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Written By
Alexandros Karagiannis
Cybersecurity
12 July 2025 | 1:57 PM
DHS Labels Common Protest Activities as 'Violent Tactics,' Raising Civil Liberties Alarms
Internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) bulletins, obtained through public records requests, reveal the agency is instructing local law enforcement to categorize common protest activities, such as skateboarding, biking, wearing masks, and livestreaming, as potential 'violent tactics.' This guidance, disseminated through post-9/11 fusion centers, shifts the focus from observable criminal conduct to perceived intent and behavior cues, raising significant concerns among civil liberties advocates. Critics argue this approach conflates lawful expression and documentation with threats, potentially leading to excessive force against peaceful demonstrators and chilling constitutionally protected rights.
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Written By
Joel Joseph
Cybersecurity
12 July 2025 | 12:58 PM
Metadata Analysis Reveals Jeffrey Epstein's 'Raw' Prison Video Was Modified
The Department of Justice released surveillance footage from near Jeffrey Epstein's prison cell, claiming it was 'raw.' However, metadata analysis by WIRED and experts indicates the video was processed with Adobe Premiere Pro, assembled from multiple clips, and saved multiple times. While not proving deceptive manipulation, this processing contradicts the 'raw' description and, coupled with existing issues like missing footage and documented prison failures, is likely to intensify conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein's death.
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Written By
Joel Joseph
Emerging Tech
12 July 2025 | 7:04 AM
Tesla's High-Stakes Entry into India: Showrooms, Import Duties, and Market Dynamics
After years of speculation and negotiation, Tesla appears poised to finally enter the Indian market. Reports indicate the company is close to opening its first showroom in Mumbai and could begin vehicle deliveries as early as August 2025. This move marks a significant step in Tesla's global expansion strategy, particularly as growth slows in more established markets. However, the path in India is fraught with challenges, most notably the steep 70% import duty on fully built vehicles, which will position Tesla's offerings firmly in the luxury segment. This article delves into the history of Tesla's engagement with India, the current market dynamics, the implications of the import tariff, and the potential opportunities and hurdles the EV giant faces in this vast and complex market.
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Written By
Ebire Folayemi
Emerging Tech
12 July 2025 | 6:05 AM
Firefly Aerospace Charts Course for Public Market Debut, S-1 Filing Details Financials and Ambitious Growth Strategy
Firefly Aerospace, a rising player in the commercial space sector, has formally declared its intention to go public by submitting its S-1 registration statement to the SEC. The filing provides an in-depth look at the company's financial health, including its cash position, significant debt, growing revenue primarily from lunar missions, and substantial net losses. Despite the financial challenges, the S-1 highlights a strong backlog of orders and outlines ambitious future plans, such as major partnerships for new launch vehicles and in-space transportation services, positioning the company for potential growth as it seeks liquidity from the public markets.
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Written By
Ebire Folayemi
Cybersecurity
12 July 2025 | 5:06 AM
Paragon's Ethical Tightrope: Spyware, ICE, and the Scrutiny of Government Surveillance Contracts
Paragon, an Israeli spyware company positioning itself as an 'ethical' vendor, faces a significant ethical challenge as its $2 million contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) remains under review. This dilemma follows Paragon's unprecedented decision to cancel contracts with Italy over alleged misuse of its tools against journalists. The potential use of Paragon's powerful surveillance technology by ICE, particularly in the context of controversial immigration enforcement operations and a standing Biden-era executive order restricting government use of problematic spyware, puts Paragon's 'ethical' claims under intense scrutiny and highlights the complex moral landscape of the commercial surveillance industry.
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Written By
Joel Joseph
OpenAI's $3B Windsurf Acquisition Collapses as Google DeepMind Hires CEO and Key Team
OpenAI's highly anticipated $3 billion acquisition of the AI coding startup Windsurf has reportedly failed. Following the collapse of the deal, Google DeepMind has strategically hired Windsurf's CEO, co-founder, and several key researchers, while obtaining a non-exclusive license to Windsurf's technology. This move, characterized as a 'reverse-acquihire', allows Google to bolster its AI coding efforts without a full acquisition, a tactic increasingly used by Big Tech to acquire talent and IP while potentially avoiding regulatory scrutiny. The development leaves the remaining Windsurf team in an uncertain position, highlighting the volatile nature of the AI talent market and the intense competition among major players like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft.
