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Help desk automation is a billion-dollar industry, and one of the most likely to be disrupted by tech built upon AI. Major players like Zendesk, ServiceNow and Freshworks currently dominate the space, but lots of smaller startups are betting that reshuffling workflows will give them a chance to cut in. Risotto is one of those startups, and after today, it will have plenty of runway to test its theory. The company on Tuesday said it has raised a $10 million seed round led by Bonfire Ventures, with participation from 645 Ventures, Y Combinator, Ritual Capital, and Surgepoint Capital. Designed to…
The newest humanoid robot on the scene, Sprout, is not designed to carry boxes or stack shelves. Instead, this charming and relatively cheap model, roughly the size of a 9-year-old child, is meant to help customers in hotels, shops, and restaurants.“We said, ‘What if we could build something lightweight, engaging, and safe to be around, and capable enough to do some exciting things?’” says Robert Cochran, cofounder and CEO of Fauna, the startup behind Sprout.Sprout is available to purchase starting today from $50,000. Cochran adds that his firm is already talking to hotels about using Sprout as a butler that…
Bowen Yang trades Rockefeller Plaza for sun and sand in Ritz’s Super Bowl ad, one of his first major appearances since leaving Saturday Night Live (SNL) in December.The Mondelēz International brand released a teaser today (Jan. 27) that reveals Yang as one of the stars of its upcoming Super Bowl 60 ad. The 15-second video shows the comedian settling into his next chapter. He lounges on a tropical beach, where he’s planning a party and snacking on the salty crackers.In a playful nod to his sketch comedy roots, Yang speaks to an unknown friend through a “shell” phone and promises not…
Luminar received an even higher bid for its lidar business as a court-run auction concluded on Monday, according to a new filing in the company’s bankruptcy case. MicroVision, a Redmond, Washington-based company that has been developing its own lidar sensors, submitted a $33 million bid, eclipsing the $22 million that Quantum Computing Inc. laid out a few weeks ago as the so-called “stalking horse” bidder. (Quantum Computing Inc. had upped its bid to $28 million but apparently was unwilling or unable to go higher.) The sale of Luminar’s lidar business will now be subject to approval by the judge in…
Choose a lens shape: Cylindrical lenses look flat and are curved around the face on the vertical axis. These are cheaper to manufacture than spherical lenses, and when used on a large pair of goggles can offer a vast field of view. Spherical lenses are curved both vertically and horizontally and give the goggles a bug-eyed look. Spherical lenses help to open up more of the view, especially the up and down aspects. You’ll pay more for spherical lenses, but they can be truly impressive.From an aesthetic point of view, cylindrical lenses are more popular, but the latest (and most…
Space is an increasingly crowded place thanks to the constant influx of new satellites and it’s only to get more cramped as the cost to get to orbit falls. Those dynamics have brought attention to startup Northwood Space, which has spent the last few years developing more modern and efficient ground-based communications infrastructure. The startup capitalized on that interest in two ways this week. The El Segundo, California-based company announced on Tuesday it has closed a $100 million Series B funding round, led by Washington D.C.-based firm Washington Harbour Partners (which has been on a run of space investments) and…
Just before 8am one day last April, an office manager who went by the name Amani sent out a motivational message to his colleagues and subordinates. “Every day brings a new opportunity—a chance to connect, to inspire, and to make a difference,” he wrote in his 500-word post to an office-wide WhatsApp group. “Talk to that next customer like you’re bringing them something valuable—because you are.”Amani wasn’t rallying a typical corporate sales team. He and his underlings worked inside a “pig butchering” compound, a criminal operation built to carry out scams—promising romance and riches from crypto investments—that often defraud victims…
A new risk assessment has found that xAI’s chatbot Grok has inadequate identification of users under 18, weak safety guardrails, and frequently generates sexual, violent, and inappropriate material. In other words, Grok is not safe for kids or teens. The damning report from Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that provides age-based ratings and reviews of media and tech for families, comes as xAI faces criticism and an investigation into how Grok was used to create and spread nonconsensual explicit AI-generated images of women and children on the X platform. “We assess a lot of AI chatbots at Common Sense Media,…
