Author: arthursheikin@gmail.com

[ad_1] Grok’s raunchy, unfiltered AI companions may be making headlines for their unhinged and often NSFW responses, but it’s Grok 4, xAI’s latest model, that’s been driving the app’s revenue of late. Elon Musk’s xAI launched Grok 4 late on July 9, and by Friday, July 11, Grok’s gross revenue on iOS had jumped a whopping 325% to $419,000, up from $99,000 the day before the Grok 4 launch, according to app intelligence firm Appfigures. Image Credits:Appfigures Grok continued to pull in higher-than-usual revenue in the days following the launch of the new model, with gross revenue over $367,000 for…

[ad_1] Silicon Valley is doubling down on defense as geopolitical tensions rise and appetite for modernizing warfare grows. And while many of the startups garnering large valuations are focused on hardware and weaponry — think Anduril, Shield AI, and Skydio — Rune Technologies wants to tackle AI-enabled software for military logistics.  “The U.S. military runs on Excel spreadsheets and whiteboards and manual processes right now to execute logistics operations,” co-founder David Tuttle told TechCrunch. “Logistics is never the sexiest part of the military. The technology industry emphasis is on how do we make things go boom? How do we build…

[ad_1] Donald Trump may have backed away from reports that he could soon fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, but the administration isn’t turning down the heat on the central bank chief. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent weighed in on the drama swirling around President Donald Trump and the central bank. Authorities should be looking into the Fed’s efficacy, he said, when asked for his opinion on whether Trump should remove Fed Chair Powell from his post.”I think that what we need to do is examine the entire Federal Reserve institution and whether they have been successful,” Bessent said in a…

[ad_1] Chevron completing the acquisition of Hess following a legal battle with Exxon Mobil opened up a space for a new constituent of the S & P 500 to be added: Jack Dorsey’s fintech giant Block (XYZ). Shares jumped nearly 9% on the news Friday and traded roughly 2½ times the average daily options volume, with calls outpacing puts by well over 4:1. Perhaps overshadowed by more recent fintech players more closely associated with crypto, including Block, PayPal remains a dominant player in the digital payments industry. It has an extensive network of over 426 million active accounts, 35 million…

[ad_1] CNN  —  Ford has issued a recall for more than 694,000 Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles due to a fire hazard. The compact SUVs are being recalled because a fuel injector may crack and leak and potentially cause a fire, according to the recall notice. The recall involves Bronco Sports made from 2021 to 2024 and Escapes made from 2020 to 2022 with 1.5-liter engines. The company does not yet have a permanent fix for the issue, the recall notice added. Letters to notify owners of affected Bronco Sport and Escape will be sent on August 18. In the…

[ad_1] AvePoint could be well positioned to “ride the AI wave,” according to Jefferies. Jefferies initiated coverage of the data management software stock with a buy rating and a $22 per share price target, which is about 17% above Friday’s $18.79 close. Analyst Joseph Gallo said AvePoint has solidified its position as an “industry standard” in the data protection software sector and could benefit from greater consolidation as artificial intelligence adoption spreads. AVPT YTD mountain AvePoint stock in 2025. “AVPT has impressively cemented itself as a data protection platform for the changing enterprise data estate,” Gallo wrote Sunday. “AI is making…

[ad_1] I never intended to live abroad, but when I had a chance in my mid-20s to take a work assignment in Sydney, I didn’t hesitate to say yes.Coming from the US, I found it easy to fall in love with the city and the lifestyle in Australia. My three-month work commitment eventually turned into four years of living “down under.”It was a time filled with sunshine, workdays with views of the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, and unplugged weekends on the beach. Although I’m no longer in Australia, there are a few key reasons I wish I…

[ad_1] TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is just around the corner, and with more than 10,000 startup and VC leaders heading to Moscone West in San Francisco this October 27 to 29, the Expo Hall is where connections get made and business gets done. If you’ve been thinking about showcasing your company, consider this your nudge — exhibitor spots are filling fast, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. Exhibiting at Disrupt isn’t just about having a table, it’s about putting your startup in front of the people who matter most. Whether you’re looking to connect with investors, spark media coverage, recruit top…

[ad_1] New York CNN  —  As younger drinkers shun traditional soda brands for gut-friendly alternatives, PepsiCo is hoping to lure them back with its iconic cola flavor. On Monday, the company is unveiling a healthier version of its flagship flavor called “Pepsi Prebiotic Cola.” The permanent addition to its lineup builds off its acquisition of prebiotic soda brand Poppi, further entrenching itself in the fast-growing “better-for-you” trend that’s been a hit with Gen Z. The new soda is a “reimagining what a traditional cola is for the changing consumer needs,” Ram Krishnan, CEO of PepsiCo’s US beverage portfolio, told CNN.…

[ad_1] AI-powered browsers are nowhere near the easy future they promise, when they would be able to do complex multi-step tasks for you. However, the makers of these browsers are trying to make users’ lives easier by adding a way to easily repeat some prompts for the tasks they frequently perform. The Browser Company’s new Dia browser already has a skills feature, which lets users ask the browser to execute a command or create a code snippet based on a prompt. For instance, you could ask the browser to find interesting events happening in the next few days near you.…