AI Funding
AI funding and startup moves
Short cards on AI funding, startups, acquisitions, and business moves that reveal where AI is heading.
AI NewsMicrosoft launches its first cybersecurity model, plus a new agentic cybersecurity system
Microsoft bolstered its AI cybersecurity offerings this week with the launch of its first AI security model and a new security platform. TechCrunch Desktop Logo TechCrunch Mobile Logo Latest Startups Venture Apple Security AI Apps Disrupt 2026 Events Podcasts Newsletters Search Submit Site Search Toggle Mega Menu Toggle Topics Latest AI Amazon Apps Biotech & Health Climate Cloud Computing Comm
AI NewsMicrosoft launches its first cybersecurity model, plus a new agentic cybersecurity system
Microsoft bolstered its AI cybersecurity offerings this week with the launch of its first AI security model and a new security platform. TechCrunch Desktop Logo TechCrunch Mobile Logo Latest Startups Venture Apple Security AI Apps Disrupt 2026 Events Podcasts Newsletters Search Submit Site Search Toggle Mega Menu Toggle Topics Latest AI Amazon Apps Biotech & Health Climate Cloud Computing Comm
AI NewsThreads Users Can Now Chat with Meta AI in Their DMs
Meta has announced the rollout of its AI chatbot within Threads' direct messages, allowing users to seamlessly interact with the AI assistant. This integration aims to enhance user engagement and provide instant responses within the platform, positioning Threads to compete more effectively in the social media landscape.
AI NewsPSA: Your Claude shared chats and Artifacts may have ended up on Google
The issue appears to have originated from Claude’s “share chat” feature, which allows users to create links that enable anyone with the assigned URL view a conversation or project. TechCrunch Desktop Logo TechCrunch Mobile Logo Latest Startups Venture Apple Security AI Apps Disrupt 2026 Events Podcasts Newsletters Search Submit Site Search Toggle Mega Menu Toggle Topics Latest AI Amazon Apps Biote
AI NewsWhat Happens When AI Starts Building Itself?
Richard Socher's new startup aims to create an AI capable of self-improvement through research and development. With a funding of $650 million, this initiative signals a significant turn in the tech landscape, potentially resulting in AI systems that evolve and enhance themselves over time.
AI NewsClawdmeter turns your Claude Code usage stats into a tiny desktop dashboard
A new open source gadget called Clawdmeter turns Claude Code usage stats into a tiny desktop dashboard for AI coding power users. TechCrunch Desktop Logo TechCrunch Mobile Logo Latest Startups Venture Apple Security AI Apps Events Podcasts Newsletters Search Submit Site Search Toggle Mega Menu Toggle Topics Latest AI Amazon Apps Biotech & Health Climate Cloud Computing Commerce Crypto Enterpri
AI NewsCisco cuts nearly 4,000 jobs to spend more on AI, reports ‘record quarterly revenue’
This is Cisco's latest layoff in recent years, while the company's chief executive touts record revenue and growth. TechCrunch Desktop Logo TechCrunch Mobile Logo Latest Startups Venture Apple Security AI Apps Events Podcasts Newsletters Search Submit Site Search Toggle Mega Menu Toggle Topics Latest AI Amazon Apps Biotech & Health Climate Cloud Computing Commerce Crypto Enterprise E
AI NewsKhosla Ventures Invests $10M in Ian Crosby’s New AI Startup Synthetic
Khosla Ventures is making a significant investment of $10 million in Ian Crosby's new venture, Synthetic, which aims to provide fully autonomous AI bookkeeping services for startups. This move follows Crosby's previous experience with his first startup, Bench, which unfortunately did not succeed.
AI NewsWirestock raises $23M to supply creative multimodal data to AI labs
Wirestock has pivoted to focus on supplying multimodal data, raising $23 million to provide AI labs with datasets ranging from images and videos to design assets and 3D content. This funding highlights the growing demand for diverse data in AI development.
