Monday, May 13, 2024

Good afternoon, and welcome back to TechCrunch PM. We have your look at OpenAI's newest GPT model, some venture rounds, Google and Apple teaming up to alert users to unknown Bluetooth trackers, and what's going on with buy now, play later in Mexico. Let's dig in!

TechCrunch Top 3

Image Credits: OpenAI

OpenAI's GPT-4o: The "o" stands for "omni," referring to the model's ability to handle text, speech and video. GPT-4o greatly improves the experience in OpenAI's AI-powered chatbot, ChatGPT. Look for it to roll out across the company's developer and consumer-facing products over the next few weeks. Read More

Semiconductor deal to be good for U.S.: The Biden administration plans to inject some capital, to the tune of $120 million in federal funds, into Polar Semiconductor to expand its chip manufacturing facility in Minnesota. Once fully operational, it will enable the company to double its U.S. production capacity of sensor and power chips within two years. Read More

Pepper continues to spice up food distribution: ICONIQ Growth leads a group of investors in a $30 million Series B round of funding for Pepper, which is going after the likes of Sysco with its e-commerce platform for independent food distributors. Read More

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Afternoon must-reads

Image Credits: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg / Getty Images

Cruise tests its robotaxi in Phoenix: Cruise has plans to begin "supervised" driving in the city more than six months after the GM self-driving subsidiary halted its driverless operations across the United States. Read More

If you always feel like somebody's watching you…: You're not alone. And now Apple and Google have agreed to alert you when unknown Bluetooth devices might be tracking you. Read More

Project Starline is coming: Google will collaborate with HP to start commercializing the teleconferencing program Starline sometime in 2025. Google's also working to integrate Starline with popular video conferencing services like Zoom and Google Meet. Read More

Aplazo grabs $45 million: The Mexican fintech startup facilitates fractionated payments to offline and online merchants even when the buyer doesn't have a credit card. The best part? Most customers are using Aplazo's virtual card in stores, which increases sales and customer loyalty. Read More

Women in AI: Check out TechCrunch's series of interviews focusing on remarkable women who've contributed to the AI revolution. Read More

Google I/O, what to expect: AI is popular, so just expect that it will be a consistent theme throughout the event. It starts tomorrow at 10 a.m. PT. Don't worry if you can't watch it — we'll have a roundup of the day's important announcements. Read More

Instagram expands creator marketplace: Ten more countries now get to use the marketplace that facilitates paid partnerships in the U.S. to select users. Read More

OpenAI's big announcement and Apple Store workers' authorized strike: This morning on TechCrunch's Equity podcast, we dove into the details behind one Apple Store's authorized strike, and why we're expecting at least a search feature from OpenAI, if not a full search product to rival Google. For a more in-depth look at the business of startups, stay through to the end to hear this week's Pitch Deck Teardown! Listen here

Around the web

Image Credits: Getty Images/Patra Kongsirimongkolchai / EyeEm

A surprise from Melinda French Gates: The former wife of Bill Gates said she would resign as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in June, CNN reports. She has helped lead the organization since 2000. As part of her separation agreement with Gates, French Gates will receive an additional $12.5 billion for her charitable work and the organization will change its name to the Gates Foundation, with Bill Gates becoming the sole chair. Read More

GameStop shares soar: Axios reports that "Roaring Kitty" is back and fueling the meme stock once more. Read More

A review of Google Pixel 8A: CNET reporter Lisa Eadicicco spent a few days with the new Google Pixel 8A and reports that Google may have made a mistake pricing the Pixel 8 so high because the Pixel 8A is all that and a bag of chips. Read More

TechCrunch Minute

Streaming services are basically just cable now: Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery recently announced that they'll be launching a bundle this summer that includes Disney+, Hulu, and Max. Paramount is reportedly working on a deal with NBCUniversal's Peacock. And then there's a joint sports venture from Fox, Disney, and Warner due in the fall. On one hand, the streaming app fatigue is real. On the other, doesn't it seem like all these bundles are cable in disguise? Hit play and let's chat!