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Nvidia unveils new GPU designed for long-context inference
TechCrunch· 2025-09-09 16:35
Core Insights - Nvidia announced the Rubin CPX GPU, designed for context windows larger than 1 million tokens, at the AI Infrastructure Summit [1] - The Rubin CPX is part of Nvidia's upcoming Rubin series and is optimized for processing large sequences of context, enhancing performance in long-context tasks such as video generation and software development [1] - Nvidia reported $41.1 billion in data center sales in its most recent quarter, reflecting the company's strong financial performance [2] - The Rubin CPX is expected to be available by the end of 2026 [2]
Tesla is seeking permits to offer ride-hail services at Silicon Valley airports
TechCrunch· 2025-09-09 16:26
Core Insights - Tesla is seeking permits to operate a ride-hailing service at San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland airports, indicating a strategic move to expand its transportation services [1][2] - Currently, Tesla lacks the necessary permits for a full ride-hail service in California and is limited to a charter service that does not involve autonomous vehicle operations [3][4] - The California Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Motor Vehicles are key regulatory bodies that Tesla must engage with to launch a larger ride-hail service, especially if it involves autonomous vehicles [4] Group 1: Regulatory Environment - Tesla has not filed any permit applications with the San Jose airport, but has inquired about the permit process [2] - The California DMV is attempting to prevent Tesla from selling vehicles in the state due to concerns over the company's claims regarding self-driving capabilities [4] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Airports have historically been competitive environments for transportation services, as seen with Uber and Lyft's entry into the market [5] - Waymo has successfully established a ride service at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International airport and recently received permission to operate at San Jose airport, highlighting the potential for autonomous vehicle services at airports [7] Group 3: Current Operations - Tesla is currently testing a limited robotaxi network in Austin, Texas, with around 20 to 30 cars in operation, although the company has faced some documented issues during testing [8][9]
Tesla revamps the Megapack in attempt to reverse its declining storage business
TechCrunch· 2025-09-09 16:10
Core Insights - Tesla is launching the Megapack 3 and Megablock to revitalize its energy storage business, which has seen a decline in recent quarters [1][3] - The Megapack 3 offers increased storage capacity and a longer lifespan, while the Megablock combines four units for enhanced efficiency [2][3] - Production of these new products will begin in the latter half of 2026 at Tesla's Megafactory in Houston, which has a capacity of 50 gigawatt-hours per year [3][6] Product Details - Megapack 3 stores approximately 1 megawatt-hour more electricity than Tesla's largest current offering and features an updated thermal management system [1][2] - The Megablock configuration allows for 20 megawatt-hours of storage and reduces installation times by 23% and construction times by up to 40% [2] - The operational temperature range for Megapack 3 is from –40˚ F to 140˚ F, making it suitable for diverse environments [2] Market Context - Tesla's energy storage business has reported two consecutive quarters of declining performance, despite being the leading supplier in 2024 [3] - The overall energy storage industry is experiencing rapid growth, indicating potential opportunities for Tesla to regain market share [4] - Tesla installed 9.6 gigawatt-hours of stationary energy storage last quarter, highlighting its current operational scale [6] Strategic Partnerships - Tesla's energy storage solutions may benefit from internal demand from xAI, which has already integrated 168 Megapacks at its data center [7]
Snap breaks into ‘startup squads' as ad revenue stalls
TechCrunch· 2025-09-09 01:41
Core Insights - Snap is restructuring into small "startup squads" of 10 to 15 people to enhance competitiveness against larger rivals [1] - The company is facing challenges with advertising revenue growth stagnating at 4% in Q2 and a 2% decline in North American daily active users to 98 million [1] Revenue and Growth Opportunities - Snapchat+ subscriptions are generating over $700 million in annual recurring revenue from more than 15 million paying subscribers, marking it as one of Snap's fastest-growing revenue streams [2] - Snap is investing in AR glasses, referred to as Specs, which are envisioned to replace smartphones, indicating a significant shift towards human-centered computing [2] Market Valuation and Stock Performance - The current stock price reflects skepticism, but there is potential for "startup-style return" at Snap's valuation of approximately $12 billion, which is a 90% decrease from its peak market cap of $116 billion in September 2021 [2]
Netskope follows Rubrik as a rare cybersecurity IPO, both backed Lightspeed
TechCrunch· 2025-09-08 22:35
