Techin' Geek

The conflict in Iran has severely impacted global oil markets, leading to a sharp increase in gas prices in the U.S. In light of the escalating transportation expenses, Amazon has implemented a new 3.5% fuel surcharge for sellers utilizing its distribution network. This policy could result in substantial additional costs for the countless merchants relying on the e-commerce giant to market their products.

Amazon informed TechCrunch that the surcharge would remain in effect for the foreseeable future, though the company stated it would keep assessing a potential adjustment to the policy as market circumstances continue to change. The announcement was initially reported by Bloomberg.

“Rising costs in fuel and logistics have heightened operational expenses throughout the industry,” a representative mentioned. “We have managed to absorb these increases thus far, but akin to other leading carriers, when costs stay high, we impose temporary surcharges to partially recoup these expenses.” The representative added that the surcharge is “notably lower than those charged by other major carriers.”

The updated policy will go into effect on April 17 and will affect sellers using the company’s Fulfillment by Amazon service, as reported by Bloomberg. Fulfillment by Amazon, or FBA, enables businesses to send their goods to Amazon’s warehouses, where they are packaged and dispatched to customers. Amazon does not reveal how many merchants utilize FBA, but the program supports the vast majority of third-party transactions on its platform.

Amazon first established this type of surcharge in 2022—which, not entirely coincidentally, was the last occasion crude oil prices exceeded $100 a barrel. What was unfolding in 2022? Russia had just invaded Ukraine, causing chaos in energy markets. Currently, the conflict in Iran—triggered by actions from the Trump administration and the assassination of the nation’s Supreme Leader by the Israeli government—has similarly disrupted markets.

Iran is strategically positioned along the northern edge of the Strait of Hormuz—a narrow yet vital shipping route for global oil supplies through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply flows—and the nation has attempted to obstruct shipping lanes in that region, causing a significant impact on energy prices globally.

Hims & Hers, the telehealth firm offering weight-loss medications and sexual health prescriptions, has acknowledged a data breach impacting its external customer service system.

The healthcare organization stated in a breach notification submitted to the California attorney general on Thursday that cybercriminals accessed data regarding user inquiries directed to the company’s support team. The firm reported that hackers infiltrated its third-party ticketing platform between February 4 and February 7, resulting in the theft of numerous support tickets containing personal information provided by customers.

According to the data breach notice, the hackers acquired customer names and contact details, along with other unspecified personal information that Hims & Hers opted to redact in the correspondence.

While the company claims that customer medical records were unaffected, the nature of support systems implies that the data may include sensitive details regarding an individual’s account, personal information, and healthcare.

It remains unclear how many individuals had their personal information compromised in the incident. California law mandates that organizations disclose data breaches affecting 500 or more residents of the state.

Jake Martin, a representative for Hims & Hers, informed TechCrunch in a statement that the company experienced a social engineering attack, where hackers deceive employees into providing access to their systems. The spokesperson mentioned that the stolen data “mainly consisted of customer names and email addresses.” The company did not specify the exact types of data that were taken when asked by TechCrunch.

The company declined to comment on whether it has received any communications from the hackers, including ransom demands.

Recently, customer support and ticketing systems have become lucrative targets for financially motivated cybercriminals, who have compromised databases containing customer information and coerced companies into paying ransoms.

Last year, Discord experienced a data breach that impacted its customer support ticketing platform and revealed government-issued IDs of approximately 70,000 individuals who had submitted their driver’s licenses and passports to verify their age.

SpaceX initiated its IPO on the same day that the U.S. dispatched astronauts to the Moon for the first occasion in 54 years. The timing is fitting: This may be the final attempt by NASA to send humans to deep space without substantial support from a company that rose from the venture-funded tech ecosystem.

The roots of NASA’s present lunar initiative can be traced back to a convoluted timeline during the second Bush administration, which commenced the development of a colossal rocket and a spacecraft named Orion to return to the Moon. By 2010, the initiative had surpassed its budget and was scaled back — in conjunction with a new program to support private companies constructing new orbital rockets.

