TechCrunch Industry News
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Walmart and Wing expand drone delivery to five more U.S. cities
Walmart and Wing are expanding their partnership and rolling out drone delivery to dozens of more stores in Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bonfire’s new software lets users build their own social communities, free from platform control
Bonfire's mission is to build social software where people get to make the decisions, not big tech platform makers like Meta or Google. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reddit sues Anthropic for allegedly not paying for training data
Reddit is suing Anthropic for allegedly using the site’s data to train AI models without a proper licensing agreement, according to a complaint filed in a Northern California court on Wednesday. Reddit claims in the complaint that Anthropic’s unauthorized use of the site’s data for commercial purposes was unlawful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Hugging Face says its new robotics model is so efficient it can run on a MacBook
It’s becoming a little easier to build sophisticated robotics projects at home. AI dev platform Hugging Face released earlier this week an open AI model for robotics called SmolVLA. Trained on “compatibly licensed,” community-shared datasets, SmolVLA outperforms much larger models for robotics in both virtual and real-world environments, Hugging Face claims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reddit now lets you hide content, like posts and comments, from your user profile
Reddit announced a new feature that will offer its users more privacy when it comes to what’s shared on their user profiles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Anthropic’s AI is writing its own blog — with human oversight
Anthropic has given its AI a blog. A week ago, Anthropic quietly launched Claude Explains, a new page on its website that’s generated mostly by the company’s AI model family, Claude. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Health giant Kettering still facing disruption weeks after ransomware attack
A healthcare giant with dozens of facilities across Ohio is still recovering after shutting down nearly all its operations following a ransomware attack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
TikTok launches ‘TikTok for Artists,’ a new music insights platform
TikTok announced on Tuesday that it’s officially launching TikTok for Artists, a new music insights platform that is designed to help artists build their careers. The official launch comes two months after TikTok was spotted testing the platform in select countries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Early AI investor Elad Gil finds his next big bet: AI-powered rollups
Elad Gil started betting on AI before most of the world took notice. By the time investors began grasping the implications of ChatGPT, Gil had already written seed checks to startups like Perplexity, Character.AI, and Harvey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
For the love of God, stop calling your AI a co-worker
Generative AI comes in many forms. Increasingly, though, it’s marketed the same way: with human names and personas that make it feel less like code and more like a co-worker. A growing number of startups are anthropomorphizing AI to build trust fast — and soften its threat to human jobs. It’s dehumanizing, and it’s accelerating. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
DeepSeek’s updated R1 AI model is more censored, test finds
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s newest AI model, an updated version of the company’s R1 reasoning model, achieves impressive scores on benchmarks for coding, math, and general knowledge, nearly surpassing OpenAI’s flagship o3. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tesla pleads for Senate to spare its booming energy business
If the Senate were to pass it with those repeals in tact, it could have a devastating impact on Tesla’s energy division. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Volteras wants to connect to more EVs than anyone else
Volteras has raised $11.1 million to expand its connected car offerings to automakers and companies that want to interact with EVs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
LoveJack, the dating app designed for users to find love using just five words
As Kevin Malone from “The Office” once said, “Why waste time say lot word when few word do trick?” For Julia LeStage and Lisa Le, the creators of a new dating app called LoveJack, finding love online doesn’t have to feel like filling out a mountain of paperwork Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Atomic Canyon wants to be ChatGPT for the nuclear industry
Atomic Canyon raised $7 million in a seed round to expand its document search AI for nuclear power plants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why export restrictions aren’t the only thing to pay attention to in Nvidia’s earnings
After the market closes on Wednesday, Nvidia will report earnings for the first quarter of its fiscal year 2026, which ended on April 27. While many in the industry are likely eager to hear how the recent whiplash surrounding U.S. chip export controls will impact Nvidia’s international chip business and future guidance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Gridcare thinks more than 100 MW of data center capacity is hiding in the grid
Gridcare raised $13.3 million for its data platform that finds underutilized capacity on the electrical grid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tesla loses more ground in Europe, while BYD makes gains
In April, Tesla sold 7,261 vehicles in the European Union, European Free Trade Association, and U.K., a 49% year-over-year decline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
YouTube tops Disney and Netflix in TV viewing and WhatsApp launches long-awaited iPad app
Nielsen’s latest report serves as another wake-up call that YouTube is rapidly gaining ground in the TV landscape. On Tuesday, Nielsen released its April 2025 “Media Distributor Gauge” report, which showed that YouTube has achieved a significant milestone: it has maintained the largest share of TV viewing for three consecutive months, now accounting for 12.4% ; WhatsApp is officially available on iPad, Meta announced on Tuesday. The new iPad app allows you to make video and audio calls with up to 32 people, share your screen, and use both front and back cameras. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why a new anti-revenge porn law has free speech experts alarmed
