Bain bets on Indian domestic work startup Pronto even as rivals face criticism

Urban India is becoming increasingly used to not having to wait — at least when it comes to getting goods and services delivered. You only need to look at the breakneck pace at which instant delivery apps like Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart have grown and continue to see adoption soar in th

Apple finally launches next-gen ‘CarPlay Ultra’ software, starting with Aston Martin

Apple’s next-generation version of its popular CarPlay infotainment software is finally launching three years after it was announced. The company said Thursday that this new version of CarPlay — now known as “CarPlay Ultra” — will start rolling out on new Aston Martin

Doji raises $14M to make virtual try-ons fun through AI avatars

For years, big tech companies like Amazon and Google have been trying to make virtual try-ons engaging to encourage consumers to shop more online. Startups also tried to solve for inspiration and fit in fashion using AI. A new startup called Doji is now entering this space with an app designed to

Roblox now lets creators sell physical products within their experiences

Roblox announced on Thursday that creators can now sell physical merchandise directly within their experiences and games on the platform with the launch of new Commerce APIs. The offering provides creators with a new way to generate revenue beyond the purchases of virtual goods or one-time fees t

Acorns acquires family wealth and digital memory platform EarlyBird

Savings and investing startup Acorns has acquired EarlyBird, an investment gifting platform for families, the company told technewss exclusively. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. As part of the acquisition, EarlyBird will shut down, and all customer accounts will officially clo

Coinbase says customers’ personal information stolen in data breach

Crypto giant Coinbase has confirmed its systems have been breached and customer data, including government-issued identity documents, were stolen. In a legally required filing with U.S. regulators, Coinbase said a hacker this week told the company that they had obtained information about customer

Trump tells Apple’s CEO to stop expanding iPhone production in India

Earlier this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company would start importing iPhones manufactured in India to meet the majority of demand stateside. It seems U.S. president Donald Trump is not happy with that. Speaking at a business summit in Doha, Trump said he met with Cook and asked him to sto

South Korea delays decision on letting Google move hi-res map data overseas

South Korea has once again postponed a decision on whether to approve Google’s request to transfer high-precision map data on the country’s geography to its international servers. In February, Google had requested approval from the Korean National Geographic Information Institute to de

Hedra, the app used to make talking baby podcasts, raises $32M from a16z

People are using AI video generation tools to contribute to an unexpected new viral trend: podcasts featuring AI-generated talking babies. And one of the companies helping artists do this is Hedra. The startup, launched in 2023, offers a web-based video-generation and editing suite powered by its

YouTube viewers will start seeing ads after 'peak' moments in videos

Imagine you're watching a highly anticipated video from your favorite YouTube creator — perhaps the moment a famous couple finally gets engaged — when an ad pops up immediately after the clip. This is part of YouTube’s new ad format called “Peak Points.” The company revea

YouTube targets TV dollars with NFL deal, bingeable ‘shows’ from creators

YouTube announced a range of initiatives designed to attract more TV ad dollars to its platform at Brandcast, its annual Upfront event for advertisers. Notably, the Google-owned video service is expanding its relationship with the NFL and plans to exclusively stream the NFL’s first Friday gam

YouTube introduces an interactive product feed for shoppable TV ads

YouTube made its pitch to advertisers on Wednesday, accompanied by a flashy performance from Lady Gaga and special appearances from popular YouTubers like Brittany Broski and MrBeast.  During its Upfront presentation, YouTube executives introduced new ad formats coming to the platform, includ

The latest Apple Maps update will bring out your bougie side

Apple Maps announced a collaboration with the MICHELIN Guide, The Infatuation, and Golf Digest to help users find recommended restaurants and golf courses in their area. Starting in the U.S., users will be able to filter their Maps searches to see restaurants with MICHELIN ratings, which denote ex

Netflix adds more live TV to its lineup

Netflix is adding more livestreaming content, the company announced at its Upfront presentation on Wednesday. The service, which now reaches over 94 million global monthly active users, has been steadily introducing live TV to its audience with sports content from WWE wrestling, comedy, and awards