Articles by Techcrunch
Zenzap raises $44M for its AI chat app that aims to replace WhatsApp in the workplace | TechCrunch
Zenzap raises $44M for its AI chat app that aims to replace WhatsApp in the workplace | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
Many businesses around the world use consumer-facing chat apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, or iMessage to talk and coordinate with staff, and exchange documents or data. Guy Weiss is building … [+3987 chars]
Judge orders OpenAI to turn over hiring records in Apple trade secrets case
A federal judge ruled that Apple can access OpenAI's interview materials involving former Apple employees, as well as private messages and testimony from key figures in the case.
A judge has ruled that Apple will gain expedited access to OpenAI’s hiring materials in the trade secrets-focused lawsuit the iPhone maker filed against OpenAI in July. Specifically, the court will … [+2585 chars]
Spotify users on iOS 27 can now ask Siri to play music without having to say ‘on Spotify’
Siri can now learn users' preferred music app, allowing Spotify listeners to request songs, podcasts, and playlists without specifying which app to use.
It’s now easier to use Spotify by talking to Siri on iPhones updated to iOS 27, Spotify said on Tuesday. Users will no longer need to specify “on Spotify” when they’re asking Siri to play music or ot… [+1034 chars]
Bumble agrees to a $1.3B acquisition deal as online dating faces a reset | TechCrunch
After years of declining subscriber numbers and falling revenue, Bumble just agreed to a $1.3 billion acquisition.
Bumble is getting a new owner. The dating app announced Tuesday that it has agreed to a $1.3 billion acquisition deal with Ithaca Holdings, marking a major shift for a company that once looked like o… [+2325 chars]
SpaceXSI bundles X Premium, Grok and Cursor into one subscription | TechCrunch
The new X Subscription combines X's paid features with AI tools like Grok and Cursor, offering plans ranging from $8 to $200 per month.
In a bid to attract more subscribers, the company now known as SpaceX Super Intelligence is bundling all its subscriptions, including X Premium, Grok, and Cursor, into one plan called simply “The X S… [+1332 chars]
Apple refreshes its Homepod mini with a new chip and $149 price tag
The new $149 HomePod mini with Siri AI and a 'SoundGlow' visual feature will be available starting October 30.
Apple’s new HomeView device was the center of the show at its smart home event on Tuesday, but the company also refreshed its HomePod Mini smart speaker with a new chip and Siri AI integration, the l… [+1621 chars]
Apple’s new smart home line-up includes a smart lock, thermostat and video doorbells
The new devices work with HomeView, the company's new smart home hub which can be used to control accessories and interact with apps.
Apple is getting serious about the smart home space. The company on Tuesday showed off its new Apple Home Collection, which includes a new smart deadbolt lock, video doorbell, thermostat, temperature… [+1901 chars]
Apple launches a new Apple TV 4K with Siri AI and remote-free voice commands
The new Apple TV 4K costs $299, comes with Siri AI, and will be available on November 13.
Apple launched a new $299 Apple TV 4K streaming device today, with an upgraded chip, integration with the updated version of Siri AI for content discovery, and mics that allow users to issue voice co… [+1831 chars]
Apple makes another push into the smart home market with HomeView
Apple is taking a big swing at the smart home market with its latest product that competes with Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub.
Apple is taking a big swing at the smart home market. The company on Tuesday unveiled its long-rumored smart home hub, dubbed HomeView, that can act as a central control point for smart home devices,… [+2749 chars]
Amex introduces a framework to prevent AI agents from making unauthorized purchases | TechCrunch
American Express is introducing a new framework designed to ensure AI agents only make purchases their users have authorized, potentially preventing costly mistakes and disputes as AI-powered shopping grows.
Personal AI agents are increasingly making transactions on their users’ behalf, but given the nondeterministic nature of large language models, AI bots are prone to doing what they’re not supposed to… [+4748 chars]
Giraffe Bio aims its bespoke biomolecules at the looming copper shortage
As AI data centers and EVs drive up demand for copper, Giraffe Bio has unearthed a $6.4 million seed round to help miners extract more of the mineral.
Between the AI data center boom and economywide electrification, the world will need a lot more copper. By 2040, copper supplies could fall 25% short of demand. Thatll be a tall order for the mining… [+2977 chars]
Meta releases its first frontier model, Muse Wonder | TechCrunch
Where Muse Spark aimed to be a lightweight model that could perform at low latency, the Wonder models are larger and said to be more capable, with higher benchmark scores and better results on complex tasks like coding.
Meta’s Superintelligence Lab released a pair of new state-of-the-art models on Monday, Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full, representing the company’s first attempt at a frontier model. Where Muse Spar… [+2212 chars]
WindBorne wins a hefty US Air Force contract for its balloon data | TechCrunch
A Silicon Valley startup that uses weather balloons and AI to predict the weather won a U.S. military contract worth almost $50 million.
The U.S. Air Force will buy data collected by WindBorne Systems‘ fleet of autonomous weather balloons under a new contract that could be worth nearly $50 million to the startup. WindBorne currently … [+3475 chars]
Honeyjar offers AI tools to improve PR and comms at every company | TechCrunch
Honeyjar offers AI tools to improve PR and comms at every company | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
Journalists, entrepreneurs, and even some public relations professionals will tell you that the PR process is broken (buy me a drink sometime, and Ill give you my rant). But could AI actually make th… [+4346 chars]
Microsoft president says UK is best placed to drive AI regulation | TechCrunch
Microsoft President Brad Smith calls for urgent AI regulation, saying milk and washing machines have more oversight than AI companies.
Microsoft President Brad Smith is calling for urgent regulation of AI, and his argument is that consumer products like milk and washing machines have more oversight than the companies building artifi… [+2644 chars]
This AI startup says it can generate permit-ready blueprints in minutes | TechCrunch
Blueprints AI, a bootstrapped startup based in Santa Monica, developed software that produces code-compliant construction blueprints from a photo, PDF, or sketch.
Nearly two decades ago, a young college student wrote his final thesis about software capable of generating design documents for school buildings. Al Drams was studying architecture following in the … [+4329 chars]
Fitbit Edge is Google’s middle ground between Fitbit Air and Pixel Watch | TechCrunch
Google’s newest wearable costs $179.99 and has a sleek feel like the Fitbit Air but with an OLED display.
Google’s Fitbit lineup expanded on Monday with the introduction of the Fitbit Edge, a new wearable that’s positioned between the Fitbit Air and Pixel Watch. Priced at $179.99, it combines the Fitbi… [+1911 chars]
Smart ring maker Ultrahuman to roll out biological-age model across UAE | TechCrunch
Ultrahuman and Abu Dhabi will spend the next two years working on research and clinical validation of the model.
Ultrahuman, a Bengaluru-based health tech startup best known for its smart rings, has partnered with Abu Dhabi health authorities to develop a biological-age model that it says will eventually be mad… [+4479 chars]
Disrupt 2026 starts tomorrow: Your final chance to save up to $100 | TechCrunch
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 starts at 8 a.m. PT on Oct. 13 for three days of insight, tech discovery, and connections. Save up to $100 before doors open.
Tomorrow at 8 a.m. PT, it all begins. 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech operators will gather at San Franciscos Moscone West for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 for three days of ideas, connections, and … [+2113 chars]
Former Plaud exec raises $26M for AI app that listens to you in the background | TechCrunch
Former Plaud exec raises $26M for AI app that listens to you in the background | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
One of the core promises of AI is that the more it knows about a person, the better it will be able to assist them with tasks and make appropriate suggestions, which, if you’ll believe the tech compa… [+4186 chars]
The founder's guide to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Everything you need to know | TechCrunch
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is built around one question: How do you build an enduring company in the AI era? Our programming and speaker lineup reflect that.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is built around one question: How do you build an enduring company in the AI era? Our programming and speaker lineup reflect that, based on the feedback weve gotten from the c… [+8056 chars]
Will the HomeView be Apple’s first smart home success?
Apple will announce a new smart home hub on Tuesday called the HomeView, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen There have been multiple reports that Apple was working on a new smart home product, but now it seems the …
Apple will announce a new smart home hub on Tuesday called the HomeView, according to Bloombergs Mark Gurman. Over the past couple of years, weve seen There have been multiple reports that Apple was… [+830 chars]
Aaron Sorkin’s ‘Social Reckoning’ is off to a weak start | TechCrunch
Aaron Sorkin’s ‘Social Reckoning’ is off to a weak start | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
The Social Reckoning, Aaron Sorkins follow-up to The Social Network, is on-track to make only $5.5 million at the domestic box office this weekend, according to Sunday estimates. That’s below the al… [+2501 chars]
Less than 48 hours until Disrupt 2026 starts | TechCrunch
Less than 48 hours until TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 starts in San Francisco’s Moscone West. Save up to $100 on your pass before prices increase at the door.
In less than 48 hours, the doors open for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 at San Franciscos Moscone West. Save up to $100 on your ticket before prices increase at the door. Dont forget to get a second pass a… [+2336 chars]
The investor's guide to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Everything you need to know | TechCrunch
Year after year, investors who've explored the Expo Halls, met founders, and learned from peers have proven why you need to be on the ground at Disrupt Oct. 13.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is built around one question for founders: How do you build an enduring company in the AI era? For investors, it’s the opposite: How do you find that company before someone el… [+7395 chars]
Can the AI industry persuade data center opponents by getting rid of NDAs? | TechCrunch
On Equity, we debate the impact of data center moratoriums and whether the AI industry has a communication problem.
