Author: TechBrunch
YouTube's “app store” for games is getting a broader rollout. The company announced Tuesday that a collection of lightweight, free games called “Playables” will soon appear in the YouTube app for all users, in addition to the YouTube homepage. Previously, the games were made available to some users for testing before being made available to YouTube Premium subscribers in November of last year. YouTube Playables do not directly challenge the App Store model or violate Apple's rules because they do not monetize through paid downloads or in-app purchases. They do compete, however, with free games on the App Store, which…
The tech layoff wave is still going strong in 2024. Following significant workforce reductions in 2022 and 2023, this year has already seen 60,000 job cuts across 254 companies, according to independent layoffs tracker Layoffs.fyi. Companies like Tesla, Amazon, Google, TikTok, Snap and Microsoft have conducted sizable layoffs in the first months of 2024. Smaller-sized startups have also seen a fair amount of cuts, and in some cases, have shut down operations altogether. By tracking these layoffs, we’re able to understand the impact on innovation across companies large and small. We’re also able to see the potential impact of businesses…
Following criticism of its approach to AI safety, OpenAI has formed a new committee to oversee “significant” safety and security decisions related to the company's projects and operations. But in a move sure to anger ethicists, OpenAI opted to populate the committee with only company insiders, including the company's CEO, Sam Altman, rather than outside observers. According to the company's official blog post, Altman and the other members of the Safety and Security Committee — OpenAI board members Brett Taylor, Adam D'Angelo, Nicole Seligman, Chief Scientist Jakub Paczocki, Alexander Madri (who leads OpenAI's “preparedness” team), Lillian Wen (head of safety…
For technology enthusiasts and entrepreneurs, there's only a little time left to secure your early bird tickets to TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. There are only 4 days left until the deadline on May 31st. Now is the perfect time to buy your tickets and save up to $800 before the price goes up. The event will take place in San Francisco and will bring together 10,000 innovators, investors, and startups from around the world to discuss the future of technology and business. Don't miss this opportunity to join the conversation and network with some of the brightest minds in the industry.…
While AI may not be capable of replacing Google search yet, it could be useful in more specific situations, like handling the tedious work that comes with performing everyday tasks like scheduling meetings. That's the vision of Skej, a new startup that offers an AI assistant that integrates into email and finds the best time for everyone to meet. Unlike other scheduling solutions like Calendly, with Skej you don't need to look up someone's free time to find a time to meet – in fact, if someone sends you a Calendly link, Skej will scan the link to find a…
Shopping at thrift stores is always a gamble: That cool shirt might fade soon, and you'll never know where those worn-out jeans are. Sure, some stores and websites try to weed out bad products, but with so many options, it's hard to make a good purchase on the internet. Berlin-based Fairkad has developed a browser extension that aims to solve that exact problem. The company aims to be the discovery layer for second-hand goods and has raised €3 million in a round led by World Fund, with participation from Accel, General Catalyst, Lightspeed Venture Partners, NEA, Northzone, Backbone Ventures, Earlybird…
Twice-acquired blogging site Tumblr announced that its Tumblr Labs division will launch an open beta for its “Communities” feature, which gives users a dedicated space outside of Tumblr's main dashboard to connect with others on various topics. The open beta comes six months after Communities launched in closed beta and marks a shift in focus for the social platform under new parent company Automattic, developer of WordPress.com. Tumblr communities are “semi-private” spaces with their own moderators, rules, and privacy settings, similar to Reddit subreddits and X (formerly Twitter) communities that are now used as training grounds for AI. Users can…
Google today announced new AI-powered features for its Chromebook Plus series of devices, including a writing assistant, wallpaper creation feature, and easy access to the Google Gemini chatbot. As a reminder, Chromebook Plus laptops are productivity-focused devices with minimal spec requirements. The company also announced new Chromebook Plus models from HP, Acer, and Asus. The search giant added a number of Gemini-powered features to Maps and called out spam detection at its Google I/O developer conference earlier this month, and Google is now placing a Gemini icon on Chromebooks' app shelf for easy access. Additionally, users who purchase a new…
Alex Pall and Drew Taggart, the dynamic duo from the Grammy Award-winning music group The Chainsmokers, will be bringing their entrepreneurial expertise to TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. Known for their chart-topping hits, Paul and Taggart have also expanded their influence into the venture capital world: In 2020, they founded Mantis Venture Capital, a firm with roughly $1 billion in assets under management that is focused on backing companies with a sustainable future. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2024, Pall and Taggart will host a conversation titled “How Chainsmokers are Adding Value Beyond Celebrity Status,” joined by Dan Lorenc, co-founder and CEO of software…
Infra.Market, an Indian startup that helps construction and real estate companies source materials, has raised $50 million from the MARS Unicorn Fund to expand overseas, the companies told TechCrunch on Tuesday. MARS Unicorn Fund, a joint venture between AI-driven fund Liquidity Group and Japanese bank MUFG, is an existing backer of the Mumbai-headquartered startup, having invested $50 million in 2022. The new investment, a major fundraising by InfraMarket's Singapore unit, values the startup at $2.5 billion, maintaining its 2021 Series C valuation. Infra.Market is working to transform the way small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses in India operate. For example, Infra.Market…