AI NewsGoogle adds Gemini-powered dictation to Gboard, which could be bad news for dictation startups
Google's transcription feature will initially launch with Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones. TechCrunch Desktop Logo TechCrunch Mobile Logo Latest Startups Venture Apple Security AI Apps Events Podcasts Newsletters Search Submit Site Search Toggle Mega Menu Toggle Topics Latest AI Amazon Apps Biotech & Health Climate Cloud Computing Commerce Crypto Enterprise EVs Fintech Fundraising
AI NewsReport: Google and SpaceX in talks to put data centers into orbit
Google and SpaceX are in talks to build data centers in orbit, pitching space as the future home for AI compute, even as costs today remain far higher than on the ground. TechCrunch Desktop Logo TechCrunch Mobile Logo Latest Startups Venture Apple Security AI Apps Events Podcasts Newsletters Search Submit Site Search Toggle Mega Menu Toggle Topics Latest AI Amazon Apps Biotech & Health Climate
AI NewsGoogle brings agentic AI and vibe-coded widgets to Android
Gemini Intelligence will also include Gboard based dictation and form filling capabilities TechCrunch Desktop Logo TechCrunch Mobile Logo Latest Startups Venture Apple Security AI Apps Events Podcasts Newsletters Search Submit Site Search Toggle Mega Menu Toggle Topics Latest AI Amazon Apps Biotech & Health Climate Cloud Computing Commerce Crypto Enterprise EVs Fintech Fundraising Gadgets Gami
AI NewsEverything Google announced at its Android Show, from Googlebooks to vibe-coded widgets
Google unveiled its new AI-first Googlebooks laptops, more agentic Gemini features, vibe-coded Android widgets, Gemini in Chrome, refreshed Android Auto, and more ahead of I/O. TechCrunch Desktop Logo TechCrunch Mobile Logo Latest Startups Venture Apple Security AI Apps Events Podcasts Newsletters Search Submit Site Search Toggle Mega Menu Toggle Topics Latest AI Amazon Apps Biotech & Health C
AI NewsThreads Tests a Meta AI Integration Similar to Grok
Meta is experimenting with an AI feature in Threads that provides real-time context on trends and breaking news. This integration will offer users recommendations directly within their conversations, aiming to enhance the social media experience by making it more informative.
AI NewsRiding an AI rally, Robinhood preps second retail venture IPO
Robinhood files confidentially for its second venture fund, this time targeting growth and early-stage startups. TechCrunch Desktop Logo TechCrunch Mobile Logo Latest Startups Venture Apple Security AI Apps Events Podcasts Newsletters Search Submit Site Search Toggle Mega Menu Toggle Topics Latest AI Amazon Apps Biotech & Health Climate Cloud Computing Commerce Crypto Enterprise EVs Fintech Fu
AI NewsAI Voice Startup Vapi Hits $500M Valuation After Winning Amazon Ring Over 40 Rivals
Vapi, an AI voice startup, has achieved a remarkable $500 million valuation after it secured a deal with Amazon Ring, outperforming over 40 competitors. The company's enterprise business has seen a tenfold increase since early 2025 as businesses increasingly rely on AI for customer support and sales.
AI NewsNvidia has committed $40B to equity AI deals this year
Nvidia has emerged as a major player in the AI investment landscape, committing approximately $40 billion to equity deals focused on artificial intelligence this year. This strong financial backing showcases Nvidia's belief in the potential of AI technologies and their applications across various sectors.
AI NewsVoice AI in India is hard. Wispr Flow is betting on it anyway.
Wispr Flow says growth accelerated in India after its Hinglish rollout, even as voice AI products continue to face challenges. TechCrunch Desktop Logo TechCrunch Mobile Logo Latest Startups Venture Apple Security AI Apps Events Podcasts Newsletters Search Submit Site Search Toggle Mega Menu Toggle Topics Latest AI Amazon Apps Biotech & Health Climate Cloud Computing Commerce Crypto Enterprise
AI NewsAI Boom Pushes Samsung to $1T
Samsung's valuation has surged past $1 trillion, driven by a growing demand for AI-enabled chips. This marks a significant milestone as Samsung becomes only the second Asian company, after TSMC, to achieve this valuation, highlighting the pivotal role of AI in the semiconductor industry.
AI NewsOpenAI launches new voice intelligence features in its API
The new features could be handy for customer service systems, but OpenAI says they have applications that work across a variety of other fields, including education and creator platforms. –:–:–:– The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. Register now.
AI NewsVoi founders new AI startup Pit has become the latest rising star out of Stockholm
AI startup Pit is led by the co-founders of European scooter giant Voi and backed by a16z, which is leading the startup’s $16 million seed round. –:–:–:– The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. Register now.
