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WIRED Roundup: DOGE Isn’t Dead, Facebook Dating Is Real, and Amazon’s AI Ambitions

WIRED Roundup: DOGE Isn’t Dead, Facebook Dating Is Real, and Amazon’s AI Ambitions

Leah Feiger: So it’s a really good question actually, and it’s one that I’ve thought about for quite some time. I think if it’s not annoying, I want to read this quote from Scott Kupor, the director of OPM and the former managing partner at Andreessen Horowitz, to be clear, just to remind everyone where people are coming from in this current administration. He posted this on X late last month, and this was part of Reuter’s reporting. So he posts, “The truth is, DOGE may not have centralized leadership under USDS anymore, but the principles of DOGE remain alive and well, deregulation, eliminating fraud, waste and abuse, reshaping the federal workforce, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.” Which is the exact same, the thing that they’ve been saying this entire time, but it’s all smoke and mirrors, right? It’s like, oh no, no, well, DOGE doesn’t exactly exist anymore. There’s no Elon Musk character leading it, which Elon Musk himself said on the podcast with Joe Rogan last month as well. He’s like, “Yeah, once I left, they weren’t able to pick on anyone, but don’t worry, DOGE is still there.” So it feels wild to watch people fall for this and go like, “DOGE is gone now.” And I’m like, they’re literally telling us that it’s not.

Zoë Schiffer: I think one thing that does feel honestly true is that it is harder and harder to differentiate where DOGE stops and the Trump administration begins because they have infiltrated so many different parts of government and the DOGE ethos, what you’re talking about, deregulation, cost cuttings, zero-based budgeting, those have really become kind of table stakes for the admin, right?

Leah Feiger: I think that’s such a good point. And honestly, by the end of Elon Musk’s reign, something that kept coming up wasn’t necessarily that the Trump administration didn’t agree with DOGE’s ethos at all. It was that they didn’t really agree with how Musk was going about it. They didn’t like that he was stepping on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and having fights outside of the Oval Office. That was bad optics and that also wasn’t helping the Trump administration even look like they were on top of it.

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#WIRED #Roundup #DOGE #Isnt #Dead #Facebook #Dating #Real #Amazons #Ambitions

Parker, a well-funded startup offering corporate credit cards and banking services for e-commerce businesses, has filed for bankruptcy and is widely reported to have shut down.

The startup was part of Y Combinator’s winter 2019 cohort, and its Series A was led by Valar Ventures. 

Parker came out of stealth in 2023, touting a corporate credit that it said was designed for use by e-commerce companies. At the time, co-founder and CEO Yacine Sibous said the startup’s “secret sauce” was an underwriting process that could properly assess e-commerce cash flows. 

“We imagined building better financial products for e-commerce founders with the mission of increasing the number of financially independent people,” Sibous told TechCrunch.

Parker’s website is still up and doesn’t mention any shutdown. Instead, a banner at the top boasts that the company has raised more than $200 million in total funding, including a $125 million lending arrangement.

However, multiple social media posts state that Parker’s credit card partner Patriot Bank sent a message to customers this week confirming the shutdown. Parker’s competitors seemed to jump on the news with their own posts seeking to lure over the startup’s former customers.

And Parker’s troubles seem to be confirmed in its May 7 filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. The filing states that the company has between $50 million and $100 million in assets, with liabilities in the same range. It also states that Parker has between 100 and 199 creditors.

Techcrunch event

San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026

Fintech consultant Jason Mikula recently claimed that Parker had been in negotiations for a potential acquisition, with the failure of those talks ultimately leading to the startup’s abrupt shutdown. Mirkula added that this “has left small business customers in a tough spot” and also raised “questions about [banking partner] Piermont’s and Patriot’s oversight of the program.”

Parker did not immediately respond to an email from TechCrunch. 

The company’s CEO Sibous has not explicitly acknowledged the shutdown or bankruptcy on LinkedIn, and in a recent post, he repeated the $200 million funding figure, adding that the company had reached $65 million in revenue. But he also said that if he started over, he’d do some things differently, such as: “Avoid over-hiring, reactive decisions, and doomsayers.”

