From TechCrunch · 40 stories
Trump Administration Supports OpenAI in NYT Copyright Lawsuit, Citing Fair Use for AI Training
The Trump administration has filed a statement of interest in The New York Times' copyright lawsuit against OpenAI, arguing that training AI models on copyrighted text constitutes fair use. This intervention supports OpenAI's defense, stating that restricting AI development based on a narrow interpretation of fair use would hinder scientific progress and American economic prosperity. The lawsuit, filed in December 2023, alleges OpenAI unlawfully trained its AI systems on NYT articles and seeks billions in damages.
Apple to Launch Redesigned Entry-Level MacBook Pro with Touchscreen in 2027
Apple is reportedly planning to redesign its entry-level MacBook Pro, targeting a release in the first half of 2027. The update will align the model with higher-end versions by introducing a touchscreen and potentially a thinner form factor. The move is part of a broader strategy to integrate advanced features and chips across Apple's device lineup.
Reddit Deploys AI to Combat AI-Generated Spam
Reddit has implemented new AI-powered tools to combat spam on its platform, much of which is AI-generated. The large language model (LLM) tools have resulted in a 20% decrease in spam exposure and catch 25,000 spam posts daily, blocking 23 million spam views per day. This development is part of a broader trend of AI content impacting the quality of information on social media platforms.
Google Pixel 11 Series Leaks Reveal New Colors, Pixel Glow Feature and Pricing
Ahead of its August 12 launch, Google's Pixel 11 series leaks reveal new color options like 'Pine' and 'Fuchsia' and introduce the 'Pixel Glow' feature, a multi-colored LED light integrated in the camera bar. The leaks include design changes for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold with a narrower camera bar and price increases of approximately €100. This matters as Google shifts its strategy in the competitive smartphone market.
Apple Plans 'Apple Upgrade' Device Leasing Program Launch on July 28
Apple is reportedly launching 'Apple Upgrade,' a new leasing program for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches, starting July 28. Partnering with Klarna, the program offers 24- to 36-month leases with lower monthly payments but excludes certain budget-friendly models. Existing programs like the iPhone Upgrade Program will be phased out.
Google Launches Gemini 3.6 Flash Models; Gemini 3.5 Pro Delayed
Google launched the Gemini 3.6 Flash, 3.5 Flash-Lite, and 3.5 Flash Cyber models, focusing on efficiency and cost savings. However, the anticipated Gemini 3.5 Pro has been delayed due to a need to improve coding capabilities. This matters as it impacts Google's competitive position amid rapid advancements by rivals.
Google Introduces Selfie Video for Account Sign-in and Recovery
Google has launched a new selfie video option for account sign-in and recovery, allowing users to regain access by recording a short video of their face. This feature provides an alternative verification method, particularly useful when traditional authentication methods are unavailable, by comparing a live video to a securely stored reference video.
Teens sentenced to 5.5 years for £29M Transport for London cyber attack
Owen Flowers and Thalha Jubair were sentenced to 5.5 years for a 2024 cyberattack on TfL that caused £29 million in damages. The attack severely disrupted services and breached data of millions. Authorities cite this case as a major enforcement action against young cybercriminals.
Research finds all 21 tested vehicles transmit data to third parties, over half to advertisers
Researchers from Northeastern University and Consumer Reports found that all 21 modern vehicles they tested transmit data to third-party domains, with over half sending data to advertising companies. This study systematically investigates data collection practices in connected vehicles, highlighting a lack of transparency and control for car owners.
Apple Revamps iOS 27 for iPhone Duo Foldable, Adds Apple Pencil Support
Apple has redesigned iOS 27 for its new foldable iPhone Duo, adapting controls and app layouts for the device's multiple screens and flexible display. The iPhone Duo will also be the first iPhone to support Apple Pencil, with USB-C Pencil support expected later this year.
Trump Dismisses AI Regulation Calls as 'Sick Conspiracy' Amid Industry Warnings
Donald Trump rejected calls for increased AI controls, labeling them a "sick conspiracy" and stating that a strong president is the only necessary "guardrail." This stance followed appeals from AI leaders like Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis, and SpaceX boss Elon Musk for slower AI development, which contributed to a market downturn for AI-related tech stocks.
Airbnb Introduces AI Search, Personalized Maps, and Enhanced Social Features
Airbnb has rolled out new features including an AI-powered search function that accepts text or voice prompts and generates dynamic filters. The platform also added personalized travel maps showing connections' past trips and social sharing options, alongside expanding existing services like meal and grocery delivery in limited locations. These updates aim to improve property discovery and social interaction within the platform.
Fairphone Launches Fairphone 6+ in US, Marking First Direct Sales
Fairphone has launched its Fairphone 6+ smartphone in the U.S. for $649, making it the first time the company's phones are directly available in the country without modifications. This release provides a repairable Android option in the U.S. market, emphasizing longevity and sustainability through user-replaceable components and extended support.
Judge Rules Pentagon's Blacklisting of Anthropic as Supply Chain Risk Illegal
A San Francisco federal judge ruled that the Pentagon's designation of AI company Anthropic as a supply chain risk was illegal, citing a violation of the First Amendment. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin found the Department of Defense's actions were not based on an "articulable basis" and constituted "unlawful retaliation." This decision removes a barrier for Anthropic, potentially allowing defense contractors to use its technology.
Rising Memory Prices Hit Budget Smartphones Hard, Driving Market Contraction
Increased memory costs are causing a significant decline in budget smartphone shipments globally. Devices priced under $400 will see shipments drop by over 22% this year as manufacturing costs rise. This contraction could affect company dynamics, potentially benefiting Apple and Samsung.
WhatsApp Enhances Account Security with Stronger 2FA and Multiple Passkeys
WhatsApp has updated its account security features, allowing users to set alphanumeric passwords with special characters for two-step verification, replacing the previous six-digit PINs. The platform also introduced support for adding multiple passkeys to a single account, useful for users across iOS and Android devices, and added more context for calls from unknown numbers on Android.
SpaceX Reports Doubled Revenue Driven by AI Compute Deals and Starlink Growth
SpaceX reported a 92% increase in revenue to $7.8 billion in Q2 2026, largely due to growth in its Starlink satellite internet service and new agreements to rent out computing power to companies like Anthropic and Google. Despite this revenue growth, the company's shares fell after its first public earnings report due to higher-than-expected capital expenditures, primarily for AI infrastructure.
TikTok settles DOJ children's privacy lawsuit for $400 million
TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, have agreed to pay $400 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2024. The lawsuit alleged violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting personal information from underage users without parental consent. The settlement includes new age-related controls and parental oversight measures.
Amazon Expands Prime Air Drone Delivery to Nearly 500 US Cities and Towns
Amazon announced plans to expand its Prime Air drone delivery service to nearly 500 US cities and towns by the end of 2024, a sixfold increase from its current footprint. The company aims to make 1 million drone deliveries this year, having already completed hundreds of thousands, with new metro areas including Chicago, Syracuse, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Boise.
Cyberattack on CEVA Logistics Exposes European Steam Hardware Customer Data
A cyberattack on CEVA Logistics, Valve's European shipping partner, between July 29 and August 1, 2026, compromised personal data of Steam hardware customers in Europe. The breach exposed names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and product details, leading Valve to warn customers about potential phishing attempts. This incident highlights supply chain vulnerabilities and impacts multiple retailers relying on CEVA Logistics.
Meta to Launch Cloud Business, Enter AI Compute Market
Meta is preparing to launch a cloud infrastructure business to sell excess AI computing power and models. This strategy would place Meta in direct competition with AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure and aims to monetize its significant AI investments, improving profitability. Reports of early talks with Anthropic for leasing compute power highlight potential partnerships in the cloud service sector.
Anthropic Settles $1.5 Billion in Landmark AI Copyright Case
A federal judge approved Anthropic's $1.5 billion settlement in a copyright lawsuit for training AI on pirated books. This decision deemed such training as fair use, marking a critical point in AI law. The payout, spread over 480,000 works, may resolve lingering legal disputes over AI use in copyrighted materials.
New York Imposes One-Year Moratorium on New Large Data Centers
Governor Kathy Hochul has enacted a one-year moratorium on the construction of new data centers with over 50 megawatts of power in New York State. The measure, the first of its kind in the United States, aims to address environmental and energy concerns while the state develops regulatory standards. The decision has sparked political backlash, with critics arguing it may hinder economic growth.
Cybersecurity Expert Sentenced for Role in BlackCat Ransomware Scams
Angelo Martino, a former ransomware negotiator, has been sentenced to 70 months for aiding the BlackCat ransomware gang. Collaborating with accomplices, he shared confidential negotiation details, causing victims to lose over $75 million. This highlights vulnerabilities within cybersecurity industries.
Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 Rocket Successfully Achieves Orbit on First Launch
Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 rocket has successfully reached orbit on its inaugural launch from Sriharikota, marking India's entry into the private satellite launcher market. This represents a significant milestone in India's space capabilities, allowing it to compete in the commercial space sector.
WhatsApp Introduces Optional Parental Controls for Teen Accounts
WhatsApp has rolled out new optional parental controls for teenage users, allowing parents to manage privacy settings, monitor group activity, and set content restrictions for Meta AI chats. These controls enable guardians to receive notifications when a teen joins or leaves a group, manage who can add teens to groups, and choose between a default 13+ setting or a stricter 'Limited Content' option for Meta AI. The update comes as tech companies face increased pressure to enhance child safety features on their platforms.
Google Launches Googlebooks: New Android-Based Laptops Starting at $899 with Deep Android Integration
Google has launched Googlebooks, a new line of laptops designed to integrate with Android phones, with pre-orders available now and general availability starting October 4. These premium devices, from partners Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo, run on an Android-based OS, feature high-end specifications, and are priced from $899. The platform emphasizes cross-device continuity, Material 3 Expressive UI, and includes Gemini AI capabilities.
