6 days to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Save on your pass before doors open

In 6 days, 10,000+ people from across the global startup and tech ecosystem will come together at San Francisco’s Moscone West for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. If you’re planning to be one of them, don’t wait to register your ticket before prices increase …

Spotify expands audiobooks to over 180 markets

Spotify will make 350,000 titles available in over 120 languages for this expansion

Apple is reportedly partnering with LG to launch a smart lock, thermostat, and doorbell

Apple appears poised to push into the smart home market with a slate of new devices and a key partner.

Silicon Valley’s AI wunderkind launches Underdog, the most private Instinct/Muse competitor yet

Sigil Wen, backed by a Silicon Valley who’s who, has built an on-device AI assistant that promises to be free, fully private, and capable for everyday tasks.

The next hurdle for AI agents: getting websites to let them in

Personal AI agents promise to shop, book flights, and make reservations for you. But deliberate blocks and anti-bot defenses are getting in the way, leaving consumers caught in the middle. A new standard aims to help.

Anthropic is giving startups a free year of Claude Team and $1,000 in credits

“We created this program because we believe the benefits of AI will reach most people through the companies that build on top of models, rather than through the models alone.”

OpenAI will start watermarking ChatGPT’s text in the EU

OpenAI will watermark ChatGPT and Codex text in the EU to comply with the AI Act. Editing can make the invisible marks harder to detect, it says.

Etched fields funding offers at $40B+ valuation, sources say

Just a couple of months after its last big raise, the AI chip startup is already being plied with investment offers at double or more its current value, sources tell TechCrunch.

After Factory’s public spat with Khosla, Menlo proudly invests

Days after Vinod Khosla called Factory a struggling also-ran, Menlo has shown up with a check and a glowing blog post.

Sanders introduces bill to ban the federal government from using Flock

The proposed legislation would extend to all automotica license plate readers.