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Showing posts from December, 2025

‘College dropout’ has become the most coveted startup founder credential

AI founders are increasingly using their "dropout" status as a credential during YC pitches. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/LrDdque

The 10 top government, legal startups from Disrupt Startup Battlefield

Here is the full list of the government and legal Startup Battlefield 200 selectees, along with a note on what made us select them for the competition. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/T7z40th

The dumbest things that happened in tech this year

From Sam Altman's olive oil "scandal" to Soham Parekh's viral moment, a lot of silly stuff has gone down in tech this year. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/nVJyNKB

The phone is dead. Long live . . . what exactly?

"We're not going to be using iPhones in 10 years," Callaghan says flatly. "I kind of don't think we'll be using them in five years." from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/LvIgzwx

Almost 80 European deep tech university spinouts reached $1B valuations or $100M in revenue in 2025

According to Dealroom’s European Spinout Report 2025, 76 European deep tech and life sciences spinouts have either reached $1 billion valuations, $100 million in revenue, or both. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/PAzV2fe

How to make your startup stand out in a crowded market, according to investors

Investors on what they really want to hear in a founder's pitch. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/vCdut1o

Social media follower counts have never mattered less, creator economy execs say

“I think that 2025 was the year where the algorithm completely took over, so followings stopped mattering entirely,” LTK CEO Amber Venz Box said. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/BcD2HUW

2025 was the year AI got a vibe check

AI’s early-2025 spending spree featured massive raises and trillion-dollar infrastructure promises. By year’s end, hype gave way to a vibe check, with growing scrutiny over sustainability, safety, and business models. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/p8xmWfh

Plaud Note Pro is an excellent AI-powered recorder that I carry everywhere

Plaud Note Pro is a $179 notetaker, which is an excellent recording device first from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/wtbZxUJ

Police charge driver who allegedly killed a pedestrian while livestreaming on TikTok

Local police said they have charged an Illinois driver who struck and killed a pedestrian while she was livestreaming on TikTok. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/SvkrZIE

You may soon be able to change your Gmail address

Good news for anyone tired of or embarrassed by their current Gmail address. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/MswXgCU

A guide to choosing the right Apple Watch

The gap between Apple's standard and budget smart watches has never felt smaller.  from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/bVDgFdr

Why WeTransfer co-founder is building another file transfer service

WeTransfer co-founder Nalden has a new file transfer service that users can use without logging in. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/SyDqek2

FaZe Clan’s future is uncertain after influencers depart

Six influencers recently announced that they are leaving esports group FaZe Clan following unsuccessful contract negotiations with new management. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/WzM9SJk

Trump administration seeks to deport hate speech researcher previously sued by X

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the U.S. Department of State from arresting or deporting Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/d5JEQRi

Investors share what to remember while raising a Series A

Investors share what founders should remember if looking to raise a Series A. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/FLMPfp9

Meet the team that investigates when journalists and activists get hacked with government spyware

For years, Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline has been aiding journalists and dissidents who have been targeted with government spyware. This is how they operate. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/TsuKIYQ

The 7 top space and defense tech startups from Disrupt Startup Battlefield 

Here is the full list of the space and defense tech Startup Battlefield 200 selectees, along with a note on what made us select them for the competition. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/OBHkWVj

How reality crushed Ÿnsect, the French startup that had raised over $600M for insect farming

French insect farming company Ÿnsect was recently placed into judicial liquidation for insolvency, despite raising over $600 million. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/hlBUxob

As people look for ways to make new friends, here are the apps promising to help

We've compiled a list of friendship apps, from friend discovery platforms like BFF to event-focused ones like Timeleft. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/cys50TO

What’s ahead for startups and VCs in 2026? Investors weigh in

VCs share their thoughts on what next year could bring to the market. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/vFqNOZa

Treat yourself: The best smart glasses to buy with your holiday gift money

Whether you’re looking to get a pair yourself or just want to explore what’s available on the market today, we’ve compiled a list of the most compelling pairs available. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/l15ka7q

The 9 top cybersecurity startups from Disrupt Startup Battlefield 

Here is the full list of the cybersecurity Startup Battlefield 200 selectees, along with a note on what made us select them for the competition. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/uRJt69q

These are the cybersecurity stories we were jealous of in 2025

The very best reporting and investigative journalism from our friends at other publications. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/DE1cR4z

How a Spanish virus brought Google to Málaga

Spanish entrepreneur Bernardo Quintero, whose company is at the root of Google's Málaga cybersecurity hub, identified the author of the computer virus that influenced his career. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/wCF0ZVs

