Recent data from parental control software maker Qustodio reveals that more than 30% of Generation Alpha children (ages 7-9), also known as “iPad kids,” are active users of X. This increase in X usage among young children is attributed to its integration with Google Search, which displays X posts directly in search results.
The family of prominent VC investor Marc Andreessen, a key investor in the proposed California Forever utopian city, is planning to develop a large planned community in the same area, according to sources at TechCrunch.
Tragic news regarding UK investor and Autonomy founder, Mike Lynch, as he and his daughter Hannah were among the bodies recovered from the wreck of the yacht Bayesian off the coast of Sicily. The yacht sank after being struck by a tornado-like water column.
Welcome to TechCrunch’s Week in Review, where we recap the week’s major news stories. Want to receive this newsletter directly to your inbox every Saturday? Sign up here.
In the News
Initial impressions of ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode: Faster response times, unique answers, and the ability to tackle complex questions set this feature apart from Siri and Alexa. However, it still falls short as a complete virtual assistant replacement. Read more
Elon Musk’s Twitter acquisition may be a regret for banks: After securing a $13 billion loan from major banks to complete the $44 billion deal, reports indicate it could be the worst merger-financing situation for banks since the 2008-2009 financial crisis. Read more
Waymo’s new service, “Waymo Teen,” aims to chauffeur your kids: The self-driving company is exploring a subscription program that allows teens to hail robotaxis with pickup and drop-off alerts sent to parents. Read more
Myspace makes a comeback: Instagram unveils a feature allowing users to add music to their profiles in partnership with singer Sabrina Carpenter, although songs won’t play automatically. Read more
A potential iPhone crash exploit discovered: Typing “::” in the Settings app or the App Library search bar can momentarily crash iPhones and iPads, a security researcher warns. Proceed with caution. Read more
Peloton’s new policy on used equipment: Peloton introduces a $95 “used equipment fee” to generate extra revenue from secondhand sales, mitigating concerns over cannibalizing new equipment sales. Read more
X ceases operations in Brazil: Amid a legal dispute with Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes, X is shutting down operations in Brazil, but the service remains accessible for users in the country. Read more
Legal questions arise from Donald Trump’s Truth Social postings: Memes shared on Truth Social imply support from Taylor Swift and her fans for Trump’s candidacy. Legal experts weigh in on the legality of such posts. Read more
Watch a robot doing push-ups: Boston Dynamics showcases their humanoid robot Atlas performing push-ups, highlighting its robust and powerful actuators. While not indicative of real-world use, the video demonstrates Atlas’ capabilities. Read more
AI unintentionally Rickrolls customers: Lindy founder Flo Crivello had to train his AI to avoid sending the music video for Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” to customers after two separate incidents. Memes like Rickrolling are so widespread that AI systems can pick up on them. Read more
