OpenAI asks Trump administration to expand Chip Act tax credits for data centers
A recent letter from OpenAI provides further details about how the company hopes the federal government can support its ambitious plans to build data centers. The letter, from Chris Lehane, chief global affairs officer at OpenAI, to Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, argues that the government should […]
How startups can attract top talent equitably without a big tech bank account
Start-ups couldn’t offer the same high salaries as big tech companies. Now, with companies like Meta and OpenAI willing to pay multi-million dollar salaries in the midst of the AI race, the compensation gap has become even wider. However, early-stage startups are not doomed. Founders and experts speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 say creating a […]
Rivian gives RJ Scaringe new salary package worth up to $5 billion
Rivian is giving founder and CEO RJ Scaringe a new performance-based stock award that could ultimately be worth about $5 billion if all underlying goals are met, according to a new filing. Mr. Scaringe’s salary also doubled to $2 million a year, and he was also given a 10% stake in Mr. Rivian’s latest spinout, […]
Seven more families are suing OpenAI over ChatGPT’s role in suicide and delusions
On Thursday, seven families filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that the company’s GPT-4o model was released prematurely and without effective safeguards in place. Four of the lawsuits allege that ChatGPT was involved in a family member’s suicide, and three others allege that ChatGPT fostered harmful delusions and, in some cases, led to inpatient psychiatric […]
GoWish shopping and wish list app has its biggest year yet
Recession fears haven’t hurt wishlist and shopping app GoWish, which is posting record numbers heading into the 2025 holiday season. The app, which has more than 13.6 million registered users, had its best day of the week, taking the No. 2 spot in the U.S. App Store on Monday. GoWish saw similar hiring trends last […]
I tried Apple’s crossbody strap. It’s convenient, but if you remove the strap, it looks tacky.
With the launch of the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and Air in September, Apple also introduced its first crossbody strap. This allows you to wear your iPhone the same way you would carry a small shoulder bag, with the strap draped diagonally across your body. This $59 accessory has received mixed reviews so far, with […]
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 Startup Battlefield 200: Celebrating outstanding achievements
This year’s TechCrunch Disrupt showcased the incredible talent and groundbreaking ideas of 2025’s Battlefield 200 startups. From thousands of applications, we selected the 200 most promising startups that are bringing unique innovation to their respective industries. The competition culminated in an impactful event where these startups had the opportunity to pitch and demonstrate their solutions […]
Congressional Budget Office admits it was hacked
The US Congressional Budget Office has admitted that it was hacked. CBO spokesperson Caitlin Emma told TechCrunch on Friday that the agency is investigating the breach and has “identified the security incident, took immediate action to contain it, and implemented additional monitoring and new security controls to further protect the agency’s systems going forward.” The […]
Amazon launches low-cost standalone shopping app Amazon Bazaar in more than a dozen markets
On Friday, Amazon announced the debut of Amazon Bazaar, a new low-cost shopping destination for Asia, Africa, and Latin America, available separately from the main Amazon shopping app. At the bazaar, retailers say most items can be purchased for less than $10, with some items costing as little as $2. This product selection is currently […]
One founder plans to save cities from flooding with terraforming robots
Parts of San Rafael, a city just north of San Francisco, are sinking about half an inch a year. That may not sound like a big deal, but it means some areas, such as the canal district bordering the bay, have sunk by three feet, increasing the risk of flooding from rising sea levels. It’s […]