Technology

Betaworks’ new ‘camp’ aims to fund transformative early-stage AI startups

April 13, 2023

In a sign that the seed-stage AI segment is still alive and kicking, Betaworks, the startup studio and VC firm, is launching a new program that’ll award around ten companies working on AI $500,000 in funding. Scheduled to run from mid-June until mid-September, Betaworks’ program — the ninth of its kind — will provide startups […]

Betaworks’ new ‘camp’ aims to fund transformative early-stage AI startups by Kyle Wiggers originally published on TechCrunch

Bacteria can be engineered to fight cancer in mice. Human trials are coming.

April 13, 2023
There are trillions of microbes living in and on our bodies—and we might be able to modify them to help us treat diseases. Scientists have altered the genomes of some of these bacteria that live on skin, essentially engineering microbes that can prevent or treat cancer. It appears to work in mice, and human trials…

Survey says!

April 13, 2023

Last fall, Alex and I discussed bringing back the TC+ robotics survey. I gave him the usual caveat: I’m into it, but it will have to wait until I can find the time. You know how these things go — you wake up one morning and somehow it’s five months later. I’ve got excuses if […]

Survey says! by Brian Heater originally published on TechCrunch

More newsrooms bail on Twitter as Musk meddles with account labels

April 13, 2023

PBS and a handful of other news organizations have joined NPR in stepping away from Twitter, the social media platform once synonymous with breaking news. A PBS spokesperson confirmed to Axios that PBS had “no plans to resume tweeting” after Twitter gave it a murky “government-funded media” label over the weekend. A few other news […]

More newsrooms bail on Twitter as Musk meddles with account labels by Taylor Hatmaker originally published on TechCrunch

Spain’s privacy watchdog says it’s probing ChatGPT too

April 13, 2023

Spain’s data protection authority, the AEPD, has followed Italy’s lead and announced a preliminary investigation of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI over suspected breaches of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). At the end of last month, Italy’s DPA ordered OpenAI to stop processing locals’ data — over a range of suspected breaches of the GDPR […]

Spain’s privacy watchdog says it’s probing ChatGPT too by Natasha Lomas originally published on TechCrunch

Ring ring, Solana’s web3-focused Saga phone is calling

April 13, 2023

About 10 months ago, Solana’s co-founder and CEO, Anatoly Yakovenko, announced the launch of Saga, a web3-focused Android smartphone. The phone is now being rolled out, and we got to test one ahead of its launch. Solana says Saga was launched to make crypto products and services more accessible for users by offering them through […]

Ring ring, Solana’s web3-focused Saga phone is calling by Jacquelyn Melinek originally published on TechCrunch

Ampersand helps SaaS companies build their customer-facing integrations, raises $4.7M

April 13, 2023

Ampersand, a startup that helps SaaS companies build user-facing integrations into their products, today announced that it has raised a $4.7 million seed funding round led by Matrix Partners. Base Case Capital, Flex Capital and 2.12 Angels also invested, along with numerous prominent angel investors. Today’s SaaS products, Ampersand co-founders Lauren Long and Ayan Barua […]

Ampersand helps SaaS companies build their customer-facing integrations, raises $4.7M by Frederic Lardinois originally published on TechCrunch

Three brothers quit SpaceX to build spacecraft powered by moon water

April 13, 2023

A new startup founded by a trio of SpaceX veterans — who happen to be brothers — aims to build an in-space transportation network, using reusable spacecraft propelled by water harvested from the Moon. Argo Space Corporation, founded by Robert Carlisle, Ryan Carlisle and Kirby Carlisle, is betting that lunar propellant will untether space activities […]

Three brothers quit SpaceX to build spacecraft powered by moon water by Aria Alamalhodaei originally published on TechCrunch