FTC launches inquiry into AI chatbot companions from Meta, OpenAI, and others
The federal consumer regulator seeks to learn about how AI companies evaluate the safety of their chatbots.
AI
FTC orders AI companies to hand over info about chatbots’ impact on kids
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is ordering seven AI chatbot companies to provide information about how they assess the effects of their virtual companions on kids and teens. OpenAI, Meta, its subsidiary Instagram, Snap, xAI, Google parent company Alphabet, and the maker of Character.AI all received orders to share information about how their AI companions […]
Roku wants you to see a lot more AI-generated ads
Are you tired of having to watch the same three or four ads over and over again? That could change soon, if Roku has its way. The smart TV and streaming device maker is working on dramatically expanding the number of advertisers vying for your attention, to the point where ads on streaming could soon […]
Humanoids, AVs, and what’s next in AI hardware with Waabi and Apptronik at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is bringing together 10,000+ startup and VC leaders for three days of bold ideas, groundbreaking tech, and future-shaping conversations.
Box CEO Aaron Levie on AI’s ‘era of context’
Box released a new set of AI tools at its Boxworks conference on Thursday, filling out CEO Aaron Levie’s vision for an AI-led transformation of the enterprise.
Sierra CEO Bret Taylor on why the AI bubble feels like the dotcom boom
Welcome to Decoder. This is Alex Heath. For my final episode as your Thursday guest host, I recently sat down with Bret Taylor, the CEO of AI startup Sierra and the chairman of OpenAI, for a live event in San Francisco, California, hosted by Alix Partners. Very few people have seen the tech industry up […]
Apple’s new live translation feature for AirPods won’t be available in the EU at launch
On its official page detailing the features available on iOS 26, the company said EU residents or those with EU Apple IDs won’t be able to use live translation, which is powered by Apple Intelligence and will also be coming to AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2.
Microsoft 365 Copilot bundles sales, service, and finance Copilots in October
I exclusively reported last week that Microsoft was about to shake up its Microsoft 365 Copilot pricing, and now the company has officially revealed that its sales, service, and finance Copilots are being bundled into Microsoft 365 Copilot. Microsoft currently offers business Copilot access for $30 per user per month, and if you want the […]
Meet R1, a Chinese tech giant’s rival to Tesla’s Optimus robot
Chinese tech behemoth Ant Group, which owns payment platform Alipay, has been showing off its first humanoid robot at tech conferences this month. It joins a growing wave of companies carving out space along a fresh frontier in automation by combining artificial intelligence with physical tech. Videos and news reports show Robbyant’s R1 robot cooking […]
A California bill that would regulate AI companion chatbots is close to becoming law
If SB 243 is enacted, California would become the first state to require operators to implement safety protocols for AI companions and hold companies legally accountable if their chatbots fail to meet those standards.