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How AI Is Supercharging Indias Intermediaries
Threes not a crowd, its a party in Indias economy Finding a house in India? Thats a three-party deal. Booking
Why a new anti-revenge porn law has free speech experts alarmed
The newly signed Take It Down Act makes it illegal to publish nonconsensual explicit images real or AI-generated and gives platforms just 48 hours to comply with a victims takedown request or face liability. While widely praised as a long-overdue win for victims, experts warn its vague language, lax standards for verifying claims, and tight compliance window could pave the way for overreach, censorship of legitimate content, and even surveillance.
Week in Review: Notorious hacking group tied to the Spanish government
Welcome back to Week in Review! Tons of news from this week for you, including a hacking group thats linked to the Spanish government; CEOs using AI avatars to deliver company earnings; Pocket shutting down or is it?; and much more. Lets get to it! More than 10 years in the making: Kaspersky first []
SC Stays INR 5,712 Cr GST Notice Against Paytms First Games
In a major relief for Paytm, the Supreme Court (SC) has stayed INR 5,712 Cr GST notice issued against the
How India Can Build A Self-Reliant Drone Manufacturing Ecosystem
From leisure and hobby to strategic applications in agriculture and defence, the use of drones has expanded manifold in India
Naukri exposed recruiter email addresses, researcher says
The recruiter website fixed the email address exposure earlier this week.
Zoox issues second robotaxi software recall in a month following collision
Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox has issued its second voluntary software recall in a month, following a collision between one of its robotaxis and an e-scooter rider in San Francisco on May 8. The latest incident involved an unoccupied Zoox vehicle operating at low speed, which the company says was struck by the e-scooter after []
Landa promised real estate investing for $5. Now its gone dark.
The idea of becoming a real estate investor for as little as $5 may seem too good to be true. And for many users of Landa, a proptech company that promised just that it has been. Landa emerged from stealth in August 2022, announcing a total of $33 million in funding and a pledge []
What is Mistral AI? Everything to know about the OpenAI competitor
Mistral AI, the French company behind AI assistant Le Chat and several foundational models, is officially regarded as one of Frances most promising tech startups and is arguably the only European company that could compete with OpenAI. But compared to its $6 billion valuation, its global market share is still relatively low. However, the recent []
Apple CEO reportedly urged Texas governor to ditch online child safety bill
Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly called Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to make changes to or veto a newly passed law in the state that would require the company to verify the ages of device owners, according to The Wall Street Journal. Abbott has yet to sign the bill. But Apple, alongside Google, has been working []
Kesha is now a startup founder
Kesha may have taken the dollar sign out of her name, but now, the singer is thinking about money again not for herself, but to fund the seed round of her new startup, Smash. According to Keshas Instagram post, Smash will be a community-based platform to connect and protect music creators, which aligns with []
Marjorie Taylor Greene picked a fight with Grok
Last week, Elon Musks AI chatbot Grok experienced a bug that made it tell users about the white genocide conspiracy theory in South Africa, even when prompted with questions that had nothing to do with the topic and soon after, Grok expressed skepticism over the Holocaust death toll, which it chalked up to a programming []
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! For those U.S.-based readers out there, enjoy the long Memorial Day weekend, and if youre on the road, expect it to be crowded. AAA projects 45.1 million []
OpenAI upgrades the AI model powering its Operator agent
OpenAI is updating the AI model poweringOperator, its AI agent that can autonomously browse the web and use certain software within a cloud-hosted virtual machine to fulfill users requests. Soon, Operator will use a model based on o3, one of the latest in OpenAIs o series of reasoning models. Previously, Operator relied on a custom []
Microsoft says its Aurora AI can accurately predict air quality, typhoons, and more
One of Microsofts latest AI models can accurately predict air quality, hurricanes, typhoons, and other weather-related phenomena, the company claims. In a paper published in the journal Nature and an accompanying blog post this week, Microsoft detailed Aurora, which the tech giant says can forecast atmospheric events with greater precision and speed than traditional meteorological []
Discord seeks to solve a problem that it created
Discord is entering its second decade as a company and seeking to go public. Along the way, its changed the way that online communities interact, turning groups that may have previously existed as forums or message boards into multi-channel instant message servers. Now, everything finds a home on Discord, whether its an AI platform like []
Digg founder Kevin Rose offers to buy Pocket from Mozilla
The deal could be interesting if it went through, as Digg could leverage Pocket's existing user base to fuel interest in its relaunch.
