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Disney hits Google with cease-and-desist claiming ‘massive' copyright infringement
TechCrunch· 2025-12-11 18:53
Core Points - Disney has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Google, alleging copyright infringement on a massive scale [1] - The letter claims that Google has used AI models and services to distribute unauthorized images and videos of Disney's copyrighted characters [1][2] - Disney's letter describes Google as operating like a "virtual vending machine" that reproduces and distributes copies of its valuable intellectual property [2] - The infringing images generated by Google's AI services are reportedly branded with Google's Gemini logo, misleadingly suggesting Disney's endorsement [2] - The letter specifically mentions infringement of characters from popular franchises such as "Frozen," "The Lion King," "Moana," "The Little Mermaid," and "Deadpool" [2] - This legal action coincides with Disney's signing of a $1 billion, three-year deal with OpenAI to integrate its characters into the Sora AI video generator [3]
Rivian goes big on autonomy, with custom silicon, lidar, and a hint at robotaxis
TechCrunch· 2025-12-11 17:20
Core Insights - Rivian is advancing its electric vehicles towards greater autonomy, incorporating new hardware such as lidar and custom silicon, with aspirations to enter the self-driving ride-hail market [1][2] Technology Development - The company's first "Autonomy & AI Day" event revealed its technology advancements, aiming to produce the more affordable R2 SUV by the first half of 2026 [2] - Rivian plans to expand its hands-free driver-assistance software to over 3.5 million miles of roads in the USA and Canada, with a feature called "Universal Hands-Free" launching in early 2026 [3] Driver Assistance Features - The point-to-point navigation feature allows users to input a destination, enabling the vehicle to drive autonomously [4] - Future enhancements will allow drivers to take their eyes off the road, with plans to achieve "personal L4" autonomy, meaning no human intervention is required in specific areas [4] Market Competition - Rivian aims to compete with companies like Waymo, initially focusing on personally owned vehicles while also exploring opportunities in the rideshare market [5] Hardware Innovations - The company is developing a "large driving model" and a custom 5nm processor in collaboration with Arm and TSMC, moving away from Tesla's rules-based framework for autonomous vehicle development [7] - The new "autonomy computer" (ACM3) can process 5 billion pixels per second and will be featured in the upcoming R2 SUV [8][9] - The ACM3 will be paired with a lidar sensor to enhance real-time detection and spatial data processing, contributing to the vehicle's autonomy capabilities [9]
Ford and SK On are ending their U.S. battery joint venture
TechCrunch· 2025-12-11 16:11
Core Insights - Ford and SK On have agreed to end their joint venture, which was initially established to invest $11.4 billion in battery production for electric vehicles [1][2] - Ford will take ownership of the battery plants in Kentucky, while SK On will operate the factory in Tennessee, maintaining a strategic partnership focused on the Tennessee facility [2] Industry Context - The joint venture was formed during a period of significant investment in electric vehicle production, but demand has not met the industry's high expectations [3] - The cessation of the federal EV tax credit has negatively impacted electric vehicle sales, contributing to the decision to dissolve the joint venture [3]
Disney signs deal with OpenAI to allow Sora to generate AI videos featuring its characters
TechCrunch· 2025-12-11 15:21
Core Insights - The Walt Disney Company has entered a three-year partnership with OpenAI, which includes a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI [1][5] Group 1: Partnership Details - The partnership will integrate Disney's iconic characters into OpenAI's Sora AI video generator, allowing users to create videos using over 200 characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars [1][2] - Disney will also become a major customer of OpenAI, utilizing its APIs to develop new products and experiences, including for Disney+ [6] Group 2: Character Availability - Users will have access to a wide range of characters, including Mickey Mouse, Ariel, and characters from popular franchises like Encanto, Frozen, and Toy Story [3][4] - The agreement allows for the use of these characters in ChatGPT Images, but does not include any talent likenesses or voices [4] Group 3: Industry Context - Disney's CEO Bob Iger emphasized the importance of responsibly extending storytelling through generative AI while protecting creators' rights [5] - OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman highlighted the collaboration as a model for how AI companies and creative leaders can work together to promote innovation [8] - Despite this partnership, Disney has previously taken legal action against other AI platforms for intellectual property violations, indicating a cautious approach to AI integration [8][9]
Nvidia is reportedly testing tracking software as chip smuggling rumors swirl
TechCrunch· 2025-12-10 22:06
Group 1 - Nvidia is testing software that can track the location of its AI chips amid rising reports of smuggling into China [1] - The location verification technology will first be available for Blackwell chips and is optional for customers [2] - Nvidia has not found evidence of smuggling or "phantom datacenters" related to its chips [3] Group 2 - The news follows Nvidia receiving approval from the U.S. Government to sell H200 AI chips to approved customers in China, but this does not include Blackwell chips [4]
CEO of South Korean retail giant Coupang resigns after massive data breach
TechCrunch· 2025-12-10 21:06
Group 1 - Park Dae-jun has resigned as CEO of Coupang following a significant data breach that exposed personal information of over half of South Korea's population [1] - The data breach affected approximately 34 million individuals, with the incident reportedly starting in June and not being detected until November [2] - Coupang initially reported that over 4,500 customers had their data stolen, but later revised this figure significantly upward [2] Group 2 - The Coupang hack is part of a broader trend of security incidents impacting major corporations and the South Korean government this year, including a data center fire that resulted in a substantial loss of government data [3] - Harold Rogers, the top lawyer at Coupang's U.S.-based parent company, has been appointed as the new CEO following Park's resignation [1]
