TechCrunch about 24 hours ago

The New York Times reportedly in talks to buy Letterboxd for $330 million

The New York Times Company is reportedly in exclusive talks to acquire Letterboxd, a popular social platform for movie enthusiasts, for $330 million. Letterboxd has seen rapid growth, expanding its user base from 3 million in early 2021 to 28 million by April 2026. The platform, often likened to Goodreads but for films, appeals notably to a younger audience, with over half its users under the age of 35. Letterboxd offers free access to its core features but generates revenue through premium subscriptions that unlock advanced functionalities. Despite its rising popularity, the platform’s projected earnings for 2026 stand at around $15 million, which is only about 4.5% of the reported purchase price. The significant valuation underscores the strategic value Letterboxd holds in the evolving media and entertainment landscape. Prior to The New York Times entering exclusive talks, other potential buyers showed interest in Letterboxd, including prominent film studios like A24 and Sony. However, A24 reportedly withdrew due to financial constraints, leaving Sony and the Times as leading contenders. The acquisition discussions highlight the growing convergence between traditional media companies and innovative digital communities centered on content discovery and social engagement. The New York Times has declined to comment on the potential acquisition, leaving the details under wraps. Industry observers suggest that the report of talks may have originated internally at the Times, lending credibility to the rumors. If finalized, this deal would signify a major expansion of The New York Times into entertainment-focused social platforms, broadening its digital offerings beyond its traditional news and information services.

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TechCrunch about 24 hours ago

Meta, Google, and TikTok sue California AG over teen social media law

Meta, Google, and TikTok have initiated legal action against California Attorney General Rob Bonta to challenge a new state law, AB 1709, which aims to restrict certain social media features for users under the age of 16. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September and set to take effect next year, the law bans autoplay videos and personalized content feeds for minors, and mandates deletion of accounts if these features remain active. Non-compliance could result in fines reaching $50,000 per affected minor. The companies argue that AB 1709 infringes on their First Amendment rights by limiting their editorial control over content presentation, and claim that Section 230 preempts the law. Meta highlighted that the regulation would significantly impact how it delivers personalized content and could force deletion of minors' accounts unless it alters its core functions. TikTok echoed concerns that the law imposes unconstitutional restrictions on free expression and undermines established content curation practices shared across various media. Critics, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, warn that the legislation might inadvertently intrude on users’ privacy by requiring more extensive age verification processes, possibly exposing all platform users to increased data collection. They also emphasize that restricting social media access for young people could silence vital youth-led activism, citing examples such as the March for Our Lives campaign and Greta Thunberg’s environmental advocacy. This lawsuit adds to ongoing global debates and legal battles over regulating social media use among teens, following similar measures in countries like Australia and France, though some have faced judicial setbacks. Google and Meta both underscored the importance of parental controls already offered on their platforms, arguing that broad laws like AB 1709 undermine these tailored protections. Meanwhile, California’s Attorney General’s office has confirmed its commitment to defending the law as a means to protect children online.

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TechCrunch 1 day ago

Airbnb says it’s launching an AI travel agent in the first half of 2027

Airbnb announced that it will launch its own AI travel agent in the first half of 2027, aiming to transform how travelers plan and manage trips. Unlike standard chatbots, Airbnb’s AI agent will feature a personalized, travel-focused interface that dynamically composes elements like maps, photos, comparisons, calendars, and itineraries in response to user queries. CEO Brian Chesky emphasized that travel is an aspirational experience, and the new agent is designed to enhance, not diminish, the joy of trip research and decision-making by offering a richer, visually engaging platform. The AI travel agent will leverage Airbnb’s two decades of experience connecting hosts and guests, enabling it to assist travelers not only with booking stays but also with managing reservations, payment issues, refunds, rebooking, and 24-hour safety support. This depth of integration aims to outperform general AI assistants by providing services that require direct interaction with Airbnb’s systems, catering to the full travel journey from planning through the stay. Future iterations may expand to support bookings of hotels, services, and experiences, reflecting Airbnb’s growing emphasis on these areas following its recent platform redesign. This announcement was made alongside Airbnb’s strong Q3 earnings report, which showed a 19% revenue increase to $4.87 billion and prompted the company to raise its full-year revenue growth forecast to the high teens. Chesky remarked that Airbnb is in a renewed growth phase, achieving its fastest revenue growth in over three years. The company is thus capitalizing on market momentum to introduce this advanced AI feature, aligning with broader industry trends where specialized AI agents deliver task-specific assistance rather than general-purpose AI chatbots. Airbnb’s strategic approach contrasts with current personal AI agents, which Chesky argues mainly handle simple, routine tasks and lack the nuance needed for aspirational travel planning. By building a unique AI-native environment tailored to travel exploration and booking, Airbnb expects to offer a differentiated user experience. The company aims for this AI travel agent to become an essential companion for vacationers, providing relevant, interactive tools to inspire trips and streamline the logistics, and launching this innovative product within the next six months.

