Startups

How AI guardrails are impeding the work of offensive cybersecurity researchers

We spoke with several cybersecurity researchers, who look for unknown vulnerabilities and develop tools to exploit them, about how OpenAIs and Anthropics guardrails affect their work.

Meet the judges who will crown Australias next breakout startup

TechCrunch Startup Battlefield is coming to Australia and we're partnering with Stripe to find the country's most exciting early-stage startups.

Mobileye CEO Amnon Shashua to step aside as company pushes into robotaxis, robotics

Shashua has been invited to take the chairman of the board seat.

AMD takes on Nvidia with its Helios AI rack-scale system

AMD is challenging its chipmaker rival with a new rack-scale system that will start shipping to customers later this year.

Patreon lays off off 20% of its workforce

In a memo to staff that was posted online, Conte the company's core business is strong, but that the platform has to respond to market changes and adjust its cost structure to remain stable.

Insurance startup Corgi reportedly raised more money at $4B its third round in eight weeks

Corgi had announced a B1 round of $106 million at a $2.6 billion valuation at the end of May.

Meta drops out of a major clean energy pact as its natural gas buildout accelerates

Meta has made significant investments in natural gas over the past year. Now it's dropping out of an industry renewable energy group.

Anthropic updates Claude voice mode with more capable models

Claude's new voice model will let you reschedule your meeting or draft an email.

AegisAI, founded by former Google security execs, lands $36M to stop AI-driven spear phishing

AegisAI co-founders developed AI agents that quickly analyze each message as a human would, paying attention to small anomalies that even the most elaborate checklist wouldnt catch.

US government says Iran-linked hackers are disrupting American water and energy providers

An updated government advisory warns that Iranian hackers are exploiting systems used by water and energy providers.

Runway launches AI model router as generative media gets crowded

The Media Router is a tool that automatically selects the best image, video, or audio generation model for a request based on whether a developer prioritizes quality, speed or cost.

OpenAI makes ChatGPT Health available to all US users

Users can also integrate their personal data from services like Apple Health, Function, and MyFitnessPal.

Teslas robotaxis are moving in reverse

The number of paid robotaxi miles traveled fell 36% in the second quarter, despite expanding to new cities, according to Tesla's own figures.

Meta launched a new AI optimism ad set to a song about human extinction

David Bowie's song Five Years, which Meta used in a supposedly inspiring advertisement, is about humans learning that they have five years left to live before the apocalypse.

Nvidia is sending GPUs to the moon

If there's a place in the universe without GPUs, Nvidia is sending them there.

Edtech platform raises $4.5M to help teach students how to vibe code

Imagi announced a $4.5 million seed round, with investors including Brighteye Ventures, Day One Capital, and artist Will.i.am.

AI chip startup Etched defies skeptics, hits $10.3B valuation from big-name investors

Etched, founded by three Harvard dropouts, has created new chips and memory components that speed up inference on any AI model -- no GPUs required, it says.

Googles Gemini nears billion-user milestone

Gemini had over 750 million monthly users in February.

Amazon is bringing games to Prime Video

Amazon is hoping the addition of games can turn Prime Video into a one-stop entertainment destination, borrowing a strategy from Netflix, which has increasingly embraced party games over the past several years.

MeBeMes new interrupter app helps you become your best self instead of doomscrolling

MeBeMe delivers small tasks to help users become their best selves instead of endlessly scrolling.

Your backstage pass to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is waiting

Volunteer at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 and get a behind-the-scenes look at how one of the world's biggest startup conferences gets built.

Ford bets on Apple for its next-generation of EVs

Ford is the first automaker to use a new set of developer tools that will let it embed Apple Maps navigation and mapping directly into its vehicles' infotainment systems.

After shocking quarter, IBM insists that AI isnt killing the mainframe

After IBM's stock crashed last week on warnings of poor mainframe sales, the CEO explained that AI wrecked corporate hardware budget, temporarily.

Google justifies its massive AI spending with a booming cloud business

Google's cloud business is thriving, as companies adopting its AI and AI infrastructure services help the tech giant to report record profits.

Treasury threatens sanctions after White House claims Moonshot distilled Anthropics Fable

The episode has also intensified a broader debate in Washington over the influx of Chinese open models.

Tesla spending skyrockets as Cybercab, Semi, Megapack production timeline slips

Tesla's 26% boost in revenue wasn't enough to offset rising operating expenses and capital expenditures as it pushes to launch a new generation of products.

Social media addiction lawsuit against Meta is dropped

A closely watched social media addiction lawsuit that had been set to go to trial next week has been dropped after the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed his claims against Meta, leaving none of the major tech companies facing trial in the case.

SoundCloud acquires decentralized music platform Nina Protocol months after its shutdown

SoundCloud has acquired decentralized music platform Nina Protocol, months after the startup announced it would shut down. The deal brings Ninas artists, editorial archive, and music discovery tools to SoundCloud as the company continues expanding its platform for independent musicians.