The newly signed Take It Down Act makes it illegal to publish nonconsensual explicit images – real or AI-generated – and gives platforms just 48 hours to comply with a victim’s takedown request or face liability. While widely praised as a long-overdue win for victims, experts warn its vague language, lax standards for verifying claims, and tight compliance window could pave the way for overreach, censorship of legitimate content, and even surveillance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why Intempus thinks robots should have a human physiological state
Teddy Warner, 19, has always been interested in robotics. His family was in the industry, and he says he “grew up” working in a machinist shop while in high school. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Anthropic CEO claims AI models hallucinate less than humans
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei believes today’s AI models hallucinate, or make things up and present them as if they’re true, at a lower rate than humans do, he said during a press briefing at Anthropic’s first developer event, Code with Claude, in San Francisco on Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mysterious hacking group Careto was run by the Spanish government, sources say
The elusive hacking group Careto was never publicly linked to a specific government, but TechCrunch has learned researchers concluded privately that the Spanish government was behind the group. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jony Ive to lead OpenAI’s design work following $6.5B acquisition of his company
Famed Apple product designer Jony Ive will now lead creative and design work at OpenAI, the result on an usual deal announced on Wednesday. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Ive have been working on an AI device that will move consumers beyond screens for roughly two years, according to The Wall Street Journal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Spotify says support for external payments on iOS has already boosted subscriptions
Spotify says its ability to direct its customers to external payment links in its iOS app has already had a positive impact on sales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Google’s Sergey Brin: ‘I made a lot of mistakes with Google Glass’
Google co-founder Sergey Brin said he “made a lot of mistakes with Google Glass” during an onstage interview at Google I/O 2025 on Tuesday. Brin was a surprise addition to an interview with Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis conducted by Big Technology Podcast’s Alex Kantrowitz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Uber Freight bets big on AI tools to grow its business
Three years ago, as the pandemic caused chaos for companies big and small, Colgate-Palmolive’s chief supply chain officer Luciano Sieber orchestrated a “logistics blitz.” The result gave Sieber a better understanding of how Colgate-Palmolive moves its products around the world. But it stuck Sieber with another problem: too much data. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
South Loop Ventures closes $21M fund in Houston to build up local tech ecosystem
South Loop Ventures, a Houston-based venture firm, announced a $21 million Fund I, with Rice Management Company and Chevron Technology Ventures serving as anchor investors. The firm, which launched in 2022, focuses on seed and pre-seed companies, with $400,000 as the average check size Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SparkCharge raises $30M to help fleets electrify without commitments
SparkCharge raised $15.5 million in equity and secured a $15 million loan to expand its fleet charging operations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
MIT disavows doctoral student paper on AI’s productivity benefits
MIT says that due to concerns about the “integrity” of a high-profile paper on the effects of artificial intelligence on the productivity of a materials science lab, the paper should be “withdrawn from public discourse.” The paper in question, “Artificial Intelligence, Scientific Discovery, and Product Innovation,” was written by a doctoral student Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
VUZ gets $12M to scale immersive video experiences across emerging markets and the U.S.
VUZ, a startup known for offering immersive video experiences from red carpets and football stadiums, has raised $12 million as it doubles down on its presence in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as accelerates expansion into Africa, Asia, and the United States Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Cognichip emerges from stealth with the goal of using generative AI to develop new chips
Chips are a critical component of the AI industry. But new chips don’t hit the market with the same speed as new AI models and products do. Cognichip has a lofty goal of creating a foundational AI model that can help bring new chips to market faster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sam Altman’s goal for ChatGPT to remember ‘your whole life’ is both exciting and disturbing
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman laid out a big vision for the future of ChatGPT at an AI event hosted by VC firm Sequoia earlier this month. When asked by one attendee about how ChatGPT can become more personalized, Altman replied that he eventually wants the model to document and remember everything in a person’s life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Airbnb expands into services and experiences, plans more social and AI features
As part of a broader app update, Airbnb on Tuesday introduced a new feature that allows travelers to book services and experiences, like getting a message, haircut, or chef-prepared meal, or taking part in some activity. These new offerings can be added to your stay, but they can also be booked independently, Airbnb says. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Grok is unpromptedly telling X users about South African genocide ... and more
Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok appeared to experience a bug on Wednesday that caused it to reply to dozens of posts on X with information about genocide in South Africa, even when the user didn’t ask anything about the subject. The strange responses largely came from the X account for Grok. Also, digital consumer bank Chime has moved forward with its IPO by filing its S-1 paperwork Tuesday. Chime had reportedly filed confidential S-1 paperwork back in December. S-1 filings typically reveal all kinds of information, covering financial, legal, and other risk factors. But Chime’s documents still have a lot of blank spaces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
