Archive

Google Considers Severing Ties with Scale AI After Meta's Massive Investment

Google is reportedly rethinking its partnership with Scale AI following significant investment from Meta, according to sources cited by Reuters. Google's relationship with the data annotation startup, previously seen as highly valuable, now appears in flux as Meta’s involvement raises competitive concerns within the broader AI ecosystem.

The App Store’s AI Tags Go Live: What Developers Need to Know

Apple has begun rolling out its anticipated AI-generated tagging system in the developer beta build of iOS 26. These automated tags aim to make finding apps in the App Store more intuitive and precise, leveraging artificial intelligence to scan app screenshots and metadata for relevant information. However, these AI-driven tags

New York Moves to Regulate Frontier AI and Prevent Catastrophic Risks

New York lawmakers have approved groundbreaking legislation designed to safeguard against potential disasters caused by advanced artificial intelligence systems. The recently passed RAISE Act seeks to place transparency obligations on major AI labs, such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, to help detect and prevent scenarios that could result in widespread

TechCrunch Mobility: Decoding the True Cost of Waymo and Modern Transportation

Stay on top of the latest in transportation with this week’s edition of TechCrunch Mobility. From regulatory shifts to innovations in autonomous vehicles and startups making headlines, here’s what’s shaping the mobility sector. Accelerating Self-Driving Vehicle Regulation The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has unveiled plans

The Founder Experience at TechCrunch All Stage: Built for Builders

TechCrunch All Stage, set for July 15 at Boston’s SoWa Power Station, is designed with one mission in mind: to help founders make every minute count. Recognizing that time is a founder’s most limited resource, this event is created to meet startups at every stage, offering tools and

What to Expect at TechCrunch All Stage 2025: One Action-Packed Day for Founders & VCs

TechCrunch All Stage 2025 is set to take place on July 15 at Boston’s SoWa Power Station, promising a dynamic, single-day experience designed for founders, investors, and anyone seeking to supercharge their startup journey. Unlike conventional multi-day conferences, this event condenses high-impact learning, networking, and actionable opportunities all into

Scale AI Receives Major Meta Investment; CEO Alexandr Wang Steps Down

Scale AI, a data-labeling company essential to the development of artificial intelligence, has announced a major investment from Meta. This new capital infusion reportedly values Scale AI at $29 billion. As part of this strategic move, the company’s co-founder and CEO, Alexandr Wang, will step down from his current

Early-Stage Venture Fund Felicis Launches $900M Fund X After Multiple Successful Raises

Felicis founder Aydin Senkut marks 20 years as an institutional early-stage investor with the announcement of his firm's largest fund to date: a $900 million Fund X. This new raise follows previous efforts including the $825 million Fund IX raised in 2023 and the $600 million Fund VIII

Understanding Bluesky: More Than Just a Twitter Alternative

Bluesky is often misunderstood as merely a competitor to Twitter (now X), but its network represents a broader social ecosystem built on an open protocol. Recent criticism focusing on Bluesky's tone and user growth overlooks this wider, multifaceted reality. In recent discussions, some have questioned whether Bluesky'

Meta Partners with XGS Energy to Develop a 150 MW Geothermal Power Plant

Meta has joined the growing number of technology companies embracing geothermal energy, announcing a collaboration with startup XGS Energy to develop a 150 megawatt geothermal power facility in New Mexico. While the exact location of the planned power plant remains undisclosed, and Meta clarifies this is not yet a power

Battery Manufacturer Powin Files for Bankruptcy After Securing $200M Loan

Powin, a maker of grid-scale batteries based in Oregon, declared bankruptcy on Wednesday, carrying a debt exceeding $300 million. Despite the financial troubles, the company has filed for Chapter 11, allowing it to maintain operations while restructuring its obligations. Challenges in Battery Manufacturing and Supply Chain Powin specialized in manufacturing

Instagram Introduces Feature to Rearrange Profile Grid and More Creative Tools

Instagram has revealed new features including the long-awaited ability for users to rearrange the layout of their profile grid. Alongside this, the social media platform is experimenting with an option allowing users to quietly post content to their profile without it appearing in followers' feeds. Additionally, Instagram now supports

Your iPad is Your New Computer with iPadOS 26

Following the WWDC 2025 event, Apple unveiled iPadOS 26, calling it the most substantial update in the history of their iPad operating system. This upgrade aims to transform the iPad from feeling like a large iPhone into a more powerful and versatile computing device, with features designed to boost productivity

Automattic's Acquisition of Clay: Building an Identity Layer for Online Tools

WordPress.com parent company Automattic has expanded its communication tool offerings by acquiring Clay, a personal relationship management app. Clay had previously raised over $9 million in venture funding from firms including General Catalyst and Forerunner Ventures, though financial details of this acquisition were not made public. About Clay and

Researchers Confirm Two Journalists Targeted by Paragon Spyware

Digital rights researchers have confirmed that two European journalists were targeted and hacked with Paragon spyware, a government-grade surveillance tool developed by the Israeli company Paragon Solutions. The Citizen Lab released a forensic investigation revealing that Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrino and another prominent European journalist had their iPhones compromised by

Twenty Years Strong: A Reflective Tribute to TechCrunch's Journey

TechCrunch marks its 20th anniversary, a milestone reflecting two decades of impactful storytelling in the tech industry. Connie Loizos, who has been with TechCrunch for half that time, shares insights into the unique culture and enduring mission of the publication. During her tenure, Loizos has witnessed TechCrunch evolve through significant

Apple Enhances Image Playground with ChatGPT Integration

Last year, Apple introduced Image Playground as an innovative tool that allowed users to generate original and personalized images easily through Apple Intelligence. However, many users initially expressed disappointment due to limitations and sometimes low-quality outputs. For example, repeated peculiar image results, such as a six-fingered hand generated when requesting

All the New Features Coming to Apple's iOS Apps with iOS 26

At WWDC 2025, Apple announced a range of enhancements set to arrive with iOS 26 this fall, aiming to improve user experience across its native apps. Key updates include enhanced call handling, richer Wallet features for travelers, and new group chat tools in Messages. Among the highlights are innovations powered

AirPods Pro 3 Rumored to Launch Soon

Apple did not introduce any new hardware at its recent WWDC 2025 event, but indications point toward the imminent release of the AirPods Pro 3. Insider Steve Moser, reporting for MacRumors, discovered references to the AirPods Pro 3 in the code of the iOS 26 developer beta. These references appear

Standard Nuclear’s Rise from Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation’s Bankruptcy

Standard Nuclear announced its public debut on Wednesday, equipped with $42 million in funding to advance the production of nuclear fuel. However, this is not a brand-new entity; rather, Standard Nuclear has built its foundation by acquiring key assets from the bankruptcy auction of Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) for