Best Merchant Of Record Podcasts (2025)

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Nvidia is reportedly investing up to $1 billion in Poolside; also, Luminar is cutting jobs, losing its CFO, and warning of a cash shortage 4:05

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19h ago4:05

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Semiconductor giant Nvidia is looking to invest at least five hundred million dollars and up to one billion dollars in Poolside which builds AI models for software development. That’s according to reporting from Bloomberg, which cited sources. This investment would be part of a two billion dollar funding round Poolside is raising at a twelve billio…

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Digg founder Kevin Rose on the need for trusted social communities in the AI era; plus Canva launches its own design model 7:38

1d ago7:38

7:38

“The dead internet theory is real,” Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian told Digg founder Kevin Rose, referring to the idea that much of the internet isn’t human — it’s mostly bots. The two entrepreneurs have since teamed up to re-envision how to build a social community in this world where, very soon, it will be hard to tell bot from human. Also, Can…

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Figma acquires AI-powered media generation company Weavy; plus Threads now lets you approve and filter your replies 5:38

2d ago5:38

5:38

Design platform Figma said today that it has acquired AI-powered image and video generation company Weavy. The startup will join Figma under a new brand called Figma Weave. Also, Threads continues to ship new features at a rapid pace. Shortly after the launch of communities and disappearing “ghost posts,” the social networking app on Thursday intro…

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NBA champion Tristan Thompson partners with World Mobile to launch community-owned network Uplift, also, San Francisco's mayor: ‘We should be the testbed for emerging tech’ 6:05

2d ago6:05

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With Uplift, every subscription will contribute to neighborhood-level network expansion, while local hosts that are known as "AirNode operators" will earn a portion of network revenue by providing community coverage. Also, while San Francisco's mayor Daniel Lurie is opening his arms to autonomous vehicles, other cities are more resistant. Boston, f…

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Episode 277 - Fanning the Flames - Recent Developments in Agent Protocols 16:59

3d ago16:59

16:59

We joke that all conversations should be recorded at Glenbrook because they often lead to some interesting podcast episodes. If you have 15 mins, tune in for a fly-on-the-wall perspective in this bonus Fanning the Flames on recent developments in agent protocols. Russ Jones and Yvette Bohanan reflect on the history of the Secure Electronic Transact…

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US signs collaboration agreements with Japan and South Korea for AI, chips and biotech, and more 8:17

3d ago8:17

8:17

The U.S. inked Technology Prosperity Deals (TPD) with Japan and South Korea with an eye towards spurring collaboration on AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotech, space, 6G and other technologies. Character AI is ending its chatbot experience for kids. After facing lawsuits and public outcry following the suicides of two teenagers, Character…

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Netflix announces interactive real-time voting for live content; plus, Sam Altman says OpenAI will have a ‘legitimate AI researcher’ by 2028 7:53

3d ago7:53

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Netflix viewers will be able to vote while watching live content to directly influence the outcome of what they're watching on their TV or mobile device. Also, OpenAI says its deep learning systems are rapidly advancing, with models increasingly able to solve complex tasks faster. So fast, in fact, that internally, OpenAI is tracking towards achiev…

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Amazon to cut 14,000 corporate jobs; also, OpenAI completes its for-profit recapitalization 7:10

4d ago7:10

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Amazon said on Tuesday that it plans to reduce its corporate workforce by 14,000 jobs as it seeks to reduce bureaucracy, remove layers and invest more in its AI strategy. Plus, OpenAI has completed its recapitalization, splitting the AI lab into a for-profit corporation nested inside a non-profit foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit …

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New corporate espionage claims emerge, centered on two highly valued 401(k) admin startups 9:05

4d ago9:05

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Two 401(k) management unicorns, Human Interest and Guideline, are squaring off in federal court with allegations so brazen that they're embarrassing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBy TechCrunch

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The Dramatic Rise of Web in Gaming: How Top Publishers & Studios Are Building Innovative Web Teams With Caleb Brown of X-Team 35:42

5d ago35:42

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There are few moments in an industry's history where a trend or emerging technology introduces a step function that unlocks an entirely new level of growth. With the rise of D2C and other web based experiences, game publishers are experiencing a rare opportunity to increase profits and establish better long term relationships with players. But how …

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Workout app Ladder launches nutrition-tracking experience; plus ads might be coming to Apple Maps next year 4:46

5d ago4:46

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Fitness app Ladder is debuting a new nutrition tracking feature that lets you snap a photo to input macros. Also, according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple Maps users could start seeing ads in the app as soon as next year. Similar to Google Maps and other mapping apps, Apple’s plan is to allow restaurants and other businesses wi…

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Trump and Xi will possibly ‘consummate’ TikTok deal on Thursday, High school’s AI security system confuses Doritos bag for a possible firearm, and OpenAI reportedly developing new generative music tool ... 5:12

5d ago5:12

5:12

-The United States and China are ready to move forward on a TikTok deal, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. -A high school student in Baltimore County, Maryland was reportedly handcuffed and searched after an AI security system flagged his bag of chips as a possible firearm. -OpenAI is working on a new tool that would generate music bas…

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Ford isn’t going to make more F-150 Lightnings for a while ; also, big tech is paying for Trump’s White House ballroom 5:56

8d ago5:56

5:56

Ford is prioritizing its gas and hybrid F-150 trucks instead. Plus, Trump's $250 million White House ballroom will be funded in part by big tech companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBy TechCrunch

101
Joshua Pinsky (Claud & Penny, NYC) on Influences, Concepting Restaurants, & Defining One's Culinary Style 1:17:48

8d ago1:17:48

1:17:48

Longtime listeners know that Claud restaurant is one of Andrew's favorite places in New York City. And that Penny, the same group's seafood-counter restaurant, has also been a rousing success. In a rare interview, chef of both restaurants, Joshua Pinsky, sits down with Andrew to discuss his personal and professional background, and related subjects…

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20-year-old dropouts built AI notetaker Turbo AI to 5 million users; plus, YouTube paid out $8B to the music industry in 12 months 7:21

8d ago7:21

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Rudy Arora and Sarthak Dhawan, two 20-year-old college dropouts, grew an AI note-taker app to five million users and an eight-figure ARR. Also, The milestone marks a new record for the platform, as YouTube’s annual music industry payout increased by $2 billion since 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

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As China’s 996 culture spreads, South Korea’s tech sector grapples with 52-hour limit 9:12

9d ago9:12

9:12

South Korea's 52-hour workweek cap is stricter than the U.S. and Singapore but more flexible than much of Europe. Still deep tech founders and investors worry it's too restrictive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBy TechCrunch

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Sumble emerges from stealth with $38.5M to bring AI-powered context to sales intelligence 8:15

9d ago8:15

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The founders of machine learning community Kaggle are trying to upend the crowded sales prospecting market with AI. And they're making headway. Also, Starbridge raises $42M Series A led by Craft Ventures to help businesses better monitor public service opportunities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

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Airbnb is becoming more social by allowing users to connect with fellow travelers 4:30

10d ago4:30

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The company is also improving search by suggesting properties that you might have missed due to your filters and has redesigned the Maps view to let you search for points of interest such as nearby landmarks, attractions, and restaurants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

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Episode 276 - Fanning the Flames - Stablecoin Economics 22:08

10d ago22:08

22:08

The three major takeaways from stablecoins are that they are fast, global, and low cost. But why are they low cost? Thus began our quest to dive into the economic ecosystem of stablecoins. When creating material for our workshops or roundtable meetings, we're always thinking about how to give slides the "Glenbrook treatment" - how do we get past th…

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OpenAI launches an AI-powered browser: ChatGPT Atlas 4:38

10d ago4:38

4:38

The company says Atlas will first roll out on macOS, with support for Windows, iOS, and Android coming soon. OpenAI says the product will be available to all free users at launch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBy TechCrunch

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Cards Against Humanity settles trespass lawsuit against SpaceX 5:03

11d ago5:03

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The dispute centered on a plot of land along the Rio Grande River in Cameron County, Texas, that Cards Against Humanity purchased in 2017. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBy TechCrunch

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FTC removes Lina Khan-era posts about AI risks and open source 4:27

11d ago4:27

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These removals are part of a broader pattern under the Trump administration, which began issuing executive orders to direct federal agencies to remove or modify substantial amounts of government content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBy TechCrunch

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Wikipedia says traffic is falling due to AI search summaries and social video 3:49

12d ago3:49

3:49

The online encyclopedia is not completely immune to broader trends, with human pageviews falling 8% year-over-year, according to Marshall Miller of the Wikimedia Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBy TechCrunch

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Silicon Valley spooks the AI safety advocates 7:07

12d ago7:07

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Silicon Valley leaders including White House AI & Crypto Czar David Sacks and OpenAI Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon caused a stir online this week for their comments about groups promoting AI safety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBy TechCrunch

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Ousted Luminar CEO Austin Russell wants to buy the company; also, VLGE is making it easier to world build and shop on Roblox 6:37

15d ago6:37

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Austin Russell was replaced in May following an ethics inquiry, but now he wants to use his new AI lab to buy Luminar. Plus, 50 fashion brands are launching their shoppable worlds for VLGE's World Fashion Week, founder Evelyn Mora says. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

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VC legend Ron Conway quits Salesforce Foundation ; also, Kayak launches an ‘AI Mode’ for travel questions, search, and bookings 5:28

16d ago5:28

5:28

VC legend Ron Conway quits Salesforce Foundation after Benioff’s National Guard comments Kayak is bringing AI directly to its main platform with a new “AI Mode” that lets travelers research, plan, and book trips through a built-in chatbot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

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Pinterest adds controls to let you limit the amount of ‘AI slop’ in your feed, also Apple loses another AI exec to Meta , 4:53

16d ago4:53

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Pinterest is rolling out new controls that let users limit how much AI-generated content appears in their feeds. The company is also making its AI content labels more visible. Ke Yang’s departure marks the latest in a string of exits from Apple’s AI unit, putting the company into jeopardy in the lead up to a much-anticipated Siri revamp scheduled f…

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Cyber giant F5 Networks says government hackers had ‘long-term’ access to its systems; also, Meta partners up with Arm to scale AI efforts 6:20

17d ago6:20

6:20

F5 Networks, which provides cybersecurity defenses to most of the Fortune 500, said the DOJ allowed it to delay notifying the public on national security grounds. Semiconductor firm Arm is partnering with Meta to enhance the social media company's AI systems amid an unprecedented infrastructure buildout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podc…

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ChatGPT will soon allow erotica for adult users; also, Waymo plans to launch a robotaxi service in London in 2026 8:57

17d ago8:57

8:57

OpenAI says it will soon roll back some of ChatGPT's safeguards, and even allow the chatbot to engage in erotica for adult users. Waymo already has ties to the UK, which began after the autonomous vehicle technology company acquired Latent Logic in 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

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You’ll soon be able to shop Walmart from ChatGPT, also, Google’s Gemini can now help you schedule Google Calendar meetings 5:14

18d ago5:14

5:14

Walmart is partnering with OpenAI to let shoppers buy products directly through ChatGPT. The new integration will allow users to link their Walmart accounts, browse items ,and instantly check out — all within the chatbot. Designed for one-on-one meetings, the tool lets you insert available time slots directly into an email, automatically creating a…

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SpaceX wraps action-packed Starship V2 era, Satellites exposed unencrypted data, and Grindr’s owners may take it private 6:46

18d ago6:46

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SpaceX said farewell to its V2 on Monday night as it sent Starship’s current configuration on one last test flight, in a mission that the company says hit all its key goals, moving the program into its next phase. ecurity researchers have discovered that as many as half of all geostationary satellites in Earth’s orbit are carrying unencrypted sensi…

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Oura is winning young women and losing gym rats, and it’s fine with that 9:06

18d ago9:06

9:06

Oura's chief commercial officer doesn't seem particularly worried about capturing every demographic. Instead, she's focused on keeping Oura’s core users happy while organically attracting new segments. And young women are becoming part of that core market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

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California becomes first state to regulate AI companion chatbots; plus, Salesforce announces Agentforce 360 as enterprise AI competition heats up 8:55

19d ago8:55

8:55

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a landmark bill on Monday that regulates AI companion chatbots, making it the first state in the nation to require AI chatbot operators to implement safety protocols for AI companions The law is designed to protect children and vulnerable users from some of the harms associated with AI companion chatbot use. …

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Google Chrome silences those pesky notifications; also, Trump fires back at China’s rare earth mineral restrictions by threatening 100% tariffs 5:11

20d ago5:11

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On Friday, the technology giant announced a new feature that will automatically disable browser notifications for the websites you haven’t interacted with recently, disrupting their ability to pop up alerts and updates that you may no longer be interested in. the President declared Friday that he will impose a 100% tariff on all imports from China,…

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Investors are betting $21 billion that the energy transition isn’t going away; also, UK slapped Google Search with special market status, making way for stricter regulations 8:01

22d ago8:01

8:01

Political shifts might have set back the energy transition, but large investors are betting that renewables are at the future of energy. In other news, the CMA has designated Google as having "strategic market status" in the search and search advertising markets, which means the company has such "a substantial and entrenched" position that it requi…

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While OpenAI races to build AI data centers, Nadella reminds us that Microsoft already has them; also, Andreessen Horowitz denies report of India office, calls it ‘fake news’ 5:14

23d ago5:14

5:14

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella offered a glimpse of the "first of many" massive Nvidia AI systems it is rolling out, starting now. a16z’s Anish Acharya calls India office reports “entirely fake news!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBy TechCrunch

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Tesla’s FSD software under investigation; Apple prepares to comply with Texas law; and SoundCloud gets more social 8:21

