Your Hub for Tech News and Handy Online Tools.
TRIC Robotics, based in California, is tackling pesticide use in strawberry farming with UV-C light and autonomous robots. Strawberries are the most popular berry in the U.S. but also heavily reliant on pesticides.
The company's robots use UV-C light to kill bacteria and pests, treating up to 100 acres. They operate as a service for farmers, replacing traditional spraying methods.
Initially focused on 3D printed robots for SWAT teams, TRIC Robotics pivoted to agriculture in 2020 to have a greater impact. They collaborated with the USDA to commercialize UV light technology for pest control.
TRIC Robotics has raised $5.5 million in seed funding to expand its robot fleet and eventually target other crops. Currently, they work with four major strawberry producers and have nine robots deployed, with three more on the way.
Meta is implementing stricter safeguards for Instagram accounts primarily featuring children to prevent abuse. These accounts will have the strictest message settings and the 'Hidden Words' feature enabled.
Meta will also prevent suspicious adults from finding these accounts and is rolling out new safety features for teen accounts, including safety tips, display of account creation date in chats, and a combined block and report option.
The company has removed numerous accounts sexualizing children and reports high usage of its nudity protection filter in DMs.
NetZeroNitrogen is developing bacterial strains to reduce synthetic fertilizer use by up to 50%. These bacteria enable plants to obtain nitrogen from the atmosphere, offering a precision approach compared to traditional fertilizer application.
The company recently secured $6.6 million in seed funding from World Fund and Azolla Ventures. Their non-GMO bacteria are applied directly to seeds and are designed to die off once the plant completes its life cycle.
NetZeroNitrogen plans to launch its first product for rice crops, taking advantage of the pre-planting soaking process to apply the bacterial strains. The company aims to sell its solution for at least $50 per hectare less than synthetic fertilizers, potentially offering a 30% to 40% discount in regions like Southeast Asia.
While not yet a complete solution, NetZeroNitrogen's approach offers a significant step toward reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers and their environmental impact.
Gupshup, a business messaging platform, has raised over $60 million in equity and debt financing to expand its presence in high-growth markets and enhance its AI-driven products. The funding round, led by Globespan Capital Partners and EvolutionX Debt Capital, will support the deployment of AI agents across messaging platforms like WhatsApp and RCS.
The company, which achieved unicorn status in 2021, is focusing on revenue growth and profitability, with plans to explore an IPO in the next 18-24 months. Gupshup is considering listing on Indian stock exchanges due to its strong presence and understanding of the market, particularly with WhatsApp integration. With a customer base of over 50,000 across 100+ countries, Gupshup aims to empower businesses with customizable AI solutions.
Amazon has acquired Bee, an AI wearables startup known for its Fitbit-like bracelet and Apple Watch app that record conversations to create reminders and to-do lists. The acquisition signals Amazon's interest in expanding into wearable AI devices, a departure from its voice-controlled home assistants like Echo speakers.
Bee's device, priced at $49.99 with a $19-per-month subscription, aims to provide personal, ambient intelligence. While other companies have struggled in this space, Bee's affordable price point makes it accessible to consumers.
The acquisition raises privacy concerns, as these devices record everything around them. Bee's current policies state that users can delete their data, and audio recordings are not saved or used for AI training. However, it's unclear if these policies will change under Amazon's ownership, given Amazon's past handling of user data from Ring security cameras.
Apple has recently notified over a dozen Iranians about government spyware targeting their iPhones. This information comes from security researchers and digital rights organizations.
Miaan Group and cybersecurity researcher Hamid Kashfi have spoken with Iranians who received these notifications within the last year. Miaan Group's report highlights three instances of government spyware attacks against Iranians, with alerts issued in April.
Amir Rashidi of Miaan Group suggests Iran is likely behind the attacks, though further investigation is needed. Kashfi assisted victims with preliminary forensics but couldn't confirm the specific spyware maker. Many victims were hesitant to continue the investigation due to fear and sensitivity.
Apple has been sending notifications about potential spyware attacks to users globally since 2021 and recommends that victims contact AccessNow for assistance. The company has identified such attacks in over 150 countries but does not disclose specific country names or the total number of affected users.
Etsy is facing a boycott from its users due to its decision to allow the sale of 'Alligator Alcatraz'-branded merchandise. This merchandise celebrates a controversial ICE detention center in Florida, where detainees are allegedly held in inhumane conditions.
Etsy users argue that the platform is violating its own Discrimination and Hateful Content Policy, which prohibits discriminatory content based on immigration status. The boycott has gained traction on social media platforms like Threads and Reddit, with many users threatening to close their shops and accounts.
While Etsy has not responded to requests for comment, other platforms like Amazon have defended their decision to host similar merchandise, citing their policies on controversial products. This isn't the first time e-commerce platforms have faced backlash for hosting controversial content, with previous incidents involving Shopify and Amazon.
Apple has released iOS 26 beta 4 to developers, featuring tweaks to the Liquid Glass redesign and the re-introduction of AI-powered notification summaries for news.
The beta includes a new "Welcome" splash screen, introductory screens for features like Siri and its AI summaries, and a revamped Camera app.
Liquid Glass sees further refinement with updates in apps like the App Store, Photos, and Apple Music, while the Notification Center gains a dynamic tint during scrolling.
The update also includes a new dynamic wallpaper and new CarPlay wallpapers.
Alongside iOS 26 beta 4, Apple also released new versions of its other betas, including iPadOS 26 beta 4, macOS 26 beta 4, watchOS 26 beta 4, tvOS 26 beta 4, visionOS 26 beta 4, and Xcode 26 beta 4.