Timef 02/05/2025

Attorneys for Elon Musk intend to move to dismiss a case that accuses the Tesla CEO, who is also the head of President Donald Trump’s DOGE organization, of using AI-generated, copyright-violating “Blade Runner”-inspired images at a Tesla press event. In a filing submitted to the U.S. District Court Central District of California, Western Division late […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

From tower and pedestal styles to utilitarian box fans, these are our WIRED-tested favorites.

Kurt the CyberGuy offers tips to dramatically reduce the risk of having your information stolen while booking flights, cruises, vehicles and accommodations.

Get rid of old, broken, and unused devices—even Lightning cables—without adding to the e-waste problem.

It’s sometimes said that European VC doesn’t have the firepower to compete with VCs in the U.S., which regularly raise billion-dollar+ funds these days. Perhaps further evidence of this view persists in the news that Berlin-based Cherry Ventures has closed its latest fund at $500 million, to be split between early-stage rounds and follow-on rounds […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Therabody’s at-home muscle stimulator is brilliant in theory but is plagued with connectivity issues.

Both startups and big tech companies have aggressively used AI to help developers write code or learn programming better. People have used chatbots to prepare for different scenarios in life, like interviews. Tech assessment platform CodeSignal, which introduced a learning platform for technical subjects with AI assistants last year, launched soft skill courses on its platform […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali star in "Jurassic World Rebirth". Trailer.

Chinese ecommerce and fast fashion giant Shein is facing fresh scrutiny in the European Union in relation to consumer protection rules following the launch of a coordinated action by the bloc’s Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPCN). The action is being conducted with reference to the EU’s Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, Consumer Rights Directive, Unfair Contracts […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Modern Synthesis’s fibers can be manipulated in ways that simple plant fibers cannot. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Ransomware gangs continued to wreak havoc in 2024, but new research shows that the amounts victims paid these cybercriminals fell by hundreds of millions of dollars.

We did the research (and taste-testing) for you to determine whether greens powders are worth your money, and if so, which ones.

Sony's ULT WEAR headphones normally retail for $199.99. As of Feb. 5, they're on sale for $148 at Amazon.

Samsung's 98-inch Q80C QLED 4K UHD Smart TV normally retails for $4,999.99. As of Feb. 5, it's on sale for $3,499.99.

As of Feb. 5, MUBI is offering three months of its streaming service for $1. After the three-month trial, it goes back to $14.99 per month.

Take your Super Bowl party to new heights with a great deal on a killer TV.

Generative AI models have demonstrated to app developers that combining a robust knowledge base with the right model can enable them to offer users services — once reliant on costly professionals like therapists or executive assistants — at a fraction of the price. Former VP of product at fitness company Whoop, Rami Alhamad, has a […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Tree-mounted sensors and new satellites promise a way to detect wildfires before they get out of hand—but no early detection method is foolproof.

The fast expansion of Waymo’s driverless car service is growing competition for Uber. The companies are also partners.

"The Daily Show" host Desi Lydic unpacked the White House takeover of Donald Trump's "special government employee" Elon Musk.

From editor-tested chocolates and flowers to at-home date night ideas, here’s everything we recommend gifting for the most romantic holiday of the year.

Uber customers in Austin may notice a new offer when they open the app and hail a ride: an invitation to signal their interest in a Waymo robotaxi. For now, this doesn’t translate into a Waymo picking them up. But it will soon. The “interest list,” which launched Wednesday, is part of a partnership between […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

The 'Late Show' host went to town on Donald Trump's 'special government employee' Elon Musk.

Connections: Sports Edition is a New York Times word game about finding common sports threads between words. How to solve the puzzle.

What songs will Kendrick Lamar perform at the Super Bowl?

Super Bowl Halftime 2025: Who will join Kendrick Lamar on stage?

Whoosh to launch a new urban transit system in 2026, offering a unique blend of on-demand service, direct routing and privacy that sets it apart from traditional public transportation.

The European Space Agency's Gaia mission detected an exoplanet 12 times more massive than Jupiter and a brown dwarf. The spacecraft is almost out of fuel.

Elon Musk, the man who slashed Twitter to the bone, thinks he can do the same to the U.S. via DOGE. But USAID ain't it, chief.

