Author: TechBrunch
Privacy-focused messaging app signals flew high in the Dutch app store last month, and often sits on top as the most downloaded free app on iOS and Android in all categories, with data from multiple app tracking platforms such as Sensor Tower. The app has experienced a surge in popularity over the years, in response to policy changes in rivals such as WhatsApp and geopolitical events. This is because Signal created its own name as a more privacy-friendly option. That's because it's run by a nonprofit foundation (though based in the US) rather than a private company focused on data…
According to Mark Garman of Bloomberg, Apple is struggling to rebuild Siri in the age of generator AI. He says that they may not release “a true modernized conversational version of Siri” until IOS 20 is announced in 2027. That doesn't mean there were no major Siri updates before that. The new version of Siri is reportedly going to debut in May. Finally, we've incorporated all of the Apple Intelligence features we announced almost a year ago. Gurman describes this version of Siri as having “two brains.” One is for older commands such as setting timers and making calls, and…
In just a few words, the AI model is asked to create a story, image, or short film. However, according to Weber Wong, all of these models are “not made to make other non-creators feel creative.” In other words, they are not built for real creative professionals. That's what Wong hopes to change along with Flora, a new startup he is founder and CEO. Flora launched this week, declaring that “AI creative tools should be more than just toys for generating AI slops,” describing Wong and his team as “obsessed with building electric tools that deepen the future of creative…
President Donald Trump has cast his support behind the idea of creating a Federal Reserve for crypto assets. He specifically mentioned XRP, Solana and Cardano, but not Bitcoin or Ethereum. In January, Trump issued an executive order calling for the establishment of a working group that researched recommendations on crypto policy, including “the potential creation and maintenance of national digital asset stockpiles.” The working group was supposed to “suggest the criteria for establishing such stockpiles.” This could be “derived from cryptocurrencies legally seized by the federal government through law enforcement efforts.” In this morning's post about the truth about his…
Aviron's home fitness equipment works on simple principles. People hate exercise. But many of those same people love to play video games. Perhaps the only thing standing between them and a more active lifestyle is healthy competition and timing distractions. It's the same gamification concept that made Nintendo's Wii and VR games look like Beat Saber Hits. However, instead of bringing your workout into a video game, Aviron brings video games into your workout. Founded in 2018, the Toronto-based startup has become known for its release of a rowing machine that was gamed in 2022. With gym closures, many people…
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Chinese AI startup Deepseek recently declared its AI model to be highly profitable. In X's post, Deepseek boasts that the “cost profit margin” for its online service is 545%. However, the margin is calculated based on “theoretical income.” These numbers were discussed in more detail at the end of a longer GitHub post that outlines an approach to achieving “higher throughput and low latency.” The company writes that when considering using the V3 and R1 models during the 24-hour period, if all of that use was billed using the R1 price, DeepSeek already has $562,027 in daily revenue. Meanwhile, the…
There are three inevitable reasons for life. Death, taxes and tech platforms are making design changes that are universally disliked. The latest victim of this phenomenon was the Apple Mail app, which undergoes a major redesign on iOS 18. This update is also available on iPads and MacBooks. The new Apple Mail Design separates email into categories such as primary, transaction, updates, promotions and more. We also provide contact photos to each sender. This coincides with the company's new branding capabilities for businesses across the iOS ecosystem. While some users find it a redesign that is not visually appealing and…
In a video from Tiktok, with over 3 million viewers, a woman in a fluffy, biggest coat, sits in the back seat of a gorgeous SUV, parked in the middle of a street in New York City. Above the six-second video, a line of text reads, “Our bodyguard got us matcha.” The camera zooms in on two intimidating men in full suits with red ties, each carrying an iced matcha latte back to the car. In a similar video, a young woman films a sophisticated Chevrolet suburb being pulled up in front of her home. The man in a suit…
It takes time to gain insights from the AI industry – and save on a massive scale. Save up to $325 and only 2 days left to secure your spot in your TechCrunch session: AI. But if you act quickly, this special offer will close on March 2nd at 11:59pm. TC Session: AI is a must-have event where you can explore the AI industry focused on the startup ecosystem. Whether you're a founder or an investor, or you're interested in the wild world of AI, join Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley on June 5th to be inspired and equipped with the…