Welcome to TechCrunch AM! This morning, we’re delving into Tesla’s much-anticipated Austin robotaxi launch; a stablecoin evangelist in venture; and updates on the AI moratorium in the “Big, Beautiful Bill.” We’ve also got OpenAI in trademark trouble; Silicon Valley’s love for cheating; the Rippling spy’s worries; Walmart’s tech moves, and more.
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1. Off to a… start: Tesla has launched its much awaited “robotaxi” service in Austin, a decade after CEO Elon Musk began claiming robotaxis were just a year away. Despite the hype, there have been information gaps and active suppression of information about the service. Read More
2. Stablecoin star: Katie Haun was making the case for stablecoins before it was cool, arguing its place as an important hedge against the volatility of crypto. The former federal prosecutor and current founder of Haun Ventures joined TC’s Connie Loizos on stage at StrictlyVC to talk about the past, present and future of stablecoins. Read More
3. Won’t you think of AI?! A GOP-backed push to block states from enforcing their own AI rules just cleared a key procedural hurdle in the Senate. The measure, rewritten by Sen. Ted Cruz to sidestep budget rules, aims to withhold broad funding from states that regulate AI over the next decade, and it can now pass with a simple majority. Read More
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😓 Takedown: A court order tied to a trademark dispute over the name “io” has caused OpenAI to pull promotional materials, including a video featuring Sam Atlman and Jony Ive, from its YouTube page about the acquisition of a startup called io. OpenAI’s $6.5 billion acquisition of the startup is still on track, though. Read More
🚢 Ship happens: Japanese shipping giant NYK Line is buying Berlin-based fintech Kadmos, which helps seafarers get paid across borders. The deal expands NYK’s MarCoPay fintech services into a global payroll solution for maritime workers of all nationalities. Read More
💻 AI built in: Google is adding a slew of AI features to its productivity-focused Chromebook Plus devices, like a screen selection tool for search and text capture, a tool that explains complex text, and NotebookLM. Read More
🥸 I'd watch this film: The Rippling-Deel drama is heating up. Alleged Rippling spy Keith O’Brien says that men have been following him and watching his home. They can’t tie it to Deel, but O’Brien is, understandably, freaking out. Read More
🫤 Silicon Valley rewards cheating: Cluely, the startup that says it helps users “cheat” on job interviews, exams, sales calls and more, has raised a $15 million Series A led by none other than a16z. Sources say this puts Cluely at a $120 million valuation. Read More
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🎵 Pied Piper 2.0: The Verge reports that the music industry is working on tools to detect AI-generated music across the music pipeline. Since there appears to be no way to stop the flood of AI music, the industry is focusing on proactive licensing and control rather than takedowns. Read More
🧑💻 Walmart, a tech company: The New York Times has a deep dive into Walmart’s efforts to shed its identity as a discount retailer to take on e-commerce rivals. The company is spending billions to rope in workers to Bentonville, Arkansas, and attract shoppers with tech solutions like drone delivery. Read More
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🎨 Ink, not inkjet: After more than a decade out of the spotlight, comic book legend Paul Pope is staging a comeback. The timing is interesting, as many publishers and writers are suing AI companies. Pope has always eschewed digital tools, but he’s not above using AI for research. Read More
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