Author: TechBrunch

Roblox announced on Thursday that the launch of a new Commerce API will allow creators to directly sell their platform experience and physical products within the game. The service provides creators with new ways to generate revenue beyond the purchase of virtual products or one-time fees to access a specific experience. The company began testing its ability to purchase physical products in several brand experiences in mid-2024. Last September, Roblox announced that its creators could quickly sell physical items in the experience thanks to their partnership with Shopify. Now, Roblox is making its integration available to all eligible creators and…

Savings and investment startup Acorns has acquired Earlybird, a family-friendly investment gifting platform. The financial conditions for the transaction have not been disclosed. As part of the acquisition, Earlybird will be closed, with all customer accounts officially closing on June 23rd. Customer funds will be returned to a bank account connected to the account. Founded in 2019, Earlybird has launched a product that combines financial investment with the community. The app allowed family and friends to give their children investments while preserving memories through digital time capsules. Investments were children at age 18 and were able to use funds for…

Crypto Giant Coinbase confirmed that its system was compromised and customer data, including government-issued identity documents, was stolen. In a legally necessary submission to US regulators, Coinbase said this week that the hackers had obtained information about their customer accounts from the company and demanded money from the company in exchange for not releasing stolen data. Coinbase said that hackers “get this information by gathering information from an internal Coinbase system that has access to multiple contractors or employees supporting roles outside the US to fulfill their work responsibilities.” Support staff are no longer employed, the company said. The filing…

Apple Maps announced collaborations with Michelin Guide, The Intatuation and Golf Digest to help users find recommended restaurants and golf courses in their area. Starting in the US, users can filter map searches to see restaurants with Michelin ratings. This illustrates an exceptional dining experience. But while you're probably not making your last Michelin reservation if you're on the go, the restaurant's recommended website, Intatuation, can help fill the gap. The Michelin Guide is best known for its dietary expertise, but it also offers hotel recommendations and booking services. This is also available on Apple Maps. The integration of golf…

A senior Trump administration official has abolished plans for data brokers to block the sale of personal and financial information for Americans, including Social Security numbers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) said it planned to close federal laws in December 2024 that it protected federal laws protecting the federal laws that protect American personal data collected by consumer reporting agencies such as the Credit Bureau and tenant screening companies. The rules would have required data brokers to comply with the law's privacy rules rather than in a way that is different from other companies subject to federal law. The…

Despite the confusion in the court, the ripples are still going through full steam. At the heart of an increasingly dramatic legal battle with rival deals, the HR Tech startup has raised $450 million in fresh funding at a $16.8 billion valuation and launched a new “startup stack” for early-stage businesses. The funds come in the famous legal battle with Deel, accusing the film-worthy corporate spying of the film-worthy. Deal denied the claim, filed its own lawsuit, calling Ripling's charges “distraction.” Today, in Equity, Mary Anne Azevedo and Charles Roll delve into the HR Tech showdown, ranging from legal drama…

Ridehale and delivery giant Uber presents cheap, fixed rides along busy corridors during weekday commute hours in major US cities. Starting Wednesday, riders in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York City, Philadelphia and San Francisco can save 50% on Uberx travel prices by booking with Uber's new “Route Sharing” feature. The company has announced route shares and other new features and discounts designed to help customers save money on rides and delivery at the annual Gott event. The aim is to attract and maintain a loyal customer base that continues to use the Uber app despite external economic pressures. According…

Three years ago I wrote about Uber's Amazonification about its evolution into a closed business loop where transport companies return customers to other Uber channels. At the time, the focus was on how Uber creates customer stickiness by actively selling groceries to groceries, putting groceries in alcohol, then returning alcohol to mobility. Today, Uber is focused on transport and appears to be working to become a daily lifestyle platform with handy super apps, service aggregators and the best products behind the paywall. A case in point: Uber this week will launch its first Uber One Member Days, the company's own…

Tiktok announced on Wednesday that it is expanding its suite of accessibility tools by deploying ALT text with AI to support photo, high contrast mode and device-level bold settings. Tiktok introduced support for ALT text on photos a few weeks ago, and authors provide descriptive text on photos to help screen reader users understand visual content through spoken language descriptions. Currently, the company is testing AI-generated ALT text to automatically explain the photos loudly when the creator does not manually add the ALT text. The company says that ALT text generated by AI makes Tiktok more accessible to people with…

AI-driven note-taking tool Granola is falling into the role. The startup has seen a sharp rise since it was used thanks to word of mouth between VCs and founders since it started a year ago, but it appears that the big drivers are using it to do more than its core pitch. Granola co-founder Chris Pedragel told TechCrunch that its users are increasingly using Granola to take personal notes. “[People] They have lots of meetings so they have granola open all day, so that's what […] Where they are starting to live,” he said. According to Pedragel, Granola's organic popularity…