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#Fintech #startup #Parker #files #bankruptcy #TechCrunchParker,Valar Ventures,Y Combinator,Yacine Sibous">Fintech startup Parker files for bankruptcy | TechCrunch
Parker, a well-funded startup offering corporate credit cards and banking services for e-commerce businesses, has filed for bankruptcy and is widely reported to have shut down.

The startup was part of Y Combinator’s winter 2019 cohort, and its Series A was led by Valar Ventures. 







Parker came out of stealth in 2023, touting a corporate credit that it said was designed for use by e-commerce companies. At the time, co-founder and CEO Yacine Sibous said the startup’s “secret sauce” was an underwriting process that could properly assess e-commerce cash flows. 

“We imagined building better financial products for e-commerce founders with the mission of increasing the number of financially independent people,” Sibous told TechCrunch.

Parker’s website is still up and doesn’t mention any shutdown. Instead, a banner at the top boasts that the company has raised more than 0 million in total funding, including a 5 million lending arrangement.

However, multiple social media posts state that Parker’s credit card partner Patriot Bank sent a message to customers this week confirming the shutdown. Parker’s competitors seemed to jump on the news with their own posts seeking to lure over the startup’s former customers.

And Parker’s troubles seem to be confirmed in its May 7 filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. The filing states that the company has between  million and 0 million in assets, with liabilities in the same range. It also states that Parker has between 100 and 199 creditors.

	
		
		Techcrunch event
		
			
			
									San Francisco, CA
													|
													October 13-15, 2026
							
			
		
	


Fintech consultant Jason Mikula recently claimed that Parker had been in negotiations for a potential acquisition, with the failure of those talks ultimately leading to the startup’s abrupt shutdown. Mirkula added that this “has left small business customers in a tough spot” and also raised “questions about [banking partner] Piermont’s and Patriot’s oversight of the program.”

Parker did not immediately respond to an email from TechCrunch. 

The company’s CEO Sibous has not explicitly acknowledged the shutdown or bankruptcy on LinkedIn, and in a recent post, he repeated the 0 million funding figure, adding that the company had reached  million in revenue. But he also said that if he started over, he’d do some things differently, such as: “Avoid over-hiring, reactive decisions, and doomsayers.”
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.#Fintech #startup #Parker #files #bankruptcy #TechCrunchParker,Valar Ventures,Y Combinator,Yacine Sibous

Parker came out of stealth in 2023, touting a corporate credit that it said was designed for use by e-commerce companies. At the time, co-founder and CEO Yacine Sibous said the startup’s “secret sauce” was an underwriting process that could properly assess e-commerce cash flows. 

“We imagined building better financial products for e-commerce founders with the mission of increasing the number of financially independent people,” Sibous told TechCrunch.

Parker’s website is still up and doesn’t mention any shutdown. Instead, a banner at the top boasts that the company has raised more than $200 million in total funding, including a $125 million lending arrangement.

However, multiple social media posts state that Parker’s credit card partner Patriot Bank sent a message to customers this week confirming the shutdown. Parker’s competitors seemed to jump on the news with their own posts seeking to lure over the startup’s former customers.

And Parker’s troubles seem to be confirmed in its May 7 filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. The filing states that the company has between $50 million and $100 million in assets, with liabilities in the same range. It also states that Parker has between 100 and 199 creditors.

Techcrunch event

San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026

Fintech consultant Jason Mikula recently claimed that Parker had been in negotiations for a potential acquisition, with the failure of those talks ultimately leading to the startup’s abrupt shutdown. Mirkula added that this “has left small business customers in a tough spot” and also raised “questions about [banking partner] Piermont’s and Patriot’s oversight of the program.”

Parker did not immediately respond to an email from TechCrunch. 

The company’s CEO Sibous has not explicitly acknowledged the shutdown or bankruptcy on LinkedIn, and in a recent post, he repeated the $200 million funding figure, adding that the company had reached $65 million in revenue. But he also said that if he started over, he’d do some things differently, such as: “Avoid over-hiring, reactive decisions, and doomsayers.”

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#Fintech #startup #Parker #files #bankruptcy #TechCrunchParker,Valar Ventures,Y Combinator,Yacine Sibous">Fintech startup Parker files for bankruptcy | TechCrunch

Parker, a well-funded startup offering corporate credit cards and banking services for e-commerce businesses, has filed for bankruptcy and is widely reported to have shut down.

