Snap’s direct revenue business has reached a $1 billion annualized revenue run rate, the company announced on Wednesday. Annualized revenue refers to a business’s current revenue rate projected over a full year. The social media giant says the milestone is driven by its Snapchat+ offering, which has now surpassed 25 million subscribers.Launched in 2022, Snapchat+ gives subscribers access to exclusive and pre-release features for $3.99 per month. Following a successful launch, Snap introduced additional paid ...

The internet today has a permissions problem. As non-humans — chatbots, AI agents and automated systems — have proliferated on the web, so has the need to provide them with credentials, permissions, and identities. That’s one major reason identity and access management startups that help manage this new kind of digital workforce are raking in venture capital.Now, a 35-person Israeli-American startup called Venice is emerging from stealth with fresh cash and a pretty plucky claim: that it’s already replacing ...

Core Insights - The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will not suspend Tesla's sales and manufacturing licenses for 30 days due to Tesla's cessation of using the term "Autopilot" in its vehicle marketing in California [1][5] - This decision resolves a nearly three-year-long case regarding Tesla's marketing practices related to its advanced driver assistance systems [1][2] Group 1: Regulatory Actions - In November 2023, the DMV accused Tesla of violating state law by using deceptive marketing for its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems, claiming these terms misled customers about the capabilities of the systems [2] - An administrative law judge initially agreed with the DMV's request to suspend Tesla's licenses for 30 days as a penalty, but the DMV allowed Tesla 60 days to comply with the ruling [4] Group 2: Tesla's Response - Tesla has stopped using the term "Autopilot" in its marketing and modified the term "Full Self-Driving" to "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)" to clarify that driver supervision is required [3][5] - In January, Tesla discontinued Autopilot in the U.S. and Canada, which not only helped comply with the DMV but also aimed to boost adoption of the Full Self-Driving system, which requires a paid upgrade [5] Group 3: Financial Implications - The Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system, which previously required an $8,000 one-time fee, is now available through a monthly subscription of $99, with expectations of future price increases as the system improves [8]

Core Viewpoint - Ford aims to launch an affordable electric vehicle (EV) truck priced at $30,000 next year, leveraging innovative manufacturing techniques and a new production strategy to maintain profit margins while competing with Chinese automakers [1][4]. Group 1: Production Strategy - Ford's transition to affordable EVs began with a dedicated team led by a former Tesla employee, focusing on a new production system that will enhance manufacturing speed by 15% through a $2 billion investment in its Louisville factory [2]. - The company plans to utilize a universal EV platform (UEV) that will support various vehicle types, marking a strategic shift from previous models built on existing infrastructure [5]. - The UEV is designed for efficiency and affordability, aiming to make long-range electric travel accessible to a broader audience [6]. Group 2: Design and Engineering Innovations - The UEV will feature single-piece aluminum unicastings and lithium iron phosphate batteries, with technology licensed from China's CATL, to streamline production and reduce costs [3]. - Ford's design team, including ex-Formula 1 engineers, has developed a mid-sized EV truck that is 15% more aerodynamically efficient than current market offerings [11]. - The use of 3D-printed components allows for rapid prototyping and testing, significantly improving the design process and aerodynamics [12]. Group 3: Cost Efficiency and Features - The focus on efficiency has led to a design that allows for a smaller battery, reducing costs while providing an estimated 15% more range compared to gas-powered pickups [13]. - Ford's approach includes integrating multiple vehicle functions into five main electronic control units (ECUs), simplifying the architecture and reducing complexity and costs [15]. - The company has adopted a bounty program to incentivize engineers to prioritize efficiency in their designs, ensuring that cost reductions do not compromise value [9][10].

