Category: Gaming
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Investments in generative AI startups topped $3.9B in Q3 2024
Not everyone is convinced of generative AI’s return on investment. But many investors are, judging by the latest figures from funding tracker PitchBook. In Q3 2024, VCs invested $3.9 billion in generative AI startups across 206 deals, per PitchBook. (That’s not counting OpenAI‘s $6.6 billion round.) And $2.9 billion of that funding went to U.S.-based…
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Gusto’s head of technology says hiring an army of specialists is the wrong approach to AI
As founders plan for an increasingly AI-centric future, Gusto co-founder and head of technology Edward Kim said that cutting existing teams and hiring a bunch of specially trained AI engineers is “the wrong way to go.” Instead, he argued that non-technical team members can “actually have a much deeper understanding than an average engineer on…
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Can AI sandbag safety checks to sabotage users? Yes, but not very well — for now
AI companies claim to have robust safety checks in place that ensure that models don’t say or do weird, illegal, or unsafe stuff. But what if the models were capable of evading those checks and, for some reason, trying to sabotage or mislead users? Turns out they can do this, according to Anthropic researchers. Just…
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Lyft is working on a ‘service animal opt-in feature’ for passengers
Uber and Lyft need to do more to support disabled passengers, especially those who are blind or visually impaired, according to protesters who gathered outside the companies’ headquarters on October 15. Wired spoke to protesters who shared stories about drivers passing them by or refusing to let them bring their guide dogs on a ride.…
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Women in AI: Marissa Hummon thinks AI will help make the power grid greener
This is part of TechCrunch’s ongoing Women in AI series, which seeks to give AI-focused women academics and others their well-deserved time in the spotlight. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. As a part of TechCrunch’s ongoing Women in AI series, which seeks to give AI-focused women academics and others…
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Perplexity is reportedly looking to fundraise at an $8B valuation
AI search engine Perplexity is in fundraising talks and hopes to raise around $500 million at an $8 billion valuation, according to the Wall Street Journal. If a deal happens with those terms, it would more than double Perplexity’s valuation from its $3 billion valuation when it raised from SoftBank over the summer. The WSJ…
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Throne’s toilet camera takes pictures of your poop
Throne is an Austin-based health startup. It sells a camera. That clips onto the side of a toilet bowl. It takes pictures of your poop. Currently in beta, the system utilizes artificial intelligence to examine your dookie as a way of determining things like gut health and hydration. Turns out we have a surprising amount…
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23andMe faces an uncertain future — so does your genetic data
Financial and security chaos at the once-pioneering genetic testing firm has intensified concerns about user data. Here’s how to take action. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. DNA and genetic testing firm 23andMe is in turmoil following a data breach last year and its ongoing financial decline. The once-pioneering giant…
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Women in AI: Dr. Rebecca Portnoff is protecting children from harmful deepfakes
This is part of TechCrunch’s ongoing Women in AI series, which seeks to give AI-focused women academics and others their time in the spotlight. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only. As a part of TechCrunch’s ongoing Women in AI series, which seeks to give AI-focused women academics and others their…
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Midjourney plans to let anyone on the web edit images with AI
Midjourney is planning to release an upgraded web tool that’ll let users edit any uploaded images from the web using Midjourney’s generative AI. The upgraded tool, which Midjourney CEO David Holtz said will be released “early next week,” will also allow users to retexture objects in images to “repaint” their colors and details according to…