The startup was part of Y Combinator’s winter 2019 cohort, and its Series A was led by Valar Ventures. 

Parker came out of stealth in 2023, touting a corporate credit that it said was designed for use by e-commerce companies. At the time, co-founder and CEO Yacine Sibous said the startup’s “secret sauce” was an underwriting process that could properly assess e-commerce cash flows. 

“We imagined building better financial products for e-commerce founders with the mission of increasing the number of financially independent people,” Sibous told TechCrunch.

Parker’s website is still up and doesn’t mention any shutdown. Instead, a banner at the top boasts that the company has raised more than $200 million in total funding, including a $125 million lending arrangement.

However, multiple social media posts state that Parker’s credit card partner Patriot Bank sent a message to customers this week confirming the shutdown. Parker’s competitors seemed to jump on the news with their own posts seeking to lure over the startup’s former customers.

And Parker’s troubles seem to be confirmed in its May 7 filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. The filing states that the company has between $50 million and $100 million in assets, with liabilities in the same range. It also states that Parker has between 100 and 199 creditors.

Techcrunch event

San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026

Fintech consultant Jason Mikula recently claimed that Parker had been in negotiations for a potential acquisition, with the failure of those talks ultimately leading to the startup’s abrupt shutdown. Mirkula added that this “has left small business customers in a tough spot” and also raised “questions about [banking partner] Piermont’s and Patriot’s oversight of the program.”

Parker did not immediately respond to an email from TechCrunch. 

The company’s CEO Sibous has not explicitly acknowledged the shutdown or bankruptcy on LinkedIn, and in a recent post, he repeated the $200 million funding figure, adding that the company had reached $65 million in revenue. But he also said that if he started over, he’d do some things differently, such as: “Avoid over-hiring, reactive decisions, and doomsayers.”

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#Fintech #startup #Parker #files #bankruptcy #TechCrunchParker,Valar Ventures,Y Combinator,Yacine Sibous
introduce the Vibe 2 5G in India on May 8. Ahead of the official debut, Flipkart has published a landing page confirming the handset’s online availability in the country. The teaser also reveals part of the phone’s front panel design.

HMD Vibe 2 5G Expected Features

HMD Vibe 2 India Launch & Flipkart Sale Confirmed
	
HMD plans to introduce the Vibe 2 5G in India on May 8. Ahead of the official debut, Flipkart has published a landing page confirming the handset’s online availability in the country. The teaser also reveals part of the phone’s front panel design. 



HMD Vibe 2 5G Expected Features







The upcoming HMD Vibe 2 5G is expected to continue the brand’s focus on the affordable smartphone segment. The device may offer 5G connectivity at a budget-friendly price, which could help it stand out in the entry-level market. Some reports also suggest that the company could introduce a separate 4G version powered by a Unisoc T7200 processor.



The phone is expected to feature a 6.75-inch HD+ LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. Other features could include 4GB of RAM and up to 256GB of expandable memory. There will be a 50MP dual rear camera system and a 5,000mAh battery as well. 



The rumors indicate that the phone will have a 6.75-inch LCD display with HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. In terms of photography, the device will have a rear camera with a 50MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary sensor.



The HMD Vibe 2 5G is likely to target users looking for an affordable smartphone with modern features. According to rumors and previews, the phone might feature a huge screen that refreshes at 90 Hz, two rear cameras, memory expansion capabilities, and a large battery.



Most details about the HMD Vibe 2 5G are still under wraps for now. However, its predecessor, the Vibe 5G, offers a good look at the kind of features the new phone could bring. Last year, HMD launched the smartphone at a starting price of Rs. 11,999 in Black and Purple color options.





#HMD #Vibe #India #Launch #Flipkart #Sale #ConfirmedHMD

The upcoming HMD Vibe 2 5G is expected to continue the brand’s focus on the affordable smartphone segment. The device may offer 5G connectivity at a budget-friendly price, which could help it stand out in the entry-level market. Some reports also suggest that the company could introduce a separate 4G version powered by a Unisoc T7200 processor.

The phone is expected to feature a 6.75-inch HD+ LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. Other features could include 4GB of RAM and up to 256GB of expandable memory. There will be a 50MP dual rear camera system and a 5,000mAh battery as well.

