Startups & Technology

938 items in section

The Silverado EV is a technical triumph that nobody wants

General Motors sold only 14,000 Silverado EVs across the U.S. and Canada last year, a fraction of the volume moved by its gas-powered counterpart. Despite the truck's impressive 400-mile range, hands-free Super Cruise technology, and massive utility, the electric pickup remains a tough sell for the traditional American truck buyer.

EU lawmaker investigating Pegasus spyware targeted by the tool itself

Stelios Kouloglou, a former member of the European Parliament’s PEGA committee, had his iPhone compromised by Pegasus spyware while actively probing government surveillance abuses. This breach marks the first time a lawmaker tasked with investigating the software has been identified as a target of the very technology they were scrutinizing.

Startup Battlefield Australia Deadline Set for July 6

The window for early-stage founders to enter Startup Battlefield Australia slams shut on July 6. With no extensions permitted, the clock is ticking for startups across Australia and New Zealand to secure a spot on stage at Stripe Tour Sydney and compete for a path to San Francisco.

Zuckerberg admits AI agent progress lags behind internal expectations

During a Thursday town hall, Mark Zuckerberg conceded that Meta’s development of AI agents has failed to accelerate at the pace leadership initially anticipated. The admission follows a massive corporate restructuring earlier this year, which saw thousands of employees laid off or reassigned to specialized internal units focused on artificial intelligence.

Space Force turns to startups for orbital reconnaissance

Two private space startups, True Anomaly and Rocket Lab, recently executed a high-stakes orbital intercept mission for the U.S. Space Force, marking a shift toward commercializing complex military maneuvers. The exercise, known as Victus Haze, involved a rapid-response launch and a close-proximity inspection of a rival spacecraft in orbit.

Jack Selby leverages Arizona ties to secure stakes in elite hardware firms

When Copper Sky Capital backed the AI chip startup Etched, the deal hinged on more than just capital. Founder Jack Selby secured the high-demand allocation by leveraging his influence within Arizona’s semiconductor ecosystem, promising to help the startup transition its manufacturing from Taiwan to the state’s burgeoning TSMC facilities.

Quantum Reality Check: IQM’s Lukewarm Nasdaq Debut

Finland-based quantum computing firm IQM entered the Nasdaq via a SPAC merger this Thursday at a $1.9 billion valuation, only to see its share price falter immediately. The tepid market reception arrived alongside a candid disclosure in the company’s prospectus: large-scale commercial viability for quantum technology remains unproven.

Jersey Mike’s S-1 Filing Highlights the Absurdity of AI Fever

When a submarine sandwich chain feels compelled to reference artificial intelligence 22 times in its IPO filing, the market has reached a fever pitch. Jersey Mike’s inclusion of AI in its risk disclosures underscores how deeply the tech industry’s current obsession has permeated even the most traditional brick-and-mortar business sectors.

AI Growth Strains Sustainability Goals for Google and Amazon

Google and Amazon have reported significant spikes in carbon emissions, casting doubt on their net-zero pledges. With Google’s footprint up 25% and Amazon’s up 16% year-over-year, the rapid expansion of data centers required to fuel the AI boom is directly undermining the tech giants' long-term environmental commitments.

Meta quietly rolls out Pocket for AI-generated games

Meta has expanded its artificial intelligence portfolio with the launch of Pocket, a mobile application designed to let users build and share interactive mini-games through text prompts. The platform, which functions as a social feed for these creations, marks the company's latest effort to bring generative AI tools into the mainstream.

Hopper to Pay $35 Million to Settle FTC Hidden Fee Lawsuit

The travel booking app Hopper has reached a $35 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission to resolve allegations of using deceptive interface designs. The company faced scrutiny for employing so-called dark patterns that obscured actual costs, pre-selected optional add-ons, and misled users about the true value of its premium service offerings.

Anthropic eyes custom AI silicon in potential Samsung partnership

Anthropic has entered early-stage discussions with Samsung to explore developing custom AI chips, signaling a shift toward hardware independence. While the company remains reliant on existing providers, the move mirrors a broader industry trend among major AI developers seeking to bypass traditional supply constraints and optimize performance.

Wisk Aero faces wrongful termination lawsuit over safety claims

Briahna O’Neill, a former software manager at Boeing-owned Wisk Aero, has filed a lawsuit in Santa Clara Superior Court alleging the company fired her in retaliation for raising internal safety concerns. The complaint centers on claims that testing protocols were compromised to meet a critical 2025 development deadline.

Melinda French Gates Backs Magnify Ventures’ $46.6 Million Fund

With a fresh $46.6 million injection, Magnify Ventures is doubling down on the care economy. The firm, founded by Joanna Drake and Julie Wroblewski, secured the capital for its second fund from a group of limited partners led by Melinda French Gates’ investment and incubation company, Pivotal Ventures.

OpenAI Eyes 5% Equity Donation to US Sovereign Wealth Fund

Sam Altman has proposed gifting 5% of OpenAI’s equity to a U.S. sovereign wealth fund, a move intended to buffer the company against political volatility. The plan, which aligns with broader discussions on public partnerships, envisions a model where citizens share directly in the growth of the artificial intelligence sector.

Lucid Motors Overhauls Executive Suite Amid Production Slump

Chief Financial Officer Taoufiq Boussaid is exiting Lucid Motors, the latest move in a radical leadership restructuring under new CEO Silvio Napoli. Following a wave of layoffs and stagnant delivery numbers, the company is stripping back its management layers to streamline operations and salvage its market position.

TV Time to Shut Down as Whip Media Pivots to AI

With over 26 million lifetime installs, the popular television-tracking app TV Time is closing its doors. The platform will cease operations on July 15, 2026, as its parent company, Whip Media, abandons consumer-facing services to concentrate resources on its AI-powered automation and workflow management tools.

Homeland Security intelligence network breached in latest federal leak

The Department of Homeland Security is currently investigating a sophisticated cyberattack on its Homeland Security Information Network, a critical platform used by federal, state, and local agencies to coordinate intelligence and emergency response, raising urgent concerns about the security of sensitive government data.

Microsoft bets $2.5 billion on enterprise AI integration

Microsoft is launching a dedicated business unit to scale enterprise AI, committing $2.5 billion and 6,000 specialists to the project. The company aims to move beyond traditional consulting models by embedding engineers directly into client operations to ensure the practical, outcome-driven implementation of its existing AI tools.

Tesla Deliveries Surge Past Expectations in Q2

Delivering over 480,000 vehicles between April and June, Tesla outperformed Wall Street forecasts and marked a significant rebound from the first quarter. This jump of 120,000 units suggests the automaker retains a strong pull with buyers, effectively countering broader cooling trends currently affecting the wider U.S. electric vehicle market.

Rivian Raises Annual Sales Forecast as Production Surpasses Targets

Bucking the trend of a cooling American electric vehicle market, Rivian has revised its 2024 delivery projections upward. The manufacturer now expects to ship between 65,000 and 70,000 vehicles, signaling stronger-than-anticipated momentum following a productive second quarter that saw output figures comfortably beat internal estimates.

Automating Romance: How Tech Founders Are Outsourcing Their Love Lives

Ben Guez has secured over 200 DMs and a million views by using an automated AI script to troll World Cup fans on Instagram. The startup founder employs the agent OpenClaw to track match results and instantly deploy standardized reels, turning heartbreak into a funnel for his personal language-learning app.

Bhavin Turakhia commits $30 million to rebuild enterprise software

“If you want to build an iPhone, you can’t take the parts of a Nokia and somehow convert it into an iPhone.” With this philosophy, Indian serial entrepreneur Bhavin Turakhia is investing $30 million of his own capital into Neo, an enterprise platform designed to replace legacy workplace suites with AI-native architecture.

Apple Preps Early 2025 Push for New iPad and MacBook Pro Models

Four upcoming iPad Pro variants and an entry-level MacBook Pro are currently in development, with Apple targeting a release window in the first half of next year. The push includes the debut of the M7 processor, marking a significant hardware refresh as the company navigates ongoing supply chain volatility.

Bending Spoons defies market skepticism with 40% IPO surge

Shares of Milan-based Bending Spoons climbed 40% during their market debut on Wednesday, closing at $40.50. The jump defied a broader cooling trend in the software-as-a-service sector, pushing the 13-year-old firm to a market capitalization of $25.7 billion, more than double its previous $11 billion private valuation.

Bending Spoons hits Nasdaq at $18B, betting on AI and anti-luck

Milan-based Bending Spoons debuted on the Nasdaq today, opening at an $18 billion valuation before shares climbed 40% by the closing bell. The 13-year-old firm, known for acquiring legacy internet brands like Evernote and Vimeo, is positioning itself as a tech-driven operator rather than a traditional private equity flipper.

WhatsApp username rollout triggers Indian regulatory crackdown

WhatsApp’s transition from phone-number-based identification to usernames has ignited a confrontation with Indian regulators. As the platform begins testing handles, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has demanded a halt to the rollout, citing fears that the feature will provide a new vector for phishing and digital impersonation.

Security flaw unmasks Apple Hide My Email users

A vulnerability in Apple’s Hide My Email service allows the exposure of private addresses, undermining the privacy tool’s core function. Researcher Tyler Murphy, who discovered the flaw, claims he notified the company more than a year ago, yet the security gap remains unpatched and fully exploitable.

SpaceX investors shown prototype of AI-powered handset

SpaceX has reportedly showcased a handset-like AI device to investors, sparking speculation about Elon Musk’s ambitions in the consumer hardware market. While the prototype is currently in its early stages and subject to design shifts, the project signals a potential pivot toward integrated hardware for his AI ventures.

Together AI Hits $8.3 Billion Valuation After $800 Million Raise

With an $800 million Series C injection, Together AI has cemented its position as a powerhouse in the GPU rental market, reaching an $8.3 billion valuation. The round, led by Aramco Ventures, signals a massive pivot toward open-source models as enterprises seek alternatives to costly proprietary AI services.