The Mac mini has become more challenging to purchase affordably after Apple discontinued its $599 variant amid a deepening memory and storage shortage.
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We created AI to rescue us from email, and it strangely turned email into something even more draining.
The bleak outlook for AI extends beyond merely robotic job theft. It also involves bots continuously sending emails to fellow bots while people feign that this is advancement.
Consider believing that vibe-coding will transform you into a wealthy entrepreneur? You may want to review the risk brief.
A recent report by the Association for Computing Machinery indicates that vibe coding poses significant dangers related to security, testing, and the sustainability of code quality.
Netflix is set to launch official theatrical releases, beginning with the upcoming “Narnia” movie.
Netflix is providing a broad theatrical release for Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, featuring a complete 45-day exclusivity period—a first for the streaming service and an indication that its partnership with theaters is finally evolving.
Space data centers may seem like an unattainable fantasy. What if we installed them on lampposts?
A United Kingdom company has established an agreement with Nigeria’s Katsina State to install 50,000 solar-powered intelligent lamp posts that together operate as a decentralized AI data center, without relying on grid electricity.
Tovala Family Meals Evaluation: Delicious Selections, Elevated Sodium Content
A garlic-herb salmon served with risotto emerged as the top choice among the family dishes I tried. While the chopped asparagus appeared less appealing when topped with garlic butter, it was still flavorful and slightly crisp. The salmon was soft and flaky, and the sweet pea risotto was delightful due to the ample amounts of cheese, butter, and lemon, creating a rich blend of flavors.
The chicken parm was equally rich, evoking memories of family meals from my childhood during the 1980s, featuring cheese-covered chicken, garlic bread, and ricotta-stuffed shells. The main difference was the lack of vegetables, which my mother would have certainly included.
However, Toval’s meals face a nutritional challenge. For example, the chicken parm dish has 2,300 milligrams of sodium per serving, almost the entire daily limit for an adult. This sodium content is similar to comparable servings of Stouffer’s meat lasagna, but the Tovala meal also contains roughly ten times the cholesterol amount.
Other dishes similarly relied heavily on fats and salt for flavor, resembling indulgent restaurant fare rather than home-cooked meals. Whether this is a positive aspect is subjective.
Only one out of the seven meals I sampled was a total letdown: the teriyaki chicken dinner, which felt like a cultural misrepresentation of Japan. The dish featured sweet soy sauce over bland chicken, heavy egg rolls, and plain broccoli, reminiscent of ’90s mall food court “Japanese” cuisine. However, such a significant error was rare.
A larger issue with family-oriented meals is the consistently elevated levels of fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Those who have the means and desire for convenient, hearty meals—such as parents with children or seniors—might look for more nutritious alternatives with reduced fat and salt.
After a few weeks of experimenting with recipes, I was relieved to notice my arteries feeling clearer. Tovala’s culinary strategy effectively bridges the divide between prepared meals and fresh food, showcasing their culinary prowess. It would be advantageous if they provided options that encourage a more sustainable diet.
Netflix postpones Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ film to 2027 for significant theatrical launch.
Viewers will need to wait a few more months to catch “Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew,” as the release date has been postponed from Thanksgiving to February 12, 2027.
Alongside the reintroduction of “Narnia” on the big screen and marking writer-director Greta Gerwig’s first project since “Barbie,” “The Magician’s Nephew” appears to signify a progressive step in Netflix’s partnership with cinemas — and this step is growing larger due to the delay.
Netflix had initially announced that “The Magician’s Nephew” would debut exclusively on Imax screens for a minimum of two weeks prior to its streaming debut for Christmas. While this would have been a notable theatrical rollout by Netflix’s criteria, it pales in comparison to numerous other Hollywood blockbusters.
Currently, Netflix reports that “The Magician’s Nephew” will kick off exclusive Imax previews on February 10, 2027, followed by a broad global release in theaters on February 12. (In Netflix’s terms, it will be a “global eventized release.”) The film’s streaming will not commence until April 2.
The company’s announcement does not specify which theaters will screen “The Magician’s Nephew,” but Imax released a statement mentioning that the delay will enable the film to enjoy “a complete theatrical window,” thus reducing the likelihood of complaints from major theater chains.
Indeed, AMC Theatres has recently emphasized the success of its “Stranger Things” finale presentations and indicated its intention for further collaborations with Netflix. Simultaneously, the limited support from the streamer for theatrical releases and its reluctance to agree to exclusive theatrical windows was reportedly a “dealbreaker” during discussions with the creators of “Stranger Things,” who ultimately opted for an exclusive agreement with Paramount.
