TechCrunch Industry News

Amazon on Monday unveiled Nova Act, a general-purpose AI agent that can take control of a web browser and independently perform some simple actions. Alongside the new agentic AI model, Amazon is releasing the Nova Act SDK, a toolkit that allows developers to build agent prototypes with Nova Act. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AI web crawling bots are the cockroaches of the internet, many developers believe. FOSS devs are fighting back in ingenuous, humorous ways. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump is slapping 25% tariffs on all cars imported to the United States, including from our immediate North American neighbors. He’s also placed a 25% tariff on certain parts used to build cars. It’s a decision that will likely supercharge the cost of new and used cars, but it’s also a gift to Tesla Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Americans’ support for a TikTok ban is declining, according to a study from the Pew Research Center. This survey of over 5,000 U.S. adults found that just 34% of respondents supported banning the short form video app. When Pew ran a similar study in 2023, 50% of adults supported the TikTok ban. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elon Musk's SpaceX is in the spotlight for reportedly allowing Chinese investors to buy stakes through offshore routes. This controversial approach raises critical national security concerns. The discussion dives into the potential risks of foreign investments in American defense firms and questions the transparency of such dealings. Listeners are left pondering what this means for U.S. interests and the future of aerospace.

Armand Jaffer, CEO and founder of Brisk, dives into the transformative impact of AI on education. With a rich background at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, he discusses how Brisk leverages AI to revolutionize teaching and learning. The episode highlights the challenges of detecting AI-generated student work and the consequences of false accusations. Jaffer also emphasizes the growing acceptance of edtech tools among educators and the need for innovative solutions in assessments.

Discover how AI is reshaping the search for critical minerals, enabling faster and wider exploration than ever before. The founder reveals groundbreaking findings in Australia, where traditional methods missed key deposits. Dive into the transformative impact of technology on the mining industry and explore the future of mineral discovery.

Hassan Sakaar, founder and CEO of 11x, shares insights into the tumultuous journey of his AI-powered sales automation startup. He discusses the company's explosive initial growth contrasted with alarming financial struggles and misleading customer claims. Sakaar addresses the toxic work environment and high employee turnover following the company's move from London to San Francisco. He candidly reflects on the impact of these challenges on the company’s legitimacy and the discontent among staff, painting a cautionary tale about startup culture.

A groundbreaking milestone in fusion energy has been reached with the installation of the Cryostat Base in a demonstration reactor. This major step aims to advance toward a functional tokamak. The conversation delves into the innovative technologies driving this project and the ambitious goal of a commercial-scale reactor by 2027. Exciting insights into the future of clean energy emerge as experts discuss the implications of this progress.

What we found mostly supports the auto makers claims, with a few caveats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices