Tech
AI Summary
- Open source AI developer tool Ollama has garnered nearly 9 million users following a $65 million funding round, signaling robust growth in the developer community.
- Character.AI is venturing into microdrama production, aiming to innovate within the entertainment space with a unique approach.
- Nandan Nilekani's departure from Fundamentum, coinciding with the firm's launch of a $200 million third fund, marks a significant shift in venture capital.
- Google's AI-powered deepfake detection system was successfully employed to debunk a fabricated image of Mitch McConnell, highlighting the growing challenge of misinformation.
- Autonomous vehicle companies are facing federal demands to cease interference with first responders, addressing critical safety concerns in public infrastructure.
Sources
TechCrunch
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Popular open source AI developer tool Ollama raises $65M, grows to nearly 9M users
an hour ago
by Julie Bort
TC, Startups, AI, Exclusive, Benchmark Partners, ollamaBenchmark-backed Ollama has amassed 176,000 stars, and nearly 17,000 forks on Github by helping developers easily run AI on their PCs.
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Character.AI enters the microdrama arena with its own productions, but there’s a twist
an hour ago
by Ivan Mehta
AI, Apps, ai entertainment, character.ai, microdramasIn an interesting twist that takes advantage of the company's core product, users can chat with these shows' characters, ask them questions, and even roleplay different storylines.
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Nandan Nilekani leaves GP role at Fundamentum as it launches $200M third fund
2 hours ago
by Jagmeet Singh
AI, Startups, Venture, Fundamentum, Fundamentum Partnership, Nandan NilekaniNilekani remains Fundamentum's anchor investor as the firm expands its leadership team and targets AI and fintech startups in India.
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Truecaller clashes with India’s telecom regulator over anti-spam rules
12 hours ago
by Jagmeet Singh
Apps, Government & Policy, MeitY, TRAI, TruecallerThe caller ID company says users are increasingly ignoring and blocking calls from India's dedicated business number series.
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Despite ‘misgivings,’ judge approves Elon Musk’s $1.5M SEC settlement
15 hours ago
by Lucas Ropek
Government & Policy, Elon Musk, In Brief, SEC, Trump, TwitterThe saga of Musk's tussle with the SEC over how he disclosed his growing stake in Twitter (now X) has come to an end.
Hacker News
- John Deere owners will get the right to repair equipment under FTC settlement 15 hours ago
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- Bonnie Tyler, singer of Total Eclipse of the Heart, dies aged 75 4 hours ago
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- EU Parliament greenlights Chat Control 1.0 – Breyer: "Our children lose out" 3 hours ago
Engadget
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Here's how to block Meta from using your Instagram pictures for its AI
an hour ago
by Steve Dent
MetaMeta has automatically opted all public accounts into its Muse Image AI.
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Alienware 34 QD-OLED review: An ultrawide showcase for Samsung's latest display tech
an hour ago
by Devindra Hardawar
GamingAlienware's latest 34-inch ultrawide gaming monitor is far brighter than before, and it can finally handle text without fringing.
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I quite fancy a Slate EV in a Crayola crayon color
2 hours ago
by Daniel Cooper
EVs and TransportationSlate's barebones EV trucks lack whimsy, which is why the company has teamed up with Crayola.
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SpaceXAI launches Grok 4.5, its first built with Cursor's help
3 hours ago
by Mariella Moon
AISpaceXAI has rolled out Grok 4.5, the first model it trained with Cursor.
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The BBC and Channel 4 are in talks to merge streaming services... yet again
4 hours ago
by Daniel Cooper
NewsThe BBC wanted to launch a UK-wide streaming service with ITV and Channel 4 in 2007... and again in 2017... will the third time be the charm?
