Welcome to TechCrunch AM! This morning, we're reading about China's latest tool to bypass smartphone protections; a cool startup that converts carbon into cement while seabound; and exactly what to expect from xAI's new AI companions. We've got a bunch of other stories, too, so let's dive in! |
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China's using a new tool to extract data from seized phones: Researchers warned that Chinese residents, and visitors to China, should be aware of the tool's existence and the risks it poses. Read More |
Meet the cement transport ship that makes cement ingredients while sailing: London-based Seabound has developed a carbon capture system that transforms CO2 from a ship's engine into limestone, which Heidelberg Materials will use to make cement. Read More |
Of course, Grok’s AI companions want to have sex and burn down schools: xAI's first AI companions on the Grok app are a lustful anime girl and a homicidal panda. Read More |
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Early-stage growth is fragile. Don’t let fake accounts, fraud, or compliance missteps derail your momentum. Persona helps fast-growing startups embed smart, scalable identity verification solutions that build trust. |
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Rex Salisbury’s Cambrian Ventures raises new fund, bucking fintech slowdown: Spurred by the performance of its first fund, Cambrian Ventures' $20 million second fund will continue the firm's thesis of focusing on fintech startups. Read More |
Mistral releases Voxtral, its first open source AI audio model: French startup Mistral has jumped into the audio race with Voxtral, its first open model, aiming to challenge the dominance of walled-off corporate systems with open-weight alternatives. Read More |
The rights to Fyre Festival sold on eBay for 245K: Billy McFarland, the convicted criminal behind Fyre Festival, sold the rights to the infamous brand on eBay. Read More |
AV startup Pronto.ai acquires off-road autonomous vehicle rival SafeAI: Pronto.ai CEO Anthony Levandowski said the move is meant to help bolster his company's ranks with like-minded talent and complimentary technology. Read More |
Google Discover adds AI summaries, threatening publishers with further traffic declines: The feature will appear on iOS and Android in the U.S., with a focus on trending lifestyle topics like sports and entertainment. Google also noted the feature will make it easier for people to decide what pages they want to visit. Read More |
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A former OpenAI engineer describes what it’s really like to work there: A senior engineer describes the thrill, chaos, and exhaustion of working at OpenAI this past year while launching its coding agent Codex. Read More |
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