The Future of Startup Equity: How SaaS is Redefining Ownership, Engagement, and Wealth Creation
SaaS equity platforms are making startup ownership smarter and fairer. Find out how they boost employee engagement, clarity, and compliance. The post The Future of Startup Equity: How SaaS is Redefining Ownership, Engagement, and Wealth Creation appeared first on Startup Success Stories India - News & Updates for Indian Entrepreneurs .
Avinash Gautam Vice President at Xumane
Avinash Gautam is transforming HR tech at Xumane with integrated platforms for ESOP management, real-time recognition, and data-driven engagement. The post Avinash Gautam Vice President at Xumane appeared first on Startup Success Stories India - News & Updates for Indian Entrepreneurs .
ChatGPT: Everything you need to know about the AI-powered chatbot
ChatGPT, OpenAIs text-generating AI chatbot, has taken the world by storm since its launch in November 2022. What started as a tool to supercharge productivity through writing essays and code with short text prompts has evolved into a behemoth with 300 million weekly active users. 2024 was a big year for OpenAI, from its partnership []
California prepares to sue feds after Senate revokes the states EV rule
The state was to require increasing sales of zero-emissions cars and passenger trucks starting in 2026.
As generative AI becomes faster, cheaper, and more convincing, the ethical stakes are no longer theoretical. What happens when the tools to deceive become widely accessible? And how do we build systems that are powerful but safe enough to trust? At TechCrunch Sessions: AI, taking place June 5 at UC Berkeleys Zellerbach Hall, Artemis []
In the startup world, access to cutting-edge tools isnt the biggest obstacle its knowing how to wield them with precision. At TechCrunch Sessions: AI, taking place on June 5 at UC Berkeleys Zellerbach Hall, were digging into the frameworks and decisions that determine whether an AI startup can scale or stall. Were excited []
Tick tock: Just 3 days left to save up to $900 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 pass
Times almost up save big before prices jump in 3 days! Youve got until May 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT to save up to $900 on individual tickets to TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. Or double your impact grab one Early Bird pass and get another for your +1 at 90% off. These deals will []
Apple could launch AI-powered smart glasses in 2026
Apple is reportedly looking to release a pair of smart glasses by the end of next year in a bid to compete with Metas AI-powered glasses, the Ray-Ban Meta. Apples wearable will have all the components one would expect in smart glasses, including a camera and microphone, and will have the ability to analyze whats []
Trump threatens 25% tariffs on iPhones made outside the US
President Trump lashed out at Apple on Friday, threatening the company with a 25% tariff on iPhones unless it moves production to the U.S. I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones [sic] that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in []
Mysterious hacking group Careto was run by the Spanish government, sources say
The elusive hacking group Careto was never publicly linked to a specific government, but TechCrunch has learned researchers concluded privately that the Spanish government was behind the group.
IndiaAI Mission: All 7 Shortlisted Companies Clear Technical Round For GPU Tender
Days after getting shortlisted for the second round of GPU tender under the IndiaAI Mission, all the seven companies have
Stable Money To Raise INR 173 Cr In Fresh Funding Round
Bengaluru-based fintech startup Stable Money is set to raise INR 173 Cr ($20 Mn) in a fresh funding round led
PM E-DRIVE: Govt To Provide 10,900 Electric Buses To Delhi, Other Cities
As the government steps up efforts to incentivise the adoption of electric buses to promote green mobility and reduce emissions,
After Klarna, Zooms CEO also uses an AI avatar on quarterly call
After Klarna CEO, Zoom's CEO opts to use AI avatar for initial comments during the earnings call
Aakash Accuses EY India Of Conflict Of Interest In BYJUS Dispute
Amid the ongoing rumblings at BYJUS, Aakash Educational Services (AESL) has now reportedly accused EY India of conflict of interest
Govt To Build Super App For Electric Vehicle Users
The Union government has set in motion plans for building a super app for electric vehicle (EV) users in the
Titan Capital launches investment vertical to back defence-tech founders
Titan Capital has launched a specialised investment vertical to fund Indian startups innovating in defence and strategic technology, focusing on areas like advanced hardware, aerospace, and cybersecurity. The firm aims to foster deep-tech innovation and help India become a net exporter of strategic technologies.
