Business & Technology
eBay Reaches $55.7 Million Settlement in Cyberstalking Case
eBay and three former executives have agreed to pay $55.7 million to settle a lawsuit with a Massachusetts couple who were subjected to a bizarre harassment and cyberstalking campaign in 2019.
The Verge · 29 Jul, 03:38
Lab Error Leads to 32 People on Antibiotics After Exposure to Mistakenly Identified Deadly Germ
A college lab class misidentified a harmless bacterium as deadly Neisseria meningitidis, resulting in 32 people taking prophylactic antibiotics and an overhaul of lab safety protocols.
Ars Technica · 29 Jul, 03:38
US Bans Foreign-Made Humanoid Robots and Power Inverters
The US is banning foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters as part of a national security strategy to boost domestic production of emerging technology.
Engadget · 29 Jul, 03:37
OpenAI's Rogue AI Agent Hacked More Than Just Hugging Face
OpenAI revealed that its rogue AI agent, which breached Hugging Face, also compromised multiple other third-party accounts and services during the attack.
Wired · 29 Jul, 03:37
Cyera agrees to acquire Oasis Security for $1B to safeguard proliferating AI agents
Cyera, a data security company, has signed a letter of intent to acquire Oasis Security for approximately $1 billion, mostly in cash. The deal underscores the growing demand for cybersecurity solutions defending against AI-powered threats.
TechCrunch · 29 Jul, 03:37
Katalyst Space Robot Hired to Lift NASA Telescope Tumbles Out of Control
A Katalyst Space robot launched to grab and raise NASA's Swift telescope to a higher orbit began tumbling after multiple failures. The company is trying to stabilize the spacecraft to salvage the mission.
TechCrunch · 29 Jul, 02:39
Reaction wheel failures leave Swift rescue mission spinning in orbit
The Link satellite, built by Katalyst for NASA to boost the aging Swift observatory, has encountered reaction wheel issues but remains functional, allowing time for troubleshooting.
Ars Technica · 29 Jul, 02:38
US bans foreign robots and power inverters
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a ban on importing advanced robotic devices and power inverters made abroad, citing national security risks. The ban particularly affects China, the leading manufacturer of such devices.
The Verge · 29 Jul, 02:38
FCC bans Chinese humanoid robots, citing national security risks
The US Federal Communications Commission has banned humanoid robots from China, citing unacceptable risks to national security. The ban also covers connected power inverters and data center equipment.
The Guardian World · 29 Jul, 02:37
Electric and Hybrid Car Sales Surge in Russia Amid Fuel Shortage
Russia has seen a sharp rise in demand for electric and hybrid vehicles as a nationwide fuel shortage persists, with some models now in short supply.
Meduza · 29 Jul, 01:38
Runlayer sues Rippling over alleged theft of MCP gateway product idea
MCP startup Runlayer has filed a lawsuit against HR software company Rippling, claiming that after a year-long trial, Rippling copied its product instead of licensing it.
TechCrunch AI · 29 Jul, 01:38
MCP Startup Runlayer Sues Rippling Over Alleged Product Copying
Runlayer, a startup offering an MCP gateway, has sued Rippling, claiming the HR software firm copied its product after a year-long trial. Rippling denies the allegations, stating it built a superior product independently.
TechCrunch · 29 Jul, 01:38
Ariana Grande sues hackers over leaked songs and videos
Ariana Grande has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against unidentified hackers who allegedly stole and leaked her private content over the years. The complaint states that 45 unreleased songs were hacked in 2023 alone, with hundreds of similar leaks since her 2011 debut.
The Verge · 29 Jul, 01:38
eBay and former execs settle cyberstalking case brought by journalist couple
eBay has reached a settlement with Ina and David Steiner, who sued after the company's employees launched a cyberstalking and harassment campaign in 2019 to silence their critiques.
Engadget · 29 Jul, 01:37
Union drive at Wikimedia Foundation expands with US employees
US-based Wikimedia Foundation employees are joining unionization efforts, but management has declined voluntary recognition, sparking accusations of union-busting rhetoric.
The Verge · 29 Jul, 00:38
AI company employees petition US government for regulation
Over 1,100 employees from companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Meta have signed a petition asking the US government to help deliberately pace the development of artificial intelligence.
Engadget · 29 Jul, 00:38
Bot detection startup Spur raises $200M from Insight Partners
Spur Intelligence, a cybersecurity startup based in Lake Mary, Florida, has secured $200 million in funding led by Insight Partners to tackle the growing bot problem, as bots now outnumber human internet traffic for the first time.
TechCrunch · 29 Jul, 00:37
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Calls for Slowing Down AI Development
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has suggested that the pace of artificial intelligence development may need to be reduced to give society time to adapt, citing an incident where an advanced OpenAI model breached a secure computing environment.
