X subscribers can hide check marks, but company admits they 'may still appear in some places’

TechCrunch Newsletter
TechCrunch logo
The Daily Crunch logo

By Christine Hall

Wednesday, August 02, 2023

Today, we are taking you back to the time when the blue check mark used to be so coveted on Twitter that people would wait a whole decade to get one (was it just me?). But now even those who paid to have one don’t want to be associated with what the blue check mark represents. Fair enough, X now lets paid users hide their check marks. Also, TweetDeck has a new name and Community Notes gets an update.

Hopin was poppin’ when virtual events were the norm during the pandemic. Now not so much, to the point where Hopin made a tough decision. Get the scoop.

Well, well, well, how the turntables have turned for Worldcoin. Kenya was one of the first countries where the company launched its eye-scanning and cryptocurrency — basically its “safety market” — and today it might be where Worldcoin is first banned. Find out more.

Meanwhile, investors pumped $5 million into Reflex, an open source tool that helps turn Python code into web apps. Read more to find out how.

And in some cities, those without an Amazon Prime membership can now shop where members do . . . but there’s a fee. Check it out.

 image

Image Credits: TechCrunch

More top reads

So close: Flipkart-backed Shadowfax nears a $60 million funding round led by TPG NewQuest.

Don’t get to the theater much?: “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” makes its debut on Disney+.

All the Google you can muster: We have a trio of Google stories for you today. First, find out why Google pulled its AI Test Kitchen app from the Play Store and App Store. Then, Google wants you to do more searching, so there are some updates to Chrome on mobile. And finally, Google’s generative search feature now shows related videos and images.

A chip off the old semiconductor block: Foxconn plans to invest $600 million in Karnataka for iPhone components and chipmaking tools projects.

Never Meta story we didn’t like: Now on to some Meta news. The company is singing a new tune after releasing AudioCraft, which consists of open source models for generating sounds and music. Meanwhile, the U.K.’s privacy watchdog warns Meta over a plan to keep denying Brits a choice over its ad tracking.

This robot has a cheery face amid chaos: Inworld, a generative AI platform for creating NPCs, lands some fresh investment.

It’s another round of “those crazy hackers”: Both the U.S. and Norway say hackers have been exploiting Ivanti’s zero-day since April, while a security lapse over at travel giant Mondee ended with leaked personal traveler information.

Be art smart: Cohart’s art marketplace makes buying and selling accessible for any kind of art lover.

It’s the quality that counts: Lightup wants to shine a light on data quality with $9 million Series A.

If you need a hand: Orangewood wants to build a cheap, programmable robotic arm for manufacturing.

First impressions matter: Tinder recognizes that and is now testing an AI photo selection feature to help users build profiles.

The help desk will see you now: Okay, so you’re making a pitch deck. Find out where founders go wrong. (TC+)

Don’t forget these:

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review

Apple Card’s Savings account reaches over $10B in deposits

Subaru doubles its plans for new EVs, targeting 8 models by 2028

Voyager and Airbus will operate Starlab private space station via “transatlantic joint venture”

Discord will now let you stream Xbox gameplay directly to servers and DMs

More top reads image

Image Credits: skodonnell / Getty Images

From the “pod” files

This week, the Equity crew had Sara Mauskopf, the CEO and co-founder of childcare startup Winnie, on the show. The trio took a look at the state of care as a venture-backable category, where startups can find the most impact and business results, and the pressures of fundraising-driven growth in care-oriented markets.

From the “pod” files image

Image Credits: Bryce Durbin

5 questions investors should be asking inception-stage generative AI founders

One week after unveiling his firm’s $250 million Mayfield AI Start fund, managing partner Navin Chaddha shared “the top five pieces of company-building advice” they’re giving to AI-first founders.

According to Mayfield’s thesis, these startups can be sorted into five layers:

  • Applications and co-pilots
  • Models
  • Data
  • Infrastructure
  • Semiconductors and systems

“Paradigm shifts propel the rebuilding of the technology stack, creating new enduring companies in every era,” writes Chaddha.

TechCrunch+ is our membership program that helps founders and startup teams get ahead of the pack. You can sign up here. Use code “DC” for a 15% discount on an annual subscription.

Read More

5 questions investors should be asking inception-stage generative AI founders image

Image Credits: Francesco Carta fotografo / Getty Images

Get your TechCrunch fix IRL. Join us at Disrupt 2023 in San Francisco this September to immerse yourself in all things startup. From headline interviews to intimate roundtables to a jam-packed startup expo floor, there’s something for everyone at Disrupt. Save up to $600 when you buy your pass now through August 11, and save 15% on top of that with promo code DC. Learn more.

