Business & Technology
Former Sequoia Capital managing partner joins SpaceX board of directors
Roelof Botha, former managing partner of Sequoia Capital, has been appointed to SpaceX's board shortly after the company's record-breaking initial public offering.
TechCrunch · 18 Jun, 00:22
Amazon and QuEra Promise Useful Quantum Error Correction by 2028
Amazon and QuEra announced plans to deliver the Libra quantum computer with a million operations and error correction by 2028. Meanwhile, Quantinuum published detailed Helios specifications, and a quantum advantage claim was reduced from 3000x to 36x by improved classical algorithms.
Ars Technica · 18 Jun, 00:22
VSCO launches Studio Pro mobile photo editing app and plans $500 per year subscription
VSCO has launched Studio Pro, a new photo editing app for iOS and soon macOS, and announced a $500 per year VSCO One subscription to compete with Adobe.
The Verge · 18 Jun, 00:21
ChatGPT now has a hub for scheduled tasks
OpenAI has rolled out an update that gives ChatGPT users a new page to manage scheduled tasks, making them faster and more reliable.
Engadget · 18 Jun, 00:21
Vivatech 2026: Artificial Intelligence Rebuilding Business Models
At Europe's largest startup and innovation event Vivatech 2026, the focus is on AI's role in business and daily life. AWS Vice President Julia White unveiled the company's new AI shopping assistant and discussed AI's impact on jobs and women in leadership in Silicon Valley.
France 24 · 18 Jun, 00:21
Epic Games Details Generative AI Integration in Unreal Engine
Epic Games unveiled new generative AI tools for Unreal Engine, including an experimental MCP plugin to connect AI models like Claude and Gemini, while previewing Unreal Engine 6 with deeper AI integration.
Engadget · 17 Jun, 23:20
NEA Partner Tiffany Luck: Enterprises Still Figuring Out AI ROI
NEA partner Tiffany Luck discusses how the initial AI hype has led to overspending, with companies like Uber blowing their annual AI budget in months, and startups now helping enterprises track return on AI investment.
TechCrunch AI · 17 Jun, 23:20
NEA’s Tiffany Luck says enterprises are still figuring out their AI ROI
NEA partner Tiffany Luck joined TechCrunch’s Equity podcast to discuss how companies are grappling with AI costs and returns after the 'tokenmaxxing' trend led to overspending.
TechCrunch · 17 Jun, 23:20
Anthropic Improves Claude Design Integration with Its Coding Agent Claude Code
Anthropic has rolled out a major update to Claude Design, enhancing its collaboration with Claude Code and improving user experience.
Engadget · 17 Jun, 22:22
World leaders want American AI, but fear US can turn it off
At the G7 summit, French President Macron and Indian PM Modi voiced concerns that the US could cut off access to top AI models at any time, especially after the Trump administration blocked Anthropic's latest models on national security grounds.
TechCrunch · 17 Jun, 22:21
World leaders fear US can 'switch off' access to top AI models
At the G7 summit, leaders expressed concerns that the US could cut off access to advanced AI models, risking economic harm and digital sovereignty.
TechCrunch AI · 17 Jun, 22:21
Epic Games plans to let Fortnite skins work in other games with Unreal Engine 6
Epic Games announced that with Unreal Engine 6, developers can make games that use players' Fortnite skins and vice versa, aiming for an interoperable metaverse. However, adoption is not guaranteed, and the company faces challenges including layoffs and backlash over AI use.
The Verge · 17 Jun, 22:21
World model maker Odyssey raises $310M, hits $1.45B valuation with Amazon and others
Odyssey, an AI startup focused on world models, has secured $310 million in Series B funding at a $1.45 billion valuation, with participation from Amazon, AMD Ventures, GV, and others.
TechCrunch AI · 17 Jun, 21:21
World model maker Odyssey nabs $1.45B valuation backed by Amazon and other big names
AI startup Odyssey, which builds world models, has raised a $310 million Series B at a $1.45 billion valuation. The round was led by Natural Capital with participation from Amazon, AMD Ventures, and others.
TechCrunch · 17 Jun, 21:21
White House Demands Anthropic Block All AI Jailbreaks, But Experts Say It May Be Impossible
The Trump administration is pushing Anthropic to fix vulnerabilities in its Claude Fable 5 AI model, but security experts argue that completely preventing jailbreaks may not be feasible.
Wired · 17 Jun, 20:21
Pew Study: Only 16% of Americans Think AI Will Have a Positive Impact on Society
A new Pew Research study reveals that most Americans are skeptical about artificial intelligence, with only 16% expecting a positive impact over the next 20 years. Meanwhile, daily use of AI tools, especially ChatGPT, is growing.
TechCrunch AI · 17 Jun, 20:20
SanDisk's New 8TB PS5 SSD Costs More Than Three Times the Price of a PS5 Pro
SanDisk launched the Optimus GX Pro 850P NVMe SSD, with the 8TB version priced at $2,960 – over triple the cost of a PS5 Pro, highlighting the ongoing global memory crisis.
