December 3, 2025

OpenAI has trained its LLM to confess to bad behavior

OpenAI is testing another new way to expose the complicated processes at work inside large language models. Researchers at the company can make an LLM produce what they call a confession, in which the model explains how it carried out a task and (most of the time) owns up to any bad behavior. Figuring out…

Technology

German startup Kern AI nabs seed funding for modular NLP development platform

February 16, 2023

Natural language processing (NLP), while hardly a new discipline, has catapulted into the public consciousness these past few months thanks in large part to the generative AI hype train that is ChatGPT. Alongside other NLP models such as Hugging Face’s Transformers, and Google’s LaMDA which is set to power its ChatGPT-rival Bard, there’s a palpable […]

German startup Kern AI nabs seed funding for modular NLP development platform by Paul Sawers originally published on TechCrunch

VivaCity raises at $42M valuation to make US cities safer, starting with New York

February 16, 2023

Around 39,000 people were killed in motor vehicle incidents in the USA in 2020 — and 6,200 of those deaths were pedestrians. Needless to say, those deaths aren’t just statistics: each has a ripple effect on families, loved ones and the wider communities. Viva is looking to tackle transportation impacts after raising $8.5 million in […]

VivaCity raises at $42M valuation to make US cities safer, starting with New York by Haje Jan Kamps originally published on TechCrunch

Bing around and find out

February 15, 2023

Microsoft’s new and improved Bing, powered by a custom version of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, has experienced a dizzyingly quick reversal: from “next big thing” to “brand-sinking albatross” in under a week. And, well, it’s all Microsoft’s fault. ChatGPT is a really interesting demonstration of a new and unfamiliar technology that’s also fun to use. So it’s […]

Bing around and find out by Devin Coldewey originally published on TechCrunch

Is the ‘exodus’ over? Here’s how Twitter alternatives have fared since Elon Musk’s acquisition

February 15, 2023

Was there a Twitter exodus or just a Twitter pause? Did it even matter? New data takes a look at how a range of “Twitter alternatives” have fared in the months following Elon Musk’s acquisition of the popular microblogging network, now that the burst of new installs driven by his takeover has tapered off. The […]

Is the ‘exodus’ over? Here’s how Twitter alternatives have fared since Elon Musk’s acquisition by Sarah Perez originally published on TechCrunch

a16z, GV back Thatch in its effort to simplify health benefits for startups and their employees

February 15, 2023

When you’re dealing with health issues, worrying about how you’re going to pay for care can be a major additional stressor. This can be compounded when you’re facing major illnesses, such as receiving treatment for cancer or having surgery. Chris Ellis and Adam Stevenson had the unfortunate experiences of losing parents to cancer at a […]

a16z, GV back Thatch in its effort to simplify health benefits for startups and their employees by Mary Ann Azevedo originally published on TechCrunch

Intuitive Machines’ post-SPAC war chest depleted by shareholder redemptions

February 15, 2023

Lunar technology company Intuitive Machines received far less cash from its merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) than it forecasted, according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission made last night. Although Intuitive Machines said the SPAC trust could furnish the company with as much as $301 million in dry powder, […]

Intuitive Machines’ post-SPAC war chest depleted by shareholder redemptions by Aria Alamalhodaei originally published on TechCrunch

Funga wants to accelerate carbon capture using belowground fungal biodiversity

February 15, 2023

Funga claims to be the first company to leverage nature’s power of carbon removal, by focusing on restoring belowground fungal biodiversity. The company just raised a $4 million round. The company was founded by ecologist and climate scientist Dr. Colin Averill, and it combines modern DNA sequencing and machine learning technology with breakthrough research on […]

Funga wants to accelerate carbon capture using belowground fungal biodiversity by Haje Jan Kamps originally published on TechCrunch