Author: TechBrunch

Mollitiam Industries, a small and lesser known Spanish spyware manufacturer, is now closed. The end of the startup was first reported by Intelligence Intelligence Online on the Intelligence and Surveillance Trade News website. Public Business Records confirm that the company filed for bankruptcy on January 23rd. Unlike the hacking team, NSO Group and now Paragon Solutions, Mollitiam Industries, based in Toledo, a town outside of Madrid, Spain, is mostly operating in public places. In part, the secret is merely a result of the nature of the spyware industry. There are many vendors all over the world, and a significant number…

For decades, couples experiencing in vitro fertilization have had to spend tens of thousands of dollars on the procedure without guaranteeing success. It's not only an emotionally draining process, but also a financially exhausting process. San Francisco-based startup Future Family wants to help ease some of the burden on couples with new US IVF insurance products. New products with support from Munich Re Venture, a venture arm of global reinsurer Munich Re, essentially offer money back guarantees to those who are experiencing IVF. CEO and co-founder Claire Tomkins is relaxed with insurance. Before starting the IVF cycle, the couple will…

Google is pulling AI assistant Gemini from its main Google app for iOS devices. This move is intended to encourage users to download the standalone Gemini app instead. This allows Google to compete more directly with other consumer-oriented AI chatbots such as ChatGpt, Claude, and Prperxity. However, since Google's apps are already used by millions, the risk of reducing Gemini reach may also change, and many people are motivated to download other new mobile applications. Not there. The Tech giant warned customers of the change via email warning that “Gemini is no longer available on the Google app.” This email…

On Wednesday, Google is rolling out a new update that allows users to search for things on the screen via simple gestures when browsing within the Google Chrome or Google Search app on iOS. This feature is similar to Android's built-in “Circle to Search” feature. This allows users to search for things on the screen using a variety of gestures. At launch, iPhone users can also search for things on the screen by drawing, highlighting or tapping something through Google lenses. For example, if you read an article and come across an image of an interesting artwork, you can quickly…

The demand for voice and speech recognition technology is on a large scale and growing. Market and market analysis by market researchers found that by 2027 the sector was worth more than $28.1 billion. There is no shortage of vendors offering voice and voice recognition solutions, but some new startups have managed to carve out their niches. Sanas is a good example. Founded in 2020, the company develops software that uses AI to adjust speaker accents in real time. “At Sanas, we believe that technology should not replace human connections, but rather strengthen them,” says Sanas co-founder and president, Shalas…

A few weeks after the initial release of Mistral's AI assistant Le Chat, the company told Le Parisien it had reached 1 million downloads. In particular, Le Chat quickly reached the top spot for free downloads of the iOS App Store in its home country of France. “Download and download LeChat made by Mistral, not open or anything else,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in a television interview ahead of the recent AI Action Summit in Paris. He said. Of course, this wasn't the first AI app to take off. In November 2023, Openai created a splash with the AI…

Instagram is upgrading direct messaging, also known as DMS, with some new features, such as Apple's Imessage and other third-party apps, that will make messaging systems more competitive with alternatives. On Wednesday, Instagram users will be visiting worldwide to translate messages in 99 languages, translate tools to schedule and pin messages to chat, music sharing features and more. Beware of Instagram. WebAccess will not arrive until later. Adding music sharing could particularly appeal to younger users who often discover new music through social apps such as Instagram and Tiktok. To access the feature, tap the sticker button on the chat…

Cameron John Waigenius pleaded guilty to hacking AT&T and Verizon and stealing large numbers of phone records from businesses, according to court records filed Wednesday. Wagenius, a US Army soldier, pleaded guilty to two counts of “illegal transfer of confidential telephone record information” on online forums and via online communications platforms. According to documents filed by Wagenius's attorneys, he faces fines of up to $250,000 and up to 10 years in prison hours for each of the two counts. Vagenius was arrested and charged last year. In January, US prosecutors confirmed that the charges against Wagenius were related to the…

The team at early stage VC firm Slow Ventures last week set out to help them launch their business by launching a $60 million fund that is completely dedicated to investing in creators. The idea is that the same entrepreneurial spirit and niche expertise that helped creators build their communities make them great founders. According to Megan LightCap, partner at Slow Ventures, it comes down to trust and audience attachment. “What's really interesting about creators is that they often start. [on YouTube]right? LightCap explains. “However, the possibility that there may be creator-driven opportunities and opportunities that exist in existing brands…

Elon Musk's X is in talks to raise funds from investors at a $44 billion valuation, Bloomberg News reports. Musk bought the X, previously known as Twitter, in 2022 for the same price. The news is that it marked a fidelity investment that reduced Twitter shares by about 70% in December from its 2022 sales price as social networks struggled to maintain advertisers. Bloomberg reports that talks are ongoing for a new funding round and details may change. The company could also abandon consultations. The investment round will be the first of the social network, as Musk has made it…