November 22, 2024

The Download: how OpenAI tests its models, and the ethics of uterus transplants

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. How OpenAI stress-tests its large language models OpenAI has lifted the lid (just a crack) on its safety-testing processes. It has put out two papers describing how it stress-tests its powerful large language…

January 2023

News aggregator SmartNews lays off 40% of US and China staff, with further reductions planned in Japan

January 13, 2023

SmartNews, a Tokyo-headquartered news aggregation website and app valued at $2 billion as of 2021, today announced a 40% reduction of its U.S. and China workforce, or around 120 people, according to sources familiar with the company’s plans. The news was announced on Thursday in an All-Hands meeting attended this evening by SmartNews staff. The […]

News aggregator SmartNews lays off 40% of US and China staff, with further reductions planned in Japan by Sarah Perez originally published on TechCrunch

Biden’s call to ‘unite against big tech abuses’ sure sounds familiar

January 13, 2023

President Biden published an op-ed yesterday in the Wall Street Journal putting Big Tech on notice that his administration was working — in fact, has been working — to rein in its worst abuses. But these “broad principles for reform” sound pretty familiar. The op-ed begins by thanking the tech sector for its hard work […]

Biden’s call to ‘unite against big tech abuses’ sure sounds familiar by Devin Coldewey originally published on TechCrunch

CES 2023 debrief

January 13, 2023

It’s a strange week. Strange and strangely familiar. You stay at the same hotel in a nearly identical room to the one you stayed in for the last 10 years or so. You see friends and colleagues you’ve not seen in a while. Everyone is three years older and a bit worse for wear. A […]

CES 2023 debrief by Brian Heater originally published on TechCrunch

E Ink’s latest color displays have me dreaming of electronic paper magazines

January 12, 2023

There’s still nothing quite like thumbing the pages of a real-life print magazine, but the latest evolution of E Ink’s color tech is creeping tantalizingly close — at least as far as my eyes are concerned. You’ve heard it all before: A lifetime of staring at screens has worn out my eyes, leading me down […]

E Ink’s latest color displays have me dreaming of electronic paper magazines by Harri Weber originally published on TechCrunch

Crime reporting app Citizen lays off 33 employees

January 12, 2023

Citizen laid off 33 staff members on Wednesday, the company confirmed to TechCrunch. “We are grateful to all of our departing team members for their contributions to Citizen and are committed to supporting them through this transition with a generous severance package that includes accelerated option vesting and extended exercise window, six months of COBRA […]

Crime reporting app Citizen lays off 33 employees by Amanda Silberling originally published on TechCrunch

Alphabet robotics division Intrinsic hit with layoffs

January 12, 2023

It’s a new year, but the industry’s struggles are showing no signs of abating. Big firms are as susceptible — if not more so. This week, Alphabet joined the growing list of tech giants making staff cuts amid ongoing economic struggles. Following a wave of layoffs from the likes of Amazon, Meta and Salesforce, Alphabet […]

Alphabet robotics division Intrinsic hit with layoffs by Brian Heater originally published on TechCrunch

Greenlight, kids-focused fintech startup, lays off 104 employees to optimize expenses

January 12, 2023

Greenlight, a fintech startup offering debit cards to kids, has laid off 104 employees — or over 21% of its total headcount of 485 employees — to “better align with ongoing operating expenses” amid the economic slowdown. TechCrunch learned about the layoff that was announced to its employees earlier this week. The startup later confirmed […]

Greenlight, kids-focused fintech startup, lays off 104 employees to optimize expenses by Jagmeet Singh originally published on TechCrunch

Medium embraces Twitter alternative Mastodon with launch of its own community

January 12, 2023

Online publishing platform Medium, originally created by Twitter co-founder Evan Williams, announced today it’s embracing the open-source Mastodon platform by creating its own instance to support its authors and their publications. The company said it’s launching me.dm, a Mastodon community that will offer reliable infrastructure, moderation, and a short domain name to make it easier […]

Medium embraces Twitter alternative Mastodon with launch of its own community by Sarah Perez originally published on TechCrunch

Keychron gets it right with its Q10 Alice-style keyboard

January 12, 2023

Are you thinking about getting a mechanical keyboard and asked a friend which one to get? Chances are, they said: get a Keychron. It’s basically a meme at this point. After making its name with affordable mechanical keyboards (with a bit of a focus for Mac users) — the company now has something on offer […]

Keychron gets it right with its Q10 Alice-style keyboard by Frederic Lardinois originally published on TechCrunch