The Download: China’s winning at advanced manufacturing, and a potential TikTok sale
Technology
Singapore-based Transcelestial uses lasers to build affordable internet networks
Transcelestial is on a mission to make the internet more accessible by building a network of shoebox-sized devices that send lasers to one another, creating a fiber-like network. Today, the Singaporean-based startup announced it has raised $10 million, with the goal of expanding its wireless laser communications system in Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore […]
Singapore-based Transcelestial uses lasers to build affordable internet networks by Catherine Shu originally published on TechCrunch
Toyota Research Institute’s robots leave home
“I think I’m probably just as guilty as everybody else,” Toyota Research Institute’s (TRI) senior vice president of robotics, Max Bajracharya, admits. “It’s like, now our GPUs are better. Oh, we got machine learning and now you know we can do this. Oh, okay, maybe that was harder than we thought.” Ambition is, of course, […]
Toyota Research Institute’s robots leave home by Brian Heater originally published on TechCrunch
NFTs could give Bitcoin a face lift as it increases its blockchain demand
The past few weeks in crypto land have been focused on the latest craze: Ordinals. What are Ordinals, you ask?
NFTs could give Bitcoin a face lift as it increases its blockchain demand by Jacquelyn Melinek originally published on TechCrunch
Most sites claiming to catch AI-written text fail spectacularly
As the fervor around generative AI grows, critics have called on the creators of the tech to take steps to mitigate its potentially harmful effects. In particular, text-generating AI in particular has gotten a lot of attention — and with good reason. Students could use it to plagiarize, content farms could use it to spam […]
Most sites claiming to catch AI-written text fail spectacularly by Kyle Wiggers originally published on TechCrunch
Autonomation
“Jidoka” is a new one to me. TRI (Toyota Research Institute) CEO Gill Pratt described the concept as “Automation with a Human Touch.” The anglicized version of the notion is “Autonomation” — both are modified forms of “ automation,” in their respective languages. The word was originally applied to Toyota’s Production System, highlighting the need […]
Autonomation by Brian Heater originally published on TechCrunch
Neobank Vexi raises millions to offer young Mexicans lower interest rate credit cards
Getting a credit card is something most Americans take for granted. In countries such as Mexico, it’s a much more difficult and less common endeavor. In fact, less than 20% of the population has access to a form of credit, with just an estimated 10% having credit cards. In recent years, a number of startups […]
Neobank Vexi raises millions to offer young Mexicans lower interest rate credit cards by Mary Ann Azevedo originally published on TechCrunch
A comprehensive list of 2023 tech layoffs
Last year’s tech-wide reckoning continues. In 2023, layoffs have yet again cost tens of thousands of tech workers their jobs; this time, the workforce reductions have been driven by the biggest names in tech like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Yahoo and Zoom. Startups, too, have announced cuts across all sectors, from crypto to enterprise SaaS. The […]
A comprehensive list of 2023 tech layoffs by Natasha Mascarenhas originally published on TechCrunch
Tile takes extreme steps to limit stalkers and thieves from using its Bluetooth trackers
Apple took a big PR hit as news spread that its item tracker the AirTag was being used for stalking and car thefts, which led the company to retool its software with a closer eye on user safety. AirTag’s competitor Tile is now introducing its own plan to make its device safer, with the launch […]
Tile takes extreme steps to limit stalkers and thieves from using its Bluetooth trackers by Sarah Perez originally published on TechCrunch
Planetarians grabs $6M to get its plant-based protein into foodservice orbit
Planetarians’ plant-based whole cuts of protein have a umami-like flavor and are made with two ingredients: the oil cakes and brewer’s yeast.
Planetarians grabs $6M to get its plant-based protein into foodservice orbit by Christine Hall originally published on TechCrunch