Featuring a cast that includes Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep, “The Magician’s Nephew” adapts one of the later installments in C.S. Lewis’ beloved fantasy series — a prequel that reveals the origins of Narnia.
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In their announcement, Gerwig expressed that she first encountered the book in her youth, where she “fell in love with the wonderfully improbable yet entirely brilliant idea of a cosmic lion bringing the world of Narnia into existence through song.”
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The top AI dictation applications, evaluated and sorted
AI dictation applications have made significant progress in a brief period. For many years, they were sluggish and imprecise — unless you spoke with a specific accent and articulated clearly.
Improvements in large language models (LLMs) and speech-to-text technologies have transformed this landscape, resulting in systems capable of understanding speech with greater accuracy while maintaining sufficient context to format the text appropriately. Additionally, developers have implemented features to automatically eliminate filler words, correct missteps, and manage punctuation — generating text that requires significantly fewer modifications.
With numerous such applications currently available on the market, we have compiled our selections for the most effective and practical dictation apps accessible at this time.
Wispr Flow
Wispr Flow is a well-financed AI dictation application that allows you to introduce custom words and directions for dictation. It has native applications for macOS, Windows, and iOS; an Android version is being developed.
The app enables you to tailor how it transcribes your content by selecting “formal,” “casual,” or “very casual” styles for various types of writing, including personal messaging, work, and email. Moreover, if you utilize it alongside vibe-coding tools like Cursor, you can activate a feature that automatically identifies variables or tags files in the chat.
You can transcribe up to 2,000 words weekly for free on the desktop version and 1,000 words monthly on iOS. Paid subscription options provide unlimited transcription and start at $15 monthly.
Willow
Willow promotes itself as a significant time-saver for those who prefer not to type. In addition to standard features like automatic editing and formatting, the app leverages large language models to create an entire passage from just a few dictated words.
Willow also adopts a more privacy-conscientious model by storing all transcriptions locally on your device and providing options to opt-out of model training entirely. It enables you to input custom vocabulary to help it adapt to the terminology specific to your field or your local dialect.
Willow allows you to dictate 2,000 words monthly on its desktop application for free. Personal subscription plans begin at $15 monthly, granting unlimited dictation and enabling the app to remember your writing style.
Monologue
If privacy is your main concern, Monologue provides the option to download its AI model directly to your device for transcriptions, keeping your data entirely off the cloud. Furthermore, the app permits customization of its tone based on the application you are using it with.
Monologue allows for 1,000 words to be transcribed monthly for free; a subscription is priced at $10 monthly or $100 annually. Additionally, the company provides its most engaged users with a physical shortcut device called the Monokey to utilize with the app.
Superwhisper
Superwhisper chiefly functions as a dictation app, yet it can also transcribe from audio or video files. The app allows you to select and download AI models, including several of its own at various speeds and accuracy levels, as well as Nvidia’s Parakeet speech-recognition models.
Additionally, the app lets you create custom prompts to guide the output, and you can access both processed and unprocessed transcripts directly from your system keyboard.
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The basic voice-to-text functionality is available free, and you receive 15 minutes to evaluate Pro features such as translation and transcription. The paid version allows you to use your own AI API keys and connect both cloud and local models without any usage restrictions.
The monthly subscription is priced at $8.49, the annual plan costs $84.99 per month, or you can opt for a lifetime subscription at $249.99.
VoiceTypr
The VoiceTypr application adopts an offline-first, no-subscription model, allowing you to use local models for transcription. There is also a GitHub repository for those interested in hosting and running the open-source version themselves. VoiceTypr supports over 99 languages and functions on both Mac and Windows platforms.
The app can be trialed for three days at no cost, after which you may purchase a lifetime license. The pricing is $35 for a single device, $56 for two devices, and $98 for four devices.
Aqua
Aqua is a Y Combinator-supported voice-typing application for Windows and macOS that claims to be one of the swiftest tools in terms of latency (the delay between speaking and text appearing on the screen).
In addition to managing grammar and punctuation, Aqua enables you to autofill text by simply saying phrases — for instance, saying “my address” will have Aqua type it out.
The app also provides its own speech-to-text API, allowing other applications to integrate with Aqua’s transcription engine.
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The free tier allows for 1,000 words monthly. Paid subscriptions start at $8 per month billed annually, unlocking unlimited words and 800 custom dictionary entries.