The rumors indicate that the phone will have a 6.75-inch LCD display with HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. In terms of photography, the device will have a rear camera with a 50MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary sensor.

The HMD Vibe 2 5G is likely to target users looking for an affordable smartphone with modern features. According to rumors and previews, the phone might feature a huge screen that refreshes at 90 Hz, two rear cameras, memory expansion capabilities, and a large battery.

Most details about the HMD Vibe 2 5G are still under wraps for now. However, its predecessor, the Vibe 5G, offers a good look at the kind of features the new phone could bring. Last year, HMD launched the smartphone at a starting price of Rs. 11,999 in Black and Purple color options.

#HMD #Vibe #India #Launch #Flipkart #Sale #ConfirmedHMD">HMD Vibe 2 India Launch & Flipkart Sale Confirmed
	
HMD plans to introduce the Vibe 2 5G in India on May 8. Ahead of the official debut, Flipkart has published a landing page confirming the handset’s online availability in the country. The teaser also reveals part of the phone’s front panel design. 



HMD Vibe 2 5G Expected Features







The upcoming HMD Vibe 2 5G is expected to continue the brand’s focus on the affordable smartphone segment. The device may offer 5G connectivity at a budget-friendly price, which could help it stand out in the entry-level market. Some reports also suggest that the company could introduce a separate 4G version powered by a Unisoc T7200 processor.



The phone is expected to feature a 6.75-inch HD+ LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. Other features could include 4GB of RAM and up to 256GB of expandable memory. There will be a 50MP dual rear camera system and a 5,000mAh battery as well. 



The rumors indicate that the phone will have a 6.75-inch LCD display with HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. In terms of photography, the device will have a rear camera with a 50MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary sensor.



The HMD Vibe 2 5G is likely to target users looking for an affordable smartphone with modern features. According to rumors and previews, the phone might feature a huge screen that refreshes at 90 Hz, two rear cameras, memory expansion capabilities, and a large battery.



Most details about the HMD Vibe 2 5G are still under wraps for now. However, its predecessor, the Vibe 5G, offers a good look at the kind of features the new phone could bring. Last year, HMD launched the smartphone at a starting price of Rs. 11,999 in Black and Purple color options.





#HMD #Vibe #India #Launch #Flipkart #Sale #ConfirmedHMD

the Vibe 2 5G in India on May 8. Ahead of the official debut, Flipkart has published a landing page confirming the handset’s online availability in the country. The teaser also reveals part of the phone’s front panel design.

HMD Vibe 2 5G Expected Features

HMD Vibe 2 India Launch & Flipkart Sale Confirmed
	
HMD plans to introduce the Vibe 2 5G in India on May 8. Ahead of the official debut, Flipkart has published a landing page confirming the handset’s online availability in the country. The teaser also reveals part of the phone’s front panel design. 



HMD Vibe 2 5G Expected Features







The upcoming HMD Vibe 2 5G is expected to continue the brand’s focus on the affordable smartphone segment. The device may offer 5G connectivity at a budget-friendly price, which could help it stand out in the entry-level market. Some reports also suggest that the company could introduce a separate 4G version powered by a Unisoc T7200 processor.



The phone is expected to feature a 6.75-inch HD+ LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. Other features could include 4GB of RAM and up to 256GB of expandable memory. There will be a 50MP dual rear camera system and a 5,000mAh battery as well. 



The rumors indicate that the phone will have a 6.75-inch LCD display with HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. In terms of photography, the device will have a rear camera with a 50MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary sensor.



The HMD Vibe 2 5G is likely to target users looking for an affordable smartphone with modern features. According to rumors and previews, the phone might feature a huge screen that refreshes at 90 Hz, two rear cameras, memory expansion capabilities, and a large battery.



Most details about the HMD Vibe 2 5G are still under wraps for now. However, its predecessor, the Vibe 5G, offers a good look at the kind of features the new phone could bring. Last year, HMD launched the smartphone at a starting price of Rs. 11,999 in Black and Purple color options.





#HMD #Vibe #India #Launch #Flipkart #Sale #ConfirmedHMD

The upcoming HMD Vibe 2 5G is expected to continue the brand’s focus on the affordable smartphone segment. The device may offer 5G connectivity at a budget-friendly price, which could help it stand out in the entry-level market. Some reports also suggest that the company could introduce a separate 4G version powered by a Unisoc T7200 processor.