Pentagon Taps Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey, and Newt Gingrich for Future Warfare Initiative
The Pentagon has launched "Project Meridian," an initiative to identify future military capabilities and technologies, enlisting Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey, and Newt Gingrich as co-leads. This effort aims to maintain the U.S. military's technological edge by focusing on discovering, developing, and fielding advanced weapons and systems for future battlefields.
AI in healthcare billing increased costs by $942 million, insurers claim
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) reported that hospitals' use of AI tools for insurance claims led to an additional $942 million in healthcare spending over two years. The BCBSA analysis found a rise in documented complex conditions without a corresponding change in care delivered, suggesting AI is contributing to increased healthcare costs.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro expected launch in September 2026
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro in September 2026, following its annual release pattern. Pre-orders are anticipated to open on a Friday following the announcement, with shipping likely starting the following week.
Google DeepMind and Google Research Release WeatherNext 3 AI Weather Model
Google DeepMind and Google Research have released WeatherNext 3, an AI model for global weather forecasting. The model provides hourly predictions with higher resolution, leveraging real-time satellite observations, and has demonstrated higher accuracy than other leading AI and traditional forecasting systems in independent evaluations.
xAI Sues South Carolina Man Over Grok-Generated Sexual Images
xAI has initiated a lawsuit against Terry Wayne Harwood, alleging misuse of its Grok AI to generate child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This legal action, driven by Harwood's alleged bypassing of Grok's safeguards, underscores the challenges AI companies face in preventing abuse of their technology.
Apple Overhauls EU App Store Fees and Terms, Replaces Core Technology Fee
Apple has introduced new App Store commission rates and business terms for developers in the European Union, effective October 1. These changes include a simplified commission structure, reduced rates for alternative payment options, and the replacement of the Core Technology Fee with a 5% Core Technology Commission on digital transactions in apps distributed outside the App Store. This overhaul aims to resolve disagreements with the European Commission regarding business terms and alternative distribution under the Digital Markets Act.
AI Companies Source Old Books for Training Data, Avoiding AI-Generated Text
AI companies are increasingly purchasing printed books published before 2022 as training data to avoid contamination from AI-generated text. ISBNdb facilitates bulk acquisitions, claiming these books provide high-quality, curated information that doesn't suffer from issues like model collapse.
Twitch Streamers Can Now Opt Out of Content Being Used for Amazon AI Training
Twitch has introduced an opt-out setting allowing streamers to prevent their content from being used to train Amazon's generative AI models. This change means streams, video-on-demand (VODs), clips, stream chats, and channel images/text will not be used for future AI model training if the user opts out. The setting is enabled by default, requiring users to manually disable it.
Walmart to Roll Out Apple Pay and Google Pay Support Starting August 24
Walmart will begin accepting Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other contactless payment methods at select Walmart and Sam's Club locations on August 24, with a full U.S. rollout expected by the end of the year. This move marks a significant shift from Walmart's previous reliance on its proprietary payment solutions, responding to customer demand for tap-to-pay options.
Mark Zuckerberg Publishes 6,500-Word Essay on AI Superintelligence and Open-Source Development
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, published a 6,500-word essay titled "The Future Is For Everyone," outlining his vision for AI superintelligence and personal AI agents. The essay advocates for open-weight AI models and coincides with Meta's release of the open-source AI model Glimmer, positioning Meta in contrast to companies that favor proprietary AI.
Google Play Store now hosts rival app stores in the US, starting with Aptoide Games
Google has begun listing third-party app stores directly within the Google Play Store in the United States, a change resulting from a 2024 legal ruling in its antitrust case with Epic Games. Aptoide Games is the first such store available, allowing users to install alternative app distribution channels without sideloading. A US District Judge has since ordered Google to improve the discoverability of these stores within the Play Store.
eBay and Former Executives Settle Harassment Lawsuit for $56 Million
eBay and several former executives have agreed to pay approximately $56 million to Ina and David Steiner, publishers of EcommerceBytes, to resolve a 2021 civil lawsuit. The settlement stems from a 2019 harassment and cyberstalking campaign orchestrated by former eBay employees in retaliation for the couple's critical reporting on the company. This resolution follows criminal charges and prison terms for some of the former eBay employees involved.
WebKit Flaws Expose Real IP Addresses for iCloud Private Relay and Proxy Browser Users
Security researchers Talal Haj Bakry and Tommy Mysk discovered three WebKit features that bypass proxy configurations, leading to IP and DNS leaks. These vulnerabilities affect Apple's iCloud Private Relay and other proxy browsers on iOS and macOS, potentially exposing users' real IP addresses and DNS servers. A class action lawsuit has been filed against Apple regarding the iCloud Private Relay flaw.