Tech
AI Summary
- OpenAI is facing intense scrutiny over safety protocols amidst Elon Musk's lawsuit, while also rolling out new features like 'Trusted Contact' and voice intelligence, and reportedly planning an AI agent competitor to Meta's OpenClaw.
- Major tech companies are investing heavily in AI development, with Google launching an AI health coach and reportedly rebranding Fitbit to 'Google Health,' while SpaceX is planning to build AI chips and Anthropic is partnering with them.
- The tech industry is grappling with cybersecurity threats, including widespread hacks of school systems like Canvas, and concerns about 'AI slop' impacting online communities and creative work.
- The startup ecosystem remains dynamic, with companies like Ramp and Kalshi achieving significant valuation increases, though others like Kodiak AI faced stock declines, and some, like Tome, are shutting down.
- Consumer tech news includes updates on unified 'super apps' from Disney, a shift away from swiping on Bumble, and the availability of Perplexity's AI assistant for Mac users, alongside new hardware releases and game updates.
Sources
TechCrunch
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Why you can never get your doctor to call you back
4 hours ago
by Connie Loizos
AI, Biotech & Health, TC, Aileen Lee, Basata, Basis Set Ventures, cowboy ventures, Sofeon, Victoria TreygerLike many AI companies automating work that humans currently do, Basata will eventually face a harder question about where the line is between augmenting workers and displacing them. For now, the founders say the administrative staff they work with aren't worried about that; they're more worried about drowning.
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Ramp in talks to hit $40B+ valuation, 6 months after reaching $32B
9 hours ago
by Julie Bort
Fintech, Startups, TC, In Brief, RampThe company is reportedly in talks to raise another $750 million at a pre-money valuation of more than $40 billion. It last raised in November at $32 billion.
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OpenAI launches new voice intelligence features in its API
10 hours ago
by Lucas Ropek
AI, OpenAI, gptThe new features could be handy for customer service systems, but OpenAI says they have applications that work across a variety of other fields, including education and creator platforms.
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Kodiak AI raises $100M at a steep discount, sending its stock tumbling 37%
10 hours ago
by Kirsten Korosec
Startups, Transportation, autonomous trucks, self-driving trucks, kodiak aiThe company made a series of other announcements during earnings, including a new commercial contract, a pilot program in Canada, and a collaboration.
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Disney looking to make a unified ‘super app,’ report says
11 hours ago
by Amanda Silberling
Apps, Media & Entertainment, Disney, Disney Plus, In Brief, josh d'amaroDisney CEO Josh D'Amaro, who took over for Bob Iger earlier this year, has emphasized his intent to streamline the Disney experience.
Hacker News
- Canvas is down as ShinyHunters threatens to leak schools’ data 10 hours ago
- Maybe you shouldn't install new software for a bit 9 hours ago
- Cloudflare to cut about 20% workforce 12 hours ago
- Dirtyfrag: Universal Linux LPE 13 hours ago
- Blaise – A modern self-hosting zero-legacy Object Pascal compiler targeting QBE 3 hours ago
Engadget
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Twitch has new penalties for streamers caught viewbotting, CEO says
9 hours ago
by Karissa Bell
Social MediaRepeat offenders will be punished with "caps" on their views.
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iam8bit recorded a jazzy Persona album for the series' 30th
10 hours ago
by Jessica Conditt
Gaming, NewsThe vinyl drops in Q4, but the full album is streamable now.
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The Paranormal Activity game project is dead
10 hours ago
by Anna Washenko
GamingThe solo developer couldn't get an extension from rights-holder Paramount.
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Bumble will replace swiping right with... something
10 hours ago
by Ian Carlos Campbell
AppsThe company previously announced it was working on an AI assistant that can make matches.
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OpenAI debuts a Codex plugin for Chrome
10 hours ago
by Anna Washenko
AIThe new feature could turn Codex into more than a coding aid.