Amazon now offers same-day delivery of perishable groceries in 2,300 US cities
TechCrunch· 2025-12-10 15:14
Core Insights - Amazon has expanded its Same-Day Delivery service for fresh groceries to over 2,300 cities and towns in the U.S., with plans for further expansion in 2026 [1] - The service was launched in August to compete with Instacart and Walmart+ in the quick-commerce sector [1] Delivery Service Details - Customers can order a variety of fresh items including fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, seafood, baked goods, and frozen foods, alongside other household essentials [2] - Amazon employs a specialized temperature-controlled fulfillment network to ensure the integrity of perishable items, with a six-point quality check for orders [3] - Temperature-sensitive products are delivered in insulated bags, enhancing the delivery quality [3] Popularity and Sales Growth - Fresh groceries constitute nine of the top ten most-ordered items for fast delivery [3] - Perishable grocery sales have increased 30 times since January, indicating strong demand [4] - Customers who include fresh groceries in their Same-Day Delivery orders tend to shop about twice as often as those who do not [4] Pricing Structure - Same-day delivery is free for Prime members on orders over $25; otherwise, a $2.99 fee applies for Prime members and a $12.99 fee for non-members [5] - The selection of perishable items available for Same-Day Delivery has grown by over 30% since August, including thousands of items from Whole Foods Market [5]
Amazon to invest additional $35B in India by 2030, taking total planned spending to $75B
TechCrunch· 2025-12-10 12:32
Core Insights - Amazon plans to invest an additional $35 billion in India by 2030, raising its total commitment to approximately $75 billion to expand its retail and cloud operations in the country [1][3] Investment and Economic Impact - The new investment will focus on digitizing small businesses and enhancing logistics and operations in India, aiming to provide AI access to up to 15 million small businesses and create 1 million jobs by 2030 [2] - To date, Amazon has invested nearly $40 billion in India, with a commitment of $15 billion by 2030, of which $12.7 billion is allocated for its cloud business through Amazon Web Services [3] Competitive Landscape - India is a significant market for major tech companies due to its large population, with over a billion internet users and hundreds of millions of smartphone users [4] - Amazon faces competition from Walmart-backed Flipkart, Meesho, and quick-commerce firms like Swiggy's Instamart, Zomato's Blinkit, and Zepto, which are rapidly expanding in the urban consumer market [5] Strategic Importance - Amazon views India as one of its largest long-term opportunities, indicating a strong commitment to the region's growth potential [8]
Coreweave CEO defends AI circular deals as ‘working together'
TechCrunch· 2025-12-10 00:49
Core Viewpoint - Coreweave has faced challenges since its IPO in March, including a failed acquisition of Core Scientific and fluctuating stock prices, but continues to assert its innovative approach in the AI cloud infrastructure market [1][3][10] Company Performance - Coreweave's stock debuted at $40, peaked over $150, and currently sits around $90, reflecting significant volatility that has led some critics to liken it to a meme stock [6][8] - The company has been active in acquiring other firms, including Weights and Balances, OpenPipe, Marimo, and Monolith, to bolster its AI infrastructure capabilities [11] Business Model and Strategy - Coreweave is developing a new business model for cloud computing, leveraging its collection of Nvidia GPUs as collateral for financing [3][9] - The CEO emphasized that introducing a disruptive model in a static environment will naturally encounter resistance and skepticism [9] Market Context - The IPO occurred in a challenging economic environment, coinciding with President Trump's tariffs, which added to market uncertainty [4][5] - Concerns about the company's high debt levels have contributed to stock price fluctuations, particularly following announcements of new debt issuance for data center expansion [8] Industry Dynamics - The concept of "circularity" in the AI industry, where major companies invest in each other, raises questions about long-term economic stability, but Coreweave's CEO defended collaborative efforts to address supply and demand changes [11]
Rivian is building its own AI assistant
TechCrunch· 2025-12-09 20:11
Core Insights - Rivian is developing its own AI assistant, which is separate from its multi-billion dollar technology joint venture with Volkswagen [1][12] - The company aims to launch the AI assistant by the end of the year, with more details expected during its AI and Autonomy day on December 11 [2] - Rivian's approach to AI development reflects the rapid advancements in foundational AI technologies by major tech companies and startups [3] Development and Integration - The AI assistant is not a simple chatbot; it is designed to integrate with all vehicle controls and has undergone significant development [4] - Rivian's AI architecture is model and platform agnostic, focusing on software layers that coordinate workflows and control logic [5][6] - The in-house AI assistant program aligns with Rivian's strategy to enhance vertical integration, as seen in the overhaul of its R1T truck and R1S SUV [6] Technical Specifications - The AI assistant will utilize a hybrid software stack that combines edge AI for on-device tasks and cloud AI for more complex computations [10] - Rivian has developed much of the AI software stack internally, including custom models and an orchestration layer to ensure seamless operation of various AI models [11] - The current focus of the joint venture with Volkswagen is on electrical architecture and infotainment, not on AI or automated driving [12][13]