The game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, with a halftime show by Kendrick Lamar, takes place on Sunday February 9. Here's how to tune in.

Live stream Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA from anywhere in the world.

The Taiwanese hardware maker says it has no plans patch the flaws impacting legacy router models © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Live stream Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz in the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Chicago Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Save 13% on the Dyson V15 at Amazon.

Save 57% on the roborock Q5 Pro+ at Amazon.

A video welcoming students to Leah Barlow’s African American studies course inspired a virtual university of free TikTok lectures from Black academics and experts.

We've rounded up 30 of the best Valentine's Day gifts and ideas for anyone on your list. Shop Bose headphones, Kindle e-readers, and Owala water bottles.

Live stream Pachuca vs. León in Liga MX for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Real Estelí vs. Tigres UANL in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Forge vs. Monterrey in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Ageless Innovation's line of robotic pets are a useful tool against the loneliness and isolation experienced by many seniors.

Co-starring opposite Amy Schumer in "Kinda Pregnant," Will Forte shows he's totally swoon-worthy.

Not everyone is into the football on Super Bowl Sunday. If you just want to watch Kendrick Lamar's halftime show, we've got you covered.

Astronomers used a giant telescope to observe the distant exoplanet WASP-121b, discovering that it formed in an unusual way.

A 1-year Sam’s Club membership gives you access to wholesale prices, exclusive discounts, and convenient shopping benefits for just $25.

With tax season in full swing, H&R Block Deluxe + State helps you file accurately, maximize deductions, and get audit support — for just $40.

Get 10TB of lifetime cloud storage with Internxt for $244.99 (reg. $2,999) using code STORAGE30. Save money, ditch fees, and store securely for life.

'Opus' review: Ayo Edebiri and John Malkovich in A24's film about the cult of celebrity, and celebrity cults.

Get AdGuard VPN (5 years) and a lifetime ad blocker for $49.99 (reg. $439.99). Block ads, protect your data, and browse privately on nine devices.

I've tested a ton of hybrid robot vacuums from iRobot, Roborock, Shark, and more at home. Here are the ones that were best at washing my floors.

I've tested 25+ robot vacs at home to find which robot vacuums are worth it in apartments and other small spaces based on compactness, noise level, and more.

Save 13% on the Apple Studio Display at Amazon.

As of Feb. 5, Beats Flex wireless earbuds are on sale for $39 at Amazon (save $30). These lightweight, magnetic earbuds offer 12 hours of battery life and seamless Apple and Android connectivity.

As of Feb. 5, Beats Studio Buds+ are on sale for $119.99 at Amazon (save $50). These wireless ANC earbuds deliver long battery life, deep bass, and a sleek transparent look.

Sonos is preparing to launch a streaming box with a price tag of $200 to $400, new report claims.

As of Feb. 5, the Samsung 85-inch DU7200 4K Smart TV is $799.99 at Best Buy (save $300). Plus, get a free 40-inch Samsung TV ($249.99 value) and Game Pass Ultimate (three months, $50 value).

Of all the top robot vacuums I've tested at home, these three robot vacuums were the best at picking up pet hair and crumbs from plush and low pile.

Need some help finding the perfect Valentine's Day gift for your long-distance sweetheart? Here are over 30 picks.

Answers to each clue for the February 5, 2025 edition of NYT's The Mini crossword puzzle.

Google updated its AI Principles removing a section on applications it would not pursue, including AI in weapons and surveillance.

In just a few days, France will host the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, with heads of state flocking to Paris to meet global tech leaders. They’ll most likely announce some big investments and diplomatic agreements focused on safety or the environmental impact of artificial intelligence. Ahead of the summit, early-stage VC firm Galion.exe, growth investment […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

In just a few days, France will host the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, with heads of state flocking to Paris to meet global tech leaders. They’ll most likely announce some big investments and diplomatic agreements focused on safety or the environmental impact of artificial intelligence. Ahead of the summit, early-stage VC firm Galion.exe, growth investment […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

The size of the new fund is a vote of confidence in a range of deep tech verticals. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Save 74% on 2-year plans and get 3 free months with our NordVPN discount codes.

Live stream Sri Lanka vs. Australia 2nd Test for free from anywhere in the world.

On Feb. 9, build a Lego Valentine's Day Heart at participating stores and take it home with you.

