TechCrunch

OpenAI contractors asked to upload real work from past and current jobs

OpenAI and Handshake AI are asking third-party contractors to upload examples of real work they did in past and current jobs for training data, with instructions to remove proprietary and personally identifiable information before uploading.

Indonesia temporarily blocks access to xAI’s Grok over non-consensual sexualized deepfakes

Indonesia temporarily blocked access to xAI’s chatbot Grok over sexualized AI-generated imagery posted by Grok on X, including depictions of real women and minors.

SpaceX receives FCC approval to launch 7,500 additional Gen2 Starlink satellites

The FCC approved SpaceX to launch 7,500 more second-generation Starlink satellites, with deployment deadlines extending to 2031.

Snowflake agrees to acquire observability platform Observe

Snowflake signed a definitive agreement to acquire Observe and plans to integrate its observability product into Snowflake to unify telemetry data collection and help customers detect software and data issues.

Roblox users must complete age checks to access chat features

Roblox now requires users worldwide to complete an age check to use chat and other communication features.

Meta pauses plans to sell Ray-Ban Display glasses outside the U.S. due to demand and supply limits

Meta paused plans to sell its Ray-Ban Display glasses outside the U.S. because it cited unprecedented demand and limited supply, with waitlists extending well into 2026.

Lux Capital closes a $1.5 billion ninth fund

Lux Capital closed a $1.5 billion ninth fund, the largest in its history, bringing its assets under management to $7 billion.

OpenAI acqui-hires Convogo team and winds down the executive coaching platform

OpenAI is acquiring the team behind executive coaching AI tool Convogo in an all-stock acqui-hire and will wind down Convogo’s product.

Swap Commerce raises $100 million six months after a $40 million Series B

Swap Commerce, a London- and New York-based e-commerce startup that competes with Shopify, announced a $100 million funding round six months after raising a $40 million Series B.

Illinois police charge TikTok livestream driver for fatal pedestrian crash

The driver livestreamed the crash and faces two felony charges including reckless homicide.

How reality crushed Ÿnsect, the French startup that had raised over $600M for insect farming

Ÿnsect went bankrupt after failing to build a viable business despite over $600 million in funding and a pivot to pet food markets.

Nvidia licenses AI chip tech from Groq and hires its CEO amid $20B asset deal

Nvidia licensed AI chip tech from Groq, hired its CEO, and reportedly purchased assets worth $20 billion to enhance its AI chip capabilities.

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