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

Bluu Seafood reels in $17.5M to bring cultivated fish products to market

June 28, 2023

Bluu Seafood, a German company creating cultivated (i.e. “lab-grown”) fish products, today announced it has raised €16 million ($17.5 million) in a Series A round of funding. Founded out of Berlin in 2020 originally as Bluu Biosciences, Bluu Seafood starts with a “one-time” fish biopsy — which, it says, doesn’t require killing any fish — […]

Bluu Seafood reels in $17.5M to bring cultivated fish products to market by Paul Sawers originally published on TechCrunch

Zoox begins testing robotaxis on public roads in Las Vegas

June 27, 2023

Amazon subsidiary Zoox has begun testing its purpose-built, electric, autonomous robotaxis on public streets in Las Vegas, the company announced Tuesday. Zoox says this marks the first time that an autonomous vehicle built without pedals or a steering wheel has operated on public roads in Nevada. Zoox is starting small with a one-mile loop around […]

Zoox begins testing robotaxis on public roads in Las Vegas by Rebecca Bellan originally published on TechCrunch

Curiosity unbounded

June 27, 2023
“It only takes a few hours on this campus to learn that what propels MIT is an irresistible force: the sheer motive power of curiosity, on every subject, at every scale, across disciplines and without limits. Curiosity unbounded.  “It’s the passion to understand how things work, and why, and how they can work better. “In this…

When MIT met Sally

June 27, 2023
On May 1, the MIT community gathered in Killian Court beneath what Sally Kornbluth dubbed “the world’s largest umbrella” to officially welcome her as the Institute’s 18th president. But the predicted rain held off, and crabapple blossoms fluttered down from the trees as she was brought into the MIT fold with all the formality and…

‘Only human creators’ can win a Grammy, but AI isn’t totally forbidden

June 27, 2023

We are only scratching the surface of how artificial intelligence might be used in art, and musicians are already experimenting with the technology. But if their AI-assisted composition is to be eligible for a Grammy, they’ll need to make sure that their contribution is “meaningful,” the rules now state. An update to the famous awards’ […]

‘Only human creators’ can win a Grammy, but AI isn’t totally forbidden by Devin Coldewey originally published on TechCrunch

Mercedes brings F1 technology to the AMG S 63 E Performance

June 27, 2023

“Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.” That was the popular marketing adage when motorsports and car sales were intricately intertwined. While a podium finish these days doesn’t necessarily translate into a bump in sales — with many consumers being more focused on fuel economy, looks and comfort — there is still a glimmer of truth […]

Mercedes brings F1 technology to the AMG S 63 E Performance by Emme Hall originally published on TechCrunch

An encryption exodus looms over UK’s Online Safety Bill

June 27, 2023

The backlash against the encryption-busting Online Safety Bill continues to grow, suggesting the United Kingdom could soon face a looming exodus of secure messaging apps. First drafted in May 2021, the Online Safety Bill would allow the U.K. government to compel backdoor access to any end-to-end encryption system. While the government claims the complex legislation […]

An encryption exodus looms over UK’s Online Safety Bill by Carly Page originally published on TechCrunch

Airmo combines space and climate tech with emissions monitoring satellites

June 27, 2023

German startup Airmo is taking aim at climate change, with plans to launch a twelve-satellite constellation to monitor greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the planet. To fuel its ambitions, the company announced today that it closed €5.2 million ($5.7 million) in pre-seed funding, which includes €1.5 million from venture investors and a €3.7 million contract […]

Airmo combines space and climate tech with emissions monitoring satellites by Aria Alamalhodaei originally published on TechCrunch

Reka emerges from stealth to build custom AI models for the enterprise

June 27, 2023

Large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI’s GPT-4 are all the rage these days, owing to their unparalleled ability to analyze and generate text. But for organizations looking to leverage LLMs for specific tasks — say, writing ad copy in a brand’s style — their generalist nature can become a liability. When the instructions get too […]

Reka emerges from stealth to build custom AI models for the enterprise by Kyle Wiggers originally published on TechCrunch