The phone is expected to feature a 6.75-inch HD+ LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. Other features could include 4GB of RAM and up to 256GB of expandable memory. There will be a 50MP dual rear camera system and a 5,000mAh battery as well.

The rumors indicate that the phone will have a 6.75-inch LCD display with HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. In terms of photography, the device will have a rear camera with a 50MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary sensor.

The HMD Vibe 2 5G is likely to target users looking for an affordable smartphone with modern features. According to rumors and previews, the phone might feature a huge screen that refreshes at 90 Hz, two rear cameras, memory expansion capabilities, and a large battery.

Most details about the HMD Vibe 2 5G are still under wraps for now. However, its predecessor, the Vibe 5G, offers a good look at the kind of features the new phone could bring. Last year, HMD launched the smartphone at a starting price of Rs. 11,999 in Black and Purple color options.

#HMD #Vibe #India #Launch #Flipkart #Sale #ConfirmedHMD">HMD Vibe 2 India Launch & Flipkart Sale Confirmed

HMD plans to introduce the Vibe 2 5G in India on May 8. Ahead of the official debut, Flipkart has published a landing page confirming the handset’s online availability in the country. The teaser also reveals part of the phone’s front panel design.

HMD Vibe 2 5G Expected Features

HMD Vibe 2 India Launch & Flipkart Sale Confirmed
	
HMD plans to introduce the Vibe 2 5G in India on May 8. Ahead of the official debut, Flipkart has published a landing page confirming the handset’s online availability in the country. The teaser also reveals part of the phone’s front panel design. 



HMD Vibe 2 5G Expected Features







The upcoming HMD Vibe 2 5G is expected to continue the brand’s focus on the affordable smartphone segment. The device may offer 5G connectivity at a budget-friendly price, which could help it stand out in the entry-level market. Some reports also suggest that the company could introduce a separate 4G version powered by a Unisoc T7200 processor.



The phone is expected to feature a 6.75-inch HD+ LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. Other features could include 4GB of RAM and up to 256GB of expandable memory. There will be a 50MP dual rear camera system and a 5,000mAh battery as well. 



The rumors indicate that the phone will have a 6.75-inch LCD display with HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. In terms of photography, the device will have a rear camera with a 50MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary sensor.



The HMD Vibe 2 5G is likely to target users looking for an affordable smartphone with modern features. According to rumors and previews, the phone might feature a huge screen that refreshes at 90 Hz, two rear cameras, memory expansion capabilities, and a large battery.



Most details about the HMD Vibe 2 5G are still under wraps for now. However, its predecessor, the Vibe 5G, offers a good look at the kind of features the new phone could bring. Last year, HMD launched the smartphone at a starting price of Rs. 11,999 in Black and Purple color options.





#HMD #Vibe #India #Launch #Flipkart #Sale #ConfirmedHMD

The upcoming HMD Vibe 2 5G is expected to continue the brand’s focus on the affordable smartphone segment. The device may offer 5G connectivity at a budget-friendly price, which could help it stand out in the entry-level market. Some reports also suggest that the company could introduce a separate 4G version powered by a Unisoc T7200 processor.

The phone is expected to feature a 6.75-inch HD+ LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. Other features could include 4GB of RAM and up to 256GB of expandable memory. There will be a 50MP dual rear camera system and a 5,000mAh battery as well.

The rumors indicate that the phone will have a 6.75-inch LCD display with HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. In terms of photography, the device will have a rear camera with a 50MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary sensor.

The HMD Vibe 2 5G is likely to target users looking for an affordable smartphone with modern features. According to rumors and previews, the phone might feature a huge screen that refreshes at 90 Hz, two rear cameras, memory expansion capabilities, and a large battery.

Most details about the HMD Vibe 2 5G are still under wraps for now. However, its predecessor, the Vibe 5G, offers a good look at the kind of features the new phone could bring. Last year, HMD launched the smartphone at a starting price of Rs. 11,999 in Black and Purple color options.

#HMD #Vibe #India #Launch #Flipkart #Sale #ConfirmedHMD

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