Pinecone on Tuesday launched its serverless vector database on Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud in a move that enables customers to use the fully managed database on the cloud of their choice.
The vendor first unveiled Pinecone Serverless in January, at which point the platform was only available in public preview on AWS. Now, after being made generally available on AWS in May, the platform’s general availability on all three major public clouds is a significant step for Pinecone in terms of expanding its reach and letting users choose their deployment environment, according to Kevin Petrie, an analyst at BARC U.S.
Pinecone Serverless is a rearchitected version of Pinecone’s vector database designed to remove some of the infrastructure management costs associated with cloud computing. Serverless computing platforms automatically scale up or down based on demand, which can lead to savings with Pinecone charging customers based on consumption.
Meanwhile, by expanding the platform’s availability to the three major public clouds, Pinecone is now making those potential savings available to all customers.
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Any viable data platform in this space should run on all three hyperscalers’ infrastructure. Most cloud adopters use more than one hyperscaler, and the more they can standardize tools across clouds, the better. Kevin PetrieAnalyst, BARC U.S.
“This is an important step to take,” Petrie said. “Any viable data platform in this space should run on all three hyperscalers’ infrastructure. Most cloud adopters use more than one hyperscaler, and the more they can standardize tools across clouds, the better.”
In addition to making Pinecone Serverless generally available on the three major public clouds, Pinecone unveiled new features for the platform. They include enabling users to more efficiently import large amounts of data and better protect data from system failures and accidental deletes, among others.
Based in New York City, Pinecone is a vector database specialist whose tools enable customers to store and operationalize unstructured data that can be used to train analytics models and applications, including generative AI (GenAI).
The vendor raised $100 million in April 2023 as vector search emerged as a key enabler of generative AI development. To date, the 2019 startup has raised $138 million.
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Cloud expansion
Vector databases are nothing new, dating back to the early 2000s. However, their popularity has surged over the past couple of years in concert with the exploding interest in generative AI.
Enterprise generative AI applications need to be trained on proprietary data to understand the company and accurately respond to queries about its operations.
While traditional structured data provides some of that needed proprietary information, it’s estimated to make up less than 20% of all data. Therefore, for a generative AI application to have a full understanding of an organization and deliver the most accurate results possible, the more than 80% of its data that is unstructured — text, images, audio files, videos — also needs to be part of the AI’s training.
Vectors, which are numerical representations of data, are a means of giving structure to unstructured data so that it can be searched and discovered to train generative AI.
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Pinecone is one vector database specialist whose tools now can be used to develop the data pipelines that train and update generative AI models. Chroma and Redis are among the other vector database specialists, while data platform vendors including AWS, Databricks, Google and Oracle also provide vector database capabilities as part of their broad offerings.
Pinecone’s vector database capabilities measure up well against those of its peers, according to Stephen Catanzano, an analyst at TechTarget’s Enterprise Strategy Group. With Serverless now on more than one cloud, the vendor can better compete for market share.
“[Pinecone is] very innovative and at the front of what’s happening in GenAI, specifically around helping companies take their enterprise data and build new GenAI apps,” Catanzano said. “They’re very popular for this and for building out tools to make it simple. Being on each cloud, where a customer’s data for these applications lives, is an accelerator for their business.”
Pinecone Serverless is available in Starter, Standard and Enterprise versions. The Starter version — which is free to use — is the most basic, with only community support and topping out at 2 GB storage. The Enterprise version is the most elaborate and includes enhanced support over the Standard version.
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Pinecone does not publicize pricing for its Enterprise version, but Pinecone Standard costs $0.00045 per gigabyte, per hour for storage and starts at $8.25 per 1 million read units and $2 per 1 million write units.
By starting with general availability only on AWS before expanding it to Azure and Google Cloud, Pinecone was able to use its initial launch of Serverless as a learning experience to work out any problems before making the database more broadly available, according to Jeff Zhu, the vendor’s director of product management.
Major architectural overhauls risk falling short of customer expectations around quality and reliability, he noted. As a result, Pinecone attempted to ensure there was no decrease in the quality and reliability of its database before making it available on all three major public clouds.
“We focused our efforts on making a single cloud 100% production-ready, and then took those learnings to accelerate the production readiness of the remaining clouds,” Zhu said.
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Beyond making Serverless generally available on Azure and Google Cloud, Pinecone introduced bulk imports from object storage to simplify large-scale data ingestion and backups for data stored in Pinecone Serverless. The backups, now available to Standard and Enterprise users, include protection from system failures and accidental deletes, and the ability to restore data indexes to their previous state in the event of a bad update or delete.
In addition, new role-based access control capabilities limit who within an organization can execute certain tasks within Pinecone Serverless.
