Author: TechBrunch

Google on Thursday announced a new update to NotebookLM, its AI note-taking and research assistant that lets users get summaries of YouTube videos and audio files, as well as create shareable AI-generated audio discussions. The search giant is looking to expand the use cases and reach of the tool, which was originally announced as a project at last year's I/O developer conference and expanded to India, the UK and more than 200 other markets a few months after its public launch in the US. Initially used by educators and learners, NotebookLM has seen a significant shift in its user base…

EVA, a platform that connects event bookers with local performers, has secured $2 million in funding as in-person events return in earnest. The round, which the Nashville-based startup says was more than double its target, values ​​EVA at $15 million. The latest round is timely, as event organizers are seeing a surge in attendance at in-person B2B conferences. According to a survey by event management company Bizzabo, 86.4% of planners invested in more in-person events in 2023. With the new capital, the company plans to expand its services to Los Angeles, California, starting in early December in New York City…

Subscription management platform RevenueCat has made its first acquisition following a $12 million funding round, and it's an unusual one: Rather than buying a company to add more tools to its platform, it's acquiring Dipsea, an app that offers “inspirational” audiobook subscriptions. No, this isn't a huge shift for the popular platform used by over 30,000 app developers, including Notion, VSCO, Ladder, Photoroom, and Buffer. Instead, the novel idea here is to bring the subscription-based app in-house to act as a testing ground for new features and functionality for RevenueCat, the company said. Additionally, this will be part of RevenueCat's…

We're happy to announce that the agenda is finalized and ready for Google Cloud's dedicated AI stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024, bringing together other industry-specific stages such as fintech, SaaS, and space under one big roof. TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 wouldn't be complete without a deep dive into all things artificial intelligence, so here's the final agenda for the AI ​​Stage, which runs all day on Wednesday, October 30. The TechCrunch stage will feature industry startups like Perplexity, Meta, Hugging Face, and Zoox, as well as academics, thought leaders, and partners like Nebius AI, MongoDB, HP, and Thomson Reuters. Agenda for…

Meta Connect 2024 is a developer-focused event featuring a keynote speech from CEO Mark Zuckerberg. He introduced new hardware and software that supports Meta's two big ambitions: AI and the Metaverse. This included everything from a new Quest headset, updates to Meta's Llama AI model, and even a new fully AR glasses prototype. Meta Connect 2024 began live on Wednesday, September 25th at 10am Pacific Time. You can watch the archive on the Meta Connect site or the Meta developer's Facebook page. You can also jump into Horizon Worlds from your Meta Quest headset if you really want to feel…

Star Health & Allied Insurance, one of India's largest health insurers, is investigating a cybersecurity incident that allegedly leaked sensitive data about customers, including medical records. The Chennai-headquartered insurance major told TechCrunch that a “forensic investigation” is underway after data allegedly stolen from the company was shared online. The hacker group recently created a chatbot on Telegram to leak purported personal data of Star Health policyholders, including names, phone numbers, home addresses, medical reports, and insurance claims, as well as copies of identity documents and personal tax details. Reuters was first to report that the Telegram chatbot had leaked customer…

Ticket Reboot Week is in its final stages with just 48 hours left. You can save up to $600 on each ticket type to TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. Buy fast. This offer ends September 27th at 11:59PM PST. Don't miss out on one of the last big sales before the countdown to Disrupt 2024 begins. Secure your discounted tickets now before it's too late! Why attend Disrupt 2024? 10,000 technology, startup, and venture capital leaders will be joining us from October 28-30 at Moscone West in San Francisco for one of the most anticipated tech conferences of the year. Experience a…

After, a new dating app founded by a woman, launches in Austin, Texas, on Thursday with a mission to tackle ghosting and hold people accountable. What makes the app different from other dating apps is that After requires users to tell them why they are unmatching before continuing to swipe. The idea behind this feature is to eliminate sudden disconnects and confusion. Founded in October 2023, After is the brainchild of Katie Dissanayake, who came up with the idea for the app after spending a decade in the dating app industry. Prior to founding After, Dissanayake worked at Hud, where…

The Tor Project will integrate its work with Tails, a portable Linux-based operating system focused on protecting user privacy and anonymity. The merger comes amid an ongoing digital surveillance and regulatory campaign to break end-to-end encryption, with censorship of online services remaining a global challenge. According to a blog post published today by Pavel Zhonev, Tor Project director of public affairs and communications, Tails will be incorporated “into the fabric of the Tor Project,” which will allow for “easier collaboration, greater sustainability, reduced expenses, and expanded training and outreach programs to combat more digital threats.” Two become one Founded in…

A company that claims its technology will “revolutionize” emergency calling has raised $27 million in a Series B round led by Andreessen Horowitz. A company called Prepared allows 911 dispatchers to get a caller's real-time GPS location if the phone supports it. Through Prepared, dispatchers can receive and reply to texts and images, and even answer video calls on iPhones with Apple's Emergency SOS Live Video feature. Prepared co-founder and CEO Michael Chime argues that the platform gives operators valuable context they wouldn't get otherwise. “The goal of our technology is to reduce the burden on each individual call so…