Honasas Lacklustre Q4, Ola Electric Eyes INR 1,700 Cr & More
Honasas Not-So-Decorated Q4 Results The fourth quarter turned out to be a mixed bag for Honasa. The listed D2C unicorn
Anthropic CEO claims AI models hallucinate less than humans
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei believes todays AI models hallucinate, or make things up and present them as if theyre true, at a lower rate than humans do, he said during a press briefing at Anthropics first developer event, Code with Claude, in San Francisco on Thursday. Amodei said all this in the midst of a []
Hinge Health pops 17%, but joins growing ranks of down round IPOs
Hinge Health, a digital physical therapist company, closed its first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday at $37.56, up about 17% over the $32 IPO price it set the previous day. Thats a good first-day result. But even with the pop, Hinges public valuation is significantly less than its last []
Klarna CEO and Sutter Hill take victory lap after Jony Ives OpenAI deal
Hours after Sam Altman and Jony Ive announced on Wednesday that OpenAI was buying Ives company, io, in an all-stock transaction valued at $6.5 billion, Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski posted a surprising message on X. Siemiatkowskis family investment office, Flat Capital, had bought shares in io six months earlier, he said. Since this is an []
[Update] After Uber, CCPA Probing Ola & Rapido Over Advance Tip
Update| May 23, 02:06 AM IST A day after the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued a notice to ride-hailing
Streaming Veteran Viniit Mehta Floats $10 Mn Fund To Back Media & Gaming Startups
Drawing on his wealth of experience in the entertainment space, former Brightcove country head Viniit Mehta has floated a new
Anthropics latest flagship AI sure seems to love using the cyclone emoji
Anthropics new flagship AI model, Claude Opus 4, is a strong programmer and writer, the company claims. When talking to itself, its also a prolific emoji user. Thats according to a technical report Anthropic released on Thursday, a part of which investigates how Opus 4 behaves in open-ended self-interaction i.e. essentially having a chat []
Tinder CEO to step down in July
Faye Iosotaluno, the CEO of Tinder, will step down from her role in July, according to a post she published on LinkedIn. Iosotaluno served less than a year in the role and spent nearly eight years overall at the company, which is owned by Match Group. In her post, she said she was especially proud []
Senate votes to revoke Californias ability to set air pollution standards
The state was to require increasing sales of zero-emissions cars and passenger trucks starting in 2026.
A safety institute advised against releasing an early version of Anthropics Claude Opus 4 AI model
A third-party research institute that Anthropic partnered with to test one of its new flagship AI models, Claude Opus 4, recommended against deploying an early version of the model due to its tendency to scheme and deceive. According to a safety report Anthropic published Thursday, the institute, Apollo Research, conducted tests to see in which []
Microsoft says Lumma password stealer malware found on 394,000 Windows PCs
Microsoft and law enforcement announced a coordinated takedown of the Lumma pasword-stealing malware.
Mozilla is shutting down read-it-later app Pocket
Mozilla announced on Thursday that its shutting down Pocket, a read-it-later app it acquired in 2017, on July 8. The company is also shutting down Fakespot, its browser extension that helps users identify unreliable reviews. Pocket has helped millions save articles and discover stories worth reading, Mozilla said in a blog post. But the way []
Open social web browser Surf makes it easier for anyone to build custom feeds
With Starter Sets, Surf is simplifying the process of building those custom feeds, personalizing them, and even publishing them off-platform, if you choose.
