Timef 04/08/2025

The most severe security bug can be exploited without user interaction, per Google.

If you’re reading this, consider it your signal: the opportunity to influence the future of tech is here. TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is now accepting speaker applications. Join us on stage this October 27–29 at Moscone West in San Francisco and share your ideas with 10,000+ tech leaders, VCs, and innovators shaping what’s next. Apply to […]

Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle unit, is deploying a small fleet of retrofitted test vehicles on the streets of Los Angeles starting Tuesday – a modest, yet meaningful step as the company inches toward offering public rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco later this year.  The data-collection effort marks Zoox’s entrance into its sixth city […]

Rain, a startup offering employer-integrated earned wage access (EWA) app coupled with financial-wellness features like overdraft alerts and spending trends, has raised $75 million in an all-equity Series B round. The round was led by Prosus at a post-money valuation of $340 million. Rain plans to use the new funds to help it add credit […]

Founders, the battlefield is calling! Startup Battlefield 200 applications are now live — and the race has begun. If you’ve got a groundbreaking idea and the guts to pitch it to the world, TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is your arena. You’ll face elite VC judges. You’ll compete against 199 of the world’s most promising startups. And […]

An executive order will direct the federal government to list coal as a critical mineral and force some coal-fired power plants to keep generating electricity.

Join us for an unforgettable opportunity at TechCrunch Sessions: AI, happening at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall on June 5! We’re on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers to be part of this exciting event. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into the making of tech gatherings, now’s your chance to find out firsthand. Apply here by […]

A proprietary polymer lets these skis switch between soft and stiff to help keep your legs fresh on the hill.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how Google kept Android SafetyCore details quiet until it scanned users' photos.

Waymo is preparing to use data from its robotaxis, including video from interior cameras tied to rider identities, to train generative AI models, according to an unreleased version of its privacy policy found by researcher Jane Manchun Wong, raising fresh questions about how much of a rider’s behavior inside autonomous vehicles could be repurposed for […]

You voted. They rose to the top! Meet the two Audience Choice winners who’ll take the breakout stage at TechCrunch Sessions: AI on June 5 in Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley to share their insights with 1,200 AI leaders and enthusiasts.  We sifted through hundreds of Call for Content submissions and narrowed them down to […]

Ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s new AI venture, Thinking Machines Lab, has gained two new prominent advisers: Bob McGrew, previously OpenAI’s chief research officer, and Alec Radford, a former OpenAI researcher behind many of the company’s more transformative innovations. Thinking Machines Lab’s website was quietly updated with McGrew and Radford’s names sometime in March. A spokesperson […]

Ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s new AI venture, Thinking Machines Lab, has gained two new prominent advisors: Bob McGrew, previously OpenAI’s chief research officer, and Alec Radford, a former OpenAI researcher behind many of the company’s more transformative innovations. Thinking Machines Lab’s website was quietly updated with McGrew and Radford’s names sometime in March. A spokesperson […]

Snapchat is introducing Sponsored AI Lenses, a new ad format that lets brands engage with consumers in an immersive way. While Snapchat has offered brands the opportunity to pay for sponsored lenses on the platform for years, now they can leverage AI-generated experiences powered by Snap’s proprietary generative AI technology. With these interactive lenses, brands […]

On Tuesday, Amazon debuted a new generative AI model, Nova Sonic, capable of natively processing voice and generating natural-sounding speech. Amazon claims that Sonic’s performance is competitive with frontier voice models from OpenAI and Google on benchmarks measuring speed, speech recognition, and conversational quality. Nova Sonic is Amazon’s answer to newer AI voice models such […]

This 2-in-1 gaming laptop might not have the best performance-to-price ratio, but it delivers a thinner, lighter, quieter, and cooler experience than its peers.

An exclusive clip from VICE documentary series "Dark Side of the Ring" teases the origins of Big Van Vader.

A founder who has carved out a name for himself building products to help restaurants connect better with would-be diners has raised $50 million for his latest startup: a new take on the idea of customer loyalty.  Blackbird Labs has built a payments-meets-loyalty-meets-blockchain platform for restaurants to grow repeat business while reducing some of the […]

What size should you get? Do you need a subwoofer? Here’s everything you need to know when upgrading your TV’s audio.

The startup has commissioned a demonstration unit of its organic flow battery.

Dark kitchens– also referred to as ghost kitchens, cloud kitchens, or virtual kitchens– often receive criticism for their food quality. Sizl, a cook-to-order delivery service based in Chicago, seeks to change this perception by delivering meals made with fresh ingredients in around 30 minutes flat. The company announced its recent $3.5 million seed round on […]

Upgrade your summer hosting game with Ooni’s commercial-inspired spiral dough mixer.

