Author: Jason
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Amazon Kindle’s new feature uses AI to generate recaps for books in a series
Amazon is introducing a new “Recaps” feature for Kindle users to help them recall plot points and character arcs before picking up the latest book in a series. While the company’s press release for the new feature doesn’t mention AI, Amazon confirmed to TechCrunch that recaps are AI-generated. “We use technology, including GenAI and Amazon… Read more
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Grace raises €5.9 million seed to offer insurance to luxury goods
Grace, an insurance company for luxury goods, announced a $6.4 million (€5.9 million) seed round led by FinTechCollective and Speedinvest. Grace, an insurance company for luxury goods, works with luxury brands to protect purchased consumer goods. If an item is stolen or damaged, a consumer can create a claim through the Grace app. For the… Read more
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OpenAI just made its first cybersecurity investment
OpenAI just co-led a $43 million Series A into deepfake defense startup Adaptive Security. Read more
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Intel and TSMC are reportedly launching a joint chipmaking venture
Semiconductor giants Intel and TSMC are reportedly teaming up. The two firms are said to have reached a tentative agreement to create a joint venture that will operate Intel’s chipmaking facilities, according to The Information. TSMC will have a 20% stake in the new venture. Instead of funding its stake with capital, TSMC will share… Read more
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Ted Schlein’s Ballistic Ventures is raising $100M for a new fund
Ted Schlein’s cybersecurity-focused Ballistic Ventures is raising $100 million for a new fund, TechCrunch has exclusively learned. Read more
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Teen with 4.0 GPA who built the viral Cal AI app was rejected by 15 top universities
Zach Yadegari, the high school teen co-founder of Cal AI, is being hammered with comments on X after he revealed that out of 18 top colleges he applied to, he was rejected by 15. Yadegari says that he got a 4.0 GPA and nailed a 34 score on his ACT (above 31 is considered a… Read more
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TikTok quietly launches a new ‘TikTok for Artists’ platform
As TikTok’s fate in the United States remains uncertain, the tech giant has quietly started testing a new “TikTok for Artists” insights platform that is designed to help artists build their careers, the company confirmed to TechCrunch. The platform will provide artists with tools to promote their songs, understand performance metrics, and engage with fans.… Read more
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Devin, the viral coding AI agent, gets a new pay-as-you-go plan
Cognition, the startup behind the viral AI programming tool Devin, has introduced a new low-cost plan to incentivize signups. When Cognition released Devin last year, the tool quickly blew up on social media for its ability to perform certain software development tasks autonomously. But it soon became apparent that Devin struggled with more complex coding… Read more
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Microsoft reportedly pulls back on its data center plans
Microsoft has pulled back on data center projects around the world, Bloomberg reports, suggesting that the company is wary of expanding its cloud computing infrastructure too rapidly. Microsoft has halted talks for or delayed development sites of data centers in the U.K., Australia, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Illinois, per Bloomberg. A spokesperson told the publication… Read more
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X may soon start selling inactive usernames to Verified Organizations starting at $10K, code reveals
X’s plan to boost revenue by selling off dormant usernames on its service is starting to shape up. According to recent changes found in X’s web application, the company is setting up a “handle inquiry” process that will allow Verified Organizations — companies and other organizations that already have a $1,000 per month X subscription… Read more