Author: TechBrunch
The data centers that train the massive language models behind AI consume unimaginable amounts of energy, making it a big gamble for big tech companies to have enough power to run those plants, which is why Microsoft is now pushing into nuclear power. The tech giant signed a major deal on Friday with nuclear power plant operator Constellation Energy to buy power for its data centers from Constellation Energy's Three Mile Island Unit 1 nuclear plant. The nuclear plant is located right next to the infamous TMI-2 reactor, which suffered a meltdown in 1979. Unit 1 was shut down in…
French insurance unicorn Alain has just signed a multi-faceted deal with Belfius, one of Belgium's largest banks, that includes a distribution partnership in addition to a significant capital investment in the startup. Belfius is leading Alan's Series F funding round, bringing the total amount raised to €173 million (approximately $193 million at current exchange rates), with some of Alan's existing investors again participating, specifically OTPP via Teachers' Venture Growth, Temasek, Coatue and Lakestar. For those of you who don't know Alain, the company originally started out as a health insurance product to complement the French national health insurance system, which…
Indian education technology startup Physics Wallah has secured $210 million in fresh funding amid a tough fundraising environment for education technology companies in the country following the collapse of Byju's, once the industry giant. PhysixWallar said on Friday that its Series B round was led by hedge fund Hornbill Capital, a joint venture between China's Orchid Asia and India's Hornbill, with “significant” participation from Lightspeed Ventures Partners, along with existing backers Westbridge and GSV. The round values PhysixWallar at $2.8 billion, a significant increase from the previous $1.1 billion it raised in June 2022. The startup has raised over $310…
Indian film director Ram Gopal Varma says he's ditched human musicians in favor of artificial intelligence and will use only AI-generated songs in his future projects, a move that highlights AI's growing influence in the creative industries. The film director and screenwriter, known for popular Bollywood films like “Company,” “Rangeela,” “Sarkar” and “Sathya,” told TechCrunch that he has launched a venture called RGV Den Music that will only feature music generated from AI apps such as Suno and Udio. Varma said he plans to use AI-generated music in all his projects, including films, and that the music in his upcoming…
California Governor Gavin Newsom is currently considering 38 AI-related bills, including the highly controversial SB 1047, which the state legislature has sent to the governor for final approval. These bills seek to address some of the most pressing issues in artificial intelligence, including the existential risks posed by future AI systems, deepfake nudes created by AI image generators, and Hollywood studios creating AI clones of deceased actors. “California, home to many of the world's leading AI companies, is leveraging these transformative technologies to address pressing challenges and studying the risks they pose,” Newsom's office said in a press release. To…
California Governor Gavin Newsom is currently considering 38 AI-related bills, including the highly controversial SB 1047, which the state legislature has sent to the governor for final approval. These bills seek to address some of the most pressing issues in artificial intelligence, including the existential risks posed by future AI systems, deepfake nudes created by AI image generators, and Hollywood studios creating AI clones of deceased actors. “California, home to many of the world's leading AI companies, is leveraging these transformative technologies to address pressing challenges and studying the risks they pose,” Newsom's office said in a press release. To…
Smartphone chip maker Qualcomm said it will lay off 226 employees in San Diego later this year, according to a California WARN notice released this week. The layoffs, first reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune, will take effect the week of Nov. 12. The layoffs affect employees at 16 facilities across San Diego, including the company's headquarters, where its cybersecurity division is located. It's unclear if the cybersecurity team is affected, and a Qualcomm spokesperson declined to respond to questions from TechCrunch. Qualcomm spokeswoman Christine Stiles said in a statement: “Our leading technology and product portfolio position us to execute…
California's latest law could land social media users who post or repost AI deepfakes that mislead voters about upcoming elections in legal trouble. Gov. Gavin Newsom has suggested that AB 2839, which he signed into law Tuesday and took immediate effect, could be used to curb retweets that spread false content, including from Elon Musk. “Just signed a bill making this illegal in California,” Newsom said in a tweet, a reference to an AI deepfake Musk reposted earlier this year that appeared to show Kamala Harris calling herself an incompetent candidate and diversity hire (which she's not). “You can no…
California's government announced Thursday that residents can now store their driver's licenses and state-issued IDs in the Apple Wallet app, after the state only began issuing digital IDs through Google Wallet last month. Californians who have their ID registered with the Apple Wallet or Google Wallet app can use their mobile device to present their ID in person at certain TSA security checkpoints and businesses, and can also use the app to verify their age and identity in certain apps. Other states that already support digital driver's licenses and state IDs include Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland and Ohio. How to…
I recently adopted a kitten from my local animal shelter. The modern, well-staffed, three-story facility relies largely on donations to operate. It's just one of 1.8 million nonprofits in the U.S. that require ongoing donations from donors to maintain their services. But Gabe Cooper, founder and CEO of Virtuous, says many charities don't market to donors very effectively. “If you've ever given to a nonprofit, what you've probably gotten in return was direct mail that felt like institutional nonsense that had nothing to do with the purpose you gave to in the first place,” he says. “Donors have a right…