Google turns Chrome into an AI coworker for the workplace
As part of a series of Google Cloud Next announcements on Wednesday, the company shared enhanced security measures as well as plans to bring an “auto-browse” agent feature to Chrome users in the enterprise. With AutoBrowse, Chrome users can leverage Gemini to understand the live context of open browser tabs and use AI to handle […]
Cosmetics giant Rituals confirms data breach of customer membership records
Netherlands-based cosmetics giant Rituals has confirmed a data breach affecting customers’ personal information after hackers stole large amounts of data from the company’s member database. The company disclosed the breach on Wednesday, according to an email sent to customers seen and verified by TechCrunch. Rituals announced in April that it had identified an “unauthorized download” […]
Cathie Wood’s ARK makes first lead investment in startup Lucra – It’s not AI
ARK Invest Venture Fund has made its first-ever lead investment in an early-stage startup called Lucra, company founder Cathie Wood told TechCrunch. “We’re pretty excited about it,” Wood (pictured above) said in a recent interview about investing in the startup. Lucra has developed a software platform that reimagines corporate loyalty programs into interactive esports-like events, […]
OpenAI partners with Infosys to bring AI tools to more businesses
OpenAI has partnered with Infosys to integrate its artificial intelligence tools, including coding assistant Codex, into the Indian IT giant’s Topaz AI platform. Infosys said the integration will be used to help clients modernize software development, automate workflows, and deploy AI systems at scale, with an initial focus on software engineering, legacy modernization, and DevOps. […]
UK government says spyware that can hack people’s phones exists in 100 countries
According to British intelligence, more than half of the world’s governments have access to commercial spyware that can penetrate computers and mobile phones and steal sensitive information. The UK’s National Cyber Security Center is expected to publish its findings on Wednesday, according to Politico. The report suggests that barriers to accessing this type of surveillance […]
AI is spitting out more potential drugs than ever before. The startup wants to figure out which ones are important.
The biggest impact of AI in science was when Google DeepMind used deep learning models to predict the complex structures of proteins, the molecules that drive nearly every process in living cells. But as AI models continue to spit out more potential treatment candidates, new bottlenecks are emerging. It’s really about characterizing all of those […]
Redwood Materials cuts 10% of workforce in restructuring to pursue energy storage business
Redwood Materials has laid off about 135 employees, or about 10% of its workforce, as it reorganizes to better accommodate its growing energy storage business, according to a TechCrunch investigation. As TechCrunch previously reported, the layoffs come just five months after Redwood cut 5% of its workforce and three months after closing a $425 million […]
SpaceX is working with Cursor and has an option to acquire the startup for $60 billion
SpaceX announced it has signed a deal with Cursor to develop the next generation of “coding and knowledge work AI.” It includes a surprising clause: an option to buy the popular software development platform for $60 billion later this year. Partnering with and potentially acquiring leaders in the most popular AI product categories can only […]
Tim Cook resigns as Apple CEO: A look back at his 15 years of accomplishments, from new products and services to expanding into China
After 15 years at the helm, Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple’s CEO and handing over the reins to John Ternas, senior vice president of hardware engineering. Cook, who joined Apple in 1998 and succeeded Steve Jobs in 2011, went on to transform Apple into a $4 trillion company. As his tenure as CEO […]
Apple’s John Tarnas will be running one of the world’s most powerful companies. That job is a minefield
Through his 15-year reign as Apple’s top banana, Tim Cook became instantly recognizable, powerful beyond imagination, and extremely wealthy. Most estimates put Mr. Cook’s current net worth at about $3 billion, a fortune he accumulated primarily through performance-based stock compensation as Apple’s market capitalization grew more than 11 times under his watch, to about $4 […]