Author: GT

Key PointsSecond-quarter earnings are set to be reported against a background of macro-economic uncertainty governed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs.Energy, the cyclical consumer and the financial sector will be some of the most closely watched in European markets this reporting season.Earnings per share across Europe’s benchmark Stoxx 600 are expected to fall 0.2% on an annualized basis in the second quarter, according to LSEG I/B/E/S research.U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies are dominating attention ahead of the second-quarter earnings season, especially in Europe, where five companies worth over 50 billion euros ($58 billion) are due to report this…

Therapy chatbots powered by large language models may stigmatize users with mental health conditions and otherwise respond inappropriately or even dangerously, according to researchers at Stanford University. While recent coverage in The New York Times and elsewhere has highlighted the role that ChatGPT may play in reinforcing delusional or conspiratorial thinking, a new paper titled “Expressing stigma and inappropriate responses prevents LLMs from safely replacing mental health providers” examines five chatbots that designed to provide accessible therapy, assessing them based on guidelines around what makes a good human therapist. The paper will be presented at the ACM Conference on Fairness,…

In only 3 days, founders, investors, and operators will flood into the SoWa Power Station in Boston for TechCrunch All Stage 2025 — and if you haven’t grabbed your pass yet, this is your final window to lock in the lowest prices available and save up to $475. Whether you’re a first-time founder or a scaling-stage exec, TC All Stage delivers the real-world strategies and connections that move the needle. It’s not theory — it’s the stuff that drives traction. Unlock practical value you can use right away This single-day founder summit is built for momentum. You’ll leave with tools,…

In a series of posts on X, the AI chatbot Grok apologized for what it admitted was “horrific behavior.” The posts appear to be an official statement from xAI, the Elon Musk-led company behind Grok, as opposed to an AI-generated explanation for Grok’s posts. (xAI recently acquired X, where Grok is prominently featured.) Grok’s latest controversy comes after Musk had indicated he wanted to make the chatbot less “politically correct,” then declared on July 4 that the company had “improved @Grok significantly.” In short order, the chatbot was making posts criticizing Democrats and Hollywood’s “Jewish executives,” repeating antisemitic memes, and…

Welcome back to Week in Review! We’ve got tons of news for you this week, including a shakeup at X, Hugging Face’s new robot, new phones from Nothing and Samsung, and a whole lot more. Have a great weekend! Off to do something else: X CEO Linda Yaccarino stepped down this week after a tumultuous two-year tenure marked by advertiser backlash, Elon Musk’s controversies, and the platform’s AI troubles. The company’s ad business improved under her leadership, but the road ahead will still be tough. See-through: Apple continues to tweak its new Liquid Glass design in iOS 26 beta 3,…

Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen sharply criticized universities including Stanford and MIT, along with the National Science Foundation, in a group chat with AI scientists and Trump administration officials, according to screenshots viewed by the Washington Post. According to the Post, Andreessen described MIT and Stanford (which I attended two decades ago) as “mainly political lobbying operations fighting American innovation.” He also reportedly complained that Stanford “forced my wife out [as chair of its Center on Philanthropy and Civil society] without a second thought, a decision that will cost them something like $5 billion in future donations.” In a separate message…

A research institute connected to the United Nations has created two AI-powered avatars designed to teach people about refugee issues. 404 Media wrote about an experiment conducted by a class at the United Nations University Center for Policy Research that resulted in the creation of two AI agents or avatars — Amina, a fictional woman who fled Sudan and is living in a refugee camp in Chad, and Abdalla, a fictional soldier with the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary force in Sudan. Users are supposed to be able to talk to Amina and Abdalla on the experiment’s website, though I…

TechCrunch All Stage 2025 is almost here — In 2 days, the doors swing open at Boston’s SoWa Power Station. If you’re a founder or investor, this is your last shot to lock in the lowest ticket prices before they vanish at the door. This isn’t your average startup conference. TC All Stage is where high-growth startups get sharper, faster, and more fundable — in just one day. Whether you’re pre-seed or preparing for an IPO, this is the room to be in. Savings of up to $475 are here until the event kicks off on July 15 at 7:30…

A stack of old mobile phones are seen before recycling process in Kocaeli, Turkiye on October 14, 2024. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty ImagesAs the U.S. and China vie for economic, technological and geopolitical supremacy, the critical elements and metals embedded in technology from consumer to industrial and military markets have become a pawn in the wider conflict. That’s nowhere more so the case than in China’s leverage over the rare earth metals supply chain. This past week, the Department of Defense took a large equity stake in MP Materials, the company running the only rare earths mining operation in…

The British Business Bank, owned by the UK government, is creating a £500 million (around $674 million) economic package to help support diverse and underrepresented fund managers and founders in the country.  Fifty million pounds will be set aside for female-led venture funds, which means the BBB has now committed at least £100 million (around $135 million) to supporting female-led ventures and the government’s Invest in Women Taskforce. Meanwhile, £400 million (around $539 million) will go to backing more diverse fund managers and supporting early-stage companies, as well as helping to boost the talent pipeline to provide those from disadvantaged…