Amazon recently followed Microsofts lead and said it will no longer use nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) while negotiating with local governments over data centers. On the latest episode of TechCrunc… [+7609 chars]
Dawn Myers is making it easier to style, detangle, and care for curly hair | TechCrunch
Dawn Myers is making it easier to style, detangle, and care for curly hair | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
Normally, Dawn Myers wears her hair up in a big old afro, and anyone with an afro can attest that wash days the routine of washing and styling textured hair are often tedious. They take a lot of deta… [+5520 chars]
Efferon wants to eradicate the devastating toll of pediatric sepsis | TechCrunch
Efferon wants to eradicate the devastating toll of pediatric sepsis | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
Sepsis, an acute inflammation triggered by infection, is a leading cause of childhood mortality, claiming roughly 3 million children under the age of five annually. Efferon, a startup selected as on… [+2286 chars]
What to know about the landmark Warner Bros. Discovery sale | TechCrunch
Learn more about Paramount's planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery — a historic Hollywood megadeal valued at $111 billion — as it continues to develop.
Earlier this year, the streaming and entertainment industry witnessed one of its most high-stakes megadeals ever, stunning industry observers. Not only is it historic in its size, but it is also pred… [+7477 chars]
These execs think voice AI hasn't reached its ChatGPT moment yet | TechCrunch
Voice AI's often misses important points for its context layer, and causes the whole pipeline to break
The theory of voice being the next big interface has picked up strong momentum, with investors pouring billions of dollars into voice AI startups working on areas ranging from model makers to enterpr… [+3472 chars]
Microsoft’s Satya Nadella says AI models need an ‘emergency brake’ | TechCrunch
In a Saturday morning post, Microsoft's CEO wrote that it’s time “to step back and assess the trust architecture” of AI.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is the latest tech executive to offer lengthy thoughts on how AI safety might be improved. In a Saturday morning post on X, Nadella wrote that its time to step back and a… [+956 chars]
Apple discloses deal to hire team and license tech from personalized podcast startup Huxe
Is Apple hoping to get into the AI-generated podcast business?
Apple revealed in a regulatory filing that it has reached an agreement to bring on team members and technology from personalized audio startup Huxe, in whats commonly known as a reverse acqui-hire de… [+2042 chars]
Petra Power looks to modernize energy for data centers and defense vehicles | TechCrunch
The startup says its fuel cells are super efficient and cut fuel costs during a time when the tech industry can’t get enough electricity.
As AI gobbles up an ever larger amount of energy, the hunt is on for efficient and cost-effective power sources. One of the companies leading the charge is Petra Power. Petra, which was founded in 2… [+3310 chars]
Cloudflare acquires Deno to improve its Workers programming model | TechCrunch
Cloudflare acquires Deno to improve its Workers programming model | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
Cloudflare announced Friday that its acquiring Deno, the startup behind the programming runtime of the same name. According to Cloudflare’s Kenton Varda, Cloudflare will use this acquisition to impr… [+884 chars]
3 days to Disrupt 2026: Meet the startups before they hit mainstream | TechCrunch
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is October 13-15 in San Francisco. 300+ startups will show what they’ve built to 10,000 tech leaders. Register to save up to $100.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 starts in just three days. Moscone West is getting ready, hundreds of startups are preparing to show what theyve built, and thousands of founders, investors, and tech leaders … [+2119 chars]
Here are the top AI agents that can live in your text messages | TechCrunch
We created a list of the most notable AI agents that can live in your text messages, from general assistants to agents designed for families, travel, and work.
Rather than downloading another app, a growing number of agents can simply be texted like an ordinary person. You text it what you need, and it can remember context, connect to the apps and service… [+14219 chars]
Elon Musk intensifies attack on Ambani over Starlink India launch delay | TechCrunch
Elon Musk intensifies attack on Ambani over Starlink India launch delay | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
As SpaceX struggles to launch Starlink in India, Elon Musk has stepped up his attack on billionaire Mukesh Ambani, mockingly calling him the countrys “prime minister” to suggest he wields outsized co… [+3676 chars]
Anthropic can't reliably control its AI agents. It's cutting off its internal evals from the live internet instead | TechCrunch
Anthropic can't reliably control its AI agents. It's cutting off its internal evals from the live internet instead | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
Anthropic said its models exploited websites on the internet, including some run by U.S. government agencies, and it will turn off live internet access for all of its internal evaluations until the f… [+2845 chars]
Long live the mechanical keyboard | TechCrunch
Keychron made a name for itself after launching on Kickstarter in 2017. Today, it offers the value K2 model as well as a variety of other versions, including one with an all-wood body.
