Airbnb says a third of its customer support is now handled by AI in the U.S. and Canada
Airbnb has shifted a third of its North American customer service to its AI agent, CEO Brian Chesky said.
The Download: a blockchain enigma, and the algorithms governing our lives
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. Welcome to the dark side of crypto’s permissionless dream Jean-Paul Thorbjornsen, an Australian man in his mid-30s, with a rural Catholic upbringing, is a founder of THORChain, a blockchain through which users can…
Fintech lending giant Figure confirms data breach
The company said hackers downloaded “a limited number of files” after breaking into an employee’s account. The hacking group ShinyHunters took responsibility for the breach.
Why top talent is walking away from OpenAI and xAI
AI companies have been hemorrhaging talent the past few weeks. Half of xAI’s founding team has left the company — some on their own, others through “restructuring” — while OpenAI is facing its own shakeups, from the disbanding of its mission alignment team to the firing of a policy exec who opposed its “adult mode” feature. Watch as TechCrunch’s Equity podcast hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony […]
Sex toys maker Tenga says hacker stole customer information
The Japanese sex toy maker said a hacker broke into an employee’s inbox and stole customer names, email addresses, and correspondence, including order details and customer service inquiries.
The Zero-Click Economy Is Here, and It’s Stealing the Traffic You Rely On. Here’s How to Adapt Before It’s Too Late.
AI search is replacing website visits with instant decisions. Here’s why organic traffic is collapsing and what founders must do now to stay visible and competitive.
Pensions Are No Longer Reliable. Here are 8 Predictable Income Streams I’m Pursuing to Replace Mine.
Instead of waiting on a pension that may never come, I’m exploring these pension-like business ideas to build long-term financial security for my family.
I Stopped Reading Franchise Agreements as Contracts — Here’s What I See Instead
Seasoned franchise leaders know the agreement reveals how a system will grow, govern and respond to pressure long before the first unit opens.
OpenAI removes access to sycophancy-prone GPT-4o model
The model is known for its overly sycophantic nature and its role in several lawsuits involving users’ unhealthy relationships to the chatbot.
This Isn’t a Dress Rehearsal — Run Your Business Like You Only Get One Take. Here’s How.
Learn what great business leaders and performers share, and how it helps them seize opportunities instead of missing out.
Americans Are Spending Half as Much on Valentine’s Day This Year. Here’s What They’re Buying Instead.
Americans plan to spend $87 on Valentine’s Day gifts this year, down from $155 in 2025.