Startups

Not built right the first time Musks xAI is starting over again, again

The AI lab is revamping its effort to build an AI coding tool, with two new executives joining from Cursor.

Lawyer behind AI psychosis cases warns of mass casualty risks

AI chatbots have been linked to suicides for years. Now one lawyer says they are showing up in mass casualty cases too, and the technology is moving faster than the safeguards.

Digg lays off staff and shuts down app as company retools

Digg laid off a significant number of staff and shut down its app, but says it's not giving up on the startup.

Nyne, founded by a father-son duo, gives AI agents the human context theyre missing

The data infrastructure startup raised $5.3 million in seed funding led by Wischoff Ventures and South Park Commons.

Facebook makes it easier for creators to report impersonators

Facebook is making it easier for creators to report impersonators while tightening rules around reposts and other unoriginal content.

Steven Spielberg says hes never used AI in any of his films

At SXSW, Steven Spielberg said AI has uses in many fields, but not when it comes to replacing creative people in film and TV writing.

Travis Kalanick launches a new company called Atoms focused on robotics

Kalanick's existing ghost kitchen company CloudKitchens will be rolled into Atoms, which also wants to get into mining and transport.

Peacock expands into AI-driven video, mobile-first live sports, and gaming

Peacock is betting on new AI-powered video experiences, vertical clips, and mobile games to help its growth.

Motional robotaxis join the Uber app in Vegas two years after major reset

The launch comes just two years after a major reboot at Hyundai-owned Motional. The service will start with a safety monitor, which Motional hopes to remove by year's end.

Before quantum computing arrives, this startup wants enterprises already running on it

After selling his AI startup to AMD for $665 million, Peter Sarlin is back with QuTwo, a new venture building the infrastructure it believes enterprises will need when quantum computing finally arrives.

Truecaller now lets you hang up on scammers on behalf of your family

Caller identity platform Truecaller recently launched a new feature that lets one person become an admin of a family group, get alerts about fraud calls received by other members, and even end a call on their behalf if they suspect a family member might get scammed. The company, which has over 450 million users, first []

How to watch Jensen Huangs Nvidia GTC 2026 keynote

Nvidia kicks off its GTC conference with Huang's keynote on Monday, which can be watched in person or via livestream.

Channel Surfer lets you watch YouTube like its old-school cable TV

The web app lets you turn on YouTube and surf channels like you're watching cable TV in the '90s.

Why Rivian is holding the $45,000 base model R2 until late 2027

Rivian spent the last two years promoting the R2 as a $45,000 SUV. But buyers won't be able to pay that price until late next year -- if at all.

Alexa+ gets a new adults only personality option that curses but wont get into NSFW content

The new Sassy style can curse and roast you, but the fun ends there.

Wonderful raises $150M Series B at $2B valuation

The funding round, led by Insight Partners, comes just four months after Wonderful raised a $100 million Series A.

Rivian R2 launch: Heres what $57,990 gets you

Two years after revealing what its affordable next-generation EV would look like, Rivian has shared all of the pricing, colors, and performance specs for its upcoming R2 SUV. And like so many new car releases, its complicated. The bottom line: Rivians bid to sell a more affordable EV that is accessible to a broader market []

Uber, Wayve, and Nissan plan to launch a robotaxi service in Tokyo this year

Nissan will integrate Wayve's self-driving software into the Leaf with the goal of making the vehicles available on the Uber app in Tokyo.

Disney+ is rolling out its TikTok-like Verts short-form video feed

Following the success of TikTok and Instagram Reels, Verts is designed to boost daily engagement and reach mobile-first viewers, all while increasing discovery across Disney+'s catalog.

Honda scraps 3 EVs planned for the US, blaming tariffs and Chinese competition

The Japanese automaker said the change of plans will cost it up to $15.7 billion.

Google is using old news reports and AI to predict flash floods

A new way to solve data scarcity: Turning qualitative reports into quantitative data with an LLM.

Google Maps is getting an AI Ask Maps feature and upgraded immersive navigation

The tech giant says the Immersive Navigation launch is the biggest update to Maps in over a decade.

When startups become a family business

This season on Build Mode, were diving into what it takes to build a world-class founding team.This week were exploring different kinds of co-founder dynamics and what it takes to build a startup with your family.