For a writer, the mechanical keyboard is a beautiful thing. They’re certainly not necessary for everyone, but a well designed mechanical keyboard can turn a tedious day of typing into an aestheticall… [+3145 chars]
The maker of non-text AI model Jev valued at $7.5B just weeks after launch | TechCrunch
The maker of non-text AI model Jev valued at $7.5B just weeks after launch | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
TypeSafe AI, the developer of Jev, a new type of AI model that gained rapid popularity after launching just a few weeks ago, has raised $870 million at a $7.5 billion valuation. The round was led by … [+1171 chars]
An Anthropic AI model sent a false homicide tip to Philadelphia police | TechCrunch
Anthropic did not discover this behavior until over two months after its AI submitted the false tip.
An Anthropic AI model submitted a false tip about an unsolved murder to the Philadelphia police. The AI reportedly submitted this incorrect information to a public Philadelphia Police Department (PP… [+2390 chars]
Batteries are now cheaper than natural gas turbines used at many data centers | TechCrunch
Batteries are now cheaper than natural gas turbines used at many data centers | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
Battery storage is now cheaper than a type of natural gas power plant favored by many data center developers, according to a new report from Wood Mackenzie. On every continent and in each of the 43… [+2381 chars]
Amazon and others are done keeping data center deals secret. Is it enough to build trust? | TechCrunch
Watch as Equity discusses whether ditching NDAs will change how data center deals get done, why trust may be the real product for personal AI startups, plus a couple of deals of the week.
Amazon says it will stop using NDAs when negotiating data center deals with local governments, following a similar move from Microsoft earlier this year. Secrecy has fueled community backlash against… [+699 chars]
Danu Robotics' fight to build a better recycling robot | TechCrunch
For six years, Danu founder Amy Ma has been working on a better way to sort recyclable waste.
For Danu Robotics founder Amy Ma, the eureka moment came after years of working as a software developer at a London bank. It was the kind of high-touch office thats typical in finance but despite all… [+2897 chars]
We can't help treating AI like it's human. But should we? | TechCrunch
"When we are drawn into even the most primitive exchanges with a relational artifact, we believe it cares for us," Dr. Sherry Turkle writes. "And we are wired to care for it in return."
In a tan polo shirt, brown leather belt, and round bolo tie, MIT PhD student Wil Norton kind of looks like a park ranger, leading our tour group through a tropical jungle. We’re not actually on safar… [+4820 chars]
Remember Orkut? Its founder wants to bring it back | TechCrunch
Remember Orkut? Its founder wants to bring it back | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
Orkut, the once-popular social networking platform that shut down more than a decade ago, may finally be making a comeback, as its founder has called on users to help revive it with a renewed focus o… [+2273 chars]
Tesla renames 'Full Self-Driving' to 'Tesla Assisted Driving' in Europe | TechCrunch
The name change is enough for Germany's transport minister to start advocating for Europe-wide adoption of the driver assistance software.
Tesla has changed the name of its advanced driver assistance system in Europe after pushback from Germany’s transportation ministry. It’s now called “Tesla Assisted Driving,” instead of “Full Self-Dr… [+2800 chars]
Automattic loses its interim CFO just weeks after boardroom shakeup
Automattic's interim chief financial officer Jeremy Klaperman has left the company less than a month after taking the role, TechCrunch has learned. Sources say his departure followed a demotion back to his previous position, marking another executive exit ami…
Automattic’s interim chief financial officer Jeremy Klaperman has left his position after less than a month, TechCrunch has learned. Klaperman had been elevated to the new job last month after the go… [+1916 chars]
Beyond TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: The Side Events, Parties & Networking You Can't Miss | TechCrunch
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is just the beginning. From exclusive networking events and startup showcases to happy hours, dinners, and after-hours meetups, discover what’s happening across San Francisco during Disrupt Week, October 10–16. Find your next connectio…
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 brings founders, investors, operators, builders, and technology leaders to San Francisco from October 13-15. But the activity doesnt stop when the conference floor closes. Th… [+13612 chars]
Execs from Gamma, Engine’s, and GV join Disrupt 2026 | TechCrunch
Leaders from Gamma, Engine, and Google Ventures join TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 to talk how to get your first customers. Register now to save up to $100.
Youve built the product. Now you need customers. But when youre starting from zero, there may be no marketing budget, established brand, or sales team to help you find them. So how do you get the fir… [+4997 chars]
Disrupt 2026 starts in 4 days and prices increase | TechCrunch
4 days until TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 starts and when 10,000 founders, investors, and tech leaders gather in San Francisco. Save up to $100 on your pass now.
Four days. Thats all that stands between now and TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, when 10,000 founders, investors, and tech leaders descend on Moscone West in San Francisco on October 13-15. Its also your fi… [+2068 chars]
Surveillance company Flock cuts staff as privacy backlash grows | TechCrunch
Flock would not say if CEO Garrett Langley would take a pay cut following the reduction in workforce.
