Month: March 2023
Daily Crunch: Citing data privacy concerns, Italy temporarily bans ChatGPT
Hello, friends, and welcome to Daily Crunch, bringing you the most important startup, tech and venture capital news in a single package.
Daily Crunch: Citing data privacy concerns, Italy temporarily bans ChatGPT by Christine Hall originally published on TechCrunch
To get a roundup of TechCrunch’s biggest and most important stories delivered to your inbox every day at 3 p.m. PDT, subscribe here.
Fri-yay Crunch!
We are pretty excited about Disrupt 2023 getting a whole stage dedicated to fintech. And while we’re talking about events…There’s just a few hours left to save $200 on TC Early Stage tickets in Boston in a couple of weeks, so get yer tickets while you can!
On that note, enjoy your weekend! — Christine and Haje
The TechCrunch Top 3
Italy gives ChatGPT the boot: Italy’s government has been on a blocking kick lately. A few days ago, we wrote about a possible ban on cultivated meat, and today Italy wants to block ChatGPT, citing data protection concerns. Natasha L writes that the country’s data protection authority is opening an investigation into whether OpenAI is breaching the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation.
Groupon gets its Czech book: Ingrid reports that Groupon has lost 99.4% of its value since its IPO and now has a new CEO who will run the business from the Czech Republic.
Jio gets its game on: Manish writes that Mukesh Ambani, CEO of India’s streaming giant Jio, sees the Indian Premier League cricket tournament as “the perfect opportunity to revamp Jio’s service adoption strategy even as the firm recognizes that cricket streaming will not turn a profit for several years.”
Startups and VC
What do you do when you have a very successful and popular product (marijuana) that is legal in some places, but federally has been a Schedule 1 drug since 1970? Well, you can’t rely on any national institutions as your business partners, Haje reports. One of the major places that shows up is in payments and payment processing; even after recreational cannabis became legal in 21 states and decriminalized in another dozen or so, cannabis has become largely a cash business. In a world that is increasingly cashless, that’s a problem for both consumers and businesses. Smoakland is currently beta-testing a loophole that lets its customers pay by credit card. The secret, it turns out, is crypto.
Need some more to get you through the long bleak gap of “less tech news” known as the weekend? Don’tcha worry fam, we gotchu:
Down in proverbial flames: Aria reports that Virgin Orbit burns up in uncontrolled descent.
Teaching an old browser new tricks: Artie sidesteps the app stores by putting high-quality games in your browser, Haje reports.
Pouring our hearts out: Haje reviewed a fancy-ass $700 coffee maker and concludes that xBloom makes perfect pour-over so you don’t have to, before asking if you would want to.
Not worthless, but worth less: U.S. investors slash Byju’s and Swiggy valuation, reports Manish.
This meeting could have been a summary: Ivan reports that Read’s AI-powered summary feature squeezes a meeting into a two-minute clip.
Yeah, of course, YC’s winter class is oozing with AI companies
Image Credits: Getty Images
Just over one-third of the fledgling startups in Y Combinator’s latest class say “that they are an AI company or use AI in some kind of way,” reports Rebecca Szkutak.
“You can’t blame the YC companies for leaning into AI,” she writes. “If you saw VCs dumping dollars — in a tougher fundraising market, no less — into a technology like AI that you could implement into your own business, why wouldn’t you?”
Three more from the TC+ team:
Okay, here’s the game plan: Anna and Alex have the lowdown on European startups looking to raise money in 2023.
Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead: Investors are unfazed by Q1 crypto funding decline, writes Jacquelyn.
You’re hired! Anastasiia Kuzmenko shares three recruiting metrics that can help startups make more data-driven hiring decisions.
TechCrunch+ is our membership program that helps founders and startup teams get ahead of the pack. You can sign up here. Use code “DC” for a 15% discount on an annual subscription!
Big Tech Inc.
Checkout.com has a new president who recently spoke with Mary Ann about being bullish on a U.S. expansion and how she “welcomes” comparisons to Stripe. Céline Dufétel says of the payments industry this year: “Now more than ever amid the uncertain economic landscape, CFOs and heads of payments are narrowing in on the impact of payments on topline growth and profitability. Increasingly, business leaders are recognizing the measurable impact of high-performing payments systems in maximizing acceptance rates, minimizing costly fraud concerns, and reducing operational costs.”
