Welcome, people, to Week in Evaluation (WiR), TechCrunch’s common e-newsletter overlaying noteworthy happenings within the tech business.

This week, Google launched two new open giant language fashions, Gemma 2B and Gemma 7B, in its continued bid for generative AI dominance. The corporate, which describes the LLMs as “impressed by Gemini,” its flagship household of GenAI fashions, made every accessible for business and analysis utilization.

Elsewhere, embattled database firm MariaDB revealed that it might be taken non-public in a $37 million deal. The nonbinding proposal comes 14 months after MariaDB went public by way of SPAC, Paul writes.

Tons else occurred. We recap all of it on this version of WiR — however first, a reminder to join to obtain the WiR e-newsletter in your inbox each Saturday.

Information

Tragedy: Earlier this week, Marco Troper, the 19-year-old son of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, was discovered useless at UC Berkeley of an obvious drug overdose.

Cake sale: The way forward for bankrupt electrical bike startup Cake remains to be unsure, however the majority of its U.S. stock goes to a person in Florida, Sean reviews.

Change Healthcare hit: Change Healthcare, one of many largest healthcare tech firms within the U.S., confirmed {that a} cyberattack on its programs occurred lately.

Rivan layoffs: Rivian is shedding 10% of its salaried workforce in a bid to chop prices in an more and more powerful marketplace for electrical automobiles, placing much more strain on its future, extra inexpensive EV known as the R2.

Dunzo buyout: Indian e-commerce large Flipkart has held discussions in latest weeks about doubtlessly buying Dunzo, the hyperlocal supply startup backed by Reliance Retail, Manish reviews.

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YouTube triumphant: YouTube dominates TV streaming within the U.S., per Nielsen’s newest report.

Valuation lower: Byju’s says its lately launched $200 million rights challenge has been absolutely subscribed, however the startup’s founder urged a few of its main buyers to take part amid a rift between the edtech group and a few of its largest shareholders, Manish writes.

Funding

Profitable grooming: France-based Planity has raised $48 million to develop its software-as-a-service product for hair salons.

Brick-laying robots: Dutch startup Monumental landed a $25 million tranche for its robotic carts and arms that assist lay bricks for development.

Evaluation

Phase beneath menace: Alex and Ron check out the the explanation why Phase, the client information firm, might be put up on the market by company mum or dad Twilio. Activist strain has quite a bit to do with it.

Podcasts

On Fairness, the crew talked about Reddit’s upcoming IPO, together with some spectacular raises for edtech startup Loora, Bioptimus and Dili.

Discovered dove into the large internet of the marriage business with Shan-Lyn Ma, the co-founder and CEO of Zola. Ma talked about why she determined to launch the enterprise after attempting to purchase a present for a good friend and realizing that wedding ceremony registries have been nonetheless residing prior to now.

And Chain Response had on Steve Kaczynski, co-author of the e book “The Every thing Token” and co-host of the web3 morning present “Espresso with Captain.” 

Bonus spherical

New AI chip enterprise: SoftBank Group’s Masayoshi Son is reportedly looking for $100 billion to construct a brand new enterprise that’d compete with the likes of Nvidia within the space of AI chips.

OnePlus returns to watches: OnePlus’ upcoming Watch 2 — the corporate’s first smartwatch in years — guarantees a jaw-dropping 100 hours “in full Sensible Mode.”