Tuesday, June 24, 2024

Welcome to TechCrunch AM! This morning, we've got insights into io's potential AI device; a new AI research effort with $100 million to spend; and how one startup is structuring data. We've also got a new way to upcycle plastic; Waymo's launch in Atlanta; federal oversight of Tesla's Austin launch; more layoffs at Microsoft, and more. Let's go!

TechCrunch Top 3

Image Credits: Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty Images

1. Curiouser and curiouser: Court filings from the trademark dispute for io, the new venture by Sam Altman and Jony Ive, reveal new details about the company's efforts to build a mass-market AI hardware device. Spoiler alert: There have been plenty of meetings about an in-ear device. Read More

2. AI for good?! Some AI research institutes with missions to study solutions that benefit humanity have fallen prey to the lure of money. But there's hope: The Laude Institute, a new lab by Perplexity and Databricks co-founder Andy Konwinski, is looking to use its $100 million fund to make investments structured similar to grants for research. Read More

3. Build that core: Sammy Sidhu and Jay Chia helped build a multimodal data processing tool at Lyft's self-driving unit. That solution became the basis for their startup, Eventual, which just raised two rounds of funding – totaling $27.5 million – within eight months. Read More

Morning Must-Reads

Image Credits: Novoloop

♻️ Reduce, reuse, recycle: Novoloop has figured out how to turn un-recycled plastic into material that companies want to buy for use in everything from sneakers to car seats. After a successful demonstration run, Novoloop plans to build a bigger facility. Read More

🍑 Silicon peach: Uber and Waymo's commercial robotaxi service is now available in Atlanta. The service covers about 65 square miles in Atlanta, and has the potential to add to Waymo's win streak as it expands to its fifth commercial market. Read More

🥂 Smooth as: Apple has fixed one of the more glaring issues with Liquid Glass, its new UI for the iPhone, iPad, and other devices. The Control Center's been redone after complaints that its semi-transparent look made it difficult to distinguish from the widgets behind it. Read More

🇨🇳 China-backed hacking group Salt Typhoon is at it again. This time, it's targeting telecommunication companies across Canada. The Canadian feds say hackers manipulated three Cisco-made routers to allow stealthy traffic collection from its network. Read More

🚕 That was fast: Tesla's Austin robotaxi launch was accompanied by tons of videos online showing the cars violating traffic laws. Federal regulators have already taken notice. The agency said it's been in contact with Tesla to "gather additional information." Read More

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Around the Web

😞 Value your jobs: Microsoft will conduct yet another round of major layoffs in its Xbox division next week as part of a company-wide restructuring, reports Bloomberg. It's the fourth big layoff in 18 months. Read More

🔮 Whack-a-mole: Last month, Telegram banned crypto scam markets that sold billions of dollars in fake services. Wired reports that the markets have already rebranded and bounced back, and Telegram has done nothing to stop them. Read More

👂 Hear hear: Hinge founder and CEO Justin McLeod talked to the Verge about the importance of "centering real human connection and encouraging people to put their phones down," as well as likening AI companionship to eating junk food. Read More

Before You Go

🌍 History nerds, unite! Google says you can now access historical Street View imagery on Google Earth to explore via more viewpoints like bird's eye or street level. Can't wait to see what all the Walmarts have replaced or how pedestrian-friendly Manhattan was before cars. Read More