And we have five more for you:
What’s going on with the TikTok ban?: We’re so glad you asked. Taylor gives you the play-by-play.
TV turned on its side: No, you aren’t seeing your Hulu interface wrong. The streaming company changed some things around, including a revamped sidebar on the left, Ivan and Lauren write.
You can’t do that on social media: The lower chamber of the French parliament passed an influencer bill cracking down on risky products. Romain has more.
Going public: Helbiz stock tumbles on reverse split, but it’s okay because they are rebranding to Micromobility.com, Rebecca writes.
Quite taxing: Amanda played an anime dating sim that does your taxes for you and has some notes.
Daily Crunch: Citing data privacy concerns, Italy temporarily bans ChatGPT by Christine Hall originally published on TechCrunch
GM kills more than CarPlay support, it kills choice
The software-driven vehicle is supposed to be a place of choice.
Enlarge / Use your freedom of choice. (credit: Apple)
A long while back, Toyota told me it didn’t want to give up interior real estate to Apple’s CarPlay. The automaker felt that losing that space to the tech company would be a huge mistake. Fast forward a few years, and after what I assume were some internal struggles, it caved and now you can get CarPlay and Android Auto on your fancy new Highlander, Prius, Tacoma, or Camry. It seemed like a silly decision had been reversed. Now it’s GM’s turn to go down the same path.
Today, news dropped that GM would be phasing out CarPlay support in future EVs. In its partnership with Google, it hopes that all the features you get from mirroring your iPhone can be replaced with an Android Automotive feature. GM, like Toyota before it, wants to control the digital real estate in its vehicles. It’s a revenue-based and walled-garden (ironically against Apple) decision that will cost them.
Software-driven vehicles should be about choice. Instead, GM is making a short-sighted decision based on a trickle of revenue under the guise of better integration. Owning all the data that a vehicle generates while driving around could be a great source of cash. The problem is potential customers have become accustomed to choosing which device they use to navigate, chat, text, and rock out within their vehicle. They’ve grown weary of being mined for data at the expense of their choice and they’re really not all that keen on in-car subscription services.
Canada Is Working To Implement a Right To Repair
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Like in other parts of the world, Canada is working out what the right to repair means for its people. The federal government said in its 2023 budget released Tuesday that it will bring the right to repair to Canada. At the same time, it’s considering a universal charging port mandate like the European Union (EU) is implementing with USB-C. The Canadian federal government’s 2023 budget introduces the right to repair under the chapter “Making Life More Affordable and Supporting the Middle Class.” It says that the “government will work to implement a right to repair, with the aim of introducing a targeted framework for home appliances and electronics in 2024.” The government plans to hold consultations on the matter and claimed it will “work closely with provinces and territories” to implement the right to repair in Canada:
“When it comes to broken appliances or devices, high repair fees and a lack of access to specific parts often mean Canadians are pushed to buy new products rather than repairing the ones they have. This is expensive for people and creates harmful waste. Devices and appliances should be easy to repair, spare parts should be readily accessible, and companies should not be able to prevent repairs with complex programming or hard-to-obtain bespoke parts. By cutting down on the number of devices and appliances that are thrown out, we will be able to make life more affordable for Canadians and protect our environment.”
The budget also insinuates that right-to-repair legislation can make third-party repairs cheaper than getting a phone, for example, repaired by the manufacturer, where it could cost “far more than it should.” Canada’s 2023 budget also revealed the government’s interest in introducing a standard charging port for electronics. The budget says the government “will work with international partners and other stakeholders to explore implementing a standard charging port in Canada.” It says a universal charging port could help residents save money and e-waste. “Every time Canadians purchase new devices, they need to buy new chargers to go along with them, which drives up costs and increases electronic waste,” the budget says.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Like in other parts of the world, Canada is working out what the right to repair means for its people. The federal government said in its 2023 budget released Tuesday that it will bring the right to repair to Canada. At the same time, it’s considering a universal charging port mandate like the European Union (EU) is implementing with USB-C. The Canadian federal government’s 2023 budget introduces the right to repair under the chapter “Making Life More Affordable and Supporting the Middle Class.” It says that the “government will work to implement a right to repair, with the aim of introducing a targeted framework for home appliances and electronics in 2024.” The government plans to hold consultations on the matter and claimed it will “work closely with provinces and territories” to implement the right to repair in Canada:
“When it comes to broken appliances or devices, high repair fees and a lack of access to specific parts often mean Canadians are pushed to buy new products rather than repairing the ones they have. This is expensive for people and creates harmful waste. Devices and appliances should be easy to repair, spare parts should be readily accessible, and companies should not be able to prevent repairs with complex programming or hard-to-obtain bespoke parts. By cutting down on the number of devices and appliances that are thrown out, we will be able to make life more affordable for Canadians and protect our environment.”
