Canva‘s Price Surge: Teams Plan Sees Dramatic 300% Increase
Canva is implementing substantial price hikes for certain customers, particularly for Teams subscribers on legacy pricing plans. A five-user plan increases from $119.99 per year to $500 per year—a staggering 300% rise. Although users will benefit from a 40% discount for their first year, these changes mark a significant shift in Canva’s pricing strategy. The company’s justification for this surge? An enhanced suite of AI-driven design tools, including Magic Studio.
In other tech news, Google Photos has introduced an AI-powered search function. This feature, fueled by Google’s Gemini AI, allows users to search their photos using natural language queries. For instance, it could tell you what you had during your last visit to a restaurant or the theme of your child’s most recent birthday party based solely on your photo library.
Notably, Ilya Sutskever’s new AI venture, Safe Superintelligence (SSI), has already secured over $1 billion in funding. Previously leading OpenAI’s now-disbanded Superalignment team dedicated to AI safety, Sutskever left OpenAI following internal communication issues.
This segment showcases TechCrunch’s Week in Review, compiling the week’s most significant tech developments. Don’t miss your chance to have these updates delivered to your inbox every Saturday—sign up here.
Quick News Highlights
- Bluesky’s Surge: Bluesky has gained over 2 million new users in Brazil following the shutdown of X, becoming the leading app in the region ahead of Meta’s Threads.
- Innovative Wheelchair: A pioneering wheelchair developed by Korea’s Institute of Machinery and Materials can now scale stairs and traverse difficult terrains with its revolutionary “smart chain” wheels.
- Anthropic’s Claude Enterprise: Anthropic is launching a new subscription service dubbed Claude Enterprise to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT Enterprise.
- Paper Pro Tablet: The reMarkable Paper Pro tablet enhances focus with color while functioning as a typedeck for distraction-free writing.
- Spotify Go Global: Spotify worldwide introduces daylist, a personalized playlist that evolves throughout the day for a tailored listening experience.
- Karo’s Task Management: Karo emerges as a notable app allowing users to assign tasks to friends and family with the option of sending reminders, enhancing task management.
- Salesforce Expands: Salesforce has acquired Own Company for $1.9 billion in cash, marking its largest acquisition since the Slack deal.
- YouTube’s Decision: Responding to feedback, YouTube will restrict exposure to videos idealizing specific body types for its teen audience.
- Halliburton Cyberattack: Following a cyberattack, Halliburton has reported unauthorized information access and exfiltration, impacting its oil and fracking operations.
- Instagram Enhances DMs: Instagram introduces a revamped inbox featuring new photo editing, sticker creation, and thematic capabilities to enhance user experience.
In-Depth Analysis
The rise of “Emotion AI” raises important questions about the implications of using technology to interpret human feelings. While this innovative approach aims to enhance the capabilities of AI bots, critics caution that this might not be the best long-term solution.
Meanwhile, NightCafe, an older player in the generative art marketplace, continues to thrive with over 25 million users. Co-founder Elle Russell shares insights into the platform’s origins and future potential in an intriguing interview.