ban scheduled to take effect in less than a month, President-elect Donald Trump said Sunday that he’d like to keep the app around, according to Reuters. “We’re going to have to start thinking because, you know, we did go on TikTok, and we had a great response with billions of views,…
AI, ai safety, ChatGPT, Global IT News, Global Security News, openai, TC
OpenAI trained o1 and o3 to ‘think’ about its safety policy
OpenAI announced a new family of AI reasoning models on Friday, o3, which the startup claims to be more advanced than o1 or anything else it’s released. These improvements appear to have come from scaling test-time compute, something we wrote about last month, but OpenAI also says it used a new safety paradigm to train…
Apple, autonomous vehicles, EVs, Fisker, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, Transportation
The biggest flops and fizzles in 2024 transportation, from Apple Car to Fisker
Autonomous vehicle technology and electrification startups were once the darlings of the VC and corporate world. The two technologies promised billions of dollars in revenue — and a new pathway for automakers to make money beyond building and selling cars. Those VC-money-printing days have been over for AVs for a while now, with a few…
Global IT News, Global Security News
The Kingston XS1000 Red external SSD is the pocket rocket storage you need
Global memory and storage manufacturer Kingston says USB storage doesn’t have to be bland or meh – its stunning red XS1000 SSD is blazing fast while looking magnificent.
Apple, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Security
Apple might be working on a smart doorbell
There’s been a lot of reporting in recent months around Apple’s efforts to expand its footprint in customers’ homes with in-development products like a wall-mounted smart home hub. According to a new report in Bloomberg, that strategy could also include a smart doorbell. This doorbell would use Apple’s FaceID technology to scan people’s faces as…
AI, Biotech & Health, Everywhere Ventures, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware, Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory
Tetsuwan Scientific is making robotic AI scientists that can run experiments on their own
LLM models are already capable of diagnosing scientific outputs, but, until now, had “no physical agency to actually perform” experiments. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, gpt-5, openai, Startups
OpenAI’s GPT-5 reportedly falling short of expectations
OpenAI’s efforts to develop its next major model, GPT-5, are running behind schedule, with results that don’t yet justify the enormous costs, according to a new report in The Wall Street Journal. This echoes an earlier report in The Information suggesting that OpenAI is looking to new strategies as GPT-5 might not represent as big…
GitHub, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Meta, openai, Social, Week in Review
OpenAI announces new o3 model — but you can’t use it yet
Welcome back to Week in Review. This week, we’re looking at OpenAI’s last — and biggest — announcement from its “12 Days of OpenAI” event; Apple’s potential entrance into the foldable market; and why Databricks is choosing to wait to go public. Let’s get into it. P.S. We’re off for the holidays! Week in Review…
antitrust, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Government & Policy, US Department of Justice
Google pushes back against DOJ’s ‘interventionist’ remedies in antitrust case
Google has offered up its own proposal in a recent antitrust case that saw the US Department of Justice argue that Google must sell its Chrome browser. US District Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled in August that Google had acted illegally to maintain a monopoly in online search, with the DOJ then proposing a number…
Climate, Commentary, Global IT News, Global Security News, vc trends
If climate tech is dead, what comes next?
Climate tech is about a decade old, and people are itching for a rebrand. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
evergreens, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hollywood, Paris Hilton, roc nation, Sara Erin Foster, Snoop Dog, Venture
Hollywood angels: Here are the celebrities who are also star VCs
Becoming a venture capitalist has become the latest status symbol In Hollywood. Everyone from Olivia Wilde to Emma Watson is investing in startups. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Bluesky, Global IT News, Global Security News, Peter Wang, Skyseed fund, Social, Startups, Venture
Meet Skyseed, a VC fund and incubator backing the Bluesky and AT Protocol ecosystem
On November 15, Peter Wang posted a message requesting ideas for a new incubator and fund to support experimental projects built on the burgeoning Bluesky/AT Protocol ecosystem. Four weeks later, Skyseed emerged with an initial commitment of $1 million. This turnaround, a speed underscored by the fact that the fund doesn’t even have a website…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Marc Andreessen, Venture
Sam Altman disputes Marc Andreessen’s description of AI meetings with Biden administration
Sam Altman dismissed what he called a “conspiracy theory” from a16z co-founder Marc Andreessen. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Canoo, electric vehicles, EVs, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Transportation
EV startup Canoo places remaining employees on a ‘mandatory unpaid break’
Struggling electric van startup Canoo has placed its remaining employees on what it’s calling a “mandatory unpaid break” through at least the end of the year, according to an email obtained by TechCrunch. The company told employees they are being locked out of Canoo’s systems at the end of the day Friday, according to the…
Global IT News, Global Security News
Domo releases 12th Annual “Data Never Sleeps” report
AI and Collaboration Take Center Stage as Digital Activity Reaches Record Highs COMPANY NEWS: Cloud-based data and AI platform and NASDAQ listed Domo has unveiled its annually anticipated 12th edition of Data Never Sleeps, offering a “unique snapshot of how digital habits manifest themselves minute by minute”.
