It’s that point of the week once more, of us — time for Week in Review (WiR), TechCrunch’s e-newsletter that recaps the previous few days in tech. The information cycle by no means sleeps, and it’s exhausting — this reporter is aware of all too nicely. But fortuitously, neither does WiR. Our curated checklist of the highest tales this week will get you on top of things very quickly.
On the agenda for this blustery, fall-vibes version of WiR (it’s actually beginning to really feel like autumn on the East Coast), we’ve Tinder’s wildly costly ($499 monthly) new premium tier, Amazon investing as much as $4 billion in AI startup Anthropic, and Apple executives breaking down the AirPods’ new options. Elsewhere, we cowl Reddit beginning to pay customers actual cash for high-quality posts; OpenAI elevating capital and giving ChatGPT a “voice”; Telegram’s metamorphosis into an excellent app, and Uber changing into tighter with taxi corporations.
As all the time, there’s so much to get to, so let’s hop to it. And if you haven’t already, join right here to get WiR in your inbox each Saturday.
Most learn
Tinder goes ultra-premium: Tinder has rolled out a dear $499-per-month subscription dubbed “Tinder Select,” which incorporates distinctive perks like the power to be seen by extra customers, together with Tinder’s “most sought-after profiles,” and the choice to direct message others with out first matching with them. As Sarah writes, these capabilities alone aren’t what is going to promote Tinder Select essentially —it’s the exclusivity. Tinder says that lower than 1% of customers will probably be allowed to achieve entry to the premium tier.
Amazon invests in Anthropic: Amazon has agreed to speculate as much as $4 billion within the AI startup Anthropic, the 2 companies stated, because the e-commerce group steps up its rivalry in opposition to Microsoft, Meta, Google and Nvidia within the fast-growing generative AI sector. Amazon will initially make investments $1.25 billion for a minority stake in Anthropic, which like Google’s Bard and Microsoft-backed OpenAI operates an AI-powered, text-analyzing-and-generating bot.
Apple explains its new AirPods: In a sit-down with Brian, Apple executives Ron Huang (VP of sensing and connectivity) and Eric Treski (product advertising and marketing director) mentioned the brand new options of Apple’s latest-generation AirPods, together with adaptive audio, personalised quantity, conversational consciousness and AirPods Pro 2’s Vision Pro connectivity.
Reddit begins paying customers — in money: Reddit on Monday introduced a contributor program that’ll award customers precise, actual cash for his or her pretend web factors. Amanda reviews that now, eligible customers — these residing within the U.S. who’re over the age of 18 and may confirm their id, and who’ve had an account for greater than 30 days — will be capable to convert the Reddit gold and karma they’ve earned from safe-for-work posts into fiat foreign money (no, not crypto), to be disbursed as soon as monthly.
OpenAI seems to boost extra cash: OpenAI is in discussions to presumably promote shares in a transfer that will enhance the corporate’s valuation to someplace between $80 billion and $90 billion. It comes simply after OpenAI picked up a little bit over $300 million in funding from backers similar to Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Thrive and K2 Global at a valuation of $29 billion — separate from a giant funding (~$10 billion) from Microsoft introduced earlier this yr, which closed in January.
ChatGPT good points a voice — and different options: ChatGPT is evolving into way more than a text-based search engine, with OpenAI asserting this week that it’s including new voice- and image-based smarts to the combination. Users can verbally ask ChatGPT to make up a bedtime story on the spot and have ChatGPT learn it again in certainly one of 5 voices. Or they’ll seek for solutions in an uploaded picture — for instance, asking ChatGPT to supply directions for finishing a activity or clarify what’s within the photograph.
Telegram expands its attain: Telegram, the favored messaging app with 800 million month-to-month energetic customers worldwide, is inching nearer to adopting an ecosystem technique that’s harking back to WeChat’s tremendous app method. Rita writes that the corporate has been engaged on a platform the place third-party builders, from video games to eating places, can construct mini apps to work together with customers.
Uber will get tight with taxis: Uber — which hasn’t traditionally been particularly pleasant towards the taxi business — introduced Tuesday a multiyear partnership with Los Angeles Yellow Cab and its 5 companion taxi fleets in Southern California. Under the association, taxi drivers could have entry to Uber journey referrals in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties. And the partnership covers a number of floor; six taxi fleets with about 1,200 autos fall underneath the deal.
Audio
The TC staff does extra than simply churn out high quality written items — they host podcasts stuffed with content material from noteworthy figures across the tech business. If you’re on the hunt for episodes to fill the hours, give ’em a pay attention. And in case you’re already a subscriber, many thanks.
This week on Equity, the crew talked with Nathan Baschez, the CEO and founding father of Lex, an AI-infused on-line writing device. Baschez spoke about what number of AI-powered instruments the market can presumably help, what the generative AI motion might seem like within the coming months and find out how to value an AI-powered service.
On Found, which was recorded reside at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 final week, Dominic-Madori and Becca sat down with Window Snyder, a trailblazer within the cybersecurity business who’s devoted her decades-long profession to making sure the web — and the gadgets related to it — are safe. Snyder talked about why, after years of working at corporations like Apple, Microsoft, Fastly and Square, now was the best time to launch her startup, Thistle, which seems to construct the safety infrastructure wanted to maintain internet-connected sensible gadgets secure.
And over at Chain Reaction, Jacquelyn interviewed Tiago Sada, head of product for Tools for Humanity and core contributor to Worldcoin. Tools for Humanity, which has raised tons of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} from buyers similar to Andreessen Horowitz and Blockchain Global, was co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman with a three-part mission to create a worldwide ID, a worldwide foreign money and an app that permits funds, purchases and transfers with its token.
TechCrunch+
TC+ subscribers get entry to in-depth commentary, evaluation and surveys — which you understand in case you’re already a subscriber. If you’re not, contemplate signing up. Here are a couple of highlights from this week:
Amazon, the FTC and VCs: Alex and Dominic-Madori focus on whether or not VCs ought to again the FTC lawsuit in opposition to Amazon. In case you hadn’t heard, this week the FTC alleged that Amazon engaged in a “pattern of illegal conduct” that “blocks competition” and permits the corporate to “wield monopoly power to inflate prices, degrade quality, and stifle innovation for consumers and businesses.”
Generative AI and working techniques: Alex writes about how generative AI might make the OS cool once more, pointing to how Microsoft is embedding the tech all through the newest model of Windows.
Salvation for Bird: Rebecca muses aloud whether or not Bird’s Spin acquisition might give it the raise it wants after being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. It’s a messy state of affairs, to make sure — and buyers are understandably cautious.