July 4, 2025

The Download: India’s AI independence, and predicting future epidemics

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. Inside India’s scramble for AI independence Despite its status as a global tech hub, India lags far behind the likes of the US and China when it comes to homegrown AI. That gap…

Technology

Is the digital dollar dead?

July 21, 2023
It’s summer 2020. The world is under a series of lockdowns as the pandemic continues to run its course. And in academic and foreign policy circles, digital currencies are one of the hottest topics in town.  China is well on its way to launching its own central bank digital currency, or CBDC, and many other…

Kasha raises $21M Series B led by Knife Capital to expand health access platform across Africa

July 21, 2023
As Africa’s youthful population continues to grow exponentially, it’s of the utmost importance that entrepreneurs create various healthcare solutions that will cater to the medical needs of the continent’s future. While the pandemic made investors pay attention to Africa’s private healthcare space, women’s health — a subcategory dominated by women founders that broadly addresses women’s […]

Autonomous vehicle company Aurora sells $820M worth of stock

July 20, 2023
Aurora Innovation, the self-driving technology company that aims to launch an autonomous trucking business in 2024, has completed a capital raise of $820 million from a public and concurrent private offering of its stock. The company expects the deal to close Friday. The stock sale will help fund Aurora through commercial launch at the end […]

Cruise starts initial robotaxi testing in Miami

July 20, 2023
Cruise, the self-driving arm of General Motors, has begun initial testing and data collection in Miami, the company said in a tweet Wednesday. “Phase 1 is to familiarize our fleet with additional, diverse road conditions while collecting data,” the company said. Cruise declined to provide any further information, like what Phase 2 entails and when […]

Expo+ Pass: The affordable TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 experience

July 20, 2023
Whether you’re short on time or short on cash, you can still find plenty of exciting opportunities at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023, taking place September 19–21 in San Francisco. The Expo+ pass is the perfect option for anyone with a shoestring budget or an overloaded schedule. Expo+ Pass: Affordable access to TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 The limited-feature […]

Introducing MIT Technology Review Roundtables, real-time conversations about what’s next in tech

July 20, 2023
On August 10, MIT Technology Review is launching Roundtables, a participatory subscriber-only online event series, to keep you informed about emerging tech. Subscribers will get exclusive access to 30-minute monthly conversations with our writers and editors about topics they’re thinking deeply about—including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, climate change, tech policy, and more. (If you’re not yet…