October 2023

How NVIDIA became a major player in robotics

October 7, 2023
[A version of this post appeared in TechCrunch’s robotics newsletter, Actuator. Subscribe here.] The last time I’d spoken with the NVIDIA at any length about robotics was also the last time we featured Claire Delaunay on stage at our Sessions event. That was a while ago. She left the company last July to work with […]

Brave lays off 9% of its workforce

October 7, 2023
Brave Software, the maker of Brave Browser and Search, confirmed that it has laid off 9% of its staff across departments. The company didn’t specify how many people were affected, but it corroborated the development and said the decision was driven by the tough economic climate. “Brave eliminated some positions as part of our cost […]

Artists across industries are strategizing together around AI concerns

October 6, 2023
As creative industries grapple with AI’s explosion into every artistic medium at once, separate calls from artists warning the world to take action before it’s too late are starting to converge. From fake Drake songs to stylized Instagram profile pictures, art conjured with newly sophisticated AI tools is suddenly ubiquitous — and so are conversations […]

a16z-backed fintech Synapse lays off 40% of its staff

October 6, 2023
Banking-as-a-service startup Synapse confirmed today that it has laid off 86 people, or about 40% of the company. The San Francisco-based company, which operates a platform enabling banks and fintech companies to easily develop financial services, has been open about past layoffs. In June, CEO Sankaet Pathak wrote in a blog post that the company […]

EV buyers can soon get the $7,500 tax credit at time of purchase

October 6, 2023
Starting in January, the IRS will make the $7,500 federal EV tax credit available immediately via dealers. The Treasury Department announced the update on Friday, noting that dealers will have the option to “reduce the purchase price of the vehicle or provide cash to the buyer.” The update also applies to buyers taking advantage of […]