This choice resulted in a saving contract for SpaceX and an influx of venture capital into outer space technology, alongside the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which is currently transporting four Americans and one Canadian around the Moon and back. 

The SLS stands as the most robust operational rocket globally today. It has only flown once previously, launching an uncrewed Orion spacecraft on a trial flight around the Moon in preparation for this week’s significant mission, which will establish a record for the farthest humans have ventured into the solar system. 

Next time, however, the spotlight will be on SpaceX or Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. The two firms are vying to see who will place boots on the lunar surface. 

SLS and Orion were manufactured by NASA’s historical contractors, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, with assistance from Europe’s Airbus Defense and Space. They were also expensive, delayed, and over budget, while SpaceX was operating a fleet of affordable reusable rockets and initiating a substantial wave of investment into private space.

When NASA resolved to revisit the Moon in 2019, the agency believed it had to remain committed to the SLS and Orion.

Yet, a critical element was lacking: A vehicle to ferry astronauts from space down to the Moon’s surface. Thus, NASA decided this would originate from the new breed of venture-backed space enterprises. The agency also sought help from several private space firms to deploy robotic landers for exploration and trials, including Firefly Aerospace and Intuitive Machines.

SpaceX proposed to use its Starship rocket as a lander and secured the role in 2021. This was a contentious choice. Transporting the massive vehicle to the Moon will necessitate a dozen or more launches to adequately fill it with fuel for the journey. After enduring years of waiting for the spacecraft, NASA opted to delay an attempt to land on the Moon and restructure its program.

“This is an architecture that no NASA administrator that I’m aware of would have selected had they had the choice,” stated former NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine to Congress last year, highlighting that the decision was taken without a Senate-confirmed leader at the agency.

Blue Origin was included in the lineup in 2023 to develop its own human landing system.

Currently, the agency seems to be preparing for a competition: In 2027, NASA will evaluate Orion’s capability to rendezvous with one or both landers in orbit, ahead of two potential lunar landings in 2028. This will place added pressure on SpaceX’s forthcoming Starship test, potentially occurring this month, as well as Blue Origin’s plans to trial its lander on the Moon sometime this year. 

This year has witnessed a significant reform of the program under the new NASA administrator, billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, who funded SpaceX for two space missions and was endorsed by Musk as the fitting candidate for administrator. After being nominated for the position by President Donald Trump, having his nomination withdrawn, and being renominated, he took office in late 2025 faced with a series of challenging decisions about how to return to the Moon.

In March, Isaacman cancelled plans, often regarded as wasteful or politically driven by external observers, to construct a lunar space station known as Gateway, and to invest in costly upgrades for the SLS. Now, he is fully committed to the new wave of private space companies. 

However, with China diligently pursuing its own agenda to land one of its citizens on the Moon by 2030, any delays or missteps will be interpreted in a geopolitical context. Silicon Valley has so far been unable to surpass Chinese companies in the tangible fields of electric vehicles or robotics. SpaceX has become the entity that entrepreneurs across the Pacific aspire to replicate, but in their lunar endeavors, Silicon Valley will have an opportunity to prove it can still dominate the technological frontier. 

Gateway Capital Partners, the investment firm established by Dana Guthrie, revealed the initial close for its $25 million target Fund II earlier this week, as confirmed by the Milwaukee-based firm to TechCrunch. Gateway Capital opted not to disclose the specific amount of the initial close.

The initial close signifies that Fund II can commence its investment activities.

Guthrie mentioned that the firm started fundraising for its Fund II in the middle of last year. The average investment size for Fund II is projected to be between $500,000 and $600,000.

It will be industry-neutral, she noted, although there will be “a bias toward Midwest sectors that are ready for disruption,” including supply chain and logistics, as well as manufacturing AI. Guthrie expressed her intention to support at least 20 companies through this fund.

