TechCrunch Daily Crunch

Apple Watch import ban paused; Series 9 and Ultra 2 will be available on Apple's site tomorrow; Terran Orbital's biggest customer is close to securing funding for multibillion-dollar constellation; The New York Times wants OpenAI and Microsoft to pay for training data Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bluesky rolls out an in-app video and music player and a new ‘hide post’ feature; Apple Vision Pro tipped for late Jan/early Feb release Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Daily Crunch. You made it to Friday and to the long holiday weekend! Today we’re looking back on how the vibe in tech shifted in 2023 and what’s in store for 2024. And if you’re still looking for the perfect gift in the 11th hour, we have some helpful suggestions. Happy holidays! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Beeper says it’s done trying to bring iMessage to Android; Google updates Chrome on desktop with proactive Safety Check; The latest in startup business news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Consumer Reports says Tesla’s Autopilot recall fix is ‘insufficient’; Electric scooter company Bird files for bankruptcy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comcast says hackers stole data of close to 36 million Xfinity customers; Salesforce acquires automated commission management platform Spiff; Microsoft Copilot gets a music creation feature Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nikola founder Trevor Milton sentenced to 4 years for securities fraud; Apple has agreed to pay out $25 million to settle a class action lawsuit over its Family Sharing feature Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

News publisher files class action antitrust suit against Google; Instagram launches customizable ‘Add Yours’ templates; Opendoor co-founder Eric Wu is stepping down from the real estate tech company, according to an SEC filing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Waymo launches curbside robotaxi pickup at Phoenix airport; Spotify confirms test of prompt-based AI playlists feature; Instagram introduces GenAI powered background editing tool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Google launches an easy-to-use tool for developing apps and chatbots based on its Gemini model; Circuit City, angling for a comeback of sorts, hopes to raise $25M; Meta starts testing Threads integration with ActivityPub Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Instagram finstas may turn into a new product called ‘flipside,’ Google Maps gets new updates to give users more control over their information; The most-downloaded iPhone app in the US in 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TikTok becomes first non-game app to reach $10B in consumer spending; Elon Musk says X is bringing video to Spaces soon; Apple’s new Journal app is now available with the release of iOS 17.2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Google's best Gemini demo was faked; OpenAI taps former Twitter India head to kickstart in the country; Snapchat+ keeps growing as net revenue tops $20M for first time Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amazon is piloting a new $9.99 monthly grocery subscription for Prime members in three cities; YouTube now lets you pause comments on videos; Amazon will no longer accept Venmo as a payment option starting next month Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

X now lets users broadcast community posts to all followers; Google’s AI chatbot Bard gets a big upgrade with Gemini, Google’s next-gen AI model; Meta AI adds Reels support and ‘reimagine' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

X is now licensed for payment processing in a dozen US states; Bing’s new ‘Deep Search’ feature offers more comprehensive answers to complex search queries; Meta set to discontinue cross-messaging between Instagram and Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mastercard launches Shopping Muse, an AI-powered shopping assistant; TikTok expands its in-app Ticketmaster ticketing feature to users in 20 countries; Spotify cuts 17% jobs amid rising capital costs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amazon signs 3-launch deal with SpaceX for Project Kuiper satellite internet constellation; X says it will chase SMB ad dollars after Musk's 'go f*** yourself' comments to fleeing advertisers; Microsoft is in talks with partners about launching an Xbox mobile store Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

YouTube Music Recap is no Spotify Wrapped, but it’s still pretty fun; Instagram Threads search now supports ‘all languages’ in latest update; TikTok launches dedicated account tags for artists and new promotional tools Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amazon finally releases its own AI-powered image generator; Pinterest begins testing a ‘body type ranges’ tool to make searches more inclusive; Spotify Wrapped 2023 adds an AI DJ and Blend to the annual personalized insights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