The Verge
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Canvas is down as ShinyHunters threatens to leak schools’ data
11 hours ago
by Emma Roth
News, Security, TechThe Instructure-owned learning management platform, Canvas, is down after recently confirming a massive data breach that impacted student names, email addresses, ID numbers, and messages. Students attempting to access the system on Thursday saw a message from the hacking group ShinyHunters, which claimed responsibility for the attack: > ShinyHunters has breached Instructure (again). Instead of contacting us to resolve it they ignored us and did some "security patches." If any of the schools in the affected list are interested in preventing the release of their data, please consult with a cyber advisory firm and contact us privately at TOX to … Read
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Mira Murati’s deposition pulled back the curtain on Sam Altman’s ouster
12 hours ago
by Hayden Field
AI, Analysis, Elon Musk, Law, OpenAI, Policy, Report, TechThe week leading up to Thanksgiving 2023 was the AI industry's biggest soap opera moment. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was abruptly ousted from his role at the ChatGPT maker. The explanation? That Altman was "not consistently candid in his communications with the board." Now, via witness testimony and trial exhibits in Musk v. Altman, the public is getting a concrete look behind the scenes of that dramatic weekend for the first time, much of it centered on former CTO Mira Murati. It was a unique situation in that the roller coaster of a power play - which seemed to change every
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Apple’s AirPods with cameras for AI are apparently close to production
13 hours ago
by Jay Peters
AI, Apple, Gadgets, Headphones, News, TechAirPods Pro 3 | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Apple's rumored AirPods with cameras are nearing a stage where the company will test early mass production, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Currently, Apple testers are "actively using" prototypes that are in the design validation test stage, which is one step before the production validation test stage. The AirPods' cameras "aren't designed" to snap photos or video but instead can take in "visual information in low resolution" that users can query Siri about, like asking the AI assistant what they should cook with the ingredients they have in front of them,
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SpaceX has a $55 billion plan to build AI chips in Texas
13 hours ago
by Stevie Bonifield
AI, Elon Musk, News, Science, Space, SpaceX, Tech, xAIElon Musk's plans to get into the AI chip manufacturing business are going to be costly. As the New York Times and CNBC report, SpaceX is planning to invest at least $55 billion into its "Terafab" chip plant in Austin, Texas. That's according to the details of a public hearing notice filed in Grimes County, Texas, for a meeting to request tax breaks for the project. The company says that if additional phases are constructed, its investment could someday balloon to $119 billion total. When Musk initially announced the project in March, he shared ambitious plans for it to produce enough
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Peak Design is taking up to 50 percent off some of our favorite camera bags
13 hours ago
by Sheena Vasani
Deals, Gadgets, Tech, Verge ShoppingPeak Design’s Everyday Backpack Zip features a unique wraparound zipper that provides quick access to your belongings. | Image: Peak Design To celebrate founder Peter Dering’s birthday, Peak Design is taking up to 50 percent off a host of bags and accessories through May 8. The sale includes steep discounts on many of the company’s most popular backpacks and bags, as well as a couple of other items, including camera accessories. Many Verge staffers are fans of Peak Design, in part because the company is known for making durable, weatherproof products that can house a range of gadgets. Most of its bags
Wired
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The Canvas Hack Is a New Kind of Ransomware Debacle
3 hours ago
by Lily Hay Newman, Andy Greenberg
Security, Security / Cyberattacks and Hacks, Security / Privacy, Security / Security News, Drop, OutThousands of schools around the US were paralyzed on Thursday after education tech firm Instructure shut down access to its Canvas platform following a breach by hackers going by the name ShinyHunters.
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50% Off DoorDash Promo Code | May 2026
3 hours ago
by Molly Higgins
Gear, CouponsExplore today’s top DoorDash promo codes for $25 off your first order, free delivery, and 50% off DashPass for students and select users.
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Musk v. Altman Evidence Shows What Microsoft Executives Thought of OpenAI
7 hours ago
by Maxwell Zeff, Paresh Dave
Business, Business / Artificial Intelligence, Real, talkLeaders at the tech giant were skeptical of OpenAI—but wary of pushing it into the arms of Amazon, according to emails dating back to 2018.
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Trump Pivots on AI Regulation, Worker Ousted by DOGE Runs for Office, and Hantavirus Explained
11 hours ago
by Brian Barrett, Zoë Schiffer, Leah Feiger
Business, Business / Artificial Intelligence, Uncanny, ValleyToday on Uncanny Valley, we’re diving into recent reports that the Trump administration is considering an executive order that would establish some sort of federal oversight over new AI models.
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How to Disable Google's Gemini in Chrome
12 hours ago
by Lily Hay Newman
Security, Security / Privacy, Security / Security Advice, Security / Security News, Business / Artificial Intelligence, ConundrumsChrome users were caught off guard by a 4-GB Google AI model baked into Chrome, sparking privacy concerns. The good news: You can easily uninstall it. The bad? You might not want to.