Sony and Honda Unveil Afeela; Bird Buddy Launches a New Smart Feeder; Amazon Gets an $8B Loan TechCrunch

It’s Kyle here, taking Greg’s place for the next few days while he is on parental leave. He’s spending time with his new, healthy baby, which is a great gift for the holidays.To keep up with the latest technology, I’m learning the Week in Review. Greg’s shoes are very big and I want to do justice!

Long-time readers will know the drill. But for those who are new to TechCrunch, WiR is a recap of the stories of the past seven day from TechCrunch. Every Saturday, we post to the site and send WiR directly to subscribers’ inboxes (subscribe). hereIf you haven’t, please do so to make it easy. Like a butter croissant, the WiR goes nicely with your morning cup of coffee — or tea, if that’s your preference. Hot cocoa. You have the option to choose – there’s no judgment.

Before we dive into news, a reminder The early stage of the TC programBoston is quickly approaching. Tickets won’t be available for long – they will not last – so make sure you get your tickets if possible if you are in the Greater Boston area at April’s end. We love to see your smiling faces.

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TikTok bans abound: Maybe the United States will be the focus of all the attention TikTok ban on government devicesIndia was the first to do it — two and a quarter years ago. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr recently stated that the US should “eliminate…nefarious app” and follow India’s lead. India has already Hundreds of apps blockedIn the midst of skirmishes over the border between the two countries, TikTok has ties to China along with PUBG Mobile, Battlegrounds Mobile India, and UC Browser.

I feel AvilaSony and Honda showed Afeela, their joint electric brand at a flashy press conference. The four-door sedan was rolled at the Stage.

No appetite for risk: My colleague Natasha He wrote an excellent piece about how tech workers, weary of recent layoffs, are re-evaluating their relationships with the industry—particularly in light of the turbulent economic times ahead. Some have multiple full-time jobs within the same industry while others work part-time to make ends fit. A few seem eager to leave technology behind entirely — but they’re definitely more pessimistic than they used to be.

for the sake of birdsBird Buddy, the startup behind smart bird feeders, has just shown off its latest model at CES. It caters to hummingbirds. Like the original bird feeder, Bird Buddy’s new feeder—which features recyclable and sustainable materials—has a motion-triggered camera, which prompts it to take pictures of visiting birders. They are then run through an AI algorithm which helps identify species and alert owners through a companion mobile app.

I didn’t do that, I swearExperts believe Sam Bankman-Fred’s innocence plea to multiple federal fraud cases was a tactical response. JacquelineTalk to. They claimed that the former CEO of cryptocurrency exchange FTX may be buying time in order to reach a deal with prosecutors. October 2 is the trial date at the US District Court for Southern District of New York.

Cut the sales forceSalesforce announced this week it would reduce nearly 10% of its workforce. This will affect more than 7,700 employees and will also close offices in “certain market” markets. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff stated that Salesforce had hired too many people during the boom-era pandemic. company 79,000 employees claimed last FebruaryAn increase of 30% over 2020.

Billions for BezosAccording to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Amazon has obtained an $8 billion loan. According to an Amazon spokesperson, the loan will be added to the portfolio of financing options that the company has been using in recent months to mitigate against an “uncertain economic environment”. It also comes following a disappointing year in which the retailer expanded too much during pandemic. Advertise internallyIt plans to layoff approximately 18,000 employees.

See youAmazon is back with the Peephole Camera at CES. It fits into existing doorpeepholes and records what happens outside, in hallways, etc. Starting at $129—down from the original price of $199—it comes with software that brings its capabilities in line with the rest of Ring’s portfolio, like motion detection and real-time video streaming.

audio report

Are you ready to listen to a podcast? They are delicious, and TCs have them all. on me Techcrunch podcastDaryl and I discuss CES-related AI product launches while Natasha discusses the effects of mass layoffs on tech. Crew is currently at work justiceThe startup-focused TC Show inspected some deals from CES and USV this week as well as the latest developments within the FTX/SBF saga. Last but not least is foundHenrique Dubugras (Co-CEO) and Brex Co-Founder will meet up with you to discuss the company’s credit card program and emerging expense management.

Techcrunch +

Have you yet signed up for TC+? Shame, there is so much content coming from there. These were some of the most popular posts this week:

Fintech forecasts and opportunities for 2023It’s been a busy year in the financial technology industry. The market is down significantly from its 2021 highs. While 2022 was all about resetting the financing ecosystem, Victoria expects that 2023 will be a year for rebalancing fintech companies. Read her comprehensive article for more.

5 failure points between $5 million and $100 million in ARRTracy Young, former CEO at PlanGrid, is sharing her insights about PlanGrid’s key failures as well as what she learned from them throughout the years. In the opening paragraphs, she states that “if these insights help even one founder make a mistake, I would consider it worth the effort.”

Is generative AI really becoming a bubble?Rebecca polled 35 investors across different stages and geographies to find out their opinions on generative AI. Although many investors were positive about new technology, they also acknowledged that the sector is likely to be lost in its own hype.