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Reddit revenue soars as it bets on AI and advertising
TechCrunch· 2025-07-31 22:13
Core Insights - Reddit's second-quarter earnings highlight a significant increase in focus on AI, particularly in enhancing its advertising business, which generated $465 million, accounting for 93% of total revenue [1] Advertising Business - The majority of Reddit's revenue is derived from advertising, with a reported $465 million in ad revenue for the second quarter [1] - New advertising features launched include Reddit Insights, which analyzes platform data for campaign strategies, and Conversation Summary Add-ons, allowing user discussions to be included in ads [2] Other Revenue Growth - The "other revenue" category, which includes data licensing deals with AI providers, saw a 24% year-over-year increase to $35 million, up from $28.1 million [3] - Reddit has established content licensing agreements with major AI companies like Google and OpenAI, indicating a steady income stream with long-term potential [4] AI Features - The Reddit Answers tool, launched in December, has gained traction with 6 million weekly users, up from 1 million in the previous quarter [5] - The company aims to integrate the Reddit Answers tool more deeply into the core search experience, enhancing the platform's search functionality [5]
Apple has now sold three billion iPhones
TechCrunch· 2025-07-31 21:35
Core Insights - Apple has sold three billion iPhones since its launch in 2007, with the billionth unit sold in 2016, indicating a consistent growth in popularity over the years [1][2] - Despite strong iPhone sales, Apple has faced challenges in the stock market, falling behind competitors like Nvidia and Microsoft in market valuation [2] - iPhone sales increased by 13% year-over-year, generating $44.6 billion in revenue, which constitutes nearly half of Apple's total revenue of $94 billion for the quarter [3] Sales Performance - The increase in iPhone sales is notable, with a significant revenue contribution to the overall financial performance of the company [3] - The sales surge may be influenced by market fears regarding potential tariff impacts on pricing, which could have driven consumers to purchase iPhones sooner [4]
Apple plans to ‘significantly' grow AI investments and is open to M&A
TechCrunch· 2025-07-31 21:21
Core Insights - Apple is intensifying its focus on artificial intelligence (AI) as a critical technology for the future, with plans to integrate AI across its devices and platforms while significantly increasing investments in this area [2][4] - The company is open to mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to expedite its AI initiatives, having already acquired seven companies in the current year, although none were substantial in financial terms [3][4] - Apple has faced criticism for lagging in the AI sector, particularly regarding the delayed launch of AI features, including an upgraded version of Siri, which is now expected in 2026 [4][5] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Apple reported better-than-expected iPhone sales and achieved record revenue, leading to a rise in stock prices during after-hours trading [7] AI Features and Developments - The company has launched over 20 AI features, including visual intelligence, cleanup, and writing tools, with plans to introduce additional features like live translation and an AI-powered workout buddy later this year [5]
Apple plans to ‘significantly' grow AI investments, Cook says
TechCrunch· 2025-07-31 21:21
Apple on Thursday signaled that it's getting more serious about its plans to catch up in the AI race. "We see AI as one of the most profound technologies of our lifetime. We are embedding it across our devices and platforms and across the company. We are also significantly growing our investments," CEO Tim Cook said on the Q3 2025 earnings call with investors. "Apple has always been about taking the most advanced technologies and making them easy to use and accessible for everyone, and that's at the heart o ...
Figma's stock soars in its highly anticipated IPO, market cap instantly hits $45B
TechCrunch· 2025-07-31 18:15
Core Insights - Figma began trading on the New York Stock Exchange with significant market activity, leading to a temporary halt in trading due to volatility [1] - The stock price fluctuated between $101 and $112, resulting in a mid-day market capitalization of $45 billion [1] - The IPO price was set at $33 per share, indicating a substantial increase in value post-IPO [1] Demand and Market Reaction - There has been high demand for Figma's stock, with investors sharing humorous experiences of receiving fewer shares than requested from trading platforms [2] - The successful IPO has overshadowed Figma's previous failed acquisition attempt by Adobe, valued at $20 billion, marking a significant turning point in the company's history [2]
Google loses appeal over app store overhaul in Epic Games case
TechCrunch· 2025-07-31 17:48
Core Points - Google lost its appeal against a court order to revamp its app store in an antitrust case initiated by Epic Games [1][2] - The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the trial judge's decision, which found that Google illegally stifled competition [1][2] - Epic Games filed the lawsuit in 2020, and a jury ruled in 2023 that Google's practices were anti-competitive [2] Legal Proceedings - The trial judge's order requires Google to open its app store to competitors and provide Android users with more options for downloading apps [2] - Google's appeal was based on the argument that the trial judge made legal errors and did not allow it to present its defense regarding competition with Apple's App Store [1][3]
