OpenAI seeks to one-up Anthropic with new customer privacy protections

Source: Tech Crunch

OpenAI seeks to one-up Anthropic with new customer privacy protections

Startups

OpenAI has introduced Private Safety Processing, a new system designed to detect AI misuse across multiple sessions without retaining customer data. This privacy-focused approach aims to identify long-term malicious activity while avoiding human review. In contrast, rival Anthropic retains data for 30 days for certain models to analyze potential abuse, a policy that has concerned some enterprise clients. Both companies are competing for market dominance and future IPOs.

Read Full Story

Stripe didn’t really buy OpenRouter because of the ‘singularity’

Startups

"Stripe has acquired OpenRouter for a reported $7.5 billion, a significant increase from the startup's $1.3 billion valuation in May. By acquiring the AI model router, Stripe aims to integrate itself into AI capital flows and manage token expenses for developers. While OpenRouter will likely remain independent, the move allows Stripe to gain critical insights into AI demand and leverage power over frontier labs and hyperscalers.".

Read Full Story

Waymo’s cheaper, next-gen robotaxi is now open to all riders in these three cities

Startups

The next-generation robotaxi called the Waymo Ojai, is central to the company's push towards mass scale, and eventually, profitability.

Read Full Story

Cognition CEO denies report that SpaceX tried to acquire the startup

Startups

SpaceX reportedly attempted to acquire AI coding startup Cognition to strengthen its position against competitors like OpenAI and Google. While Cognition's CEO denied the reports, Bloomberg suggests the companies may still discuss collaborating on computing capacity. This follows SpaceX's recent acquisition of Cursor and its goal to make AI the primary driver of its company value, emphasizing the strategic importance of AI-assisted coding for monetization.

Read Full Story

Travis Kalanick kicks off another round of VC bashing: ‘1% are helpful’

Startups

Travis Kalanick, founder of Uber and now Atoms, recently shared critical views on venture capitalists during a podcast appearance. While raising $1.7 billion for Atoms from Andreessen Horowitz, Kalanick warned founders about the limited helpfulness of VCs and recounted his boardroom battle with Benchmark. He reflected on his intense management style at Uber and advised entrepreneurs to maintain accountability and leverage bidding wars during fundraising.

Read Full Story

Rillet raises $100M Series C at $1B valuation — 2 years after emerging from stealth

Startups

"AI accounting startup Rillet has raised $100 million in a Series C round led by Iconiq, valuing the company at $1 billion. With support from Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia, Rillet uses AI to automate financial bookkeeping and data integration. The company reports over 600 customers and a doubling of its annual recurring revenue in three months, positioning itself as a disruptive force against legacy ERP software.".

Read Full Story

Gwyneth Paltrow allegedly set to throw dinner in honor of Sam Altman

Startups

Gwyneth Paltrow, founder of Goop and investor via Kinship Ventures, is reportedly hosting a private dinner for OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on August 29th in the Hamptons. Paltrow has increasingly integrated AI into her business operations and invested in several AI firms, including OpenAI. This event highlights the intersection of celebrity influence and technology, coinciding with OpenAI's recent hiring of a "celebrity whisperer" to manage high-profile relations.

Read Full Story

Gambling on the Little League World Series? Sports bettors have gone too far

Startups

Have we tried turning off society and turning it back on again?

Read Full Story

AI was supposed to win people over by now — it hasn’t

Startups

Public sentiment toward AI is declining as concerns over job loss, trust, and rapid advancement grow. Polls show a majority of Americans are more concerned than excited, while young people increasingly distrust industry leaders. This backlash is impacting business, forcing tech companies to offer local incentives for data centers. Industry leaders acknowledge a crisis of trust, admitting they must deliver tangible benefits to regain public support.

Read Full Story

Google launches new study tools for students across Search and Gemini

Startups

"Google has introduced several AI-powered study tools across Search and Gemini to compete with OpenAI and education startups. New features include interactive 3D simulations, customized practice quizzes, and a dedicated student hub for flashcards and notebooks. Additionally, students can use Lens for problem-solving guidance and generate study documents from uploaded files. Gemini Live now supports multi-step research reports, allowing users to discuss findings conversationally via voice.".