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TechCrunch 1 day ago

Serve Robotics launches new business to become the AWS for robots

Serve Robotics, a company known for its self-driving sidewalk delivery robots and a former Uber spinout, is broadening its business by launching a new division called Physical AI Services. Announced alongside its third-quarter 2026 earnings, this venture aims to become a technology provider for other robotics firms by offering connectivity and data tools developed from Serve's own robotics operations. The company has already signed clients such as Bedrock Robotics, which focuses on autonomous construction equipment, and is collaborating with T-Mobile to enhance AI computing accessibility for robots. The core idea behind Physical AI Services is to solve operational challenges for robots working in dynamic human environments. Serve Robotics CEO Ali Kashani likens the new business to an "AWS moment," where the company opens up its proprietary technology stack for others to build upon. This new approach complements Serve’s existing delivery robot business without replacing it. Currently, Serve produces two robot models, including a hospital-assistant robot acquired through its purchase of Diligent Robotics. Physical AI Services will initially market three products designed to improve robot connectivity and intelligence. Serve Link ensures high-performance, reliable communication between robots and remote AI systems, even over unreliable networks. A data curator tool helps customers identify rare but important data scenarios for improving machine learning models, while a foundation-model data catalog, built from Serve’s delivery robots’ real-world experience, aids AI in interpreting complex human settings. This strategic shift stems from years of building integrated robotic applications and aims to fuel further innovation across industries like agriculture and warehousing. Serve Robotics is also transitioning its sidewalk delivery business from solely working with Uber to partnerships with companies like DoorDash and Wonder, signaling a broader client focus. The Physical AI Services launch represents a move to monetize and share the advanced technologies developed internally, supporting a growing robotics ecosystem. By offering connectivity and data infrastructure similar to how Amazon Web Services powers cloud computing, Serve intends to become a foundational platform for physical AI development.

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TechCrunch 1 day ago

Meta says US users can now video chat with their Muse AI avatar

Meta recently announced that U.S. users can now video chat with their Muse AI avatars using a new feature called Muse Voice. This option, introduced during Meta’s Connect conference in September 2026, enables real-time calls where users interact with customizable animated avatars powered by Muse Realtime Avatar and Muse Realtime Voice technology. Unlike standard voice assistants, these avatars, which can resemble people, animals, or imaginative characters, express subtle gestures matching conversation tones, aiming to create a more engaging and personal AI experience. The rollout includes support across mobile, web, and Mac platforms, with expansion plans for Meta’s AI Glasses and the upcoming Muse Charm wearable device, expected to launch by the end of the year. This device functions like a Tamagotchi, displaying the Muse avatar to enable ongoing conversations and task assistance throughout the day. Meta envisions these digital companions as a way to deepen user connections through lifelike interaction, and the system responds dynamically to the user's voice, though it does not visually perceive them. Meta’s chief AI officer, Alexandr Wang, demonstrated the Muse avatar's conversational abilities in a lighthearted video shared on X, highlighting its potential for natural interaction and humor. The company sees Muse as a key part of its consumer AI strategy as it competes in a growing market alongside services from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and other startups. Muse has already become very popular, recently reaching over 10 million users in the U.S., where many engage it for shopping and other practical tasks. Looking ahead, Meta plans to leverage Muse's technology to enhance its AI ecosystem, including integrating Muse into new hardware and expanding conversational capabilities. This launch aligns with Meta’s broader push into AI-driven consumer products and investments in data centers to support that growth, even as political and community resistance to data center expansion poses challenges. Overall, Muse's video chat feature marks a significant step in blending AI with personalized, interactive experiences.