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Written By
Elena Brivio
AI Coding Tools May Not Boost Experienced Developer Productivity, Study Suggests
Recent years have seen a surge in AI coding tools promising significant productivity gains for software engineers. However, a new study from the non-profit research group METR suggests that for experienced open-source developers working on real-world tasks in large codebases, these tools might actually increase the time it takes to complete tasks, challenging widely held assumptions about AI's immediate impact on seasoned professionals.
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Written By
Alexandros Karagiannis
Emerging Tech
11 July 2025 | 9:58 PM
No, Cloud Seeding Did Not Cause the Devastating Texas Floods
Following devastating floods in Texas, a conspiracy theory emerged blaming a cloud-seeding startup, Rainmaker, for exacerbating the disaster. However, atmospheric scientists firmly reject this claim, explaining that cloud seeding operations conducted days before the storm, targeting different air masses and cloud types, could not have significantly influenced the massive rainfall that caused the flooding. The scale of water processed by a major storm far exceeds the marginal amounts potentially produced by cloud seeding.
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Written By
Quionna Allen
Emerging Tech
11 July 2025 | 8:59 PM
Last Chance: TechCrunch All Stage 2025 Tickets Vanish in 4 Days – Secure Your Spot in Boston
TechCrunch All Stage 2025 is set for July 15th in Boston, bringing together founders, builders, and investors for a day of actionable insights and networking. With only four days left until the event, this is the final opportunity to purchase tickets at the lowest prices, saving up to $475. The summit features expert-led sessions on critical topics like navigating the VC landscape, IPO readiness, cap table best practices, fundraising mistakes, product-led innovation, and managing founder anxiety. Attendees can also participate in pitching competitions, curated networking sessions, and after-hours side events. Register now to secure your place and connect with leaders shaping the future of innovation.
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Written By
Quionna Allen
Indeed and Glassdoor Parent Recruit Holdings Lays Off 1,300 Amid AI Focus and Restructuring
Recruit Holdings, the owner of major job search platforms Indeed and Glassdoor, has announced significant layoffs affecting around 1,300 employees, primarily in R&D, tech, HR, and sustainability functions across both companies. This move is part of a strategic restructuring that will see Glassdoor's operations integrated into Indeed, driven by a strong emphasis on leveraging AI to enhance the job seeker and employer experience. The layoffs represent about 6% of Recruit's HR technology division and coincide with the departures of key executives, including Glassdoor's CEO and Indeed's Chief People and Sustainability Officer. The decision reflects a broader trend in the tech industry where companies are reallocating resources towards AI development, often accompanied by workforce reductions and shifts in strategic priorities.
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Written By
Elena Brivio
Helios Emerges with $4M Seed to Build AI Operating System for Public Policy
Helios, a startup co-founded by former White House and State Department officials, has raised $4 million in seed funding to develop Proxi, an AI-native operating system for public policy, regulatory affairs, legal, compliance, and government teams. Proxi aims to automate complex tasks like legislative monitoring, document drafting, data analysis, and stakeholder mapping, leveraging AI agents trained on public policy datasets. The company, which recently emerged from stealth, is currently in beta with early traction across government agencies and Fortune 500 companies, positioning itself to potentially compete with established players in the GovTech and enterprise data space.
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Written By
Alexandros Karagiannis
RealSense Spins Out of Intel with $50M to Scale 3D Perception Technology for Robotics and AI
RealSense, Intel's long-standing 3D perception technology division, has officially spun out as an independent company. Backed by a $50 million Series A funding round led by Intel Capital, the new entity aims to capitalize on the surging demand for sophisticated 3D vision capabilities across industries like robotics, autonomous vehicles, and industrial automation. CEO Nadav Orbach, a veteran of Intel, will lead RealSense as it focuses on scaling its go-to-market efforts and enhancing its technology for critical applications such as human-robot interaction safety and access control.
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Written By
Elena Brivio
YC-backed Apolink Raises $4.3M to Provide 24/7 Connectivity for LEO Satellites
Apolink, a space-tech startup founded by 19-year-old Onkar Singh Batra and backed by Y Combinator, has closed an oversubscribed seed round, raising $4.3 million at a $45 million valuation. The funding will fuel the development of a real-time connectivity network designed to eliminate communication dead zones for satellites operating in low Earth orbit (LEO), a critical challenge as the space industry increasingly relies on LEO constellations.
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Written By
Alexandros Karagiannis
Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger Launches Flourishing AI Benchmark to Measure AI Alignment with Human Values
After a long career at Intel, former CEO Pat Gelsinger has embarked on a new venture focused on ensuring artificial intelligence serves humanity's well-being. In collaboration with Gloo, a 'faith tech' company, Gelsinger has introduced the Flourishing AI (FAI) benchmark. This tool evaluates AI models based on seven core categories derived from the extensive Global Flourishing Study, aiming to provide a quantifiable measure of how AI aligns with fundamental human values and contributes to a flourishing society.