White House scraps plan to block data brokers from selling Americans’ sensitive data ... and more news
The decision to reverse course comes after an industry lobby group called for the rule change to be withdrawn. Also, speaking during a business summit in Doha, Trump said he met with Cook and asked him to stop building in India and instead increase production in the US ... and YouTube introduced an interactive product feed for shoppable TV ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sam Altman apparently does not respect olive oil
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is using his olive oil inefficiently in an “offense to horticulture,” the Financial Times humorously reports. For its “Lunch with the FT” series, the paper joined Altman in his kitchen. He prepared a garlicky pasta and salad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
GM’s new ‘manganese rich’ battery promises cheaper EVs in 2028
Lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) batteries should slash costs without sacrificing much range. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
VCs are known to move in herds, which is why Eric Slesinger stands out a bit. While most American investors chase AI startups or U.S.-based defense tech startups, the former CIA officer is hunting for defense tech deals in Europe. I
The mobile controller company Backbone unveiled its Backbone Pro controller this week, which brings iOS and Android gaming experiences to the next level. A successor to the Backbone One controller, the Pro features full-size joysticks, re-mappable buttons, and Bluetooth compatibility, making for a more premium gaming setup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
InventWood is about to mass produce wood that’s stronger than steel
The material has 50% more tensile strength than steel with a strength-to-weight ratio that’s ten-times better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Remember Moviefone? Well, it’s back.
For millions of movie enthusiasts in the ’90s, Moviefone’s 777-FILM number was the go-to source for obtaining showtimes. Now, under new ownership, Moviefone is trying to make a comeback. On Friday, as part of its 35th anniversary celebration, Moviefone announced the relaunch of its mobile app and a new nationally syndicated broadcast TV series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Microsoft employees are banned from using DeepSeek app
Microsoft employees aren’t allowed to use DeepSeek due to data security and propaganda concerns, Microsoft vice chairman and president Brad Smith said in a Senate hearing today. “At Microsoft we don’t allow our employees to use the DeepSeek app,” Smith said, referring to DeepSeek’s application service (which is available on both desktop and mobile.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Greek revival you’re not watching (but probably should be)
Much of the world isn’t paying close attention to Greece right now. That may be a mistake. Best known for its stunning islands, sun-soaked cities, and deep historical roots, Greece has been quietly laying the foundation for something far less expected: a modern, resilient tech economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Rove, founded by a 22-year-old, is helping Gen Z earn airline miles without credit cards
During his junior year study abroad, Max Morganroth, traveled to 30 countries, primarily flying in business and first class. His jet setting was funded almost entirely by airline points he collected through strategic credit card applications and miles redemptions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
AI data startup WisdomAI nabs $23M with a smart way to avoid hallucinations
Rubrik co-founder Soham Mazumdar has a new data startup called Wisdom AI. It offers an agentic data analyst that works with structured, unstructured, even “dirty” data. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Employer.com scoops up another fintech in purchase of MainStreet.com
Employer.com has acquired MainStreet.com for an undisclosed amount, the latest fintech startup to get snapped up by the workforce management company. In a post on X, Employer.com Chairman and co-founder Jesse Tinsley said the two companies were “merging forces to simplify business back office solutions into one powerhouse platform.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Energy Star program getting scrapped, Ford raising prices due to tariffs, and Mark Zuckerberg’s AI ad tool sounds like a social media nightmare
The Energy Star program's signature yellow labels appear on appliances and electronics for sale throughout the U.S.; Ford is raising the price of the all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUV and popular entry-level Maverick pickup by as much as $2,000 due to the import taxes President Donald Trump is placing on vehicles made in Mexico, according to Reuters. Higher prices could make it harder for traditional automakers like Ford to sell their EVs; Tech executives have long talked about how AI is going to revolutionize the advertising industry. In particularly, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been quite vocal about how exactly he wants his company to lead the transformation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Cnaught wants to make carbon credits easy for businesses small and large
Cnaught is a market maker seeking to ease the pain of buying carbon credits for companies without dedicated teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
MoneyFellows raises $13M to take its group savings model outside Egypt
While most African digital lenders depend on working capital to fuel growth, MoneyFellows has quietly done what few others have: lend billions of Egyptian pounds with almost no debt or balance sheet exposure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Pinterest updates visual search with more AI-powered features
Pinterest is upgrading its visual search feature with a handful of new capabilities. On Monday, the company announced it’s rolling out new functionality to improve its feature that allows users to search using an image instead of text. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices