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Tag: TechCrunch

  • Sapiom Secures $15M to Empower AI Agents’ Access to Essential Tech Tools

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Sapiom, a startup founded by Ilan Zerbib, former director of engineering for payments at Shopify, has raised $15 million in seed funding led by Accel. The company aims to simplify the process for AI agents to autonomously purchase and utilize essential software, APIs, data, and computational resources through a specialized financial infrastructure. This approach eliminates the complexities associated with backend integrations, enabling non-technical individuals to seamlessly connect their applications with external services like SMS messaging, email, and payment processing.

    By developing a financial layer that handles authentication and micro-payments, Sapiom empowers AI agents to independently procure the services they require without human intervention. This advancement is crucial as the future of applications increasingly depends on accessing services that demand payments. Amit Kumar, a partner at Accel, recognizes the significance of Sapiom’s enterprise-focused financial solution in enabling AI agents to effectively function in the digital landscape.

    Sapiom’s strategic direction has attracted investments from prominent firms including Okta Ventures, Gradient Ventures, Array Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Anthropic, and Coinbase Ventures. This funding underscores the industry’s recognition of Sapiom’s role in revolutionizing the way AI agents interact with and purchase necessary technological tools.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • Amazon Web Services Sees Surge in Revenue as Cloud Demand Remains High

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Amazon Web Services (AWS) has reported its most substantial quarterly revenue growth in over three years, with cloud service revenue reaching $35.6 billion in Q4 2025, marking a 24% year-on-year increase. This surge in revenue, the highest in 13 quarters for AWS, has pushed its annual revenue run rate to $142 billion. The operating income also saw a significant rise from $10.6 billion in Q4 2024 to $12.5 billion in Q4 2025.

    AWS CEO Andy Jassy highlighted the company’s unique position, stating, ‘It’s very different having 24% year-over-year growth on $142 billion annualized run rate than to have a higher percentage growth on a meaningfully smaller base, which is the case with our competitors.’ The growth was attributed to new partnerships with prominent companies like Salesforce and significant government contracts, such as the U.S. Air Force.

    As cloud adoption continues to increase, AWS remains a top choice for enterprises transitioning from on-premise infrastructure to the cloud. Additionally, the AI sector has been a key driver of growth for AWS, with Jassy noting the comprehensive AI functionality embedded within AWS’s services.

    AWS’s strategic expansion included the addition of over a gigawatt of power to its data center network in Q4, further enhancing its service capabilities. The sustained growth and offerings of AWS underscore its leadership in the cloud services market, solidifying its position as a preferred cloud provider for a wide range of businesses and government entities.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • Reddit Bets on AI-Powered Search as a Key Business Opportunity

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    During Reddit’s recent fourth-quarter earnings call, the company highlighted its AI-powered search engine as a significant opportunity for growth. Reddit sees its AI search not only as a valuable product enhancement but also as a potential revenue driver. The company aims to merge traditional and AI search capabilities, emphasizing the vast market potential of AI-driven search, despite it not being monetized yet.

    Reddit CEO Steve Huffman stated that the platform’s AI search could excel in answering complex queries that require multiple perspectives. Huffman noted that while traditional search is more navigational, AI search, particularly generative AI, could outperform in finding the most relevant answers.

    Reddit disclosed a substantial increase in weekly active users for both traditional and AI-powered search features, indicating growing user engagement. The company is actively enhancing its AI answers interface to deliver more media-rich responses, with ongoing pilots to test these improvements.

    Looking ahead, Reddit plans to personalize the platform using AI and machine learning to cater to all users, regardless of their logged-in status. By blending social networking and informational search, Reddit aims to become a go-to destination for seeking answers.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • OpenAI Unveils GPT-5.3 Codex to Enhance Coding Capabilities

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    OpenAI, a prominent AI company, has unveiled GPT-5.3 Codex, a new model aimed at boosting the capabilities of its coding tool Codex. This launch comes shortly after a similar move by rival Anthropic, creating a stir in the tech community.

    Initially introducing Codex, a coding tool, earlier this week, OpenAI quickly followed up with the release of GPT-5.3 Codex. This new model expands Codex’s functionality from writing and reviewing code to performing a wide range of tasks typically handled by developers and professionals on computers. OpenAI claims that GPT-5.3 Codex can expedite the development process, enabling the creation of complex games and applications from scratch within days.

    Highlighting its efficiency, OpenAI states that GPT-5.3 Codex is 25% faster than its predecessor, GPT-5.2. Notably, this model stands out as the first one within the company that actively contributed to its own improvement. OpenAI’s staff utilized early versions of the program to debug and assess its performance, showcasing a unique evolution process.

    The competitive dynamics in the tech landscape were further accentuated when Anthropic unexpectedly released its agentic coding model, narrowly edging out OpenAI in the timing race. Despite this, both companies have now introduced innovative solutions that promise to revolutionize coding practices and redefine software development norms.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • OpenAI Unveils Frontier: A Platform for Enterprises to Manage AI Agents

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    OpenAI has unveiled Frontier, a platform designed to help enterprises construct and oversee AI agents, mirroring the management of human employees within organizations. This new offering aims to streamline agent management as a fundamental component of enterprise AI integration, signaling OpenAI’s commitment to advancing AI capabilities in corporate settings.

    Frontier provides a comprehensive solution for businesses to develop and monitor AI agents. Users can seamlessly program these agents to interact with external data sources and applications beyond the OpenAI ecosystem. Notably, users retain control over the access levels and functionalities granted to these AI agents, ensuring a secure and regulated operational environment.

    By aligning the onboarding process and performance evaluation mechanisms of AI agents with those of human employees, Frontier aims to enhance the learning and adaptability of these virtual entities over time. While OpenAI has already onboarded major enterprises such as HP, Oracle, State Farm, and Uber onto the Frontier platform, wider accessibility is planned in the near future following an initial limited release.

    The introduction of agent-management platforms like Frontier underscores the growing importance of efficient AI utilization in modern business landscapes. This move aligns with similar offerings in the market, such as Salesforce’s Agentforce, as well as the presence of other significant players like LangChain and CrewAI, reflecting the escalating demand for AI-centric solutions in enterprise environments.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • NASA Embraces Smartphone Technology for Upcoming Space Missions

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    NASA has announced that astronauts will now be allowed to carry smartphones during their upcoming space missions, starting with the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station and the Artemis II mission around the moon.

    The decision to permit the use of smartphones marks a shift towards embracing modern technology in space exploration. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman explained that this change will enable crews to capture personal moments and share captivating content with the world more spontaneously.

    The traditional use of decade-old cameras for space missions is being replaced by the dynamic capabilities of smartphones, offering a more immediate approach to documenting life in space. This evolution showcases NASA’s commitment to adapt to modern tools and processes, ensuring safety and efficiency in future space endeavors.

    The Crew-12 mission, set to depart for the International Space Station next week, will be the first to implement this new policy. Meanwhile, the Artemis II mission, a historic journey around the moon, has been rescheduled to March.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • Elon Musk’s Vision for Space-Based AI Computing: Revolutionizing Data Centers

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, has announced plans for orbital data centers that could transform AI computing. These plans involve creating a network of a million satellites, marking a significant step towards integrating space and AI technologies. The recent merger between SpaceX and xAI further solidifies Musk’s commitment to this innovative project, showcasing an alignment between his space exploration and artificial intelligence ventures.

    Orbital AI data clusters, essentially networks of computers in space, are at the core of Musk’s proposal. The plan, recently accepted by the FCC, aims to leverage the benefits of space-based operations, such as increased solar panel efficiency. Musk highlighted the cost-effectiveness of space-based data centers, emphasizing that solar panels in space can generate significantly more power compared to those on the ground, potentially reducing operational expenses.

    Musk’s advocacy for moving AI computing power into space reflects a forward-looking approach to technology infrastructure. By emphasizing the scalability and cost-efficiency of orbital data centers, Musk is paving the way for a new era in AI computing that could have far-reaching implications for the industry.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • Cyberattack Disrupts Operations at Italy’s Largest University

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    La Sapienza University, one of Europe’s largest universities located in Rome, has faced a significant disruption as its computer systems remain offline for three days due to an alleged ransomware attack.

    The university, with approximately 120,000 students, took its systems offline as a precautionary measure following the cyberattack. While investigations are ongoing, efforts are being made to restore all digital services, although communication channels like email and workstations are only partially operational.

    Fortunately, the university had backups unaffected by the attack, aiding in the restoration process. However, the Sapienza website remains inaccessible at present.

    Reports suggest the disruption stems from a ransomware attack, with hackers allegedly demanding a ransom within a 72-hour countdown period. The incident is being investigated by Italy’s national cybersecurity agency, ACN, to determine the nature and impact of the attack.

    This cyber incident serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities institutions face in the digital age, highlighting the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard critical infrastructure against malicious threats.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • Pacific Fusion Develops Cost-Effective Fusion Reactor Approach

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Pacific Fusion, a fusion power startup, has made significant advancements in its quest for cost-effective fusion reactor operation. The company shared exclusive results of experiments conducted at Sandia National Laboratory with TechCrunch, showcasing a new approach to make fusion power economically viable.

    The primary challenge in fusion power technology has been the balance between the cost of initiating the fusion reaction and the selling price of the generated power. While established players invest heavily in massive reactors, Pacific Fusion is exploring innovative, cost-efficient solutions.

    Pacific Fusion’s experiments focus on pulser-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF), a technique involving the rapid compression of small fuel pellets to trigger fusion reactions. Unlike traditional methods using lasers for compression, Pacific Fusion utilizes massive electrical pulses to create magnetic fields that compress the fuel pellet swiftly, leading to energy release.

    Keith LeChien, co-founder and CTO of Pacific Fusion, emphasized the importance of rapid implosion for higher temperatures and successful fusion reactions. This approach aims to offer a more affordable and scalable alternative to current fusion power generation methods.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • Meta Unveils Standalone App for AI-Generated ‘Vibes’ Videos

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Meta is expanding the reach of its AI-generated video platform Vibes with the testing of a standalone app, the company confirmed to TechCrunch. Vibes, introduced last September, allows users to produce and share short-form AI-generated videos and explore a dedicated feed showcasing AI videos from others.

    Similar to TikTok and Instagram Reels, every video on Vibes is AI-generated, distinguishing it from traditional user-generated content platforms. Previously nested within the Meta AI app, the standalone app positions Vibes as a more direct competitor to Sora, OpenAI’s AI-generated video and social app.

    Meta stated that following the strong early traction of Vibes within the Meta AI app, they are testing a standalone version to build on that momentum. The company emphasized the increasing trend of users embracing the format to create, discover, and share AI-generated videos, aiming to provide a more focused and immersive experience through the standalone app. Meta intends to expand the app further based on community feedback and usage insights.

    While Meta did not disclose specific metrics, the company asserts that Vibes has been well-received, contributing to the continuous growth of Meta AI usage. The standalone app allows users a more concentrated environment for content creation and interaction, catering to the rising interest in collaboration and sharing observed within the platform.

    Users of Vibes have the flexibility to generate videos from scratch or remix existing content, enabling customization through additional visuals, music integration, and style adjustments before sharing across various social media platforms. Meta highlights the increasing engagement and sharing behaviors among Vibes users, drawing parallels to the usage patterns seen on Instagram and Facebook Stories and Reels.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • AI Startups Leverage Secondary Sales to Retain Top Talent

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    AI startups, such as Clay and ElevenLabs, are utilizing secondary sales not just for founder liquidity, but as a tool to retain their top talent. Clay recently allowed employees to sell shares at a $1.5 billion valuation post-Series B, a move that is uncommon for young companies. Similarly, Linear and ElevenLabs have enabled staff to convert stock into cash at impressive valuations, showcasing a trend of rewarding employees alongside founders.

    Clay, with a remarkable annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth to $100 million, offered stock at a $5 billion valuation, emphasizing the company’s rapid expansion. These secondary sales, unlike those during the 2021 boom, prioritize employee benefits over founder profits. The market shift towards including staff in liquidity events marks a departure from past practices, ensuring that employees share in the company’s success alongside founders and investors.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • Anthropic Unveils Opus 4.6 with Innovative ‘Agent Teams’ Feature

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Anthropic, a leading AI company, has announced the launch of Opus 4.6, the latest iteration of its advanced model. The update introduces a new feature called ‘agent teams,’ which enables the division of complex tasks into smaller segments, allowing for parallel coordination among multiple agents. This approach is likened to having a team of specialized human workers, significantly boosting efficiency.

    Additionally, Opus 4.6 boasts an expanded context window, equipping the model with enhanced memory capacity per user session, providing access to 1 million tokens of context. This advancement enables Opus to handle larger code bases and process extensive documents effectively.

    Furthermore, Opus 4.6 integrates seamlessly with Microsoft PowerPoint, offering users a more streamlined experience. Users can now leverage Claude directly within PowerPoint to create presentations, eliminating the need for manual file transfers.