As of April 8, the 40mm Samsung Galaxy Watch7 is on sale at Best Buy for $239.99. Normally it's listed for $299.99, so you're saving $60.

"The White Lotus" Season 3 star Sam Nivola explained why his character didn't clean out the blender in the finale.

These vegan, gluten-free delivery meals take the work out of meal prep, although the food can be a little boring (and mushy).

The new four-wheel-drive electrified pickup has arrived, and it's better than ever. There's just one snag. It's made in Mexico.

As of April 8, the Beats Solo 4 headphones are on sale at Amazon for $129.95. Normally they're listed for $199.95, so you're saving 35%.

Jon Stewart has broken down Trump's reaction to the stock market crash.

Hydrogen trucks debut in Georgia, sparking debates on costs and green freight gains. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson comments on this promising chapter in green logistics evolution.

Meta is putting everything into its Teen Accounts experience, rolling out safer scrolling settings to teens on Facebook and Messenger in addition to bulked up Instagram protections.

Meta is introducing Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger. The feature, which automatically enrolls young users into an app experience with built-in protections, will be available on these platforms in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada before expanding to additional regions in the future. Teen Accounts first rolled out to Instagram last September after Instagram […]

As of April 8, the Kindle Essentials Bundle is on sale at Amazon for $146.97. Normally it's listed at $161.97, so you're saving $15.

As of April 8, ASUS ROG Falchion NX Wireless Gaming Keyboard is on sale for $99.99 at Amazon — $50 off its regular $149.99 price.

As of April 8, ASUS ROG Spatha X Wireless Gaming Mouse is on sale for $124.99 at Amazon — $25 off its regular price of $149.99.

As of April 8, ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless Gaming Headphones are on sale for $79.99 at Amazon — $20 off their $99.99 list price.

Billing itself as “Stripe for emerging markets,” Turkish Fintech Sipay has raised a $78 million Series B funding round, claiming a valuation of $875 million in the process. This round is significant, as Sipay plans to expand into markets outside of Turkey, offering additional services like remittances that Stripe currently does not offer in those […]

Save 22 percent on the Google Pixel 9 at Amazon.

Save 40 percent on the Amazon Fire Stick 4K at Amazon.

Apple is considering importing more iPhones from India to side-step the 54% additional tariffs on goods imported from China that U.S. President Donald Trump announced last week, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing anonymous sources. The company sees this as a short-term measure while it seeks to negotiate with the Trump administration to get an […]

Save 46 percent on the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop at Amazon.

With inauguration donations and Mar-a-Lago visits, leaders of the biggest tech companies sought favor with the president in an attempt to steer regulation and tariffs, to little avail.

SleepEEZ are specialized earbuds that block out noise while you sleep

Stop hunting down electrical outlets midday with help from the Power Brick 24000mAh AC Laptop Power Bank, now $114.99 (reg. $149) for a limited time.

Get a good view from anywhere with this high definition monocular telescope, now $22.97, 58% off, through April 27.

Bring your old car's entertainment system into 2025 with the PlayAIBox Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Wireless Adapter, now $74.97 (reg. $129) through April 27.

Most people hate read receipts. Why do read receipts on messages cause us so much stress and anxiety?

Bring home this Lenovo 300E 11.6" Touchscreen Chromebook for just $79.99 (reg. $284).

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

Answers to each clue for the April 8, 2025 edition of NYT's The Mini crossword puzzle.

"The Last of Us" star Bella Ramsey performed a rap recap of Season 1 on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon".

People are rushing to Apple stores to buy iPhones ahead of possible price hikes, a new report claims.

IBM is releasing the latest version of its mainframe hardware that includes new updates meant to accelerate AI adoption. The hardware and consulting company on Monday announced IBM z17, the latest version of its mainframe computer hardware. This fully encrypted mainframe is powered by an IBM Telum II processor and is designed for more than […]

Luminar Neo, a lifetime bundle packed with AI-powered tools and add-ons.

Hints and answers to today's Hurdle all in one place.

Live stream Bayern Munich vs. Inter Milan in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Watch Arsenal vs. Real Madrid in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

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" #1389 on April 8 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.

Retaining top AI talent is tough amid cutthroat competition between Google, OpenAI, and other heavyweights. Google’s AI division, DeepMind, has resorted to using “aggressive” noncompete agreements for some AI staff in the U.K. that bar them from working for competitors for up to a year, Business Insider reports. Some are paid during this time, in […]

New reports suggest Apple's major design overhaul for the iPhone 19 Pro to the 20th anniversary of the iconic smartphone.

The Silicon Valley giant had ordered employees to stay silent on the landmark case before reaching a settlement with a workers’ union over the issue.