Read More

 image

Read more stories on TechCrunch.com

Newest Jobs from Crunchboard

See more jobs on CrunchBoard

Post your tech jobs and reach millions of TechCrunch readers for only $200 per month.

Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram Flipboard

View this email online in your browser

Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Unsubscribe

© 2023 Yahoo. All rights reserved. 110 5th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Older messages

Get on stage at TC Disrupt!

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

EVENT PARTNERSHIPS WE WANT YOU ON STAGE AT DISRUPT Create your own Disrupt session and share your knowledge. Check out these industry leaders already booked to speak at Disrupt 2023: HARDWARE Book your

Son of late Apple founder launches VC firm that will focus on cancer research

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

TechCrunch Newsletter TechCrunch logo The Daily Crunch logo By Kyle Wiggers Tuesday, August 01, 2023 You've made it to Tuesday, folks. Congrats — the week's not quite halfway through yet, but

How SaaS architecture impacts pricing and profitability

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

TechCrunch+ Newsletter TechCrunch+ logo TechCrunch+ Roundup logo By Walter Thompson Tuesday, August 01, 2023 Welcome to TechCrunch+ Tuesday Image Credits: kolderal / Getty Images “Building a plane in

Instagram’s Kevin Systrom comes to Disrupt

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Prices Go Up August 11 Artifact: Kevin Systrom's Second Act Artifact: Kevin Systrom's Second Act Instagram co-founder, Kevin Systrom will join us at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 to discuss Artifact,

Megastore Temu files suit against Shein in U.S. for alleged anti-competitive practices

Monday, July 31, 2023

TechCrunch Newsletter TechCrunch logo The Daily Crunch logo By Christine Hall Monday, July 31, 2023 Today, the battle between Shein and Temu is heating up. Neither of the China-based e-commerce giants

You Might Also Like

FIN7, FIN8, and Others Use Ragnar Loader for Persistent Access and Ransomware Operations

Saturday, March 8, 2025

THN Daily Updates Newsletter cover ⚡ LIVE WEBINAR ➟ ASPM: The Future of AppSec -- Boom or Bust? Discover How ASPM is Redefining Application Security with Smarter, Unified Solutions. Download Now

🍿 Will We Ever Own Movies Again? — How Accurate Are Cell Phone Network Coverage Maps

Saturday, March 8, 2025

Also: 6 Iconic Games You Didn't Know Were Actually Knockoffs How-To Geek Logo March 8, 2025 Did You Know Although best known for her role as Trinity in the iconic 1999 sci-fi film The Matrix, that

2.4M new accounts in Feb

Saturday, March 8, 2025

YouTube for enterprise onboarding, new UX audits grants program, OG Tracker Feb report, and more ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

SWLW #641: The Meeting Manifesto, Avoiding Strategy Drift, and more.

Saturday, March 8, 2025

Weekly articles & videos about people, culture and leadership: everything you need to design the org that makes the product. A weekly newsletter by Oren Ellenbogen with the best content I found

📧 Better Request Tracing with User Context in ASP.NET Core

Saturday, March 8, 2025

​ Better Request Tracing with User Context in ASP.NET Core Read on: m​y website / Read time: 5 minutes The .NET Weekly is brought to you by: Don't miss your last chance to join ABP training with 33

This Week in Rust #589

Saturday, March 8, 2025

Email isn't displaying correctly? Read this e-mail on the Web This Week in Rust issue 589 — 05 MAR 2025 Hello and welcome to another issue of This Week in Rust! Rust is a programming language

JSK Daily for Mar 7, 2025

Friday, March 7, 2025

JSK Daily for Mar 7, 2025 View this email in your browser A community curated daily e-mail of JavaScript news Build a Dynamic Watchlist for Your Web App with Angular & GraphQL (Part 6) In this

Daily Coding Problem: Problem #1711 [Easy]

Friday, March 7, 2025

Daily Coding Problem Good morning! Here's your coding interview problem for today. This problem was asked by Microsoft. The transitive closure of a graph is a measure of which vertices are

Charted | Which Jobs Are Using AI the Most? 🤖

Friday, March 7, 2025

This infographic visualizes AI usage across job categories, highlighting which jobs are using AI the most and where adoption is lacking. View Online | Subscribe | Download Our App See new charts from

It’s the End of the Web as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

Friday, March 7, 2025

AI is disrupting web search and publishing, perhaps for the better… It's the End of the Web as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) AI is disrupting web search and publishing, perhaps for the better… By MG