Google's Gemini App Reaches 1 Billion Users
According to TechCrunch, Google's Gemini app has surged to 1 billion users, marking a significant milestone for the AI assistant. Google also released usage data alongside the announcement, revealing that 63% of Gemini users engage with the assistant via its voice feature rather than text input. Additionally, Google reported that Gemini now generates more than 150 million images every day. The figures highlight the scale at which multimodal AI assistants are being adopted by general consumers.
OpenAI Brings ChatGPT Desktop App to Linux
OpenAI has launched a dedicated ChatGPT desktop application for Linux operating systems, TechCrunch reports. The release extends platform support to Linux users, who previously lacked a native desktop client. No additional technical specifications about the app's feature set were included in the initial announcement, but the move signals OpenAI's continued effort to broaden the accessibility of its flagship product across major operating systems.
River AI Raises $1.1 Billion at Two Months Old
General Catalyst has led a $1.1 billion funding round into River AI, a startup that is just two months old, according to TechCrunch. River AI was founded by Igor Babuschkin, a co-founder of xAI, and is focused on building personal AI agents. The size of the round at such an early stage reflects continued investor appetite for foundation-level AI ventures, particularly those with founding teams that carry significant prior industry experience.
Accel Closes Oversubscribed $550M India Fund
U.S.-based venture capital firm Accel has closed a new $550 million India-focused fund, TechCrunch reports. The fund was oversubscribed and closed within weeks of launching. Notably, Accel still has more than 55% of its previous $650 million India fund available for deployment, meaning the firm is managing a substantial combined capital base directed at the Indian technology market. The new fund arrives just 19 months after Accel's last India fund closed.
These developments reflect continued momentum across AI product adoption, platform expansion, and early-stage investment activity heading into the second half of 2026.