TechCrunch

Search documents
Coinbase says customers' personal information stolen in data breach
TechCrunch· 2025-05-15 11:58
Core Insights - Coinbase has confirmed a data breach where customer information, including government-issued identity documents, was stolen [1][4] - The hacker obtained the information by paying contractors or employees in support roles to access internal systems [2] - Coinbase has detected malicious activity in previous months and has warned affected customers [3] Data Breach Details - Stolen customer data includes names, postal and email addresses, phone numbers, last four digits of Social Security numbers, masked bank account numbers, and government-issued identity documents [4] - The breach also involved corporate data, including internal documentation [5] Financial Impact - Coinbase expects to incur costs between $180 million to $400 million for incident remediation and customer reimbursements [5]
Netflix adds more live TV to its lineup
TechCrunch· 2025-05-14 20:30
Core Insights - Netflix is expanding its live streaming content, now reaching over 94 million global monthly active users, with a focus on sports, comedy, and special events [1] - Upcoming live events include the Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano rematch on July 11 and two NFL Christmas Day matchups [1] - Netflix will also stream the 32nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on March 1, 2026, and its own "Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event" [2] Advertising and Audience Engagement - The company introduced the Netflix Ads Suite, incorporating first-party data from LiveRamp or Netflix, and expanding programmatic ad buying options [3] - A new ad format will utilize generative AI to match ads with Netflix shows [3] - Netflix has a strong reach among Gen Z and millennials, with more viewers aged 18-34 than any other U.S. broadcast or cable network, and U.S. ad-supported tier consumers watching an average of 41 hours per month [4]
Foxconn gets nod for $435M project to make more of Apple chips in India, eventually
TechCrunch· 2025-05-14 19:37
Core Insights - Foxconn has received approval from India's cabinet to establish a semiconductor plant in a joint venture with HCL Group, with an investment of 37 billion Indian rupees ($435 million) [1] - The plant will be located in Uttar Pradesh and is expected to start operations in 2027, focusing on manufacturing display driver chips for various devices [2] - Initially, the facility will serve as a semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) site, providing packaging and testing services for chips manufactured elsewhere [3] Group 1: Investment and Manufacturing Strategy - The new plant aims to reduce Apple's reliance on China and enhance its manufacturing capabilities in India [1][4] - The facility is projected to have a capacity of 20,000 wafers per month, producing 36 million units monthly [4] - Apple is already expanding its manufacturing base in India, including local assembly of iPhones and plans for other devices like AirPods [7] Group 2: Government Support and Incentives - The Indian government offers fiscal support covering up to 50% of capital expenditure for semiconductor facilities under its state-run semiconductor scheme [8] - Foxconn's subsidiary announced plans to invest $37.2 million for a 40% stake in the joint venture with HCL [8] - The approval follows previous initiatives, including a $15 billion incentive program for building semiconductor plants in India [10]
Pinterest finally admits mass bans were a mistake caused by an ‘internal error'
TechCrunch· 2025-05-14 15:38
Core Viewpoint - Pinterest has publicly apologized for recent moderation issues that led to unwarranted account bans and Pin removals, attributing the problem to an "internal error" [1][5]. User Reactions - Users have expressed anger and frustration over the mass bans, claiming that their accounts were deactivated without valid reasons and that the company has not been transparent about the issue [2][3][6]. - Some users threatened legal action against Pinterest executives, indicating a significant level of unrest within the user community [4]. Company Response - Pinterest acknowledged the issue on May 1, stating that they monitor the platform for content violations but initially did not admit the extent of the problem [4]. - On May 13, the company issued a statement confirming that some account deactivations were mistakes due to over-enforcement and promised to improve their response to such errors in the future [5]. Ongoing Issues - Despite the apology, many users remain dissatisfied, reporting a lack of support when appealing bans and believing that AI moderation has misidentified their content [6].