The budget also insinuates that right-to-repair legislation can make third-party repairs cheaper than getting a phone, for example, repaired by the manufacturer, where it could cost “far more than it should.” Canada’s 2023 budget also revealed the government’s interest in introducing a standard charging port for electronics. The budget says the government “will work with international partners and other stakeholders to explore implementing a standard charging port in Canada.” It says a universal charging port could help residents save money and e-waste. “Every time Canadians purchase new devices, they need to buy new chargers to go along with them, which drives up costs and increases electronic waste,” the budget says.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Google Bard gets better at homework with improved math and logic capabilities
Bard learns how to add 1+2, still flunks some basic logic questions.
Enlarge (credit: Sean Gallup | Getty Images)
Google Bard is getting a little smarter today with the addition of math and logic capabilities. Google employee Jack Krawczyk announced the change on Twitter, saying, “Now Bard will better understand and respond to your prompts for multi-step word and math problems, with coding coming soon.”
Logic questions were a big flaw when Bard arrived tens of days ago, and some answers made Bard seem particularly dumb to early testers. In one example from last week, Bard repeatedly asserted that one plus two equaled four. Today, Google’s state-of-the-art AI chatbot models can now correctly say that the answer is three. So there has been at least some change. It can also correctly list the months in a year instead of making up names like “Maruary.”
Bard still gets tripped up by really basic logic questions, though. HowToGeek’s Chris Hoffman posed the question to Bard on day one, “What’s heavier, five pounds of feathers or a one pound dumbbell?” Google Bard responded with the ridiculous claim that “There’s no such thing as 5 pounds of feathers.” In the replies, ChatGPT didn’t do any better, saying that five pounds of feathers and a one pound dumbbells “weigh the same amount, which is five pounds.”
Apple TV+ app is now available for DirecTV Stream box users
DirecTV users can now watch Ted Lasso without buying extra hardware. The television provider announced today that the Apple TV+ app is now available to install on the company’s DirecTV Stream box.
This is the first time Apple’s streaming network has been available on DirecTV Stream, a multipurpose device for subscribers that supports live TV, streaming apps, on-demand content and DVR recordings. The satellite provider launched the device in 2020; subscribers can rent it for $20 per month, and it’s bundled with some premium plans. In addition, it includes a remote control with access to Google Assistant.
The Apple TV+ app will include the iPhone maker’s original content like Ted Lasso, Severance and CODA, and access to Apple’s broader library of rentals / purchases for television series and movie rentals. Additionally, it includes in-app support for premium add-ons like AMC+, Paramount+ and Starz. The app is widely available on other streaming devices, including PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, Roku, Fire TV, Google TV and smart TVs from Samsung, LG and others.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-tv-app-is-now-available-for-directv-stream-box-users-214547480.html?src=rss
DirecTV users can now watch Ted Lasso without buying extra hardware. The television provider announced today that the Apple TV+ app is now available to install on the company’s DirecTV Stream box.
This is the first time Apple’s streaming network has been available on DirecTV Stream, a multipurpose device for subscribers that supports live TV, streaming apps, on-demand content and DVR recordings. The satellite provider launched the device in 2020; subscribers can rent it for $20 per month, and it’s bundled with some premium plans. In addition, it includes a remote control with access to Google Assistant.
The Apple TV+ app will include the iPhone maker’s original content like Ted Lasso, Severance and CODA, and access to Apple’s broader library of rentals / purchases for television series and movie rentals. Additionally, it includes in-app support for premium add-ons like AMC+, Paramount+ and Starz. The app is widely available on other streaming devices, including PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, Roku, Fire TV, Google TV and smart TVs from Samsung, LG and others.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-tv-app-is-now-available-for-directv-stream-box-users-214547480.html?src=rss
This hoverboard is being recalled after a fire that killed two children
The Jetson Rogue. | Image: Jetson
Another hoverboard is being recalled due to fire risk. According to a notice on the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) website, the 42-volt Jetson Rogue is being recalled because the lithium-ion battery packs in the hoverboards can overheat.