The best free online ChatGPT courses in February 2025.

How to unblock porn for free. Unblock and watch Redtube for free from anywhere in the world.

We went ahead and found the best tablets for everyone, including devices from top brands like Apple and Samsung.

As part of new tariffs on Chinese imports, President Donald Trump eliminated an exemption for small packages, vastly increasing the amount of parcels US Customs and Border Protection needs to inspect.

Connections is a New York Times word game that's all about finding the "common threads between words." How to solve the puzzle.

Here's the answer for "Wordle" #1326 on February 5, as well as a few hints, tips, and clues to help you solve it yourself.

The NYT Strands hints and answers you need to make the most of your puzzling experience.

Google Search is in the midst of a “journey” around AI, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said during the company’s earnings call on Tuesday. The start of that journey was AI overviews, a controversial and monumental shift in how Google delivers information to billions of Search users. But that was just the beginning. “As AI continues […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

According to Jordan Harrison’s museum piece of a play, we are long extinct by 2240. But the future has kept our Betamaxes.

Cashfree, an Indian payments startup that facilitates and processes more than $80 billion for its customers each year, has raised $53 million in a new round of funding as it gears up to deepen its presence in some international markets. Krafton, maker of sleeper hit titles such as PUBG and BGMI, led Cashfree’s Series C […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

The US government’s primary foreign aid agency has employees stationed all over the world, many of whom are now bracing to abruptly leave their posts.

Brightpick, a maker of autonomous mobile robots, on Tuesday announced a lofty addition to its current line. The appropriately named Giraffe system is notable for its large, retractable platform capable of reaching up to 20 feet (6 meters) in height to pick items from warehouse shelves. It’s a novel approach to warehouses with ceilings well […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Alphabet is shrugging off concerns sparked by DeepSeek over AI spending, boosting its capital expenditures to a whopping $75 billion. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

During Snap’s fourth-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, CEO Evan Spiegel said that the uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future has positively affected its business. “We’re not trying to draw too many conclusions from some of the engagement lift we saw when [TikTok] went dark for that brief period of time. I would say that the overall environment […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Powerhouse venture firm Andreessen Horowitz has hired Daniel Penny as an investor, its webpage confirms.  Penny is the former Marine who was tried last year and found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the death of a homeless man on a New York City subway. After the man acted erratically, Penny held him in […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

AMD says that it plans to launch its next major data center GPUs, the AMD Instinct MI350 series, sooner than originally announced. During the company’s Q4 2024 earnings call Tuesday, AMD CEO Lisa Su said AMD plans to sample the MI350 with “lead customers” this quarter, and “accelerate” production shipments to “mid-year.” “So, we had […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Spambots, data thieves, and other bad actors run rampant online – more so now than ever before. Here's what to do if one gets ahold of you.

Mark Zuckerberg says Meta may keep some AGI systems private if they pose critical risks, such as cybersecurity threats or biohazards.

As a university student, Dalton Signor was troubled by how many people around him smoked or vaped, including his grandmother and 14-year-old sister. Signor (pictured center) felt that existing smoking cessation medicines, whether patches, gums, or lozenges, are not very effective because they take too long to start working. “They take about 30 minutes to […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

The internet giant reported sales that narrowly missed Wall Street’s estimates and worried investors about the company’s A.I. business.

We've scoured the internet to find the best gifts that are thoughtful, unique, and sure to impress.

Google removed a pledge to not build AI for weapons or surveillance from its website this week. The change was first spotted by Bloomberg. The company appears to have updated its public AI principles page, erasing a section titled “applications we will not pursue,” which was still included as recently as last week. Asked for […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Israeli spyware maker Paragon Solutions confirmed to TechCrunch that it sells its products to the U.S. government and other unspecified allied countries. Paragon’s executive chairman John Fleming said in a statement to TechCrunch on Tuesday that, “Paragon licenses its technology to a select group of global democracies — principally, the United States and its allies.” […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Google published principals in 2018 barring its AI technology from being used for sensitive purposes. Weeks into President Donald Trump’s second term, those guidelines are being overhauled.

