Pinterest Launches Experimental AI Shopping App 'Ask Pinterest'
TechCrunch AI41 days agoNew ToolPinterest has launched Ask Pinterest, an experimental application that lets users explore shopping ideas and seek personalized recommendations through a conversational AI interface. The product marks a meaningful shift from the platform's traditional browse-and-pin model, layering natural-language interaction onto Pinterest's established visual discovery strengths. The launch reflects broad industry momentum toward AI-powered conversational commerce, as major consumer platforms race to reduce friction between inspiration and purchase.
HarmonyOS AI Assistant Xiao Yi Performs Stand-Up Comedy With CCTV Anchor Zhu Guangquan
量子位 QbitAI41 days agoReleaseHuawei's HarmonyOS AI assistant Xiao Yi shared a stage with renowned CCTV anchor Zhu Guangquan for a live stand-up comedy performance, testing the AI's real-time wit, timing, and cultural fluency in a high-profile public setting. QbitAI questions whether this event marks a new competitive phase for AI assistants — shifting beyond task utility into personality-driven, culturally embedded public performance. The showcase reflects the intensifying race among Chinese AI assistant platforms to demonstrate not just capability, but presence, humor, and live contextual awareness alongside human talent.
Introducing Agent Workflows
ElevenLabs Blog50 days agoNew ToolElevenLabs introduced Agent Workflows for its Agents platform, a visual editor for mapping conversation flows and decision points. Instead of relying on one large agent prompt, teams can route tasks to specialized subagents with scoped prompts, tools, knowledge bases, and credentials. The feature emphasizes auditability, security policy enforcement, human escalation, and per-step model choices to balance cost, latency, and accuracy.
Toyota engages fans with AI-powered Brock Purdy experience
ElevenLabs Blog50 days agoBusinessToyota’s Northern California Dealers Association and H/L agency built a voice-driven fan activation with ElevenLabs Agents Platform. Fans interact with an AI-powered Brock Purdy in a trivia game tied to a VIP 49ers sweepstakes. The campaign highlights conversational AI as a branded marketing format, combining voice agents, animation sync, lead capture, and brand safety controls.
ElevenLabs raises $500M Series D at $11B valuation★ 74
ElevenLabs Blog50 days agoBusinessElevenLabs announced a $500 million Series D at an $11 billion valuation, more than triple its valuation from a year earlier. The round was led by Sequoia Capital, with A16Z, ICONIQ, Lightspeed, BOND, and others participating. The company says it will invest in ElevenAgents, ElevenCreative, ElevenAPI, voice agents, conversational models, dubbing, audio research, and international expansion.
Sesame, the conversational AI startup from Oculus founders, launches iOS app
TechCrunch AI60 days agoNew ToolSesame, a conversational AI startup from Oculus founders, has launched a new iOS app for the public. The app brings its AI agents to users with a focus on more natural back-and-forth interactions. Based on the available summary, the product is positioned less like a traditional chatbot and more like talking to a person.