Handy
Handy is an open-source, complimentary transcription tool compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux. The application is relatively straightforward and lacks extensive customization options, but it is a viable choice for those looking to start voice dictation without incurring costs.
The app features a simple settings menu that allows for toggling push-to-talk and changing the hotkey to initiate transcription.
Typeless
Typeless is notable for its high free word count. The company asserts that it does not retain any data or employ it for training AI models. Typeless also provides the option to rephrase sentences that you may have mismanaged.
The app permits dictation of up to 4,000 words weekly (approximately 16,000 words per month) within its free tier. You can subscribe for $12 monthly (billed annually) to unlock unlimited dictation and gain access to new features. Typeless is only available for Windows and macOS.
VoiceInk
VoiceInk is an open-source private dictation application for Mac. The app features global shortcuts for starting and stopping recordings, as well as a push-to-talk mode. It analyzes the context on screen and adjusts its output accordingly.
The app can automatically identify certain applications and URLs, applying custom formatting or rules to each one. It also includes an assistant mode capable of responding to your inquiries. The pricing is $25 for lifetime access for one device, $39 for two devices, and $49 for three devices.
Dictato
Dictato is a dictionary application for Mac priced at €9.99 — roughly $12 — which grants you lifetime access along with two years of feature updates. The app operates with offline models such as Parakeet, Whisper, and Apple Speech Analyzer, utilizing Apple Intelligence for light reading and filler word elimination. Thanks to these local models, the app boasts an impressive 80ms latency, indicating that text appears almost instantaneously after your speech.
AudioPen
AudioPen originated as a web-based voice notes tool, but it has grown over time. The Mac version now allows you to dictate text and modify it in your desired format and style, switching between various styles at will. Beyond live transcription, AudioPen facilitates the storage of audio notes across platforms, the combining of notes for summaries, uploading audio files, and rewriting existing notes using AI. The pricing is $33 for three months, $99 for a year, and $159 for two years.
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Beyond Lovable and Mistral: 21 European startups to keep an eye on
BottleCap AI should be the highlight of Europe, rather than bottle cap memes. Sporting a playful name, this AI startup located in Prague is among the firms that venture capitalists recommend you should take notice of.
It’s not that European startups fail to stand out — companies like Lovable and Mistral AI demonstrate otherwise. Yet, numerous others still lack nine-digit annual recurring revenue and are closely monitored by insiders.
This is where our list becomes relevant. In recent weeks, we solicited advice from investors at some of Europe’s most prominent venture funds to suggest two startups each: one that they have invested in and another outside their portfolio, as these experts specialize in startups but cannot back every one. We included a few of our selections as well.
Ranging from pre-launch to unicorn status, these startups vary in their developmental phases and industries. While our selection process might not showcase where the region’s top hubs are located, it does highlight how deep tech talent could enable Europe to leverage its strengths in the AI competition.
Alta Ares
Recommended by Julien Codorniou, general partner, 20VC.
What it does: Alta Ares creates AI-driven counter-drone technology.
Why it’s worth watching: The defense sector has shifted from being marginalized to becoming a focal point, especially in Europe, where the Ukraine conflict prompted military modernization. Alta Ares’ interceptors fulfill the demand for more affordable solutions to monitor and counter drone threats.
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Apron
Recommended by Jan Hammer, partner, Index Ventures (investor).
What it does: Apron offers invoice management solutions tailored for small business proprietors.
Why it’s worth watching: Small and medium-sized businesses represent a potentially profitable market for fintech firms; owners are prepared to invest at least some of their funds to save time, and they number in the millions.
Botify
Recommended by Claire Houry, general partner, Ventech (investor).
What it does: Botify assists brands in enhancing their visibility in AI-driven searches.
Why it’s worth watching: Businesses continue to scramble to transition from SEO to generative engine optimization (GEO) — yet this Disrupt NY 2016 participant has already welcomed the change. Botify faces competition in its emerging field, including rivals like Otterly.AI and Profound, but also boasts major clients such as Macy’s and The New York Times.
BottleCap AI
Recommended by Julien Codorniou, general partner, 20VC (investor).
What it does: BottleCap AI builds efficiency-centered foundational LLMs and applications.
Why it’s worth watching: Featuring a founding team that includes an entrepreneur who sold his previous business to Meta and two researchers in AI, BottleCap embraces a bifocal strategy. The company is not only building its own models but also developing applications based on them, such as Pulse, an AI-driven news application.
Cailabs
Recommended by Flavia Levi, investment manager, Join Capital.
What it does: Cailabs specializes in photonics tailored for aerospace, defense, and industrial uses.