Global IT News, Global Security News
Disruptions and price rises ‘persist in the container freight supply chain’, report finds
Global and domestic disruptions continue to destabilise the container freight supply chain, leading to congestion, delays and higher costs, which resulted in some importers having to pay four to 11 times as much for ocean freight as a year earlier, according to the 2023-24 ACCC Container stevedoring monitoring report.
Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, Y Combinator
After causing outrage on the first day of Y Combinator, AI code editor PearAI lands $1M seed
On the first day of Y Combinator the founders of PearAI got “cancelled.” They used the hate to launch a new product, raise $1 million. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Global IT News, Global Security News
Nokia donates AI enabled water reuse system to Aoyama Gakuin University
Nokia will donate WOSH and accessories to Aoyama Gakuin University to promote CSR initiatives. Initiative will raise CSR awareness among the student body and provide them with a hands-on opportunity to learn the mechanics of AI enabled water reuse technology. COMPANY NEWS: Nokia today announced it will donate WOSH, an AI enabled portable hand washing…
Department of Justice, Global IT News, Global Security News, indictment, LockBit, Security
Third member of LockBit ransomware gang has been arrested
LockBit is believed tobe responsible for at least $500 million in ransom payments alone. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
avs, Global IT News, Global Security News, nhtsa, robotaxi, Transportation
Feds clear the way for robotaxis without steering wheel and pedals
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Friday proposed a new national framework that could make it easier for companies to deploy at scale autonomous vehicles without traditional manual driving controls – like steering wheels, pedals, and sideview mirrors. The guidelines also require AV companies to share a whole lot more safety data with the…
Global IT News, Global Security News
Nokia and Turkcell demonstrate ‘industry leading’ Quantum-safe protection for mobile subscribers
Collaborative testing validates secure and trusted quantum-safe IPsec protection against future network security threats First deployment of its kind marking critical step in securing mobile networks against future threats posed by quantum computing. COMPANY NEWS: Nokia and Turkcell have successfully demonstrated a world-first ability to implement quantum-safe IPsec network cryptography for its mobile subscribers. This…
Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, newsletters, Startups, Startups Weekly, venture capital
The year is coming to a close, but startup news keeps rolling in
Welcome to Startups Weekly — your weekly recap of everything you can’t miss from the world of startups. Want it in your inbox every Friday? Sign up here. This week was full of news, likely because it is also the last “real” week of 2024. Which is another way for us to say goodbye for…
AI, Gemini AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, google gemini, Languages of India
Google is expanding Gemini’s in-depth research mode to 40 languages
Google said Friday that the company is expanding Gemini’s latest in-depth research mode to 40 more languages. The company launched the in-depth research mode earlier this month, allowing Google One AI premium plan users to unlock an AI-powered research assistant of sorts. The in-depth function works in a multi-step method, from creating a research plan…
AI, ChatGPT, Global IT News, Global Security News, openai, TC
OpenAI announces new o3 model
OpenAI announced a new o3 model on Friday. In a tweet ahead of its final livestream for its “12 Days of OpenAI” event, the company confirmed previous reports that it is skipping o2 due to copyright concerns, and is releasing early evals for the o3 model. It appears to be a successor to its o1…
AI, ChatGPT, Global IT News, Global Security News, openai, sam altman
OpenAI 2024 event: How to watch new ChatGPT product reveals and demos
OpenAI is in the holiday spirit, it seems. The ChatGPT series of reveals, called “12 Days of OpenAI,” will be streamed live at 10 a.m. PT each weekday through December 20. So far, we’ve seen the launch of ChatGPT Pro, OpenAI’s $200 per month subscription plan; the full version of its “reasoning” o1 model; the…
Exclusive, femtech, Global IT News, Global Security News, Swizzle Fund, Venture, Women's Finance
Swizzle Fund raises $5M for inaugural fund addressing women’s health and wealth
There is a new venture fund in town. Swizzle Fund, founded by Jessica Kamada, former COO of the marketing agency Bamboo, has raised just a little more than $5 million for its Fund I, according to an SEC filing. There was no target raise amount. The firm, which quietly opened in 2023, is an early-stage…
Exclusive, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Lerer Hippeau
Lerer Hippeau files to a raise Fund IX
Lerer Hippeau, one of New York’s most prolific and A-list VC firms, has filed to raise its ninth fund, according to an SEC filing made Wednesday. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News
