Zoom CEO Eric Yuan says AI will shorten our workweek
Zoom founder and CEO Eric Yuan believes AI assistants can ultimately shorten the work week. On stage at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 conference on Monday, Yuan spoke about the adoption of AI in his company’s video conferencing products. This includes a “digital twin” feature where an AI avatar speaks on your behalf. Yuan started using […]
Roelof Botha explains why Sequoia supports Sean Maguire after stepping down as COO
In an interview at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 on Monday, Roelof Botha, managing partner at Sequoia Capital, answered questions about fellow Sequoia partner Sean Maguire and McGuire’s controversial comments earlier this year in which he called Sequoia a believer in its partners’ “free speech” rights. In a July 4 post on X, Maguire attacked New York […]
Differences in red blood cells may have ‘hastened the extinction’ of our Neanderthal cousins, new study suggests
A deadly genetic incompatibility between Neanderthals and modern humans may have hastened the extinction of their ancient cousins, a new study suggests. Researchers have found that a different version of a gene related to red blood cell function may have caused fetuses in Neanderthal-human hybrid women to miscarry. When Neanderthals and early modern humans met […]
Strong by Form will showcase ultralight engineered wood at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Even before a building receives its first occupant, it has a huge carbon debt. According to the World Green Building Council, the materials and construction needed to construct buildings around the world account for 11% of the planet’s carbon emissions. Although experiments with high-rise wooden buildings have begun in some places and have recently reached […]
Mbodi shows how to train robots using AI agents at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Robots can be programmed to perform a variety of tasks, such as packing boxes or performing surgery. However, each individual movement or task requires a unique training process, making it difficult for robots to adapt to real-world scenarios. Mbodi wants to make training robots easier and faster with the help of AI agents. The company […]
Waymo co-CEO says ‘we will not tolerate’ robotaxi vandalism
Waymo is currently the leader in robotaxis in the United States, and because of that position, its vehicles have been targeted by vandals multiple times in the last year, most recently in Los Angeles over the weekend. On the sidelines of TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said the vandalism of Waymo’s robotaxi “will not […]
According to OpenAI, more than 1 million people consult ChatGPT every week about suicide.
OpenAI on Monday released new data showing how many of ChatGPT’s users are struggling with mental health issues and consulting the AI chatbot about it. The company says that in any given week, 0.15% of ChatGPT’s active users engage in “conversations that include clear signs of potential suicidal plans or intentions.” Considering ChatGPT has over […]
New claims of corporate espionage emerge from two highly regarded 401(k) management startups
From the very boring world of employee onboarding platforms and 401(k) management, another tantalizing allegation of corporate espionage has emerged. All year long, we’ve been following the ongoing battle between HR software giants Rippling and Deal. Both companies are currently embroiled in a lawsuit featuring planted moles and accusations of organized data theft. Now, as […]
COI Energy solves a challenge: Let businesses sell their unused power – catch it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
When powering large companies with multi-building campuses, the allocation system is outdated. Unlike homeowners who pay only for what they actually use, campuses purchase standard monthly capacity. Common sense dictates that this capacity should be based on your maximum usage needs. This is true even if the company consumes such maximum usage only rarely, such […]
Scientists warn that being mean to ChatGPT will improve accuracy, but you may regret it
Scientists have found that artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots may give you more accurate answers when you’re rude, but they warned against the potential harm of using demeaning language. In a new study published October 6 in the arXiv preprint database, scientists wanted to test whether politeness or rudeness makes a difference in the performance of […]