Locus Robotics’ success is a tale of focusing on what works
“We’re fundamentally a software company,” Locus CEO Rick Faulk says with a laugh. We look like a robot company, but we’re actually a software company.” It’s a familiar refrain from companies whose mos...
https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/12/locus-robotics-success-is-a-tale-of-focusing-on-what-works/
TikTok is now letting creators in more countries earn money for their effects
TikTok is expanding its Effect Creator Rewards monetization program to more regions and lowering its payout threshold, the company announced today. The program, which launched in May 2023, rewards cre...
https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/12/tiktok-letting-creators-more-countries-get-rewarded-effects/
Uber CEO Khosrowshahi reveals the three goals at the top of his to-do list
Uber’s future will be greener, more affordable, and able to challenge Amazon at its own rapid delivery game, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi predicted while on stage this week at SXSW. His vision, which he char...
Google Play will show AI-powered FAQs and recent YouTube videos for games
Google announced a number of new features for Google Play listings for games including AI-powered FAQs, displaying the latest YouTube videos, new immersive ad formats, and support for native PC game p...
Chirp alert! 4 days left to save $1,000 on Disrupt super early-bird tickets
The wings of time are flying fast, and so is the countdown to the biggest savings on passes to TechCrunch Disrupt — taking place October 28–30 in San Francisco. Here’s the thing: You have only four da...
TechCrunch Minute: Reddit’s IPO success may hinge on AI boom
The long-running dearth of IPOs could be coming to a close, partly due to Reddit’s upcoming public debut. Expected to list this month, Reddit saw its valuation soar during the pandemic. Now, the compa...
https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/12/techcrunch-minute-reddits-ipo-success-may-hinge-on-ai-boom/
Most subscription mobile apps don’t make money, new report shows
Investors know that most startups fail, but something that may be less understood is how few mobile apps actually make money. According to a new analysis of the subscription app economy from mobile su...
https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/12/most-subscription-mobile-apps-dont-make-money-new-report-shows/
Polar Signals wants to help companies cut cloud costs with more efficient code
A young startup is setting out to help enterprises cut their cloud costs by writing “more efficient” code — and it has secured $6.8 million in fresh funding from notable backers including Alphabet’s G...
Deepgram’s Aura gives AI agents a voice
Deepgram has made a name for itself as one of the go-to startups for voice recognition. Today, the well-funded company announced the launch of Aura, its new real-time text-to-speech API. Aura combines...
https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/12/deepgrams-aura-gives-ai-agents-a-voice/
Bluesky scoops up the developer of popular third-party app, Graysky
Decentralized Twitter/X rival Bluesky is adding to its ranks by scooping up a member of its developer community. London-based software engineer Samuel Newman, who built the well-received third-party B...
Empathy closes $47M for AI to help with the practical and emotional bereavement process
Death, as the famous saying goes, is one of the inevitable certainties of life. But that doesn’t make coping with it any easier — not least because while loved ones are grieving, they must also handle...
https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/12/empathy-berevement-death-ai/
Apple to allow web distribution for iOS apps in latest DMA tweaks
Apple will allow iOS developers located in the European Union to distribute apps from the web, rather via its App Store. The option, which it says will be made available to qualifying developers “late...
https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/12/apple-to-allow-web-distribution-for-ios-apps-in-latest-dma-tweaks/
DoorDash’s new AI-powered ‘SafeChat+’ tool automatically detects verbal abuse
DoorDash hopes to reduce verbally abusive and inappropriate interactions between consumers and delivery people with its new AI-powered feature that automatically detects offensive language. Dubbed “Sa...
Tierra Biosciences nabs $11 million to create new AI-guided proteins
By using cell-free technology, Tierra is able to cut down protein manufacturing from months to weeks and enable customers to order proteins online.
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https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/12/protein-tierra-biosciences-11-4m/
Axion Ray’s AI attempts to detect product flaws to prevent recalls
Recalls are costly for — and damaging to — any company, no matter the size or market. For instance, McKinsey estimates that, for businesses manufacturing medical devices, recalls have been as high as ...
https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/12/axion-rays-ai-attempts-to-detect-product-flaws-to-prevent-recalls/
Code suggests that TikTok could be building an app for photos
After rivaling music streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple music with TikTok Music, ByteDance might be looking at creating an Instagram competitor named TikTok Photos, code found in the TikTok ap...
https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/12/code-suggests-that-tiktok-could-be-building-an-app-for-photos/
Google confirms it’s restricting Gemini election queries globally
If you want to ask Google’s AI chatbot a question about an upcoming election, you will have to do it from a country where there are no elections taking place. TechCrunch has learned that the search gi...
https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/12/google-gemini-election-related-queries/
Pienso builds no-code tools for training AI models
AI might be the “it thing” of the moment. But that doesn’t mean it’s getting easier to deploy. According to 2023 S&P Global survey, about half of companies with at least one AI project in production a...
https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/12/pienso-is-building-no-code-tools-for-training-ai-models/
Nanonets gets Accel India’s backing to improve AI-based workflow automation
Nanonets, a startup using AI to automate back-office processes, has raised $29 million in a new funding round led by Accel India as it seeks to improve the accuracy of automation processes that involv...
https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/12/nanonets-funding-accel-india/
New startup from Postgres creator puts the database at heart of software stack
MIT professor Mike Stonebreaker has been at the forefront of database technology for over 50 years. The former Turing Award winner invented the Ingres and Postgres databases and helped launch a number...