    Anthropic’s continuous innovation with Opus demonstrates the company’s commitment to enhancing AI capabilities across various domains, catering to a wider range of users and applications.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • Substack Data Breach Exposes User Information: What You Need to Know

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Substack, the popular newsletter platform, has confirmed a data breach affecting its users’ email addresses and phone numbers. The breach, which occurred in October 2025 but was only discovered in early February, involved an unauthorized third party accessing user data, including internal metadata.

    However, Substack clarified that more sensitive information such as credit card details and passwords remained unaffected by the breach. The company’s CEO, Chris Best, reassured users that the security vulnerability has been addressed, and an investigation is underway to understand the extent of the breach.

    In an email to users, Best expressed apologies for the incident, emphasizing Substack’s commitment to data protection and privacy. Despite no evidence of data misuse so far, the company advised users to remain cautious with emails and texts.

    With a significant user base, Substack has become a prominent platform for content creators. The company’s recent funding of $100 million in July 2025 highlights its growth trajectory.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • Fundamental’s Nexus Model Transforms Big Data Analysis with $255 Million Series A Funding

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Fundamental, a new AI company, has unveiled its Nexus model, aiming to revolutionize how enterprises analyze structured data. Unlike traditional AI systems, Nexus excels in handling structured data like tables, offering a deterministic approach and avoiding the transformer architecture. This innovation has attracted significant investor interest, with a recent $255 million Series A funding round, led by Oak HC/FT, Valor Equity Partners, Battery Ventures, and Salesforce Ventures, valuing the company at $1.2 billion.

    By bridging predictive AI with modern tools, Fundamental’s Nexus model fills a crucial gap in data analysis, especially for large enterprises struggling with extreme data volumes and complexity.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • Massive Data Breach at Conduent Exposes Millions to Cybersecurity Risks

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    A significant data breach at Conduent, a major government technology provider, has impacted millions of Americans, raising concerns about the security of personal information in the digital age. The ransomware attack, which disrupted Conduent’s operations for days, has now been revealed to affect over 15 million people in Texas alone, with additional victims in Oregon and other states. This breach has compromised individuals’ sensitive data, including names, Social Security numbers, medical records, and health insurance details, highlighting the vulnerabilities in data protection mechanisms.

    Conduent, known for managing vast amounts of personal and confidential data on behalf of government agencies and corporations, serves a significant portion of the U.S. population through its technology and operational services. The breach underscores the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures in handling sensitive information and the potential risks associated with cyberattacks on large-scale data repositories.

    While Conduent has been working to assess the extent of the breach and identify the compromised information, details remain scarce, leaving many questions unanswered about the scope and impact of the cyber incident. The breach serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against cyber threats and the imperative for organizations to prioritize data security to safeguard individuals’ privacy.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • Spotify Expands into Physical Book Sales, Enhances Audiobook Experience

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Spotify, the popular music streaming service, is making a significant move into the world of books. The company has announced that users in the U.S. and the UK will soon have the option to purchase physical books directly through the app, marking a notable expansion beyond its traditional digital platform.

    Alongside this new book sales feature, Spotify has introduced several enhancements to its audiobook experience. One such tool, called ‘Page Match,’ enables users to scan a page from a physical book and seamlessly transition to the corresponding section in the audiobook. Additionally, ‘Audiobook Recaps’ will now be available on Android devices, offering brief summaries tailored to users’ listening progress.

    By venturing into physical book sales, Spotify is positioning itself as a competitor to established book retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Recognizing the enduring appeal of physical books, Spotify aims to cater to diverse reading preferences by offering both print and digital formats through its platform.

    This expansion into books is facilitated through a partnership with Bookshop.org, an online marketplace that supports local independent bookstores. This collaboration not only benefits Spotify users but also contributes to the sustainability of indie book communities.

    Spotify’s initiative to incorporate physical books into its app demonstrates the company’s commitment to diversifying its offerings and establishing itself as a comprehensive destination for book enthusiasts.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • YouTube’s Subscription Growth Drives Revenue Surge for Google

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Alphabet-owned YouTube continues to see growth in subscription and ad revenue. Google announced an increase to 325 million paying users for Google One and YouTube Premium, up from 300 million in the previous quarter. In the fourth quarter, YouTube’s ad revenue rose by 9% to $11.38 billion, slightly below analysts’ expectations. The platform’s total revenue, combining ads and subscriptions, reached $60 billion for the full year, marking a 17% increase from the prior year.

