TechCrunch

On Equity, we unpacked what the midterms mean for the tech industry.

A memo circulated earlier this year reportedly claimed that China’s Ministry of State Security recruited a female technology executive to spy on Nvidia’s CEO.

The announcement comes barely more than a week after hackers stole $6.3 billion worth of cryptocurrency from Binance users.

Amazon’s redesigned basic Kindle costs more than before, but its lighter build and improved display make a compelling case for skipping the pricier models.

Sequoia pioneered the scouts model and many VC firms followed suit, but a consensus now seems to be forming that the model has reached limits in its current form.

After spending two years getting cozy with the White House, Big Tech is suddenly trying to make friends with Democrats, and the open question is whether that image makeover can hold up against what states, local communities, and the markets are about to do.

The deal highlights the challenges of developing massive AI data centers.

OpenAI has reportedly raised an additional $11 billion as part of a funding round that hasn’t closed yet but is expected to in the coming weeks.

There are now 100K Duo-optimized apps, says Apple, and thousands more arrive daily.

Security researchers found hundreds of servers hosting the penetration testing tool Artex exposed to the internet, allowing anyone access to the hacking tool.

Meta’s Muse agents continue to get new features and integrations. Spaces promises to be a new way to interact with the AI helpers.

Democrats’ historic victories in this week’s U.S. midterm elections could also transform the tech industry. The public voted on 41 data center-related ballot measures on Tuesday — in all but one, the majority voted to impose more restrictions on data center development. And even when data centers weren’t on the ballot directly, they were a … Read more

The Pentagon has conditionally approved a $250 million loan to help 6K scale up its microwave-plasma battery material manufacturing process.

A few months after DOJ investigators were probing the deal, Fox just completed its $22B acquisition of the streaming giant Roku.

AI usage keeps climbing, but spending has stalled. Price cuts and smarter cost controls among the biggest spenders could challenge investor assumptions about AI hypergrowth.

Amazon said that the feature will roll out to millions of users in coming weeks.

Despite its small size, Underdog’s new model can generate both speech and music.

Physicl is trying to solve the sim-to-real gap with a pipeline originally built to market goods online.

Elon Musk said the company will use the factory space to make more Cybercabs.

The concerns range from privacy to how data is shared (and with whom) to procurement concerns. 

Clutch, backed by Lightspeed and SignalFire, was last valued at $85 million, according to a source.

Letterboxd, an online platform for movie lovers, has grown dramatically in recent years.

If it goes into effect next year, this California law would restrict social media access for children under 16.

Airbnb says its upcoming AI agent will help travelers plan trips, compare options, manage bookings, and get assistance throughout their stay.

Serve Robotics announced alonsgside its third-quarter earnings that it will launch a new business line called Physical AI Services to offer customers its connectivity and data tools.

Meta’s AI agent can now take calls as a customizable animated avatar, ahead of the launch of a Tamagotchi-like wearable designed to bring Muse to life.

Meta warns that growing political opposition to data centers could threaten future AI investments, as communities push back against massive infrastructure projects.

OpenAI’s newest cybersecurity model comes out as AI labs face scrutiny of their work to protect digital infrastructure.

A joint U.S. government statement says the hacks are affecting the food, transportation, and healthcare industries after reports of global mass hacks.

OpenAI president Greg Brockman says the company could be ready to go public in 2027, pointing to accelerating enterprise revenue and a turnaround in its business.