AI NewsPerplexity’s Personal Computer is now available to everyone on Mac
Perplexitys Personal Computer brings AI agents to your Mac, and is now open to everyone. –:–:–:– The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. Register now. This draft keeps the article's original framing intact so an admin can review the reporting, tighten the wording, and approve it only after checking that the emphasis still matches the
AI NewsFive architects of the AI economy explain where the wheels are coming off
Earlier this week, five people who touch every layer of the AI supply chain sat down at the Milken Global Conference in Beverly Hills, where they talked with TechCrunch about everything from chip shortages to orbital data centers to the possibility that the whole architecture that undergirds the tech is wrong. –:–:–:– The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Ticket
AI NewsIs xAI a neocloud now?
xAI's real business may be more about building data centers than training AI models. –:–:–:– The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. Register now. This draft keeps the article's original framing intact so an admin can review the reporting, tighten the wording, and approve it only after checking that the emphasis still matches the sourc
AI NewsApple plans to make iOS 27 a Choose Your Own Adventure of AI models
Apple's upcoming iOS 27 update aims to give users the freedom to choose from various third-party AI models for different tasks. This shift promises to empower users by allowing them to select the AI tools that best suit their needs.
AI NewsImage AI models now drive app growth, beating chatbot upgrades
Appfigures finds visual model launches generate 6.5x more downloads — but most don’t convert that spike into revenue. –:–:–:– The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. Register now. This draft keeps the article's original framing intact so an admin can review the reporting, tighten the wording, and approve it only after checking that the emph
AI NewsMeta Buys Robotics Startup to Enhance Humanoid AI Ambitions
Meta has acquired the robotics startup Assured Robot Intelligence to strengthen its AI models for robotics. This move is part of Meta's broader strategy to advance humanoid robotics, integrating artificial intelligence capabilities that may shape future innovations in the field.
AI NewsSierra raises $950M as the race to own enterprise AI gets serious
The raise gives Sierra more than $1 billion to work with — capital the company says it will use to become the "global standard" for AI-powered customer experiences. –:–:–:– The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. Register now.
AI NewsAnthropic and OpenAI are both launching joint ventures for enterprise AI services
Both Anthropic and OpenAI have partnered with asset managers to more aggressively market their enterprise AI products. –:–:–:– The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. Register now. This draft keeps the article's original framing intact so an admin can review the reporting, tighten the wording, and approve it only after checking that the emp
AI NewsGoogle made agentic AI governance a product. Enterprises still have to catch up.
Google baked agentic AI governance into its new Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform. The enterprise readiness numbers tell a very different story. Skip to content AI News is part of the TechForge Publications series Explore All Developer IoT News MarketingTech CloudTech Telecoms TechHQ TechWire Asia Explore All Developer IoT News MarketingTech CloudTech Telecoms TechHQ TechWire Asia TechForge News Ca
AI NewsIn Harvard study, AI offered more accurate emergency room diagnoses than two human doctors
A new study examines how large language models perform in a variety of medical contexts, including real emergency room cases — where at least one model seemed to be more accurate than human doctors. TechCrunch Desktop Logo TechCrunch Mobile Logo Latest Startups Venture Apple Security AI Apps Events Podcasts Newsletters Search Submit Site Search Toggle Mega Menu Toggle Topics Latest AI Amazon Apps
AI News‘This is fine’ creator says AI startup stole his art
The creator of the popular 'This is fine' meme accused the AI startup Artisan of stealing his artwork for promotional purposes. The startup is known for its controversial billboards encouraging businesses to prefer AI over human workers, raising serious ethical concerns.
AI NewsOpenAI announces new advanced security for ChatGPT accounts, including a partnership with Yubico
OpenAI is launching additional opt-in protections for ChatGPT accounts. The new security initiative includes a new partnership with security key provider Yubico. –:–:–:– The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. This draft keeps the article's original framing intact so an admin can review the reporting, tighten the wording, and approve it onl
AI NewsChatGPT Images 2.0 is a hit in India, but not a big winner elsewhere, yet
Users in India are embracing ChatGPT Images 2.0 for creative, personal visuals — from avatars to cinematic portraits. –:–:–:– The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. Register now. This draft keeps the article's original framing intact so an admin can review the reporting, tighten the wording, and approve it only after checking that the emph
AI NewsSources: Anthropic potential $900B+ valuation round could happen within 2 weeks
Anthropic is asking investors to submit allocations for the AI company’s latest fundraise within the next 48 hours, according to sources familiar with the matter. –:–:–:– The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. Register now.
AI NewsSources: Anthropic Could Raise a New $50B Round at a Valuation of $900B
Anthropic, the company behind the AI assistant Claude, is reportedly in discussions to raise a staggering $50 billion. Current valuations place the company between $850 billion and $900 billion, according to insider sources. This funding round highlights the escalating financial stakes in the AI landscape.