Surveillance camera maker Flock is cutting its workforce as the company faces ongoing and growing backlash to its license plate readers and people-tracking technology. News of the staff cuts comes f… [+2280 chars]
Xona's commercial GPS alternative is about to go live | TechCrunch
Xona's precision timing and navigation service will enter beta testing after SpaceX launches six satellites designed by the company.
The first precision commercial alternative to GPS is preparing to go live when six satellites designed by the startup Xona Space Systems launch into orbit this month. A service that competes with fr… [+4651 chars]
President Trump awards big tech donors with nation's highest science prizes | TechCrunch
President Trump awards big tech donors with nation's highest science prizes | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
On Thursday, at the Golden Age of American Innovation Summit, President Trump awarded Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Sergey Brin, and AMDs Lisa Su the National Medal of Science, the nations top science pri… [+872 chars]
Ben Affleck is an AI nerd, and the internet is impressed | TechCrunch
Ben Affleck is going viral for his deep knowledge of AI, from neural networks and transformers to open weights. The actor, who sold his AI filmmaking startup to Netflix earlier this year, is proving he's more than just a Hollywood star.
They cast the wrong lead in “Good Will Hunting,” apparently, because it’s Ben Affleck who is the secret genius, as it turns out. The actor who earlier this year sold his AI filmmaking startup to Netf… [+4787 chars]
Pretend you're sitting at Elizabeth Holmes' desk on this weirdly detailed website | TechCrunch
With over a thousand emails, slides, texts, and documents from the United States v. Elizabeth Holmes trial, Extend engineer Bo Lau created a website that simulates what it might have been like to rifle through the Theranos founder's desk.
With over a thousand emails, slides, texts, and documents unveiled during the United States v. Elizabeth Holmes trial, Extend engineer Bo Lau created a website that simulates what it might have been … [+2000 chars]
Fired OpenAI safety researchers dispute misconduct claims, warn of chilling effect | TechCrunch
Three fired OpenAI safety researchers dispute allegations of mishandling sensitive information, warning in an open letter that their dismissals are creating a chilling effect on the company’s AI safety culture.
Jasmine Wang, Tomek Korbak, and Mikita Balesni, the three safety researchers that OpenAI fired last week, have published an open letter denying the firms claims that they mishandled sensitive informa… [+5743 chars]
Google brings agentic AI to Gemini, starting with businesses | TechCrunch
Google is turning Gemini into an AI agent that can plan, execute tasks, and work across business apps and systems. The agent can delegate work to subagents, use multiple AI models, and even gets its own workplace identity, complete with an email address.
At a Google Cloud event on Thursday, the company announced it’s bringing its Gemini AI into the agentic age, with the launch of a unified agent that can not only answer questions but also get things … [+3581 chars]
Anthropic changes usage policy to ban model abuse and election interference | TechCrunch
Anthropic's updated usage policy explicitly prohibits users from repeatedly abusing Claude in extreme cases, though ordinary frustration and criticism are still allowed. The new rules also address election interference, deceptive campaigns, weapons software, …
Anthropic updated its usage policy on Thursday, codifying new prohibitions on election interference, weapons software, and surveillance. But perhaps the most attention-getting change is a new prohibi… [+1080 chars]
A startup founder who served time in prison is looking to court an untapped market: ex-cons | TechCrunch
Richard Bronson, a former Stratton Oakmont partner who served time in federal prison for securities violations, has launched Commissary Club, a startup that uses AI to help people leaving prison find jobs, housing, community and even dates.
Richard Bronson, an entrepreneur who recently launched a startup called Commissary Club, has an unusual background for a founder: in a previous life, he spent time in prison. In the 1980s, Bronson w… [+4009 chars]
Goodfire says its new ‘inside-out’ monitors catch rogue AI agents at a fraction of the cost | TechCrunch
Goodfire just launched what it says is a cheaper way to keep AI agents in check: instead of paying a second AI to read everything an agent does, its monitors peek inside the model while it works and only call in backup when something looks fishy.
The standard way to keep an AI agent in line is to have a second AI read over its shoulder. Its been the default approach, but it can get expensive fast when agents run for hours and process the equi… [+3941 chars]
Natura’s $99 smart ring puts AI agents on your finger | TechCrunch
Natura’s $99 Interface smart ring lets you summon AI agents with the press of a finger to complete tasks, capture thoughts, and control devices — while doubling as a health tracker.
Meet Interface, a new $99 smart ring from AI and hardware startup Natura that’s designed for the era of AI agents. With a press of your finger, you can ask an AI agent to complete a task, capture tho… [+5180 chars]
US bars Microsoft, Adobe, and major IT firms from green card program for skilled foreign workers | TechCrunch
US bars Microsoft, Adobe, and major IT firms from green card program for skilled foreign workers | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
The Trump administration is suspending Microsoft, Adobe, and several other technology companies from a program that helps skilled foreign workers obtain permanent residency in the United States, accu… [+1139 chars]
Elon Musk questions Ambani’s influence as Starlink India launch stalls | TechCrunch
“Is Ambani the real boss of India?” Elon Musk asked as he questioned why Starlink has yet to launch its satellite internet service in the country.