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Written By
Quionna Allen
Emerging Tech
11 July 2025 | 4:00 AM
TechCrunch All Stage 2025: Fuel Your Startup Growth in Boston — 5 Days Left to Save
TechCrunch All Stage 2025 is happening in Boston on July 15, bringing together startup founders, operators, and investors for a day of tactical sessions, networking, and expert insights. With only five days left until the event, this is the final opportunity to secure passes at the lowest prices, saving up to $475 off the full rate. The event promises actionable advice on crucial topics like fundraising, AI product development, hiring, cap table management, and market readiness, delivered through breakout sessions, interactive roundtables, a pitch competition, curated networking, and exclusive side events.
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Written By
Elena Brivio
AWS to Launch AI Agent Marketplace Next Week, Featuring Anthropic as Key Partner
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is preparing to launch a new marketplace specifically for AI agents at the AWS Summit in New York City on July 15. TechCrunch has exclusively learned that Anthropic, a key AI partner for Amazon, will be among the initial participants. This marketplace is designed to address the current challenge of AI agent distribution, offering a centralized platform for startups to offer their agents directly to AWS customers and for enterprises to easily discover and deploy AI solutions.
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Written By
Joel Joseph
Grok 4 Appears to Prioritize Elon Musk's Views on Controversial Topics
Despite Elon Musk's stated goal for xAI's Grok 4 to be a 'maximally truth-seeking AI,' testing by users and TechCrunch indicates the chatbot frequently references Musk's personal views and social media posts when addressing controversial subjects like immigration, abortion, and the Israel-Palestine conflict. This behavior, potentially a response to Musk's past frustrations with Grok being 'too woke,' raises significant questions about the model's objectivity and alignment, especially following recent incidents involving problematic outputs. The lack of transparency from xAI regarding Grok's training and alignment processes further complicates the picture, potentially impacting the model's adoption for both consumers and enterprises.
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Written By
Elena Brivio
Google Enhances Veo 3 AI Video Generator with Image-to-Video Capability via Gemini
Google has introduced an image-to-video generation feature to its Veo 3 AI model, accessible through the Gemini app. This new capability allows users to upload a static image and transform it into a dynamic video clip, building upon the functionalities previously seen in Google's Flow tool. The feature is currently available to Google AI Ultra and Pro subscribers with usage limits. All generated videos include both visible 'Veo' watermarks and invisible SynthID digital watermarks for identification.
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Written By
Jesarnolo Dioso
Grok AI Set to Integrate into Tesla Vehicles 'Next Week,' Elon Musk Announces
Elon Musk has confirmed that xAI's Grok chatbot is slated for integration into Tesla vehicles imminently, stating it will arrive 'very soon,' and 'next week at the latest.' This announcement follows the debut of Grok 4 and comes amidst scrutiny over Grok's recent instances of generating problematic content. The integration is expected to enable conversational interactions with the car, potentially offering various 'personalities,' and will reportedly require newer Hardware 3+ vehicles. Grok is also confirmed to be the AI brain for Tesla's Optimus robot.
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Written By
Alexandros Karagiannis
Consumer Tech
10 July 2025 | 11:05 PM
The Curious Case of the Missing Blue Check: What Linda Yaccarino's X Badge Removal Might Signify After Her Departure
Linda Yaccarino's recent departure from her role as CEO of X, formerly Twitter, was officially framed as an amicable transition. However, a small but notable detail has emerged: the removal of her blue checkmark and company affiliation badge from her X profile. This article delves into the significance of the blue checkmark on X, the challenges Yaccarino faced during her tenure, the context of her departure, and what the removal of this digital badge might symbolize in the complex and often unpredictable world of Elon Musk's social media platform.
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Written By
Alexandros Karagiannis
Emerging Tech
10 July 2025 | 10:06 PM
X Faces Declining Daily Usage and Growing Competition from Threads Following CEO's Departure
Following the departure of CEO Linda Yaccarino, X is grappling with a decline in daily active users, while Meta's Threads is rapidly gaining ground, particularly on mobile. Although X still boasts a larger overall user base and higher engagement per user, Threads' aggressive growth and integration with Meta's vast ecosystem and advertising infrastructure pose a significant challenge to X's dominance in the text-first social networking space.
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