OpenAI launches Astra, its powerful (and controversial) new model
OpenAI claims that Astra represents “a new frontier on computer and browser use,” and that it handles tasks with unmatched “speed, accuracy, and safety.”
The Download: rethinking child safety and fossil-fueled farming
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. Child-monitoring apps might need a reboot Digital harms have become the defining fear of American parents. In response, they’re increasingly turning to content-monitoring apps that scan their children’s texts, photos, emails,…
Qualcomm backs Ultrahuman in $70M round on bet to turn smart rings into computers
Ultrahuman is targeting a $200 million annual revenue run rate by January 2027 as it builds a new Qualcomm-powered smart ring.
Circular unveils Ring 3 series with contactless payments and on-finger vibration alerts
Smart ring maker Circular on Thursday unveiled its upcoming Ring 3 series, which consists of a Pro model and a Slim option. Both of the smart rings will feature an integrated NFC chip for contactless payments, vibrating alerts for alarms and reminders, and more. The Ring 3 Pro features a slimmer design than its predecessor […]
This Silicon Valley Billionaire Requested a Root Canal Without Novocaine — Here’s the Wild Reason Why
Doug Leone has spent decades chasing fear on purpose. He wasn’t going to let a llittle shot make him late for a meeting.
Pizza Hut Just Went Private in a $2.7 Billion Sale — Here’s the Turnaround Plan
After 30 years under Yum Brands, Pizza Hut has a new owner, and a plan built on nostalgia instead of another remodel.
Ollie is betting its focus on privacy can help it win the AI assistant race
The family-focused AI assistant wants access to the details of your everyday life, but says it won’t use that data to train AI models or share it with others.
Google launches AI voice features in Gmail, Docs and Keep
Users can search for emails or draft documents using the new conversational feature
Google’s latest AI weather model gives you no excuse to forget your umbrella
Scientists at Google Deepmind and Google Research released a new artificial intelligence model for weather forecasting today that sees our changing atmosphere more clearly and predicts its behavior more often. WeatherNext 3 is the latest wave of a sea change in meteorology brought out by deep learning techniques, and Google says it will start feeding […]
Volunteer at TechCrunch Founder Summit in Boston
Our rebranded Boston event, TechCrunch Founder Summit (formerly All Stage), is back on November 4th! And we are looking for some incredible volunteers to help us make this event happen. If you are interested in finding out what goes into building tech events, apply to volunteer. If you are selected, not only will you get […]
TikTok comments are getting more interactive with voice comments, polls, and more
TikTok’s comments section is getting an upgrade. The social network announced on Thursday that it’s rolling out new features for its comment sections, including voice comments, comment polls, photo carousel comments, and Live Photo comments. With the additions, the app is borrowing features from messaging apps as it looks to deepen engagement on its platform. […]