TechCrunch Daily Crunch

Google launches Gemini Ultra; FCC officially declares AI-voiced robocalls illegal; Podcasters can now upload their RSS feed to YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

X becomes No. 1 app on U.S. App Store; Bluesky gets nearly 800K new users; Threads tests the ability to save posts as it continues to compete with X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adam Neumann is trying to buy back WeWork; Spotify now the No. 2 audiobook provider, behind Audible, hints at Daylist inspired-suggestions to come Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bumble’s new AI tool identifies and blocks scam accounts, fake profiles; Tinder’s new warnings inform users when they’re potentially being inappropriate; Meta cuts off third-party access to Facebook Groups Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SpaceX will reap the benefits of new Dragon research opportunity; Spotify's podcast exclusive days are over as Joe Rogan's show expands to other platforms; EU’s AI Act passes last big hurdle on the way to adoption Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amazon debuts ‘Rufus,’ an AI shopping assistant in its mobile app; Google Maps experiments with generative AI to improve discovery; Antitrust enforcers admit they’re in a race to understand how to tackle AI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shopify is rolling out an AI-powered image editor for products; Threads is working on surfacing Trends; Pew report shows TikTok’s rise/YouTube’s ubiquity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yelp launches revamped feed with AI-powered business summaries; TikTok tests a feature that would bring TikTok Shop links to more videos; Instagram Threads triples downloads in December Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apple’s iOS 18 may be ‘the biggest’ software update in iPhone history; Instagram confirms test of ‘Flipside’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ICO confirms data breach probe as UK councils remain downed by cyberattack; NSA is buying Americans' internet browsing records without a warrant; Deck.blue brings a TweetDeck experience to Bluesky users Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FTC orders AI companies to dish on investments, partnerships and meetings; PayPal to pilot new AI-powered updates, including a cash-back feature and ‘Smart Receipts’; Study shows kids spent 60% more time on TikTok than YouTube last year Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

BeReal is onboarding brands and celebs; Twitch announces 60/40 revenue split in expanded Plus Program; Google announces new AI-powered features for education Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vroom hits the brakes on its online used car business; TikTok lays off 60 employees; Google Chrome gains AI features Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Disney's solution to VR’s movement problem; X says a bug caused numerous posts to be labeled as ‘sensitive media’; Only 150+ apps have been designed specifically for Apple’s Vision Pro, so far Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amazon confirms more layoffs, impacting its Buy with Prime unit; LoanDepot outage drags into second week after ransomware attack; Japan's SLIM mission makes historic Moon landing, but its time is running out Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Microsoft makes its AI-powered reading tutor free; Instagram’s new ‘nighttime nudges’ aim to reduce teens’ time on the app; Reddit plans to launch IPO in March Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

YouTube to eliminate 100 employees as layoffs at Google continue; Google introduces ‘Circle to Search, a new way to search from anywhere on Android using gestures; iPhone has overtaken Samsung for the first time ever as the best-selling smartphone in 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

OpenAI announces team to build ‘crowdsourced’ governance ideas; Uber is closing alcohol delivery service Drizly three years after acquisition; Apple Vision Pro to launch with 150 3D movies and more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Microsoft launches a Pro plan for Copilot; FedEx announces its own commerce platform for merchants; LG opens its first US EV charging factory in Texas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Instagram cuts 60 jobs, eliminating a layer of management at the company; Threads will allow you to follow Mastodon users by year-end, according to Meta meeting details; Hertz is selling its EVs because it botched the rollout for ride-share drivers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Snapchat now lets parents restrict their teens from using the app’s ‘My AI’ chatbot; WhatsApp is rolling out an in-app tool for making custom stickers; Google is removing 17 ‘underutilized’ Assistant features Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

App economy recovered in 2023; YouTube is making it easier to find accurate information about first aid and emergency care; Netflix Games gains traction with installs up 180% year-over-year in 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amazon adds Matter casting to its smart displays and TVs; Google Maps will now give EV drivers real-time battery range info; Amazon’s Alexa gets new generative AI-powered experiences Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amazon turns to AI to help customers find clothes that fit when shopping online; Volkswagen is bringing ChatGPT into its cars and SUVs; Amazon’s new initiative aims to help people discover digital health benefits to manage chronic conditions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Braid to Zume, here are some of the startups that won't see 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lawsuit against Snap over fentanyl deaths can proceed, judge rules; Logan Paul promises CryptoZoo refunds, as long as you don't sue him; How to follow CES with TechCrunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Google outlines new methods for training robots with video and large language models; Apple Fitness+ introduces sound meditation, a workout program for golfers and more; TikTok aims to grow its TikTok Shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Microsoft Copilot is now available on iOS and Android; 23andMe tells victims it’s their fault that their data was breached; Roku announces new lineup of high-end TVs to launch this spring Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Meta cuts prices for the Quest 2 headset and accessories; Telegram’s latest update; MIT scientists are working on a vibrating obesity pill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Goodbye mysterious military space plane, and good luck – wherever you’re going; GitHub makes Copilot Chat generally available, letting devs ask questions about code Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xiaomi's first EV is the freshest take on a 'smartphone on wheels'; Amnesty confirms Apple warning: Indian journalists' iPhones infected with Pegasus spyware; India to block crypto exchanges Binance, Kraken websites Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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