This week noticed one of many most widespread IT disruptions in recent times linked to a defective software program replace from well-liked cybersecurity agency CrowdStrike. Companies the world over reported IT outages, together with Home windows “blue display of dying” errors on their computer systems, impacting airways, banks, retailers, brokerage homes, media corporations and railway networks.
OpenAI launched GPT-4o mini, a pared down model of its newest flagship mannequin. In accordance with the corporate, the brand new mannequin is meant to be greater than 60% cheaper than GPT 3.5 Turbo and will probably be helpful for easy, high-volume duties. GPT-4o has begun rolling out to builders and shoppers by way of the ChatGPT net and cellular apps, with enterprise customers anticipated to achieve entry subsequent week.
The USPS was caught sharing the postal addresses of its on-line clients with Meta, LinkedIn and Snap. TechCrunch discovered that clients’ data was shared by means of hidden data-collecting code used throughout its web site, together with the addresses of logged-in Knowledgeable Supply clients. The USPS mentioned it addressed the problem and stopped the observe, claiming that it was “unaware” of it.
That is TechCrunch’s Week in Evaluation — TechCrunch’s e-newsletter recapping the week’s largest information. Need it in your inbox each Saturday? Enroll right here.
Information
PartnerOne pays a fraction for HeadSpin: The Canadian personal fairness agency paid $28.2 million for HeadSpin, a fraction of its $1.1 billion valuation, paperwork seen by TechCrunch reveal. In April, HeadSpin’s founder was sentenced to 18 months in jail for fraud. Learn extra
Alphabet could be shopping for Wiz: Alphabet is reportedly in superior talks to amass cloud safety service Wiz for round $23 billion. If the deal goes by way of, it’s going to mark the corporate’s largest acquisition to this point. Learn extra
People spent large on Prime Day: Amazon’s Prime Day occasion resulted in file gross sales this yr, with U.S. shoppers spending $14.2 billion throughout July 16 and 17, in line with Adobe Analytics. Learn extra
Wordle for studying chess: Echo Chunk created an AI-powered each day recreation known as Echo Chess that will help you enhance your chess abilities — and it simply raised $1.4 million. Learn extra
Kaspersky shuts down within the U.S.: The Russian cybersecurity big will lay off dozens of employees and go away the U.S. market following a authorities order banning the sale of the corporate’s software program as a result of alleged safety dangers. Learn extra
Elon Musk doubles down on Texas: Musk is vowing to maneuver SpaceX and X to Texas, calling the passage of a California invoice that prohibits colleges from disclosing college students’ sexuality or gender identification with out their consent “the ultimate straw.” Learn extra
Would you’re taking a robotaxi to the airport? Waymo is ramping up efforts to get approval to facilitate robotaxi pickups and drop-offs on the San Francisco Worldwide Airport, in line with emails considered by TechCrunch. Learn extra
Watch The Weeknd on the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional: Apple is teasing new content material for the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, together with a brief movie concerning the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend recreation in Indianapolis and an immersive live performance by The Weeknd. Learn extra
Moon cave! Scientists have recognized what they imagine is an accessible tunnel or cave on the moon. If actual, such a function may outline years of improvement by startups, governments and area corporations aiming to create a long-lasting lunar colony. Learn extra
Cool new headphones simply dropped: Dyson’s new retro-looking OnTrac headphones are virtually infinitely customizable — they usually tout a formidable battery lifetime of 55 hours with ANC turned on. Learn extra
Evaluation
Hank Inexperienced reckons with the creator financial system: Hank Inexperienced began making YouTube movies in 2007 along with his brother, novelist John Inexperienced, at a time when Myspace was nonetheless related and Instagram didn’t exist. Seventeen years later, posting movies on the web is not only a interest, but in addition a $250 billion business. In a wide-ranging dialog, Amanda Silberling spoke with Inexperienced about creator solidarity, loneliness on social media, and the companies behind all of it. Learn extra
Are female-founded startups getting left behind? Thus far this yr, corporations with all-women founding groups have raised 2.2% of the enterprise capital allotted for the yr. Knowledge reveals that all-women founding groups have by no means raised greater than 3% in VC funding since at the least 2014 and that for the previous 4 years, all-women founding groups have raised nearly 2% in VC funding. Dominic-Madori Davis explores how this disparity exists when the quantity of capital allotted to U.S. startups has hit file heights. Learn extra
