TikTok debuts new tools and technology to label AI content

September 19, 2023
As more creators turn to AI for their artistic expression, there’s also a broader push for transparency around when AI was involved in content creation. To address this concern, TikTok announced today it will launch a new tool that will allow creators to label their AI-generated content and will begin testing other ways to label […]

Meet the next generation of AI superstars

September 19, 2023
So smart! So talented! This week I’m pleased to introduce you to a new crop of bright minds working on some of the most challenging problems in AI and beyond. You can read MIT Technology Review’s full list of 35 Innovators Under 35 here.  We’ve previously highlighted some of the most promising people in tech before…

YC says visa challenges hampering participation of international founders

September 19, 2023
The most recent cohort from Y Combinator features more than 200 startups. The S23 batch stands out for several reasons. More than half of these startups focus on AI applications, highlighting a dominant trend we can expect in the coming years. It’s also remarkable for at least one more reason: only one startup from the […]

IFC leads $5M extension round in Ivorian SaaS e-commerce platform ANKA

September 19, 2023
ANKA, an Ivorian SaaS e-commerce platform for African businesses, has raised $5 million. The pre-Series A extension round is a mix of equity and debt; last January, ANKA, formerly Afrikrea, raised $6.2 million. The seven-year-old startup has secured $13.5 million from investors since its inception. In a statement, ANKA said it will use the fresh […]

Deepfakes of Chinese influencers are livestreaming 24/7

September 19, 2023
Scroll through the livestreaming videos at 4 a.m. on Taobao, China’s most popular e-commerce platform, and you’ll find it weirdly busy. While most people are fast asleep, there are still many diligent streamers presenting products to the cameras and offering discounts in the wee hours.  But if you take a closer look, you may notice…

European carbon accounting startup Plan A raises $27M from VC and corporate heavyweights

September 19, 2023
Plan A, a carbon accounting and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) reporting platform for corporations, has raised $27 million in a Series A round of funding led by U.S. VC giant Lightspeed Venture partners. Technically the funding is an extension of a $10 million Series A round it announced nearly two years ago, meaning for […]

Catch+Release launches an AI-powered search for user-generated content

September 19, 2023
Catch+Release, a startup that lets brands license creator content, said it has launched an AI-powered search that lets users look for user-generated content in natural language queries. The startup helps companies license creator content for their marketing campaigns. While brands can add links from Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok to their collection for potential use, the […]

Material wealth: Scrap metal trading marketplace Metaloop raises $17M

September 19, 2023
European Union (EU) lawmakers this month announced plans to reduce waste and increase recycling across the bloc, with proposals to collect and process 45% of 16 identified “strategic” raw materials by 2030. These include metals such as copper, which is used in everything from computers and TVs, to domestic wiring and electric generators. At the […]

European cyber insurance startup Stoïk raises $10.7 million and expands to Germany

September 19, 2023
French startup Stoïk offers a cyber insurance product to small and medium companies — a bit like Coalition in the U.S. And things have been working well in France. So the company just announced that it plans to expand to Germany as its second country with Franziska Geier heading the team there. The company also raised […]

What the continued UAW strike means for EVs

September 19, 2023
The United Auto Workers’ strike against General Motors, Ford and Stellantis is well into its fourth day, with no deal in sight. The strike comes as all three automakers have made aggressive moves to retool existing factories to build electric vehicles. Delays could set back production and delivery of current and future EV models, while […]