Technology

Twitter changes its official handle to @X

July 26, 2023
As part of the ongoing rebranding, Twitter has changed its official handle to @X. Other official handles related to the company have either let go of the “Twitter” moniker or replaced it with X. TechCrunch previously reported that the social network hadn’t reached out to the original owner of the @X handle — Gene X Hwang of […]

AI leaders warn Senate of twin risks: moving too slow and moving too fast

July 25, 2023
Leaders from the AI research world appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to discuss and answer questions about the nascent technology. Their broadly unanimous opinions generally fell into two categories: we need to act soon, but with a light touch — risking AI abuse if we don’t move forward, or a hamstrung industry if we […]

Main Sequence hits first close of $450M AUD for its third deep tech fund

July 25, 2023
Main Sequence, an Australian venture capital firm, said Wednesday it has raised the $450 million AUD (approximately $303 million) first close of its third fund. The venture capital firm, founded by Australia’s national science agency CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), has secured funding from new limited partners, including LGT Crestone, NGS Super, Daiwa Securities […]

Spotify CEO teases potential AI-powered capabilities surrounding personalization, ads

July 25, 2023
During Spotify’s second-quarter earnings call this morning, CEO Daniel Ek teased a few ways the streaming service could introduce additional AI-powered functionality. Ek touched on how AI could be used to create more personalized experiences, summarize podcasts and generate ads. Earlier this year, the company launched a DJ feature that delivers a curated selection of […]

Akhetonics raises capital for its All-Optical processor prototype

July 25, 2023
Traditional processors from the likes of Intel, AMD, or Nvidia have well-known limitations around speed, energy efficiency, and electromagnetic interference. For instance, foundational chip makers like TSMC and Samsung are currently racing to move to the 3nm process for customers like Apple and Nvidia. In the meantime, photonics is becoming a bigger sector as chip […]

Blue Origin, Astrobotic, Varda Space and others win NASA funding to develop advanced space tech

July 25, 2023
NASA awarded new funding to eleven companies today for advanced space tech projects ranging from advanced power generation on the lunar surface to additive manufacturing for space habitats. The awards, which total $150 million across all eleven companies, were announced as part of the space agency’s Tipping Point program. According to NASA, a technology is […]

Ample to bring EV battery swapping to Mitsubishi trucks in Japan

July 25, 2023
San Francisco startup Ample is bringing its modular electric vehicle battery swapping technology to Mitsubishi Fuso’s electric trucks this winter, the company said Tuesday. This marks the first time Ample’s technology is being used for large vehicles. The company’s technology is currently being used on a small scale for ride-hail vehicles in San Francisco and […]

Generative AI is empowering the digital workforce

July 25, 2023
Many people think of generative AI as a tool that allows them to use their own words to ask questions or generate copy and images—both of which it does remarkably well. However, it also has incredible potential to transform our personal and professional work—helping us access, consume, and utilize the untapped information that floods our…