Arizona’s getting an online charter school taught entirely by AI
The newest online-only school greenlighted by the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools comes with a twist: the academic curriculum will be taught entirely by AI. Charter schools — independently operated but publicly-funded — typically get greater autonomy compared to traditional public schools when it comes to how subjects are taught. But Unbound Academy’s application,…
Cybersecurity, data breach, Global IT News, Global Security News, Healthcare, Ransomware, Security
Ransomware attack on health giant Ascension hits 5.6 million patients
The cyberattack on Ascension ranks as the third-largest healthcare-related breach of 2024. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
EVs, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, lawsuit, Rivian, Transportation
Rivian executives accused of harassment in previously unreported lawsuits
Four employees have sued Rivian in separate lawsuits this year over allegations they were harassed, in some cases by top executives, and that the company’s leadership did little to address their concerns, according to a TechCrunch review of court records. Rivian has also reached settlements in three other harassment and discrimination cases, TechCrunch has learned. …
Apple, Citizen Lab, Cybersecurity, Global IT News, Global Security News, infosec, iOS, iPhone, lockdown mode, NSO Group, privacy, Security, Spyware, surveillance
Why Apple sends spyware victims to this nonprofit security lab
Before the elections, the cybersecurity team of U.S. vice president and then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris reached out to Apple asking for help, according to Forbes, after a tool that’s designed to detect spyware on iPhones flagged anomalies on two devices belonging to campaign staffers. Apple declined to forensically analyze the phones, per Forbes. The company’s…
electricity, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hydrogen, power, storage, Venture
Energy Revolution Ventures’ $18M fund lays a bet on ‘new chemistry’ startups in energy and hydrogen
What happens when a chemical engineer, who’s previously built a hydrogen-powered drone, becomes a venture capitalist? Energy Revolution Ventures, that’s what. The VC has now closed an $18 million Seed and Series A fund to invest in deeptech, such as energy storage, carbon capture, and, yes, hydrogen technologies. Marcus Clover, Co-Founder and Partner at ERV…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, openai, South Korea, TC, Venture
‘Genius Girl’ goes from inspiring a Korean TV show character to raising a $100 million AI fund
Principle Venture Partners will write early-stage checks anywhere from $100,000 to “single digit millions.” © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Apps, Bluesky, Global IT News, Global Security News, social media startups, Social networks
Bluesky adds mentions tab in the notifications screen and username squatting protection
Social network Bluesky has released a new update to its app that includes a separate mentions tab in notifications, protections against username squatting, and new controls for replies sorting. The company announced that it is adding a new mentions tab with the v1.96 rollout to let you see those posts separately. Until now, all notifications…
Exclusive, Fintech, Global IT News, Global Security News, TBC Bank Uzbekistan, TBC Group, Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan’s mobile bank TBC bags $37M to expand with new AI and insurance products
Uzbekistan’s mobile-exclusive bank, TBC Bank Uzbekistan, has raised $37 million to bolster its footprint in the Central Asian nation. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Enterprise, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Mindgard, Security, spinouts, Startups
British university spinoff Mindgard protects companies from AI threats
AI creates a dilemma for companies: Don’t implement it yet, and you might miss out on productivity gains and other potential benefits; but do it wrong, and you might expose your business and clients to unmitigated risks. This is where a new wave of “security for AI” startups come in, with the premise that these…
Global IT News, Global Security News, India, Rapido, Security
India’s Rapido exposed user and driver data through leaky website feedback form
Rapido restricted access to the exposed portal soon after TechCrunch contacted the company. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, openai, sam altman, Sequoia, TC, Venture
Sam Altman once owned some equity in OpenAI through Sequoia
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sat before Congress in 2023 to testify about the dangers of AI. He told American lawmakers at the time that he owns no equity in OpenAI, something he’s said many times, claiming he just runs the company because he loves it. However, Altman recently said he actually did have some equity…
AI, Funding, Fundraising, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, In Brief, Perplexity, report, rumor, Search, startup, Startups
Perplexity has reportedly closed a $500M funding round
AI-powered search engine Perplexity has reportedly closed a $500 million funding round, valuing the startup at $9 billion. Bloomberg, citing sources familiar, reports that the round was led by Institutional Venture Partners, and that it closed earlier in December. In an email to TechCrunch, a Perplexity spokesperson declined to comment. The mammoth tranche comes as…
agentic ai, AI, Enterprise, fleets, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, logistics
Boon raises $20.5M to build agentic AI tools for fleets
Logistics is the name of the game during the holiday season: Companies that can seal the deal and get people and things to the places they need to be, on time, rake it in this time of year. But behind that demand lies a huge amount of inefficiency and fragmentation. Are logistics businesses ready for…
Global IT News, Global Security News
Studying as a Mom: Everything you need to consider before enrolling
GUEST OPINION: Balancing motherhood with pursuing higher education can be a very overwhelming, challenging task. However, for many moms, going back to school can open new doors for different career opportunities; this can lead to personal development and a better future for your family. It is no easy feat, but the payoff from education as…
accounting, Enterprise, Funding, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, revenue cycle, revenue cycle management, Software, startup, Startups
A bad experience with an accounting firm spurred this founder to start Aiwyn
Accounting firms are struggling to adopt high-tech solutions. That’s according to a survey earlier this year from Rightsworks, which found that, while 88% of firms believe tech has had a positive impact on their efficiency, 60% are suffering from disconnected systems, inconsistent processes, and a lack of standardized workflows. Startups like Aiwyn are trying to…
Global IT News, Global Security News, robotics, Toyota
Meet the robot with two Guinness World Records for basketball
A team of engineers at Toyota have spent years iterating on CUE6, the basketball shooting robot. CUE6 uses machine learning to adjust his posture and arm movement in order to take the perfect shot nearly every time. The robot holds the Guinness World Record for most consecutive basketball free throw by a humanoid robot after…
Global IT News, Global Security News
How Tesla’s focus on renewable energy affects its stock price
GUEST OPINION: Tesla’s focus on renewable energy significantly impacts its stock price, providing both opportunities and challenges that influence investor sentiment.
AI, ai safety, Emmett Shear, Exclusive, Funding, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, scoop, startup, Startups
Ex-Twitch CEO Emmett Shear is founding an AI startup backed by a16z
Emmett Shear, the former CEO of Twitch, is launching a new AI startup, TechCrunch has learned. The startup, called Stem AI, is currently in stealth. But public documents show it was incorporated in June 2023, and filed for a trademark in August 2023. Shear is listed as CEO on an incorporation document filed with the…
business, channel, Global IT News, Global Security News, News and Trends, services, US Channel News
Vectra AI, Lumifi Partner to Enhance XDR Security and SOC Operations
Vectra AI, a vendor of AI-driven extended detection and response (XDR) has partnered with managed detection and response (MDR) provider Lumifi to bring Vectra AI’s platform to Lumifi customers. Randy Schirman, channel chief of Vectra AI, and David Norlin, CTO at Lumifi spoke with Channel Insider to share more about why and how their partnership…
Fifth Wall Ventures, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, interest rates, PropTech, Real estate, real estate investing, Venture
Real estate VC Fifth Wall is raising $500M for a new fund
Real estate venture firm Fifth Wall is raising a new $500 million fund called Fifth Wall React, according to a regulatory filing. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
a16z, AI, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, Thrive Capital
In just 4 months AI coding assistant Cursor raised another $100M at a $2.5B valuation led by Thrive, sources say
Anysphere, the developer of AI-powered coding assistant Cursor, raised $100 million Series B at a post-money valuation of $2.6 billion, according to sources with knowledge of the deal. The round is being led by returning investor Thrive Capital, the person said. This new funding comes just four months after Anysphere raised its $60 million Series…
a16z, AI, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, markforged, Startups
Backed by a16z and NEA, Backflip raises $30M Series A to turn text into AI-generated designs
Led by Markforged veterans and backed by a16z, Backlip has raised $30M to democratize product design thanks to AI. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, iconfactory, mobile apps, Open Web, Social, social media, tapestry
Tapestry, a new app for tracking social media, news, blogs, and more, will launch in ‘early 2025’
A new app called Tapestry promising to unify social media, news, and RSS in one place, is nearing completion. Designed by Iconfactory, the same team that created the third-party Twitter client Twitterific back in the day, Tapestry was unveiled at the beginning of the year as a tool that could better organize today’s fragmented online…
