February 7, 2025

These documents are influencing the DOGE-sphere’s agenda

Reports from the US Government Accountability Office on improper federal payments in recent years are circulating on X and elsewhere online, and they seem to be a big influence on Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency and its supporters as the group pursues cost-cutting measures across the federal government.  The payment reports have been…

Technology

African gaming startup Carry1st raises $27M from Bitkraft Ventures and a16z

January 17, 2023

In the coming decades, Africa will be a significant growth market for mobile games driven by the proliferation of technology adoption among the continent’s youthful population. And as gamers in sub-Saharan Africa increase to over 180 million in the next five years, per a report, startups such as South Africa-based Carry1st are strategically positioning themselves […]

African gaming startup Carry1st raises $27M from Bitkraft Ventures and a16z by Tage Kene-Okafor originally published on TechCrunch

Komunal raises $8.5M to digitize Indonesia’s rural banks

January 17, 2023

Komunal is reaching out to Indonesia’s rural customers by going where they are. The fintech partners with more than 220 banks in tier 2 and tier 3 cities spread through 19 provinces. Founded in 2019, the startup announced today it has raised $8.5 million in funding led by East Ventures Growth Fund, with participation from […]

Komunal raises $8.5M to digitize Indonesia’s rural banks by Catherine Shu originally published on TechCrunch

The Download: battery recycling, and how AI might revamp Microsoft Office

January 17, 2023
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. How old batteries will help power tomorrow’s EVs To Redwood Materials, the rows of cardboard boxes in the parking lot of its new battery recycling site just outside Reno, Nevada, represent both the…

Tech bosses who willingly flout UK online child safety rules to face criminal liability

January 17, 2023

The UK government has confirmed it will expand criminal liability powers contained in draft online safety legislation which is currently making its way through parliament with the aim of preventing platforms from intentionally flouting child-safety rules. The current version of the (already much amended) Online Safety Bill, which is set to return to parliament today for […]

Tech bosses who willingly flout UK online child safety rules to face criminal liability by Natasha Lomas originally published on TechCrunch

Here’s how Microsoft could use ChatGPT

January 17, 2023
Microsoft is reportedly eyeing a $10 billion investment in OpenAI, the startup that created the viral chatbot ChatGPT, and is planning to integrate it into Office products and Bing search. The tech giant has already invested at least $1 billion into OpenAI. Some of these features might be rolling out as early as March, according to The Information.   This is…

How old batteries will help power tomorrow’s EVs

January 17, 2023
Battery recycling is one of MIT Technology Review’s 10 Breakthrough Technologies of 2023. Explore the rest of the list here. To Redwood Materials, the rows of cardboard boxes in its gravel parking lot represent both the past and the future of electric vehicles. The makeshift storage space stretches for over 10 acres at Redwood’s new…