OpenAI's Image-Generation Feature Goes Viral
OpenAI's new image-generation feature has gone viral, with over 130 million users generating over 700 million images since its launch. However, this popularity has also led to product delays and temporarily degraded services as OpenAI works to scale up infrastructure to meet demand.
Consumer-grade phone surveillance apps aren’t only intended to stay stealthy
Consumer-grade phone surveillance apps are designed to be stealthy, but they can also install themselves as a device admin, making them difficult to remove. Once installed, these apps can access your device's settings and data, potentially compromising your privacy.
Tesla vs BYD: EV Charging Competition Heats Up
Elon Musk's Tesla is facing stiff competition from Chinese automaker BYD. BYD has been touting significant breakthroughs in charging, claiming its new cars can be charged in just five minutes. This gives it a huge competitive edge over Tesla and other EV makers.
YouTube Shorts Introduces New Features to Compete with TikTok
YouTube Shorts is announcing new features to help creators publish engaging short-form videos. The platform will introduce an improved video editor, AI stickers, a feature that syncs content to the beat of a song, and more.
Google's AI Model Releases Speed Up, But Transparency Lags
Google's director and head of product for Gemini, Tulsee Doshi, told TechCrunch that the increasing cadence of the company's model launches is part of a concerted effort to keep up with the rapidly evolving AI industry. However, the ramped-up release time frame appears to have come at a cost.
Apple loses $250 billion in market value as tariffs loom
in a surprise move, trump unveiled sweeping tariffs on imported goods to the us, hitting tech stocks hard. apple's market value took a massive hit, with shares down as much as 8.5%. the tariffs affect all of apple's biggest suppliers and manufacturing hubs in asia.
X's plan to boost revenue by selling off dormant usernames
X is planning to sell off dormant usernames, starting with a 'handle inquiry' process for verified organizations. The minimum bid will start at $10,000 and may range up to over $500,000. This move aims to generate another revenue stream for the company.
Microsoft Pulls Back on Data Center Projects
Microsoft has halted talks for or delayed development sites of data centers in several countries, including the UK, Australia, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The company had previously announced plans to invest over $80 billion in AI data centers in 2025.
TechCrunch All Stage 2025: Jahanvi Sardana to Discuss Scaling Strategies
TechCrunch All Stage is an ultimate founder summit where 1,200 founders and VCs will come together to forge meaningful connections and gain practical insights. Jahanvi Sardana, partner at Index Ventures, will discuss critical elements of assessing total addressable market (TAM).
Cognition's Devin AI Programming Tool Updates
Cognition, the startup behind the viral AI programming tool Devin, has introduced a new low-cost plan to incentivize signups. The updated Devin 2.0 features improved code generation capabilities and project planning tools, with a pay-as-you-go pricing model that starts at $20 per month.
TikTok For Artists: A New Insights Platform To Drive Music Trends
TikTok has launched a new platform for artists called 'TikTok For Artists' which provides tools to promote their music, understand performance metrics, and engage with fans. The platform is currently being tested in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, and Indonesia.
Cal AI Founder Zach Yadegari Rejected by 15 Colleges Despite Impressive GPA and ACT Score
Zach Yadegari, the co-founder of the viral AI calorie-tracking app Cal AI, revealed that despite his impressive GPA and ACT score, he was rejected by 15 colleges. Yadegari shared his college rejection story on X, explaining that his essay was likely a major factor in his rejections.
Ballistic Ventures Raises $100 Million Fund
Ballistic Ventures, the VC firm co-founded by Ted Schlein, is raising a new fund worth $100 million. The firm targets cybersecurity startups and has invested in 59 companies so far.
Intel And TSMC Reportedly Teaming Up
Semiconductor giants Intel and TSMC are reportedly teaming up. The two firms are said to have reached a tentative agreement to create a joint venture that will operate Intel's chipmaking facilities, according to The Information.
Grace Secures $6.4M Seed Round for Luxury Goods Insurance
Grace, an insurance company for luxury goods, has secured a $6.4 million seed round led by FinTech Collective and Speedinvest. The company works with luxury brands to protect purchased consumer goods, providing fraud detection, claim processing, and logistic coordination. With this funding, Grace aims to scale across Europe, hire more people in product engineering, and cover over 200,000 luxury items by the end of the year.