YouTube launches more than 30 ‘Playables’ mini-games for Premium users; AWS brings Amazon One palm-scanning authentication to the enterprise Apple Music Replay is here, and it’s still no Spotify Wrapped Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Google’s new tools help discussion forums and social media platforms rank higher in search results; Black Friday online buying hits a record $9.8B in the US, $70.9B globally; Rivian launches leasing program for its all-electric R1T pickup in 14 states. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam Altman to return as OpenAI CEO; Elon Musk says xAI's chatbot 'Grok' will launch to X Premium+ subscribers next week; North Korea-backed hackers target CyberLink users in supply-chain attack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ford downsizes EV battery factory plan; Spotify says its upcoming royalty model changes will generate $1B for artists over five years; Google admits Spotify pays no Play Store fees because of a secret deal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ukraine fires top cybersecurity officials; Advertiser exodus expected to deeply impact X ad revenue; Microsoft hires ex-OpenAI leaders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apple to pause advertising on X after Musk praises antisemitic conspiracy theory; Apple to finally bring RCS to iPhones; Sam Altman ousted as OpenAI's CEO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amazon to sell cars online, starting with Hyundai; Twitch launches Privacy Center to educate users about their personal data; Meta brings us a step closer to AI-generated movies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amazon brings its home robot to businesses; Google Photos turns to AI to organize and categorize your photos for you; Google Maps gets more social with a new feature to help you plan outings with your friends Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amazon strikes deal with Snap to let users buy its products from ads on Snapchat; Instagram brings Close Friends feature to the main feed; TikTok’s newest feature lets you save favorite songs directly to Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WhatsApp launches a new Discord-like voice chat feature for large groups; Uber takes steps to combat unfair driver deactivations; Elon Musk says X is changing its algorithm to highlight smaller accounts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EU business crowdfunding is now bound by bloc-wide regulations; Cruise begins layoffs, starting with workers who supported driverless operations; Tumblr to run on skeleton crew as parent company Automattic absorbs staff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Snap’s latest version of its AR development tool includes a ChatGPT API, boosted productivity and more; Meta and Amazon team up on new in-app shopping feature on Facebook & Instagram; Amazon makes online grocery available for non-Prime members, starting with Amazon Fresh; Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SiriusXM unveils new streaming app, set to launch next month; Creators have mixed feelings about TikTok’s new monetization program; Airbnb leans on reviews to make listings more reliable as it tests review summaries using generative AI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TikTok is shutting down its Creator Fund in favor of its newer Creativity Program; Waze gets a new safety feature that warns you if a road has a history of crashes; Google Search and Chrome are getting new tools to help users find discounts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A choreographer’s lawsuit over Fortnite dance moves isn’t dead after all; YouTube to test generative AI features, including a comments summarizer and conversational tool; OpenAI’s ChatGPT now has 100 million weekly active users Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People are turning to Snap Map for firsthand perspectives from Gaza; Apple CEO Tim Cook says AI is a fundamental technology, confirms investments in generative AI; Meta and Amazon settle UK antitrust probes over use of third-party data to benefit marketplaces Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

DoorDash tests warning non-tippers that their order could be slow to arrive; YouTube’s new teen safeguards limit repeated viewing of some video topics; New Facebook Stories API helps creators share directly from third-party desktop or web apps Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Google launches generative AI tools for product imagery to US advertisers and merchants; LinkedIn, now at 1B users, turns on OpenAI-powered reading and writing tools; The latest in startup business news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So long, Twitter Circles; Google and Match Group reach settlement in app store antitrust case Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mastodon takes on Twitter/X by bringing ‘lists’ to mobile; Meta to offer ad-free subscription in Europe in bid to keep tracking other users; ChatGPT app revenue shows no signs of slowing, but some other AI apps top it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apple fixes bug that undermined iOS privacy feature for years, a year after Musk’s takeover X says an average user spends 32 minutes a day on the platform, and Sam Bankman-Fried says he didn’t defraud FTX customers or take their funds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

OpenAI forms team to study ‘catastrophic’ AI risks, including nuclear threats; Google Maps is getting new AI-powered search updates, an enhanced navigation interface and more; Amazon’s virtual health clinic can now treat patients for a cough, cold or flu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Google Play’s policy update cracks down on ‘offensive’ AI apps, disruptive notifications; TikTok partners with Tickets.com to sell tickets for its first live music event; The latest in startup business news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Instagram is testing a dedicated feed for posts from Verified users; YouTube Music now lets you create custom AI-generated playlist art; Apple sends out invites for ‘Scary Fast’ event Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apple’s job listings suggest it plans to infuse AI in multiple products; Tinder’s app gets more social by letting friends play matchmaker; TikTok is testing 15-minute uploads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Black founders received 0.13% of capital this Q3; Toyota hops on Tesla's EV charging standard, leaving Stellantis and VW as holdouts; Elon Musk confirms X is soon launching two new premium tiers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Google Meet now lets you apply a skin-smoothing effect with its new portrait touch-up mode; Threads’ latest growth hack is showing posts on Facebook; Amazon adds social shopping features Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Meta is bringing its Telegram-like broadcast channels to Facebook and Messenger; Amazon begins testing Agility’s Digit robot for warehouse work; YouTube is making it easier for users to access news from ‘credible’ sources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Snapchat is now allowing websites to embed content; YouTube debuts new playback controls and creator-focused features; Google is rolling out new Maps and Camera-based accessibility features Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

LinkedIn confirms it will cut a further 668 jobs; Netflix’s cloud gaming service begins tests in US; YouTube gets new AI-powered ads that let brands target special cultural moments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices