Twitter alternatives — new and old — have found audiences willing to try out a newer social networks since Elon Musk took over the company in 2022. Mastodon, Bluesky, Spill and T2 are some of the social media platforms people are among them. So is Meta’s Threads platform. What is Threads? How do you create…
Category: Global IT News
AI, generative ai, generative media, generative video, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, google deepmind, image generator, imagefx, Imagen, imagen 3, Media & Entertainment, Veo, veo 2, video generator, videofx
Google DeepMind unveils a new video model to rival Sora
Google DeepMind, Google’s flagship AI research lab, wants to beat OpenAI at the video generation game — and it might just, at least for a little while. On Monday, DeepMind announced Veo 2, a next-gen video-generating AI and the successor to Veo, which powers a growing number of products across Google’s portfolio. Veo 2 can…
Donald Trump, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Masayoshi Son, Softbank
Softbank CEO announces a $100 billion investment into the US
On Monday, Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son announced that his company would invest $100 billion into the US over the next four years. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AE Industrial, Cybersecurity, Francisco Partners, Global IT News, Global Security News, Israel, NSO, NSO Group, paragon, Security, Spyware, surveillance
Israeli spyware maker Paragon bought by U.S. private equity giant
The company’s spyware, dubbed Graphite, is capable of hacking phones and stealing private communications. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Apps, Creators, Global IT News, Global Security News, Media & Entertainment, YouTube, YouTube comments
YouTube’s latest test lets creators post voice notes as comments
YouTube is experimenting with a new way to engage fans by giving creators the ability to post voice notes and reply to comments on their videos, the company announced on Monday. The ability to post voice notes is limited to certain creators in the U.S. for the time being. YouTube says they’ll only be able…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Social
Meta put on watch over terrorism content in the EU
Ireland’s media regulator has put social media giant Meta on watch over terrorist content takedowns again — it issued a decision against Facebook on Monday. The Coimisiún na Meán said the tech giant would have to take “specific measures” to prevent its services from being used for the dissemination of terrorist content and report back…
acquisition, Arctic Wolf, BlackBerry, cyber, Cybersecurity, cylance, Enterprise, Funding, Global IT News, Global Security News, Security
BlackBerry sells Cylance for $160M, a fraction of the $1.4B it paid in 2018
Arctic Wolf has acquired Cylance, BlackBerry’s beleaguered cybersecurity business, for $160 million — a significant write-down from the $1.4 billion BlackBerry paid to acquire the company in 2018. Under the terms of the deal, which is expected to close in BlackBerry’s fiscal Q4, BlackBerry will sell its Cylance assets to Arctic Wolf for $160 million…
Apps, Creators, Global IT News, Global Security News, Snap, Snapchat, Social
Snapchat introduces a unified monetization program for creators
Snapchat is introducing a revamped, unified monetization program for creators. The new program will reward creators for both content posted to Stories and Spotlight, its TikTok copycat. Previously, Snapchat monetized these two formats through separate programs. Under the new program, creators will earn revenue from ads displayed within eligible Stories and Spotlight posts. “With Spotlight…
app store, Apple, Apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, iOS apps, iphone apps, top apps
Temu is the most-downloaded app on the U.S. App Store in 2024
Chinese shopping app Temu was once again the most downloaded free app in the U.S., according to a list of top apps and games across the App Store released by Apple on Monday. The shopping app last year moved into the No. 1 slot, stealing the position from TikTok which held the title in in…
Global IT News, Global Security News
NetSIP directed to comply with scam rules
The Australian Communications Media Authority (ACMA) has directed telco NetSIP to comply with Australia’s phone scam rules after its investigation found the telco breached monitoring, information-sharing and reporting obligations.
Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups
Skims co-founder Jens Grede addresses those IPO rumors
Skims co-founder Jens Grede has confirmed that plans for an IPO are on the back burner—for now at least, according to a new interview with WWD. TechCrunch reported in August that investors were hoping for the retail darling, last valued at $4 billion, to go public, and the Information reported that the earliest it could…
Global IT News, Global Security News
KnowBe4 releases 2024 Holiday Kit to ‘boost cyber resilience’
The no-cost kit equips users with essential resources and tips to defend against scams ahead of the holiday season Security awareness training and simulated phishing platform provider KnowBe4 has announced the release of its new 2024 Holiday Resource Kit, “designed to strengthen users’ cyber defences during the festive season”.
Cybersecurity, Enterprise, enterprise startup, Exclusive, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Prequel, startup, Startups, venture capital
Prequel is building a community-driven approach to finding software bugs
Cybersecurity practitioners take a community-driven approach to solving problems. Security researchers share the vulnerabilities they find with the broader cybersecurity community, which allows companies to patch up their security holes before something catastrophic happens. Prequel is looking to bring that same approach to software. The startup is building a database of software failure patterns or…
Global IT News, Global Security News
ACCC sweep finds concerning Black Friday ‘sales’ advertising
The competition watchdog the ACCC has conducted a sweep of sales advertising by Australian businesses online and in store and says it is concerned that a number of claims about the size and scope of discounts may be misleading consumers.
Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, ofcom online safety codes, Social, uk online safety act, uk online safety act ofcom codes
UK’s internet watchdog finalizes first set of rules for Online Safety law
On Monday, the U.K.’s internet regulator, Ofcom, published the first set of final guidelines for online service providers subject to the Online Safety Act. This starts the clock ticking on the sprawling online harms law’s first compliance deadline, which the regulator expects to kick in in three months’ time. Ofcom has been under pressure to…
Global IT News, Global Security News
A Seller’s perspective on Playhub
GUEST REVIEW: When looking at gaming service marketplaces, Playhub is one name that is becoming known. For sellers in this area, choosing where to display their talents and services is very important. This review examines Playhub.com, looking at what it offers, how easy it is to use, and what it means for sellers in popular…
Global IT News, Global Security News
Tips for leveraging Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in your business
GUEST OPINION: In today’s fast-paced business environment, efficiency and accuracy are more important than ever. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a game-changer for many organizations, offering a way to streamline repetitive tasks and boost productivity. Imagine having software robots that handle mundane, rule-based processes, freeing up your team to focus on more strategic work. That’s…
Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Google India, India, Preeti Lobana, Sanjay Gupta, TC
Google names new India chief
Google has appointed Preeti Lobana to lead its India business, filling a key position that had been vacant since Sanjay Gupta’s promotion to Asia-Pacific president in July. Lobana, who was vice president of advertising technology at Google, takes over as the company pushes its AI products in India amid intensifying competition in the digital market.…
Africa, Crypto, Fintech, Global IT News, Global Security News, juicyway, stablecoin, Startups
This stealthy African stablecoin startup already processed over $1B in cross-border payments
Juicyway, an African fintech that leverages stablecoin technology to power fast and cheap cross-border payments, is launching out of stealth after processing over $1 billion in transaction volume for thousands of African businesses over the last three years. The fintech claims to have processed over 25,000 transactions, generating $1.3 billion in total payment volume (TPV)…
Amnesty, Amnesty International, Cellebrite, Cybersecurity, Global IT News, Global Security News, hacking, infosec, malware, Security, Serbia, Spyware
Serbian police used Cellebrite to unlock, then plant spyware, on a journalist’s phone
Amnesty said it found NoviSpy, an Android spyware linked to Serbian intelligence, on the phones of several members of Serbian civil society following police stops. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Global IT News, Global Security News, Media & Entertainment, Startups, TC
Revisiting 19th-century Paris with VR
While I have fond memories of past efforts to combine VR content with real-world locations, I’d assumed the pandemic had put those ambitions to an end. If I wanted VR in 2024, I thought I’d have to buy a headset, and it would be a largely solitary experience at home or in the office —…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, neurips
NeurIPS keynote speaker apologizes for reference to Chinese student
A speaker at the annual NeurIPS AI conference has drawn criticism — not for her opinions about AI, but the way she referred to a Chinese student. During her keynote presentation on “How to optimize what matters most,” MIT Media Lab Professor Rosalind Picard (pictured above) included a slide quoting an excuse given by a…
EV, Global IT News, Global Security News, lucid, Lucid air pure, Startups, Transportation
The 2025 Lucid Air Pure is a luxe ride at $69,900 with room for tech tune-ups
The all-electric 2025 Lucid Air Pure is a dreamy, sexy car that’s no less luxurious for being the cheapest trim in Lucid’s Air lineup. I felt fancy and discerning driving around, but in an understated way – as if I were wearing designer sweatpants. But does fancy equal value? I spent about 10 days driving…
Global IT News, Global Security News
Nokia and Elisa deploy 5G Cloud RAN with Red Hat OpenShift
Finnish telecoms equipment vendor Nokia has completed a commercial 5G Cloud RAN deployment using the Red Hat OpenShift cloud application platform with the Finnish telco and digital service provider, Elisa in Espoo, Finland.