Amazon to invest $4B in Chile to launch AWS infrastructure region
TechCrunch· 2025-05-07 15:08
Amazon is making a sizable investment to support new and existing Amazon Web Services (AWS) customers in Chile.The tech conglomerate announced on Wednesday that it will pour more than $4 billion into building an AWS infrastructure region of data centers in Chile by the end of 2026. The investment will go toward establishing three availability zones, or groups of isolated data centers, in the new AWS region. Amazon said it also plans to hire and develop local talent to operate and support its region in Chil ...
Amazon is working on an AI code generation tool
TechCrunch· 2025-05-07 10:01
Core Insights - Amazon Web Services is developing a new AI-powered code generation tool named "Kiro" which can generate code in near real-time using prompts and existing data [1] - Kiro is designed to create technical design documents, identify potential issues, and optimize code, enhancing its functionality beyond existing tools like Q Developer [2] - The AI-powered coding tools market is experiencing significant activity, with companies like Anysphere achieving a $9 billion valuation and Windsurf nearing a $3 billion acquisition by OpenAI [3] Company Developments - Kiro will feature web and desktop applications, multimodal capabilities, and compatibility with third-party AI agents, indicating a versatile approach to code generation [1] - The launch timeline for Kiro was initially considered for the end of June, but there may have been changes to this schedule [2] Industry Trends - The demand for AI-powered coding tools is increasing, as evidenced by substantial funding and acquisition activities within the sector [3]
Rivian earnings: EV maker cuts delivery guidance because of Trump's tariffs and trade wars
TechCrunch· 2025-05-06 21:37
Core Viewpoint - Rivian is expected to deliver fewer electric vehicles (EVs) this year than previously forecasted, primarily due to the impact of President Trump's tariffs and regulatory changes, reflecting broader challenges faced by the automotive industry under the current administration [1][3]. Delivery and Production Forecast - Rivian now anticipates delivering between 40,000 and 46,000 EVs by the end of 2025, a reduction from the earlier estimate of 46,000 to 51,000 vehicles for this year [2]. - Delivering fewer than 46,000 EVs would mark a setback for Rivian, which has already been experiencing stagnant volume growth, having delivered 51,579 vehicles in 2024 and 50,122 in 2023 [5]. Financial Performance - In the first quarter of 2025, Rivian generated a gross profit of $206 million from 8,640 deliveries, marking the second consecutive quarter of gross profit [6]. - Despite the gross profit, Rivian reported a net income loss of $541 million for the quarter, an improvement from a loss of $1.4 billion in the same period the previous year [7]. Revenue Insights - Automotive revenue decreased to $922 million from $1.12 billion in the first quarter of 2024, although total revenues saw a slight year-over-year increase due to a significant rise in software and services revenue [9]. - Software and services revenue reached $318 million in the first quarter of 2025, nearly a fourfold increase from $88 million in the same period last year, attributed to advancements in vehicle electrical architecture and software development services [9]. Capital Expenditure Guidance - Rivian raised its capital expenditure guidance to between $1.8 billion and $1.9 billion, up from the previous guidance of $1.6 billion to $1.7 billion, due to anticipated impacts from tariffs [2]. Industry Context - Rivian's earnings report follows similar actions from Ford and General Motors, both of which withdrew their guidance for the year due to economic uncertainties linked to Trump's tariffs, with Ford estimating an additional $2.5 billion in costs and GM around $5 billion [3]. - Rivian has previously warned that changes in government policies and a challenging demand environment could threaten vehicle demand, particularly if the federal tax credit for EVs is eliminated [4].
