President Trump signs exec order to make Musk’s DOGE commission more official

January 21, 2025

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an advisory commission spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk recommending deep cuts to federal agencies, could soon become more official, should an executive order signed by President Donald Trump pass legal muster. On Monday evening, Trump signed an order that renames the U.S. Digital Service, which was created in 2014 […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Trump signs exec order, delaying TikTok enforcement action for 75 days

January 21, 2025

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at restoring TikTok service in the U.S. The order instructs relevant government agencies to “pursue a resolution” that “protects national security” while “saving [TikTok.]”  Via the order, Trump is instructing the U.S. Attorney General not to take any action for 75 days to enforce the Protecting […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

President Trump repeals Biden’s AI executive order

January 21, 2025

During his first day in office, President Donald Trump revoked a 2023 executive order signed by former President Joe Biden that sought to reduce the potential risks AI poses to consumers, workers, and national security. Biden’s executive order directed the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to author guidance that helps companies […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

UK to unveil ‘Humphrey’ assistant for civil servants with other AI plans to cut bureaucracy

January 21, 2025

A week after the U.K. government announced a sweeping plan to make big investments into AI, it’s laying out more details around how this will take shape in the public sector. On the agenda: AI assistants to speed up public services; data sharing deals across siloed departments; and a new set of AI tools — […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

OpenAI’s agent tool may be nearing release

January 20, 2025

OpenAI may be close to releasing an AI tool that can take control of your PC and perform actions on your behalf. Tibor Blaho, a software engineer with a reputation for accurately leaking upcoming AI products, claims to have uncovered evidence of OpenAI’s long-rumored Operator tool. Publications including Bloomberg have previously reported on Operator, which […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Friend delays shipments of its ‘AI companion’ pendant

January 20, 2025

Friend, a startup creating a $99, AI-powered necklace designed to be treated as a digital companion, has delayed its first batch of shipments until Q3. Friend had planned to ship devices to pre-order customers in Q1. But according to co-founder and CEO Avi Schiffman, that’s no longer feasible. “As much as I would liked to […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

US safety regulators expand Ford hands-free driving tech investigation

January 20, 2025

A U.S. federal safety regulator has “upgraded” its investigation into Ford’s hands-free advanced driver assistance system known as BlueCruise — a required step before a recall can be issued. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation launched a probe into Ford BlueCruise last April after the agency confirmed the system was active […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

At the Microsoft Excel World Championship, selfies and a ‘hype’ tunnel

January 20, 2025

An arena. A hype tunnel, the kind through which NBA players typically streak. A competitor dressed in a jersey patterned with a six-pack abs. In a new piece, the New York Times takes readers to an event that organizers call the Microsoft Excel World Championship, a 40-minute, Las Vegas-based competition featuring 12 contestants — all […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.