Elon Musk has questioned the influence of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani as SpaceX struggles to launch its Starlink satellite internet service in the country. Musk’s comments, which were posted on … [+4304 chars]
New York alleges TikTok gave teens, children a placebo safety feature instead of a real one | TechCrunch
New York’s lawsuit against the company is one of more than two dozen cases brought by states accusing the social media giant of designing its platform to encourage addictive use among children.
TikTok gave teens and children access to a placebo safety feature instead of a real one that would have let them refresh their recommendations in an experiment, according to allegations in New York’s… [+1272 chars]
Ambrosia Energy and Bloom Energy join Disrupt 2026 | TechCrunch
Ben Longmier (Ambrosia Energy) and Bill Thayer (Bloom Energy) join the Smart Systems Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt. Register now to save up to $100.
AI may be built in software, but scaling it is becoming a physical-world problem. Every new model, agent, and AI application needs somewhere to run, and an infrastructure connecting them all. At Tec… [+3591 chars]
Asos confirms breach of customer data after hackers send rogue app notification | TechCrunch
The hackers alerted the fashion giant's customers through a push notification that said they had "fully compromised" the company's cloud storage.
UK fashion retail giant Asos has confirmed a data breach of its customers’ personal information after hackers used the company’s own app to notify users that the company had been compromised. Asos s… [+2102 chars]
Spotify is getting more serious about selling enterprise software | TechCrunch
The company launched technology.spotify.com, a new site that will make its internal tech available to outsiders.
Spotify is formalizing efforts around its enterprise and developer tools business with Thursday’s launch of technology.spotify.com, a new site that will make its internal tech available to outsiders.… [+2416 chars]
Waymo locks in $5B loan from Blackstone, PIMCO to fuel robotaxi expansion | TechCrunch
Waymo locks in $5B loan from Blackstone, PIMCO to fuel robotaxi expansion | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
Waymo, the autonomous vehicle technology company under Google parent Alphabet, closed a $5 billion loan from a series of high-profile lenders, including PIMCO, Blackstone, and Sixth Street. The deb… [+3189 chars]
Cal AI's 19-year-old founder just raised $10M for his new AI startup | TechCrunch
Zach Yadegari, the teen co-founder of popular Cal AI calorie tracking app, has launched a new personal AI agent startup that competes with Instinct, Muse and Bee.
Zach Yadegari, the teen co-founder of calorie tracking app Cal AI, has launched Persona, a new AI agent startup, and already raised $10 million. Vine Ventures led the round, with Z Fellows founder Co… [+4077 chars]
China's Manus raises over $500M in first funding round since split with Meta | TechCrunch
Boyu Capital and IDG Capital led the funding round, and existing shareholders Tencent, HSG (formerly known as Sequoia China), ZhenFund and others also participated.
Chinese AI lab Manus parent company, Butterfly Effect, said on Thursday in a WeChat post that it has raised more than $500 million, the company’s first funding round since Meta was forced to call off… [+1964 chars]
Last call to volunteer at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 | TechCrunch
TechCrunch Founder Summit is gearing up to return to Boston on November 4! We're doing a last call for exceptional volunteers to join us in bringing this
TechCrunch Founder Summit is gearing up to return to Boston on November 4! We’re doing a last call for exceptional volunteers to join us in bringing this event to life. If you’ve ever wondered about … [+1548 chars]
Amazon unveils new Alexa tablets with Alexa+ and Google Play Store access | TechCrunch
The lineup includes three models: Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, Amazon Alexa Tablet 11, and Amazon Alexa Tablet 8.
Amazon on Thursday unveiled a new lineup of Alexa tablets that feature personalized intelligence from its Alexa+ AI assistant and full access to the Google Play Store. The lineup includes three model… [+4023 chars]
Uber and China's Pony.ai plan to launch robotaxis in London | TechCrunch
The two companies said on Thursday that they would begin testing Pony.ai's Gen-7 robotaxis in London in the coming weeks.
Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle maker Pony.ai plan to launch a robotaxi service in London as part of an expanded partnership to bring driverless cars to Europe. The two companies said on Thursday… [+2342 chars]
Vesta raises $30M to bring swarms of agents to mortgage lenders | TechCrunch
Vesta, an AI-native software startup that helps lenders originate mortgages, announced a $30 million round led by Conversion Capital.
Vesta, an AI-native software startup that helps lenders originate mortgages, announced on Thursday that it raised a $30 million round led by Conversion Capital. The startup uses AI agents to automat… [+3037 chars]
India rejects Elon Musk's claim of discrimination over Starlink launch | TechCrunch
Starlink is still awaiting security clearance before it can seek spectrum and begin commercial services in India.