AI, AI agents, evergreens, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News
What exactly is an AI agent?
Regardless of how they’re defined, the agents are for helping complete tasks in an automated way with as little human interaction as possible. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Global IT News, Global Security News
Cellfie Mobile and Vodafone announce new partnership agreement in Georgia
Georgian mobile operator, Cellfie Mobile, and global telco, Vodafone, have announced a new non-branded partnership agreement, in which Cellfie Mobile will look to expand its range of services, leveraging Vodafone’s expertise and advisory services.
Global IT News, Global Security News
MSI Sword 16 HX B13V Gaming Laptop Review
The MSI Sword 16 HX B13V is the latest in MSI’s wallet-friendly gaming laptop lineup, offering a mix of solid performance and appealing features at a reasonable price.
Apple, foldable, Gadgets, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hardware
Apple reportedly developing foldable iPhone and iPad
The next big upgrade to Apple’s mobile devices could be foldability, according to multiple reports published Sunday. According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is aiming to launch two foldable devices in the next few years. There’s a larger model with a 19-inch screen that could compete with desktop monitors, as well as a smaller…
Global IT News, Global Security News
Amperity appoints Rob Ferguson as new Chief Revenue Officer
Salesforce veteran will drive Amperity’s next phase of revenue growth and customer success.
Global IT News, Global Security News
TechConnect helps Marist Brothers cut technology costs by 30% and accelerate its Microsoft cloud journey
COMPANY NEWS: Industry-leading, shared responsibility support platform drives unprecedented efficiencies and reduces cyber security risks for more than 100 staff across three sites in Australia; it provides a seamless, modernised environment to maximise the benefits of Marist Brothers’ Microsoft Cloud strategy.
Global IT News, Global Security News
How to track your financial goals using tech tools
GUEST OPINION: When it comes to building your personal goals, you need to have the right amount of resources. Whether it’s finding a new job or starting a new life in a different community, the money you have on hand defines success. However, managing what you have is the biggest challenge to accomplishing your personal…
Global IT News, Global Security News
What factors matter when choosing assisted living?
GUEST OPINION: Assisted living decisions are among those life-altering and emotive decisions one needs to make regarding the future, both for the elderly person and his family. When selecting an assisted living community, this must be done by carefully considering numerous factors if comfort, safety, and fulfilling quality of life are to be ensured.
Global IT News, Global Security News
Tecala Achieves ISO27001:2022 Information Security Management Certification
COMPANY NEWS: Completion of third-party assessment reaffirms compliance with information security standards, commitment to ensuring customer and internal data security and privacy
Confluent, Elastic, Enterprise, evergreens, Global IT News, Global Security News, MongoDB, open source, open source license, redis
Open source companies that go proprietary: A timeline
Open source might be the building blocks of the modern software stack, but companies building businesses off the back of open source software face a perennial struggle between keeping their community happy and ensuring that third parties don’t abuse the permissions afforded by the license. Many companies have launched with lofty open source ambitions, only…
AI, david sacks, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Marc Andreessen, TC
Trump’s Silicon Valley advisers have AI ‘censorship’ in their crosshairs
President-elect Donald Trump has surrounded himself with Silicon Valley entrepreneurs — including Elon Musk, Marc Andreessen, and David Sacks — who are now advising him on technology and other issues. When it comes to AI, this crew of technologists is fairly aligned on the need for rapid development and adoption of AI throughout the U.S.…
Global IT News, Global Security News
Twilio’s 2025 Predictions
Twilio, the leading customer engagement platform, today shared some trends that will shape brands’ customer experience strategies in Australia in the coming year:
Global IT News, Global Security News
Rubrik Debuts Turbo Threat Hunting
Internal test shows estimated scanning speeds of 75,000 backups within 60 seconds Designed to enable organisations to identify clean recovery points in seconds, minimising downtime after cyberattacks
Global IT News, Global Security News
SentinelOne Recognised as a 2024 Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for Managed Detection and Response
COMPANY NEWS: 95% of end users expressed willingness to recommend SentinelOne’s MDR services
Global IT News, Global Security News
How AI and ML help detect and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace
GUEST OPINION: Sexual harassment is a common challenge in workplaces that potentially affects employee productivity and company culture.
