Waymo issues software recall over robotaxis operating around school buses
Waymo plans to issue a voluntary software recall to federal safety regulators related to how its robotaxis operate around school buses, the Alphabet-owned company told TechCrunch. The company said a voluntary software recall will be filed early next week. Waymo said it updated its software on Nov. 17 as soon as the issue was identified. […]
This startup built a Fitbit for the brain to fight chronic stress
Antonio Forenza was working as a research and development director at Rakuten Symphony, a telecommunications subsidiary of a Japanese conglomerate, when he realized he needed to find a better way to manage his stress levels. A few years ago, he lost 40 pounds thanks to his Apple Watch, which counts steps and records calories burned, […]
Meta acquires AI device startup Limitless
AI startup Limitless, formerly known as Rewind, has been acquired by Meta, the company announced on its website Friday. The company, which developed an AI-powered pendant that records conversations, has announced that it will no longer sell the hardware device and will maintain support for existing customers for one year. Customers will no longer have […]
Report reveals ChatGPT user growth is slowing down
ChatGPT’s growth is starting to taper off, according to new data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. Today, OpenAI-owned AI chatbots remain the leaders in this space, accounting for 50% of global downloads on mobile devices and 55% of global monthly active users. However, Google’s Gemini is starting to outperform ChatGPT in terms of download […]
New ‘KnoWay’ robotaxis wreak havoc in upcoming Grand Theft Auto Online DLC
Grand Theft Auto Online’s latest expansion includes robotaxis from a fictional but well-known company named “KnoWay,” whose sole purpose appears to be to cause havoc. A trailer released on Friday shows a KnoWay van equipped with lidar sensors barreling through city streets, destroying other cars and smashing through fake company signs. All of this is […]
The New York Times sues Perplexity for copyright infringement
The New York Times filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against AI search startup Perplexity on Friday, marking the second such lawsuit against an AI company. The Times joins multiple media outlets suing Perplexity, including the Chicago Tribune, which also filed suit this week. The Times’ lawsuit alleges that Perplexity offers commercial products that serve as […]
Netflix to buy Warner Bros. in disruptive deal worth $82.7 billion
In one of the most groundbreaking deals the streaming world has ever seen, Netflix on Friday announced its acquisition of Warner Bros., valued at $82.7 billion. The deal involves both HBO Max and HBO Studios, making it one of the largest mergers in Hollywood history. With this move, Netflix will not only solidify its top […]
After Neuralink, Max Hodak is building something even wilder
Six years ago at a StrictlyVC event in San Francisco, I asked Sam Altman how OpenAI, with its complicated corporate structure, would make money. He said that someday, he’d ask the AI. When everyone snickered, he added, “You can laugh. It’s all right. But it really is what I actually believe.” He wasn’t kidding. Sitting […]
Walmart-backed PhonePe ends Pincode app in further e-commerce setback
In its latest exit from India’s crowded online retail market, Walmart-backed fintech giant Phonepe plans to wind down its Pincode e-commerce app and shift its business to B2B services for offline sellers. Sameer Nigam, founder and group CEO of PhonePe, said on Thursday that running the consumer-facing quick commerce app was a distraction from the […]
Federal authorities question Waymo about robotaxis repeatedly passing school buses in Austin
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asked Waymo for more information about its self-driving system and its operations after the Austin School District reported that its robotaxis had illegally passed school buses 19 times this year. In a letter sent to Waymo on Dec. 3, regulators asked for more information about its fifth-generation self-driving system […]