Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril Industries, recently introduced a novel recruitment initiative called the AI Grand Prix. This competition involves drones that fly autonomously, directing the spotlight onto participants’ software-development skills rather than piloting abilities. In this contest, competitors will write code that enables these drones to outperform one another. The event boasts enticing incentives, […]
The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos this year had a noticeably different atmosphere, primarily due to the overwhelming presence of artificial intelligence (AI) in discussions. Traditional subjects like climate change and global poverty took a backseat as CEOs at the forum voiced their opinions on AI’s future and its implications. High-profile leaders from […]
The AI industry began 2025 on a strong note, building on the momentum established in 2024, where 49 startups in the U.S. secured funding rounds exceeding $100 million. Notably, three companies attracted multiple mega-rounds, and seven achieved funding of $1 billion or more. In 2025, although fewer companies surpassed the $1 billion threshold, there was […]
Although renowned founders like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg didn’t complete their college education, research underscores that most successful startups are led by founders with at least a bachelor’s or graduate degree. Interestingly, despite this evidence, the allure of "dropout" founders remains strong, particularly in the context of recent AI advancements. This phenomenon […]
India’s startup ecosystem faced significant transformations in 2025, with funding reaching nearly $11 billion. However, investors adopted a more selective approach, leading to a notable decrease in the number of funding rounds—down nearly 39% from the previous year to 1,518 deals, according to data from Tracxn. Despite the total funding dropping by just over 17% […]
The TechCrunch Equity podcast team is looking ahead to 2026 by reflecting on the significant developments of 2025 in their latest episode. Hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, Rebecca Bellan, and Build Mode host Isabelle Johannessen come together to share their insights and predictions for the upcoming year. The discussion touches on a range of topics, […]
ChatGPT users now have the ability to customize the chatbot’s tone, including its warmth, enthusiasm, and use of emojis. This feature was announced by OpenAI via a social media post, indicating that these adjustments can be made through the Personalization menu, where users can select settings for More, Less, or Default. This new capability adds […]
Cursor has announced the acquisition of Graphite, a startup specializing in AI-based code review and debugging. Although the financial details of the transaction were not made public, Axios reported that the acquisition price significantly exceeded Graphite’s last valuation of $290 million, determined during a $52 million Series B funding round earlier this year. The merger […]
1X, a robotics company, has announced a significant partnership to distribute its humanoid robots, originally designed for home use, into industrial settings. The agreement will see up to 10,000 of its Neo humanoid robots shipped to over 300 portfolio companies of EQT, a Swedish multi-asset investor, from 2026 to 2030. This strategic move marks a […]
Cashew Research is targeting the $90 billion market research industry with an innovative approach that leverages AI technology. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Cashew aims to simplify and accelerate the process of gathering market insights, allowing brands to understand their positioning and the effectiveness of their marketing messages more efficiently. The company has developed a platform […]