Global IT News, Global Security News
How to successfully launch a business
GUEST OPINION: While every entrepreneur dreams of launching and running a business successfully, the journey requires strategic planning and a structured process.
Global IT News, Global Security News
City centers leverage cutting-edge search techniques to elevate online visibility
GUEST OPINION: Urban hubs are swiftly adopting innovative SEO strategies to bolster their digital presence. Implementing advanced methods has also become essential as everyone struggles for attention online.
deloitte, Global IT News, Global Security News, rhode island, Security
Rhode Island says personal data likely breached in social services cyberattack
State officials said hundreds of thousands of Rhode Island residents could be affected by a cyberattack on the state’s online portal for social services, with a “high probability” that personally identifiable information was breached. According to an update from Governor Dan McKee’s office, the attack targeted RIBridges, which Rhode Island residents use to apply for…
Cruise, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, openai, Social, TechCrunch Week in Review, Week in Review
GM ‘blindsides’ Cruise by giving up on robotaxis
Welcome back to Week in Review. This week, we’re looking at GM’s decision to pull out of the robotaxi business, Google alluding to the existence of multiple universes, and how you can make some serious cash by getting an AI bot to fall in love with you. Let’s get into it. General Motors will no…
Global IT News, Global Security News
SK Telecom invests US$3M in AI video analysis developer Twelve Labs
South Korean telco SK Telecom will invest US$3 Million in San Francisco based startup Twelve Labs, an AI powered video analysis company, said to be gaining attention in the global AI industry.
Global IT News, Global Security News
SourseAI appointed AI partner for Lebara Nigeria
Sydney-based AI decision intelligence platform provider, SourseAI, has been appointed as the AI partner for Lebara Nigeria, an upcoming MVNO operated by Nigerian tech firm VAS2Nets, which will operate under the Lebara brand.
AI, Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Meta, openai, Startups
Meta asks California AG to block OpenAI’s conversion to for-profit
Facebook’s parent company Meta is supporting Elon Musk’s effort to block OpenAI’s conversion from a non-profit company into a for-profit one. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Meta sent a letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta arguing that allowing the shift would have “seismic implications for Silicon Valley.” And while the company asked…
AI, Artificial Intelligence (AI), evergreens, Global IT News, Global Security News, world models
What are AI ‘world models,’ and why do they matter?
World models, also known as world simulators, are being touted by some as the next big thing in AI. AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li’s World Labs has raised $230 million to build “large world models,” and DeepMind hired one of the creators of OpenAI’s video generator, Sora, to work on “world simulators.” (Sora was released on…
Global IT News, Global Security News
HPE El Capitan supercomputer confirmed as world’s fastest
Global computer manufacturer Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is no stranger to supercomputers, being behind seven out of the current top 10 already. HPE’s most recent, El Capitan, and built in conjunction with AMD, has been confirmed as the world’s number one performing supercomputer that exists today. It’s also energy-efficient through innovative water cooling.
Global IT News, Global Security News
Key Security Trends to Watch Out For In 2025
GUEST OPINION: As businesses in Australia and New Zealand prepare for the year ahead, the focus on security is intensifying. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) promise transformative potential, however the overarching themes will centre on maximising existing investments, improving efficiency, and fostering collaboration across teams.
Global IT News, Global Security News
How improving capacity management could help your business survive and thrive in 2025
GUEST OPINION: Utilising resources more effectively makes it easier to weather tough times.
