Hey, people, and welcome to Week in Evaluation (WiR), TechCrunch’s common publication masking notable happenings in tech over the previous few days.

On the agenda for this version is Disney’s progressive VR treadmill, OpenAI fixing its “lazy” AI and MIT’s high-capacity, fast-charging natural battery tech. We additionally cowl Apple’s new stolen system safety characteristic, AI startup Rabbit’s nifty {hardware} and app makers debating launching apps tailored for Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional headset.

There’s a good chunk of stories to recap this week, so let’s get to it. However first, a reminder to join right here to obtain WiR in your inbox each Saturday should you haven’t already finished so.

Information

Disney’s VR treadmill: Disney has developed a treadmill-like system for VR composed of lots of of small, spherical “tiles” that look to be in regards to the dimension of a silver greenback, Brian writes. Every function a form of mini, omnidirectional treadmill.

OpenAI fixes GPT-4: OpenAI dropped costs on various AI fashions this week because it rolled out a repair for its “lazy” GPT-4 fashions that refused to work — and launched new fashions for particular use circumstances.

Apple’s new system safety: Romain writes about Apple’s new stolen system safety characteristic, which, when turned on, requires Face ID or Contact ID biometric authentication for some actions, like accessing saved passwords and bank cards.

Imaginative and prescient Professional apps a possibly: After Netflix mentioned it wouldn’t launch a devoted app for the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, different app makers, together with YouTube, are following in its footsteps. The development doesn’t bode effectively, essentially.

Evaluation

Rabbit’s r1: AI startup Rabbit is creating what Darrell believes is a greater imaginative and prescient of the long run than the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. The r1 can purportedly do what a typical smartphone can do — however utilizing generative AI and pure language.

Podcasts

On Fairness, the crew talked about Plural VC saying a brand new fund, Fantuan teaming up with Chowbus, Vroom leaving the car-selling enterprise and what’s occurring over at Brex.

In the meantime, Discovered featured Ben Goodwin, the co-founder and CEO of Olipop, the gut-healthy soda model that amassed $200 million in product sales simply 5 years after its launch.

And Chain Response had Anatoly Yakovenko, co-founder of Solana Labs, on the pod. Solana goals to assist develop the ecosystem for the layer-1 blockchain Solana.

TechCrunch+

TC+ subscribers get entry to in-depth commentary, evaluation and surveys — which should you’re already a subscriber. In case you’re not, take into account signing up. Listed below are just a few highlights from this week:

The tech layoff surge: Alex and Anna write in regards to the surge in workers cuts at tech startups in current weeks, which flipped the script on expectations for this yr.

HPE’s deal for Juniper: Ron and Alex weigh in on HPE’s choice to purchase Juniper Networks just a few weeks again for $14 billion. The gist is, the businesses assume the numbers look fairly good — they usually actually do match up effectively (as long as HPE doesn’t mess it up).

Fintech, down however not out: Fintech has been within the dumps for some time now, and with corporations like Brex as soon as once more chopping workers as they attempt to rein in prices, you’d be forgiven for assuming that the marketplace for fintech merchandise is struggling. However that isn’t essentially the case, Alex and Anna write.

Bonus spherical

Lamborghini licenses MIT battery tech: Writing for TechCrunch+, Tim stories that Lamborghini has licensed new battery tech from MIT that would overcome the constraints of the lithium-ion batteries in broad use in the present day.