Apple says people using lockdown mode have not been hacked with spyware
It’s been nearly four years since it introduced a security feature called Lockdown Mode, but Apple says it’s yet to see an instance of someone’s device being hacked with these additional security protections turned on. “We have not heard of any successful mercenary spyware attacks against Apple devices with Lockdown Mode enabled,” Apple spokesperson Sarah […]
David Sachs is done as AI czar — here’s what he’s doing instead
David Sachs is done with his days as Donald Trump’s AI and crypto czar. The longtime entrepreneur, investor, and podcaster confirmed in an interview with Bloomberg on Thursday that he will serve as co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) with White House Senior Technology Adviser Michael Kratsios, ending his […]
Anthrop wins injunction against Trump administration over Pentagon riot
A federal judge has sided with Anthropic in its tortuous legal battle with the Trump administration, granting Anthropic an injunction against the government’s recent order labeling the company a “supply chain risk,” the Wall Street Journal reported. On Thursday, Judge Rita F. Lin of the Northern District of California ordered the Trump administration to revoke […]
Netflix admits price increase again
Netflix has quietly raised prices again. The streaming giant’s most affordable ad-supported tier now costs $8.99 per month, up from the previous $7.99 per month, Netflix confirmed to TechCrunch in an email. The ad-free Standard plan will also cost $19.99 per month, an increase of $2 from the previous subscription price of $17.99, and the […]
16 Most Interesting Startups at YC W26 Demo Day
AI is once again the buzzword in this latest batch of YC Demo Day companies. Nearly 190 companies joined Y Combinator’s Winter ’26 cohort and announced their startups at Demo Day on Tuesday. These companies work on products across industries such as legal, transportation, and healthcare. Admittedly, given the sheer scale of attendance and the […]
OpenAI abandons yet another side quest: ChatGPT’s erotic mode
OpenAI has put the kibosh on yet another project, at least for the time being. On Thursday, the Financial Times reported that the AI company is suspending plans to develop an “erotic” mode for ChatGPT “indefinitely.” The idea of an “adult mode”, first proposed by CEO Sam Altman in October, generated considerable controversy from technology […]
Two of Silicon Valley’s biggest dramas have intersected: LiteLLM and Delve
This is one of those real-life Silicon Valley episodes that looks like it was ripped from an HBO satire. This week, some pretty heinous malware was discovered in an open source project developed by Y Combinator alum LiteLLM. LiteLLM gives developers easy access to hundreds of AI models and provides features such as spend management. […]
A major hacking tool has been leaked online, putting millions of iPhones at risk. Here’s what you need to know:
Security researchers have discovered a series of cyberattacks targeting Apple customers around the world. The tools used in these hacking campaigns, called Coruna and DarkSword, have been used by both government spies and cybercriminals to steal data from people’s iPhones and iPads. Widespread hacks targeting iPhone and iPad users are rare. The only precedent in […]
Conntour raises $7M from YC’s General Catalyst to build AI search engine for security video systems
The surveillance technology industry is in the spotlight today, but that’s not the only reason. Controversy over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s use of Flock’s camera network to surveil people, and home camera maker Ring drawing criticism for developing a new feature that allows law enforcement to ask homeowners for footage of their neighborhoods, are […]
WhatsApp can now draft AI-generated responses based on conversations
WhatsApp is rolling out a number of new features and updates, including the ability to use AI to generate suggested replies based on your conversations. The Meta-owned messaging platform is also releasing other features, including new ways to free up space and the ability to touch up photos with Meta AI. Most notably, however, the […]