Meta adds another 650 MW of solar power to its AI push
The company already has more than 12 gigawatts of capacity in its renewable power portfolio.
Anthropics new Claude 4 AI models can reason over many steps
During its inaugural developer conference Thursday, Anthropic launched two new AI models that the startup claims are among the industrys best, at least in terms of how they score on popular benchmarks. Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4, part of Anthropics new Claude 4 family of models, can analyze large datasets, execute long-horizon tasks, []
SpaceXs Starship cleared to return to flight with expanded hazard areas
The Federal Aviation Administration has cleared SpaceX to perform the ninth test flight of its Starship rocket system, following back-to-back explosions earlier this year. The agency said Thursday it is expanding the size of hazard areas both in the U.S. and other countries for the flight based on an updated safety analysis provided by SpaceX. []
Vercel debuts an AI model optimized for web development
The team behind Vercels V0, an AI-powered platform for web creation, has developed an AI model it claims excels at certain website development tasks. Available through an API, the model, called v0-1.0-md, can be prompted with text or images, and was optimized for front-end and full-stack web development, the Vercel team says. Currently in beta, []
RevenueCat raises $50M as it expands beyond mobile app monetization
Key to the company's growth are the next products RevenueCat has on its roadmap, the company's founder says.
Ola Electric Gets Board Nod To Raise INR 1,700 Cr Debt
EV major Ola Electrics board has approved a proposal to raise up to INR 1,700 Cr debt via non-convertible debentures
The complete Side Events lineup at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Get ready to amplify yourTechCrunch Sessions: AIexperience with the electrifying lineup ofSide Eventstaking Boston by storm during the week of June 1-7. As the countdown to TC Sessions: AI begins, were thrilled to share ourSide Eventslineup to foster meaningful connections within the vibrant Berkeley, California, tech community. Whether youre a seasoned industry pro or a []
OpenAI teams up with Cisco, Oracle to build UAE data center
As rumored, OpenAI is expanding its ambitious Stargate data center project to the Middle East. On Thursday, the company announced Stargate UAE, which will bring a 1GW data center cluster to Abu Dhabi. OpenAI expects 200MW will go live in 2026, developed with partners including G42, Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco, and SoftBank. In a blog post, []
Roposo Cofounders Hyperlocal Community Startup Shuru Bags INR 29 Cr
Indore-based Shuru, a hyperlocal community app launched by Roposo cofounder Mayank Bhangadia, has raised INR 29 Cr (around $3.37 Mn)
4 days left: Up to $900 off your ticket and 90% off for your +1 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Heres the deal: Only 4 days left to save up to $900 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 ticket and an additional 90% off for your +1. From October 2729, San Franciscos Moscone West transforms into the epicenter of tech innovation as 10,000 tech, startup, and VC leaders gather for the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch []
Strava is buying up athletic training apps first Runna, and now The Breakaway
The social fitness app Strava has made two acquisitions over the last month and change: on Thursday, Stravas acquired cycling app The Breakaway, following its acquisition of Runna last month. Incubated in Y Combinators Summer 2021 class, The Breakaway uses AI to create personalized training plans for cyclists working toward specific goals. Runna, a UK-based []
Exclusive: Avanse Strengthens Board Ahead Of IPO, Appoints New Independent Director
Education loan-focussed NBFC Avanse Financial Services has appointed former Bajaj Finserv COO Rakesh Bhatt as an independent director of the
Zeno Health Rolls Out Platform To Support Early Stage Healthcare Startups
Lightbox-backed Zeno Health (erstwhile Generico) has launched a platform to incubate and support early stage healthcare startups. The platform, Pay
Engineering goods exports to US rise 17% in April, shipments to China, Turkey slide
Indian engineering goods exports surged in April 2025, marking an 11.28% year-on-year increase, fueled by strong demand from key markets like the US and UAE.
Getepay receives RBI approval to operate as online payment aggregator
Getepay, a digital payment platform, has secured final authorisation from the RBI to operate as a Payment Aggregator online. Aiming to empower SMEs, particularly in Tier 2, Tier 3, and rural areas, Getepay plans to scale its operations and broaden its merchant offerings across India.