    YouTube’s $8 per month premium tier, offering an ad-free experience, is gaining traction, although specific figures were not disclosed. Additionally, YouTube Premium experienced significant growth. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai revealed plans to expand subscription options, particularly focusing on the expanding YouTube TV user base. New YouTube TV plans will introduce more choice and flexibility with genre-specific packages.

    YouTube Shorts maintained an average of 200 billion daily views in the quarter. Some regions find short-form video ads more lucrative per hour than traditional in-stream ads. Pichai highlighted the increasing popularity of podcasts, with users consuming 700 million hours of podcast content on TV in October.

    The platform noted the success of its AI features, with over 1 million channels utilizing AI creation tools. In December, 20 million users engaged with the Gemini-powered content discovery tool. YouTube’s revenue growth reflects its evolving strategies to enhance user experience and diversify its offerings.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • Andreessen Horowitz Invests $1.7B in AI Infrastructure: Implications for the Tech Landscape

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Andreessen Horowitz has secured a significant $1.7 billion investment for its infrastructure team as part of a larger $15 billion funding round. This substantial capital injection is set to fuel the development of key AI projects within the company, such as Black Forrest Labs, Cursor, OpenAI, ElevenLabs, Ideogram, and Fal.

    General partner Jennifer Li, overseeing investments like ElevenLabs valued at $11 billion, Ideagram, and Fal, has outlined the strategic direction for deploying this substantial capital. In a recent discussion with Venture and Startups editor Julie Bort on Equity, Li discussed the challenges faced by AI-native startups in attracting talent, the underestimated importance of search infrastructure, and the current trends in funded companies within the AI ecosystem.

    This move by Andreessen Horowitz underscores the growing significance of AI infrastructure investments in shaping the tech landscape. As the demand for AI solutions continues to surge, the deployment of substantial funds into this sector highlights the pivotal role that advanced technologies play in driving innovation and business growth.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • Wayback Machine Plug-in Tackles Internet’s Broken Link Crisis

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    The Internet Archive, known for its dedication to preserving digital content, has introduced a new tool to help WordPress users maintain the integrity of their online articles. Collaborating with Automattic, the organization behind WordPress, the Wayback Machine has released the Link Fixer plug-in to combat ‘link rot’ – the growing problem of broken links within web content.

    Research has shown that a significant portion of links shared in the past are no longer active, leading to ‘digital decay’ on various platforms. The Link Fixer plug-in scans WordPress posts for outbound links, leveraging the Wayback Machine to find archived versions of those links. In the event of a broken link, the plug-in automatically redirects readers to the archived version, ensuring seamless access to content. Additionally, it archives users’ own posts to enhance their longevity.

    By continuously monitoring a website’s links, the plug-in ensures visitors always access the best available version of a web page. Users can easily customize the plug-in’s settings, making it a user-friendly solution for combating the issue of broken links across the internet.

    Source: TechCrunch

  • Mundi Ventures Raises €750M for Kembara Fund to Support European Deep Tech and Climate Startups

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Spain-based Mundi Ventures has successfully closed a €750 million first round for its Kembara Fund I, marking a significant milestone in supporting early-stage climate and deep tech startups in Europe. This fund, part of a broader effort to address the challenges faced by climate startups at the Series B stage, has the potential to reach a total of €1.25 billion. The fund’s focus on deep tech underscores a strategic move to bridge the gap in growth capital for European startups, particularly those emerging from university spinouts.

    The Kembara Fund I is managed by a dedicated team within Mundi Ventures, with key offices in Madrid, London, Barcelona, and Paris. Notable figures like Javier Santiso, the founder of Mundi Ventures, and Yann de Vries, a co-founder and general partner of Kembara, have played pivotal roles in securing institutional backing for the fund. The addition of experienced VCs like Robert Trezona, Pierre Festal, and Siraj Khaliq further strengthens the fund’s ability to nurture startups with industrial synergies.

    The fundraising success of Kembara highlights the increasing recognition of the importance of supporting European startups in the climate and deep tech sectors. This milestone signifies a significant infusion of capital into the ecosystem and reflects a growing momentum towards sustainable innovation and technological advancement in the region.

    Source: TechCrunch