Founded in 2020, Gateway Capital previously secured a $13 million Fund I in 2020.

OpenAI has purchased the well-known tech talk show TBPN — Technology Business Programming Network — marking the AI powerhouse’s inaugural acquisition of a media entity. The show will report to OpenAI’s chief political strategist, Chris Lehane.

TBPN, hosted by ex-tech entrepreneurs John Coogan and Jordi Hays, is a daily live program that broadcasts on YouTube and X for a duration of three hours, concentrating on technology, business, AI, and defense.

The show has cultivated a devoted audience in Silicon Valley, serving as a safe haven where industry leaders can express themselves openly and engage with fellow insiders. It has earned a reputation akin to that of a Sports Center for the tech sector — a venue where prominent tech executives such as Mark Zuckerberg, Satya Nadella, Marc Benioff, and, indeed, Sam Altman, gather to discuss current events and occasionally break news of their own.

TBPN will maintain its identity as an independent brand, which OpenAI intends to help expand. Not that it particularly required assistance in that regard; according to The Wall Street Journal, TBPN has evolved into a powerhouse anticipated to generate over $30 million this year.

OpenAI already hosts its own podcast featuring extensive discussions with individuals involved in the company’s technology initiatives.

OpenAI will also leverage the founders’ impressive communication and marketing skills beyond the show, as noted by OpenAI’s head of AGI deployment, Fidji Simo, who mentioned that TBPN will “bring AI to the world in a manner that aids people in grasping the full ramifications of this technology in their everyday lives.”

Simo went so far as to say that TBPN’s expertise is essential for an unconventional company like OpenAI where “the typical communication playbook simply does not apply.”

She stated that TBPN will enjoy editorial independence and continue to “manage their programming, select their guests, and make their own editorial choices.”

Nonetheless, the acquisition may raise some concerns. After all, OpenAI is a high-value AI laboratory poised for an IPO acquiring a trendy talk show that frequently discusses the organization and its rivals. Once the deal is finalized, TBPN will function under OpenAI’s strategy division and report to Chris Lehane, the architect of the term “vast right-wing conspiracy” employed to deflect media scrutiny from the Clinton administration.

Lehane, known as a master of the “political dark arts,” is also behind the crypto industry super PAC Fairshake, which invested hundreds of millions to undermine anti-crypto candidates in the 2024 elections. He joined OpenAI that same year and has been advising President Trump since then, promoting sweeping and contentious policies like restricting states’ abilities to regulate AI and relaxing environmental regulations that could delay data center development.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who mentioned in a social media update that TBPN is his favorite tech program, appears to believe that the acquisition will not alter TBPN’s analysis and even critiques of the organization.

“I don’t expect them to ease up on us; I’m sure I’ll play my part to facilitate that with occasional poor choices,” he commented.

TBPN, for its part, views the acquisition as an opportunity for more than mere commentary.

“While we’ve been critical of the industry at times, after getting to know Sam and the OpenAI team, what stood out most was their openness to feedback and commitment to getting this right,” Hays stated in a release. “Transitioning from commentary to actual impact regarding how this technology is implemented and comprehended worldwide is incredibly significant to us.”

Have a tip or documents about the AI sector? From a personal device, reach out to Rebecca Bellan confidentially at [email protected] or Signal: rebeccabellan.491.

On Thursday, Flipboard unveiled social websites, a novel approach for creators and publishers to establish their own online spaces.

These social websites revolve around discussions already occurring across the open social web, encompassing decentralized platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky, along with various public web content.

According to Flipboard, social websites consolidate social posts, videos, podcasts, newsletters, and other discussions into one location that creators oversee. You can amalgamate profiles and posts from Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads, YouTube, podcasts, blogs, and RSS feeds into a singular space.

Flipboard regards social websites as a fresh paradigm for social media, granting communities greater ownership and authority over the organization of content and discussions. The company, which has embraced decentralized social media in recent years, is now aiming to simplify access for publishers and creators to the open social web.