arlan hamilton, backstage capital, Global IT News, Global Security News, Venture
Arlan Hamilton announces changes at Backstage Capital, will step into advisory role
Arlan Hamilton, founder of Backstage Capital, announced Friday that her role at the firm she started in 2015 will evolve. “After 12 years of being deeply involved in the day-to-day operations, I’ve decided to transition into a chairperson and advisory position,” she wrote in a statement released online. She was previously a managing partner at…
a16z, AI, Artificial Intelligence (AI), david sacks, Global IT News, Global Security News, Marc Andreessen, sam altman, Venture
Why Marc Andreessen was ‘very scared’ after meeting with the Biden administration about AI
What scared him most was what some said about the government’s role in AI, and what he described as a young staff who were “out for blood. ” © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, AI chatbots, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, hiring, Klarna, TC
Klarna’s CEO says it stopped hiring thanks to AI but still advertises many open positions
Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski recently told Bloomberg TV that his company essentially stopped hiring a year ago and credited generative AI for enabling this massive workforce reduction. However, despite Siemiatkowski’s bullishness on AI, the company is not relying entirely on AI to replace human workers who leave, as open job listings — for more humans…
AI, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, reasoning, reasoning models, Research
‘Reasoning’ AI models have become a trend, for better or worse
Call it a reasoning renaissance. In the wake of the release of OpenAI’s o1, a so-called reasoning model, there’s been an explosion of reasoning models from rival AI labs. In early November, DeepSeek, an AI research company funded by quantitative traders, launched a preview of its first reasoning algorithm, DeepSeek-R1. That same month, Alibaba’s Qwen…
AI, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Grok, grok-2, Social, X, xAI
X gains a faster Grok model and a new ‘Grok button’
XAI, Elon Musk’s AI company, may be embroiled in an escalating lawsuit with OpenAI. But that’s not stopping it from shipping new products — on a Friday night, no less. This evening, xAI revealed that it has begun to roll out an upgraded version of its flagship Grok 2 chatbot model to all users on…
AGI, AI, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Ilya Sutskever, In Brief, openai, safe superintelligence, ssi, superintelligence
OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever believes superintelligent AI will be ‘unpredictable’
OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever spoke on a range of topics at NeurIPS, the annual AI conference, Friday afternoon before accepting an award for his contributions to the field. Sutskever gave his predictions for “superintelligent” AI, AI more capable than humans at many tasks, which he believes will be achieved at some point. Superintelligent AI will…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, openai, TC
OpenAI whistleblower found dead in San Francisco apartment
A former OpenAI employee, Suchir Balaji, was recently found dead in his San Francisco apartment, according to the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. In October, the 26-year-old AI researcher raised concerns about OpenAI breaking copyright law when he was interviewed by The New York Times. “The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner…
AI, content moderation, Global IT News, Global Security News, Pavel Durov, social media, TC, Telegram
AI helps Telegram remove 15 million suspect groups and channels in 2024
Telegram launched a new page touting its moderation efforts, which have spiked since its founder’s arrest. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Crypto, Exclusive, fbi, feuds, Founders Fund, Global IT News, Global Security News, Kalshi, Polymarket, presidential election, social media, Startups, Venture
Kalshi CEO admits enlisting influencers to dis Polymarket in a now-deleted podcast segment
Kalshi’s CEO, Tarek Mansour, confirmed on a podcast interview that his employees did ask social media influencers to promote memes about the FBI’s raid on the home of his arch rival, the CEO of Polymarket. Both of these companies offer competing events-betting markets, a new kind of betting industry where people wager about the outcomes…
Climate, climate tech, Exclusive, g2 venture partners, Global IT News, Global Security News, scoop, Venture, venture capital
G2 Ventures Partners is raising $750 million for a third fund
The raise is a bullish vote of confidence in climate and sustainability startups. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, climate tech, Exclusive, g2 venture partners, Global IT News, Global Security News, scoop, Venture, venture capital
G2 Ventures Partners is raising $750 million for a third fund
The raise is a bullish vote of confidence in climate and sustainability startups. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Climate, climate tech, Exclusive, g2 venture partners, Global IT News, Global Security News, scoop, Venture, venture capital
G2 Ventures Partners is raising $750 million for a third fund
The raise is a bullish vote of confidence in climate and sustainability startups. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Enterprise, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News
Databricks is on track to raise a record $9.5+ billion round at $60B valuation
Databricks is close to finalizing a $9.5 billion round at a $60 billion valuation, including a secondary sale for employees that could climb even higher before it closes, Reuters reports. Just 17 days ago, Reuters reported that the deal was at $8 billion and a $55 billion valuation. Thrive Capital is leading the deal with…
