November 13, 2025

OpenAI’s new LLM exposes the secrets of how AI really works

ChatGPT maker OpenAI has built an experimental large language model that is far easier to understand than typical models. That’s a big deal, because today’s LLMs are black boxes: Nobody fully understands how they do what they do. Building a model that is more transparent sheds light on how LLMs work in general, helping researchers…

Researchers develop tiny hydraulic haptics for touchscreen notifications you can physically feel

April 27, 2023

If you find smartphone notifications annoying enough already thanks to their skill at exploiting the full range of distraction options available, whether dropping a banner from above or sprinkling pox-like red balls over your homescreen icons so as to lodge like grit in the eye, you should prepare yourself for even less subtle demands bubbling […]

Researchers develop tiny hydraulic haptics for touchscreen notifications you can physically feel by Natasha Lomas originally published on TechCrunch

London’s Sturgeon Capital launches $35M fund aimed at emerging startups in Central Asia

April 27, 2023

We reported last year on the launch of a $225 million VC platform from the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank, which would also cover Central Asia. In addition, Most VC launched its accelerator out of Almaty, Kazakstan. So it’s clear these regions, for too long considered backwaters, are now finding their […]

London’s Sturgeon Capital launches $35M fund aimed at emerging startups in Central Asia by Mike Butcher originally published on TechCrunch

The future of generative AI is niche, not generalized

April 27, 2023
The relentless hype surrounding generative AI in the past few months has been accompanied by equally loud anguish over the supposed perils — just look at the open letter calling for a pause in AI experiments. This tumult risks blinding us to more immediate risks — think sustainability and bias — and clouds our ability…

Meta updates its avatars with new body shapes, hair and clothing

April 27, 2023

Meta announced today that it’s introducing new body shapes, improved hair and clothing textures to its avatars. The company also announced that more than one billion avatars have been created across its platforms. Starting this month, users will be able to choose from a wider range of body shape options, including two curvier body shapes. […]

Meta updates its avatars with new body shapes, hair and clothing by Aisha Malik originally published on TechCrunch

Y Combinator-backed Luca aims to optimize retail prices at enterprise scale

April 27, 2023

Luca, a startup building price planning and prediction tools for retailers, today announced that it closed a $2.5 million seed round led by Menlo Ventures with participation from Y Combinator (Luca was in Y Combinator’s winter 2023 class), Soma Capital and angel investors. Luca was co-founded by Tanvi Surti and Yonah Mann, who worked together […]

Y Combinator-backed Luca aims to optimize retail prices at enterprise scale by Kyle Wiggers originally published on TechCrunch

Appeals court rules in favor of Meta in antitrust case from State AGs

April 27, 2023

Meta has won an antitrust lawsuit that pitted the tech giant against dozens of state attorneys general, led by New York, who had alleged Meta had illegally maintained monopoly power in the social networking market through its acquisitions of photo-sharing app Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014, and that it gained further power through […]

Appeals court rules in favor of Meta in antitrust case from State AGs by Sarah Perez originally published on TechCrunch