Clubhouse, the voice chat app that captured the attention of Hollywood and Silicon Valley early in the pandemic, is experimenting with a new feature that lets users join private groups. Testing of the tool has expanded in recent weeks, around the same time that Clubhouse reduced headcount and embarked on a change in strategy. The […]
Technology
Klarna Hits Back at Barclays Over ‘Irresponsible’ Buy-Now-Pay-Later Research
The head of Klarna’s UK business has criticized what he called “mind-boggling” and “irresponsible” research by Barclays Plc that called for stronger regulation of the buy-now-pay-later sector, the latest sign of the growing willingness of lenders to insert themselves into a market dominated by new entrants. The bank published a press release Thursday with debt […]
SoftBank Vision Fund’s 4th Japan Investment Is a Legal Tech Bet
SoftBank Group Corp.’s Vision Fund will lead a 13.7 billion yen ($101 million) Series D fundraising into Japanese startup LegalForce Inc., in the world’s biggest tech investor’s fourth outlay in its home country. LegalForce, which uses AI to screen contracts for loopholes and potential legal risks, said other participants in the round include new investors […]
Instagram to Test AI on Faces to Verify Users Are Over 18
Instagram, under fire from safety advocates to keep children off the app and prevent teens from seeing harmful content, is testing new ways to verify users’ age. Among them: running users’ video selfies through an artificial intelligence that can determine if they are adults. The Meta Platforms Inc.-owned app recently started requiring users to submit […]
Toyota Halved Stake in Uber Following Self-Driving Unit Sale
Toyota Motor Corp. sold about half of its Uber Technologies Inc. shares after the US mobility company carved out its self-driving division. Toyota held about 5.13 million shares of Uber in the fiscal year ended March, half the amount it reported the previous year, according to a securities filing Thursday. Toyota reported Uber holdings valued […]
Bitcoin Advances as Concerns Over Deleveraging ‘Cascades’ Ease
Bitcoin climbed as some executives and investors expressed optimism that the selling pressure that drove the largest token to an 18-month low over the weekend is abating. The largest cryptocurrency rose as much as 4.7% to $20,786, while Ether climbed as much as 6.4%. Bitcoin is now up 16% over the past few days, while […]
UK Payments Firm SumUp Reaches €8 Billion Valuation
SumUp has achieved an 8 billion euro ($8.4 billion) valuation in its latest funding round, raising 590 million euros in a deal split between debt and equity in a bid to develop new products and gain clients. SumUp was considering raising a fresh round of funding. People with knowledge of the matter said at the […]