February 21, 2025

The Download: dismantling US science leadership, and reproductive care cuts

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. The foundations of America’s prosperity are being dismantled Ever since World War II, the US has been the global leader in science and technology—and benefited immensely from it. Research fuels American innovation and…

January 2023

Tabby raises $58M at $660M valuation as PayPal Ventures makes first investment in the GCC

January 18, 2023

MENA-based buy now, pay later startup Tabby has raised $58 million, led by Sequoia Capital India and STV, at a valuation of $660 million. The investors co-led the fintech’s Series B extension round last June.  PayPal Ventures, the global corporate venture arm of PayPal, is one of the participating investors (this marks its first investment […]

Tabby raises $58M at $660M valuation as PayPal Ventures makes first investment in the GCC by Tage Kene-Okafor originally published on TechCrunch

That Microsoft deal isn’t exclusive, video is coming, and more from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman

January 18, 2023

OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman sat down for a wide-ranging interview with this editor late last week, answering questions about some of his most ambitious personal investments, as well as about the future of OpenAI. There was much to discuss. The now eight-year-old outfit has dominated the national conversation in the two months since […]

That Microsoft deal isn’t exclusive, video is coming, and more from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman by Connie Loizos originally published on TechCrunch

P2P lending platform PeopleFund raises $20M Series C extension led by Bain Capital

January 18, 2023

PeopleFund, a South Korean marketplace that connects borrowers and investors to enable lending, has recently added $20 million to its $63.4 million Series C. Existing backer Bain Capital led the extension, with participation from previous investors such as Access Ventures, CLSA Capital Partners Lending Ark Asia, D3 Jubilee Partners, 500 Global, Kakao Investment, TBT Partners […]

P2P lending platform PeopleFund raises $20M Series C extension led by Bain Capital by Kate Park originally published on TechCrunch

Gogoro, Belrise JV to spend $2.5B on battery swapping network in Indian state

January 18, 2023

Gogoro, the Taiwanese paladin for two-wheeler battery swapping, is working with the Indian state of Maharashtra to establish state-wide battery charging and swapping infrastructure. The initiative will be driven by a “50-50” partnership between Gogoro and Belrise Industries, an automotive systems manufacturer based in India, that will form an infrastructure company to own the batteries […]

Gogoro, Belrise JV to spend $2.5B on battery swapping network in Indian state by Rebecca Bellan originally published on TechCrunch

Discord acquires Gas, a compliments-based social media app for teens

January 17, 2023

The messaging platform Discord announced its acquisition of Gas, an app that’s popular among teens for its positive spin on social media. On Gas, users sign up with their school, add friends, and answer polls about their classmates. But the questions in the polls are intended to boost users’ confidence, rather than damage it. Teens […]

Discord acquires Gas, a compliments-based social media app for teens by Amanda Silberling originally published on TechCrunch

Tesla engineer testifies that 2016 video promoting self-driving was faked

January 17, 2023

Tesla faked a 2016 video promoting its self-driving technology, according to testimony by a senior engineer reviewed by Reuters. The video, which shows a Tesla Model X driving on urban, suburban and highway streets; stopping itself at a red light; and accelerating at a green light is still on Tesla’s website and carries the tagline: […]

Tesla engineer testifies that 2016 video promoting self-driving was faked by Rebecca Bellan originally published on TechCrunch

Oversight Board presses Meta to revise ‘convoluted and poorly defined’ nudity policy

January 17, 2023

Meta’s Oversight Board, which independently evaluates difficult content moderation decisions, has overturned the company’s takedown of two posts that depicted a non-binary and transgender person’s bare chests. The case represents a failure of a convoluted and impractical nudity policy, the Board said, and recommended that Meta take a serious look at revising it. The decision […]

Oversight Board presses Meta to revise ‘convoluted and poorly defined’ nudity policy by Devin Coldewey originally published on TechCrunch