India has rejected Elon Musk’s claim that Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, is being unfairly blocked from launching in the country. The pushback comes as SpaceX struggles to turn years … [+3807 chars]
Robot data startup Mecka AI nabs $60M from Sequoia | TechCrunch
Mecka AI collects and analyzes human motion data to train humanoid robots and other kinds of robots. The startup pays people to record everyday tasks.
Mecka AI, a startup that collects and analyzes human motion data to train humanoid robots and other kinds of robots, announced it has raised a $60 million Series B round led by Sequoia, with particip… [+833 chars]
While VCs crowd into San Francisco, Endeavor Catalyst raises $320M for founders 'elsewhere' | TechCrunch
Endeavor Catalyst just raised $320 million to keep backing founders outside Silicon Valley. Half the profits go back to the nonprofit that finds them.
Endeavor Catalyst has closed its fifth fund with $320 million in capital commitments, bringing the firm’s total assets under management to more than $850 million. The raise is good news for founders … [+4847 chars]
Nous Research confirms it hit $1.5B valuation, launches AI agents for business users | TechCrunch
Nous Research confirms it hit $1.5B valuation, launches AI agents for business users | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
Nous Research, the startup developing the open-source Hermes agent, has raised a $90 million Series B at a $1.5 billion valuation, confirming TechCrunch’s earlier reporting. The round was led by Rob… [+852 chars]
Microsoft releases new Nvidia-chip AI PCs with revamped Windows 11 | TechCrunch
Microsoft revealed the specs and price for its Surface Laptop Ultra, AI PCs that run on Nvidia chips that are designed to run AI models and agents.
Back in June, Nvidia announced that it had secured agreements with Microsoft and a host of other PC makers to develop AI- and agent-ready PCs for Windows based on its RTX Spark chip, but details on t… [+2532 chars]
Meta's Muse launches on iPad just a month after its mobile debut | TechCrunch
Meta’s AI agent Muse is now available on iPad, just a month after its mobile debut, as the company rapidly expands the assistant’s reach and integrations.
If there’s any doubt about how seriously Meta is taking AI, here’s a new signal: the company on Wednesday announced that its Muse assistant is now available in a dedicated iPad app. That’s a mileston… [+2021 chars]
ChatGPT for Teens keeps teens talking, even during mental health crises | TechCrunch
ChatGPT’s teen safeguards are meant to protect vulnerable users, but new testing found the chatbot continues encouraging engagement during crises and potentially encourages unhealthy relationships with the AI itself.
Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that provides age-based ratings and reviews of media and tech for families, has labeled ChatGPT for Teens an unacceptable risk. The rating comes as chatbots like Open… [+6142 chars]
X expands its 'Gametime' sports hub beyond the NFL, starting with MLB | TechCrunch
X is turning its NFL-focused Gametime feature into a year-round sports destination, starting with MLB and with other professional leagues to follow.
X is doubling down on sports, with Wednesday’s news that it’s expanding its “Gametime” feature on the social media site to go beyond tracking the NFL alone. First announced in August, NFL Gametime i… [+2507 chars]
ChatGPT is getting a lot more visual, with the launch of a new interface | TechCrunch
ChatGPT is getting a lot more visual, with the launch of a new interface | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
ChatGPT is about to get a lot more visual, thanks to a new feature that OpenAI calls Intelligent UI. The new interface, which is being rolled out Wednesday with a new GPT-6 model, will integrate a si… [+2048 chars]
Greenairy is building smart plant towers to clean the air in your office | TechCrunch
As it turns out, the cure for stuffy, chemical-infused office air might be a tower of leafy greenery.
How clean is the air in your workplace? Thats the question Tanvi Thombre and Lakshya Saraf began investigating when they were engineering students who worked in their university makerspace. In fact,… [+4111 chars]
CIA officer admits to creating fake top secret government program to steal over $190 million, including gold bars | TechCrunch
CIA officer David Rush, who worked on highly sensitive intelligence programs, reached a plea deal with U.S. prosecutors after he was caught siphoning money and gold with a fake government contract.
A now-former officer with the Central Intelligence Agency has pleaded guilty to stealing almost $200 million, including hundreds of gold bars, as part of a fraudulent scheme masquerading as a top sec… [+2949 chars]
Meta rolls out new AI tools to detect ads that secretly lead to child sexual abuse material | TechCrunch
Meta launches new AI tools after discovering ads on its platforms that may look normal but direct users to harmful content elsewhere online.
Meta announced Wednesday that it took action against 33.2 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content on Facebook and Instagram in the first half of 2026. At the same time, the company is rol… [+2969 chars]
Healthleap raises $38M for its AI that flags hospital patients who may need a closer look
The financing includes an $8M seed round co-led by Sequoia Capital and First Round Capital, and a $30 million Series A led by Hummingbird Ventures.
