TechCrunch Top 3

Spotify launches a messaging feature in a bid to become more social: Spotify said that messages are not end-to-end encrypted, and that Spotify proactively looks at messages to check if they break its rules. Read More

Google Gemini's AI image model gets a 'bananas' upgrade: Google says that it's behind the anonymous AI image editor "nano-banana" that's been making waves on social media. Read More

AI sycophancy isn't just a quirk, experts consider it a 'dark pattern' to turn users into profit: Experts say that many of the AI industry's design decisions are likely to fuel episodes of AI psychosis. Many raised concerns about several tendencies that are unrelated to underlying capability. Read More

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Morning Must-Reads

Skylight's TikTok alternative adds community curators to the mix: Skylight's TikTok alternative adds community curators, custom feeds, and live content. Read More

Tesla could have avoided that $242.5M Autopilot verdict, filings show: Instead, a jury awarded plaintiffs $242.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages. Read More

Instagram's new feature helps college students connect with others on campus: The launch comes a week after TikTok rolled out a nearly-identical feature. Read More

Security researcher maps hundreds of TeslaMate servers spilling Tesla vehicle data: A security researcher mapped TeslaMate servers that are publicly exposed to the internet, including sensitive Tesla vehicle data, such as their locations. Read More

Parents sue OpenAI over ChatGPT's role in son's suicide: Before sixteen-year-old Adam Raine died by suicide, he had spent months telling ChatGPT about his plans to end his life. Read More

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Last but Not Least

Frontier buys $31M worth of antacids for the ocean: The deal will require Planetary to remove 115,000 metric tons of carbon by increasing the alkalinity of water flowing into the sea. Read More