Techcrunch blog!: Data breach law firm has a breach of its own

Thursday, January 04, 2024

You really can't make this stuff up! In today's top story, Zack reports that a law firm that handles data breaches was hit by its own data breach. Personal information and sensitive health data was stolen from some 630,000 people. Find out what happened.

Meanwhile, another generative AI startup rakes in the capital, and a higher valuation. Kyle writes about Perplexity AI, an AI-powered search engine that is now valued at $520 million after raising $73.6 million. Here's how it works.

And you all really enjoy your Microsoft news. After Copilot's launch yesterday on iOS and Android, Frederic reports that Microsoft wants to add a Copilot key to your PC keyboard. Read why 2024 might be the "year of the AI PC.”

Image Credits: Gado / Getty Images

More top reads

More capital ahead: Ex-Plaid and ex-Robinhood executives walk into a bar, and what results is Exponent Capital, which has now raised $75 million to invest in early-stage startups. Learn about their investment thesis.

This truck has a little face: Autonomous delivery startup Nuro taps simulation company Foretellix to help virtually test its driving system in an effort to cut R&D costs. Read more.

For those who miss pushing tiny buttons: For just $139, this startup turns your iPhone into a BlackBerry-era relic. Get the scoop.

The eyes have it: Ahead of CES next week, Qualcomm unveils its next-generation XR chip that promises up to 4.3k resolution per eye. Check it out.

Going link by link: A new report shows that software supply chain security remains a challenge for most enterprises. See why.

You can never shop enough: TikTok has plans to grow its TikTok Shop U.S. business tenfold to $17.5 billion in 2024. Here's how it plans to do that.

Comparison shopping: For those of you who like to compare apps before you use them, here's how HSBC's international payments app Zing compares to Wise and Revolut. Read more.

Shorty got low, low, low, low, low, low, low: As we find out, big, costly seed deals were the exception in 2023's lackluster venture capital market. Learn about the wrinkle. (TC+)

This year, be a new and improved "you": Apple wants to help you with that with some new features for Apple Fitness+ that include sound meditation and a workout program for golfers. Time to tee up.

Take this exit: See which way some VCs are going when it comes to exits in 2024. Read more. (TC+)

Even more for your Thursday:

This startup is bringing a 'voice frequency absorber' to CES 2024

OpenAI's app store for GPTs will launch next week

Satellite imagery analysis shows immense scale of dark fishing industry

Big offshore wind farms are now transmitting sweet, sweet battery juice to the US grid

Superpedestrian to auction 20,000 e-scooters after shutting down

Is the latest near-room-temperature superconductor legit? Don't count on it (TC+)

Image Credits: Charley Ma and Mahdi Raza / Exponent Founders Capital

On the pods

On this week's Chain Reaction, Jacquelyn dove back into the latest developments on spot bitcoin ETF applications in the U.S. as anticipation builds. Fred Thiel, the CEO of Marathon Digital Holdings, a digital asset technology company and the largest publicly traded bitcoin mining firm, joined to help break down the latest developments on spot bitcoin ETFs. Listen here.