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Welcome to Startups Weekly . Sign uphereto get it in your inbox every Friday .
Hello , and welcome to the very last Startups Weekly ever .
Do n’t occupy ! We ’re not going far — the newssheet continues , but next hebdomad we ’re fuck off a shiny new name and a brand name - new lick of blusher .
As Brian , Mary Ann and Zack write in the beginning this hebdomad , we lost a tidy sum of startup in 2023 , but aboveboard , I do n’t think that ’s a bad thing . inauguration are n’t meant to last forever — they either evolve into a amply fledged bay window with a growth flight , or they give up existing altogether . There ’s no in - between , and while caper losses and people ’s livelihoods being threatened is a tragedy , that ’s on the button why startup worker tend to be paid middling well : The risk is turn over into the stock options – shaped advantage .
A tale of two pedals
Tim Stevens did a inscrutable nosedive , compare the various number one wood assist system presently on the market . In this tech showdown , Tesla ’s “ Full Self - Driving ” and Mercedes ’ Drive Pilot conflict to excuse their hype and price tags , lagging behind their more grounded rivals from BMW , Ford , and Chevrolet . It flex out that expensive does n’t always intend better in the race for driver assist mastery , with mitt - off feature and machinelike lane changes being the new benchmarks for road royalty .
More from transportation nation :
polish up and round we go : Elon Musk’sHyperloop dreaming hit the buffersas Hyperloop One shuts down , leave eminent - speed rail to slip the glare .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
What ’s next ? A Nokia Taxi?:Xiaomi ’s leap into the EV market with its SU7 , dubbed a “ smartphone on wheel , ” blend ambitious tech with automotive prowess . We looked at Xiaomi ’s attempt to unify earphone - like software into cars , with a side note on the challenges of make a car that ’s both technical school - forward and worthy of the open route .
The EV spare - for - all ( except not free):EV tight - blame networks are steady for a roiling 2024as they grapple with Tesla ’s expanding Supercharger dominance . Major actor like Ford , GM , and Volkswagen are semi - reluctantly joining Tesla ’s charging protocol , leaving once - promise networks like Electrify America in purgatory .
The glassholes are back
It’swildthat it ’s been a decade since Google Glass was all the furore , but here we go again . . . We are back to bear all sorts of computing devices on our faces . Amazon ’s latest Echo Frames , despite their improved sound , ca n’t quite keep up with the Ray - Ban Meta , which manages to conflate tech and style more effectively . The Echo Frames are a somewhat underwhelming rival in the smart glasses arena , especially when compared to the more polished Ray - Ban Meta , Brian reason out .
More from the world of hardware inauguration :
Coming shortly to a face near you : Apple ’s Vision Pro isrumored for a later January or early February release . It marks one of Tim Cook ’s bluff moves yet . price at $ 3,499 , it is an ambitious venture into spacial computing , despite VR ’s diachronic underperformance and Apple ’s modest shipment expectations .
More treatments than you could shake a tablet at : MIT scientist are shaking thing up in the fight against fleshiness with a oscillate oral contraceptive , literally . This lozenge , once ingested , vibrates to play a joke on the consistency into feeling full , potentially replacing costly drugs and surgeries . Now , if it could also notify us of new Netflix episodes , it really can do it all .
It ’s the most wonderfuuuul fourth dimension of the yeaaaaaar : That ’s right , I ’m joining team TechCrunch at CES in Vegas next workweek . Here ’s what we are expect this year .
So what does 2024 hold?
Over 40 investors deal their 2024 predictions , with divers opinions on IPOs and AI ’s futurity . While some expect a riposte in exits , others foresee a dry charm until 2025 . The consensus is undecipherable , butall middle are on AI investmentsand startup survival amid tighten valuations and selective financial backing .
More AI news show from Team TechCrunch :
2024 in AI : Devin digs into the top eight predictions for the worldly concern of AI for the next yr . There ’s some boundary line obvious single in there , and some thought - chivvy ideas as well . gibe it out !
Cough up , robots!:The New York Times issuing OpenAI and Microsoft , say they train AI models on Times ’ contentedness without permission . The suit seeks damage and destruction of models containing Times ’ material , debate this exercise harms its journalism and stain .
Taking LLMs offline : Giga ML aims to revolutionize how companies utilize large language manakin ( LLMs ) by enabling offline deployment . Their platform center on privateness and customization , speak common enterprise concerns about information share-out and lack of flexibility with subsist LLMs .
Top reads on TechCrunch this week
Still want more ? Well , damn , you ’re starting off the year a bit greedy , but I see you . Here ’s the five top story since the last Startups Weekly :
Well , it ’s your own damn error we got hacked:“Rather than acknowledge its role in this data security measures calamity , 23andMe has apparently decided to give its customers out to dry while downplaying the seriousness of these events , ” Hassan Zavareei , one of the lawyers representing the victims who received the letter from 23andMe , told TechCrunch .
It ’s like the lottery , but YouTubier : MrBeast ’s stunts have evolved into a raw variety of American Dream , where prevail outlandish and thought-provoking situations on YouTube could give off your debts . Contestants , drive by desperation to percipient student loans or aesculapian bills , take part in extreme challenges like living in a grocery depot or cohabitating in a thin elbow room for month .
Highs and low in real acres : Frontdesk , a short - term rental supplier , is on the brink of collapse after lay off its full 200 - someone hands . The company ’s struggles , exacerbated by failed fundraising efforts and challenges with its business model , led tothe drastic step just months after acquiring a minuscule rival .
The undecomposed gifts to fend off : Sure , Christmas has come and go , but I still loved readingZack ’s anti - gift guide . It warn against tech presents with security and privateness pitfall . Highlighting items like genetical testing kit , video recording doorbells , VPNs , small fry - tracking apps , cheap Android tablet , and net - connected sexuality toys , the article advise against gift these due to potential data point breach , surveillance risks , and ecumenical privateness concerns .
10 remain its plumb bob : Fidelity drastically reduced its valuation of ten holdings , the parent society of X ( formerly Twitter ) possess by Elon Musk , by 71.5 % . This follows a tumultuous year for the company , including a chief operating officer change , challenges in attracting advertisers , and controversial decisions like reinstating banish account . The valuation stinger reflects ongoing difficulties and a significant reduction from Fidelity ’s initial investment .
