BeReal and the Doomed Quest for Online Authenticity

On its ascent to the coveted top spot in app store charts, BeReal—the French photo-sharing app launched in 2020—has been heralded as the antidote to social media fakery. Staving off canny staging and slick curation, BeReal gives users just two minutes following a prompt to submit a dual front-camera/back-camera image. Only after posting their own… Continue reading BeReal and the Doomed Quest for Online Authenticity

Netflix to pay $42 million in dispute over screenwriter compensation

Netflix will have to shell out a hefty sum in a fight over screenwriter pay. As Deadline reports, the Writers Guild of America has won an arbitration ruling that will have Netflix pay 216 theatrical movie writers an extra $42 million in unpaid residuals. The WGA is also seeking another $13.5 million in interest for… Continue reading Netflix to pay $42 million in dispute over screenwriter compensation

FCC votes to boost manufacturing in space

The FCC may have just advanced the industrialization of space. Commissioners have voted in favor of an inquiry that will explore in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM). The move would both help officials understand the demands and risks of current in-space production technology while facilitating new projects. This could help companies build satellites and stations… Continue reading FCC votes to boost manufacturing in space

UK may use facial recognition smartwatches to monitor migrant criminals

The UK government may soon start using facial recognition smartwatches to monitor migrants who have been convicted of crimes. The offenders would need to scan their faces up to five times per day, according to The Guardian. The measures may come into effect as soon as this fall. Those subject to the conditions would need… Continue reading UK may use facial recognition smartwatches to monitor migrant criminals

Apple’s iPad drops to $299, plus the rest of the week’s best tech deals

Now’s a great time to pick up Apple’s iPad ahead of the upcoming school year. The base, 10.2-inch tablet is $30 off right now and down to $299, which is the best price we’ve seen it. It may not have all the bells and whistles that the iPad Air does, but it’s a solid, budget-friendly… Continue reading Apple’s iPad drops to $299, plus the rest of the week’s best tech deals

Meta unleashes BlenderBot 3 upon the internet, its most competent chat AI to date

More than half a decade after Microsoft’s truly monumental Taye debacle, the incident still stands as stark reminder of how quickly an AI can be corrupted after exposure to the internet’s potent toxicity and a warning against building bots without sufficiently robust behavioral tethers. On Friday, Meta’s AI Research division will see if its latest… Continue reading Meta unleashes BlenderBot 3 upon the internet, its most competent chat AI to date

The Senate gets one precious step closer to approving Big Tech antitrust bill

Facing pressure from progressives and tech hawks on both sides of the aisle, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to hold a vote on the bipartisan antitrust bill targeting tech giants as early as this fall, according to a new report from the New York Post on Thursday. The bill — the American Innovation and… Continue reading The Senate gets one precious step closer to approving Big Tech antitrust bill

Robinhood’s hangover, YC’s reduction and Uber’s return to form

Hello and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Alex, Natasha and Mary Ann got together with Maggie this week for our weekly roundup show, and per usual, there was a lot to talk about, including the fact that there were… Continue reading Robinhood’s hangover, YC’s reduction and Uber’s return to form

Empathy is essential for building a loyal team, says Kolors co-founder Anca Gardea

Whether you’re riding a chicken bus in Nicaragua or a Greyhound in the United States, intercity bus travel is rarely a glamorous affair. Despite its essential nature in moving people for vacation, visiting family and business, this particular mode of transportation has often been reduced to its most essential components — plenty of seats, wheels,… Continue reading Empathy is essential for building a loyal team, says Kolors co-founder Anca Gardea

Tesla’s Cybertruck is going to be more expensive than originally planned

Tesla’s Cybertruck, that object of intense fascination and ridicule that may or may not go into production next year, was supposed to start at the extremely attractive price of $39,900. But that was back in 2019 when the Cybertruck was first announced, and as Tesla CEO Elon Musk put it recently, “a lot has changed”… Continue reading Tesla’s Cybertruck is going to be more expensive than originally planned