“Social websites assist podcasters, creators, and publications in forming communities around their work and managing the experience, including the algorithm,” stated Flipboard CEO Mike McCue in a blog entry. “Instead of initiating a community from the ground up, creators can leverage social websites to seamlessly gather the individuals and discussions already taking place surrounding their podcasts, videos, and newsletters throughout the social web.”

The introduction of social websites signifies the first web-based extension of Surf, Flipboard’s reader app that enables users to navigate and discover the open social web. The company highlights that social websites are powered by Surf feeds.

Flipboard has already collaborated with publishers and creators who have launched their own social websites. Publishers such as The Verge, Wired, Rolling Stone, 404 Media, and The Oregonian have established social websites where readers can follow journalists, podcasts, videos, and discussions in one centralized hub. Creator David Rushing developed All Net, a social website for NBA enthusiasts that unites basketball discussions, league updates, videos, and real-time game commentary.

To establish a Surf feed, users must visit surf.social, register, and select the “+ Create Feed” option found in the sidebar. They then follow the instructions to include sources, assign a community hashtag, and configure filters for their feed.

After setting up the feed, the owner can designate a custom domain through the three-dot menu in the feed header to create a social website that can be shared with others. Flipboard states that social websites are intended to extend beyond Surf, making them shareable across the internet. 

“By merging content and discussions from various social platforms, Surf social websites evolve into destinations for keeping up with anything of interest,” Flipboard clarifies. “And this is merely the start. Additional customization tools are forthcoming, including custom headers, colors, and enhanced feed management features.”

Voice AI firm ElevenLabs has discreetly launched an iOS application named ElevenMusic, enabling users to generate music with AI and uncover AI-crafted tracks to rival platforms like Suno and Udio.

The newly introduced app, which appeared on the App Store for several weeks before its official launch on April 1, indicates that ElevenLabs aims to expand beyond merely being a voice model provider. The company envisions AI-driven music and media creation tools as a means to evolve and safeguard itself against the impending standardization of AI audio models.

Currently, ElevenMusic is free to access, allowing users to create up to seven tracks daily using natural language inputs. Users can modify the song’s duration, whether it includes lyrics, and its writing style.

Users can also explore tracks made by others and remix them through text prompts. These remixes will count toward their daily quota. The app features live stations, curated albums, and daily playlists designed for various moods, including Focus, Energy, Relax, Late Night, Cosmic, and Chill. Additionally, similar to other music streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music, it offers top charts, trending sections, and new releases.

The company has introduced a Pro subscription tier priced at $9.99 monthly or $95.90 annually. This subscription allows users to generate up to 500 tracks each month, provides over 500 GB of storage, and grants access to a wide array of genres and moods.

In February, ElevenLabs secured a $500 million Series C funding round, achieving an $11 billion valuation, and has been enhancing its creative models and tools in recent months. Last August, the company unveiled its initial music-generation model, which it asserted is commercially viable. Earlier this year, it collaborated with leading music producers to launch an album developed with AI assistance. The startup has also introduced a creative tool capable of facilitating ad creation, voice-overs, translation, image generation, video production, voice cloning, sound generation, and additional functionalities.

Previously, the company provided consumer tools like ElevenLabs’ voice generator and ElevenReader. Last year, it initiated a program allowing authors to earn royalties by converting and distributing their books on the ElevenReader platform. ElevenLabs is also recruiting for a consumer marketing position to enhance its music segment, potentially offering royalties or other incentives for users to produce more music on its platform.

Before the launch of the Orion spacecraft on Wednesday, NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission — the first in half a century — had already encountered a series of intricate challenges, including hydrogen and helium leaks, an issue with the heat shield, and technical faults with its safety mechanisms. Now in orbit, these four courageous astronauts confront their greatest challenge yet: Microsoft Outlook.

