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…

As it shifts focus from DIY computer kits, Kano spins out its creative software suite as a standalone business

January 12, 2023

Kano Computing (“Kano”), the venture-backed company best known for its DIY computer kits and software for teaching coding and STEM skills to kids, is spinning out its creative software suite and online community platform as an independent business. The move comes as the U.K. company has been shifting its focus away from its build-your-own PC roots […]

As it shifts focus from DIY computer kits, Kano spins out its creative software suite as a standalone business by Paul Sawers originally published on TechCrunch

Google is finally rolling out emoji reactions for Meet video calls

January 12, 2023

Google is finally rolling out emoji reactions to people using Google Meet for video calls starting today. The company said that this feature will be first available on iOS and the web with Android support coming soon. The search giant first announced this feature last year, but it is reaching users just now. Users can […]

Google is finally rolling out emoji reactions for Meet video calls by Ivan Mehta originally published on TechCrunch

Inside the metaverse meetups that let people share on death, grief, and pain

January 12, 2023
Days after learning that her husband, Ted, had only months to live, Claire Matte found herself telling strangers about it in VR. The 62-year-old retiree had bought a virtual-reality headset in 2021 as a social getaway. Ted had late-stage cancer, and the intense responsibility of caring for him had shrunk her daily reality. With the…

Bitcoin mining was booming in Kazakhstan. Then it was gone.

January 12, 2023
To reach Kazakhstan’s largest bitcoin mine, you need to travel deep into the country’s rust belt, to the city of Ekibastuz. In the far northeast of the country, equidistant between the capital city of Astana and the country’s border with Siberia, it’s a drab sprawl of down-at-heel shops and cramped Soviet-era apartment buildings, known locally…

India’s Jio partners with Gamestream in cloud gaming push

January 12, 2023

Mukesh Ambani, one of Asia’s richest men, has made a splash in many industries over the past three decades. It now appears he has set his eyes on a new sector: Gaming. JioGames, part of Reliance Industries’ telecom platform Jio, said on Thursday it has inked a 10-year strategic partnership with French firm Gamestream. The […]

India’s Jio partners with Gamestream in cloud gaming push by Manish Singh originally published on TechCrunch

Clouds might be scattering in China’s venture capital world

January 12, 2023

The outlook of investing in China is suddenly brightening up as the country gradually phases out its draconian zero-COVID policy, which has caused disruptions in businesses of all kinds and kept the country’s borders shut for the last three years. For venture capitalists, the pandemic has been a tumultuous ride. Tony Wu, a partner at […]

Clouds might be scattering in China’s venture capital world by Rita Liao originally published on TechCrunch

Apple is reportedly working on MacBooks with touchscreens

January 12, 2023

After years of denials and loathing, Apple may finally be getting around to bringing touchscreens to MacBooks. According to Bloomberg, Apple is actively working on this project and may break away from its long-standing approach of designing a traditional desktop system without a touchscreen. Apple could launch MacBooks with touchscreens by 2025 as a part […]

Apple is reportedly working on MacBooks with touchscreens by Ivan Mehta originally published on TechCrunch

Stripe’s internal valuation gets cut to $63 billion

January 12, 2023

Stripe, a richly-valued payments startup, has cut its internal valuation yet again, according to sources familiar with the manner. It is now valued, internally, at $63 billion. The cut, first reported by The Information, puts Stripe’s internal per-share price at $24.71, down 40% since peaking. The 11% cut comes after a prior internal valuation cut that […]

Stripe’s internal valuation gets cut to $63 billion by Natasha Mascarenhas originally published on TechCrunch