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TechCrunch 1 day ago

Meta warns that election backlash against data centers could make AI expansion harder

Meta president Dina Powell McCormick warned at the WSJ Tech Conference that the recent Democratic wins in the midterm elections are likely to intensify opposition to data center construction. She emphasized that the tech industry has not effectively communicated the advantages that these massive infrastructure projects bring to local communities. This backlash is closely tied to broader public unease about artificial intelligence, as data centers are the tangible symbols of AI expansion that residents can see and resist. Powell McCormick noted that communities are increasingly scrutinizing data center developments, demanding clear benefits such as local job creation, support for public services like education and emergency responders, and environmental responsibility. Meta has long engaged with these concerns by covering electricity costs, contributing tax revenues to local needs, securing bipartisan political backing, and maintaining a local workforce. Despite these efforts, the political landscape is now more hostile, making it harder to secure approvals for data centers needed to support AI growth. The company’s data center footprint currently spans 23 states, with five planned projects—including a large-scale facility in Texas—that each require more than 1 gigawatt of power. Meta remains optimistic about its AI ambitions, particularly the expansion of its consumer AI agent Muse, which currently has 10 million users. However, the executive highlighted that even if some AI initiatives face challenges, investments in computing infrastructure will continue to hold value, as there is ongoing interest in leasing Meta’s excess compute capacity. Dina Powell McCormick framed Meta’s long-term vision as a commitment to democratizing AI technology in a way that benefits all people fairly and transparently. She said Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg is betting on “humans more than machines,” focusing on technology’s potential to address critical issues like cancer and education access. The company sees that winning community trust and showing tangible benefits from data centers are essential steps toward making this vision a reality, but political resistance post-election complicates these ambitions.

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TechCrunch 1 day ago

OpenAI released a new cybersecurity model. Is that enough?

OpenAI recently introduced a new cybersecurity model called ChatGPT Cyber, designed to enhance the capabilities of cybersecurity professionals within its Daybreak program. This release follows the discovery of a critical vulnerability in the widely used Ubuntu Linux operating system by Max Justicz, CTO of Charge Robotics, who used an earlier OpenAI model, GPT 5.6 Sol, to identify the flaw. His findings highlight how powerful AI tools can uncover complex bugs much faster than humans, raising concerns about the widening gap between hackers and defenders as AI becomes more accessible. The Daybreak program now offers two tiers: Daybreak Blue for defenders and Daybreak Red for offensive security researchers. OpenAI has used the new model to scan major open-source projects, identifying nearly a thousand potential issues in the Linux kernel and discovering dozens of previously unknown Firefox vulnerabilities. The company plans to expand Daybreak access to a broader range of participants, aiming to democratize advanced security research and assist critical infrastructure maintenance. Despite these efforts, cybersecurity experts caution the challenge remains immense. Justicz pointed out that the AI tools available to defenders have recently been restricted, while malicious actors have access to less regulated, more powerful AI models. He also highlighted the significant costs involved in effectively using these AI tools, noting his own expenses of around $5,000 to find exploits. The relatively small number of vetted defenders contrasts sharply with the many potential attackers who could misuse open AI models, fueling concerns about the race between securing and attacking digital infrastructure. OpenAI has committed $1 billion to support cybersecurity professionals working on critical infrastructure, emphasizing the urgent need to patch vulnerabilities before AI-driven exploits become widespread. The company is dedicating significant resources toward vulnerability discovery and remediation, offering pro bono services such as the recent Linux kernel audit. However, compared to other high-cost AI projects, the investment in cybersecurity is modest, suggesting that more urgency and resources may be required to safeguard the foundational technologies that underpin the digital world.

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TechCrunch 1 day ago

US government warns of ‘ongoing cyber threat’ amid mass hacks of industrial retail and military freezers