How OpenAIs human mistake led to the AI-powered hack on Hugging Face

OpenAI made a mistake setting up what it called a highly isolated testing environment and sandbox. According to cybersecurity experts, that human mistake is what made the AI-powered attack on Hugging Face possible.

Travis Kalanicks robotics company raises $1.7B, led by a16z

Uber is also investing in Travis Kalanick's company Atoms, which has made gauzy claims about using industrial AI to modernize the world.

Yope raises $12.3M to build a private social network without algorithms or ads

Yope, a fast-growing social app focused on private groups of friends and family, has raised $12.3 million in seed funding. Instead of chasing creators and algorithmic feeds, the startup is betting that the future of social networking lies in small, private communities powered by messaging, photo sharing, and AI features designed to strengthen real-world relationships.

Menlo Ventures Matt Murphy explains why Anthropic is winning (and its not the model)

Anthropicleaped toa$47 billionrevenue run rateby May,compared to$9 billionin 2025.Itsthe kind of growth thatMenlo VenturesMatt Murphysayshesnever seen in 25 years of investing, not in the internet wave, not in mobile, not in the first cloud boom. Menlo led Anthropics $500M Series D, and Murphy has had a front-row seat as the company went from a pre-revenue, []

Monday.com lays off hundreds to focus on AI

The company said it is reducing its headcount by 20%, or about 630 staff, to support a leaner, more focused operating model as it focuses on its AI Work Platform.

Google is making it easier to switch from iPhone to Android

The new feature lets users wirelessly transfer more data types from an iPhone without needing to download a separate app.

Arcee, a US open source AI lab, says Chinese models are not inherently dangerous

As Chinese AI models grow in capability and popularity among US companies, the arguing over what should be done about them has reached a fever pitch.

Substacks new tool tells you whos been writing their newsletters with AI

Substack is giving readers a way to estimate how much of a newsletter was written by AI, signaling a broader shift toward transparency around AI-assisted content.

OpenAIs AI spending spree has ballooned to $750B

OpenAI will spend the equivalent of Sweden's GDP on infrastructure through 2030.

If you pay a hackers ransom, chances are that theyll come back for more

The long-held understanding among security researchers and network defenders is that it's impossible to negotiate in good faith with an extortion racket because there's no incentive for the other side to actually walk away.

The browser wars arent about search anymore here are the best alternatives to Chrome and Safari

Weve compiled an overview of some of the top alternative browsers available today aiming to challenge Chrome and Safari.

WhatsApp adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto upgrades, iPad sign-ups, and more

WhatsApp on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will let users hear and reply to messages, make calls, view their call history, and access favorite contacts hands-free and right from their car's screen.

Passionfroot raises $15M to expand its B2B creator marketplace to the US

Passionfroot, a German startup building a marketplace connecting B2B creators with brands, has raised $15M in a Series A round led by Insight Partners.

Glow emerges from stealth at $1.2B valuation to challenge endpoint security in the AI era

Glow is targeting a new class of endpoint risks created by the rapid adoption of AI agents and developer tools inside enterprises.

Synthesias AI training platform is moving beyond videos into live coaching

Synthesia launched AI Roleplay Sessions, an interactive enterprise training platform where employees practice workplace conversations with AI avatars that provide feedback, scoring, and analytics to help companies measure training effectiveness.

The Anthropic-Physical Intelligence rumor roiling AI Twitter

Anthropic and OpenAI's aggressive 2026 acquisition sprees set the stage for a weekend rumor.

Dimension Capitals $800M third fund shows the intersection of science and compute is booming

The four-year-old firm's latest fund is 60% larger than its second vehicle announced 18 months ago.

These are the countries moving to ban social media for children

Australia was the first country to issue a ban in late 2025, aiming to reduce the pressures and risks that young users may face on social media, including cyberbullying, social media addiction, and exposure to predators.

Jack Dorsey is taking on Slack with Buzz, a group chat platform for teams and their AI agents

Buzz is a group chat platform for the workplace that puts humans and their AI agents in the same conversation.

AI and the rise of the universal entertainment app

Over the past decade, streaming platforms competed by dominating individual formats like music, video, podcasts, or audiobooks. Now, as AI makes it easier to create, organize, and recommend content, those distinctions are fading, pushing companies like Spotify, Netflix, YouTube, and TikTok to become all-purpose entertainment destinations instead.

Bucking EV slowdown, Sila raises $300M to expand battery materials factory

Sila's fresh $300 million round will help it make enough of its silicon-carbon anode material to power more than 100,000 EVs.

Einride bets $38M on EV charging as it scales electric trucking

The acquisition Einride's first as a publicly traded company will expand its EV-charging ecosystem as it works to scale its electric trucking business.

