Friday, June 27, 2024

Welcome to TechCrunch AM! Today you've got me, the other Rebecca. We're diving into Google's new app Doppl, which helps users virtually try on outfits; Redwood Materials' new energy storage business, and we say goodbye to a real one. Have a great weekend!

TechCrunch Top 3

Image Credits: Google

1. An AI dressing room: Google launched an app called Doppl that uses AI to help users visualize what outfits would look like on them. Users upload a full-body image of themselves to the app and then use photos or screenshots of different outfits to try them on. Read More

2. That's a lot of startups: Audos is a new venture studio that is looking to use AI to launch "hundreds of thousands" of new startups a year. An ambitious goal for founder Henrik Werdelin who previously founded pet subscription company Bark and venture studio Prehype. Read More

3. Sustainable stockpiling: Battery recycling company Redwood Materials is launching an energy storage business. The company is taking old EV batteries and using them to build microgrids that produce power for other companies, starting with AI data centers. Neat! Read More

Morning Must-Reads

Image Credits: Cluely

♟️ Cheap tricks: Andreessen Horowitz's recent investment in Cluey, the startup that claims to help users "cheat on everything," has caused eyebrows to lift upwards in the venture community. But a16z partner Bryan Kim says Cluey is a good example of how AI startups should market themselves to stand out. Read More

💲 Meta wants more: In the midst of its aggressive AI talent recruitment, Meta is also shopping for AI companies. The company is reportedly in discussions to acquire voice cloning startup Play AI, which allows users to clone voices. Read More

‼️ More trouble for DeepSeek: Berlin's data protection commissioner, Meike Kamp, has reported DeepSeek to Apple and Google for not providing "convincing evidence" that the app wasn't sending users' data to China illegally, or that it complies with EU data protection laws. Read More

🛍️ OpenAI yearns for e-commerce: The team behind Crossing Minds, a startup that builds AI recommendation systems for e-commerce companies, is joining OpenAI. It's unclear if the entire team is joining, but Crossing Minds updated its website to say it is no longer taking on new clients. Read More

🎠 Kalanick ponies up: Uber founder Travis Kalanick is reportedly interested in acquiring the U.S. arm of Chinese autonomous vehicle company, Pony AI. Kalanick is looking for investors to help him with the deal and may even get some help from Uber. Read More

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Around the Web

❤️ Love, uh, finds a way: A Wired reporter set up a romantic weekend away for people who are willing to date an AI bot. It's a fascinating read of just how deep some relationships with AI go, and how differently the people in them view this form of companionship. Read More

🧑‍🦱 Heading in the right direction: Animation technology continues to get better, but it's still hard for animators to accurately depict Black hairstyles. This week's episode of Close All Tabs features two researchers who are making progress on this front, and just released a research paper on the physics of animating curly hair. Listen Here

Before You Go

😞 Pour one out: After nearly 40 years, Microsoft is changing its Windows error screen from the familiar Blue Screen of Death to a more ominous Black Screen of Death. Rest in peace BSOD. We'll be drinking one tonight in honor of your four decades of service. Read More