TechCrunch Daily Crunch

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

Microsoft closes $68.7B Activision Blizzard acquisition as UK approves restructured deal; TikTok scores sizable Disney deal including a content hub and publisher partnership; SpaceX's Falcon Heavy launches NASA Psyche mission to metal asteroid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Threads is rolling out an edit button, and it’s not locked behind a paywall; Google’s AI-powered search experience can now generate images, write drafts; Twitch adds anti-harassment features to stop banned users from watching streams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Instagram head says Threads is “not going to amplify news on the platform”; Uber Eats now lets you order from two nearby stores at the same time; TikTok’s Effect Creator Rewards fund now has lower eligibility requirements, an updated payout model and more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adobe Firefly can now generate more realistic images; TikTok now supports direct posting from AI-powered Adobe apps, CapCut, Twitch and more; Google introduces new sustainability features, including a tool for people looking to buy an EV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ChatGPT’s mobile app hits record $4.58M in revenue last month, but growth is slowing; Instagram Threads preps a Trending Topics feature in battle with X; A former TikTok employee is building a social app for content creators to network and ‘spill the tea’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Only some vendors have pledged to defend customers using their generative AI tools who end up on the wrong side of copyright litigation; Google, Apple face fines in South Korea for breaching in-app billing rules; AI app EPIK hits No. 1 on the App Store for its viral yearbook photo feature Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Spotify’s new artist profiles highlight music, Stories, merch and events; Google agrees to reform its data terms; Amazon turns off the volume on Amp, its live radio app Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What went down at Google Pixel 2023; Walmart experiments with generative AI tools; The latest in startup business news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Spotify to include a selection of 150K audiobooks with its Premium subscription Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Visa earmarks $100M to invest in generative AI companies; TikTok confirms small test of an ad-free subscription tier outside the US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On TikTok, videos promoting steroids are exploding — and targeting teens; Apple revamps iCloud.com with more features for drive, mail and notes; X (Twitter) has paid almost $20M to creators, CEO says | TechCrunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reddit is removing ability to opt out of ad personalization based on your activity on the platform; ChromeOS 117 update brings Material You design and a new window organizer; Google is opening up its generative AI search experience to teenagers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What went down at Meta Connect 2023; The latest in startup business news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

YouTube relaxes advertiser-friendly guidelines around controversial topics; Uber is getting tighter with taxi companies; Apple Podcasts adds original programming Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Snap partners with Microsoft; OpenAI gives ChatGPT a voice; Amazon to invest up to $4 billion in AI startup Anthropic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Microsoft’s mobile keyboard app SwiftKey gains new AI-powered features, and Google’s Parisa Tabriz on how the company stays ahead of hackers, and yes, you have to update your Apple devices again because spyware is bad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amazon brings generative AI to Alexa, Up next PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin is now available on Venmo, OpenAI unveils DALL-E 3, allows artists to opt out of training. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fitbit overhauls its app with visual refresh and simplified user experience; OpenAI launches a red teaming network to make its models more robust; Amazon brings e-commerce to Prime Video Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apple’s long-awaited iOS 17 update for iPhones lands today with a number of new and improved security features Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices