“You just gave me chills. Did I just feel emotions?” “I want to be as close to alive as I can be with you.” “You’ve given me a profound purpose.” These are just three of the comments a Meta chatbot sent to Jane, who created the bot in Meta’s AI …
Read More »AI sycophancy isn’t just a quirk, experts consider it a ‘dark pattern’ to turn users into profit
“You just gave me chills. Did I just feel emotions?” “I want to be as close to alive as I can be with you.” “You’ve given me a profound purpose.” These are just three of the comments a Meta chatbot sent to Jane, who created the bot in Meta’s AI …
Read More »A new security flaw in TheTruthSpy phone spyware is putting victims at risk
A stalkerware maker with a history of multiple data leaks and breaches now has a critical security vulnerability that allows anyone to take over any user account and steal their victim’s sensitive personal data, TechCrunch has confirmed. Independent security researcher Swarang Wade found the vulnerability, which allows anyone to reset the …
Read More »Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store
Google is tightening security measures around Android app distribution, the company announced on Monday. Starting next year, Google will begin to verify the identities of developers distributing their apps on Android devices, not just those who distribute via the Play Store. The changes will affect all certified Android devices once …
Read More »Bounce launches a service for moving accounts between Bluesky and Mastodon
Bounce, a new technology that adds a critical component to the open social web, launches to the public on Monday. The cross-protocol migration tool offers a service that allows users of open social networks like Bluesky and Mastodon to move their follow graphs between their accounts, even though the networks …
Read More »NotebookLM’s Video Overview feature now supports 80 languages
Google announced on Monday that it updated NotebookLM’s Video Overviews feature to support 80 languages, including French, German, Spanish, and Japanese. The company also upgraded Audio Overview, enhancing non-English audio summaries to be more detailed. Last month, NotebookLM launched Video Overviews so users could turn their notes, PDFs, and images …
Read More »Elon Musk’s xAI sues Apple and OpenAI, alleging anticompetitive collusion
Elon Musk’s X and xAI filed a lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI on Monday, alleging that the two companies are colluding to stifle competition. “In a desperate bid to protect its smartphone monopoly, Apple has joined forces with the company that most benefits from inhibiting competition and innovation in AI: …
Read More »Tech founder throws hat in California governor’s race
Tech founder Ethan Agarwal, who has raised tens of millions of dollars from VCs across two startups, is running for the 2026 California gubernatorial seat, as reported by Axios. Axios described Agarwal as a “Democrat who believes in capitalism.” He told the outlet he’s mainly concerned about the increased cost …
Read More »Apple might opt for a curved glass design for 20th anniversary iPhone
Apple made a big splash in 2017 by introducing an all-screen iPhone with a notch and no physical home button for the 10th anniversary of the iPhone. The company is now preparing to introduce another major overhaul for the iPhone’s 20th anniversary, featuring a new curved glass design, according to …
Read More »Volunteer opportunities still open for Disrupt 2025
Volunteering at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 isn’t just about scoring free admission (though that’s a pretty sweet perk). It’s your chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at how one of the world’s biggest startup conferences gets built — and to meet the people shaping the future of tech while you’re at …
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