TechCrunch Industry News

In 2024, climate tech investments experienced a down year, falling to $12.9 billion. However, deal sizes increased, signaling a maturing market. The focus has shifted towards later-stage startups, highlighting new investor priorities. This trend suggests challenges ahead for early-stage companies trying to secure funding in a competitive landscape.

Google is making waves with a huge agreement to buy 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide removal credits from Varaha, an innovative Indian startup. The focus is on biochar, a game changer for carbon sequestration and soil health. Discover how this deal not only helps combat climate change but also supports local agriculture and ecosystems. The discussion emphasizes the dual impact of technology and sustainability in addressing environmental challenges.

The Russia-linked ransomware group is threatening to leak data stolen from almost 60 Cleo Software customers if ransoms aren't paid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hinge today launched a new AI-powered feature called “Prompt Feedback,” which aims to improve your dating profile by analyzing how you answer prompts and assessing if it needs to be more specific or authentic.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Akshay Naheta, a former SoftBank executive and founder of Distributed Technologies Research, shares insights into the future of payment systems. He discusses how his startup aims to bridge traditional banking with blockchain technology. The conversation dives into DTR's innovative platform, Amalgam OS, and Naheta's vision for tackling existing challenges in the payments landscape, emphasizing the potential for a revolution in how we transact globally.

App stores are filled with different services that are designed to help you cut down on your screen time and count your steps. A new iOS app called Steppin combines these two ideas to help users do both at the same time to bridge the gap between physical and mental health Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

OpenAI’s latest AI reasoning model has sparked curiosity by thinking in various languages, such as Chinese and Persian, even when asked in English. This unexpected behavior highlights the complexities of language processing in AI. Delving into this multilingual mystery raises intriguing questions about the implications for AI development and transparency. How does this phenomenon affect our understanding of AI reasoning? Tune in to explore the fascinating intersection of language and artificial intelligence.

OpenAI unveils its vision for AI regulation, highlighting an economic blueprint designed to guide U.S. policy. The discussion emphasizes the need for robust federal funding and regulatory consistency. Listeners will dive into how these policies aim to enhance AI capabilities while balancing national security and technological growth. It's a fascinating look at the future of AI governance!

In 2023, the U.K. made a big song and dance about the need to consider the harms of AI, giving itself a leading role in the wider conversation around AI safety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s a new year, but drama in the WordPress community keeps going. Automattic, the company that runs WordPress.com, said that it would reduce its contribution to WordPress core, the open-source project that acts as the backbone of most of Automattic’s products and ensures the longevity of WordPress as a technology and community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices