November 8, 2024

The Download: AI vs quantum, and the future of reproductive rights in the US

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. Why AI could eat quantum computing’s lunch Tech companies have been funneling billions of dollars into quantum computers for years. The hope is that they’ll be a game changer for fields as diverse…

Google opts for more of the same with its Tensor G2 processor

October 6, 2022

As expected, Google today launched its newest line of Pixel phones and — finally — the Pixel Watch. With the watch is powered by a standard Exynos system-on-a-chip, the new Pixel once again uses Google’s homegrown Tensor processor. Now in its second generation, the Tensor G2 processor promises to provide the phones with the ability […]

Google opts for more of the same with its Tensor G2 processor by Frederic Lardinois originally published on TechCrunch

Google’s Pixel 7 and 7 Pro will include a VPN at no extra cost

October 6, 2022

Among the security features Google announced with the launch of its new Pixel 7 smartphones, Google today also noted it will make its Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro devices its first-ever phones to include a VPN at no extra cost to users. This VPN won’t associate users’ app and browsing data with users’ accounts, […]

Google’s Pixel 7 and 7 Pro will include a VPN at no extra cost by Sarah Perez originally published on TechCrunch

Power beaming comes of age

October 6, 2022
Power beaming has long been a dream of engineers and innovators. Defined as the point-to-point transfer of electrical energy by a directed electromagnetic beam, the idea originated from Serbian-American physicist Nikola Tesla at the turn of the 20th century. After decades of alternating between optimism and abandonment, power beaming is finally becoming a reality, thanks…

Boston Dynamics, Agility and others pen letter condemning weaponized ‘general purpose’ robots

October 6, 2022

This morning, a group of prominent robotics firms issued an open letter condemning the weaponization of ‘general purpose’ robots. Signed by Boston Dynamics, Agility, ANYbotics, Clearpath Robotics, Open Robotics, the letter notes, in part, We believe that adding weapons to robots that are remotely or autonomously operated, widely available to the public, and capable of […]

Boston Dynamics, Agility and others pen letter condemning weaponized ‘general purpose’ robots by Brian Heater originally published on TechCrunch

Alkymi wants to bring custom automations to every business user

October 6, 2022

Alkymi launched in 2017 with a goal of helping financial services companies automate mundane tasks, a kind of lightweight RPA to grab information from emails and spreadsheets and eliminate a lot of copy/paste activity. More recently the company developed a way for a more broad set of customers to create their own automations and connect […]

Alkymi wants to bring custom automations to every business user by Ron Miller originally published on TechCrunch

Miko Robotics acquires majority stake in AI chess startup, Square Off

October 6, 2022

Square Off charmed us at CES 2019, when the startup showed off its robotic chess board at our Hardware Battlefield event. Watching the pieces move on their own, courtesy of underlying AI, grabbed the attention of a jaded crowd of showgoers. This morning, it takes the next step in the startup lifecycle, as Bay Area-based […]

Miko Robotics acquires majority stake in AI chess startup, Square Off by Brian Heater originally published on TechCrunch

Facing an uncertain future, Peloton will cut another 500 jobs

October 6, 2022

Peloton, it seems, isn’t out of the woods just yet. The once mighty connected fitness firm has been facing a steep uphill battle to turn around its fortunes. This morning, the company confirmed with The Wall Street Journal that it plans to cut another 500 jobs, under the leadership of CEO Barry McCarthy. The executive, who […]

Facing an uncertain future, Peloton will cut another 500 jobs by Brian Heater originally published on TechCrunch

Twitter is making its crowdsourced fact-checks visible to all U.S. users with Birdwatch expansion

October 6, 2022

After last month’s expansion of Twitter’s crowdsourced fact-checking program known as Birdwatch, Twitter announced this morning the notes fact-checkers leave on tweets will now be visible to all U.S. users. That doesn’t mean everyone in the U.S. will be able to participate in Birdwatch, however. The service had around 15,000 contributors during its pilot testing […]

Twitter is making its crowdsourced fact-checks visible to all U.S. users with Birdwatch expansion by Sarah Perez originally published on TechCrunch