The U.S. government has issued an alert over a persistent cyber threat targeting industrial refrigeration systems, which has affected supermarket freezers, military facilities, and at least one blood bank. Agencies including CISA, the FBI, and several federal departments released a joint statement on November 5, 2026, warning that these attacks compromise internet-connected refrigeration and cold chain monitoring systems critical to food, transportation, agriculture, and healthcare industries. The hackers’ ability to manipulate temperatures raises concerns about potential physical damage, including fire hazards and significant inventory spoilage. Recent incidents in Europe and the UK have highlighted the severity of these attacks, where hackers took control of refrigeration units in multiple countries, leaving thawed and ruined food in their wake. Danish refrigeration manufacturer Danfoss was among those affected, with some targeted devices no longer receiving security updates, which heightened their vulnerability. In France, cybercriminals attempted to increase temperatures in blood bank refrigeration units, although the attack was thwarted before any blood supplies were compromised. The U.S. Department of Defense is investigating similar disruptions involving military freezer units, with reports first surfacing through independent outlets like Signal and Silence. While no formal attribution has been made, security experts and U.S. officials suspect Iran's involvement in orchestrating these cyberattacks. The broad impact across vital infrastructure has prompted increased vigilance from government agencies and the private sector alike. Authorities urge organizations managing industrial refrigeration to disconnect affected systems from the internet, strengthen credentials, apply security patches, and retire unsupported equipment. A separate guidance document warned that hackers might force continuous heating or defrost cycles, amplifying risks to equipment and inventory loss. Chris Butera, CISA’s acting cybersecurity chief, emphasized that all users reliant on refrigeration and monitoring technologies should consider themselves potential targets in this ongoing threat landscape.

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TechCrunch 1 day ago

OpenAI president Greg Brockman says company could be IPO ready in 2027

OpenAI President and co-founder Greg Brockman revealed at a Wall Street Journal tech conference that the company could be ready to go public with an IPO as early as 2027. He expressed strong confidence in the business, citing significant progress during 2026 despite a challenging first half of the year. Brockman highlighted that OpenAI's enterprise revenue has been expanding rapidly, now accounting for the majority of its income, compared to about 30% previously. The company’s enterprise division experienced a marked turnaround from early 2026, with a 70% growth in annualized revenue in the third quarter. This growth, driven by key partnerships like one with JPMorgan Chase, was the result of sustained investments and strategic focus on winning business clients. Brockman acknowledged that OpenAI had initially lagged behind competitors like Anthropic in areas like agentic coding, but persistent execution helped close the gap over the year. Brockman also emphasized how OpenAI's approach to the enterprise market evolved, moving from a consumer-focused perception to becoming recognized as a committed, trusted partner to businesses. The company learned how to identify key milestones for clients, build trust, and position itself as a reliable long-term collaborator. This shift marks a significant change compared to just a year prior when OpenAI was "not even in the enterprise game." Looking ahead, Brockman indicated that going public will happen when the timing feels right, and he conveyed optimism about the company's trajectory and potential. He did not provide specific IPO details but underscored that the advancements made in enterprise technology and revenue growth have positioned OpenAI well. The IPO would potentially place OpenAI in direct competition with rivals like Anthropic, which has already made enterprise market inroads.

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TechCrunch 1 day ago

Claude can now analyze your spending with its new Personal Finance tool

Anthropic announced on November 5, 2026, that its AI chatbot Claude is launching a new feature called Personal Finance. This tool enables users to connect their bank and credit card accounts via Plaid and ask Claude detailed questions about their spending and finances. Anthropic emphasizes that the tool is read-only, so it cannot move or manage funds, positioning Claude as a financial companion that analyzes real account data rather than offering generic advice. This new capability comes as a direct response to similar offerings from OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which introduced personal finance integrations earlier in the year. With Personal Finance, Claude users can get spending summaries broken down into categories like rent, food, and shopping, and also ask follow-up questions about anomalies or changes over time. The AI goes beyond basic budgeting by detecting issues such as duplicate charges, unexpected fees, and rising bills, while also helping users understand financial terms like APR and calculating interest paid. Anthropic highlights the conversational ease of Claude’s responses, which use plain language and avoid ads or credit product promotions, aiming for straightforward financial insights. To address privacy concerns, Anthropic limits Claude’s access to account names, types, balances, credit limits, the last four digits of account numbers, and transaction data from up to two years. Furthermore, conversations within the Personal Finance tool are excluded from training Claude’s language models, a measure intended to protect user privacy. The feature is rolling out in beta for U.S. users subscribed to Claude’s Pro, Max, and Ultra plans, signaling Anthropic’s ongoing expansion into specialized industry applications following earlier launches in legal and financial services sectors. This update highlights Anthropic’s effort to compete with OpenAI by bringing AI-powered personal finance tools to Claude users, blending secure access to financial data with conversational AI capabilities. As Claude continues to evolve across different vertical markets, Personal Finance represents a key step in making AI more practical and personalized for everyday financial management. The tool’s debut reinforces broader industry trends of integrating AI with real-world data to enhance user experiences in banking and spending.

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