July 4, 2025

The Download: India’s AI independence, and predicting future epidemics

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. Inside India’s scramble for AI independence Despite its status as a global tech hub, India lags far behind the likes of the US and China when it comes to homegrown AI. That gap…

Amazon launches RxPass, a $5/month Prime add-on for all-you-need generic drugs covering 80 conditions

January 24, 2023

More than two years since announcing Amazon Pharmacy to take some of the prescription drugs business away from big (and smaller) drug stores, Amazon is launching a new product to expand its reach in the space. Today, it’s taking the wraps off RxPass, a service where Prime users in the U.S. can pay a monthly […]

Amazon launches RxPass, a $5/month Prime add-on for all-you-need generic drugs covering 80 conditions by Ingrid Lunden originally published on TechCrunch

Pasqal raises $100M to build a neutral atom-based quantum computer

January 24, 2023

Pasqal, a Paris-based quantum computing startup, today announced that it has raised a $100 million Series B funding round let by Singapore’s Temasek. In addition to Temasek, existing investors Quantonation, the Defense Innovation Fund, Daphni and Eni Next, as well as new investors European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, Wa’ed Ventures and Bpifrance (through its Large […]

Pasqal raises $100M to build a neutral atom-based quantum computer by Frederic Lardinois originally published on TechCrunch

Lightyear stops production on €250,000 solar-powered EV

January 24, 2023

Solar-powered electric vehicle maker Lightyear said it’s halting production on its flagship Lightyear 0, its premium EV with a sticker price of €250,000. Despite only starting production on the vehicle three months ago, Lightyear is restructuring to focus on building a more affordable model, the Lightyear 2 for around €40,000, reports Electrek. The news comes […]

Lightyear stops production on €250,000 solar-powered EV by Rebecca Bellan originally published on TechCrunch

Bluedot’s debit card for EV owners offers cheaper charging, cash back

January 24, 2023

Electric vehicles accounted for nearly 6% of all new cars sold in the U.S. in 2022, an increase from 3.1% the year before, and that number will continue to grow over the coming years. While it’s still a young industry, the ecosystem surrounding EVs — from EV charging and installation to insurance products and parking […]

Bluedot’s debit card for EV owners offers cheaper charging, cash back by Rebecca Bellan originally published on TechCrunch

Musk said he could have funded a Tesla buyout with SpaceX shares

January 24, 2023

Elon Musk testified Monday that he was not only certain he’d have the backing from Saudi financiers to take Tesla private in 2018, but also that he could have sold enough shares of his rocket company SpaceX to fund a buyout. Musk defended himself as part of an ongoing lawsuit against the CEO for allegedly […]

Musk said he could have funded a Tesla buyout with SpaceX shares by Rebecca Bellan originally published on TechCrunch

Construction robotics firm Kewazo raises $10 million

January 23, 2023

Automating construction makes plain sense on the face of it. It’s one of the world’s biggest industries. It’s also among the most expensive and, often, dangerous. Certainly it checks off the three Ds (dull, dirty, dangerous) of automation quite plainly. We encountered Kewazo several years back when the Munich-based startup participated in a TC Sessions: […]

Construction robotics firm Kewazo raises $10 million by Brian Heater originally published on TechCrunch