Ex-Apple engineer issues apology after lawsuit over Journal app, Vision Pro leaks is dismissed

A former iOS engineer, who was sued by Apple for leaking confidential information to journalists, has issued an apology after the lawsuit against him was dismissed. The lawsuit, which was filed last year, alleged that Andrew Aude sent thousands of messages to journalists at The Wall Street Journal and The Information about more than a […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Meta is studying how humans and robots can collaborate on housework

Meta Friday announced PARTNR, a new program designed to study human-robot interaction (HRI). The research is specifically focused on how humans and robots might collaborate in the home environment. That includes mundane tasks like cleaning, cooking, and picking up food deliveries. Automated housework is a decades-old dream, most prominently captured by The Jetsons’ Rosie. The […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Google is adding digital watermarks to images edited with Magic Editor AI

Google on Thursday announced that effective this week, it will begin adding a digital watermark to images in Photos that are edited with generative AI. The watermark applies specifically to images that are altered using the Reimagine feature found in Magic Editor on Pixel 9 devices. Announced in 2024, Reimagine utilizes generative AI to alter […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Keyboard maker suspends U.S. shipments over Trump tariffs on Chinese goods

The mechanical keyboard maker Qwertykeys announced Wednesday that it has suspended all U.S. product shipments owing to new tariffs levied by the Trump administration. The Guangdong-based outfit cites a February 1 announcement of 10% tariffs on imported Chinese goods as the motivating factor. “This new policy replaces all previous tariff exemptions, including the exemption for […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Boston Dynamics joins forces with its former CEO to speed the learning of its Atlas humanoid robot

Boston Dynamics Wednesday announced a partnership designed to bring improved reinforcement learning to its electric Atlas humanoid robot. The tie-up is with the Robotics & AI Institute (RAI Institute), earlier known as The Boston Dynamics AI Institute. Both organizations were founded by Marc Raibert, a former MIT professor who served as Boston Dynamics’ CEO for […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Sonos lays off 200 ahead of rumored set-top box release

Sonos announced that it has laid off 200 people in a letter posted to its site Wednesday. The news follows a 100-person layoff in August. Both rounds arrive in the wake of a disastrously botched update to the Sonos app that alienated broad swaths of the premium audio hardware firm’s extremely loyal fanbase. The new […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Amazon reportedly gears up to release next-gen Alexa

Amazon may be gearing up to release a next-gen, AI-powered Alexa experience, according to Reuters. Per the outlet’s report, Amazon plans to preview an upgraded version of Alexa, the company’s smart home assistant that runs on a number of first- and third-party devices, at an event on February 26. The revamped Alexa is said to […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Brightpick’s new warehouse robot can reach 20-foot-high shelves

Brightpick, a maker of autonomous mobile robots, on Tuesday announced a lofty addition to its current line. The appropriately named Giraffe system is notable for its large, retractable platform capable of reaching up to 20 feet (6 meters) in height to pick items from warehouse shelves. It’s a novel approach to warehouses with ceilings well […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

OpenAI’s new trademark application hints at humanoid robots, smart jewelry, and more

Last Friday, AI startup OpenAI filed a new application to trademark products associated with its brand — “OpenAI” — with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Normally, this wouldn’t be newsworthy. Companies file for trademarks all the time. But in the application, OpenAI hints at new product lines both nearer-term and of a more […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.