In analysis, the newsletter discusses the potential implications of AI deepfaking, as seen in a possibly edited photo of Kate Middleton and her children. It also reviews Moonbird’s relaxation device designed to aid sleep and reduce stress. The week's podcasts featured discussions on startup compensation, AI robotics, and blockchain and AI integrations. Lastly, Readyverse Studios, co-founded by Futureverse and Ernest Cline, launched Open, a third-person battle royale experience.
Key takeaways:
- TechCrunch viewed leaked documents from SpaceX showing questionable practices related to employee stock options, including the company's right to ban past and present employees from participating in tender offers under certain conditions.
- Phantom Auto, a remote driving startup, is shutting down due to failure in securing new funding.
- Reddit plans to allow its community members to sell their shares immediately after its IPO, breaking from the usual lock-up agreements that prevent IPO investors from selling shares for six months.
- U.K.-based Griffin Bank, an API-driven banking-as-a-service (BaaS) platform, has obtained a license to launch as a fully operational bank and raised $24 million from investors.