Technology

The report says Spotify will raise prices in the US in the first quarter of next year

The report says Spotify will raise prices in the US in the first quarter of next year

πŸ’₯ Discover this must-read post from TechCrunch πŸ“– πŸ“‚ Category: Apps,Media & Entertainment,Spotify πŸ“Œ Main takeaway: Spotify plans to raise subscription prices in the US in the first quarter of next year, according to a new report from the Financial Times. The move will mark the streaming service's first price hike in the US since July 2024. The company has recently raised prices in several other countries, including the UK, Switzerland and Australia. A Spotify subscription currently costs $11.99 per month in the US. When the service first launched in the country 14 years ago, it cost $9.99 per month.…
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Facebook is competing with Reddit by launching nicknames for Facebook groups

Facebook is competing with Reddit by launching nicknames for Facebook groups

πŸš€ Read this trending post from TechCrunch πŸ“– πŸ“‚ Category: Apps,Social,Facebook,social media,facebook groups,Meta βœ… Here’s what you’ll learn: Facebook Groups are becoming more similar to Reddit with newly added support for nicknames. The feature, which allows users to post under a custom username instead of their real names, provides an alternative to posting anonymously. Through anonymous posting, users can share without linking the post to their Facebook profile and real identity, but this approach also does not allow other group members to recognize them or their personality, or follow their updates over time. Image credits:Facebook Meta says nicknames will allow…
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A new AI standard tests whether chatbots protect human well-being

A new AI standard tests whether chatbots protect human well-being

πŸš€ Discover this insightful post from TechCrunch πŸ“– πŸ“‚ Category: AI,AI chatbots,humane bench,building humane technology πŸ’‘ Here’s what you’ll learn: AI chatbots have been linked to serious damage to mental health in heavy users, but there have been few metrics to measure whether they protect human well-being or maximize engagement. A new benchmark called HumaneBench seeks to fill this gap by assessing whether chatbots prioritize user well-being and how easily these protections fail under pressure. β€œI think we're seeing an amplification of the cycle of addiction that we've seen with social media and our smartphones and our screens,” Erika Anderson,…
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X-energy rides the nuclear wave, raises $700M Series D

X-energy rides the nuclear wave, raises $700M Series D

πŸš€ Explore this trending post from TechCrunch πŸ“– πŸ“‚ Category: Climate,Enterprise,Startups,Amazon,nuclear power,Jane Street,Amazon Climate Pledge Fund,X-Energy,nuclear fission πŸ’‘ Key idea: Nuclear energy startup X-energy has raised $700 million in a Series D round, the company told TechCrunch. The new fundraising campaign comes less than a year after it expanded its Series C from $500 million to $700 million, bringing the total raised in the past year or so to $1.4 billion, a significant sum even in the world of nuclear energy startups. X-energy has raised $1.8 billion to date. X-energy said the new injection will help build the supply chain…
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Hands-on with Stickerbox, the AI-powered sticker maker for kids

Hands-on with Stickerbox, the AI-powered sticker maker for kids

πŸ’₯ Check out this insightful post from TechCrunch πŸ“– πŸ“‚ Category: AI,Gadgets,Startups,TC,kids,families,ai images,stickerbox πŸ’‘ Main takeaway: There's a new AI-powered game for kids called Stickerbox, and before you groan, I'm here to tell you that it's surprisingly fun. The Stickerbox, a product originating from Brooklyn-based startup Hapiko, is a voice-activated label printer. The device takes any creative idea you have and turns it into a printed poster that you can then color, peel and stick anywhere. Before trying the device itself, I have to admit that I came with a preconceived negative bias – as did my fellow tester (my…
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Independent workers in India are gaining legal status, but access to social security remains elusive

Independent workers in India are gaining legal status, but access to social security remains elusive

✨ Explore this awesome post from TechCrunch πŸ“– πŸ“‚ Category: Transportation,Amazon,Flipkart,gig work,gig workers,labor law,Uber,Zepto,zomato πŸ“Œ Main takeaway: India has granted legal status to millions of gig workers and platforms under newly implemented labor laws, marking a milestone for the country's delivery, ride-hailing and e-commerce industries - but with benefits unclear and platforms beginning to weigh their liabilities, access to social security remains elusive. This recognition stems from the Social Security Act – one of four labor laws that the Indian government brought into force on Friday – more than five years after Parliament first passed it in 2020. It is…
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OpenAI learned the hard way that Cameo has trademarked the word “cameo.”

OpenAI learned the hard way that Cameo has trademarked the word “cameo.”

πŸ”₯ Explore this awesome post from TechCrunch πŸ“– πŸ“‚ Category: AI,cameo,In Brief,OpenAI,sora πŸ’‘ Main takeaway: OpenAI's social app Sora has launched with a controversial feature called Cameo, allowing users to fake themselves or others (with permission). The feature had a weak rollout β€” Martin Luther King Jr.'s estate had to be involved, to give you an idea of ​​what happened β€” but it now faces a new challenge. Apparently, Cameo β€” the app where you can buy personalized video messages from celebrities β€” can claim the trademark for the word "cameo." U.S. District Judge Iommi K. I have a temporary…
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Google partners with Accel to research upcoming AI breakthroughs in India

Google partners with Accel to research upcoming AI breakthroughs in India

✨ Check out this trending post from TechCrunch πŸ“– πŸ“‚ Category: AI,Startups,Venture,Accel,Google,Google AI Futures Fund πŸ“Œ Main takeaway: Google has partnered with Accel to find and fund early-stage AI startups in India in a first-of-its-kind collaboration for the Google AI Futures Fund, which was launched earlier this year. On Tuesday, Accel and Google announced a partnership to jointly invest up to $2 million in each startup through Accel's Atoms program, with the two companies contributing up to $1 million. The 2026 cohort will focus on founders in India and Indian diaspora who have been building AI products from day one.…
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Altman describes OpenAI’s upcoming AI device as more peaceful and quiet than an iPhone

Altman describes OpenAI’s upcoming AI device as more peaceful and quiet than an iPhone

πŸš€ Explore this awesome post from TechCrunch πŸ“– πŸ“‚ Category: AI,Gadgets,johy ive,OpenAI,sam altman πŸ“Œ Main takeaway: β€œWhen people see it, they say, β€˜Is that it?’… It’s very simple.” That's how OpenAI CEO Sam Altman describes how he thinks people will respond to seeing the company's upcoming AI device for the first time. The device is the result of a collaboration between OpenAI and former Apple chief designer Jony Ive. Not much is known yet about the product except that it is rumored to be "screenless" and pocket-sized. Earlier this year, OpenAI acquired design startup Ive, io, to bring AI to…
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Rad Power Bikes batteries receive extensive fire hazard warning

Rad Power Bikes batteries receive extensive fire hazard warning

πŸš€ Discover this must-read post from TechCrunch πŸ“– πŸ“‚ Category: Transportation,e-bikes,micromobility,Rad Power Bikes βœ… Key idea: The batteries that power Rad Power Bikes' e-bikes "pose a risk of serious injury and death," and owners should stop using them, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The warning, issued Monday by CSPC, is due to the risk of batteries catching fire or exploding. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has linked the batteries to 31 fire reports so far. Twelve of these incidents resulted in property damage, and some occurred even when the batteries were not charged, according to the commission.…
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