Author: TechBrunch
Like others who have a mobile phone in the US and later, if you receive fraudulent text messages about email items with no unpaid tolls or withdrawals, you could have been targeted for prolific fraudulent operations. The fraud was not particularly complicated, but it was very effective. From mail delivery to local government programs, by sending spam text messages that look like authentic notifications for popular services, unsuspecting victims click on the link loading the phishing page, enter their credit card details, and the information is swiped to use for fraud. During the seven months of 2024, the scam had…
It's good to have a simple app that does one thing well without making a fuss. Microsoft Lens was that type of app. This is a mobile document scanner that transforms paper documents, business cards, receipts, and more into easy-to-read digital files. Microsoft is now aborted app, so instead they will lead users to the Copilot AI chat app. According to new support documents, the lens will be deprecated from iOS and Android devices from September 15, 2025, and will be removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play on November 15, 2025. Existing users will be able to…
TechCrunch's confusion is not just a technical conference, it's the LaunchPad. For 20 years, the startup came to TechCrunch's suspension, met with the first investors, won the biggest partnerships, and sparked the idea of taking it to the next level. In 2025, that Launchpad could become an exhibition table. As the tables are on sale at a rapid pace, it is the moment when we reach the front of more than 10,000 founders, VCSs and tech innovators in West Moscon, San Francisco on October 27-29. Waiting, competitors grab the spotlight and deal. Image credit: Slava Blazer Photography What to lose…
After the launch of the new Instagram Snapma-like opt-in “Instagram Map” feature on Wednesday, users can share their latest active locations with others and discover location-based content. Meta revealed that location sharing is turned off by default, but social media has incorrectly claimed it is automatically turned on with many posts on its social media that encourage users to turn off location sharing. “We're double checking everything, but so far people seem confused and can see themselves on the map when they open so others can see them too,” Moseli said in a post in the thread. “We're still checking…
Pinterest CEO Bill Ready told investors about the company's second quarter revenue call that social apps and inspirational bookmarking sites could be considered “AI-enabled shopping assistants.” However, he believes that the Agent Web, where AI agents shop on behalf of users, is still far away in the future. The remarks were made in response to questions about Agent Web. This can affect businesses like Search Funnel and Pinterest. Investors may be concerned that if AI begins to understand users' interests, instead of using platforms like Pinterest, they can preemptively instruct users to shop from their own personalized recommendations. “I think…
Startups face more exit options and more uncertainty than ever before. So this essential conversation brings to the publication stage of TechCrunch Surprate 2025, which takes place on October 27th-29th in Moscon West, San Francisco. Whether you're already focusing on liquidity events or beginning to expand, this is your chance to hear what top VCs are looking for and how to set up a company for long-term success. The Best Two in Business – Renegade Partners Roseanne Wincek and Sapphire Ventures' Jai Das break the decision-making process from a time when they move to a way to prepare when they…
OpenVibe, an app that allows you to follow open social networks such as BlueSky, Mastodon, Threads, and Nostr in one place, has expanded its capabilities so you can now follow your favorite news sites and blogs. To that end, startups are adding support for RSS (aka very simple syndication or news feed), an open standard that allows you to subscribe to automatic updates from websites such as new articles and blog posts. This addition makes OpenVibe more convenient to keep up with your interests and other important information without switching between multiple newsreaders, websites, or social networking apps. This new…
In February, AI coding startup Windsurf was in talks to raise a major new round at a $2.855 billion valuation led by Kleiner Perkins. Sources familiar with the issue said the transaction did not occur. Instead, the news broke in April, and the startup had planned to sell itself to Openai with roughly the same rating: $3 billion. The deal has become famous, but one big question remains. If startups are growing so rapidly and are attracting VC interest, why would they sell at all? Insider told TechCrunch that it could actually become a money-taking business because of all the…
This week, Instagram introduced a new snapshot-like feature called Instagram Maps. This allows users to share their latest active locations with others and discover location-based content. If you decide to turn on Instagram map locations, the locations will only be updated when you open the app, or only if you are running in the background. This means that no continuous real-time location updates are provided. This is different from a snapmap. This allows users to choose whether the location will be updated or in real time only when the app is opened. Meta says that position sharing is turned off…
After the second quarter's revenue beat, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky shared his thoughts on the company's AI strategy, warning investors that AI Chatbots still can't be considered a “new Google.” This means that while AI chatbots can lead new leads into the travel and services business, they are not entirely replacing the referrals that dominant search engines bring. At least not at this time. “I think we still feel the space,” the executive told investors during a second-quarter revenue call. “My warning is that I don't think AI agents should think of chatbots like Google. I don't think they should…