Google DeepMind CEO is ‘surprised’ OpenAI is rushing forward with ads in ChatGPT
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis says the tech giant isn’t pressuring him to insert ads into the AI chatbot experience.
TC
OpenEvidence hits $12B valuation, with new round led by Thrive, DST
The medical info database has doubled in valuation since last raise in October, despite encroachment from model makers.
OpenAI aims to ship its first device in 2026, and it could be earbuds
The AI startup is on track to announce its first hardware device in the second half of this year, OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane said during an interview Davos.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 tickets now on sale: Lowest rates all year
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 tickets are officially on sale. Save up to $680 on your ticket and be among the first 500 registrants to score a +1 pass at 50% off. Don’t miss 10,000 tech leaders, founders, and VCs in San Francisco from Oct 13-15. Register before these one-time deals vanish.
ICE becomes one of the most-blocked accounts on Bluesky after its verification
ICE has been verified on Bluesky, and quickly becomes one of the top most-blocked accounts.
Netflix is rolling out a live voting feature
Netflix said it the feature will be available globally and it will tally votes in real-time
Looking ahead to 2026: What’s next for Startup Battlefield 200
See what to expect for Startup Battlefield 200 in 2026, the ultimate startup pitch competition on the global stage at TechCrunch Disrupt. Join the mailing list to be the first to know when applications drop.
Who gets to inherit the stars? A space ethicist on what we’re not talking about
While it’s easy to romanticize space as an escape to a pristine frontier where people will float weightlessly among the stars, it’s worth remembering there are no oceans or mountains or chirpy birds in space. It’s “not nice up there,” said Rubenstein. “It is not nice at all.”