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United States law enforcement this week took down the Aisuru, Kimwolf, JackSkid, and Mossad botnets, a slate of cybercriminal tools that have infected more than 3 million devices around the world, including many inside home networks, and have been used to carry out record-breaking cyberattacks. Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of iPhones are currently vulnerable to takeover by a new tool called DarkSword that Russian hackers used to steal victims’ data.Customer service calls and chats with the Sears Home Services AI bot Samantha were exposed and publicly accessible until a researcher reported the situation—revealing personal details from calls and chats, including,…

For decades, humans have sought to harness the power of the stars to generate electricity here on Earth. And for nearly as long, achieving that goal always seemed just a decade away. Now, a slew of startups are closer than ever before and rushing to build fusion reactors capable of putting power on the grid. Fusion startups have drawn more than $10 billion in investment, with more than a dozen raising over $100 million. Many large funding rounds have closed in the last year, with investors drawn to the industry as energy demand from data centers ramps up and as…

The flash from my iPhone camera illuminates my dirty socks and underwear as I hold each item up for the video recording to capture clearly. As I load my smelly clothes into the washer, I tremble a bit each time the phone loudly beeps, detecting that my hands may be out of frame. Gotta see those fingers! No, I haven’t pivoted to filming some kind of fetish content to make ends meet—I’m trying the latest gig work app from DoorDash, called Tasks.The new Tasks app from food delivery app DoorDash has nothing to do with delivering food—it’s all about gathering…

Jeff Bezos is reportedly seeking $100 billion for a new fund, the likes of which will be used to buy up companies in major industrial sectors and, ultimately, modernize and automate them with AI, according to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal. The effort is related to Bezos’ AI startup, Project Prometheus. Bezos, whose involvement with the company was originally reported in November, is serving as co-founder and co-CEO, alongside former Google executive Vik Bajaj. Prometheus, which launched with $6.2 billion in funding, is focused on creating high-level AI models to improve manufacturing and engineering in aerospace, automotive, and…

The best protein bars are grab-and-go snacks, not meal replacements. They’re most helpful when whole foods aren’t available or when your schedule won’t allow for a proper meal. The most beneficial sources of protein come with fiber, healthy fats, and other nutrients. (That’s why registered dietitians recommend whole foods over ultra-processed alternatives.) So, while high-protein snacks may boast impressive counts on the label, they’re not always the healthiest option.After consulting the nutrition experts about key ingredients to look for (and what to avoid), we’ve rounded up the best protein bars that meet those standards. For more tips on protein, check…

Rivr, a Zurich-based autonomous robotics startup known for its stair-climbing delivery robot, has been acquired by Amazon in a deal that signals the e-commerce giant’s interest in doorstep delivery. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Co-founder and CEO Marko Bjelonic, who once described the four-legged wheeled robot to TechCrunch as a “dog on roller skates,” shared the acquisition news on LinkedIn. The Information was first to report the deal. Bjelonic said in his LinkedIn post that the acquisition will “accelerate our vision of building General Physical AI through doorstep delivery, bringing robotics and AI closer to real-world deployment at scale,”…

Podcasts are to radio as streaming services are to television, and we’re lucky to be living through a golden age of both. But you need help finding the best podcasts worthy of your ear because, while you can find a podcast about almost anything these days, with great choice comes great mediocrity. Our expertly curated list will entertain and educate you, whether you’re doing the dishes, working out, commuting, or lazing in the bath.For more advice, check out our guides on how to listen to more podcasts and the best podcasts for kids. If you’re feeling entrepreneurial, read our recommendations…

Digital meeting notetakers like Read AI, Fireflies.ai, Fathom, and Granola help record and transcribe online meetings. But for in-person or more versatile options, many people prefer physical recording devices. These physical notetakers transcribe audio and give users summaries and action items of meetings using AI. Some of these devices are wearable — pins or pendants with dedicated mics for recording — while others are credit card-sized with dedicated mobile apps to transcribe and extract insights using AI. A few even offer live translation. Below is a non-exhaustive list of physical AI notetakers and transcription tools. Plaud Note/Plaud Note Pro This…