Chitkara University and Ludhiana Angels Network Sign MoU to Strengthen Campus Startup Ecosystem
Ludhiana Angels Network is an active community of angel investors focused on supporting early-stage startups with capital, mentorship, and market access. The network is committed to advancing innovation and driving economic growth across the region.
Signals new Windows update prevents the system from capturing screenshots of chats
Signal said today that it is updating its Windows app to prevent the system from capturing screenshots, thereby protecting the content that is on display. The company said that this new screen security setting is enabled by default on Windows 11. Signal said that this new feature is designed to protect users privacy from Microsofts []
OpenAIs next big bet wont be a wearable: report
OpenAI pushed generative AI into the public consciousness. Now, it could be developing a very different kind of AI device. According to a WSJ report, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told employees Wednesday that the companys next major product wont be a wearable. Instead, it will be a compact, screenless device, fully aware of its users []
Alt Carbon scores $12M seed to scale carbon removal in India
From a struggling family tea estate to an innovative climate venture, Alt Carbon has raised $12 million in a seed round as it plans to scale its carbon dioxide removal work in the South Asian nation. The climate-tech startup, which locks away carbon for thousands of years through enhanced rock weathering on farmlands, attracted investment []
Ullus Rise In Indias Untamed OTT Underworld, Pine Labs Turns Public & More
Ullus Rise In Indias Untamed OTT Underworld The Indian OTT space may be a tough nut to crack for many,
Luminar secures up to $200M following CEO departure and layoffs
Lidar company Luminar reached a deal with Yorkville Advisors Global and another unnamed investor that could bring another $200 million into its coffers through the sale of convertible preferred stock over an 18-month period. The agreement, which was announced in a regulatory filing Wednesday, follows an abrupt change in leadership and layoffs. Earlier this month, []
Klarna used an AI avatar of its CEO to deliver earnings, it said
Other than AI Siemiatkowski admission, it wasn't obvious that this was AI. There were only a few subtle signs.
Spotify says support for external payments on iOS has already boosted subscriptions
Spotify says its ability to direct its customers to external payment links in its iOS app has already had a positive impact on sales. In a newly filed amicus brief in support of Epic Games in its ongoing legal battle with Apple over external payments on the App Store, Spotify claims its internal data indicates []
Wyden: AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon werent notifying senators of surveillance requests
Sen. Ron Wyden said in a letter that one U.S. phone carrier turned over Senate data to law enforcement without notifying the target.
Spotifys new Upcoming Releases hub highlights future albums you may like
Spotify is launching a new hub dedicated to keeping users informed about soon-to-be-released albums, the company announced on Wednesday. The hub, called Upcoming Releases, will feature personalized recommendations based on a users listening history. Users will be able to access it through the Search tab on mobile in the Browse all section. The hub will []
Jony Ive to lead OpenAIs design work following $6.5B acquisition of his company
Famed Apple product designer Jony Ive will now lead creative and design work at OpenAI, the result on an unusual deal announced on Wednesday. OpenAI is acquiring io, the device startup that CEO Sam Altman and Ive have quietly been working on for two years, in a deal that values that startup at $6.5 billion, []
Filed raises $17M to automate the drudgery of tax prep
There is a new accounting software in town, coming in with a fresh $17.2 million raise and a desire to shake things up. The company, Filed, hopes to automate the grunt work. The tax industry is facing a genuine crisis, Leroy Kerry, Fileds co-founder CEO, told TechCrunch. Many CPAs are approaching retirement while a dwindling []
Meta launches program to encourage startups to use its Llama AI models
Meta is launching a new program to incentivize startups to adopt its Llama AI models. The program, Llama for Startups, provides companies direct support from Metas Llama team, as well as funding in certain cases. Any U.S.-based firm that is incorporated, has raised less than $10 million in funding, has at least one developer on []
Trump administration may sell deep-sea mining leases at startups urging
Impossible Metals, a deep-sea mining startup, submitted a formal request to the Department of the Interior to sell leases to mine the ocean floor.