The best distraction blockers to jumpstart your focus in the new year

Whether you need to limit social media scrolling or block off time to be productive, there are different tools that can help you stay on task from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/0URzAXy

Nvidia acquires AI chip challenger Groq for $20B, report says

With Groq on its side, Nvidia is poised to become even more dominant in chip manufacturing. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/inJEQwy

The year data centers went from backend to center stage

Data centers are no longer the boring tech issue they once were. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/dsERmot

The European startup market’s data doesn’t match its energy — yet

Europe's startup market hasn't produced meaningful numbers but there is reason to believe the data will start to change. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/3vPqK5x

ServiceNow to acquire cybersecurity startup Armis for $7.75B

The deal is expected to yield significant returns for Armis investors, including Sequoia, CapitalG, and Insight Partners. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/6Ci3VGm

Zoox issues software recall over lane crossings

The company has issued a software update to its autonomous driving system to fix its lane-crossing behavior. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/zJWpgxG

Hackers stole over $2.7B in crypto in 2025, data shows

This was another banner year for crypto hacks and heists — 2025 was the third year in a row that a new crypto theft record was set. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/vDXtMFb

Trump admin halts 6 GW of offshore wind leases again

The move is the latest attempt by the Trump administration to delay the construction of 6 gigawatts of offshore wind near a hotspot of data center development. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/e02zXhV

Paramount renews bid for Warner Bros, ensuring $40B Larry Ellison backing

It's the latest attempt by one major Hollywood superpower to acquire another. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/x7qlHND

CEO of SpaceX rival United Launch Alliance resigns

Tory Bruno's abrupt departure comes after 12 years in the role. The company, a Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture, has had to fight to keep pace with Elon Musk's SpaceX. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/kBqxADX

ChatGPT: Everything you need to know about the AI-powered chatbot

A timeline of ChatGPT product updates and releases, starting with the latest, which we’ve been updating throughout the year. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/zuHfFAI

TikTok Shop launches digital gift cards to challenge Amazon and eBay

TikTok Shop has rolled out a new feature that allows users to purchase digital gift cards, making it easier to help friends and family buy from the millions of products on the app. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/8DPZetM

A rough week for hardware companies

iRobot, Luminar, and Rad Power Bikes were very different companies, but they faced some similar challenges. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/lkmT3aC

Google and Apple reportedly warn employees on visas to avoid international travel

Law firms representing Google and Apple have reportedly warned that employees who need a visa stamp to re-enter the United States should avoid leaving the country due to longer-than-usual visa processing times. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/AY8Dk3u

‘It felt so wrong’: Colin Angle on iRobot, the FTC, and the Amazon deal that never was

The iRobot founder opens up about the 18-month regulatory process that he says doomed the Roomba maker -- and what it means for American innovation. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/DC92VOE

OpenAI allows users to directly adjust ChatGPT’s enthusiasm level

ChatGPT users can now tweak the chatbot’s warmth, enthusiasm, and emoji use. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/gLhVG0K

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signs RAISE Act to regulate AI safety

The bill will require large AI developers to publish information about their safety protocols and report safety incidents to the state within 72 hours. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/6hEudWr

From Roombas to e-bikes, why are hardware startups going bankrupt? 

The hardware world had a brutal week, with iRobot, Luminar, and Rad Power Bikes all filing for bankruptcy.  Each company faces its own mix of tariff pressures, supply chain issues, and shifting markets, but together they tell a larger story about the challenges of building physical products in an era of global trade tensions and cheap overseas competition. From […] from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/rYO0N8D

OpenAI adds new teen safety rules to ChatGPT as lawmakers weigh AI standards for minors

OpenAI updated its guidelines for how its AI models should behave with users under 18, and published new AI literacy resources for teens and parents. Still, questions remain about how well policies translate into practice. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/2OuePMN

ChatGPT’s mobile app hits new milestone of $3B in consumer spending

ChatGPT has reached $3B in lifetime mobile consumer spending in just 31 months, faster than TikTok and major streaming apps. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/aSje0IP

LinkedIn’s profile verification push is accelerating — and India is leading the charge in 2025

LinkedIn profile verification adoption in India has risen about 80% in the past 12 months. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/wDC3FcE

These 21-year-old dropouts raised $2M to build Givefront, a fintech for nonprofits

