The best budget robot vacuums for 2024

The best budget robot vacuums for 2024

Today’s robot vacuums are becoming a bit like cars: with all the features, upgrades, and fancy trimmings available these days, it’s easy to forget that they can just be simple machines that get us from point A to point B. Yes, some bots blow hot air on their bums (mop pads) and deftly navigate dog … Read more

Just 5,000 people use the Rabbit R1 every day

Just 5,000 people use the Rabbit R1 every day

Pour one out for the Rabbit R1. Only 5,000 people of the 100,000 who bought the orange AI gadget are still using it daily, five months after it launched. That’s straight from the mouth of Rabbit founder Jesse Lyu, who gave the number to Fast Company while explaining that the device had to launch before … Read more

OpenAI’s for-profit switch could include equity for Sam Altman

OpenAI’s for-profit switch could include equity for Sam Altman

OpenAI describes its business structure as “a partnership between our original Nonprofit and a new capped profit arm,” which has been a contributing factor in last year’s short-lived board coup against CEO Sam Altman and a recent lawsuit by cofounder Elon Musk. But that’s reportedly set to change along with a massive new funding round … Read more

Blue Origin gets its New Glenn rocket on track with new test fire

Blue Origin gets its New Glenn rocket on track with new test fire

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket hit a significant milestone this week, completing its first second-stage hot fire test that validates the interactions between the subsystems, its two BE-3U engines, and the ground control systems. The test lasted for 15 seconds and allowed the launch operations team to practice launch procedures in the lead-up to New … Read more

OpenAI’s chief research officer has left

OpenAI’s chief research officer has left

OpenAI’s chief research officer, Bob McGrew, and a research VP, Barret Zoph, have left the company hours after OpenAI’s CTO, Mira Murati, announced she would be departing. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed the two latest resignations in a post on X Wednesday evening. “Mira, Bob, and Barret made these decisions independently of each other and … Read more

Pear wants to empower up-and-coming VCs with its new emerging managers in residence program

Pear wants to empower up-and-coming VCs with its new emerging managers in residence program

When seed-focused Pear VC raised a $432 million fund last year, the firm co-founder Pejman Nozad said that it meant his firm had reached its “own product-market-fit.” That fourth fund was nearly three times larger than its previous $160 million fund. The eleven-year-old firm wants to help emerging venture funds follow in Pear’s footsteps. On … Read more

The best Nintendo Switch controllers for 2024

The best Nintendo Switch controllers for 2024

The best Nintendo Switch controllers aren’t the ones that come with it. While the removable Joy-Cons included with all non-Lite Switch consoles are convenient given they can be detached for wireless use, their tiny contourless design isn’t that comfortable for long gaming sessions or large hands. And while Nintendo has taken steps to address the … Read more

Meta lets businesses create ad-embedded chatbots

Meta lets businesses create ad-embedded chatbots

At the Meta Connect 2024 developer conference in Menlo Park on Wednesday, Meta announced that it’s expanding its AI-powered business chatbots to brands on WhatsApp and Messenger using click-to-message ads. Now businesses can set up ad-embedded chatbots that talk to customers, offer support, and facilitate orders, Meta says. “From answering common customer questions to discussing … Read more