Group 1 - Apple is developing an AI wearable device, an AirTag-sized pendant with cameras, to remain competitive in the tech market [1] - The company is accelerating the development of AI-powered smart glasses, code-named N50, to compete with Meta and Snap [2] - The smart glasses are expected to include a high-resolution camera and may enter production as early as December, with a public release targeted for 2027 [3] Group 2 - All new devices, including the AI pendant and smart glasses, will connect to the iPhone and integrate Siri as a key feature [4] - The smart glasses are described as "more upscale and feature-rich" compared to the AirPods and the AI pendant [4]

Core Insights - Snapchat is launching creator subscriptions in alpha for select users in the U.S. starting February 23, allowing users to buy subscriptions to creators for exclusive content [1] - Creators can set their own monthly subscription prices, with Snap recommending different tiers, unlocking subscriber-only content and ad-free experiences [2] - The new subscription model expands on existing monetization programs, enhancing creator-user engagement through Stories, Chat, and replies [3] User Engagement and Growth - Snapchat reported 946 million daily active users in Q4 2025, with a 47% year-over-year increase in U.S. users posting to Spotlight [4] - The company plans to expand the creator subscription program to Snap Stars in Canada, the U.K., and France in the coming weeks [4] Competitive Landscape - Meta also offers subscription options for creators on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, providing users with access to exclusive content and badges [5]

Airbnb said on Tuesday that it is launching its “Reserve Now, Pay Later” feature — which lets users secure bookings without immediate payment — globally. This allows users to cancel their bookings if there is a change of plans without losing money upfront.The company launched the feature in the U.S. last year for domestic travel. Airbnb said that properties with a “flexible” or “moderate” cancellation policy are eligible for the upfront reservation. With this option, users get charged closer to their check- ...

Core Insights - Infosys has partnered with Anthropic to develop enterprise-grade AI agents, aiming to reshape the global IT services industry through automation driven by large language models [1][2] Group 1: Partnership Details - The partnership will integrate Anthropic's Claude models into Infosys' Topaz AI platform to create "agentic" systems capable of autonomously managing complex enterprise workflows across various sectors, including banking, telecoms, and manufacturing [2] - Infosys will utilize Anthropic's Claude Code for writing, testing, and debugging code, and is already deploying this tool internally to enhance expertise for client projects [4] Group 2: Industry Context - The collaboration comes amid concerns that AI tools from major labs like Anthropic and OpenAI could disrupt India's $280 billion IT services industry, which is heavily reliant on labor-intensive outsourcing models [3] - Following the launch of Anthropic's enterprise AI tools, shares of Indian IT companies experienced a significant decline, highlighting the market's sensitivity to AI advancements [3] Group 3: Financial Impact - AI-related services contributed ₹25 billion (approximately $275 million), or 5.5% of Infosys' total revenue of ₹454.8 billion (around $5 billion) in the December quarter [5] - In comparison, Tata Consultancy Services reported that its AI services generate about $1.8 billion annually, accounting for around 6% of its revenue [5] Group 4: Strategic Importance - For Anthropic, this partnership provides access to regulated enterprise sectors where deploying AI at scale necessitates industry expertise and governance capabilities, with Infosys' experience in financial services, telecoms, and manufacturing being crucial [6] - Anthropic has also opened its first office in India, which has become its second-largest market, accounting for about 6% of global Claude usage, primarily in programming [9][10]

Neysa, an Indian AI infrastructure startup, has secured backing from U.S. private equity firm Blackstone as it scales domestic compute capacity amid India’s push to build homegrown AI capabilities.Blackstone and co-investors, including Teachers’ Venture Growth, TVS Capital, 360 ONE Asset, and Nexus Venture Partners, have agreed to invest up to $600 million of primary equity in Neysa, giving Blackstone a majority stake, Blackstone and Neysa told TechCrunch. The Mumbai-headquartered startup also plans to rais ...

Core Insights - Airbnb is planning to integrate AI features powered by large language models to enhance user experience in searching for listings, trip planning, and property management for hosts [1][2] - The company aims to create an AI-native experience that personalizes interactions and improves operational efficiency [2] AI Features and Development - Airbnb is currently testing a new feature that allows users to search and inquire about properties using natural language queries [2] - The existing AI-powered customer service bot handles one-third of customer issues without human intervention, with plans to expand its capabilities to voice support and multiple languages [7][8] - The company is experimenting with making AI search more conversational and is considering the introduction of sponsored listings in the future [3][4] Leadership and Strategy - Airbnb's new CTO, Ahmad Al-Dahle, will leverage AI expertise to utilize identity and review data for enhancing app functionality [6] - The company has set a goal for 100% of its engineers to use AI tools, currently at 80% [8] Financial Performance - Airbnb reported fourth-quarter revenue of $2.78 billion, reflecting a 12% increase year-over-year [9]