More than 100 new tech unicorns were minted in 2025 — here they are
With AI igniting an investor frenzy, every month, more startups obtain unicorn status. Using data from Crunchbase and PitchBook, TechCrunch tracked down the VC-backed startups that became unicorns in 2025. While most are AI-related, a surprising number are focused in other industries like satellite space companies Loft Orbital and blockchain-based trading site Kalshi. This list will be updated […]
Why Amazon acquired AI wearable Bee
Smart rings, smart screens, smart TVs, smart pins, smart… ice cube makers? Of course you wouldn’t. AI was everywhere at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, with companies big and small showing off how they’re bringing it to more devices. For Amazon, CES was an opportunity to show off its latest acquisition […]
Mark Zuckerberg says Meta will launch its own AI infrastructure initiative
When Meta released its capital expenditure forecast last year, the company revealed that it planned to invest significantly to increase its AI business capabilities. “We expect developing a cutting-edge AI infrastructure to be a core advantage in developing the best AI models and product experiences,” Meta CFO Susan Li said on an earnings call last […]
Anthropic’s new Cowork tool gives you Claude Code without the code
On Monday, Anthropic announced a new tool called Cowork, designed as a more accessible version of Claude Code. This new tool, built into the Claude desktop app, allows users to specify specific folders where Claude can read or modify files, and provides detailed instructions through a standard chat interface. The result is similar to a […]
President Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency plans to ignore health effects of air pollution
Since Ronald Reagan was president, the Environmental Protection Agency has added value to human life. If you think about it too long, it can get a little wild, but the end result is to provide a cost-benefit analysis of pollution control measures. Reducing pollution can extend human lifespans, so if the health benefits of reducing […]
Amazon announces 97% of its devices can support Alexa+
At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week, Amazon provided a little more insight into how it thinks its AI platform will compete in the real world. In other words, Amazon plans to take advantage of the wide footprint its devices already have in homes and the familiarity that consumers already have with […]
DNA from ancient viral infections aids embryo development, mouse study finds
A new study shows that a swath of DNA left in the mouse genome by an ancient viral infection is crucial for early development in the womb. The viral DNA turns on genes that give cells in early mouse embryos the potential to become almost any type of cell in the body, according to a […]
Metal compound identified as potential new antibiotic thanks to robot performing ‘click chemistry’
Iridium metal complexes are an unconventional but promising new antibiotic, a new study has found. The compound is one of more than 600 produced in a study published in Nature Communications in December. The researchers used robots to synthesize compounds, combining building blocks of metal and organic molecules to generate a huge chemical library in […]
Fintech company Betterment confirms data breach after hackers sent fake crypto fraud notifications to users
Automated investment platform Betterment admitted last week that hackers broke into some of its systems and accessed non-public personal information of many of its customers. In an email sent Monday and seen by TechCrunch, Betterment said hackers gained access to some company systems on Jan. 9 through a social engineering attack that involved a “third-party […]
Google’s Gemini powers Apple’s AI features such as Siri
It’s official. Apple has chosen to work with long-time partner Google to power AI capabilities such as Siri. “After careful evaluation, we determined that Google’s technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models, and we are excited about the innovative new experiences this will unlock for our users,” Apple and Google said in […]