On Monday, Microsoft reportedly terminated the roles of two software engineers, Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal, who protested the company’s reported dealings with the Israeli military during Microsoft’s Copilot and 50th anniversary event last week. According to an internal message viewed by CNBC, Microsoft wrote that Aboussad could have raised concerns “confidentially with your manager, […]

Amazon has upgraded its AI video model, Nova Reel, with the ability to generate videos up to two minutes in length. Nova Reel, announced in December 2024, was Amazon’s first foray into the generative video space. It competes with models from OpenAI, Google, and others in what’s fast becoming a crowded market. The latest Nova […]

Amid a morning of pandemonium on Wall Street, a popular news aggregator on X, known as Walter Bloomberg, posted a false report declaring that President Trump was considering a 90-day pause on his controversial tariff proposal. This news was not true, and yet, index funds like the Dow Jones whipsawed, rapidly rising for a brief […]

Nikola founder Trevor Milton, who was recently pardoned after being convicted of securities fraud, is trying to buy the assets of his former company out of bankruptcy, according to new court filings and a person familiar with the matter. Nikola filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February and has said it hopes to sell […]

At 11 a.m. in California last Thursday, the day after President Donald Trump declared sweeping new tariffs under what he dubbed “Liberation Day,” Ryan Petersen was live on camera, fielding questions from a virtual room packed with more than 2,300 anxious customers. The founder and CEO of Flexport, a now 12-year-old global logistics and customs […]

Yankees catcher Austin Wells — of course, it's a catcher — is going viral for his burrito reviews.

Startup Colossal Biosciences has edited the DNA of a gray wolf to produce what it says is a de-extincted animal. Does that make it a true dire wolf?

On April 5 and 6, Apple transformed Bell Works into "Severance"s Lumon for a mysterious and important event. Here's what it was like.

'Doctor Who' returns for its second season on Disney+ with Ncuti Gatwa (and season 15 of the new show) with 'Robot Revolution'

Teens have turned 'A Minecraft Movie' screenings into chaotic events with popcorn throwing, screaming, and phones.

A Meta exec on Monday denied a rumor that the company trained its new AI models to present well on specific benchmarks while concealing the models’ weaknesses. The executive, Ahmad Al-Dahle, VP of generative AI at Meta, said in a post on X that it’s “simply not true” that Meta trained its Llama 4 Maverick […]

Secure a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium for just A$98 (reg. A$490) through April 27.

Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives slashed his price targets for Apple and Tesla over the weekend as President Trump’s tariffs threaten to disrupt both businesses.  “The tariff economic Armageddon unleashed by Trump is a complete disaster for Apple given its massive China production exposure,” Ives said in a warning note over the weekend. “In our […]

Heron Power is raising between $30 million to $50 million for a Series A, according to a report.

Audible Premium Plus members can score two audiobooks for a single credit during the Bring the Spring Sale through April 11.

This week, shop e-book deals across the internet. Find e-books for as low as $1.99 at The Kindle Store, Kobo, and Bookshop.org.

The EcoFlow River 3 portable power station is just $159 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $259. That's a 39% discount.

As of April 7, you can get the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra for $999.99, down from $1,799.99, at Amazon. That's a 44% discount, or $800 off the list price.

The LG 65 inch UT70 LED UHD Smart TV is currently on sale for $349.99 at Best Buy, saving you $250 or 42%.

Waymo is preparing to use data from its robotaxis, including video from interior cameras tied to rider identities, to train generative AI models, according to an unreleased version of its privacy policy found by researcher Jane Manchun Wong.  The draft language reveals Waymo may also share this data to personalize ads, raising fresh questions about […]

The best Amazon deals on April 7 include the Sony WF-C700N earbuds, Amazon Fire 7 Kids, Fire Max 11, Google Nest Cam, and Toniebox.

Google is bringing multimodal search to AI Mode, its Google Search experiment that lets users ask complex, multi-part questions and follow-ups to dig deeper on a topic. Users who have access to AI Mode can now tap the feature to ask questions about photos they’ve uploaded or taken with their camera. The new image-analyzing functionality […]

"The Last of Us" Season 2, starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, is both a beautiful return to form and frustratingly incomplete. Review.

In a recent memo to employees, Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke made a bold policy change: teams must demonstrate why AI can’t perform a job before they’re permitted to ask for more headcount and resources. “Before asking for more headcount and resources, teams must demonstrate why they cannot get what they want done using AI,” Lütke […]

This could’ve been the apex of compact gaming keyboards, but it has a few too many flaws and a high price.

Boom boom, a new aesthetic trend inspired by 80s excess, blurs the line between satire and reality.

As of April 7, you can get the Toniebox Playtime Puppy Set for $69.99, down from $99.99, at Amazon. That's a 30% discount, or $30 off.

Joy-Con drift could still theoretically be a problem with the Nintendo Switch 2.