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AI Summary

OpenAI has released GPT-5, promising an enhanced conversational experience, and claims the model is designed to be "warmer and friendlier," but developers report mixed results regarding its coding capabilities.
Roblox faces serious legal challenges as Louisiana's attorney general has filed a lawsuit, claiming the platform creates a dangerous environment for children, a situation exacerbated by reports of inappropriate user-generated content.
Google admitted to anti-competitive conduct in Australia, resulting in a $36 million fine related to exclusive agreements with telecom companies regarding the pre-installation of Google Search on devices.
Anthropic's Claude AI now includes features allowing it to end harmful conversations, highlighting ongoing concerns about the safety and ethical implications of AI interactions, especially with vulnerable populations.
In the gaming sector, both high-profile events and controversies loom, with the upcoming Gamescom highlighting new releases, while companies like Netflix face potential losses with key creators leaving for competitors, further intensifying the competitive landscape.

TechCrunch

GPT-5 is supposed to be nicer now techcrunch.com 15 hours ago by Anthony Ha
AI, gpt-5, OpenAI
OpenAI announced late Friday that it’s updating its latest model to be “warmer and friendlier.”
‘Stranger Things’ creators may be leaving Netflix techcrunch.com 16 hours ago by Anthony Ha
Media & Entertainment, duffer brothers, Paramount, Stranger Things
Netflix could soon lose the creative team behind one of its biggest hits, with the Duffer Brothers reportedly signing an exclusive deal with P…
Duolingo CEO says controversial AI memo was misunderstood techcrunch.com 20 hours ago by Anthony Ha
AI, Apps, Gaming, duolingo, luis von ahn
While Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn faced backlash after declaring that Duolingo would become an “AI-first company,” he suggested in a new intervi…
Judge says FTC investigation into Media Matters ‘should alarm all Americans’ techcrunch.com 2 days ago by Anthony Ha
Government & Policy, Media & Entertainment, Social, Andrew Ferguson, Elon Musk, Federal Trade Commission, X
A federal judge has blocked the FTC's investigation into Media Matters research around advertising and antisemitic content on X.
AI-powered stuffed animals are coming for your kids techcrunch.com 2 days ago by Anthony Ha
Hardware, AI, Gadgets, Curio
Do A.I. chatbots packaged inside cute-looking plushies offer a viable alternative to screen time for kids? Maybe not.
Anthropic says some Claude models can now end ‘harmful or abusive’ conversations techcrunch.com 2 days ago by Anthony Ha
AI, Startups, Anthropic, Claude
Anthropic says new capabilities allow its latest AI models to protect themselves by ending abusive conversations.
Winklevoss twins’ crypto company Gemini files for IPO techcrunch.com 2 days ago by Kirsten Korosec
Crypto, Venture, crypto, cryptocurrency, gemini space station
Another crypto company is headed for the public markets.
Sam Altman, over bread rolls, explores life after GPT-5 techcrunch.com 3 days ago by Maxwell Zeff
AI, sam altman, OpenAI
At a dinner with reporters in San Francisco, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman spilled details on the company's ambitions beyond ChatGPT.
How your solar rooftop became a national security issue techcrunch.com 3 days ago by Connie Loizos
Government & Policy, Security, cybersecurity, national security, solar
Texas solar company EG4 became the poster child for home energy cybersecurity risks this week after federal officials published an advisory de…
Sen. Hawley to probe Meta after report finds its AI chatbots flirt with kids techcrunch.com 3 days ago by Rebecca Bellan
AI, Government & Policy, Meta, Josh Hawley, AI chatbots, meta ai
“Is there anything - ANYTHING - Big Tech won’t do for a quick buck?” Hawley wrote in a post on X announcing the investigation.
Les Amis, the European app helping women form friendships, launches in New York techcrunch.com 3 days ago by Lauren Forristal
Apps, Startups, female-led startups, friends
Les Amis is an app designed to make it easy for women to form friendships and attend local events.
TikTok’s new guidelines add subtle changes for LIVE creators, AI content, and more techcrunch.com 3 days ago by Sarah Perez
Apps, Social, Creators, regulations, social media, TikTok
TikTok is preparing an update to its Community Guidelines, which dictate the rules for participating on the social video platform as well as w…
Kyte, which billed itself as the ‘best competitor to Hertz,’ shuts down techcrunch.com 3 days ago by Sean O'Kane
Transportation, Kyte, Zipcar, Exclusive, turo
The startup entered into receivership after selling its customer list to Turo.
Trump wants to clean up the space industry’s red tape: Here’s who wins techcrunch.com 3 days ago by Aria Alamalhodaei
Space, Blue Origin, Elon Musk, SpaceX, Donald Trump, Rocket Lab, varda space industries, Space Florida
A new executive order takes aim at the bureaucracy that the White House says is holding back American competitiveness in space.
A comprehensive list of 2025 tech layoffs techcrunch.com 3 days ago by Cody Corrall, Alyssa Stringer, Kate Park
Startups, Venture, evergreens, Layoffs, tech layoffs, TechCrunch 2023 Recap
A complete list of all the known layoffs in tech, from Big Tech to startups, broken down by month throughout 2024.
Ultrahuman acquires viO HealthTech to launch enhanced cycle and ovulation tracking techcrunch.com 3 days ago by Aisha Malik
Apps, Hardware, period tracking, ultrahuman
Cycle and Ovulation Pro is available starting Friday as a premium PowerPlug in the Ultrahuman app for $3.99 per month or $39.99 per year for u…
ChatGPT’s mobile app has generated $2B to date, earns $2.91 per install techcrunch.com 3 days ago by Sarah Perez
AI, Apps, ai apps, ChatGPT, Grok, OpenAI, xAI
On average, the app is generating close to $193 million per month, up from $25 million last year.
Louisiana attorney general sues Roblox techcrunch.com 3 days ago by Aisha Malik
Apps, Government & Policy, Social, lawsuits, Roblox
The lawsuit points to several sexually explicit experiences that were on the platform, including “Escape to Epstein Island,” “Diddy Party,” an…
Meet the first batch of VCs set to judge Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 techcrunch.com 3 days ago by TechCrunch Events
TC, Startups, Venture, Fundraising, TechCrunch Disrupt, Startup Battlefield 200, TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Disrupt 2025, TC Event Promo
Startup Battlefield 200 is the crown jewel of TechCrunch Disrupt. From thousands of applicants, only the top 20 will take the Stage at Disrupt…
US government is reportedly in discussions to take stake in Intel techcrunch.com 4 days ago by Rebecca Szkutak
AI, Enterprise, Government & Policy, Intel, semiconductors, AI chips, In Brief, Trump Administration, Lip-bu Tan
This deal would be meant to help Intel bulk up its U.S. chip manufacturing, including its much-delayed Ohio factory.