Author: TechBrunch

Owners of older EVs don't necessarily have options if something breaks down after the original warranty period ends. One Bay Area startup called Amber thinks it can help navigate this minefield, starting with Tesla owners. The company, founded in early 2023, announced Wednesday that it has launched a new aftermarket Tesla warranty product called AmberCare for Tesla Model Y, 3, S and X owners. There will be a variety of plans ranging from $40 per month to about $120 per month, covering things like drive units and batteries. When an owner files a claim, Amber works with a qualified repair…

Insurance can be about more than just money. In some cases, equipment as well. This is one way to think about direct air capture, a technology that uses machines to extract carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. The idea has been floating around for years, but the 2022 report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sparked interest. The report states that the technology known as DAC is essential to achieving net zero. Carbon emissions. Several companies are tackling this issue, but there are many hurdles. Start-ups need to find a suitable place to store CO2 or allow…

Enterprise software companies everywhere are working to bring more workflow automation and AI into their platforms. ServiceNow has been doing this for a while, building more sophisticated models that take into account the types of data they collect through interactions on the platform. Some of the shift to AI will come from building in-house, some will come from acquisition, and some will come from broader partnerships, says Philip Kirk, SVP of Corporate Business Development. . But whatever the source, he says, it all helps build a stronger platform. “Right now, deciding whether to build, buy or partner is kind of…

TV recommendation app Watchworthy has released two new features that give viewers access to more personalized recommendations. This includes new recommendations categories for streaming services and collaborative watchlists to get movie suggestions for your entire group of friends. Watchworthy is best known for its “Worthworthy” score, which indicates how likely a TV show or movie is worth your time. The app leverages parent company Ranker's first-party data pool for personalized recommendations, as well as a variety of TV shows from “like” and “dislike” to “interested” and “not interested.” We also use data collected from onboarding quizzes that ask you to…

In the never-ending battle between Google and France's competition authorities over copyright protection of news snippets, a court ruled Wednesday against the tech giant for 250 million euros (about $270 million at current exchange rates). ) announced that they would be fined. Competition watchdogs say Google has ignored some of its previous promises to news publishers. But what makes this decision particularly noteworthy is that Google is using news publishers' content to train its generative AI model Bard/Gemini, something new. This is because it will be dropped. The competition authority found Google negligent in failing to notify news publishers about…

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman took to the stage at the company's first developer conference in November to introduce GPT, a custom chatbot that leverages OpenAI's generative AI models. He described it as a way to “accomplish all kinds of tasks,” including learning. We cover scientific subjects to guide your workouts. “because [GPTs] A combination of instruction, expanded knowledge, and action can be more helpful,” Altman said. “GPT can be built on almost anything.” He's not kidding about that part. TechCrunch finds that the GPT Store, the official marketplace for OpenAI's GPT, is flooded with strange, potentially copyright-infringing GPTs that hint…

Join us on April 25th in Boston for an unforgettable opportunity at TechCrunch Early Stage. We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to take part in this exciting event. If you've ever wondered how tech gatherings work, now's your chance to find out firsthand. Please apply here by April 8th. By volunteering, you can dive into the inner workings of event production and earn a ticket to experience the early stages of 2024 after your shift ends. Plus, you'll receive a free pass to Disrupt in San Francisco, October 28-30. Whether your aspirations lie in startup creation, marketing, or event management,…

Hundreds of climate startups have been created in recent years, but for Casper co-founder Philip Krim, that's not enough. “We need more zero-to-one founders in this ecosystem,” he told TechCrunch. Compared to other industries, “few people are working in the climate change space.” Krim, who launched Casper in 2014, is no stranger to entrepreneurship. After taking Mattress Company public in 2020 and selling it to private equity in 2021, he focused on incubating new businesses such as Haven, which helps install home batteries. “Ultimately, climate change made me fall in love with this space.” Through that journey, Krim met Evan…

You don't have to search hard or travel far to have a fascinating conversation at TechCrunch Early Stage 2024 next month. One of the most popular attractions at Early Stage is the Roundtable. These expert-led small group conversations focus on specific topics designed to inform, inspire, and help you build a better business. Plus, it's a great place to connect with people with similar interests. Do you mean network? Check out the first six roundtables below (with more coming soon!). The rest of the agenda can be found here. Pro tip: Buy your Early Bird Pass now and save up…

Globally, health IT systems are groaning under the weight of legacy platforms. Thankfully, a new wave of startups is entering the space. British startup Anima is a “care enablement” platform that works almost like a combination of Slack, Salesforce, and Figma, but for medical clinics and hospitals. The company recently raised $12 million in a Series A funding round led by Molten Ventures and includes existing investors Hummingbird Ventures, Amino Collective, and Y Combinator, as well as Peak Games founder Sidar Sahin New angel investors also participated. An alumnus of Y Combinator's Winter 2021 batch, Anima launched in September 2022…