Character.AI removes Disney characters after receiving cease-and-desist letter
“Character.ai is freeriding off the goodwill of Disney’s famous marks and brands, and blatantly infringing Disney’s copyrights,” a Disney lawyer wrote.
Tech
Whizz co-founder says Trump’s Chicago crackdown is scaring delivery workers off the streets
Whizz has seen e-bike rentals drop by about 8% since Trump threatened to send National guards troops to the city.
US government takes equity stake in one of the world’s largest lithium mines
Donald Trump’s administration is taking a 5 percent equity ownership of mining company Lithium Americas, on top of another 5 percent stake in the company’s joint mining project with GM in Nevada, the Department of Energy announced yesterday. The mine at Thacker Pass is expected to become the largest producer of lithium in the Western […]
Why California’s new AI safety law succeeded where SB 1047 failed
California just made history as the first state to require AI safety transparency from the biggest labs in the industry. Governor Newsom signed SB 53 into law this week, mandating that AI giants like OpenAI and Anthropic disclose, and stick to, their safety protocols. The decision is already sparking debate about whether other states will […]
OpenAI’s new social app is filled with terrifying Sam Altman deepfakes
OpenAI’s Sora app makes it too easy for people to create misleading AI content.
What founders need to know before choosing their exit — straight from Roseanne Wincek, Jai Das, and Dan Springer — at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Hear from Jai Das, Sapphire Ventures, and Roseanne Wincek, Renegade Partners, on how founders can prep for an exit at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. Register here.
Adam Mosseri’s ‘we’re totally not spying on you’ video is raising a lot of questions
Today, the same day that Meta announced that it will soon use your AI chats to personalize the ads it shows you, Instagram head Adam Mosseri made a “myth busting” video attempting to set the record straight on a persistent rumor about Meta: “I swear, we do not listen to your microphone,” he says. Meta’s […]
The UK’s war on Apple encryption is back
The UK government is reportedly once again demanding that Apple provide it with backdoor access to encrypted iCloud user data, following claims that the effort had been abandoned in August. The Financial Times reports that a new technical capability notice (TCN) was issued by the UK Home Office in early September, this time specifically targeting […]
Microsoft’s Windows XP Crocs are here
Microsoft has officially debuted its Windows XP-themed Crocs, which feature a design inspired by the classic operating system’s “Bliss” wallpaper, alongside Clippy and Internet Explorer shoe charms. In a post on Wednesday, Microsoft said it’s launching the limited-edition Crocs with a blue sky and clouds drawstring backpack as part of its 50th anniversary. It doesn’t […]
Waymo can keep testing robotaxis in NYC until end of 2025
Waymo’s permit to test autonomous vehicles in New York City has been extended to the end of the year, giving the company a few more months to make it big in the Big Apple.