Groupthink boom: What three top VCs really think about the AI craze
At TechCrunch’s StrictlyVC event in Athens this week (part of the city’s ongoing Panatenea Festival), I spoke with Niko Bonatsos of Verdict Capital, Andreas Stavropoulos of Threshold Ventures, and Ben of Aomico. We spoke with Blume about the current state of venture investing, the wave of huge IPOs SpaceX is about to embark on, and […]
As the browser wars heat up, here are the hottest alternatives to Chrome and Safari in 2026
The web browser market is currently dominated by Google Chrome and Apple’s Safari, with Chrome gaining a larger share thanks to the tech giant’s continued innovations, especially the integration of generative AI into its search functionality. However, users looking for alternatives will find a variety of browsers aimed at competing with these industry giants. To […]
TikTok’s path to becoming a super app
TikTok is widely described as a social media giant, but it is gradually surpassing that category. Over time, the video app added a TikTok shop, maps for local discovery, powerful search, games, and more. Currently, it has recently added a hotel reservation function and is aiming to obtain a fintech license. TikTok appears to be […]
I went to the so-called ‘steroid Olympics,’ to understand why Silicon Valley is obsessed with peptides
I am sitting in the sweltering Nevada heat watching a man struggle to lift a bar over his head. If the man manages to do it, he will win $250,000. The man is Boady Santavy — a two-time Olympic weight-lifting contestant from Canada — and he has muscles that look culled from the Marvel Cinematic Universe: […]
Programmers are refusing to work without AI — and it could hurt them
In 2026, researchers discovered that AI coding tools cannot be pried out of developers’ vises. But other researchers warn that while AI is definitely helping programmers write faster code, it may not be making them write better code. And that can cause problems for them in the future. Specifically, in February 2026, the acclaimed AI […]
AI chip startup Groq reportedly raises $650 million after Nvidia’s $20 billion non-acquisition
Groq is focusing on its inference neocloud business, which relies on homegrown AI chips and systems, and is seeking to raise $650 million in new funding from existing investors, sources told Axios. In December, Groq reportedly inked one of its non-acquisition deals with Nvidia for $20 billion, which included the departure of some of Groq’s […]
Microsoft accused of threatening security researchers with criminal investigation
The company is now threatening to take legal action and call the police after security researchers published a series of unpatched bugs in Microsoft products and code to exploit them. Microsoft’s veiled threat reignites a long-standing debate over what liability security researchers should bear if they are required to disclose vulnerabilities that affect large and […]
Cognition’s Scott Wu says AI coding agents should not replace humans
Cognition CEO Scott Wu made headlines again this week after his two-year-old AI coding agency startup raised $1 billion at a $26 billion valuation. Cognition is the developer of Devin, one of the first and perhaps most successful AI coding agents. “Naturally, we own the task end-to-end,” says CEO Devin. In fact, in the blog […]
Today is the last day to apply to speak at Disrupt 2026
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will be held October 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco. Applications for presentations will be accepted for the next few hours. We invite founders, investors, executives, and technology experts to apply for a chance to speak at one of the most influential technology events of the year. Disrupt 2026 brings together […]
Last 24 hours to save up to $410 on Disrupt 2026 tickets.
This one. The countdown is almost over. Before the price increases, you have until 11:59 PM PT tonight to lock in up to $410 in early bird discounts for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. If Disrupt is on your mandatory participation list, this is your last chance to secure the lowest available rate before the next price […]