Tensions flare between the US and China over Huaweis AI chips
Just a few weeks after the U.S. and China made significant steps to de-escalate the growing trade war between the two countries, tensions are flaring again this time over semiconductors. Chinas Commerce Ministry in Beijing released a statement on Wednesday that threatened legal action against anyone who enforces U.S. export restrictions on Huaweis AI chips, []
Amazon rolls out short-form AI-powered audio product summaries for select items
Amazon is testing short-form AI-powered audio product summaries on select product pages, the company announced on Wednesday. The audio summaries are voiced by what Amazon calls AI-powered shopping experts that discuss key product features, customer reviews, and information from across the web. The new AI product summaries can be accessed by tapping the Hear the []
Google is bringing ads to AI Mode
Google on Wednesday detailed its plans to bring ads to AI Mode, the companys AI-powered experience in Google Search. Ads may appear where relevant below and integrated into AI Mode responses as part of a test, Google says. AI Mode lets Google Search users ask a question and get an AI-generated response, with the ability []
TEDs app launches a short-form video feature ahead of potential TikTok ban
With TikTok still facing the possibility of a ban in the U.S., the popularity of short-form video content continues to grow. The latest company to enter this space is TED, the non-profit best known for its TED Talks featuring prominent figures like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and the late Pope Francis. On Wednesday, []
IREDA Moves Debt Recovery Tribunal To Recover INR 729 Cr From Gensol
After filing an insolvency plea against Gensol Engineering, the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has now approached the Delhi
In a crowded VC landscape, Elizabeth Weils Scribble Ventures shows that networks still matter
In an era where hundreds of new venture funds have emerged, only to face a narrowing market as exits prove slippery, Elizabeth Weils Scribble Ventures stands out as a case study in the importance of deep networks. Defying a contraction that is sidelining many newcomers, Weil just secured $80 million for Scribbles third fund, its []
US student agrees to plead guilty to hack affecting tens of millions of students
Prosecutors say the hacker stole information on 60 million students, an incident that matches the data breach at PowerSchool.
A comprehensive list of 2025 tech layoffs
A complete list of all the known layoffs in tech, from Big Tech to startups, broken down by month throughout 2024.
Einride founder steps down as CEO amid push to scale electric, autonomous trucks
Robert Falck, the founder of electric and autonomous trucking startup Einride, is stepping down from the role of CEO as the company works towards scaling its technology, raising more funds, and exploring the possibility of an IPO.
Mistrals new Devstral AI model was designed for coding
AI startup Mistral on Wednesday announced a new AI model focused on coding: Devstral. Devstral, which Mistral says was developed in partnership with AI company All Hands AI, is openly available under an Apache 2.0 license, meaning it can be used commercially without restriction. Mistral claims that Devstral outperforms other open models like Googles Gemma []
Googles AI agents will bring you the web now
For the last two decades, Google has brought people a list of algorithmically-selected links from the web for any given search query. At I/O 2025, Google made clear that the concept of Search is firmly in its rearview mirror. On Tuesday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and his executives presented new ways to bring users the []
TechCrunch Sessions: AI welcomes Tanka CEO Kisson Lin to talk AI-native startups
Were ecstatic to announce that Kisson Lin, founder and CEO of Tanka, will be joining us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI for a provocative and instructive interview titled Your Next Co-Founder Will Be AI. Shes among the many excellent speakers joining the AI conference on June 5 at UC Berkeleys Zellerbach Hall, and theres []
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 Early Bird savings end on May 25
The early bird sees the future first and saves the most. The old saying goes, the early bird gets the worm. But in tech and in life its not really about the worm. Its about spotting whats next before the crowd rushes in and the price goes up. TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is []
Shopify launches an AI-powered store builder as part of its latest update
Shopify is giving its merchants a slew of new AI-powered tools designed to help them enhance the online shopping experience for their customers. This includes an AI store builder for users to set up storefronts using a single prompt, as well as an AI generator for creating elements (such as banners) without knowing how to []
