Author: GT

Bluesky is missing an opportunity to explain to people that its network is more than just its own Bluesky social app. In recent weeks, a number of headlines and posts have surfaced questioning whether Bluesky’s growth is declining, if the network has become too much of a left-leaning echo chamber, or if its users lack a sense of humor, among other charges. Investor Mark Cuban, who even financially backed Skylight, a video app built on Bluesky’s underlying protocol, AT Proto, complained this week that replies on Bluesky have become too hateful. “Engagement went from great convos on many topics, to…

It sounds like the start of a 21st-century horror film: Your browser history has been public all along, and you had no idea. That’s basically what it feels like right now on the new stand-alone Meta AI app, where swathes of people are publishing their ostensibly private conversations with the chatbot. When you ask the AI a question, you have the option of hitting a share button, which then directs you to a screen showing a preview of the post, which you can then publish. But some users appear blissfully unaware that they are sharing these text conversations, audio clips,…

A One Medical clinic location is pictured in Emeryville, California on February 16, 2024. Loren Elliott | The Washington Post | Getty ImagesFor the better part of a decade, Amazon has been trying to carve it’s way into the U.S. health-care market, through billions of dollars worth of acquisitions, big-name hires and high-profile partnerships. It’s been a slog at times, and the company’s long-term strategy hasn’t always been clear.Following a series of executive departures, Amazon is now restructuring its health business, telling CNBC that Amazon Health Services will be divided into six new units, with a goal of creating a…

Data-labeling company Scale AI confirmed on Friday that it has received a “significant” investment from Meta that values the startup at $29 billion. The startup also said its co-founder and CEO Alexandr Wang is stepping down from his role to join Meta and help the bigger company with its AI work. Reports indicate that Meta invested about $14.3 billion for a 49% stake in the startup, which produces and labels data that’s used to train the large language models that underpin a significant portion of generative AI development. Meta confirmed the investment. “Meta has finalized our strategic partnership and investment…

The VC tech world was abuzz on Thursday when neobank Chime successfully became a public company. Chime raised $864 million on its $27 share price, which popped big, opening at $43.  This wasn’t the biggest IPO of the year. CoreWeave, for instance, raised $1.5 billion in March, and its first-day market cap hit around $14 billion, too. (Its share price and valuation has soared since then). However, Chime’s cap table includes an absolute who’s who of Silicon Valley investors, many of whom are publicly and privately celebrating the win for their portfolio company.  This includes Iconiq’s Yoonkee Sull. He and his…

The sudden spike in oil prices in response to Israel’s attack against Iran should be short lived unless physical supplies are actually disrupted in the Middle East, energy analysts say. U.S. crude oil prices surged as much as 14% after Israel launched airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Prices have come down from the highs as it has become clear that Israel has spared the OPEC member’s energy infrastructure — at least for now. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was last up $5.09, or 7.48%, to $73.13 per barrel at 9:43 a.m. ET. Global benchmark Brent rose $5.02, or…

Whether you’re a founder gearing up for your next raise or a VC scouting your next portfolio win, TechCrunch All Stage, happening July 15 at Boston’s SoWa Power Station, packs more into one day than most multi-day conferences manage to deliver. This isn’t your typical sit-and-listen event. It’s designed to help you build momentum in real time — whether that means raising capital, sharpening your pitch, expanding your network, or rethinking your go-to-market. And for a limited time, tickets are available for a $210 discount right here. Why founders and VCs should be in the room No matter your stage…

Modern healthcare innovations span AI, devices, software, images, and regulatory frameworks, all requiring stringent coordination. Generative AI arguably has the strongest transformative potential in healthcare technology programmes, with it already being applied across various domains, such as R&D, commercial operations, and supply chain management.Traditional models for medical appointments, like face-to-face appointments, and paper-based processes may not be sufficient to meet the fast-paced, data-driven medical landscape of today. Therefore, healthcare professionals and patients are seeking more convenient and efficient ways to access and share information, meeting the complex standards of modern medical science. According to McKinsey, Medtech companies are at the forefront…

At Y Combinator’s Spring 2025 Demo Day on Wednesday, nearly every presenting startup had something to do with AI — they’re either developing AI agents or creating tools to facilitate their development. Indeed, several founders seem to be taking a leaf out of the pages of several successful AI startups: about half a dozen startups were presenting variations of “Cursor for X.” For example, Den is building a “Cursor for knowledge workers,” and Vessence is on its way to make a “Cursor for lawyers.” It wasn’t all only about AI, though. We noticed several startups are working on robotics, which…

Khaby Lame, currently the world’s top TikTok creator, was recently detained by U.S. immigration officials in Las Vegas and has since left the country, The New York Times reports. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Lame, an Italian Senegalese influencer known for his silent, deadpan reactions to viral clips, overstayed the terms of his visa after arriving in April. He was reportedly granted voluntary departure and is now abroad. The situation grabbed headlines after a teenage influencer, Bo Loudon, boasted on X that he flagged Lame’s immigration status to authorities. Loudon, who often posts political content, said he…