Latest news with #Techcrunch
Mint
6 days ago
- Mint
Apple introduces iOS 26 beta with ringtone additions, interface changes and glimpses of Liquid Glass
Apple has rolled out the sixth developer beta of iOS 26, alongside test versions for iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, macOS and other platforms, as the company edges closer to the software's expected public launch in September, reported Techcrunch. While the latest update delivers relatively minor changes compared to earlier betas, it reportedly introduces several notable adjustments. One of the most visible additions is a set of six new ringtones, all variations of the existing 'Reflection' tone, highlighted the publication. Among these, a sound titled 'Dreamer' has attracted attention from early testers on social media. The release also addresses ongoing debate over changes to the Camera app's mode switcher. Earlier betas reversed the swipe direction used to move between camera modes, a shift that prompted criticism from users who said it disrupted established habits. In beta 5, Apple offered a Settings option allowing a return to the previous behaviour, labelled 'Classic Mode.' However, in this latest release the toggle has been removed and the swipe action has reverted to its original direction, the report stated. Other refinements include faster interface transitions and newly introduced animations when opening and closing apps. The 'Liquid Glass' design system, a translucent, colour-shifting interface element applied across various parts of iOS, has received further updates, with enhanced dispersion effects when navigating app tabs and additional visual changes to the Lock Screen and toggles. Moreover, the report notes that upon installation, users will encounter a refreshed onboarding sequence that highlights key iOS 26 features, including redesigned icons, interface changes in multiple apps, and the Liquid Glass effects. As is typical with pre-release software, the update contains bug fixes alongside the risk of new issues. Testers have reported that this build appears more stable and responsive than previous versions. The public beta of iOS 26 is expected to receive the same changes in an upcoming update.
TechCrunch
07-08-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
AI agents aren't the ‘new Google,' says Airbnb CEO
After a second-quarter earnings beat, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky shared his thoughts on the company's AI strategy, cautioning investors that AI chatbots can't yet be thought of as the 'new Google.' That is, AI chatbots, while potentially driving new leads to the travel and services business, aren't entirely a replacement for the referrals that the dominant search engine brings. At least not at this time. 'I think we're still kind of feeling out the space,' the exec told investors on the Q2 earnings call. 'The thing I want to caution is I don't think that AI agents — I don't think we should think of chatbots like Google — I don't think we should think of them as the 'new Google' yet.' This, Chesky explained, is because AI models aren't 'proprietary.' 'We also have to remember that the model powering ChatGPT is not proprietary. It's not exclusive to ChatGPT. We — Airbnb — can also use the API, and there are other models that we can use,' he said. Painting a broader picture of the AI landscape, Chesky said that in addition to chatbots and other AI agents, there will be custom-built startups designed for specific applications, as well as other incumbents that have made the shift to AI. 'One of the things we've noticed is it's not enough to just have … the best model. You have to be able to tune the model and build a custom interface for the right application. And I think that's the key,' he said. Techcrunch event Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise on August 7. Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. San Francisco | REGISTER NOW The company told investors it will look to take advantage of AI in a number of ways. Airbnb shared during the call that its AI customer service agent in the U.S. reduced the percentage of guests contacting a human agent by 15%, for instance. This was actually harder than tackling the lower-hanging fruit involving travel planning and inspiration, Chesky said, because AI agents performing customer service can't hallucinate. They have to be able to be accurate and helpful at all times. Airbnb's customer service agent was built using 13 different models and trained on tens of thousands of conversations, and is currently available in English in the U.S. This year, Airbnb will roll it out to more languages, and next year, it will become more personalized and agentic. That means it would be able to understand if someone reaches out to cancel a reservation; it would not only be able to tell them how to do so, but it could also do it for them. The agent could also help plan and book trips. Plus, AI will come to Airbnb's search next year, the CEO said. However, the company has not fully fleshed out its plans for working with third-party AI agents, although it's considering it. Users still need an Airbnb account to make a booking. Because of this, Chesky doesn't think agentic AI would turn its business into a commodity, the way that booking flights has become. Instead, he sees AI as 'potentially interesting lead generation' for the company. '… I think the key thing is going to be for us to lead and become the first place for people to book travel on Airbnb. As far as whether or not we integrate with AI agents, I think that's something that we're certainly open to,' he said. Airbnb beat analysts' expectations in the quarter with revenue of $3.1 billion and earnings per share of $1.03, but the stock dropped on its forecast of slower growth in the second half of the year.
