April 2025

Google Wallet to add support for digital IDs in more states

April 29, 2025
Google announced on Tuesday that digital IDs are coming to more states and services in Google Wallet. The company also shared that Wallet is getting a way to privately verify age, and that the app is expanding to 50 more countries. Residents in Arkansas, Montana, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia will soon be able to […]

Google’s NotebookLM expands its AI podcast feature to more languages

April 29, 2025
Google’s AI-based note-taking and research assistant NotebookLM is making its Audio Overviews feature available in 76 new languages, the company announced on Tuesday. Audio Overviews launched last year to give users the ability to generate a podcast with AI virtual hosts based on documents they have shared with NotebookLM, such as course readings or legal […]

Meta launches a standalone AI app to compete with ChatGPT

April 29, 2025
After integrating Meta AI into WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger, Meta is rolling out a standalone AI app. Unveiled at Meta’s LlamaCon event on Tuesday, this app allows users to access Meta AI in a standalone app, similar to the ChatGPT app and other AI assistant apps. To win over users, Meta is trying to […]

Meta needs to win over AI developers at its first LlamaCon

April 29, 2025
On Tuesday, Meta is hosting its first-ever LlamaCon AI developer conference at its Menlo Park headquarters, where the company will try to pitch developers on building applications with its open Llama AI models. Just a year ago, that wasn’t a hard sell. However, in recent months, Meta has struggled to keep up with both “open” […]

Spotify adds 5M premium users and hits record operating income

April 29, 2025
Spotify reported on Tuesday that its premium subscriber base grew by 5 million in the first quarter, representing a 12% increase year-over-year. This brings the total to 268 million, marking the second-highest total ever and the highest net addition of paid subs for a first quarter since 2020.  Spotify also reported a record-high quarterly operating […]

The deadline to book your exhibit table for TechCrunch Sessions: AI is May 9

April 29, 2025
We’re in the final stretch. TechCrunch Sessions: AI takes over Zellerbach Hall in almost a month, and the exhibit floor is almost completely booked. If you’ve been considering showing off your AI product or innovation, now’s the time to commit. Exhibit tables are in short supply, and the May 9 deadline is fast approaching. At […]

Anthropic co-founder Jared Kaplan is coming to TechCrunch Sessions: AI

April 29, 2025
Hungry to learn more about Anthropic, directly from Anthropic? You aren’t alone if so, which is why we’re so delighted to announce that Anthropic co-founder and Chief Science Officer Jared Kaplan is joining the main stage at TechCrunch Sessions: AI on June 5 at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall. Lean into this session exploring the frontier […]