Onton raises $7.5M to expand its AI-powered shopping site beyond furniture
Onton, which change its name from Deft, is giving users an infinite canvas with AI-powered image generation to nudge them towards making quicker purchase decisions
The Download: chatbots for health, and US fights over AI regulation
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. “Dr. Google” had its issues. Can ChatGPT Health do better? For the past two decades, there’s been a clear first step for anyone who starts experiencing new medical symptoms: Look them up online.…
The AI Hype Index: The people can’t get enough of AI slop
Separating AI reality from hyped-up fiction isn’t always easy. That’s why we’ve created the AI Hype Index—a simple, at-a-glance summary of everything you need to know about the state of the industry. Last year, the fantasy author Joanna Maciejewska went viral (if such a thing is still possible on X) with a post saying “I…
Uber and WeRide’s robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi is officially driverless
The commercial robotaxi service launched last year. Now, the human safety operator is gone.
Why ‘hold forever’ investors are snapping up venture capital ‘zombies’
An investor explains the “buy, fix, and hold” model employed by Bending Spoons and similar companies that buy distressed startups.
YouTube is working on a feature that will fix the messy home feed
YouTube is experimenting with a new feature that allows users to customize their home feed.
Young People Spend a Surprising Amount on Black Friday — And Make a Common Mistake
Many Gen Z consumers plan their holiday shopping strategy for months.
This Government Paid Deloitte $1 Million for a Report That Included Fake AI Citations
An investigation found that Deloitte cited research that didn’t exist in the 526-page report.
‘My Rock’: Billionaire Virgin Founder Richard Branson Announces Death of Wife — After Nearly 50 Years Together
The Virgin Group founder shared the news about the passing of his wife, Joan Templeman, on Instagram.
Character.AI will offer interactive ‘Stories’ to kids instead of open-ended chat
The company announced last month that it would no longer allow minors to use its chat features.
Forget Crypto vs. Banks. The Real Opportunity Is in Building One Platform for Both.
Here’s why the future of finance belongs to founders who build for both banks and crypto users.