Engadget · 17 Jun, 20:20
Fuel trade restrictions introduced in more than 50 Russian regions
More than 50 regions of Russia and occupied territories have imposed restrictions on fuel trade, according to a compilation by independent media.
LSM · 17 Jun, 20:20
Rockstar will offer free GTA 5 upgrades from older console and PC versions
Starting June 18, owners of Grand Theft Auto V on PS4 and Xbox One can upgrade to the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S version for free, while PC players get a free upgrade to the Enhanced edition.
Engadget · 17 Jun, 19:21
Warsaw's Microamp secures €6.5 million EU funding for next-gen 5G and 6G platform
Polish company Microamp has received €6.5 million from the European Innovation Council to develop its Any-G mmWave AI-RAN wireless platform, aiming to bolster European sovereignty in 5G and 6G network technology.
EU-Startups · 17 Jun, 19:21
PayPal Ventures shutters as company restructuring continues
PayPal is closing its corporate venture arm PayPal Ventures, which made over 80 investments since 2016, as part of ongoing restructuring under new CEO Enrique Lores.
TechCrunch · 17 Jun, 19:21
Snap's Specs Glasses: High-Fashion Accessory That Most Will Find Awkward to Wear
Snap has unveiled its new Specs smart glasses priced at $2,195, positioning them as a high-fashion tech accessory. However, their heavy build and visible display raise questions about everyday wearability.
The Verge · 17 Jun, 19:20
Startup XDOF Raises $70M to Solve Robot Training Data Shortage
XDOF, a startup building data pipelines and annotation systems for robot training, has raised $70 million from top investors to address the critical lack of physical interaction data needed to teach robots real-world tasks.
TechCrunch AI · 17 Jun, 18:21
Maximize Your Savings: Expert Tips for Amazon Prime Day 2026 Deals
Amazon's Prime Day 2026 runs June 23–27. Use price trackers like CamelCamelCamel, Keepa, and Slickdeals, plus Alexa and app alerts, to catch the best deals. Also check competitors Walmart, Target, and Best Buy.
The Verge · 17 Jun, 17:21
No bosses, no problem: Inside the Danish firm that manages itself
Clever, Denmark's leading EV charging operator, has abolished all management hierarchies. Employees work in self-managed teams and make decisions collectively, with no bosses or job titles containing 'manager'.
Euronews Business · 17 Jun, 17:21
Pramaana Labs raises $27M seed round from Khosla Ventures to bring formal verification to AI
Pramaana Labs has raised $27 million in seed funding to develop AI systems that combine large language models with formal verification, focusing on sensitive domains like law, drug discovery, and tax preparation.
TechCrunch AI · 17 Jun, 17:20
Google Unveils New Home Speaker with Gemini Assistant – Preorders Start June 17
Google has released its first new smart speaker in six years, the Google Home Speaker, powered by the Gemini assistant. Preorders begin June 17 and sales start June 25, priced at $100.
Wired · 17 Jun, 16:21
Jackery announces 'world's slimmest' fridge battery
Jackery unveils the FridgeGuard, a slim backup battery designed to keep refrigerators running during power outages.
The Verge · 17 Jun, 16:21
Google Home speaker with Gemini integration now available for pre-order at $100
Google has started taking pre-orders for its new Google Home speaker, featuring 360-degree audio, Gemini voice assistant, and multiple subscription tiers. Official sales begin June 25.
Engadget · 17 Jun, 16:21
Russia moves to phase out Visa and Mastercard
Russia's National Payment Card System (NSPK) plans to cut interchange fees for Visa and Mastercard to zero, making it unprofitable for Russian banks to continue issuing these cards.
Meduza · 17 Jun, 16:20
€15 Million Pet Food Production Plant to Open in Ventspils
Company "Pet Science Develop" will open a wet pet food production plant in the port of Ventspils on Friday, June 19, with an investment of approximately €15 million.
LSM · 17 Jun, 14:20
Fishtank – The Unhinged Future of Reality TV: Violence, Interaction, and a Police Raid
Fishtank Live is an unedited, 24/7 reality show where viewers interact with contestants, featuring extreme violence and drug use. It has attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers and corporate sponsors.
Wired · 17 Jun, 13:21
Riga Begins Developing New 25-Year City Development Strategy
Riga City Council has launched the process of creating a development strategy for the next 25 years, with key priorities being business growth and population increase.
Dienas Bizness · 17 Jun, 12:21
SpaceX overtakes Amazon to become the world's fifth most valuable company
SpaceX's stock market debut has been record-breaking, with a market capitalisation of $2.65 trillion, making it the fifth most valuable company globally, surpassing Amazon.
Euronews Business · 17 Jun, 12:21
Lithuanian drone tech startup PDKINEMATICS raises €2 million for precision guidance systems
Lithuanian defence engineering company PDKINEMATICS has secured €2 million in seed funding to scale manufacturing and deploy precision guidance systems for UAVs across Europe and Ukraine.
EU-Startups · 17 Jun, 12:21
EU Prepares Trade Benefits for Armenia in Response to Russian Import Restrictions
The European Commission is developing emergency measures to support Armenia's economy, including tariff reductions on most of the product categories banned by Russia.
ERR (rus) · 17 Jun, 12:20