November 20, 2024

AI can now create a replica of your personality

Imagine sitting down with an AI model for a spoken two-hour interview. A friendly voice guides you through a conversation that ranges from your childhood, your formative memories, and your career to your thoughts on immigration policy. Not long after, a virtual replica of you is able to embody your values and preferences with stunning…

October 2022

Watch SpaceX launch a Falcon Heavy for the first time in three years

October 31, 2022

Thousands are gathering on Florida’s Space Coast to watch SpaceX launch the massive Falcon Heavy rocket for the first time since 2019. SpaceX will attempt to directly inject two U.S. Space Force spacecraft to geosynchronous orbit. The payload includes TETRA-1, a microsatellite developed by Boeing subsidiary Millennium Space Systems, which the company describes as a […]

Watch SpaceX launch a Falcon Heavy for the first time in three years by Aria Alamalhodaei originally published on TechCrunch

Bengaluru launches QR train ticketing service on WhatsApp

October 31, 2022

WhatsApp users in the city of Bengaluru can now use the instant messaging app to purchase train tickets and recharge their travel passes, the Meta-owned platform said Monday in what it described as “the first-ever QR ticketing service” for its app. WhatsApp and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) said they have partnered to launch a WhatsApp […]

Bengaluru launches QR train ticketing service on WhatsApp by Jagmeet Singh originally published on TechCrunch

Invygo raises $10M to make long-term car subscription a breeze

October 31, 2022

Invygo, a startup operating in UAE and Saudi Arabia, has raised $10 million in its Series A funding led by MEVP as it works to scale its car rental service in the region. The Middle East-based startup, founded by Eslam Ahmed Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo in 2019, has raised $14.3 million to date. Al Rajhi […]

Invygo raises $10M to make long-term car subscription a breeze by Ivan Mehta originally published on TechCrunch

Hong Kong to explore legalizing retail crypto trades in reversal of previous proposal

October 31, 2022

Hong Kong has proposed allowing retail investors to trade in cryptocurrencies and crypto exchange-traded funds and plans to conduct pilots in NFT issuance and CBDC as it looks to regain its status as a global financial hub. The city had earlier proposed limiting crypto trade to professional investors, a move that saw many crypto entrepreneurs […]

Hong Kong to explore legalizing retail crypto trades in reversal of previous proposal by Manish Singh originally published on TechCrunch

Elon Musk is revamping Twitter’s verification system — and it might involve a monthly fee

October 31, 2022

Twitter’s verification program has always been a complicated and controversial affair. The company has paused and resumed the application process many times to make it more streamlined. In the Elon Musk ownership era, the social media company could be looking to flip the script around verification: pay $20 per month and you will get a […]

Elon Musk is revamping Twitter’s verification system — and it might involve a monthly fee by Ivan Mehta originally published on TechCrunch

Money Fellows, an Egyptian fintech digitizing money circles, raises $31M funding

October 31, 2022

Egyptian fintech Money Fellows has raised $31 million in what it describes as the first close of its Series B investment. The round, which the startup expects to top up in the coming months, was led by CommerzVentures, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP) and Arzan Venture Capital. Other participating investors include Partech, Sawari Ventures, Invenfin, […]

Money Fellows, an Egyptian fintech digitizing money circles, raises $31M funding by Tage Kene-Okafor originally published on TechCrunch

Zebra Labs raises $5M to help Chinese celebrities enter the metaverse

October 31, 2022

In June, Chinese pop-punk singer Wowkie Zhang released a music video where he encounters a virtual character in a hyper-colored, animated world that is reminiscent of Pixar films. The avatar, sporting Gen-Z-styled silver hair, a yellow and black oversize sweat, and baggy pants, makes hip-hop moves to Zhang’s catchy, light-hearted tune. The virtual character isn’t […]

Zebra Labs raises $5M to help Chinese celebrities enter the metaverse by Rita Liao originally published on TechCrunch

Elon Musk refutes Twitter layoff timing to affect year-end compensation

October 31, 2022

Elon Musk, Chief Twit, has refuted claims from a New York Times report this weekend that states he plans to lay off employees before Tuesday, November 1, thus cutting staff off from receiving stock grants as part of their compensation. In response to a tweet from Eric Umansky, deputy managing editor of ProPublica, that said […]

Elon Musk refutes Twitter layoff timing to affect year-end compensation by Rebecca Bellan originally published on TechCrunch