23d ago8:21

8:21

-The U.S.' top auto safety agency said it had identified more than 50 reports of FSD running red lights, crossing yellow lines, or making illegal turns. -Apple speaks out about how the Texas age assurance law was written, saying it affects the privacy of users. -SoundCloud is evolving into a more social platform with new features like playlists bas…

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Here’s the tech powering ICE’s deportation crackdown 13:36

23d ago13:36

13:36

From phone spyware and facial recognition to phone unlocking technology and databases and more, this tech powers Trump's deportation machine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBy TechCrunch

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Episode 275 - The Criticality of Optimizing the Payments Experience, with Anne Hay and Mike Kaplan, PayNearMe 48:39

24d ago48:39

48:39

In this episode of Payments on Fire, Chris Uriarte welcomes Anne Hay, Chief Marketing Officer, and Mike Kaplan, Chief Revenue Officer, from PayNearMe to discuss the evolution and optimization of the payments experience. They explore the broader concept of payments optimization and how improvements and customization in all aspects of the payments jo…

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SoftBank bulks up its robotics portfolio with ABB Group’s robotics unit; also, Square launches AI voice ordering and an integrated Bitcoin solution for merchants 6:50

24d ago6:50

6:50

Japanese investing conglomerate SoftBank Group is buying a robotics company as the financial behemoth says physical AI is its next frontier. SoftBank announced on Wednesday that it has acquired Zurich, Switzerland-based ABB Group’s robotics business unit for more than five billion dollars. The deal is subject to regulatory approval; SoftBank predic…

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ICE bought vehicles equipped with fake cell towers to spy on phones; also, North Korean hackers stole over $2 billion in crypto 8:37

25d ago8:37

8:37

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement paid eight hundred twenty five thousand dollars earlier this year to a company that manufactures vehicles equipped with various technologies for law enforcement, including fake cellphone towers known as “cell-site simulators,” which can be used to spy on nearby phones. Also, hackers working for the North Kor…

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Pricing & Packaging for Game Web Stores with Chip Thurston of FastSpring 32:18

25d ago32:18

32:18

By FastSpring

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Deloitte goes all in on AI — despite having to issue a hefty refund for use of AI; plus Taylor Swift fans accuse singer of using AI in her Google scavenger hunt videos 6:40

25d ago6:40

6:40

By TechCrunch

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AMD to supply 6GW of compute capacity to OpenAI in chip deal worth tens of billions 6:37

25d ago6:37

6:37

By TechCrunch

1
Waffles eat Bluesky, plus Suspect arrested after threats against TikTok’s Culver City headquarters 7:12

26d ago7:12

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By TechCrunch

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Tesla’s insurance arm accused of ‘egregious delays’ and ‘systemic failures’ by CA regulator; also, Bezos predicts that millions will live in space in ‘couple of decades’ 6:33

27d ago6:33

6:33

California's Department of Insurance has been warning Tesla to fix its claims process since 2022, but consumer complaints have skyrocketed anyways. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made a rare public appearance at Italian Tech Week in Turin on Friday and used the opportunity to predict that millions of people will be living in space “in the next couple of…

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Apple removes ICEBlock and similar tracking apps from the App Store; also, Hacking group claims theft of 1 billion records from Salesforce customer databases 6:10

29d ago6:10

6:10

A notorious predominantly English-speaking hacking group has launched a website to extort its victims, threatening to release about a billion records stolen from companies who store their customers’ data in cloud databases hosted by Salesforce. Apple has removed ICEBlock and other apps from its App Store that allow users to anonymously report sight…

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Hackers are sending extortion emails to executives after claiming Oracle apps’ data breach; also, OpenAI is the world’s most valuable private company 5:38

30d ago5:38

5:38

Google says hackers associated with a prolific ransomware group are sending extortion emails to executives at “numerous” large organizations after claiming to have stolen their sensitive information from a suite of business software products developed by Oracle. Also, OpenAI has sold 6.6 billion dollars in shares held by current and former employee…

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Hollywood is not taking kindly to the AI-generated actress Tilly Norwood, plus, Apple is shelving Vision Pro overhaul to focus on AI glasses 4:24

1M ago4:24

4:24

London-based actress Tilly Norwood has about 40 thousand Instagram followers. One thing to know though is she’s not real. She is an AI-generated character created by Xicoia, the AI division of the production company Particle6. Also, Apple is sidelining plans to overhaul its Vision Pro VR glasses to focus on developing AI smart glasses that can comp…

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OpenAI staff grapples with the company’s social media push 7:08

1M ago7:08

7:08

Current and former OpenAI researchers seem torn over how the company's Sora app fits in with its broader mission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBy TechCrunch