Why it’s worth watching: Rooted in sophisticated research concerning light science, Cailabs now applies its findings to enhance the speed and reliability of data transmission. Supported by both public and private investors, it aims to install 50 optical ground stations to meet the rising demand for laser communication with satellites.
Cala
Recommended by TechCrunch’s Anna Heim.
What it does: Creates knowledge graphs for AI agents.
Why it’s worth watching: Cala aims to develop the knowledge infrastructure that AI agents currently lack. Its founder, Elisenda Bou-Balust, is a notable Spanish entrepreneur and AI specialist who sold her previous venture, Vilynx, to Apple in 2020.
Flower
Recommended by Pär-Jörgen Pärson, partner, Northzone (investor).
What it does: Manages renewable energy resources.
Why it’s worth watching: As wind and solar energy inherently fluctuate, Flower utilizes AI and battery storage systems to enhance their predictability. The Swedish startup also recently raised over $60 million in bonds to facilitate its expansion.
Fundamental
Recommended by Jonathan Userovici, general partner, Headline (investor).
What it does: AI foundation for extensive data analysis.
Why it’s worth watching: Fundamental’s foundation model, Nexus, is aimed at assisting enterprises in extracting insights from their data. The company just emerged from stealth mode in February but has already achieved a valuation of $1.4 billion following a $255 million Series A round.
Gradium
Recommended by Jonathan Userovici, general partner, Headline.
What it does: Voice models powered by AI.
Why it’s worth watching: Gradium’s AI technologies enable real-time text-to-speech functionality, granting AI agents multilingual capabilities. A spinout from the French AI lab Kyutai, this ElevenLabs competitor secured a $70 million seed round.
HappyRobot
Recommended by Pablo Ventura, general partner, Kfund.
What it does: AI agents designed for intricate applications.
Why it’s worth watching: HappyRobot, a startup backed by a16z and Y Combinator, stands out among those developing AI agents by ensuring that these can be deployed effectively to deliver ROI. While based in the U.S., its three co-founders and part of its team are of Spanish origin.
Inbolt
Recommended by Claire Houry, general partner, Ventech.
What it does: Physical AI tailored for production facilities.
Why it’s worth watching: By merging AI with robotics, Inbolt enhances and broadens automation across manufacturing sectors, from automotive to electronics and home goods production lines. The startup reports active engagement in over 70 factories.
Legora
Recommended by Pär-Jörgen Pärson, partner, Northzone.
What it does: An AI platform designed for legal professionals.
Why it’s worth watching: With rising competition from mainstream LLMs, the legal tech landscape will increasingly rely on marketing strategies. Anticipate a showdown between Harvey and Legora after Legora secured a lead over its competitor by recruiting Jude Law as its brand ambassador. That’s a win for the Swedish-born startup, now based in New York but still emerging as one of Stockholm’s top AI talents.
Macrodata Labs
Recommended by Floriane de Maupeou, principal, Serena Data Ventures.
What it does: Infrastructure for AI training data.
Why it’s worth watching: “Every formidable model begins with exceptional data,” Macrodata Labs asserts on its “coming soon” page. Rather than create that data itself, the startup plans to offer tooling for other businesses to develop high-quality training datasets.
Multiverse Computing
Recommended by TechCrunch’s Julie Bort.
What it does: Provides compressed variants of publicly available weight models such as OpenAI, Meta, DeepSeek, and Mistral AI.
Why it’s worth watching: Multiverse Computing’s technology takes an established model and reduces its size and operating costs, particularly for use on a company’s hardware. Co-founded by CTO Román Orús, a professor at the Donostia International Physics Center, this Spanish company has raised $250 million.
Optics11
Recommended by Flavia Levi, investment manager, Join Capital (investor).
What it does: Systems for fiber-optic sensing.
Why it’s worth watching: Optics11’s innovation enables monitoring of equipment in underwater environments and other challenging conditions. Its capability to avert disruptions to subsea infrastructure and energy systems helped the startup obtain venture debt support from the European Investment Bank.
Pennylane
Recommended by Jan Hammer, partner, Index Ventures.
What it does: A platform for financial management aimed at SMBs.
Why it’s worth watching: Pennylane initially focused on accounting, but the company has broader ambitions. Like many growth-stage fintech startups, this French unicorn seeks to construct a unified financial operations system specifically for SMBs throughout Europe.
PLD Space
Recommended by TechCrunch’s Anna Heim.
What it does: Develops rocket launch technologies.