TechCrunch
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- TechCrunch
Spotify takes a swing at gaming with a mini golf game ahead of ‘Happy Gilmore 2' release
Netflix and Spotify have teamed up to launch a golf-inspired game as a way to promote 'Happy Gilmore 2,' the sequel to Adam Sandler's 1996 comedy film, which premieres on Netflix this Friday, July 25. This partnership represents a new venture for Spotify, as the company has never teamed up with another company to create a gaming experience within its app before. Gaming is an area Spotify has largely overlooked, so working with the streaming giant is notable, even if only for a promotional campaign as it could serve as a test to see if consumers resonated with the experience. Since the game is tied to a beloved cult classic, it also presents a unique opportunity to boost engagement. Spotify says it developed the game in partnership with MiK Studio. Image Credits:Spotify The new mini-game, titled Happy Gilmore 2 Tournament, is available exclusively within the Spotify app. To play, users must perfect their golf swing by tilting their device as they aim to complete all three holes. The game also offers a unique audio-visual experience, featuring audio clips from the movie when users complete each round, along with a personalized playlist of 'happy' tracks curated specifically for the user. Players can also discover Easter eggs, such as Happy's boots, his signature hockey stick, and an alligator. At the end of the experience, users can watch the official 'Happy Gilmore 2' trailer and share their personalized playlist and final score on social media. Techcrunch event Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. San Francisco | REGISTER NOW While this is the first time Spotify has worked with another company to develop a gaming experience, it's worth noting that Spotify previously launched a hidden game on its platform as more of an Easter Egg. That game, released in 2023, was called 'Eat This Playlist' and was a variation of the classic Snake arcade game where players control a growing snake and avoid obstacles.
TechCrunch
24-07-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Snapchat will now let your friends know you've made it home safe
Snapchat is launching a new way for users to let their friends and family know they've made it home safe after an outing, called 'Home Safe,' the social network announced on Thursday. To use the feature, you need to set your home location by tapping your Bitmoji on Snap Map and then 'My Home.' When you head out and want to notify a friend when you get home, open the conversation, tap the Map icon, and then the Home Safe button. Your friend will receive an automatic alert in your chat conversation once you arrive home. Snapchat notes that alerts can only be sent to friends you already share your location with. Plus, since location sharing on Snap Map is off by default, no one can see your location or receive a Home Safe alert unless you choose to share it. 'Whether you're heading back from a first date, a crowded concert, or a weekend getaway, Home Safe can offer a close friend or family member peace of mind that you've made it home safely,' Snapchat wrote in a blog post. This new feature comes two months after Snapchat announced that Snap Map now has more than 400 million monthly active users. Snap Map, which launched in 2017, was originally a way for users to see their friends' locations and browse public snaps from around the world. Over time, the feature has evolved and now offers ways for users to discover local hotspots and find things to do. Techcrunch event Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. San Francisco | REGISTER NOW
Mint
28-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Facebook wants your photos to train its AI and create edits, even if you don't upload them
Facebook is asking users for access to their phone's camera roll in order to suggest AI edited versions of their pictures, even for the ones that haven't been uploaded to the social media platform yet. According to a Techcrunch report, the new feature is being suggested to Facebook users while creating a new Story where a screen pop up asks them if they would like to opt into 'cloud processing' to allow for creative suggestions. Once the users click on 'Allow', they would give Facebook the right to generate new ideas from their camera roll including collages, recaps, AI restylings or photo themes. The company states that in order for the feature to work it will upload media from the camera roll to its servers on an 'ongoing basis' depending on information like time, location or themes. Facebook further states that by agreeing to Meta's AI Terms of Service, users allow their media and facial features to be analyzed by an AI and the company will use date and the prescence of people or objects in the images to generate creative ideas. 'once shared, you agree that Meta will analyze those images, including facial features, using AI. This processing allows us to offer innovative new features, including the ability to summarize image contents, modify images, and generate new content based on the image,' Meta's AI terms state. The same terms state that Meta AI has the right to 'retain and use' any personal information shared by the users in order to personalize its AI outputs. It also states that the social media giant can review users' interactions with its AI including conversations and those reviews will be conducted by humans. Reportedly, Meta doesn't give much clarity on what it considers personal information apart from saying that it includes 'information you submit as Prompts, Feedback, or other Content.' Notably, Meta has previously also confirmed that it used data published on Facebook and Instagram since 2007 in order to train its generative AI models.
