Not everyone is excited about DMs on the thread
Earlier this week, the Instagram thread launched what the company said was Direct Messages (DMS), the most requested feature to date. However, the company is currently facing user backlash over the addition, as users claim that they are citing harassment concerns, primarily by claiming that there is a way for women to opt out of […]
Ilya Sutskever leads the CEO exit and secure close one
Openai co-founder Ilya Sutskever says he’s stepping into the CEO role at Safe Superintelligence, an AI startup he launched in 2024. Sutskever confirmed on Thursday that startup co-founder and CEO Daniel Gross left on June 29th, Daniel Co-Funderide’s Co-Funderide of Stapedise left on June 29th. The announcement follows weeks of reporting to hire Meta CEO […]
The Y Combinator alumni have launched a new $34 million fund dedicated to YC startups.
Investing in a Y-combinator startup can bring great benefits to investors. “Looking at the data, 6% of YC companies become unicorns, and 6% of those 6% become big cones,” Kulveer Taggar told TechCrunch. Taggar is a YC alum best known for establishing Zeus Living, a property management startup that has raised over $150 million. Taggar […]
Trump administrator illegally killed gender-related health websites, court rules
US District Judge John D. Bates on Thursday determined that the Trump administration’s Human Resources Administration failed to comply with all necessary laws when he ordered the Department of Health and Human Services to quickly comply with the President’s executive order on “gender ideology.” On the first day of his term, President Trump passed a […]
Meta has found another way to engage you: message that message first
Imagine messaging a friend on the Facebook Messenger app or WhatsApp. Imagine receiving unsolicited messages from an AI chatbot who is obsessed with movies. “I hope you have a harmonious day!” it writes. “Did you want to check in and see if you’ve recently discovered a new favorite soundtrack or composer? Or do you want […]
Pinwheel introduces smartwatches for kids, including AI chatbots
As parents, it is difficult to hand over smart devices to their tweens when countless online dangers exist. Pinwheel, a high-tech company for children, is introducing new solutions for parents who want to continue connecting with their children without having to call. Pinwheel Watch is a recently launched smartwatch designed specifically for children aged 7-14, […]
Castelion is expanding its postponed missile business by raising a $350 million Series B
Hypersonic Weapons startup Castelion is raising a $350 million Series B led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Altimeter Capital, according to sources and documents viewed by TechCrunch. The round, which values a billion-person company, is expected to close in a few weeks. The term sheet has been signed. The new round comes just after $100 […]
Ransomware Gang Hunter International says it’s shut down
The ransomware gang known as Hunter International announced on Thursday it was shutting down on a dark webpage. “We have carefully considered it and decided to close the Hunter International Project in light of recent developments,” Hacker wrote in the post. “This decision has not been underestimated and we recognize the impact that it will […]
Everything you need to know about Flash, Blueski-based Instagram alternatives
This year, Flashes launched an Instagram alternative built on top of the Bluesky social network. It is now available on the App Store. This app offers another way to view visual posts on Bluesky. Instead of viewing them in a timeline-like feed similar to X, the app draws inspiration from photo-based social networks like Instagram. […]
Openai blames Robinhood’s “Openai Tokens”
Openai wants to make it clear that the sale of Robinhood’s “Openai Tokens” does not give Openai any daily consumer capital or inventory. The company said in a post from X’s official newsroom account. “These ‘Openai tokens’ are not fair for Openai,” Openai’s newsroom account said Wednesday. “We did not partner with Robinhood, did not […]