Cybersecurity company SailPoint is hoping to sell $1 billion worth of stock in its upcoming IPO and offer another signal that IPOs will become hot again. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Figure AI founder and CEO Brett Adcock announced Tuesday that the humanoid robotics firm is exiting a deal with OpenAI. The Bay Area-based robotics company has instead opted to focus on in-house AI, owing to a “major breakthrough.” Adcock was tightlipped in terms of specifics, but he promised to deliver “something no one has ever […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

A group of developers at AI dev platform Hugging Face, including Thomas Wolf, the company’s co-founder and chief scientist, say they’ve built an “open” version of OpenAI’s deep research tool. Deep research, which OpenAI unveiled during an event Sunday, crawls the web to compile research reports on any subject. While impressive, deep research is currently […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

It’s one of the best times of year to invest in a mattress, pillows, and sheets. Here’s everything we recommend buying and who has the best sales ahead of Presidents’ Day weekend.

Paradise, Scamanda, and What We Do in the Shadows are just a few of the shows you should be watching on Hulu this month.

The billionaire has used the social media site to boast of victories, lash out at enemies and conduct polls for the initiative he calls the Department of Government Efficiency.

Chris Jericho, Ayisha Issa, and Lowell Dean break down how 'Dark Match' uses themes, tropes and blends genres to make this unique film.

Amazon’s power bill has been soaring lately as it adds data centers to deal with rising demand for AI and cloud services. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

A new app called Tapestry, which launched Tuesday, aggregates and organizes information from across the web and social networks in a single place. It is, in some ways, like this generation’s FriendFeed, for those old enough to remember the earlier attempt from the Web 2.0 era to aggregate feeds and social media updates in a […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Built by Norwegian browser maker Opera, Opera Air says it's "the first browser built around the concept of mindfulness." Mashable tested it.

The food delivery company Grubhub confirms it has suffered a data breach.

Circularity’s process uses 40% less energy than competing CO2-to-fuel pathways. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

A bill proposed by Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, proposes criminalizing the import or export of Chinese AI technology. That means DeepSeek.

China said it had started an antitrust investigation of Google, which works with Chinese companies on smartphones and advertising outside the country.

Chris Anderson, who has run TED for 25 years, is looking to bestow the operation on anyone who has a good plan for its future, he announced in a blog post. TED is best known for its TED Talks, where ideas from tech to humor have been explored. It has featured famed tech moguls (Bill […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Meta’s Threads is doubling down on support for custom feeds as it faces challenges from the growing social network Bluesky, now with over 30 million users, which also offers custom feeds as one of its key features. On Tuesday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that users can now set their custom feeds to be public […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Hiya, folks, welcome to TechCrunch’s regular AI newsletter. If you want this in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here. You might’ve noticed we skipped the newsletter last week. The reason? A chaotic AI news cycle made even more pandemonious by Chinese AI company DeepSeek’s sudden rise to prominence, and the response from practically ever corner […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Welcome to TechCrunch Fintech!  This week we’re looking at a startup out to help people navigate long-term care, a flurry of activity in Africa, another fintech company shutdown, and more. To get a roundup of TechCrunch’s biggest and most important fintech stories delivered to your inbox every Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. PT, subscribe here. The […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model (Geek Squad Certified Refurbished) is on sale for just $299.99 at Best Buy. That's 14% off its $349.99 MSRP and $20 better than its price in the My Nintendo Store.

U.S. access and identity management giant Okta laid off 180 employees on Tuesday, the company confirmed to TechCrunch – just over one year after it let go of 400 workers. The company also conducted another workforce reduction in February of 2023 that affected 300 employees. While Okta did not share how many employees it has […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Amid China’s retaliation to recently-announced U.S. tariffs, Intel may find itself in the hot seat with China’s regulators. China is apparently considering an antitrust probe into semiconductor giant Intel, according to reporting from the Financial Times. This would be in addition to the set of tariffs against the U.S. that China announced on Monday. Per […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

The first compliance deadline kicked in a couple of days ago for the European Union’s AI Act, a risk-based framework for regulating uses of artificial intelligence — banning a narrow selection of so called “unacceptable risk” use-cases of AI, such as social scoring that could lead to detrimental or unfavourable treatment; or harmful manipulation using […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Now through Feb. 18, new Peacock subscribers can get a year of Peacock Premium for $29.99 — that's $50 off the regular annual cost.

The 10-inch Skylight Frame is on sale at Amazon for $119.99, down from the usual price of $159. That's a 25% discount.

