Author: TechBrunch

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents and a major reason why car insurance premiums are expected to rise in 2025. For commercial vehicles, this is a nightmare. But it's a tailwind for California-based startup Netradyne. Netradyne provides vehicle owners, including major companies like Amazon, with AI-enabled dashcams that collect vehicle data and video to improve driver safety, reducing accidents by approximately 50%, according to the company. I will. These devices have inward- and outward-facing cameras and use edge computing to send real-time notifications and alert drivers when they are distracted or driving unsafely. reward good…

Read.cv, a social media platform for professionals that competes with LinkedIn, has been acquired by AI-powered search engine Perplexity. As part of the deal, Read.cv will begin winding down its operations starting Friday. Users can export their data, including profiles, posts, and messages, until May 16th. Read.cv's blog says, “We have long admired Perplexity and believe that great things happen when the world's knowledge becomes more open and accessible.” “In that spirit, we are excited to join Perplexity’s design and engineering team as we continue our shared mission of exploration and discovery.” I'm excited to share it today @read_cv I'm…

The Supreme Court upheld the ban on TikTok. Before the app goes dark on Sunday, you're probably wondering how to back up the dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of videos you have on the platform. Here's how to save your favorite videos or videos you've posted yourself. And just in case you start to panic, we've put together some TikTok alternatives. How to download individual TikTok content If you want to save some of your favorite TikTok videos and photos to your device, it's very easy. To download videos to your iOS or Android device, go to your TikTok profile…

Character AI, a startup that allows users to chat with a variety of AI-powered characters, is currently testing the game on desktop and mobile web apps to increase engagement on the platform. The game is available to paid subscribers of Character AI and a limited number of users on the free plan. For this first release, the company developed two games: Speakeasy and War of Words. Users with access to the game can navigate to any of the chatting characters in their browser and tap the new controller icon. Users can play the game with existing characters. The app will…

Bluesky released a moderation report for the past year on Friday, noting the significant growth the social network experienced in 2024 and how that impacted the Trust & Safety team's workload. It also noted that the most reports came from users who reported accounts or posts of harassment, trolling, or intolerance. This issue has plagued Bluesky as it has grown, sometimes even leading to mass protests over individual moderation decisions. The company's report does not mention or explain why it took or did not take action against individual users, including those on its most blocked list. . Bluesky has become…

Update: OpenAI officially announced the feature a week after some users reported the new option's arrival and subsequent disappearance. You may have gone live prematurely. OpenAI is introducing new ways for users to customize their interactions with ChatGPT, the company's AI-powered chatbot. On Friday, OpenAI announced that it is rolling out a new user interface for ChatGPT's custom instructions menu, including new ways to customize chatbot characteristics. OpenAI says the feature will first roll out to ChatGPT.com and its Windows desktop app, and will be coming to its mobile and MacOS desktop apps in the coming weeks. Updated custom instructions…

According to MIT Technology Review, OpenAI announced that it has trained a new AI model called GPT-4b micro with Retro Biosciences, a longevity science startup that aims to extend human lifespans by 10 years. Retro, backed by Sam Altman, has been working with OpenAI on this research for about a year, according to the report. The GPT-4b micro model attempts to redesign a specific set of proteins (called Yamanaka factors) that can turn human skin cells into younger-looking stem cells. Retro believes these proteins are a promising step toward building human organs and providing an alternative cell supply. The model…

TikTok has warned of a looming shutdown in just six days, as the Supreme Court is currently weighing the law that would ban the app. So we thought it’s time to take a look at other platforms that may be able to fill the TikTok-shaped hole in our lives.  The law gives TikTok parent company ByteDance until January 19 to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban in the country. TikTok is hoping for a pause to the law, but if that doesn’t happen, the app will effectively be banned in the country.  There’s no 1:1 TikTok replacement, but…

Welcome to Startups Weekly — a weekly roundup of must-sees from the world of startups. Want it delivered to your inbox every Friday? Sign up here. This week's newsletter is about startups, but also about big tech companies expanding their reach through both acquisitions and investments. This week's most interesting startup stories Image credit: Alexsl / Getty Images Tech IPOs remain rare in the U.S., and M&A dominated exit news this week. Additionally, there is one new startup to track. Public market breakthrough: Blaize, an AI chip startup founded by Intel engineers in 2011 and focused on edge applications, went…

Google has announced that it has started requiring users to turn on JavaScript, a programming language widely used to make web pages interactive, in order to use Google Search. In an email to TechCrunch, a company spokesperson said the changes will “better protect” Google Search from malicious activity like bots and spam, and improve the overall Google search experience for users. He claimed that it was aimed at. The spokesperson noted that many features of Google Search don't work properly without JavaScript, and search results tend to be of lower quality. “Enabling JavaScript allows us to better protect our services…