Microsoft’s layoffs, Airlift’s shutdown and Lofi Girl’s unplanned study break – TechCrunch

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Probably the most learn story on the positioning this week was, as soon as once more, sadly, about layoffs — this time at Microsoft. Whereas the corporate plans to develop its headcount within the months forward, for now it’s reducing “lower than 1%” of its 180,000-person workforce because it focuses on “realigning enterprise teams and roles.” “Lower than 1%” could not sound large, however 1% of 180,000 continues to be almost 2,000 jobs…

different stuff

Lofi Woman will get taken down: YouTube nonetheless hasn’t found out its points with false DMCA takedowns. This week, the ridiculously chill YouTube music stream Lofi Woman acquired hit with a false DMCA declare. The channel is a favourite amongst college students/programmers/anybody searching for some mellow beats to focus to, so the complaints had been loud and in all places. YouTube acknowledged and reversed the screwup, however not earlier than the channel’s two-year streaming streak was damaged.

TikTok is consuming…what?: After years of unbelievable development, you’d most likely anticipate that TikTok has taken loads of consumer exercise from competing social networks — the Facebooks, the Snapchats, and many others. However would you guess that it was impacting…say, Google Maps? A senior VP at Google says that’s the case.

Airlift shuts down: Airlift, one of many high startups in Pakistan, shut down all of a sudden this week. Workers had been informed on Tuesday that operations of the on-demand supply service would stop the next day after an important fundraising spherical fell aside.

DoorDash desires larger orders: Use DoorDash’s “DashPass” service a lot? Unhealthy information. The “subtotal minimal” in your orders — mainly, the quantity you must order earlier than DashPass actually does something — will doubtless go up within the weeks forward. Beforehand arduous set at $12 for meals or $35 for grocery orders, the corporate says the brand new minimal will “range by retailer, metropolis, and time of day.” In different phrases: algorithmssss.

Tesla loses a high AI exec: When it was introduced again in March that Tesla’s director of AI, Andrej Karpathy, was happening a brief sabbatical, the rumor was that it was simply step one towards his extra official exit from the corporate. Certain sufficient: Karpathy introduced on Wednesday that he’s out. Karpathy says he has “no concrete plans” for what’s subsequent.

Nothing official: A couple of years in the past, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei left the corporate to start out a brand new {hardware} enterprise referred to as Nothing. This week, after months of teasing/rumors/hype, the corporate introduced its first telephone — the aptly named Telephone (1). Brian Heater spent a while with the telephone and shares his ideas on it — and the wild LED setup on the again — proper right here.

Picture Credit: Brian Heater

audio stuff

Ever puzzled what your favourite TechCrunch author appears like? In all probability not! However when you’ve got…try our podcasts! This week:

• On the Fairness podcast, Alex/Natasha/Mary Ann talked about how the reversal of Roe v. Wade may influence how/the place corporations are constructed.
• On Chain Response, Lucas and Anita mentioned the most recent twists and spins on the roller-coaster trip that’s crypto, together with GameStop launching an NFT market.
• Bowery Farming founder Irving Fain joined Darrell and Jordan on the Discovered podcast to interrupt down what vertical farming is and why it issues.

further stuff

Are you a TechCrunch+ member but? If not, you’re lacking some nice reads. Whereas the vast majority of stuff we placed on TechCrunch is completely free, a number of actually nice content material is simply accessible to TC+ subscribers.

Your startup’s pricing technique: Product pricing could make or break an organization — however the appropriate worth at present isn’t essentially the appropriate worth tomorrow. How do you adapt costs “with out showing parasitic”? How do you set the value for one thing in a “fully new class”? Michael Perez, director of development for early-stage VC agency M13, goes deep on all this and extra.

Right here’s the right way to defend your fairness if you happen to get laid off: When you get laid off…what occurs to that fairness you bought as a part of your compensation bundle? The reply is, sadly, not at all times very clear — however Compound’s Adam Keesling has a breakdown of what it’s essential take into consideration to be sure to maintain what you’ve earned.