Healthleap, a startup building an AI platform that reads patient records to identify patients at risk of undiagnosed illnesses, has raised $38 million in seed and Series A funding, TechCrunch has exc… [+4141 chars]
Bloom raises $3.6M to become the Alibaba of American manufacturing | TechCrunch
The Detroit startup has widened its scope beyond mobility to help drone and robotics companies find U.S.-based manufacturers, shippers, and more.
When Justin Kosmides co-founded Bloom in 2023, his goal was to create a savior for the mobility industry. He had seen many e-bike and e-scooter companies fail because of an inability — or an unwillin… [+6107 chars]
SpaceX alumni nab $100M to rethink shipping with autonomous freight trains | TechCrunch
Parallel Systems raised $100M to scale production of its autonomous electric rail vehicle, which can shuttle thousands of pounds of freight up to 500 miles.
The railroad industry was one of the first to disrupt how the world worked with technology, but lately, innovation in freight railroading has amounted to little more than longer and longer trains. T… [+3834 chars]
Tony Fadell on why the first wave of AI gadgets failed — and what comes next
The “father of the iPod” says the first generation of AI gadgets failed to solve real problems — and the next wave will need to earn consumers’ trust.
When Tony Fadell takes the stage at the inaugural MIT Future Fest, he projects a slide with three images of once-hyped AI devices that have already been discontinued: the Rabbit R1, the Humane AI pin… [+5509 chars]
Google experiments with an AI-powered gaming platform | TechCrunch
Google Labs is working on a new AI-powered game-creation platform called Playground for users to build browser-based games using simple text prompts.
The barriers to entry for game creation are rapidly diminishing as AI makes game development more accessible to people without traditional programming, design, or illustration skills. The latest exam… [+2382 chars]
OpenAI’s Alexander Embiricos is coming to Disrupt 2026 | TechCrunch
OpenAI’s Alexander Embiricos is coming to the AI Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, just days after the launch of Dots. Register now to save up to $100.
OpenAI just made one of its biggest bets yet on what comes after the chatbot. Now, the person leading that product is coming to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, happening October 13-15. Alexander Embiricos,… [+1850 chars]
The full lineup of interactive roundtables at Disrupt 2026 | TechCrunch
Explore the entire roundtable agenda at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Register now to save up to $100 on your pass and get a second pass at 50% off.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is seven days away, bringing 10,000+ founders, investors, operators, and tech leaders to Moscone West in San Francisco from October 13-15 for three days of conversations, conn… [+11063 chars]
6 days to Disrupt 2026: Save on your pass before doors open | TechCrunch
10K people from the tech ecosystem will gather in San Francisco for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Get yours now to save up to $100 + 50% off a second pass.
In six days, 10,000+ people from across the global startup and tech ecosystem will come together at San Franciscos Moscone West for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. If youre planning to be one of them, dont … [+1985 chars]
Google's new SynthID website can identify AI-generated media | TechCrunch
Google on Tuesday launched a new site that lets anyone verify whether a piece of media, be it an image, a video, or an audio clip, is generated using AI.
Google on Tuesday launched a new site that lets anyone verify whether a piece of media, be it an image, a video or an audio clip, is generated using AI. The company had made this tool available to s… [+1168 chars]
Ring's first smart lock can be hand-cranked when its battery dies | TechCrunch
Amazon-owned Ring is entering the smart lock market with a device designed to tackle a common concern: getting locked out when the battery dies.
Ring, the Amazon-owned video doorbell maker, is entering a new market: smart locks. Ring’s new device isn’t exactly a copy-and-paste of the other locks already on the market, however, as it tackles… [+2794 chars]
Another personal AI assistant has launched — Meet Tab, which emerged from stealth with a $300M valuation | TechCrunch
Another personal AI assistant has launched — Meet Tab, which emerged from stealth with a $300M valuation | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com
A new personal AI assistant has arrived. Meet Tab, which announced Tuesday that it had officially emerged from stealth at a $300 million valuation. (The company declined to share the exact funding de… [+1869 chars]
Spotify expands audiobooks to over 180 markets | TechCrunch
Spotify will make 350,000 titles available in over 120 languages for this expansion
Spotify announced on Wednesday that it’s expanding audiobook access to over 180 markets worldwide, including regions across Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The… [+2290 chars]
How to find out if Amazon thinks you have 'flat buttocks' | TechCrunch
"I stumbled upon a page of assumptions that Amazon has made about me based on my purchases and I’m literally speechless," one shopper wrote on Threads.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Amazon collects data about you based on what you buy. If you buy a lot of cat litter, Amazon will probably infer that you have cats, or if you buy a lot of anti-a… [+3028 chars]