Technology

Apptronik readies its humanoid robot for a summer unveil

May 23, 2023

Jeff Cardenas pulls out his MacBook. Apptronik’s co-founder and CEO has a slideshow he wants to show, running down the Austin startup’s seven-year history. It does, indeed, take a bit of contextualizing. Like many fellow robotics firms, the company was fueled by government contracts in its earliest days. First up was Valkyrie 2, the second […]

Apptronik readies its humanoid robot for a summer unveil by Brian Heater originally published on TechCrunch

Ford tries zagging in the EV arms race

May 23, 2023

Ford CEO Jim Farley called it a “personal bullet train.” Doug Field, the automaker’s chief advanced product development and technology officer, described it as “groundbreaking.” Ford’s next-generation full-sized SUV EV might turn out to be both — if the automaker’s claimed advances in physics and energy loss translate into the real world. Ford’s next-generation EV […]

Ford tries zagging in the EV arms race by Kirsten Korosec originally published on TechCrunch

Episode Six raises $48M to streamline payment processes

May 23, 2023

Episode Six, a global payments and banking infrastructure provider, today announced that it raised $48 million in a Series C funding round led by Avenir with participation from Anthos Capital. In an email, CEO John Mitchell said that the tranche will be used to expand Episode Six’s go-to-market efforts and scale its business as the company […]

Episode Six raises $48M to streamline payment processes by Kyle Wiggers originally published on TechCrunch

TikTok’s lead privacy regulator in Europe takes heat from MEPs

May 23, 2023

MEPs in the European Parliament took the opportunity of a rare in-person appearance by Ireland’s data protection commissioner, Helen Dixon, to criticize the bloc’s lead privacy regulator for most of Big Tech over how long it’s taking to investigate the video-sharing social media platform TikTok. This concern is the latest expression of wider worries about […]

TikTok’s lead privacy regulator in Europe takes heat from MEPs by Natasha Lomas originally published on TechCrunch

Introducing the Disrupt Audience Choice breakout winners

May 23, 2023

We asked you, dear readers, to vote for the breakout sessions you want to see in September at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023, and your response was amazing! The 15 contenders did nothing to make your job easy, but thousands of votes later, we’re ready to announce the 10 breakouts you’re sending to Disrupt! But first, a […]

Introducing the Disrupt Audience Choice breakout winners by Lauren Simonds originally published on TechCrunch

Spotify may use AI to make host-read podcast ads that sound like real people

May 23, 2023

With Spotify’s AI DJ, the company trained an AI on a real person’s voice — that of its head of Cultural Partnerships and podcast host, Xavier “X” Jernigan. Now, the streamer may turn that same technology to advertising, it seems. According to statements made by The Ringer founder Bill Simmons, the streaming service is developing […]

Spotify may use AI to make host-read podcast ads that sound like real people by Sarah Perez originally published on TechCrunch

VC firm Neo looks to up the ante with $235M across two new funds

May 23, 2023

Neo, a six-year-old, Bay Area-based outfit founded by renowned serial entrepreneur and investor Ali Partovi, is announcing that it has garnered $235 million in capital commitments across two new funds. According to Partovi, $180 million will be invested in seed deals and via accelerator programs spun up by Neo; the rest, $55 million, will be […]

VC firm Neo looks to up the ante with $235M across two new funds by Connie Loizos originally published on TechCrunch

Dispersion Capital launches $40M fund focused on decentralized infrastructure

May 23, 2023

This deep into the crypto winter big venture fund debuts are few and far between, a far cry compared to previous years. But the freeze is not stopping some venture capitalists from launching new funds targeting the decentralized technology market. Dispersion Capital has compiled a $40 million first fund to invest in decentralized infrastructure, the […]

Dispersion Capital launches $40M fund focused on decentralized infrastructure by Jacquelyn Melinek originally published on TechCrunch