Why it’s worth watching: As part of Europe’s initiative for space independence, PLD Space recently achieved a successful launch of a suborbital rocket in 2023 and is now creating a reusable orbital launch system for small satellites. Last month, the Spanish company secured $209 million in a Series C funding round led by Mitsubishi Electric, bringing its total funding beyond $350 million.
Proxima Fusion
Recommended by Daria Saharova, general partner, World Fund.
What it does: Nuclear fusion technology.
Why it’s worth watching: The quest for a nuclear fission alternative is intensifying, and Proxima Fusion is among Europe’s leading competitors. This VC-backed company recently gained $460 million in funding from the Bavarian state to facilitate its plans for a fusion power plant in Europe, beginning with a demonstration stellarator in the Munich region.
Roofline
Recommended by Floriane de Maupeou, principal, Serena Data Ventures (investor).
What it does: Software for deploying AI models on advanced chipsets.
Why it’s worth watching: This university spinout, Roofline, effectively connects AI with an increasingly diversified hardware landscape through its software that enables users to deploy models seamlessly across various chip types.
Space Forge
Recommended by Daria Saharova, general partner, World Fund (investor).
What it does: Manufactures semiconductor components in outer space.
Why it’s worth watching: The trend of in-space manufacturing is gaining momentum — particularly for pharmaceuticals and chips, which are the focus of Space Forge. With additional support stemming from geopolitical factors, the startup is making swift advances: it has recently produced plasma in low Earth orbit.
Theker
Recommended by Pablo Ventura, general partner, Kfund (investor).
What it does: Robotics offered as a service.
Why it’s worth watching: Theker is among several startups funded by Zara owner Inditex through a dedicated initiative overseen by Mundi Ventures. Theker’s AI-powered robots could assist the retail giant in enhancing its logistics operations, while also exploring applications in waste management and the food and beverage sectors.
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Uber aims to transform its vast network of drivers into a sensor grid for autonomous vehicle firms.
Uber has a far-reaching goal that extends well past transporting riders: the firm ultimately intends to equip its drivers’ vehicles with sensors to gather real-world information for autonomous vehicle (AV) enterprises — and possibly other businesses training AI models in real-world contexts.
In a discussion at TechCrunch’s StrictlyVC event in San Francisco on Thursday night, Praveen Neppalli Naga, Uber’s chief technology officer, unveiled the initiative, characterizing it as a logical progression of a fledgling program the company introduced in late January known as AV Labs.
“That is the route we hope to pursue eventually,” Naga mentioned regarding outfitting human drivers’ automobiles. “But first, we must comprehend the sensor kits and their operations. There are certain regulations — we need to ensure every state has [clarity on] what sensors signify, and what sharing entails.”
At this time, AV Labs depends on a specialized, small fleet of sensor-laden vehicles that Uber manages independently, apart from its driver network. However, the vision is evidently much broader. Uber has millions of drivers worldwide, and if merely a small percentage of those automobiles could be converted into moving data-collection units, the extent of what Uber could provide the AV sector would surpass what any single AV company could create on its own.
The insight propelling the initiative, Naga stated, is that the critical limitation for AV progress is no longer the foundational technology. “The bottleneck is data,” he noted. “[Companies like Waymo] must gather data, capturing various scenarios. You might be able to specify: in San Francisco, ‘At this school intersection, I need data at this particular time of day to train my models.’ The challenge for all these companies is accessing that data, as they lack the capital to deploy vehicles and gather all this information.”
Becoming the data layer for the entire AV landscape is a rather clever strategy, especially considering Uber years ago set aside its aspirations to create self-driving cars (a decision that co-founder Travis Kalanick has openly regretted as a significant error). Indeed, many industry watchers have speculated that, absent its own self-driving vehicles, Uber could potentially become irrelevant as AVs proliferate worldwide.
The company presently collaborates with 25 AV enterprises — including Wayve, which operates in London — and is developing what Naga termed an “AV cloud”: a repository of labeled sensor data that partner firms can access and utilize to train their models. Partners, which Uber intends to invest in more actively, can also leverage the system to test their trained models in “shadow mode” against actual Uber journeys, simulating how an AV would have functioned without actually deploying one on the roads.
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“Our objective is not to profit from this data,” Naga remarked. “We aspire to make it accessible to everyone.”
Considering the evident commercial potential of what Uber is developing, that stance may not be sustainable for long. The company has already invested equity in several AV players, and its capability to provide proprietary training data at scale could grant it considerable influence over a sector that currently relies on Uber’s ride marketplace to reach clients.
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