Ford to reveal more about its new low-cost electric vehicles on August 11
TechCrunch· 2025-07-31 14:14
Core Insights - Ford is preparing to unveil details about its low-cost electric vehicles, with CEO Jim Farley describing the announcement as a "Model T moment" for the company [1] - The electric vehicle division of Ford reported a loss of approximately $1.3 billion in Q2 2025, with declining sales for its top EV models, the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E [2] - Ford's initiative for a low-cost electric vehicle is being led by former Tesla executive Alan Clarke, with a team composed of talent from various leading companies in the EV sector [3] Product Development - The first vehicle on the new low-cost platform is a mid-size pickup truck expected to launch in 2027, with plans for multiple vehicle styles aimed at both retail and commercial customers [4] - Ford has indicated that these vehicles will offer "personalized digital experiences," although specific details remain undisclosed [4] Market Context - Currently, there are virtually no mass-market electric vehicles available in the U.S. priced at or below $30,000, but this is expected to change with the introduction of Ford's low-cost EVs in the coming years [5] - Competitors like Tesla and General Motors are also planning to release more affordable electric models, with Tesla set to launch a stripped-down Model Y SUV and GM reintroducing the Chevy Bolt [5]
Kleiner Perkins-backed Ambiq pops on IPO debut
TechCrunch· 2025-07-31 01:00
Company Overview - Ambiq Micro is a 15-year-old manufacturer specializing in energy-efficient chips for wearable and medical devices [1] - The company successfully completed its IPO, closing the first day of trading at $38.53 per share, which is a 61% increase from the $24 IPO price [1] Market Performance - Ambiq's first-day valuation reached $656 million, a significant rise from its last private funding valuation of $450 million in 2023 [2] - The strong performance of the IPO indicates robust investor demand for small-cap companies that are benefiting from AI innovations [1][2] Financial Performance - For the three months ending March 31, Ambiq reported a net loss of $8.3 million on revenues of $15.7 million, showing slight improvement from a $9.8 million loss on $15.2 million in revenue in the previous quarter [3] - The company is positioned to leverage AI growth, with its CTO stating that their low-energy chips allow for more intelligence and AI integration on edge processors [2] Investment Backing - Major investors include Kleiner Perkins and EDB Investments, a Singaporean state-backed entity, highlighting strong backing from reputable venture capital firms [3]
Figma's IPO price hit a $19.3B valuation out of the gate
TechCrunch· 2025-07-30 23:04
Core Insights - Figma is set to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange, marking one of the most anticipated IPOs of 2025 with shares priced at $33 each, above the previously announced range [1][2] - The IPO is significantly oversubscribed, with demand for shares being 40 times the number of shares available for sale, indicating strong investor interest [1] - The final offering raised $1.2 billion, primarily benefiting existing shareholders who are selling approximately twice as many shares as the company itself [2] - The IPO values Figma at $19.3 billion, close to the $20 billion valuation that Adobe would have paid before its acquisition attempt fell through in 2023 due to regulatory pressures [3] Summary by Sections IPO Details - Figma's shares are priced at $33, which is higher than the initial expected range of $30 to $32, and up from a previous range of $25 to $28 [2] - The offering raised a total of $1.2 billion, with a significant portion going to existing shareholders [2] Market Valuation - The IPO price establishes Figma's market valuation at $19.3 billion, which is near the valuation Adobe aimed for in its failed acquisition attempt [3] Demand and Oversubscription - The IPO is reported to be 40 times oversubscribed, reflecting a high level of demand for Figma's shares [1]
Meta to spend up to $72B on AI infrastructure in 2025 as compute arms race escalates
TechCrunch· 2025-07-30 21:31
Core Insights - Meta is significantly increasing its capital expenditures on AI infrastructure, expecting 2025 expenditures to be between $66-72 billion, which is approximately $30 billion higher than the previous year [1][2] - The company plans to continue this aggressive spending trend into 2026 to enhance its AI capabilities and business operations [2] - Meta has announced the development of two major AI superclusters, Prometheus in Ohio and Hyperion in Louisiana, with Prometheus expected to reach 1 gigawatt of compute power by 2026 and Hyperion potentially scaling up to 5 gigawatts [3] Financial Performance - Meta reported a revenue of $47.5 billion in the second quarter, with expectations for Q3 revenue to be between $47.5 billion and $50.5 billion, driven by advertising and AI tools [7] - The Reality Labs segment, however, incurred a loss of $4.5 billion [8] Strategic Initiatives - The company is investing heavily in employee compensation to attract top AI talent for its Superintelligence Labs, which is expected to be a significant growth driver [5] - CEO Mark Zuckerberg articulated a vision for "personal superintelligence," focusing on enhancing individual lives through Meta's smart glasses and virtual reality headsets [6]