Apple teams up with Klarna to launch a lease-to-own program for iPhones, iPads, and Macs

The new leasing program is a big change for the hardware company, and comes as it looks to raise prices on many of its products.

Data centers expected to use 4x more electricity by 2035

New data centers built through 2033 could consume as much electricity as India uses today.

Tesla spins up robotaxi pilots in Orlando and Tampa ahead of Q2 earnings

The company didn't say how many are in each city, and has taken a far more cautious approach to scaling the network than CEO Elon Musk had promised.

Google releases three new Gemini models but no 3.5 Pro

Google released Gemini 3.6 Flash, 3.5 Flash-Lite, and Flash Cyber, but the continued absence of Gemini 3.5 Pro raises fresh questions about its AI strategy.

Threads rolls out parental supervision tools

With the new tools, parents and guardians will be able to view their teen's time spent on Threads, set daily time limits, adjust sleep mode, and manage their privacy settings.

US threatens sanctions against Chinese AI models over IP theft

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. could sanction Chinese open AI models over alleged IP theft, expanding the Trump administration's campaign to slow China's AI advances.

Light made a flip phone its colorful and its cheap

Light co-founder Kaiwei Tang helped create the Motorola Razr, and he's as surprised as anyone that over 20 years later, the flip phone is relevant again.

After TikTok, Snap settles social media addiction case

TikTok recently settled its portion of the case with the plaintiff ahead of a jury trial that starts next week in Los Angeles. YouTube has also reached a deal, leaving Meta as the only remaining defendant.

AI music generator Suno breach affects 55M users, per Have I Been Pwned

A hacker took names, phone numbers, and physical addresses of millions of customers who used AI music generator Suno.

What to know about the landmark Warner Bros.Discovery sale

Learn more about Paramount's planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery a historic Hollywood megadeal valued at $111 billion as it continues to develop.

UK government scraps plans for digital ID cards after millions of Brits opposed

The new U.K. government scrapped a digital ID program that millions of British people opposed, in place of a tax cut to tackle the cost of living.

The Xteink X4 Pro could be the tiny e-reader of your dreams

Xteink makes its pocket-sized e-reader even better with a touchscreen and front light.

Bluecore Energy raises $10M to build portable nuclear reactors on barges

Maritime nuclear energy startup Bluecore Energy has raised $10 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Slauson & Co.

Gritt exits stealth with $34 million for robots to build solar plantsthen, everything else

Gritt is coming out of stealth with $34 million and plan to automate the hardest tasks on construction sites.

Anthropics landmark $1.5B copyright settlement is approved

The final approval settles one case, but it doesn't resolve the broader issue of using copyrighted works to train AI models.

Colossal Biosciences reportedly in talks to raise new capital at $20B$30B valuation

The de-extinction startup is looking to double or triple its previous valuation, according to the report.

Trumps latest AI czar has already resigned

The director role for the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) has become a revolving door since David Sacks left his position as czar.

Google is working on a new AI chip designed to make Gemini more efficient

Alphabet, Google's parent company, is reportedly working on a new chip designed to make its Gemini models run much more efficiently.

AIs most important protocol is getting a little bit easier to use

Under the new system, the protocol will take a looser, stateless approach to session IDs on the server side, similar to how most ordinary websites already work.

X relaunches a rebuilt Android app after year-long effort

X says the rebuilt version of its Android app is now available globally.

Natural raises $30M to reinvent payments for AI agents and take on Stripe

The one-year-old startup aims to reinvent financial architecture for autonomous AI transactions.

Judge pauses$110B Paramount-Warner Bros merger

The lawsuit from the states alleges that the deal would harm movie theaters, basic cable distributors, and audiences.

Hugging Face confirms breach affected internal datasets and credentials, urges users to take action

Hugging Face is urging users to rotate any access tokens stored on the platform and review account activity.

AvenuesAI Subsidiary Rediff Pre-Files DRHP

AvenuesAIs (formerly Infibeam Ventures) subsidiary Rediff has filed its IPO papers via the confidential route with SEBI. Rediff.com India Limited,

Xovian Aerospace Raises $2 Mn To Launch RF Satellite

Spacetech startup Xovian Aerospace has secured $2 Mn (about 18.7 Cr) in a fresh funding round led by ace investor

SIP Investing Guide: Young Professionals Aged 21-35 Earning 20K-75K Monthly

AMFI-registered mutual fund distributor's SIP guide: 21-35 yr olds 20K-75K. SEBI-compliant education on categories, allocation, step-up strategy. The post SIP Investing Guide: Young Professionals Aged 21-35 Earning 20K-75K Monthly appeared first on Startup Success Stories India - News & Updates for Indian Entrepreneurs .

NODWINs Pre-IPO Round, Funding Tanks In Q1 2026 & More

NODWINs Pre-IPO Funding Meal NODWIN Gaming is moving beyond gaming and esports. Emerging from the shadows of its former parent