Read Full Story

Researchers say OpenAI revoked their access to limited cyber program

Startups

"OpenAI recently revoked access to its Trusted Access for Cyber program for several security researchers, particularly those in the Daybreak Blue tier. The company attributed the issue to a technical error and requested that affected users, many of whom reside outside the U.S. and Europe, re-verify their identities. The program provides vetted researchers with advanced AI models featuring reduced guardrails to facilitate legitimate cybersecurity research and vulnerability discovery.".

Read Full Story

Meet the startup helping Wall Street put a price on AI compute

Startups

Silicon Data has raised $30 million in Series A funding to establish a reference price and index for GPU rentals. As compute costs dominate AI development, the startup aims to provide a way for firms to hedge exposure. Pending regulatory approval, Silicon Data plans to launch compute futures trading on the CME on October 5th, offering a standardized pricing mechanism for the rapidly growing AI infrastructure market.

Read Full Story

T-Mobile ‘chopped a cable’ to expel Chinese hackers from its network

Startups

T-Mobile successfully expelled Chinese government-backed hackers from the group Salt Typhoon in 2024, avoiding a widespread data breach. While other providers like AT&T and Verizon were compromised in a campaign targeting U.S. government officials' data, T-Mobile's security team detected the intrusion early. To stop the attack, cybersecurity chief Jeff Simon and his team physically cut the cable to a compromised system in Washington.

Read Full Story

TerraPower’s nuclear reactor has a secret weapon for powering AI data centers

Startups

TerraPower's nuclear power plant possesses a strategic advantage over competitors, especially when chasing after data center deals.

Read Full Story

Rivian spinout Also raises another $150 million

Startups

"Also, a micromobility startup spun out of Rivian, has raised $150 million in a Series D round led by Prysm Capital. Bringing total funding to $455 million, the company aims to develop autonomous delivery vehicles and driving technology. Also previously launched electric bikes and cargo quads, with a strategic partnership with DoorDash. Despite initial delivery delays, the company is now shipping its launch edition e-bikes to customers.".

Read Full Story

How Indian D2C Brands Are Rewriting Their Playbook For Profitable Growth

Business

Indian D2C brands are shifting their focus from top-line revenue growth toward sustainable profitability and contribution margins. At Inc42’s D2C & Retail Summit, leaders from Neeru’s, The Bear House, and Elements Wellness discussed adapting channel strategies and store formats to reduce acquisition costs. Key tactics include leveraging experiential retail, optimizing channel mixes, and employing regional marketing to ensure long-term efficiency and protect gross margins over aggressive discounting.

Read Full Story

Sachin Bansal’s fintech Navi raises first outside capital with $100M Prosus investment

Startups

Indian fintech Navi, founded by former Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal, has raised $100 million from Prosus in its first institutional funding round. This investment values the company at approximately $1.3 billion. Navi offers various financial services, including lending and digital payments, and is currently preparing for an initial public offering to raise about $314 million. The startup recently reported consolidated profitability in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026.

Read Full Story

Amazon makes its AI-powered Alexa+ free on Fire TV, no Prime required

Startups

Amazon is making its AI assistant, Alexa+, free and automatic for all compatible Fire TV devices in the U.S., regardless of Prime membership. The update introduces conversational search, AI-powered recommendations, and smart home controls. This move aligns with industry trends from Google and Roku to integrate AI into consumer electronics. Amazon reports increased user engagement, allowing customers to search for content by theme, popularity, or specific characteristics.

Read Full Story

Amazon’s Prime Air is taking off in nearly 500 U.S. cities

Startups

Amazon is expanding its Prime Air drone delivery service to nearly 500 U.S. cities by 2026, increasing its current reach sixfold. The service, which delivers items under five pounds in as little as 30 minutes, will soon launch in 11 new locations. Despite past accidents, Amazon emphasizes safety through its Detect-and-Avoid system and FAA certification, competing with rival drone networks operated by Walmart and Alphabet's Wing.

Read Full Story

Why Hammer Prefers Cables Over Premium Headphones For Quick Commerce

Business

For D2C consumer brand Hammer Lifestyle, quick commerce is not a channel for replicating its entire ecommerce catalogue. Instead, the.

Read Full Story

Categories