While useful, the new features don’t represent significant innovation, according to Petrie.
“These features are incremental improvements,” he said.
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Bulk imports accelerate the data migrations needed to feed generative AI applications, while access controls help allay security concerns, Petrie noted. But there’s still more Pinecone could do to enable generative AI development, such as add more embedding models to transform unstructured data into vectors.
“That process is not trivial,” Petrie said.
The impetus for developing the new features, meanwhile, came largely from customer feedback, according to Zhu.
With interest in developing AI applications — including generative AI — surging, users of all data management platforms are experiencing new challenges in their attempts to build accurate and secure tools. Among them are efficiently moving large amounts of data and protecting data once it’s in position to train an application.
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“These features address some of the top challenges we’ve heard from our customers,” Zhu said.
Future plans
With Pinecone Serverless now generally available on all three major public clouds and new features in the pipeline, Pinecone aims to expand beyond its limited focus on vector databases, according to Zhu.
Developing AI applications requires more than just a vector database, so the vendor is building features such as a GenAI-powered assistant and model ranking and inference capabilities that are designed to enable better data discovery during development.
“We’re working hard to provide a composable platform for developers to rapidly build, deploy and iterate on AI by providing high-quality RAG [retrieval-augmented generation] components in a single place,” Zhu said.
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While providing RAG components with a vector database has benefited Pinecone, expansion could provide the vendor with growth opportunities, according to Petrie.
RAG in conjunction with vectors is only one means of feeding generative AI models. Relational databases and graph databases also enable searches and can feed RAG pipelines as generative AI evolves to include more model types and increasingly benefits from diverse data formats.
“Given this convergence of model and data types, Pinecone should branch beyond just vectors,” Petrie said. Knowledge graphs and SQL queries of tabular data represent still other opportunities for diversification, he added.
Catanzano, meanwhile, said Pinecone is providing innovative vector database capabilities that compare favorably with those being developed by competing vendors. Its roadmap, which could include more diversification, should also maintain its focus on being creative to retain its position relative to other vector databases, he said.
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“They are doing a great job innovating and leading,” Catanzano said. “I’m not sure what may be next, but [they should concentrate on] keeping up with and exceeding competitors.”
Eric Avidon is a senior news writer for TechTarget Editorial and a journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He covers analytics and data management.
As the startup landscape evolves, so do hiring strategies. With Big Tech downsizing and the labor market tightening, founders must navigate a conservative job market to attract and retain top talent.
The hiring landscape in 2025 will offer challenges and opportunities for those who can adapt. Founders now hold increased leverage, but respect for staff and retention of key players remain vital. How can entrepreneurs strike this balance?
Join us at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 28-30, for a conversation with Heather Doshay, partner, People & Talent of SignalFire; Lauren Illovsky, talent partner of CapitalG; and Roger Lee, CEO of Comprehensive.io to explore innovative hiring strategies that align with changing market conditions.
Meet the speakers
Heather Doshay, Partner, People & Talent, SignalFire
Heather Doshay brings nearly two decades of experience guiding startups toward success through strategic talent management. At SignalFire, a venture firm designed to meet founders’ needs with cutting-edge technology, Heather leverages her expertise to help companies capitalize on the talent flooding the market. Before joining SignalFire, Heather held executive roles at Webflow and Rainforest QA, and led the Candidate Marketplace at Hired. Her deep understanding of recruitment in the tech sector makes her a key voice on the current shift in hiring dynamics and how startups can recruit top performers in a post-pandemic world.
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Lauren Illovsky, Talent Partner, CapitalG
Lauren Illovsky leads talent strategy across CapitalG’s portfolio, working closely with founders to refine executive recruiting and organizational development. Having previously worked at Accel and Andreessen Horowitz, Lauren’s experience spans various aspects of talent management, from helping CEOs transition out of their roles to identifying board members who can drive long-term success. Her deep insights into startup leadership make her an invaluable resource for founders who are navigating complex hiring challenges, particularly in the competitive startup ecosystem.
Roger Lee, CEO, Comprehensive.io
Roger Lee has revolutionized the way companies manage compensation with Comprehensive.io, which automates complex compensation processes. His company is dedicated to streamlining compensation management and increasing pay transparency, key factors in both recruiting and retaining talent in today’s competitive market. As the creator of Layoffs.fyi, a website tracking tech industry layoffs, Roger is uniquely attuned to the shifts in employment trends and compensation strategies in the tech world. Roger can offer practical solutions to founders grappling with compensation complexities in a tight labor market.