The app also includes access to two scheduled operational modes for those who would like to leave the robot in the pool, including a calendar-based mode with three frequency levels—90 minutes x 2, 60 minutes x 3, or 45 minutes x 4. The other mode is a bit of a letdown: The so-called AI Navium mode sounds like it uses the AI camera to periodically survey the pool over the course of a week and perform a routine cleaning only when required—but in reality, this mode merely performs a quick analysis of your previous runs and then uses AI to create…

Venture capitalists have placed increasingly bigger bets on AI startups, investing over half a trillion dollars into the sector over the last five years. But these days, the smartest AI investment might be in energy, according to a report by Sightline Climate. Researchers found that up to 50% of data center projects that have been announced might be delayed. One of the biggest culprits is access to power.  Of the 190 gigawatts’ worth of data centers the company is tracking, only 5 gigawatts are under construction. About 6 gigawatts of data center projects in Sightline’s database came online last year.…

Anthony Norman is your typical Gen Z worker: 25, a little wayward, and struggling to find a full time job.You can’t exactly fault him for the position he’s in. Unemployment rates are high. AI is creating a crisis for young people trying to enter the workforce. Hiring has slowed. And several companies—including Amazon, Block, and Meta—have embraced tech’s latest era of layoffmaxxing, with some cutting their staff by 20 percent.So when Anthony lands a temp position at Rockin’ Grandma’s Hot Sauce, a small business in Southern California, he’s just happy for what he assumes is a regular gig: assisting with…

Looks like Amazon’s getting back into the smartphone game. More than 11 years after the e-commerce giant pulled the plug on its failed first effort, the Fire Phone, the company is now developing a new smartphone codenamed “Transformer,” Reuters reported, citing anonymous sources. The device is being developed by the company’s Devices and Services division, and it would feature personalized features that would make it easier to use Amazon’s suite of apps, including Amazon Shopping, Prime Video, and Prime Music, the report said. The smartphone would also support Alexa, the smart home assistant that Amazon has been investing heavily in,…

The original Corsair 4000D was my favorite computer case ever. It boasted excellent cooling, a simple but refined look, and an appealing price. For just an extra $20, the new Frame 4000D RS promises several major upgrades to both usability and flexibility, but we all know how sequels sometimes turn out.Having built up a new test system inside, I can tell you that the case is technically just as good, particularly in the hands of any experienced builder. The cooling and component support is second to none, and some of the usability features are so novel I can’t believe other…

A cyberattack on a U.S. vehicle breathalyzer company has left drivers across the United States stranded and unable to start their vehicles. The company, Intoxalock, says on its website that it is “currently experiencing downtime” after a cyberattack on March 14. Intoxalock sells breathalyzer devices that fit into vehicle ignition switches, and is used by people who are required to provide a negative alcohol breath sample to start their car. Intoxalock spokesperson Rachael Larson confirmed to TechCrunch that the company had been hit by a cyberattack. Larson said the company took steps to “temporarily pause some of our systems as…

For decades, the process of making a surfboard has more or less been the same: cut a piece of foam; put a wooden stringer down the middle to provide structure and strength; shape it, then wrap it in fiberglass, sand it, and leave holes for the leash and fins. That was until Firewire Surfboards came along. Now the company uses a 21-step construction process and a dizzying assortment of aerospace-grade foams, carbon fiber, and bio-resins to produce a board that looks straight out of science fiction.The surf world tends to favor the tried-and-true, but in Firewire’s case, every new material…

Well, the data is out. AI startups accounted for 41% of the $128 billion in venture dollars raised by companies on Carta last year — a record-high annual share. In a sense, though, we knew that. Investors last year were voracious in deploying capital to AI startups, to the point that 10% of startups accounted for half of the funding.  Those startups included Anthropic, OpenAI, and xAI, which raised double-digit billions last year at sky-high valuations. Actually, they are still raising at an even more astounding velocity. In January, xAI raised a $20 billion Series E. In February, OpenAI snagged a…