Chinese brain interface startup Gestala raises $21M just two months after launch

This is the largest early-stage funding in Chinas brain computer interface industry.

AI actor Tilly Norwood put out the worst song Ive ever heard

This song is an AI actor's rallying cry to other AI actors, urging them to keep going despite the naysayers who doubt their humanity. Literally no one can relate to this.

Nuro is testing its autonomous vehicle tech on Tokyos streets

Nuro began testing its self-driving software on public roads in Tokyo, marking the first international expansion for the AV startup.

Google Play is adding new paid and PC games, game trials, community posts, and more

The updates indicate that Google is focused on transforming Google Play into an enhanced gaming hub.

Fords new AI assistant will help fleet owners know if seatbelts are being used

Ford Pro AI debuted at Work Truck Week in Indianapolis and is now available to all of its U.S.-based Pro telematics subscribers.

Ride-hailing inDrive acquires Pakistans Krave Mart to bolster grocery delivery

inDrive has closed its acquisition of KraveMart, expanding grocery delivery in a market dominated by Foodpanda.

Zendesk acquires agentic customer service startup Forethought

Forethought was years ahead of its time and the 2018 winner of TechCrunch Battlefield.

Netflix may have paid $600 million for Ben Afflecks AI startup

This deal could rank as among the streaming giant's largest acquisitions ever.

Lovable says it added $100M in revenue last month alone, with just 146 employees

Swedish vibe-coding unicorn Lovable crossed $400 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) in February.

Quince hits $10B valuation with giant $500M round led by Iconiq

E-commerce company Quince has raised another massive round, less than a year after its previous raise.

Alternative app store AltStore PAL joins the fediverse

AltStore PAL now supports the fediverse, using its own Mastodon server to let iOS developers share app updates and alerts across platforms like Mastodon and Threads.

Drivers in fatal Ford BlueCruise crashes were likely distracted before impact

The National Transportation Safety Board released documents ahead of a March 31 hearing that help show how and why two drivers crashed into stationary vehicles in 2024, leading to three deaths.

Replit snags $9B valuation 6 months after hitting $3B

Replit raised a new $400 million round and said it hopes to have $1B in ARR by year's end.

Pro-Iran hacktivist group says it is behind attack on medical tech giant Stryker

The hacktivist group claimed the attack was in retaliation for a U.S. strike on a Tehran school that killed more than 175 people, most of them children.

Rivian spin-out Mind Robotics raises $500M for industrial AI-powered robots

The startup, which was created by Rivian founder RJ Scaringe, is looking to train on data from, and deploy in, Rivian's factory.

Meta didnt buy Moltbook for bots it bought into the agentic web

Metas Moltbook acquisition may look odd at first, but the deal could signal how Meta sees AI agents shaping future advertising and commerce on an agentic web.

WhatsApp is launching parent-linked accounts for pre-teens

WhatsApp is rolling out parent-managed accounts for under-13 users, limiting features to messaging and calls while giving parents PIN-protected controls, alerts, and approval over contacts and groups.

Amazon expands a program that lets customers shop from other retailers sites

The changes allow more merchants to participate in Amazon's Shop Direct program, which sends Amazon customers to other retailers' websites.

Meta rolls out new scam detection tools to Facebook, WhatsApp, and Messenger

The tech giant says the new features are designed to alert users before they engage with something suspicious.

Lucid Motors ships Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to Gravity SUV owners

The update comes after a rocky first few months of software problems on the electric SUV.

Former Apple engineer raises $5M for a note-taking pendant that only records your voice

Taya is trying to address privacy concerns around note-taking wearables with its device that can be worn as a pendant and records only the user's voice.

Canopii looks to succeed where past indoor farms have not

Canopii's robotic farms can autonomously grow 40,000 pounds of herbs and leafy greens a year while being the size of a basketball court.

TikTok now lets Apple Music subscribers play full songs without leaving the app

TikTok, which is known for shaping music trends and viral songs, said the new feature is designed to make it easier to go from the moment of discovery to deeper listening.