AI, Artificial Intelligence (AI), carbon capture and storage, CCS, Climate, data centers, Enterprise, exxon, exxonmobil, Global IT News, Global Security News, power plant
Exxon can’t resist the AI power gold rush
The oil and gas company announced that it’s planning to build a massive power plant for data centers. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI chatbot, Cybersecurity, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Optum, Security, UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare’s Optum left an AI chatbot, used by employees to ask questions about claims, exposed to the internet
Optum’s AI chatbot was found exposed online at a time when the healthcare giant faces scrutiny for its use of AI to allegedly deny patient claims. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, newsletter, Startups, Startups Weekly
What failed before might succeed now — or fail again — and other startup bets
Welcome to Startups Weekly — your weekly recap of everything you can’t miss from the world of startups. Want it in your inbox every Friday? Sign up here. This week in startup news, we have some contrarian bets, funding rounds from all around the world, new VC funds, and a final word of warning. Most…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, project astra
See what Google’s Project Astra AR glasses can do (for a select few beta testers)
Google has released a prototype of Project Astra’s AR glasses for testing in the real world. The glasses are part of Googles long-term plan to one day have hardware with augmented reality and multimodal AI capabilities. In the meantime, they will be releasing demos to get the attention of consumers, developers, and their competition. Along…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News
OpenAI fires back against Musk, claims he wanted an OpenAI for-profit
OpenAI fired back at billionaire Elon Musk on Friday, publishing a series of emails that the company claims show Musk’s lawsuit against it is misleading. Musk’s legal battle with OpenAI, which has been going on for months, at its core accuses the company of abandoning its original nonprofit mission to make the fruits of its…
climate tech, defense tech, Global IT News, Global Security News, LLMs, space technology, Startups, TC
The 51 most disruptive startups of 2024
These startups have fascinating new technologies, business models, founder stories or are pushing an industry forward in exciting ways. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
advanced technology vehicles manufacturing loan, Climate, Department of Energy, EV batteries, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Rivian, Samsung SDI, Solar Power, starplus energy, Stellantis, sunwealth, Transportation
Biden administration races to approve clean energy loans before Trump takes over — here’s who is benefiting
The Department of Energy (DOE) is on a loan-approval spree in the lead-up to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, and the winners are all companies manufacturing clean energy solutions on U.S. soil. Companies like Stellantis and Samsung, Rivian, and most recently, EVgo. Trump has promised to cancel any unspent federal dollars under President Joe Biden’s Inflation…
Climate, DOE, EV charging, evgo, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, inflation reduction act, Transportation
EVgo secures $1.25 billion loan amid Biden’s rush to approve clean energy loans
Electric vehicle charging startup EVgo is the latest company to secure funds from the U.S. Department of Energy as the Biden administration races to approve clean energy loans before Donald Trump takes over. Trump has promised to cancel any unspent funds from Biden’s bipartisan Inflation Reduction Act, including the $7,500 tax credit for new EV…
AI, Apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Google NotebookLM, notebooklm
Google’s NotebookLM now lets you to talk to its AI podcast hosts
A few months ago, Google’s NotebookLM note-taking app debuted an Audio Overviews feature that generates a podcast with AI virtual hosts based on information you have shared with the app. Now, NotebookLM is rolling out the ability for users to interact with the AI podcast hosts. The idea behind Audio Overviews and the AI hosts…
autonomous vehicles, Cruise, EVs, Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation, Trump
The federal crash-reporting rule Tesla opposes could be on the chopping block
The Trump transition team wants to end a federal rule requiring automakers to report crashes when advanced driver-assistance or autonomous driving technology is engaged, Reuters reports. Federal safety agencies would lose the ability to investigate and regulate the safety of vehicles with automated-driving systems should the rule — which went into effect in 2021 —…
AI, ChatGPT, Global IT News, Global Security News, openai, sam altman
OpenAI 2024 event: How to watch new ChatGPT product reveals and demos
OpenAI is in the holiday spirit, it seems. The ChatGPT series of reveals, called “12 Days of OpenAI,” will be streamed live at 10 a.m. PT each weekday through December 23. So far, we’ve seen the launch of ChatGPT Pro, OpenAI’s $200 per month subscription plan, the full version of its “reasoning” o1 model, the…
AI, ChatGPT, Global IT News, Global Security News, openai, sam altman
OpenAI 2024 event: How to watch new ChatGPT product reveals and demos
OpenAI is in the holiday spirit, it seems. The ChatGPT series of reveals, called “12 Days of OpenAI,” will be streamed live at 10 a.m. PT each weekday through December 23. So far, we’ve seen the launch of ChatGPT Pro, OpenAI’s $200 per month subscription plan, the full version of its “reasoning” o1 model, the…
AI, ChatGPT, Global IT News, Global Security News, openai, sam altman
OpenAI 2024 event: How to watch new ChatGPT product reveals and demos