Now, X’s lawyers said the company had done exactly what Mr. Musk vowed not to: take down accounts that a Brazilian justice ordered removed because the judge said they threatened Brazil’s democracy. X also complied with the justice’s other demands, including paying fines and naming a new formal representative in the country, the lawyers said.
Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
Your Strands expert
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Your Strands expert
Marc McLaren
NYT Strands today (game #203) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… I’ve got you under my skin
NYT Strands today (game #203) – hint #2 – clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
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TRAIN
THEM
RIVER
ROLE
HATE
HATER
NYT Strands today (game #203) – hint #3 – spangram
What is a hint for today’s spangram?
• They keep you going
NYT Strands today (game #203) – hint #4 – spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?
First: left, 5th row
Last: right, 5th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #203) – the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today’s Strands, game #203, are…
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BRAIN
LIVER
HEART
KIDNEYS
STOMACH
LUNGS
SPANGRAM: INTERNALORGANS
My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect
As is so often the case with Strands, the key today was in working out what the theme was, because once you had that the answers were all pretty obvious. The theme clue of ‘I’ve got you under my skin’ was a nice one – cryptic, but not to the extent that you didn’t have any idea what kind of thing you could be looking for. I found BRAIN by accident, and that was enough to make it clear what the other solutions would be. Finding the likes of KIDNEYS and LIVER was easy enough, and once the spangram was in place there was very little room for failure.
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Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Saturday 21 September, game #202)
ARENA
STADIUM
NIGHTCLUB
THEATER
FESTIVAL
SPANGRAM: CONCERTVENUE
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.
Amazon’s Echo Show 15 smart assistant records audio and images in people’s homes
MICHAEL SIMON/startraksphoto.com/Cover Images
Police can access a trove of data from smart speakers found at crime scenes that could be invaluable in solving murders or burglaries, say researchers. Data on recently recognised faces, internet searches and any voice commands received could be extracted even without the owner’s permission or assistance from the manufacturer.
Jona Crasselt and Gaston Pugliese at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany decided to explore how much information can be pulled from these devices after seeing news coverage of Amazon refusing to…
These days, when it comes to streaming services, you have your pick of options. Plenty of these come with a hefty price tag, and the major streamers regularly announce price hikes. However, consumers are feeling stretched thin and looking for ways to watch TV without breaking their budget in the process. That’s where advertising video on demand (AVOD) and free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) services come in. Options like Tubi, Pluto, the Roku Channel, and, more recently, Google TV are there to fill in the gap.
Tubi is one of the big players in this space, as an AVOD/FAST (we’ll refer to it as just free streaming going forward) service with more than 200,000 movies and TV shows and over 200 live TV channels — for free.
But just because it’s free doesn’t mean you should jump ship from all of your other streaming services. After all, can this Fox-owned free streaming platform really compete with the likes of Netflix, Hulu, and others? Here’s everything you need to know about Tubi.
Tubi is a streaming service with a twist: it’s free. The fast-growing company offers up a combination of on-demand movies and TV shows, originals (this would be the AVOD part), and live TV streaming channels (the FAST part) without you having to shell out for a monthly subscription. Think of it as a sort of commercialized version of Netflix without the subscription fees.
Since Tubi is free, you’re going to have to make some compromises, though. First and foremost, there are ads. They aren’t overwhelming, but they’re there. Second, the on-demand content is mostly older movies and shows rerun on cable and other broadcast services. However, while Tubi has yet to produce any of its own original content, the streamer has a ton of it made for the service that can be found in its Tubi Originals section. More on that below.
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Tubi was bought by Fox in 2020 for $440 million, and recently reported more than 81 million monthly active users as of September 2024.
Don’t be fooled: There’s plenty to watch on Tubi — it boasts the largest catalog of film and TV titles of any AVOD service at 200,000, and offers more than 200 live TV channels for local news and sports. The free streamer also has more than 100 original titles with more on the way this year, spanning several genres including thriller, sci-fi, horror, romance, adult animation, and Black cinema titles. It’s also bringing in some original content from its siblings TMZ, MarVista Entertainment, and animated specialist Bento Box Entertainment.
In the meantime, sift through Tubi and you’ll find several diamonds in the rough. A quick five-minute search unearthed several decent selections, including Lovecraft Country, Boondock Saints, Ready or Not, The Witches of Eastwick, Independence Day, Vice, and the docuseries How It’s Made. Tubi also offers live TV channels across entertainment, news, sports, and more, including ABC News, NBC News Now, Fox, TMZ, People TV, the NFL Channel, Fox Sports, and MLB. There’s also a fairly impressive offering of shows and movies on Tubi Kids, including The Secret Life of Pets, The Dark Crystal, The Magic Schoolbus, Transformers: Prime,Strawberry Shortcake, and more.
