TechCrunch

1.

23andMe’s future prompts more worries, as genomic data analysis improves

October 5, 2024 23:32:50

Customers of genetic data outfit 23andMe may be at greater risk than they realize, suggests a New York Times story that argues the company’s woes could be short-lived compared to the possible danger facing those roughly 15 million people if 23andMe can’t continue as a going concern. Certainly, with each passing day, the hope of […]

2.

OpenAI closes the largest VC round of all time

October 5, 2024 20:15:00

Welcome back to Week in Review. This week, we’re diving into OpenAI’s $6.6 billion fundraising round, the fifth Cybertruck recall in less than a year, and a neat project that’s Shazam-ing songs heard on a San Francisco street. Let’s get into it. OpenAI closed the largest VC round of all time this week. The startup […]

3.

New York tech investor and serial entrepreneur Kevin Ryan explains when to sell your company

October 5, 2024 16:50:14

Kevin Ryan has had a long and storied career as a pivotal force of New York City tech. He’s the founder and CEO of investment firm AlleyCorp, which has invested in a wide variety of startups, and is a serial founder, participating in the early stages of companies such as Business Insider, Zola, Gilt, Pearl […]

4.

What’s in the rug? How TikTok got swept into a real-time true crime story

October 5, 2024 15:00:00

A woman in Ohio is being haunted by ghosts. Or maybe she’s not. There’s a dead body buried underneath her house, rolled up inside a rug. Or there’s actually no body at all, despite signals from cadaver dogs. This week’s biggest drama on TikTok tells the story of a woman from Ohio who was building […]

5.

Fisker’s HQ abandoned in “complete disarray” with apparent hazardous waste, clay models left behind

October 5, 2024 14:07:49

The headquarters Fisker used in its waning days was recently abandoned and left in “complete disarray,” with drums of apparent hazardous waste, automotive equipment, and even vehicles and full-size clay models left behind, according to the landlord. The chaos was described in a new filing that was submitted to Fisker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy docket Friday […]

6.

SoCreate wants to transform screenwriting software with AI imagery and community sharing tools

October 5, 2024 14:00:00

Many screenwriters have embraced modern tools over traditional PDFs to craft their film or TV show pilots. SoCreate, the latest entrant in the screenwriting software arena, is challenging established players like Final Draft and Celtx with its fresh approach to storytelling. And, notably, generative AI imagery is involved. SoCreate offers many of the same features […]

7.

5 ‘dumbphones’ that can still run WhatsApp

October 5, 2024 13:00:00

With the luddite revival in full-swing, here are five dumbphones that can still run WhatsApp — and a few others.

8.

The ‘Mozart of Math’ isn’t worried about AI replacing math nerds — ever

October 5, 2024 04:50:35

Terence Tao, a UCLA professor considered to be the “world’s greatest living mathematician,” last month compared ChapGPT’s o1 reasoning model to a “mediocre, but not completely incompetent” graduate student that could correctly answer a complex analysis problem with “a lot of hints and prodding.” AI might never beat its human teachers, he now tells The […]

9.

Ashton Kutcher, Effie Epstein, and Guy Oseary are coming to TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

October 4, 2024 22:22:56

Last year, Sound Ventures, the 9-year-old, Beverly Hills, California-based venture firm led by general partners Ashton Kutcher, Guy Oseary, and Effie Epstein, announced a new $265 million AI fund that was betting big on large language model companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Hugging Face. In fact, the plan was to invest in just six companies […]

10.

YouTube apologizes for falsely banning channels for spam, canceling subscriptions

October 4, 2024 19:55:00

A misfire of YouTube’s systems led to the accidental banning of YouTube channels affecting numerous creators who were informed their channels were removed for “Spam & Deceptive Practices.” YouTube has now apologized for the problem and says it’s rectifying the situation, but did not comment on the cause of the bans, leading creators to wonder […]

11.

OpenAI secured more billions, but there’s still capital left for other startups

October 4, 2024 19:05:00

Welcome to Startups Weekly — your weekly recap of everything you can’t miss from the world of startups. Want it in your inbox every Friday? Sign up here. This week once again brought us AI funding news, as well as some warnings: Some categories and stages are showing signs of overheating. Luckily, we also spotted […]

12.

Every fusion startup that has raised over $100M

October 4, 2024 18:47:51

Fusion startups have raised $7.1 billion to date, with the majority of it going to a handful of companies.

13.

GM is working on an eyes-off, hands-off driving system

October 4, 2024 18:33:12

Seven years ago, GM became the first automaker to offer hands-free driving when it rolled out its Super Cruise advanced driver assistance system. Now, it’s looking to push that capability even further with a system that would allow drivers to keep their eyes off the road too, according to one of GM’s top software executives. […]

14.

Fisker faces SEC investigation as bankruptcy case drags on

October 4, 2024 18:30:55

Bankrupt EV startup Fisker is under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, according to a new filing from the financial regulator. The SEC says in the filing it has sent multiple subpoenas to Fisker as part of the investigation, and that it may send more. The agency does not say what the investigation […]

15.

Announcing the final agenda for the SaaS Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

October 4, 2024 17:57:36

Software as a service (SaaS) is an ever-evolving industry. We’ll talk to some of the brightest minds and leaders in the industry — executives from early- and late-stage SaaS companies, leaders from the infrastructure companies that power the industry and the venture capitalists who fund them. Explore and enjoy by joining us at the SaaS […]

16.

Amazon closes more of its cashierless convenience stores

October 4, 2024 17:41:56

Amazon continues to scale back efforts around its cashierless checkout technology, Just Walk Out. The e-commerce giant closed three of its Go convenience stores in New York last week, The Information confirmed on Friday, leaving just 17 across the nation. (Amazon notes it recently opened one in Washington.) These convenience stores use AI systems to […]

17.

Why EnergyX raised $75M from small investors, even after taking VC money from GM and others

October 4, 2024 17:17:42

EnergyX’s offering took advantage of SEC Regulation A, which allows companies to raise money from retail investors in exchange for modest regulatory oversight.

18.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 Side Events schedule: Women in Tech, SignalFire, Llama Lounge, and more to host

October 4, 2024 17:13:50

With TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 right around the corner, we’re thrilled to introduce the companies hosting Side Events that will extend the buzz and excitement to the thousands of attendees and Silicon Valley locals alike. Whether it’s a fun happy hour, insightful panels, or energizing morning runs, Disrupt Week — happening from October 26 to November […]

19.

Announcing the Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

October 4, 2024 17:05:43

TechCrunch Disrupt 2024, which takes place from October 28-30 at Moscone West in San Francisco, is rapidly approaching. Today we’re thrilled to announce the 200 startups selected to participate in this year’s Startup Battlefield 200 (SB 200) cohort. TechCrunch’s editorial staff read, vetted and debated over thousands of applications. Narrowing the group down to 200 […]

20.

Waymo picks its next robotaxi, Joby lands more Toyota bucks, and Cybertruck notches its fifth recall

October 4, 2024 17:05:00

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! I kicked off my week at UP.Summit, an invite-only event that was held this year in Bentonville, Arkansas, to meet up with founders and investors focused on […]