Workflow
TechCrunch
icon
Search documents
Google and PayPal team up on agentic commerce
TechCrunch· 2025-09-18 14:58
Core Insights - PayPal has entered a multi-year partnership with Google to utilize AI technology for enhancing shopping experiences [1] - The collaboration will integrate PayPal's payment solutions across various Google products and improve its technology infrastructure through Google Cloud [1][4] - Both companies will support the adoption of Google's new Agent Payments Protocol, which facilitates AI-initiated purchases [3] Group 1 - PayPal will leverage Google's AI technology to create new shopping experiences, although specific types of experiences have not been detailed [2] - Google will provide its AI expertise while PayPal will utilize its global payment infrastructure and personalization solutions [2] - PayPal will be a key payment provider for card payments in Google Cloud, Google Ads, and Google Play [4] Group 2 - The partnership includes the integration of PayPal's branded checkout, Hyperwallet payouts service, and PayPal Payouts service into Google's ecosystem [4] - The Agent Payments Protocol has received backing from over 60 merchants and financial institutions, indicating strong industry support [3]
Nvidia buys $5 billion stake in Intel, planning AI chip collaboration
TechCrunch· 2025-09-18 14:31
Nvidia has agreed to buy a $5 billion stake in Intel as part of a broader deal to together develop “multiple generations” of data center and PC products.Nvidia will acquire the Intel stock for $23.28 per share, a slight discount on the companies previous trading price. According to Reuters, the deal would make Nvidia one of Intel’s largest shareholders, owning about 4% of the company. Intel shares were up as much as 30% in early trading on Thursday morning. The companies will integrate their two architectu ...
Atlassian acquires DX, a developer productivity platform, for $1B
TechCrunch· 2025-09-18 13:00
Core Insights - Atlassian is acquiring developer productivity insight platform DX for $1 billion in cash and restricted stock to enhance its product suite [1] - DX helps enterprises analyze engineering team productivity and identify bottlenecks [1] Company Overview - DX was founded five years ago by Abi Noda and Greyson Junggren to improve understanding of engineering team challenges [2] - The company has tripled its customer base annually and currently serves over 350 enterprise customers, including notable names like ADP, Adyen, and GitHub [3] Acquisition Rationale - Atlassian's CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes stated that after three years of attempting to develop an in-house tool, the company recognized the value in acquiring an existing solution like DX [4] - 90% of DX's customers already utilize Atlassian's project management tools, making the acquisition a strategic fit [4] Product Integration - DX's platform will be integrated into Atlassian's broader product suite, providing a comprehensive solution for customers to address productivity bottlenecks [8] - The acquisition is expected to enhance the qualitative and quantitative understanding of developer productivity for clients [5][6] Market Context - The acquisition comes at a time when companies are increasingly looking to measure the effectiveness of AI tools and their associated budgets [6] - There is a cultural alignment between the two companies, with both having scaled without significant outside funding [7]
Meta launches Hyperscape, technology to turn real-world spaces into VR
TechCrunch· 2025-09-18 00:43
Core Insights - Meta Connect developer conference highlighted new smart glasses and significant metaverse updates, particularly the introduction of Hyperscape for creating photorealistic virtual spaces [1][5] Group 1: Hyperscape Introduction - Hyperscape Capture is now in Early Access, allowing Quest device owners to scan real rooms and create immersive digital replicas [2] - The capture process takes a few minutes, but rendering the room will take several hours [2] - Initially, users cannot invite others into their digital spaces, but this feature will be available later through a private link [3] Group 2: Featured Hyperscape Worlds - The technology has been used to render notable locations such as Gordon Ramsay's kitchen, Chance the Rapper's House of Kicks, and the UFC Apex Octagon [4] Group 3: User Rollout and Age Restrictions - Hyperscape is being rolled out to users aged 18 and older with Quest 3 or Quest 3S devices, starting gradually from the announcement date [5] Group 4: Additional Metaverse Updates - Meta introduced new VR games for fall, including Marvel's Deadpool VR and Star Wars: Beyond Victory [8] - Horizon TV will support streaming services like Disney+, ESPN, and Hulu, along with partnerships for immersive movie experiences [9]
Meta unveils new smart glasses with a display and wristband controller
TechCrunch· 2025-09-18 00:25
Core Insights - Meta has launched a new pair of smart glasses called Ray-Ban Meta Display, featuring a built-in display for apps, alerts, and directions, controlled by a wristband called Meta Neural Band [1][2][4] - The glasses are priced at $800 and are expected to be available for purchase in a couple of weeks [2] - This product represents Meta's ongoing efforts to create consumer smart glasses that can perform tasks traditionally done on smartphones, aiming to reduce reliance on competitors' devices [3][12] Product Features - The Ray-Ban Meta Display builds on the success of the original Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which have sold millions of units in partnership with EssilorLuxottica [4] - The glasses include an AI assistant, cameras, speakers, and microphones, allowing users to connect to the internet and access social media apps [4][5] - Users can display Meta apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook, as well as view directions and live translations [5] Technology and Control - The Meta Neural Band, which resembles a Fitbit without a screen, allows users to navigate apps using subtle hand gestures, with a battery life of 18 hours and water resistance [5][6] - The device utilizes electromyography (EMG) to detect signals between the brain and hand for gesture control, positioning it as a new interface for device interaction [6] Market Position and Competition - Meta aims to be first to market with a functional smart glasses product, although the Ray-Ban Meta Display is less advanced than the previously showcased Orion smart glasses, which featured augmented reality capabilities [11] - There is anticipation that competitors like Google and Apple will release their own smart glasses in the future, potentially integrating them with their operating systems, which could pose a challenge for Meta [12]
Meta unveils its new Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses for athletes
TechCrunch· 2025-09-18 00:15
At Meta Connect 2025 on Wednesday, the company unveiled its new Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses that are geared toward runners, cyclists, and other athletes. The glasses retail for $499 and are launching on October 21.Meta Connect is the social networking giant’s biggest conference of the year, where it unveils smart glasses and VR headsets. The glasses feature a large unified front lens, instead of having two cameras positioned at the top corners of the frames, which is in previous Meta smart glasses a ...
