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Hi there, and welcome to the final Startups Weekly ever.

Don’t fear! We’re not going far — the e-newsletter continues, however subsequent week we’re getting a shiny new identify and a brand-new lick of paint.

As Brian, Mary Ann and Zack wrote earlier this week, we misplaced loads of startups in 2023, however truthfully, I don’t assume that’s a foul factor. Startups aren’t meant to final endlessly — they both evolve into a completely fledged company with a progress trajectory, or they stop present altogether. There’s no in-between, and whereas job losses and folks’s livelihoods being threatened is a tragedy, that’s exactly why startup staff are usually paid fairly nicely: The danger is rolled into the inventory choices–formed reward.

A story of two pedals

Picture Credit: Jon Challicom (opens in a brand new window) / Getty Pictures

Tim Stevens did a deep dive, evaluating the varied driver help techniques at present available on the market. On this tech showdown, Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” and Mercedes’ Drive Pilot battle to justify their hype and value tags, lagging behind their extra grounded rivals from BMW, Ford, and Chevrolet. It seems that costly doesn’t all the time imply higher within the race for driver help supremacy, with hands-off options and computerized lane modifications being the brand new benchmarks for highway royalty.

Extra from transportation land:

Spherical and spherical we go: Elon Musk’s Hyperloop dream hits the buffers as Hyperloop One shuts down, leaving high-speed rail to steal the highlight.

What’s subsequent? A Nokia Taxi?: Xiaomi’s leap into the EV market with its SU7, dubbed a “smartphone on wheels,” combines formidable tech with automotive prowess. We checked out Xiaomi’s try and merge phone-like software program into vehicles, with a aspect word on the challenges of constructing a automotive that’s each tech-forward and worthy of the open highway.

The EV free-for-all (besides not free): EV fast-charging networks are bracing for a turbulent 2024 as they grapple with Tesla’s increasing Supercharger dominance. Main gamers like Ford, GM, and Volkswagen are semi-reluctantly becoming a member of Tesla’s charging protocol, leaving once-promising networks like Electrify America in purgatory.

The glassholes are again

Picture Credit: Brian Heater

It’s wild that it’s been a decade since Google Glass was all the fashion, however right here we go once more . . . We’re again to carrying all kinds of computing gadgets on our faces. Amazon’s newest Echo Frames, regardless of their improved sound, can’t fairly sustain with the Ray-Ban Meta, which manages to mix tech and magnificence extra successfully. The Echo Frames are a considerably underwhelming contender within the sensible glasses area, particularly when in comparison with the extra polished Ray-Ban Meta, Brian concludes.

Extra from the world of {hardware} startups:

Coming quickly to a face close to you: Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional is rumored for a late January or early February launch. It marks one among Tim Cook dinner’s boldest strikes but. Priced at $3,499, it’s an formidable enterprise into spatial computing, regardless of VR’s historic underperformance and Apple’s modest cargo expectations.

Extra remedies than you may shake a tablet at: MIT scientists are shaking issues up within the combat towards weight problems with a vibrating tablet, actually. This tablet, as soon as ingested, vibrates to trick the physique into feeling full, doubtlessly changing expensive medicine and surgical procedures. Now, if it might additionally notify us of recent Netflix episodes, it actually can do all of it.

It’s probably the most wonderfuuuul time of the yeaaaaaar: That’s proper, I’m becoming a member of group TechCrunch at CES in Vegas subsequent week. Right here’s what we expect this 12 months.

So what does 2024 maintain?

Picture Credit: Bryce Durbin / TechCrunch

Over 40 traders share their 2024 predictions, with various opinions on IPOs and AI’s future. Whereas some anticipate a comeback in exits, others foresee a dry spell till 2025. The consensus is unclear, however all eyes are on AI investments and startup survival amid tightening valuations and selective funding.

Extra AI information from Workforce TechCrunch:

2024 in AI: Devin digs into the highest eight predictions for the world of AI for the following 12 months. There’s some borderline apparent ones in there, and a few thought-provoking concepts as nicely. Test it out!

Cough up, robots!: The New York Occasions is suing OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging they skilled AI fashions on Occasions’ content material with out permission. The swimsuit seeks damages and destruction of fashions containing Occasions’ materials, arguing this apply harms its journalism and model.

Taking LLMs offline: Giga ML goals to revolutionize how corporations use massive language fashions (LLMs) by enabling offline deployment. Their platform focuses on privateness and customization, addressing frequent enterprise issues about information sharing and lack of flexibility with present LLMs.

Prime reads on TechCrunch this week

Nonetheless need extra? Properly, rattling, you’re beginning off the 12 months a bit grasping, however I see you. Right here’s the 5 prime tales because the final Startups Weekly:

Properly, it’s your personal rattling fault we received hacked: “Quite than acknowledge its position on this information safety catastrophe, 23andMe has apparently determined to depart its clients out to dry whereas downplaying the seriousness of those occasions,” Hassan Zavareei, one of many attorneys representing the victims who acquired the letter from 23andMe, informed TechCrunch.

It’s just like the lottery, however YouTubier: MrBeast’s stunts have advanced into a brand new form of American Dream, the place enduring weird and difficult conditions on YouTube might repay your money owed. Contestants, pushed by desperation to clear pupil loans or medical payments, take part in excessive challenges like dwelling in a grocery retailer or cohabitating in a sparse room for months.

Highs and lows in actual property: Frontdesk, a short-term rental supplier, is on the point of collapse after shedding its complete 200-person workforce. The corporate’s struggles, exacerbated by failed fundraising efforts and challenges with its enterprise mannequin, led to the drastic step simply months after buying a smaller rival.

The very best items to keep away from: Certain, Christmas has come and gone, however I nonetheless beloved studying Zack’s anti-gift information. It warns towards tech presents with safety and privateness pitfalls. Highlighting objects like genetic testing kits, video doorbells, VPNs, kid-tracking apps, low cost Android tablets, and internet-connected intercourse toys, the article advises towards gifting these as a result of potential information breaches, surveillance dangers, and basic privateness issues.

X continues its plummet: Constancy drastically decreased its valuation of X holdings, the guardian firm of X (previously Twitter) owned by Elon Musk, by 71.5%. This follows a tumultuous 12 months for the corporate, together with a CEO change, challenges in attracting advertisers, and controversial choices like reinstating banned accounts. The valuation lower displays ongoing difficulties and a major lower from Constancy’s preliminary funding.