Techcrunch blog!: Either upgrade your YouTube subscription or let the ads flow, the streaming giant says

Wednesday, November 01, 2023

Today's top story is a continuation of one we gave you in June where YouTube was experimenting with limiting the use of ad blockers. Now Ivan writes that YouTube is making a global effort to get users to upgrade to an ad-free subscription or risk their video player being blocked. Get the scoop.

Meanwhile, buy now, pay later is getting some side-eye from U.S. regulators. However, Tabby's latest monster round of $200 million, at a $1.5 billion valuation, shows the concept is still attractive to consumers. So much so that the company reached profitability.

And Carly has a look at why Atlassian is urging customers to take "immediate action" to protect themselves against a data-loss security bug. Here's what happened.

Image Credits: Alexander Shatov / Unsplash

More top reads

Fifty-four days and counting: Does your favorite person work from home? Perhaps they might like one of these five gifts for the holidays. Gifts for remote workers in 2023.

It's an AI world, and we're just living in it: Now that LinkedIn is approaching 1 billion users, it's pulling out all the stops to retain them with some OpenAI-powered reading and writing tools. See what's new.

Don't worry, WeWon't: Be surprised, that is, if it turns out that WeWork files for bankruptcy (TC+). If you need a refresher on what's going on, start here.

Scratching our heads: While some giant retailers stopped selling some banned China surveillance equipment, lawmakers are puzzled as to why Costco made the decision to continue selling it. Get the scoop.

Math haters, listen up: We've got a Google update that will put a smile on your face. Google Search can now help you solve geometry, physics and calculus problems. Here's how. Meanwhile, Google launches generative AI tools for product imagery to U.S. advertisers.

Once you go VC, you never go back: Authentication startup FusionAuth raises $65 million in its first outside round. Learn what this cyber company does.

Yup, yup, yup: If Sam Bankman-Fried's recent court appearance has you likening it to the martians on Sesame Street, you are not alone. Our team counted up the number of monosyllabic answers to report that SBF said nothing and everything in his testimony, all at the same time. (TC+) Also, prosecutors began their closing arguments today. Here’s what they said. (TC+)

Better together: Plex becomes a social network with the public debut of "Discover Together." Learn more.

Developer's dream: Big data serving engine Vespa, now with $31 million in investment from Blossom Capital, is ready to go at it alone since spinning out of Yahoo. Here's how it will do it.

Cutting corners: Procurement management software startup Oro Labs lands $34 million in investment to help organizations more easily acquire goods and services. Read more.

Even more for your Wednesday:

Southeast Asia funding at its lowest level in six years

Why Comcast built an accelerator to nurture sports startups (TC+)

Snowflake brings together developer and analyst needs in new GenAI tool

Apple iPhone shipments just had their best quarter in India

Subaru follows Toyota in adopting Tesla's charging standard

Image Credits: Natalie Christman

Meet enterprise demands at the speed of 5G

On the pods

In today's Equity, Mary Ann and Alex speak to ALIAVIA Ventures co-founder Marisa Warren about raising a new fund and about:

The current state of venture investment in women.
Why the numbers aren't changing, and what she thinks could make a difference.
When startups should target their second market, and how.

ALIAVIA invests in startups based in the U.S. and Australia that have at least one female founder, and helps their portfolio companies tackle new markets. Listen here.