All I can see is you — iOS 16 users enj oy new photo background removal feature

Fridaaaaay!

Today, we will mostly be listening to this delightful end-of-week gratitude meditation, and contemplating all the weird and wonderful things that have happened this week. Because, by golly, has there been a lot of weird. And, for that matter, a lot of wonderful.

One thing we are grateful for is you, our dear readers. Have a beautiful weekend. Get some rest, charge those batteries, and let’s get back on it next week. — Christine and Haje

The TechCrunch Top 3

Startups and VC

Shervin Pishevar, an investor who left Silicon Valley for Miami after being accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women in 2017, has resurfaced as the “vice chairman” of Yeezy, the consumer brand controlled by Kanye West, Connie reports.

In gig economy land, things are about to get interesting. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is looking into the complex and potentially unfair economics and policies of the gig economy for “deceptive, unfair, and otherwise unlawful acts and practices.” Whether it’s forced arbitration, labor misclassification, or algorithmic pay and job distribution, the agency says it will go after any dubious tactics that hurt workers, Devin reports.

And for your final piece of startup drama today, Natasha M and Becca report the Launch House community reacts to media reports of alleged misconduct and harassment.

Okay, fine, a few more:

3 investors explain why earned wage access startups are set to cash more checks

Workers with low-wage jobs often experience cash-flow problems.

Because so many don’t have access to credit or savings, a growing number that once depended on predatory lenders can now tap into their wages before payday via earned wage access (EWA).

“The potential for this model is huge, but the industry is still very much in its early stages,” reports Karan Bhasin, who interviewed three active EWA investors to learn more about where the industry is headed:

Jennifer Ho, partner at Integra Partners

Aris Xenofontos, partner at Seaya Ventures

Aditi Maliwal, partner at Upfront Ventures

(TechCrunch+ is our membership program, which helps founders and startup teams get ahead. You can sign up here. Use code “DC” for a 15% discount on an annual subscription!)

Read More

Big Tech Inc.

For you Apple Watch enthusiasts, Brian packs in the puns and postulates about the Series 8 (“The new features aren’t flashy, but some of them might save your life”) and the SE (“The SE is the Apple Watch for people on a somewhat tighter budget, who recognize that they don’t need absolutely every annual addition to the device”). He talks a lot about choice — which one will you choose?

See more jobs on CrunchBoard

Post your tech jobs and reach millions of TechCrunch readers for only $200 per month.