Listen up, nerds. Newegg currently has promo codes and deals on gently used, refurbished, new and hard-to-find electronics, gaming products and more. Remaining one of the biggest online-only retailers in the US for the last 20 years, Newegg is a leading global online retailer for PC hardware, home appliances and all things tech, as well as providing help with businesses’ e-commerce needs. In the last decade, Newegg has expanded its online retail presence, selling everything from PC parts to refurbished vacuum cleaners. So, whether you’re wanting to build your own PC or just looking to upgrade your laptop, Newegg has…
To understand the stance of an unwavering Trump loyalist after a federal border patrol agent shocked the nation this weekend by shooting an American citizen in Minneapolis, look no further than Khosla Ventures partner Keith Rabois. Rabois’ public support for Border Patrol’s actions in the killing of Alex Pretti, made via posts on X, was so vehement that Khosla Ventures partner Ethan Choi and firm founder Vinod Khosla both publicly disavowed it. Rabois argued that Pretti was at fault, writing that the protester was committing a “felony.” One of Rabois’ posts said, “no law enforcement has shot an innocent person.…
TurboTax has been my go-to for self-filing taxes for years. It’s good enough for me—and literally millions of other users. TurboTax has quickly become a favorite among users for its easy-to-use self-filing services, along with easy access to assistance from tax professionals. TurboTax has free self-service for qualifying people, and TurboTax Live Assisted, where you file online with tax expert help if needed, and TurboTax Full Service, where a tax expert will do your taxes and review them with you before filing.To help you figure out the often confusing process of filing taxes, I’ve written a guide on How to…
The 2026 Game Developers Conference is shaping up to be a little less international this year if commentary on social media platforms like LinkedIn is an indicator. Many members of the international games industry have announced they will skip the event, mainly over concerns about safety, tougher U.S. immigration rules, and a stronger immigration and Customs Enforcement presence. Developers, past GDC attendees, and other industry professionals have taken to platforms like LinkedIn to publicly voice their concerns. ICE activity in numerous U.S. cities as well as the recent fatal shootings in Minneapolis involving ICE agents have compounded concerns. Renee Nicole Good…
Expect to save over $600 on the hottest models, including $250 off monitors, for crisp and clear gaming (or writing), 40% off laptops, and up to $1,200 off desktops for true gamers. We’ve rounded up the top Dell coupon codes and discounts so you can save big on pricey tech.Get 10% Off With Top Dell Coupon CodesIf you haven’t bought from Dell, right now you can get seriously rewarded for switching. Right now, new customers can get 10% off Dell products when you sign up for their email newsletter. Plus, you’ll get additional perks like exclusive offers in your inbox…
Meta plans to test new subscriptions that give people access to exclusive features on it apps, the company told TechCrunch on Monday. The tech giant said the new subscriptions will unlock more productivity and creativity, along with expanded AI capabilities. In the coming months, Meta said it will offer a premium experience on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp that gives users access to special features and more control over how they share and connect, while keeping the core experiences free. Meta doesn’t appear to be locked into one strategy, noting that it will test a variety of subscription features and bundles, and…
Last month, Pamela Griffin and two other residents of Taylor, Texas, took to the lectern at a city council meeting to object to a data center project. But later, they sat back as council members discussed a proposed tech factory. Griffin didn’t speak up against that development. No one did.A similar contrast is repeating in communities across the US. Data centers are meeting unprecedented public resistance, with environmental costs a leading concern. More of them have been needed to power a growing appetite for AI, and they’ve become obvious flash points for communities worried about what automation could mean for…
Bosch released a teaser on Monday for its upcoming Super Bowl ad, revealing that celebrity chef Guy Fieri will star in the brand’s second consecutive Big Game appearance, albeit in an unexpectedly stripped-down fashion.The teaser shows Fieri moments before a stylist shaves off his signature spiked blond hair and goatee, transforming him into what Bosch dubs “Just a Guy.” Following his trim, the clean-shaven, brown-haired version of the Food Network star looks almost aggressively ordinary. The short video ends before the makeover is complete, cutting to the Super Bowl airdate of Feb. 8 and positioning the transformation as the creative hook…