Canoo, Global IT News, Global Security News, RAM, robotaxis, techcrunch mobility, Tesla, Transportation, Waymo, zoox
Waymo fills the Cruise void overseas and a salute to icon Jean Jennings
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. This will be the last newsletter of 2024! But don’t worry, we’ll be back in 2025 — sign up here to get it in your inbox every week. Thank you for reading and your emails. I love…
AI, Apps, Artificial Intelligence, Global IT News, Global Security News, Instagram, Meta, Social
Instagram teases AI tools for editing appearances, backgrounds in videos using prompts
Instagram head Adam Mosseri is teasing upcoming generative AI features for the social app that will allow creators to “change nearly any aspect” of their videos using text prompts. The editing tools will be powered by Meta’s Movie Gen AI model, and are expected to launch on the social network sometime next year, Mosseri said…
data, Global IT News, Global Security News, PM, PPM, productivity, project management, project portfolio management, scrum
Top 5 No-Code and Low-Code Tools of 2025
No-code and low-code tools have revolutionized software development by enabling all kinds of users to create powerful applications without requiring extensive coding expertise. These tools empower developers and non-developers alike to automate workflows, build websites, and create mobile apps using intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces, pre-built templates, and seamless integrations. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a small…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News
Google releases its own ‘reasoning’ AI model
Google has released what it’s calling a new “reasoning” AI model — but it’s in the experimental stages, and from our brief testing, there’s certainly room for improvement. The new model, called Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental (a mouthful, to be sure), is available in AI Studio, Google’s AI prototyping platform. A model card describes…
Fintech, Global IT News, Global Security News, IPOs 2025, Startups
$25 billion valuation Chime takes another step towards an IPO
Digital bank Chime has reportedly filed its confidential IPO paperwork with the SEC, with an eye toward a 2025 debut. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Crypto, Global IT News, Global Security News, privacy, world gdpr, world gdpr data deletion, worldcoin gdpr
World(coin) must let Europeans comprehensively delete their data, under privacy order
It took a lot more than the initially slated few weeks to arrive, but a pivotal privacy decision that’s been hanging over Sam Altman’s World (aka Worldcoin) for months has finally landed, via a late December decision from the Bavarian data protection authority enforcing the bloc’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a comprehensive privacy framework…
Global IT News, Global Security News
Blackstone acquisition of clinical trial service provider not opposed, subject to ‘divestiture of Australian subsidiary’
The ACCC will not oppose the proposed acquisition of I’rom Group Co Limited by Blackstone Group (HK) Limited after accepting a court-enforceable undertaking requiring the divestment of CMAX Clinical Research Pty Ltd.
Global IT News, Global Security News
How to generate passive income blogging
GUEST OPINION: Blogging is one of the best ways to generate money online if you build up traffic. While it might take some time, earning over $50,000 a year with enough hard work is possible. So, if you’re aspiring to become a blogger or exploring online income streams, you’ve come to the right place.
autonomous vehicles, Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation
Tesla is courting Texas cities to test its promised robotaxi service
Tesla is evaluating multiple Texas cities where it wants to test a long-promised robotaxi service, including Austin, according to emails obtained by Bloomberg News. An employee has apparently been in touch with Austin officials since May, and recently held an event in December to “train first responders on how to best work with Tesla’s autonomous…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Space, TC
K2 Space will fly its extra-large satellite for the first time in 2026
K2 Space is betting that the future of the space hardware will be big — really big. The startup is building massive spacecraft under the assumption that launch costs will continue to drop as SpaceX’s Starship and other heavy-lift vehicles come online. It looks like the Space Force is taking up their side of that…
Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, travel, Venture
Hotel booking platform Safara raises $14M, acquires rival Skipper
Doug Schuessler has always been a founder. This passion, which has been with him since childhood, saw him launch two startups, move to San Francisco, and take a job at Square to see what a “real rocket shop looked like.” He later became chief revenue officer at restaurant booking platform Resy, before becoming a founder once…