Rivian cuts delivery guidance because of Trump's tariffs and trade wars
TechCrunch· 2025-05-06 20:06
Core Viewpoint - Rivian is likely to deliver fewer electric vehicles (EVs) in 2025 than previously forecasted due to the impact of President Trump's tariffs and regulatory changes, reflecting broader challenges faced by the automotive industry under the current administration [1][2]. Group 1: Delivery Forecast - Rivian expects to deliver between 40,000 and 46,000 EVs by the end of 2025, a reduction from the earlier estimate of 46,000 to 51,000 vehicles [1]. - This marks a setback for Rivian, which has already been experiencing no volume growth for three consecutive years, having delivered 51,579 vehicles in 2024 and 50,122 in 2023 [4]. Group 2: Financial Performance - In the first quarter of 2025, Rivian generated a gross profit of $206 million from 8,640 deliveries, marking the second consecutive quarter of gross profit [5]. - However, the company reported a net income loss of over $540 million for the same quarter, with automotive revenue decreasing to $922 million from $1.12 billion in the first quarter of 2024 [6]. Group 3: Industry Context - Rivian's announcement follows Ford and General Motors withdrawing their guidance for the year due to economic uncertainty linked to Trump's tariffs, with Ford estimating an additional $2.5 billion in costs and GM around $5 billion [2]. - Rivian has previously warned that changes in government policies and a challenging demand environment could threaten vehicle demand, particularly if the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs is eliminated [3].
Uber Eats comes to Turkey via $700M Trendyol Go acquisition
TechCrunch· 2025-05-06 14:24
Group 1: Acquisition Details - Uber has acquired an 85% controlling stake in Trendyol Go for approximately $700 million in cash, enhancing its market share for Uber Eats in Turkey [1] - Trendyol Go, the food delivery arm of Trendyol Group, delivered over 200 million orders in 2024, generating $2 billion in gross bookings, a 50% increase from the previous year [4] - The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2025, allowing users to continue using the Trendyol Go app while Uber integrates key capabilities from Uber Eats over the coming years [5] Group 2: Market Context - The acquisition announcement precedes Uber's first-quarter earnings report, with concerns about consumer spending projected to decline in 2025 due to tariffs [2] - Uber is facing increased competition in the U.S. from DoorDash, which has led to legal action against DoorDash for alleged anticompetitive behavior [6] - DoorDash has also made significant acquisitions, including Deliveroo for $3.86 billion and SevenRooms for $1.2 billion, indicating a competitive landscape in the food delivery sector [7] Group 3: Strategic Expansion - Uber is actively pursuing expansion in various sectors, including autonomous vehicle partnerships across its ride-hail, delivery, and freight verticals [3]
US DoJ wants Google to sell two of its ad products
TechCrunch· 2025-05-06 09:45
Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is proposing that Google divest two of its advertising products to restore competition in the ad tech sector following a court ruling that found Google guilty of maintaining monopoly power in the digital advertising space [1][2]. Group 1: DOJ Proposals - The DOJ's filing suggests that Google should sell its ad exchange product AdX and conduct a phased sale of DoubleClick for Publishers, an ad server for website publishers [2]. - The DOJ also proposes that Google refrain from operating an ad exchange for 10 years after the sale of AdX [2]. - The filing emphasizes the need for Google to open its ad buying tools, including AdWords, to work with all third-party ad tech products on non-discriminatory terms [4]. Group 2: Allegations Against Google - The DOJ alleges that Google has ensured significant revenue losses for publishers that do not use AdX, thereby creating a monopoly by integrating AdX and DFP [3]. - The filing describes the proposed remedies as necessary to terminate Google's monopolies and reintroduce competition into the ad exchange and publisher ad server markets [4]. Group 3: Google's Response - In response to the DOJ's proposals, Google's VP of regulatory affairs stated that the measures would harm publishers and advertisers, arguing that the DOJ's additional proposals exceed the court's findings [5]. - Google has proposed its own remedies, including making AdX real-time bids available to all third-party ad servers and having its actions monitored by an independent compliance observer for three years [8]. Group 4: Broader Antitrust Context - Google is facing antitrust pressure from multiple fronts, including a separate case where the U.S. government is seeking to compel the company to sell its Chrome browser due to findings of monopoly power in the online search market [8].