Facebook’s new AI Mode search gets its info from public posts
Meta is rolling out a new AI Mode that generates search results based on public posts on Facebook and its other platforms.
Artificial intelligence
318 stories
Former Andreessen Horowitz partner John O’Farrell says his colleagues are trying to buy our democracy.
In a New York Times op-ed, the venture capitalist accused his Silicon Valley colleagues of using their vast wealth to shut down debate around regulating AI. He says there needs to be a conversation about how to use AI to benefit all of society, not just the wealthy few. > A.I. is not just another technology. It could drive productivity to new heights while automating away work for millions. It could find a cure for cancer, while accelerating biological risks we’re not prepared for. It could transform how our children learn, while leaving them unable to tell real from fake. It could concentrate economic power in ways that would make the Gilded Age look quaint.
Amazon CEO reportedly raised Anthropic model concerns before government crackdown | TechCrunch
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy may have been the source of security concerns that led Anthropic to cut off worldwide access to two models on Friday.
Fresh off bond sale, Amazon borrows $17.5B from banks as AI spending continues | TechCrunch
Companies are burning through exorbitant sums of money to keep pace in the AI arms race. Debt is climbing.
As OpenAI files for IPO, Sam Altman's eye-scanning company is doing layoffs, report says | TechCrunch
Tools for Humanity, Sam Altman's identity verification company, is reportedly struggling to generate revenue and will downsize its staff.
Amazon now lets you design custom merch using AI | TechCrunch
A new feature in the Amazon Shopping app allows users to generate designs with Alexa, then print them on products like T-shirts, hoodies, and tumblers.
AI leaders call for tougher protections against AI-aided bioweapons
AI industry rivals rarely agree, but they’re all concerned their technology could be used to develop biological weapons.
Microsoft’s Project Solara is an OS for AI agent gadgets
Microsoft just announced “Project Solara,” a new OS designed for gadgets that run AI agents, at Build 2026.
Gemini’s new AI agent is about as good as Google’s demo
Gemini Spark is Google’s new AI agent announced at I/O 2026, and it can be shockingly good at doing things on your behalf.
AI warfare is already here
Lethal autonomous weapons are the focus of a battle between the Pentagon and Anthropic. But many of the red lines in military AI use have already been crossed.
If Google can’t make AI agents useful, maybe no one can
The company debuted a suite of new AI agents, like Gemini Spark, as well as changes to Search at Google I/O this year.
Origin Lab raises $8M to help video game companies sell data to world-model builders | TechCrunch
Origin Lab will serve as a marketplace where AI labs can buy high-quality licensed data, and video-game companies can sell it.
GM just laid off hundreds of IT workers to hire those with stronger AI skills | TechCrunch
Some of the positions focus on AI-native development, data engineering and analytics, cloud-based engineering, and agent and model development as well as prompt engineering and new AI workflows.
Meta employees are reportedly “miserable” between looming layoffs and AI push.
Meta recently began tracking employees’ computer activity to train its AI models, plans to cut 10 percent of staff later this month, and is pushing “employees to make so many A.I. agents that others had to introduce agents to find agents, and agents to rate agents,” sparking “anger and anxiety,” reports the New York Times: > Some said they no longer saw Meta as a place for a long career. Others were looking for new jobs or trying to signal that they wanted to be laid off so they could receive severance pay, the current and former employees said.
OpenAI is reportedly launching a phone for ChatGPT
OpenAI is reportedly planning to launch a phone powered by a custom MediaTek Dimensity 9600, with a potential launch sometime next year.
Meta says its business AI now facilitates 10 million conversations a week
Meta said over 8 billion advertisers have used at least one of its GenAI tools
Meta is laying off 10 percent of its staff
Meta is planning to layoff around 10 percent of employees in May. That means approximately 8,000 people will see their jobs cut.
India’s app market is booming — but global platforms are capturing most of the gains
Non-gaming apps, led by streaming and AI, are driving growth, even as India's spending per user lags global peers.