OpenAI is in the holiday spirit, it seems. The ChatGPT series of reveals, called “12 Days of OpenAI,” will be streamed live at 10 a.m. PT each weekday through December 23. So far, we’ve seen the launch of ChatGPT Pro, OpenAI’s $200 per month subscription plan, the full version of its “reasoning” o1 model, the…
AI, amd, Enterprise, Funding, Fundraising, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, In Brief, Liquid AI, liquid neural networks, startup, Startups
Liquid AI just raised $250M to develop a more efficient type of AI model
Liquid AI, an AI startup co-founded by robotics luminary Daniela Rus, has raised $250 million in a Series A led by AMD. Per Bloomberg, the round values Liquid AI at over $2 billion. Liquid AI aims to build general-purpose AI systems powered by a relatively new type of AI model called a liquid neural network. Liquid…
Amazon, Donald Trump, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, jeff bezos, openai, sam altman
Sam Altman and Jeff Bezos are the latest billionaires to donate $1M to Trump fund
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Jeff Bezos’ Amazon plan to donate $1 million each to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, according to reports from Fox and the Wall Street Journal. TechCrunch has confirmed Altman’s plans to personally commit the money, which is not coming directly from OpenAI. The donations from the billionaires follow plans by…
agentspace, AI, Apps, Enterprise, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, google cloud, Media & Entertainment, notebooklm
Google debuts NotebookLM for enterprises
Google’s bringing its viral NotebookLM app to the enterprise via a new service for Google Cloud customers, Agentspace. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, ChatGPT, Enterprise, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Kubernetes, openai, Outage, postmortem
OpenAI blames its massive ChatGPT outage on a ‘new telemetry service’
OpenAI is blaming one of the longest outages in its history on a “new telemetry service” gone awry. On Wednesday, OpenAI’s AI-powered chatbot platform, ChatGPT; its video generator, Sora; and its developer-facing API experienced major disruptions starting at around 3 p.m. Pacific. OpenAI acknowledged the problem soon after — and began working on a fix.…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Venture
How 21-year-old Koko Xs became the new rising star solo VC
When Koko Xs considered pursuing a career as a VC after he graduated from college last year, he observed a handful of trends that suggested he should do something else. He noticed that it’s hard to land deals and it takes a long time to see returns, given that most VC funds typically take a…
business, channel, Global IT News, Global Security News, News and Trends, services, US Channel News
WatchGuard CISO on What MSPs Need to Know to Stay Secure in 2025
Security vendor WatchGuard has deep channel connections and years of expertise in network security, endpoint protection, and other specialties. WatchGuard Chief Information Security Officer Corey Nachreiner spoke with Channel Insider to discuss the emerging technology and impending threats MSPs must consider for themselves and their clients as the calendar turns to a new year. Supporting…
Bluesky, Global IT News, Global Security News, moderation, Social, social media
Bluesky is at a crossroads as users petition to ban newcomer over anti-trans views
Now with 25 million users, Bluesky is facing a test that will determine whether or not its platform will still be seen as a safe space and place of refuge from the toxicity of X. In recent days, a large number of users on Bluesky have been urging the company to ban one newcomer for…
Bluesky, Global IT News, Global Security News, moderation, Social, social media
Bluesky at a crossroads as users petition to ban Jesse Singal over anti-trans views, harassment
Now with 25 million users, Bluesky is facing a test that will determine whether or not its platform will still be seen as a safe space and place of refuge from the toxicity of X. In recent days, a large number of users on Bluesky have been urging the company to ban one newcomer for…
accelerators, activate, Climate, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, The Engine
Activate and The Engine Accelerator team up to train scientists to become founders
Two prominent programs, Activate and The Engine Accelerator, have decided they can give founders an advantage if they team up. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
business, channel, Global IT News, Global Security News, Managed Services, services
How to Create Microsoft Copilot Use Cases for Clients
Organizations of all sizes are continuously looking to AI and machine learning to automate processes and enhance efficiency. The big players in the AI space are creating all-encompassing AI tools to meet the needs of enterprises and create value for their customers. One of those tools is Microsoft’s Copilot solution, which can be used for…
Global IT News, Global Security News
Thoughtworks Signs Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS to Accelerate Generative AI Adoption and Address Industry Challenges in Asia Pacific
Thoughtworks, a global technology consultancy that integrates strategy, design and engineering, today announced it has signed a strategic collaboration agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help enterprises across Asia Pacific develop generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) solutions that drive operational efficiencies. This will help Thoughtworks’ clients in industries across automotive, energy, financial services, healthcare,…
Global IT News, Global Security News
AI Adoption Soars as Businesses Push for Transformation
GUEST OPINION: In an era where innovation defines industry leadership, artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly shifted from being a speculative investment to a critical tool for achieving business efficiencies, cost savings, and customer engagement.
Apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, Meta, video calls, WhatsApp
WhatsApp lets you select specific people within a group to start a group call without disturbing anyone
WhatsApp announced that it had added new video calling features just before the holidays, including participant selection for group video calls, better resolution, and a revamped call tab on the desktop. This is another step from Meta in making WhatsApp a viable option for both personal and work calls instead of using Google Meet or…
belgium, Global IT News, Global Security News, VC, Venture
New Syndicate One fund joins Belgium’s small-but-punchy tech ecosystem
Syndicate One is a debut investment firm out of Belgium that has raised a €6.5 million fund to back Belgian founders and startups. While the amount is small, the significance is that it is the first Belgian fund to have the support of all four of the federal regions of the country. This, in a…
AI, disinformation, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News
As AI-fueled disinformation explodes, here comes the startup counterattack
With disinformation on the rise, especially given the explosion of AI, companies are just as vulnerable to its effects as individuals. Refute is a London-based startup that detects and responds to disinformation on behalf of these commercial entities. It’s now raised a £2.3 million ($2.9 million) pre-seed round led by UK investors Playfair and Episode 1.…
AI, AI chatbots, character.ai, discord, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, privacy, Safety, Social
Texas AG is investigating Character.AI, other platforms over child safety concerns
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday launched an investigation into Character.AI and 14 other technology platforms over child privacy and safety concerns. The investigation will assess whether Character.AI — and other platforms that are popular with young people, including Reddit, Instagram and Discord — conform to Texas’ child privacy and safety laws. The investigation…
AI, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Microsoft, open source, phi-4, Research
Microsoft debuts Phi-4, a new generative AI model, in research preview
Microsoft has announced the newest addition to its Phi family of generative AI models. Called Phi-4, the model is improved in several areas over its predecessors, Microsoft claims — in particular math problem solving. That’s partly the result of improved training data quality. Phi-4 is available in very limited access as of Thursday night: only…
AI, deepfakes, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Media & Entertainment, Meta, meta video seal, open source, watermarking
Meta debuts a tool for watermarking AI-generated videos
Meta is open sourcing a method to watermark AI-generated videos. Called Meta Video Seal, the company says it’s robust against compression and edits. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Apps, Enterprise, evergreens, gemini, Gemini Pro, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, google gemini
Google Gemini: Everything you need to know about the generative AI models
Gemini is Google’s long-promised, next-gen generative AI model family. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Global IT News, Global Security News, robotaxi, Transportation, Waymo
A Waymo robotaxi got stuck in a roundabout loop
Roundabouts. They trapped Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s European Vacation and now they’ve tripped up a Waymo robotaxi. A video is circulating on social media showing a Waymo robotaxi going round and round on a roundabout — as if it is stuck in a loop. A Waymo spokesperson told TechCrunch there were no passengers onboard…
Fleet Space Technologies, Global IT News, Global Security News, In Brief, Space
Fleet Space raises $100M to scale satellite-enabled mineral prospecting tech
Late-stage deals in space have been on the decline this year, but one notable exception is Fleet Space Technologies’ $100 million Series D. The Adelaide, Australia-based startup raised the new funding to accelerate the development of ExoSphere, a platform to enable real-time mineral prospecting from space. The company currently has two satellites in low Earth…
cap table management, Carta, funding round, Global IT News, Global Security News, Startups, venture funding
Carta is making it too difficult to cancel subscriptions, some founders say
Cap table management firm Carta is under fire from some founders who say cancelling their subscriptions is too hard. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
business, channel, Global IT News, Global Security News, News and Trends, services, US Channel News
SonicWall Partners with CrowdStrike to Protect SMBs with New MDR Offering
Recently, SonicWall announced that it would be partnering with CrowdStrike to deliver a new Managed Detection and Response (MDR) offering to bring enterprise-grade security to small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). SonicWall and CrowdStrike bring together services and products SonicWall’s trusted Managed Security Services (MSS) combines with CrowdStrike’s Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) capabilities from the…
autonomous vehicles, Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, In Brief, Tesla, Transportation, zoox
Tesla’s loss is Zoox’s gain
Zoox co-founder and CTO Jesse Levinson told the crowd at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 that he didn’t think Tesla would launch a robotaxi ride-hailing service in California (or anywhere else) next year, despite what Elon Musk had claimed. The “fundamental issue is they don’t have technology that works,” he said at the time. But it seems that…