A complete list of all the known layoffs in tech, from Big Tech to startups, broken down by month throughout 2024. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Cruise is laying off 50% of its workforce as the robotaxi program ends. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Google's limited presence in China gives Beijing room to hit back harder if President Donald Trump’s trade war escalates.

Fintech-turned-HR outfit Deel is trying to lay the groundwork for an IPO. On Tuesday, it said its annual revenue run rate climbed to $800 million in 2024 after growing by 70%. The startup, which helps businesses globally hire, manage and pay employees remotely, also said it has sold $300 million in secondary shares to General […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

"Plankton: The Movie" hits Netflix March 7. Watch the official trailer here.

As of Feb. 4, take 40% off the Anker Zolo Portable Charger at Amazon.

DSTLRY, a venture-backed digital comic books marketplace, on Tuesday added a pair of features designed to bring customization to the platform. The first feature, dubbed Commissioned Digital Remarques, allows creators to add personalized sketches and signatures to digital comics. The second, Unlimited Digital Covers, expands platform-wide access to alternative comic book covers. Commissioned Digital Remarques […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Four years after accidentally launching a VC firm, GTMfund founder Max Altschuler has raised a second oversubscribed $54 million fund. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

As of Feb. 4, buy a Samsung device and get 3 free months of Peacock Premium.

Google's long-awaited RCS-based emergency texting system could also include image and video sharing, as well as location sharing.

As of Feb. 4, the noise-cancelling Sonos Ace headphones are on sale at Amazon for $100 off the original price. Snag a pair for $349 while you can.

A 4-pack of the Arlo Pro 5S Spotlight Cameras is on sale for $249.99 at Amazon, down from the list price of $492.32. That's a 49% discount.

Apple on Tuesday launched a new app called “Invites” that allows users to create custom invitations for any occasion. With Invites, users can create and share invitations on their iPhone, RSVP, contribute to Shared Albums, and curate event soundtracks. To create an invitation, you need an iCloud+ subscription. However, anyone can RSVP, regardless of whether […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Two federal workers, citing reports that Elon Musk’s associates are operating an illegally connected email server at OPM, seek a restraining order.

Thomas Shedd, the former Tesla engineer now serving as the director of Technology Transformation Services, reportedly outlined an “AI-first strategy” for the U.S. government department. According to a report from Wired citing multiple sources, the Musk ally described the plan to run the office like a “startup software company” during a Monday meeting. The New […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

If Ruggable's prices are too steep for your taste, Rugs USA's machine washable rugs are cheaper and on sale — save 30% sitewide on tons of sizes and patterns.

Live stream Real Hope vs. Cruz Azul in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Researchers from TikTok owner ByteDance have demoed a new AI system, OmniHuman-1, that can generate perhaps the most realistic deepfake videos to date. Deepfaking AI is a commodity. There’s no shortage of apps that can insert someone into a photo, or make a person appear to say something they didn’t actually say. But most deepfakes […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Swiss startup LogicStar is bent on joining the AI agent game. The summer 2024-founded startup has bagged $3 million in pre-seed funding to bring tools to the developer market that can do autonomous maintenance of software applications, rather than the more typical AI agent use-case of code co-development. LogicStar CEO and co-founder Boris Paskalev suggests […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

The best Amazon deals on Feb. 4 include the Sonos Ace, Dyson Airwrap, Beats Solo Buds, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and Fitbit Versa 4.

On a clear spring evening in Michigan, the stars aligned — just not in the way Upfront Ventures partner Nick Kim expected. He’d just led a $9.5 million seed round for OurSky, a software platform for space observational data, and was eager to see what its telescope partner PlaneWave Instruments could do.  But when they […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

As of Feb. 4, Revival is hosting a great sale on rugs — buy two, and get 20% off in return.

As of Feb. 4, the Laifen Swift hair dryer is on sale for $125.99 at Walmart with a coupon. It usually retails for $139.99, so shoppers save 10%. Elsewhere, it's completely sold out.

As of Feb. 4, save $1,200 on the Hisense 100-inch U76 Series 4K QLED Smart TV at Amazon.

Amazon Fresh has Valentine's Day candy on sale at buy one, get one free including options like Nerds Gummy Clusters and Lindt Valentine's Gourmet Truffles