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Less than three months until TechCrunch’s biggest AI event yet! If you’re shaping the future of AI, investing in the next game-changing innovation, or simply eager to dive deep into what’s next, TechCrunch Sessions: AI is the place to be. On June 5, Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley will be buzzing with 1,200 AI experts, investors, and enthusiasts exchanging ideas, forging connections, and exploring the frontier of artificial intelligence. Secure your spot now and save up to $210 before ticket prices rise. Don’t sit this one out — AI’s biggest breakthroughs and insights await! 1. Expert wisdom straight from industry…

A cybercrime group has been targeting organizations in the hospitality sector in attacks involving fake Booking.com emails and the use of a social engineering technique named ClickFix, Microsoft warned on Thursday. The threat actor behind these attacks is tracked by Microsoft as Storm-1865. It has been seen targeting hospitality organizations in North America, Europe, Oceania, and South and Southeast Asia in a campaign that is likely ongoing.  The hackers’ goal is to deliver information-stealing malware that enables them to conduct financial fraud and theft.  The attack starts with a fake email purporting to come from Booking.com. These messages inform the…

Ahead of the Game Developers Conference (GDC), Xbox revealed on Thursday that it’s experimenting with an AI-powered gaming sidekick. “Copilot for Gaming,” powered by Microsoft’s AI technology, is a voice-activated assistant designed to enhance the gaming experience and is designed to answer questions, complete tasks, and even criticize if you’re playing poorly.  “It can trash talk you if that’s what you need,” said Fatima Kardar, corporate vice president of gaming AI at Microsoft, in an episode of Xbox’s official podcast released on Thursday.  In a briefing with the press, the company demonstrated several use cases, such as providing real-time tips —…

Binance, the world’s largest digital asset exchange, has secured a historic $2bn investment from Abu Dhabi-based AI and advanced technology investor MGX.This deal represents the first institutional investment in Binance, the largest single investment ever made into a digital asset company, and the biggest transaction settled in digital asset (stablecoin).The investment grants MGX a minority stake in Binance, marking its first foray into the digital asset and blockchain sectors. MGX aims to support blockchain’s transformative impact by partnering with Binance, a leader in the digital asset industry. The firm sees this as an opportunity to foster innovation at the intersection…

Mimo bags $8.5m equity round, unveils $125m embedded funding deal with FrodaMimo, a platform that streamlines global payments, cash flow, and financial management for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and accountants, has secured $8.5m in fresh investment.The funding round was led by Project A, with participation from returning investors Northzone and Seedcamp.Alongside this investment, Mimo has formed a strategic embedded funding partnership with SMB financing provider Froda. This agreement will enable Mimo to provide over $125m in flexible working capital solutions to UK-based SMBs in the coming years, with the potential to expand across Europe.Founded in 2023, Mimo offers a…

Synctera, a leading provider of banking-as-a-service (BaaS) and embedded finance solutions, has secured $15m in fresh funding.The company, which helps firms build and scale banking products, also announced a major customer win with Bolt, an industry leader in one-click online checkouts.The funding round was co-led by Fin Capital and Diagram Ventures, with additional participation from First & Main, Evolution, and True Equity. This latest investment brings Synctera’s total funding to date to $94m.Synctera offers a platform that enables companies to develop and integrate financial services while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.With the fresh capital, the company aims to accelerate its…

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform financial crime compliance, a new industry benchmark is emerging: compliance-first AI.In a landscape where balancing cutting-edge technology with compliance has never been more vital, adopting AI the right way can enhance efficiency, mitigate risks, and prevent financial crime.Napier AI, a next generation intelligent compliance platform, recently delved into the compliance-first AI and what firms need to know. Financial institutions face immense pressure to implement AI-driven anti-money laundering (AML) systems to combat financial crime effectively. However, the challenges of regulatory compliance, risk assessment, and model testing can push compliance officers toward opaque, ‘black-box’ AI solutions.…

ROME (AP) — Gucci announced Thursday that the Balenciaga artistic director Demna will take over the creative direction of the Italian luxury fashion house, starting in July.Gucci and its French parent Kering said in a statement that Demna “has redefined modern luxury, earning global recognition and cementing his authority on the industry.’’Demna, who goes by one name, has been at Kering-owned Balenciaga for a decade. He brings with him the title of artistic director.“I am truly excited to join the Gucci family,’’ he said in a statement. ‘’It is an honor to contribute to a house that I deeply respect…

6 Monks (6M) has partnered with Zeidler Group to leverage its Swiss Representative Service, streamlining the distribution of its first Luxembourg Reserved Alternative Investment Fund (RAIF) in Switzerland.Under the agreement, Zeidler’s dedicated Swiss Representative team, based in Winterthur, will collaborate with 6M’s internal team to ensure full compliance with Swiss regulatory requirements, including adherence to the Swiss Collective Investment Schemes Act (CISA). This partnership aims to facilitate efficient fund distribution and maintain regulatory obligations within the Swiss market.6M is an Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) that specialises in Private Equity and Web3 investments.Quentin Werlé, head of portfolio management and marketing…

WASHINGTON (AP) — There sat Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s top health official, at a Steak ’n Shake with Fox News host Sean Hannity, raving about the fries.“Steak ’n Shake has been great, we’re very grateful for them,” Kennedy said, in between nibbles of fries that the Midwestern franchise recently announced would be cooked in beef tallow instead of common cooking oils that Kennedy says are bad for Americans’ diet.It’s the kind of endorsement that doctors have implored him to make about the childhood vaccines used to prevent deadly diseases, like measles as outbreaks worsened in Texas and New…