Multi-factor authentication matters: The hackers behind the painful and expensive breach at Change Healthcare apparently used stolen credentials that were not protected by multi-factor authentication. The result of that oversight? Massive operational issues and huge costs to a massive company that handled nearly half of all U.S. citizens’ data. We’ll be talking about this one for some time. Read More
Chowdeck’s food-delivery business is booming: Nigerian startup Chowdeck, which recently raised a $2.5 million seed round, is trying to prove that food delivery is a massive growth opportunity in its home market. With GMV rising from ₦1 billion ($830,000) in October 2023 to ₦2.4 billion ($2 million) this March, the startup is growing fast. Now the question will be how long it can keep that sort of growth going without burning too much cash. Read More
Niche carbon counting: Tracking carbon usage is no small feat. That’s why there’s an industry of companies in the market today that help others with their carbon accounting. One startup, Carbonfact, is betting that by selecting and going deep on a single industry, it can do better than its rivals. The French startup recently raised $15 million to help the fashion industry become greener. Read More
Going after leaked, deepfaked content: Ceartas has raised $4.5 million for its AI-infused tech service that scans “digital platforms to identify and eliminate unauthorized content, including deepfakes.” The idea for the company came after one of its founders’ personal video was posted to an adult website without his consent or knowledge. It’s becoming easier by the day to deepfake images and videos, so Ceartas could have a lot of business on its hands. Read More
The government is here to help: The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology has spun up a generative AI division that will work on deepfake detection, and “encourage the development of software to spot the source of fake or misleading AI-generated information.” We probably need this, but who expects the government to move as quickly as the technology in question? Read More
New iPads: Apple may show off a new iPad Pro, iPad Air, Apple Pencil and a keyboard case in its May 7 event, so make sure you tune in to our coverage of all of the cool gadgets right here. Bookmark that link!
Voters worry social media companies are too powerful: For politics, at least. Per a new survey, some “78% of American adults say social media companies have too much influence on politics.” That’s 6% more than the last election cycle, and includes the vast majority of both sides of the U.S. political divide. Read More
Bumble shakes up app: Dating app Bumble wants to make it easier for women to reach out to potential matches. Given that the service is built around the idea of women making the first move, that direction makes sense. Bumble’s stock has seen its value erode in the public markets since its IPO back in 2021. Read More
neuroClues wants to use your eyes to diagnose your brain: French-Belgian medtech startup neuroClues is building eye-tracking tech that uses AI to watch how a patient’s eyes move. The goal here is to diagnose neurodegenerative conditions. neuroClues is starting with a focus on Parkinson’s. Read More
