In this edition of WiR, we discuss the California DMV suspending Cruise’s robotaxi permits, expense reporting in virtual reality, the exciting new feature on Apple Watch, and an e-commerce startup founded by a former PayPal executive that aims to give users more control over their shopping data. Additionally, we highlight the aftermath of Okta’s recent hack, Carta’s CEO addressing negative press, updates on the FTX trial, and Rivian’s triumph in a challenging off-road competition.
Cruise’s Robotaxi Operations Suspended:
The California Department of Motor Vehicles has suspended Cruise’s deployment and driverless testing permits, putting an end to GM’s self-driving car subsidiary’s robotaxi operations in San Francisco. Cruise has also decided to halt its robotaxi operations in other cities to rebuild public trust.
Expense Reporting in VR:
TechCrunch editor Darrell Etherington experimented with expense reporting using Meta’s latest headset, the Quest 3. While he found that the experience with Concur in VR wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t worse than traditional computing environments.
Apple Watch’s New Feature:
With the release of watchOS 10.1, Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 now offer the “Double Tap” feature, allowing users to interact with the device using gesture-based interactions by tapping their index finger and thumb together twice.
I Own My Data (IOMD):
IOMD, a startup founded by a former PayPal executive, aims to simplify online shopping by storing users’ private information, such as past purchases, cards, addresses, and preferences on their devices. This allows for instant transactions with a single click, tap, or touch across the web.
Okta Hack Fallout:
Cloudflare and 1Password reported that hackers briefly targeted their systems following a recent breach of Okta’s support unit. While the intrusions were linked to the Okta hack, they did not impact customer systems or user data.
Carta’s Damage Control Efforts:
Carta’s CEO, Henry Ward, attempted to address concerns related to negative press about the company. He urged customers to read a recent Medium post where he discussed various stories surrounding Carta, including allegations of sexual abuse, a toxic culture, and indecent exposure.
FTX Executives’ Legal Situation:
Executives of the failed crypto exchange FTX, including co-founder Gary Wang, CEO Caroline Ellison, and head of engineering Nishad Singh, have pleaded guilty to charges after the exchange’s downfall in 2022. However, legal experts suggest that they may not face jail time due to their cooperation with authorities.
Rivian’s Off-Road Victory:
Amazon-backed startup Rivian’s R1T became the first electric vehicle to win the longest off-road competition in the U.S., the Rebelle Rally, which relies solely on paper maps, compasses, and plotters.
Audio
Equity discusses recent deals, including I Own My Data and AgentSync, and delves into the challenges faced by Cruise’s driverless taxis.
Found interviews Jonas Torland from 7Analytics, a Norwegian company specializing in sustainable risk management using data.
Chain Reaction features Josh Naftalis, a partner at law firm Pallas Partners, who handles cases related to white-collar criminal defense and regulatory matters.
TechCrunch+ subscribers gain access to in-depth commentary, analysis, and surveys. This week’s highlights include:
The Worsening Impact of AI on Spam:
AI-powered tools are exacerbating issues with sales emails, phishing, and spam, particularly those that use social media to gather information about potential targets.
Big Tech’s AI-Powered Advertising Success:
Big Tech companies with AI capabilities have been capitalizing on advertising dollars, further enhancing their ability to attract ad revenue.
The Rising lost of Seed Deals:
The cost of seed-stage investments is increasing due to rapid growth, making late-stage deals smaller and less common.
Read more (Inovation)
