Author: TechBrunch

Speaking at the United Nations Future Summit on Saturday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai described AI as the “most transformative technology ever” and announced a new fund for AI education and training around the world. According to a transcript of his prepared remarks, Pichai noted four big opportunities for AI and sustainable development: giving people access to information in their own language, accelerating scientific discovery, providing warnings and tracking of climate disasters, and boosting economic development. Pichai also acknowledged that AI poses risks such as deepfakes, but did not address the impact AI will have on the climate. He added that…

Budget hotel company Oyo, one of India's largest start-ups, has inked a deal to acquire Motel 6 operator G6 Hospitality. OYO will pay $525 million in all-cash to Blackstone Real Estate in a deal that also includes the Studio 6 extended-stay brand and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year. The Indian startup opened its first U.S. location in 2019 and now operates more than 320 hotels across 35 states. OYO has a franchise network of about 1,500 in the U.S. and Canada and is dramatically expanding its presence in North America with the acquisition of…

A promising new entrant in the emerging market for electric personal watercraft is going out of business and being sold off for parts. Pure Watercraft was founded in 2011 with the goal of replacing gasoline-powered outboard engines with all-electric alternatives. We covered the company in 2016 when it began taking preorders for its first commercial outboard engines, and in 2020 Pure raised $23 million to ramp up production. GM acquired a 25% stake in Pure as part of a larger investment in electric infrastructure. The company offered electric outboard and battery combos that could be installed on a boat like…

Social networks are becoming increasingly homogenized, with everything from text to short videos appearing across platforms and algorithms often burying creativity. This ubiquitous environment makes it harder than ever to truly get a sense of someone's vibe before deciding whether to follow them. Shelf is an app that lets you create a personalized “storefront” of your media habits and connect with others based on the movies, shows, books, games, and music you watch. It also lets you track your progress while reading your favorite books or watching trending shows. “If you look at internet culture in general, people are increasingly…

Adam Neumann's co-living startup Flow has opened a 238-unit apartment complex in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital, as detailed by Forbes. The opening included an Aztec-themed hot chocolate ceremony and the distribution of tote bags bearing the words, “Oh My God, I'm Alive.” Rent for the fully-furnished units starts at $3,500 per month and includes hotel-like services like laundry and housekeeping, as well as amenities like a pool, a co-ed gym (a rarity in Saudi Arabia), and a bowling alley. Flow is building three properties in Riyadh with nearly 1,000 apartments. The company's first, less luxurious locations opened in April in…

X came back online in Brazil earlier this week, three weeks after Elon Musk's platform was blocked by order of the Brazilian Supreme Court, which then fined the company approximately $1 million for each day the platform remained accessible in the country. But Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince told TechCrunch that X coming back online in Brazil this week was all a “coincidence.” “I don't think this change was intentional to overcome the Brazilian block,” Prince told TechCrunch in an interview. “This is literally [X] “Switching from one IT vendor to another” A few months ago, Cloudflare won a contract to…

OpenAI is eyeing another big round, but that's not what's drawing attention. AI startups building promising underlying models can still open their doors and checkbooks. Black Forest Labs, a startup that builds generative AI image models and emerged from stealth two months ago with a $31 million round, is closing on a new round of funding, according to multiple sources. A $100 million round at a $1 billion valuation is what we're hearing. The deal may not be final and is subject to change. Black Forest is more than just an AI startup. The company was co-founded by the engineers…

OpenAI is eyeing another big round, but that's not what's drawing attention. AI startups building promising underlying models can still open their doors and checkbooks. Black Forest Labs, a startup that builds generative AI image models and emerged from stealth two months ago with a $31 million round, is closing on a new round of funding, according to multiple sources. A $100 million round at a $1 billion valuation is what we're hearing. The deal may not be final and is subject to change. Black Forest is more than just an AI startup. The company was co-founded by the engineers…

If you love gadgets and gizmos, this year’s product conferences have been right up your alley. We’ve poked through the many product announcements made so far this year by the biggest tech companies and trade shows to create a list of what we think are the most important, or the most interesting, reveals. So far this list covers Apple WWDC, Apple Let Loose, Google I/O, Microsoft Build, Mobile World Congress and CES. Please check back as we’ll continue to update what’s below. ‘It’s Glowtime,’ or the annual iPhone event Image Credits: Apple iPhone 16 No surprise that Apple’s annual September…

The federal government will hand out an additional $3 billion to startups in the buzzy battery tech sector. The investment, announced by the Biden administration on Friday, is the latest capital injection from $16 billion the Department of Energy has set aside for the construction of domestic battery manufacturing, processing and recycling facilities. It's part of the broader Inflation Control Act, passed into law in August 2022, which includes incentives to boost the domestic battery industry and reduce reliance on China, the world's battery incumbent. Portions of this funding were awarded to startups across 14 states, with some winners capturing…