The catalog isn’t available in 4K Ultra HD resolution and tops out at Full HD, depending on the age of the material. There’s no option to upgrade for a better viewing experience, either. Tubi is free, so if you aren’t happy with the experience as is, you will need to seek out an alternative. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of them.
Chances are that if you own a (modern) device that can connect to the internet, it supports Tubi. The streaming service is accessible via your web browser and as a mobile app for both Android and iOS. It’s also available on streaming devices and systems such as Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, Android TV, TiVo, and as we mentioned above, it was recently added to Google TV. There are even dedicated apps for the PlayStation 4 and Playstation 5, as well as Xbox One, Series X, and Series S.
If you don’t own a set-top box or streaming stick, you may be able to install it on your television itself. If you’re a Comcast Xfinity X1 or Cox Contour cable customer, you can add it to your plan. Plus, owners of Samsung, Sony, Vizio, Hisense, or LG smart TVs can find the Tubi application available in their respective app store. If you’re outside the U.S., however, the list of supported devices varies from country to country.
Given the nonexistent price, there isn’t a whole lot to Tubi when it comes to features. If you want to watch something aimed at mature audiences, you’ll need to register for an account — and that’s where the tools come in. Doing so will allow you to continue watching where you left off (on any device), create a queue, and receive recommendations based on your viewing habits.
You can’t get something for nothing in this world; if you want to watch a show for free, you’re going to need to put up with an ad or two, both before and during the show — you know, just like in the olden days. The ads aren’t as intrusive as you might think. You’ll typically watch a 20-second ad before your show starts and then sit through a 40-second commercial about halfway through.
And partly because it’s owned by Fox, Tubi has a surprisingly deep well of content. Some of it might even be more recent than you’d expect. And that makes sense, because more recent (and popular) content draws in more views, and that means more eyeballs on advertising, and more money in everyone’s pocket.
Let’s not look this gift horse in the mouth, though: Tubi is free, and for that reason alone, it’s worth sifting through the catalog in the hopes of striking gold — which is happening more frequently lately. After all, if you find at least one thing you like, it was time well spent.
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In summary, we don’t think makes sense to have Tubi as your only streaming service. But it is a no-risk platform with some really interesting and quality niche content for fans. And with the growth of AVOD and FAST services such as Tubi, Pluto, Plex, The Roku Channel, Amazon FreeVee and more, customers are thinking more about dumping their subscription services like Hulu, Netflix, and Disney+, and putting up with ads, which may not be as intrusive as you might think. Either way, adding a free-streaming service like Tubi to your roster is risk-free, so why wouldn’t you?
Apple finally introduced the new iPhone 16 series earlier this month. The Cupertino tech giant has now begun shipping the new iPhones to the early buyers. As soon as the iPhone 16 started shipping, the first teardown video of the iPhone 16 Pro surfaced online. YouTube channel REWA Technology has posted a teardown video of the iPhone 16 Pro, which gives us a sneak peek at all the internals of the new iPhone.
The teardown shows that Apple has made a lot of design changes under the hood of the new iPhones. Notably, another YouTube channel Disassembling Parts has posted a teardown of the iPhone 16 Pro Max variant.
iPhone 16 Pro teardown reveals a compact and more densely packed motherboard
As you can see in the teardown video below, the iPhone 16 Pro features a considerably smaller motherboard. Compared to the iPhone 15 Pro, the motherboard on the 16 Pro is smaller and is more densely packed. Furthermore, the overall layout of the components is quite different. The new iPhone 16 Pro model also features better heat dissipation too. However, the tighter space could make repairs harder.
A metal-encased battery, larger camera assembly, and non-removable Camera Control button
Furthermore, the iPhone 16 Pro video reveals that Apple has packed the phone with a metal-encased battery. This is expected to aid with heat dissipation. Also, the 3,582mAh battery is 9.4 percent larger than the 3,274mAh power-cell of its predecessor.
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The teardown shows that the camera assembly on the iPhone 16 is larger than the one on its predecessor. This is due to the inclusion of the 12MP periscope telephoto lens. However, the selfie camera module is slightly smaller this time around.
The video also reveals that the new Camera Control button is non-removable as it is laser welded. Also, the company has separated the microphone from the charging port. The inner shell of the new iPhone is made from aluminum and graphite.
iPhone 16 Pro Max teardown reveals its battery is still encased in black foil
The iPhone 16 Pro Max’s teardown video shows that the bigger phone’s battery is still encased in black foil. You may be wondering why this one’s battery isn’t encased in steel. Well, this is due to the large size of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which automatically provides better heat dissipation. Since there’s a lot more internal room, the company could get by without putting the phone’s battery in a steel case.
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