Core Insights - The cybersecurity sector is experiencing a trend where startups are more likely to be acquired rather than going public, as evidenced by Wiz's decision to sell to Google instead of pursuing an IPO [1] - Netskope, a cloud cybersecurity platform, is set to become a public company, aiming for a valuation of up to $6.5 billion [2][3] Company Overview - Netskope is recognized as a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) provider, offering cybersecurity solutions for cloud infrastructure, including secure web gateways and firewall as a service [6] - The company has major competitors such as Zscaler and Palo Alto Networks [6] Investment and Valuation - Lightspeed Venture Partners, a significant investor in Netskope, owns 19.3% of the company and previously held a 23.9% stake in Rubrik when it went public at a valuation of $6.6 billion [2][3] - Netskope's last valuation was $7.5 billion following a $300 million Series H funding round in 2021, and it also raised a $401 million convertible note in 2023 [6] Financial Performance - For the first half of the year, Netskope's revenue increased to $328.5 million from $251.3 million year-over-year, while its net loss narrowed to $169.5 million from $206.7 million [7] - If Netskope goes public at a valuation of $6.5 billion, it would join other VC-backed companies that debuted below their last private market valuations [7][8]
Meta suppressed children's safety research, four whistleblowers claim
TechCrunch· 2025-09-08 17:29
Two current and two former Meta employees disclosed documents to Congress alleging that the company may have suppressed research on children’s safety, according to a report from The Washington Post.According to their claims, Meta changed its policies around researching sensitive topics — like politics, children, gender, race, and harassment — six weeks after whistleblower Frances Haugen leaked internal documents that showed how Meta’s own research found that Instagram can damage teen girls’ mental health. T ...
How to watch Apple announce the iPhone 17
TechCrunch· 2025-09-08 17:05
Apple is hosting its “Awe dropping” hardware event tomorrow at 10 a.m. PT. The company is expected to announce its iPhone 17 lineup, which could include a slimmer version, as well as updates for the Apple Watch and AirPods. The keynote will take place at Apple Park in Cupertino. Viewers can tune in to the livestream here or watch it on Apple’s website. As usual, TechCrunch will be covering the event, so stay tuned for news.There have been numerous rumors surrounding the upcoming iPhone lineup. Taking center ...
YouTube's first exclusive NFL broadcast attracts over 17M viewers
TechCrunch· 2025-09-08 15:24
YouTube announced on Monday that its first-ever exclusive global broadcast of an NFL game broke a record for the company, achieving the most concurrent viewers of a live stream on the platform. Over 17.3 million viewers from more than 230 countries and territories worldwide tuned in for the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo.This figure represents the average minute audience (AMA) that watched the game last Friday. In the U.S., there were 16.2 million AMA across Yo ...
Adtech company PubMatic sues Google over monopoly violations
TechCrunch· 2025-09-08 14:41
In Brief Advertising exchange PubMatic has filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing the tech giant of illegally monopolizing the ad technology market. PubMatic is seeking billions of dollars in damages, according a report from Bloomberg.The lawsuit marks the second time that an advertising exchange has sued Google since a federal judge ruled in April that the search giant had illegally monopolized ad exchanges and ad servers. The judge has set another trial for this month to determine whether Google should ...
Uber and Momenta to test autonomous vehicles in Germany in 2026
TechCrunch· 2025-09-08 06:00
Core Insights - Uber and Momenta plan to test robotaxis in Munich, Germany starting in 2026, marking the first continental European city for this initiative [1][6] - The partnership was first announced in May 2025, with initial operations involving human safety operators onboard [1][2] - Momenta is a significant player in China's autonomous vehicle market, having tested self-driving cars since 2018 [2] Company Developments - Momenta has been involved in the autonomous vehicle sector since its founding in 2016 and is recognized for its competitive position in China [2] - Uber's entry into the European AV market puts it in competition with other ride-hailing companies, such as Lyft, which has partnered with Baidu for robotaxi deployment [2] - Uber has established partnerships with 20 global AV companies, generating an annualized rate of 1.5 million mobility and delivery trips [3] Market Expansion - Uber's international strategy includes partnerships with Chinese AV startups like WeRide and Pony.ai for robotaxi services in the Middle East [4] - Current AV services are offered in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, with plans to expand to Dubai [4] - Uber and Wayve are also planning public road trials of Level 4 AVs in London [4] Technical and Regulatory Aspects - Munich was chosen for its engineering heritage and strong automotive ecosystem, with Uber's CEO highlighting Germany's historical significance in the automotive industry [6] - Momenta's robotaxi deployment in Europe will require certification from German regulators, including safety standards and geo-fenced area approvals [7][8] - Momenta is also developing advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in collaboration with major German automakers, with ADAS already installed on 400,000 vehicles [9]