On the initial day of their 10-day journey in space, Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman experienced issues with Microsoft Outlook and reached out to Mission Control for technical assistance, as seen in the launch communication livestream.

Initially, Wiseman encountered problems related to the Optimus software, but then he identified a more common issue: Two versions of Outlook were running on his personal computing device, or PCD — specifically a Microsoft Surface Pro, as stated by NASA.

“I also see that I have two Microsoft Outlooks, and neither one of those are functioning. If you could remote in and check Optimus and those two Outlooks, that would be great,” Wiseman mentioned.

Shortly after Wiseman reported the issue, Mission Control delivered some positive news.

“We wanted to inform Reid that we have completed remote access to his PCD 1,” the representative from Mission Control stated. “We were able to fix the issue with Optimus, and regarding Outlook, we successfully opened it. It will show as offline, which is normal.”

What in the world are astronauts emailing about, anyway? Isn’t being in space sufficient reason to activate an out-of-office message?

This was not the only earthly challenge the astronauts encountered. Shortly after liftoff, their toilet experienced a malfunction.

“The toilet fan is being reported as jammed,” NASA spokesperson Gary Jordan stated, according to a transcript from Space.com. “Now the ground teams are devising instructions on how to access the fan and clear that area to restore the toilet for the mission.”

According to Jordan, they did have “backup waste management capabilities,” which is a relief. In the worst-case scenario, these astronauts wouldn’t have to contend with floating waste (this is not a hypothetical concern). Nonetheless, our nation’s leading aerospace engineers managed to resolve both the toilet issue and the Outlook problem. If they can handle that, surely they can navigate around the moon.

I would inquire with NASA’s Mission Control if they could assist me with my own Outlook difficulties, but they are likely a bit preoccupied.

Neither NASA nor Microsoft replied to TechCrunch’s requests for commentary.

Microsoft AI, the technology giant’s research facility, unveiled three core AI models on Thursday capable of generating text, voice, and images.

This launch underscores Microsoft’s ongoing effort to expand its arsenal of multimodal AI models to compete with other AI research entities, despite its ongoing association with OpenAI.

MAI-Transcribe-1 converts speech into text in 25 different languages and operates 2.5 times quicker than Microsoft’s Azure Fast service, based on a company press announcement. MAI-Voice-1 is designed for audio production. This voice model enables users to produce 60 seconds of audio in just one second and customize their own voice. MAI-Image-2 is a model for video generation.

MAI-Image-2 was first introduced on MAI Playground, a new platform for testing large language models, on March 19. Presently, all three models are being rolled out on Microsoft Foundry, with the transcription and voice models also accessible in MAI Playground.

The models were crafted by Microsoft’s MAI Superintelligence team, an AI research group under the leadership of Mustafa Suleyman, the CEO of Microsoft AI, established and announced in November 2025.

“At Microsoft AI, we’re developing Humanist AI. Our approach to creating AI models is distinct — prioritizing human needs, optimizing for real human communication, and training for practical applicability,” Suleyman expressed in the blog entry. “You can expect more models from us shortly in Foundry and integrated into Microsoft products and services.”

In an ever-competitive LLM market, MAI aims to differentiate these models by noting their lower costs compared to those offered by Google and OpenAI, as mentioned in the blog post.

MAI-Transcribe-1 is priced starting at $0.36 per hour. MAI-Voice-1 begins at $22 for each 1 million characters, while MAI-Image-2 starts at $5 for every 1 million tokens for text input and $33 for every 1 million tokens for image output.

Even while unveiling its own models, Suleyman reiterated Microsoft’s dedication to its collaboration with OpenAI in a discussion with VentureBeat — although a recent renegotiation allowed Microsoft to genuinely explore this superintelligence research, he informed The Verge.

Microsoft has poured over $13 billion into the AI research lab and integrates its models into various products through a long-term partnership. Microsoft adopts a similar strategy with chips, both manufacturing its own and procuring from external sources.