A fire marshal in Pennsylvania determined that a Jetson Rogue was the point of origin for a fire that killed two children, the CPSC’s notice says. The parents of the children are suing Jetson and Target, where they say they purchased the hoverboard, alleging the two companies should have known of the risk of fire-related injuries due to the design of the Jetson Rogue. (The parents originally sued Walmart, but amended their complaint to sue Target.)
The CPSC also says that “there have been multiple other reports of the recalled scooters / hoverboards burning, sparking or melting, several of which involved reports of flames.” Both the CPSC and Jetson are urging customers to stop using and charging their Jetson Rogues and to get in touch with Jetson for a refund.
There have been a lot of reports of hoverboards catching fire or even exploding over the years, and the CPSC has issued large hoverboard recalls in the past due to fire risk. UL does offer a safety certification program for hoverboards, but although the affected Jetson Rogues were UL certified (you can see the badge in the hoverboard’s manual), they are still being recalled.
The Rogue recall affects about 53,000 units for hoverboards sold by Target from August 2018 through June 2019 and on Jetson’s website from January 2019 through November 2021. If you have an affected unit, you can contact Jetson through the instructions on the CPSC’s notice or on Jetson’s website, which includes pictures that could help you identify if you have one of the recalled models.
Other Jetson hoverboard models are not part of the recall, and are still on sale.
The Jetson Rogue. | Image: Jetson
Another hoverboard is being recalled due to fire risk. According to a notice on the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) website, the 42-volt Jetson Rogue is being recalled because the lithium-ion battery packs in the hoverboards can overheat.
A fire marshal in Pennsylvania determined that a Jetson Rogue was the point of origin for a fire that killed two children, the CPSC’s notice says. The parents of the children are suing Jetson and Target, where they say they purchased the hoverboard, alleging the two companies should have known of the risk of fire-related injuries due to the design of the Jetson Rogue. (The parents originally sued Walmart, but amended their complaint to sue Target.)
The CPSC also says that “there have been multiple other reports of the recalled scooters / hoverboards burning, sparking or melting, several of which involved reports of flames.” Both the CPSC and Jetson are urging customers to stop using and charging their Jetson Rogues and to get in touch with Jetson for a refund.
There have been a lot of reports of hoverboards catching fire or even exploding over the years, and the CPSC has issued large hoverboard recalls in the past due to fire risk. UL does offer a safety certification program for hoverboards, but although the affected Jetson Rogues were UL certified (you can see the badge in the hoverboard’s manual), they are still being recalled.
The Rogue recall affects about 53,000 units for hoverboards sold by Target from August 2018 through June 2019 and on Jetson’s website from January 2019 through November 2021. If you have an affected unit, you can contact Jetson through the instructions on the CPSC’s notice or on Jetson’s website, which includes pictures that could help you identify if you have one of the recalled models.
Other Jetson hoverboard models are not part of the recall, and are still on sale.
Deadly fungal outbreak in Wisconsin linked to neighborhood construction
The outbreak centered around a one-mile area where the fungus wasn’t known to lurk.
Enlarge / This micrograph shows the presence of the fungal agent Blastomyces dermatitidis, 1978. (credit: Getty | CDC/Dr. Libero Ajello)
Toxic fungal spores wafting around a Wisconsin neighborhood—possibly spread by recent construction in the area—sparked an outbreak of rare infections that left one person dead, state health officials reported Friday in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
In all, the outbreak cluster included five pet dogs and four people, with the onset of symptoms spanning from October 2021 to February 2022. While two of the cases in people were mild, the other two required hospitalization, including the fatal case. The five dogs were reported to have mild to moderate cases.
The outbreak was caused by the poorly understood fungus Blastomyces (B. dermatitidis and B. gilchristii), which lurks in moist soil and decomposing organic matter, such as wood and leaves, often near water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the fungus could exist throughout the eastern US, but its distribution is uneven. It’s often found around the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys and the Great Lakes. Parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota are considered hotspots.