technology
Disney signs deal with OpenAI to allow Sora to generate AI videos featuring its characters
Disney says that alongside the agreement, it will “become a major customer of OpenAI,” as it will use its APIs to build new products, tools, and experiences, including for Disney+. Source link
On Me raises $6M to shake up the gift card industry
On Me raises $6 million for its digital gift card platform that lets users purchase cards categorized by interests rather than being restricted to specific retailers. Source link
TIME names ‘Architects of AI’ its Person of the Year
TIME Magazine has named the ‘Architects of AI’ its Person of the Year, who include Jensen Huang, Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg, Lisa Su, Dario Amodei, Demis Hassabis, and Fei-Fei Li Source link
Security flaws in Freedom Chat app exposed users’ phone numbers and PINs
The founder of Freedom Chat said the company has reset user PINs and released a new version to app stores. Source link
Opera wants you to pay $20 a month to use its AI-powered browser Neon
Following a couple of months’ testing, Opera has finally made its AI-powered browser, Neon, available to the public — though you’ll have to shell out for a $19.90-per-month subscription to use it. Source link
Eclipse Energy’s microbes can turn idle oil wells into hydrogen factories
The biotech startup is betting that owners of abandoned oil wells will use the tech to squeeze energy out of their wells. Source link
Interest in Spoor’s bird-monitoring AI software is soaring
Spoor’s computer vision software can help wind farms, and other industries, track bird populations and migration patterns. Source link
Runware raises $50M Series A to help make image, video generation easier for developers
Runware lets developers integrate realtime image generation in their apps, with an affordable pricing model. Source link
Port raises $100M at $800M valuation to take on Spotify’s Backstage
Port offers a proprietary alternative to Spotify’s popular devtool catalog Backstage, but with a valuable addition: it can be used to manage AI agents, too. Source link
Harness hits $5.5B valuation with $240M raise to automate AI’s ‘after-code’ gap
Goldman Sachs has led Harness’s Series E round, with participation from IVP, Menlo Ventures, and Unusual Ventures. Source link