OpenAI continues on its 'code red' warpath with new image generation model

Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories this afternoon

View this email online in your browser  December 16, 2025 TechCrunch Top 3 OpenAI continues on its 'code red' warpath with new image generation model: OpenAI rolls out GPT Image 1.5 for ChatGPT, promising 4x faster generation, better instruction-following, and precise edits. The launch escalates its rivalry with Google Gemini. Read More Meta's AI glasses can now help you hear conversations better: Conversation focus uses the AI glasses' open-ear speakers to amplify the voice of the person you're talking to, says Meta. Read More How Luminar's doomed Volvo deal helped drag the company into bankruptcy: Luminar says trouble with Volvo started as early as 2022, and that the Swedish automaker made -- but then backed away from -- large orders of its lidar sensors. Read More Be the first to know when news breaks Subscribe to our News Alerts, and you won't miss a thing. Breaking news, exclusives, and special reports—straight to your inbox. Sign up for News Alerts! A message from Fidelity Don't let a spreadsheet cost you your next round. Managing your equity in a spreadsheet might work, until you're raising your next round, onboarding new hires, or navigating your first SAFE. Fidelity Private Shares' free cap table template can provide you with a clean start. And when you're ready to ditch the manual updates, we'll help you scale with confidence. Download Now Afternoon Must-Reads Hacking group says it's extorting Pornhub after stealing users' viewing data: The Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters hacking collective stole Pornhub premium users' data, including email addresses and viewing history. Read More X updates its terms, files countersuit to lay claim to the 'Twitter' trademark after newcomer's challenge: X's new terms of service say that no one can use the Twitter name, trademarks, logos, and more without written consent. Read More Google tests an email-based productivity assistant: Google's new email-based assistant will be available to AI Pro and Ultra plan users over the age of 18 in North America. Read More Slate crosses 150,000 reservations despite waning EV truck enthusiasm: It took Slate Auto about seven months to grow its customer list by 50%, but new reservations appear to be outpacing any cancelations. Read More Databricks raises $4B at $134B valuation as its AI business heats up: The data intelligence company has just raised more than $4 billion in a Series L funding round at a $134 billion valuation — up 34% from the $100 billion valuation that it achieved just three months ago. Read More A message from Lilt Grow Your Brand with AI-Powered Multilingual Content Content volume is growing fast, but companies struggle to keep up with multilingual needs (old translation tools are too slow and can risk compliance and quality). Learn how top brands use LILT to streamline high-volume translation with AI and human review, making it faster, safer, and more accurate.  Learn More You missed these chats from Disrupt: Kindred talks home-swapping platform for travelers, Chef Robotics introduces AI into commercial kitchens, and Character.AI addresses chatbot safety with teens. Watch on Cheddar.com Watch on Streaming Last but Not Least Canadian peer-to-peer clothing rental company Rax is expanding to the US: Rax is a peer-to-peer clothing rental company that won top consumer pitch at Disrupt this year. Read More Check out some of our other newsletters: StrictlyVC TechCrunch Events TechCrunch Mobility Want to adjust your daily newsletter schedule? You can do it right here Got a tip? Get in touch securely. Want to advertise on TechCrunch? advertise@techcrunch.com Has this been forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe to this newsletter. Unsubscribe Member Center Privacy Policy Copyright © 2025 TechCrunch Media LLC 501 2nd Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94107

Hacking group says it's extorting Pornhub after stealing users’ viewing data

Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories to start your morning

View this email online in your browser  December 16, 2025 TechCrunch Top 3 Hacking group says it's extorting Pornhub after stealing users' viewing data: The Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters hacking collective stole Pornhub premium users' data, including email addresses and viewing history. Read More Databricks raises $4B at $134B valuation as its AI business heats up: The data intelligence company has just raised more than $4 billion in a Series L funding round at a $134 billion valuation — up 34% from the $100 billion valuation that it achieved just three months ago. Read More Everbloom built an AI to turn chicken feathers into cashmere: Everbloom has also developed a chemical process to transform waste fibers and feathers into upcycled materials that resemble everything from polyester to cashmere. Read More Be the first to know when news breaks Subscribe to our News Alerts, and you won't miss a thing. Breaking news, exclusives, and special reports—straight to your inbox. Sign up for News Alerts! A message from Chevron New Energies  Chevron uses AI to bring reliable energy to data centers.  Data centers need power now. That's why we're working to build multi-gigawatt power stations that generate reliable electricity, with fewer delays and no additional strain on the existing grid. Learn More Morning Must-Reads Ford is starting a battery storage business to power data centers and the grid: Ford will invest about $2 billion into the new business over the next two years. Read More VCs discuss why most consumer AI startups still lack staying power: The next consumer tech revolution may require an introduction of a new personal device. Read More Nvidia bulks up open source offerings with an acquisition and new open AI models: Nvidia acquired SchedMD, the lead developer of Slurm, and launched the Nemotron 3 family of open source AI models. Read More Apple TV adds support for Google Cast even as Netflix ditches the feature: The tech giant's adoption of Google Cast signals its interest in making Apple TV a more competitive streaming service at a time when the market is seeing increased consolidation. Read More Adobe Firefly now supports prompt-based video editing, adds more third-party models: Adobe is updating its AI video-generation app, Firefly, with a new video editor that supports precise prompt-based edits, as well as adding new third-party models for image and video generation, including Black Forest Labs' FLUX.2 and Topaz Astra. Read More A message from Persona Bad user onboarding is costing you customers. Clunky verification flows kill conversion rates. Persona creates smooth onboarding that verifies real users in seconds while blocking fraud, so your business can maximize signups without sacrificing security. Our Startup Program offers 12 months free with 500 monthly verifications, helping thousands of startups optimize their onboarding from day one. Learn more You missed these chats from Disrupt: Kindred talks home-swapping platform for travelers, Chef Robotics introduces AI into commercial kitchens, and Character.AI addresses chatbot safety with teens. Watch on Cheddar.com Watch on Streaming Last but Not Least Nuclear startup Last Energy raises $100M for its steel-encased micro reactor: Last Energy will use the funds to build its 5 megawatt pilot reactor in Texas, which it hopes to turn on next year. Read More Check out some of our other newsletters: StrictlyVC TechCrunch Events TechCrunch Mobility Want to adjust your daily newsletter schedule? You can do it right here Got a tip? Get in touch securely. Want to advertise on TechCrunch? advertise@techcrunch.com Has this been forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe to this newsletter. Unsubscribe Member Center Privacy Policy Copyright © 2025 TechCrunch Media LLC 501 2nd Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94107