Eric Baker's long, winding road to taking StubHub public
TechCrunch· 2025-09-17 23:33
Core Insights - StubHub went public with an IPO price of $23.50, closing 6% below that price, which values the company at over $7 billion, highlighting the perseverance of its co-founder Eric Baker [1] Company History - StubHub was co-founded by Eric Baker and Jeff Fluhr in 2000 during their time at Stanford, shortly after the dotcom bubble burst [1] - Baker was pushed out of the company in 2004 due to differences in vision with Fluhr [2] - In 2005, Baker founded Viagogo in London, aiming to merge it with StubHub in the future [3] - In 2019, eBay spun off StubHub, and Baker acquired it for $4.05 billion with backing from investors [3] Impact of COVID-19 - The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted StubHub, leading to a collapse in revenue due to the cancellation of live events [4][6] - The company managed to survive the pandemic and saw a significant rebound in revenue as live events resumed [6] Recent Performance - StubHub's revenue grew by 10% to $397.6 million in Q1 2025 compared to the same period last year, driven by high-demand events like Taylor Swift's Eras Tour and the Super Bowl [6] - Baker reflected on the company's journey and challenges faced, including the impact of COVID-19 [7] Ownership Structure - Eric Baker owns 4.7% of StubHub, while investors Madrone Partners, WestCap, and Bessemer Venture Partners hold 24.5%, 12.3%, and 8.8% respectively [7]
Tesla is redesigning its door handles following safety probe, Bloomberg investigation
TechCrunch· 2025-09-17 20:23
Core Viewpoint - Tesla is redesigning its door handles to enhance safety and prevent occupants from being trapped inside the vehicles following incidents reported to the NHTSA [1][3]. Group 1: Safety Concerns - The NHTSA has opened an investigation into Tesla's door handles after receiving nine complaints from owners regarding failures [3]. - Issues identified include the reliance on electronic locks that may fail without battery power and the difficulty in accessing manual door releases [3]. Group 2: Design Changes - Tesla's chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, indicated that the company is working on a solution that combines electronic and manual door releases into a single button [3]. - The decision to rethink door handle design aligns with safety concerns raised in China, although no final regulatory action has been taken there [2].
Amazon launches AI agent to help sellers complete tasks and manage their businesses
TechCrunch· 2025-09-17 14:18
Amazon announced on Wednesday that it’s introducing an always-on AI agent that will help sellers on its platform run their businesses. The company is updating Seller Assistant, its AI tool for third-party sellers, to help handle tasks on the seller’s behalf. “Our agentic AI capabilities are designed to work seamlessly throughout the entire selling experience, which means sellers can go from handling every task themselves to collaborating with an intelligent assistant that works proactively on their behalf a ...
Lyft and Waymo are partnering to bring robotaxis to Nashville
TechCrunch· 2025-09-17 13:10
Core Insights - Waymo has partnered with Lyft to launch a robotaxi service in Nashville by 2026, with testing of all-electric autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles starting soon and public access expected next year [1][2] Expansion Plans - This partnership marks Waymo's continued expansion of its robotaxi services beyond Phoenix to cities including Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, with future plans for Miami, Washington D.C., Dallas, and Denver [2] Operational Model - The agreement reflects Waymo's strategy to transition from being a sole operator to an autonomous vehicle technology provider, as seen in its previous collaborations with Uber in Atlanta and Austin, where Waymo handled vehicle testing and support while Uber managed fleet services [3] Fleet Management - In the Nashville partnership, Lyft will manage fleet services, including vehicle maintenance and infrastructure, through its subsidiary Flexdrive, and is investing in a dedicated AV facility [4] Customer Access - Unlike the Uber partnership, Nashville robotaxi customers will have two options to access rides: directly through the Waymo app initially, and later through the Lyft app as the service expands [5][6] Previous Collaborations - Waymo and Lyft have collaborated before, notably in 2019, when they integrated a limited number of self-driving vehicles into Lyft's network in Phoenix as part of Waymo's commercial robotaxi service ramp-up [8]