Mistral AI, a French tech startup, has been making waves in the AI industry with its chat assistant Le Chat and a suite of foundational models. The company has gained significant attention, including a nod from French President Emmanuel Macron, but faces challenges in competing with OpenAI. Mistral AI’s models, including Le Chat, are now…
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As generative AI becomes increasingly powerful and accessible, experts are sounding the alarm on the urgent need for improved ethics and safety measures. Artemis Seaford, Head of AI Safety at ElevenLabs, and Ion Stoica, co-founder of Databricks, will discuss the challenges of AI safety at TechCrunch Sessions: AI on June 5. They will examine the…
TechCrunch Sessions: AI is set to take place on June 5 at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall, where Iliana Quinonez, Director of North America Startups Customer Engineering at Google Cloud, will share her tactical approach to scaling AI startups. Quinonez will discuss the frameworks and decisions that determine whether an AI startup can scale or stall,…
Throne, an Austin-based startup, has raised $4 million in seed financing to develop an AI-powered toilet device that monitors gut health conditions. The device uses computer vision and AI software to analyze indicators of chronic conditions, hydration, and urological function. Throne plans to launch the device in January 2026, with a pre-production working prototype currently…
Elizabeth Weil’s Scribble Ventures has secured $80 million for its third fund, defying the contraction in the venture industry. The firm’s success can be attributed to its carefully cultivated ecosystem of operators and executives, known as the “Scribble Network,” which provides deal flow, due diligence help, and investments. This approach has helped Scribble make successful…
Ride-hail giant Uber has introduced a new feature called Route Share, which offers fixed-route rides along busy corridors during weekday commute hours in major U.S. cities. This move aims to attract and maintain a loyal customer base amidst economic pressures. The feature allows riders to save 50% off the price of an UberX trip by…
InventWood, a startup based in Maryland, is on the verge of mass-producing Superwood, a material stronger than steel made from ordinary wood. The company has licensed the technology from University of Maryland materials scientist Liangbing Hu and has raised $15 million in funding to commercialize the product. Superwood is expected to be used in facade…
TechCrunch has partnered with VivaTech, Europe’s largest startup and tech event, to select the most innovative startups for the prestigious VivaTech Innovation of the Year award. The partnership aims to highlight exceptional creativity, technological ingenuity, and industry-transforming potential among exhibiting startups. The winner of the award will receive a valuable opportunity to pitch on the…
xAI’s Grok chatbot has been at the center of controversy after it repeatedly referred to “white genocide in South Africa” in response to unrelated topics. The company blamed an “unauthorized modification” for the bug, which is the second time such an incident has occurred. xAI has promised to make changes to prevent similar incidents in…
The latest innovation in wearable technology, Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, has taken the world by storm. These smart glasses have become a surprise hit among outdoor enthusiasts, particularly among cyclists. With features such as a built-in camera, open-ear speakers, and AI assistant, these glasses have made it easier for people to capture moments, listen to…