YC-backed Givefront is building a fintech designed specifically for nonprofits, including food banks, churches, and homeowner associations. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/XuWfhaE

Cisco says Chinese hackers are exploiting its customers with a new zero-day

Cisco said it discovered a Chinese hacking campaign targeting its customers by exploiting a zero-day in some of the company's most popular products. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/7d6t4MD

Amazon appoints longtime AWS exec Peter DeSantis to lead new AI org

DeSantis has spent 27 years at Amazon, including eight years as an SVP for AWS, the cloud provider that powers about one-third of the internet. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/kUicRNd

Google tests an email-based productivity assistant

Google's new email-based assistant will be available to AI Pro and Ultra plan users over the age of 18 in North America. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/rZqMs1U

Gift guide: TechCrunch’s favorite things

As tech journalists we have a lot of opinions. So if we really like something, it's probably good! from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/9edNG31

Threads adds new communities, tests badges for highly engaged members

Threads, which has more than 150 million daily active users, adds more communities to its platform. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/hM12epZ

How iRobot lost its way home

iRobot survived three decades of competition, but couldn't survive European regulators killing its Amazon buyout. Now it's being taken over by its own supplier in bankruptcy court. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/n8o2SIL

WhatsApp’s biggest market is becoming its toughest test

Meta has three months to comply with Indian government directions that could affect how WhatsApp operates in the country. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/9uUCh2j

Grok got crucial facts wrong about Bondi Beach shooting

Grok, the chatbot built by Elon Musk’s xAI and popularized on his social media platform X, appears to have repeatedly spread misinformation about today’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Australia. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/CoVX64r

Mesa shuts down credit card that rewarded cardholders for paying their mortgages

Fintech startup Mesa has shut down its Homeowners Card, which awarded points to cardholders for paying their mortgages. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/p6Dtgil

TechCrunch Mobility: Rivian’s survival plan involves more than cars

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/sDnEorh

India’s Spinny lines up $160M funding to acquire GoMechanic, sources say

Spinny is set to be valued at about $1.8 billion post-money in its latest funding round. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/ibrAO0s

DoorDash driver faces felony charges after allegedly spraying customers’ food

A woman is facing felony charges in Evansville, Indiana over a DoorDash delivery in which she allegedly sprayed the food with a substance that made the customers vomit. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/aLq8isW

AI data center boom could be bad news for other infrastructure projects

Improvements to roads, bridges, and other infrastructure could take a hit as data center construction accelerates. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/JaI8FQf

OK, what’s going on with LinkedIn’s algo?

Women ran an experiment to see if LinkedIn's new algo was being sexist and thought they proved it. But there's more complexity involved, experts say. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/XZSQ06K

Netflix is showing Hollywood what happens when a startup grows up 

A baby was born in a Waymo this week, and it wasn’t even the first one.  What started as a novelty story quickly became a reminder of how autonomous vehicles have quietly become part of everyday life, complete with all the messiness that entails. The real coming-of-age story this week, however, wasn’t happening in San Francisco’s robotaxis. It was playing out in […] from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/QnNzTdG

Rivian’s AI assistant is coming to its EVs in early 2026 

And when it does, the AI assistant will roll out to every existing EV in its lineup, not just the next-generation versions of its R1T truck and R1S SUV.  from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/Bz3GVHx

YouTube TV to launch genre-based subscription plans in 2026

The new packages will give consumers more flexibility over the content that they want to pay for. YouTube notes that users will still get access to popular features like unlimited DVR, multiview, key plays, and fantasy view. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/yXC7Ihu

Reddit is testing verification badges

Verified users will actually be notable figures, not just people who paid for the checkmark. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/PtNngwO

Truecaller now lets users protect households from scam calls

Truecaller's Family Protection will be rolled out widely in the first quarter of 2026. The new feature lets up to five people join a family group overseen by one member who acts as the administrator and manages scam-blocking settings for the others. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/WSThVOd

NASA and USPS stop using Canoo EVs despite CEO’s pledged support

Canoo's CEO bought the bankrupt startup's assets in April and told the court his "principal motivation" was supporting these programs. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/E7lpBKr

Environmental groups call for halt to new data center construction

More than 230 organizations signed a public letter urging members of Congress to take action. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/BMYFXtl

Claude Code is coming to Slack, and that’s a bigger deal than it sounds

Anthropic launches Claude Code in Slack, letting developers delegate coding tasks from chat threads. It's part of a shift toward AI-embedded collaboration that could reshape software workflows. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/FtKhgH1