The Verge
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Character.AI wants a piece of the microdrama pie
an hour ago
by Charles Pulliam-Moore
AI, Creators, Entertainment, TechCharacter.AI's plan to become more than just an LLM-powered chatbot platform is going beyond interactive books , comics , and audio dramas . Today, the company announced the debut of c.ai Series - short-form, episodic videos designed to be watched and interacted with - on your phone. Unlike traditional microdrama services that feature cheaply produced, live-action shows starring human performers, c.ai Series are animated and almost entirely made with generative AI. The company's interest in getting into the microdrama space isn't surprising considering that it's projected to become a $26 billion industry in the next few years. And even though
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FL Studio 2026 turns its AI chatbot into your assistant engineer
an hour ago
by Terrence O’Brien
AI, Apps, Entertainment, Music, News, TechGopher can’t play the piano for you, but it can bury it in the mix. | Image: Image Line Last year, Image Line introduced Gopher for FL Studio , an AI chatbot that was basically a glorified instruction manual. You asked it how to do something, and it would serve up the relevant instructions. It's the kind of thing I actually use AI for on a semi-regular basis. But in the new release, Gopher can actually execute actions on your behalf. I was able to ask Gopher to lay down a four-on-the-floor kick, with snares on the backbeat, then add
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SpaceX is on track for record-setting Starlink deployments
3 hours ago
by Thomas Ricker
Amazon, News, Science, Space, SpaceX, TechAnother 29 Starlink satellites were deployed last night. | Image: SpaceX SpaceX is currently ahead of last year's record-setting pace for Starlink satellite deployments. SpaceX launched 1,589 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit in the first half of 2026, according to launch data compiled by Jonathan McDowell's satellite tracker , compared to 1,489 satellites deployed at the same point in 2025. 2025 was already a record year for SpaceX, with the company deploying 3,180 Starlink satellites in total. SpaceX has launched over 12,400 Starlink satellites since the constellation's inception, with nearly 11,000 still functioning. To put these numbers into perspective, Amazon's
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Meta is reportedly working on smart glasses that would be recording all the time
16 hours ago
by Jay Peters
Gadgets, Meta, News, Privacy, Tech, WearableMeta might be the next company to make an always-on AI wearable. The company is working on prototype "super sensing" always-aware smart glasses that could continuously record audio and snap photos "every few seconds," according to the Financial Times . The wearer could then ask Meta AI about the captured audio and images. However, the images and audio might not be directly available to the user. Here's how the FT describes one way the glasses could use the data: In one proposed system, raw footage and audio would not be stored by Meta or made available to the user, several
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Get a $30 credit when you reserve Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy phones
18 hours ago
by Brad Bourque
Deals, Foldable Phones, Gadgets, Mobile, Tech, Verge ShoppingEven though they haven’t been officially announced yet, Samsung is giving you a chance to save some cash when you preorder what we’re expecting to be the brand’s updated Galaxy Z Fold phones. The next Galaxy Unpacked event will take place on July 22nd, 2026, and features the tagline “A new shape unfolds.” In addition to seeing updated versions of the existing Flip and Fold form factors, we anticipate the debut of a new, wider foldable phone. If you register your interest ahead of time and end up preordering one of the new phones shortly after they’re announced, Samsung will
Wired
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WIRED World Fair
2 hours ago
by Condé Nast
The Big Story -
Epilogue SN Operator Review: Super Nintendo Fun
2 hours ago
by Matt Kamen
Gear, Gear / Products / Gaming, Gear / Reviews, Product, ReviewProvided you have a library of SNES cartridges, the SN Operator is a seamless plug-and-play system for easy ’90s nostalgia.
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Dell 14S Review: Higher Price, Better Quality
3 hours ago
by Luke Larsen
Gear, Gear / Products, Gear / Products / Computers, Gear / Reviews, Product, ReviewThe Dell 14S represents the new normal of laptop pricing, but it has the quality to back up its cost.
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Amseatec Criss Cross Office Chair Review: Just Right
3 hours ago
by Nicole Kinning
Gear, Gear / Reviews, Gear / Products / Home Office, Product, ReviewThe Amseatec Criss Cross Office Chair gives you room to sit cross-legged, sideways, or however your body actually wants to sit.
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Data Centers Are Quietly Taking Over Texas. The Pollution Could Be Catastrophic
3 hours ago
by Evan Simon
The Big Story, Bigger, in, TexasThousands of new fossil-fuel power sources are quietly firing up across the state to power the AI boom, thanks to a regulatory loophole, leaving residents feeling blindsided.