TechCrunch

Automattic, the company behind WordPress, has assembled a new board of directors following a failed attempt to place its CEO on leave, according to TechCrunch. The internal power struggle over the CEO's status ultimately did not succeed, and the company has moved forward by restructuring its board instead. Details on who sits on the new board and the reasons behind the leave attempt remain limited.

TikTok has agreed to pay at least $100 million to settle a lawsuit with the US state of Alabama, according to TechCrunch. The agreement marks another significant legal and financial setback for the social media company in the United States, where it faces ongoing scrutiny from multiple state attorneys general over its practices.

US health insurers are claiming that artificial intelligence is already increasing healthcare costs, according to a TechCrunch report. The allegation puts the industry at odds with the common narrative that AI will make medicine cheaper and more efficient. Critics are likely to scrutinise how AI-driven tools, from prior authorisation to claims processing, affect patient care and medical spending.

Meta says it will run advertisements for a documentary about Elon Musk after initially appearing to reject or block the promotion, according to TechCrunch. The reversal means the film's marketers can now use Meta's ad platforms to reach audiences. The episode has drawn attention to how Meta handles ads touching on Musk, a frequent rival of Mark Zuckerberg's company on tech and political fronts.

Meta and YouTube have reversed course and will now run advertising for the documentary about Elon Musk, according to a report by TechCrunch. The platforms had previously declined to carry ads promoting the film, a decision that drew criticism from the filmmakers and their supporters. The update was shared by Flipboard's Culture Desk, and discussion has centred on whether the earlier refusals amounted to censorship of a documentary about one of tech's most polarising figures.

Automattic has appointed a new board of directors after an attempt to place CEO Matt Mullenweg on leave failed. Mullenweg reportedly wrote that, for purposes of Delaware law, he is the company's CEO, President, Treasurer, and Secretary, and said the attempted removal had also brought in many new supporters. The internal power struggle at the company behind WordPress.com is drawing attention across the tech industry.

Anthropic says its biology lab has already made what it describes as a major discovery, according to a TechCrunch report. The company, best known for its AI models, has been applying its technology to life sciences research, and the announcement has drawn attention on technology forums. Details of the finding have not been laid out, leaving observers speculating about what the lab actually discovered and how significant it is.

TikTok has agreed to pay at least $100 million to settle a dispute with the state of Alabama. The deal was reported by TechCrunch and is circulating widely on tech news forums. Details of what the settlement covers have not been spelled out in the reports shared so far, and neither TikTok nor Alabama officials have issued detailed public statements in the snippets available.

Meta has opened an early access program for new features in Muse, its AI offering. The move lets selected users try the tools before a wider release. News of the program spread quickly among technology and startup watchers, who are discussing what the features do, who gets in first, and what the rollout signals about Meta's broader AI plans.

Meta is reportedly throwing its weight behind Muse, an AI application that is seeing rapid growth. According to TechCrunch, the company is backing the app as it takes off, though the exact form of Meta's involvement—investment, partnership, or integration—remains unclear from initial coverage.