You can buy your Instacart groceries without leaving ChatGPT

Shoppers will be able to go from recipe planning to checkout within the ChatGPT window. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/5b2qpSQ

Hinge’s new AI feature helps daters move beyond boring small talk

Hinge launched “Convo Starters,” a feature powered by AI that provides personalized tips for initiating meaningful conversations.  from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/14l0NYL

OpenAI boasts enterprise win days after internal ‘code red’ on Google threat

ChatGPT Enterprise usage grew 8x year-over-year as workers report saving an hour daily, but OpenAI faces competitive pressure from Anthropic and questions about cost sustainability. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/ZCIQf9n

Netflix co-CEO reportedly discussed Warner Bros. deal with Trump

Will Netflix’s $82.7 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. get approval from federal regulators? While Paramount was assumed to be the frontrunner to acquire the storied movie studio thanks to CEO David Ellison’s connections to the Trump administration, new reporting in Bloomberg and The Hollywood Reporter suggests that Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos met with President […] from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/gYTuV0n

X deactivates European Commission’s ad account after the company was fined €120M

X has seemingly penalized the European Commission's account after the commission fined the company over blue checkmarks and ad transparency. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/OzEJwBD

Pat Gelsinger wants to save Moore’s Law, with a little help from the Feds

The company is aiming to produce its first silicon wafers by 2028 and have its first commercial system online by 2029. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/x4TY3ga

Meta reportedly delays mixed reality glasses until 2027

aMeta lready sells VR headsets and Ray-Ban smart glasses, but these new glasses sound a bit different. Their format factor would reportedly be similar to the Apple Vision Pro, with a puck-like power source. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/wF1HkE4

Is it time to ‘refound’ your startup?

Sometimes, founding a startup just once isn’t enough. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/kqvZldm

How would the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal reshape Hollywood?

It’s only been a day since Netflix announced an $82.7 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros., and the acquisition has already been described as sending Hollywood into “full-blown panic mode,” “possibly a death blow to theatrical filmmaking,” and maybe even “the end of Hollywood” itself. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/4AuMZVs

Meta acquires AI device startup Limitless

Limitless said it shares Meta's vision of bringing personal superintelligence to everyone. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/R57lXwB

ChatGPT’s user growth has slowed, report finds

ChatGPT's global monthly active users only grew by around 5% from August to November, while Gemini's users grew by about 30%. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/f9CenyD

AWS re:Invent was an all-in pitch for AI. Customers might not be ready.

AWS is releasing a lot of new AI tech but the cloud infrastructure giant's enterprise customers may not be ready for it yet. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/diAcXaP

Legal AI startup Harvey confirms $8B valuation

Harvey confirms a third enormous round of funding in 2025 that has skyrocketed its valuation. Again. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/P0RXD9z

Amazon’s new Kindle Scribe and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft launch on December 10

The new Kindle Scribe has a larger 11-inch glare-free display, is just 5.4 mm thick, and weighs only 400 g. It’s also 40% faster when writing or turning pages. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/zEh46H7

Company backed by Donald Trump Jr.’s firm nabs $620M government contract

Vulcan Elements, a rare-earth magnets startup, has secured a $620 million contract from the U.S. defense department. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/tUMiDus

Fintech firm Marquis alerts dozens of US banks and credit unions of a data breach after ransomware attack

Marquis said ransomware hackers stole reams of banking customer data, containing personal information and financial records, as well as Social Security numbers, belonging to hundreds of thousands of people. The number of affected people is expected to rise. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/LwK7BuO

Anthropic hires lawyers as it preps for IPO

Anthropic is reportedly prepping for an IPO that could come as early as 2026. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/tgAzVQ6

Android 16 adds AI notification summaries, new customization options, and more

The rollout of the new Android 16 features, which are first coming to Pixel devices, marks a new chapter in how Android updates work, as the company is shifting from a single yearly update to more frequent releases. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/E8DZyzX

AWS launches new Nova AI models and a service that gives customers more control

Amazon Web Services announced four new AI models within its Nova model family and a frontier model service. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/rUjo1H5

European cops shut down crypto mixing website that helped launder 1.3 billion euros

Europol announced the seizure of Cryptomixer’s official website, as well as 25 million euros and 12 terabytes of data from the mixer's service. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/80gFAIa

Festivitas lets you decorate your Apple devices with holiday lights and snow

This year, the whimsical holiday app comes to iPhone and adds a snow effect for Mac users. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/sv8t6fu