Zoox plans to put its robotaxis on the Uber app in Vegas this year

The purpose-built robotaxis will be available on Uber's app in Las Vegas this year, and Los Angeles next year, if Zoox gets the federal approval it's been seeking.

Health insurance startup Alan reaches 5B valuation

French health insurance startup Alan is now valued at 5 billion approximately $5.83 billion, up from $4.5 billion in 2024.

Google brings Gemini in Chrome to India

As part of the rollout, Gemini will support languages including Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Telugu, and Tamil.

Google and Tesla think were managing the electrical grid all wrong

The duo have teamed up with other companies to launch Utilize, which seeks to change how the grid is used and regulated.

Mandiants founder just raised $190M for his autonomous AI agent security startup

Mandia, who sold his previous company Mandiant to Google for $5.4 billion in 2022, has launched an agentic security startup.

ChatGPT can now create interactive visuals to help you understand math and science concepts

On Tuesday, OpenAI introduced dynamic visual explanations, a new ChatGPT feature that allows users to see how formulas, variables, and mathematical relationships change in real time. Instead of just reading an explanation or looking at a static diagram, users can now interact directly with interactive visuals. For example, when exploring the Pythagorean theorem, you can []

U.S. military contractor likely built iPhone hacking tools used by Russian spies in Ukraine

Google found a series of hacking tools they said were used by a Russian espionage group and a cybercriminal group in China. Sources from a U.S. government defense contractor said some of those hacking tools were theirs.

Pokmon Pokopia is even better than Animal Crossing: New Horizons

While Animal Crossing is pure escapism, Pokopia gives you the sensation of actually rehabilitating a broken world.

Thinking MachinesLab inksmassive compute deal with Nvidia

The multi-year deal involves at least a gigawatt of compute power and also includes a strategic investment from Nvidia.

Google gives in to users complaints over AI-powered Ask Photos search feature

The option appears on the Google Photos Search screen and lets users pick which experience they want.

Legora reaches $5.55 billion valuation as AI legal tech boom endures

Legora, an AI platform for lawyers, is now valued at $5.55 billion following a $550 million Series D led by Accel to fuel its growth in the U.S.

Meta acquired Moltbook, the AI agent social network that went viral because of fake posts

Meta says that Moltbook's approach to connecting agents through an always-on-directory is novel.

YouTube expands AI deepfake detection for politicians, government officials, and journalists

YouTube's AI deepfake detection tool is becoming available to politicians, journalists, and officials, letting them flag unauthorized likenesses for removal.

Adobe is debuting an AI assistant for Photoshop

Adobe is also adding new AI-powered image editing features to Firefly.

This SpaceX veteran says the next big thing in space is satellites that return to Earth

The company's first demonstration mission is expected in early 2027.

Zoom introduces an AI-powered office suite, says AI avatars for meetings arrive this month

Zoom is also introducing a real-time deepfake detection tech for meetings

Hyperscale Power is the latest startup to challenge 140-year-old transformer tech

Startup Hyperscale Power is developing technology that promises to shrink power transformers, freeing up precious space within data centers.

Sandbar secures $23M Series A for its AI note-taking ring

Sandbar aims to ship the Stream, which can be used to take notes, chat with an AI assistant, and for media playback, this summer.

AI network startup Eridu emerges from stealth with hefty $200M Series A

Unlike a vibe-coded product built by a college dropout, Eridu's co-founder, Drew Perkins, has been inventing networking tech since the dawn of the internet.

Whoop launches a new blood test focused on womens health

The wearable maker is launching a new panel focused on women's health through its Whoop Labs blood testing service. It's also adding a new feature to its app that surfaces information about hormonal changes during menstrual cycles.

Uzbekistans Uzum valuation leaps over 50% in seven months to $2.3B

Uzum now reaches 20 million users and processes $11B in payments as it expands its e-commerce and fintech ecosystem across Uzbekistan.

Apple now makes one in four iPhones in India: report

Apple reportedly produced 55 million units in India last year, a shift accelerated as Apple faced growing uncertainty in China.

Yann LeCuns AMI Labs raises $1.03 billion to build world models

AMI Labs, the new venture cofounded by Turing Prize winner Yann LeCun after he left Meta, has raised $1.03 billion at a $3.5 billion pre-money valuation.