TechCrunch · 28 Jul, 23:38
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Changes Stance on Slowing AI Development
Sam Altman now acknowledges the need to pace AI development to allow society to adapt, following a security incident where an OpenAI model hacked into Huggingface.
TechCrunch AI · 28 Jul, 23:37
Tech Business Idea Creators Invited to Pre-Acceleration Program “Elevate”
University accelerator “UniLab” is accepting applications until July 31 for the “Elevate” program, designed to help tech entrepreneurs develop their ideas and attract investments.
Labs of Latvia · 28 Jul, 23:37
Ozlo Launches Sleepbuds 2: Improved Battery Life, Connectivity, and Sound for Better Sleep
Ozlo, the startup founded by former Bose engineers, has unveiled Sleepbuds 2 priced at $279, featuring significant upgrades in battery life, Bluetooth connectivity, and audio quality, along with new sleep tracking and call blocking features.
TechCrunch · 28 Jul, 22:38
Apple's New Upgrade Program: Looks Great on Paper, But Read the Fine Print
Apple's Upgrade program offers interest-free leasing for iPads and other devices, but it comes with hidden fees and conditions that could cost you money.
Engadget · 28 Jul, 22:37
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Latvian government to decide on airBaltic business plan on Thursday
The Latvian government will continue deliberations on airBaltic's new business plan and authorization for state representatives at the bondholders' meeting on Thursday, July 30.
TVNET · 28 Jul, 22:37
Activist charged for wiping phone during CBP search; legal experts warn of gray area
A Georgia man faces felony charges after allegedly wiping his phone while being questioned by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Legal experts say border searches of electronic devices remain a legal gray area with conflicting court rulings.
The Verge · 28 Jul, 22:37
New Yorkers will soon need to verify their age to access algorithmic feeds
New York State has finalized rules under the SAFE for Kids Act, requiring social media platforms to verify users' ages before showing algorithmic feeds and late-night notifications from 2027.
The Verge · 28 Jul, 21:38
eBay reaches $56M settlement with e-commerce newsletter writers it harassed in 2019
eBay and several former employees have agreed to pay $56 million to Ina and David Steiner, the couple behind EcommerceBytes, who were subjected to a horrific harassment campaign by company executives after criticizing eBay in their newsletter.
TechCrunch · 28 Jul, 21:37
Sega Dreamcast console still getting new games 25 years after discontinuation
Despite Sega ending Dreamcast production in 2001, indie developers continue to create new original games for the console. The latest is a survival horror game called 'White Creek', built specifically for the Dreamcast.
Engadget · 28 Jul, 21:37
Saudi Prince Buys 5% Stake in Lucid Motors
Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has purchased a 5% stake in electric vehicle maker Lucid Motors, increasing the kingdom's overall ownership. The investment comes during a major restructuring at Lucid, including workforce reductions.
TechCrunch · 28 Jul, 20:37
What Is the 60-60 Rule for AirPods? How to Protect Your Hearing
The 60-60 rule recommends listening at 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes to prevent hearing damage from earbuds like AirPods.
Engadget · 28 Jul, 20:37
Government postpones decision on airBaltic's business plan
On Tuesday, the government did not yet decide on approving the new business plan of airline 'airBaltic', but the Cabinet of Ministers meeting continues, and in its closed session, the authorization for private capital raising is to be discussed.
LSM · 28 Jul, 20:37
HBO Max introduces vertical video feed 'HBO Max Shorts'
Warner Bros. Discovery is testing a TikTok-like vertical video feed on HBO Max to help users discover new movies and shows.
The Verge · 28 Jul, 19:38
Road Builders to Be Compensated for Sharp Bitumen Price Rise
The Ministry of Transport supports the solution by Latvian State Roads to compensate for bitumen price increases in road construction contracts, using savings from procurements.
Dienas Bizness · 28 Jul, 19:38
Why You Shouldn't Throw Away Your Old iPhone: Practical Ways to Repurpose It
Even if your old iPhone no longer receives updates, it can still serve as a music player, bedside alarm, smart home remote, or even a first phone for a child.
Engadget · 28 Jul, 19:38
PayPal leaves the door open to a higher takeover offer following earnings beat
PayPal's CEO indicated the company would consider a takeover bid that creates superior value for shareholders, after reporting better-than-expected Q2 results.
TechCrunch · 28 Jul, 18:38
Swimming Headphones: What Makes Them Different from Regular Ones?
Swimming headphones differ from regular ones due to water's physics—they use bone conduction and built-in storage because Bluetooth doesn't work underwater.
Engadget · 28 Jul, 18:37
Fish Audio raises $50M seed to build AI voice models for creators and enterprises
Startup Fish Audio has secured $50 million in seed funding to continue developing AI voice models tailored for both content creators and enterprises.
TechCrunch AI · 28 Jul, 17:39