Last 24 hours to grab your +1 pass at 50% off to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
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Debates over AI consciousness are a trap
“Runaway” AI, “rogue” agents, and “autonomous” actors—the current rhetoric would have you believe that AI agents are not only awake and aware, but angry at their creators. Prominent tech leaders such as Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei, and Sam Altman push for regulation of these seemingly “superhuman” systems, while a separate faction, led by policy organizations…
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The Download: US immigration agencies’ AI videos, and inside the Vitalism movement
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. DHS is using Google and Adobe AI to make videos The news: The US Department of Homeland Security is using AI video generators from Google and Adobe to make and edit content shared…
How the sometimes-weird world of lifespan extension is gaining influence
For the last couple of years, I’ve been following the progress of a group of individuals who believe death is humanity’s “core problem.” Put simply, they say death is wrong—for everyone. They’ve even said it’s morally wrong. They established what they consider a new philosophy, and they called it Vitalism. Vitalism is more than a philosophy,…
How Sequoia-backed Ethos reached the public market while rivals fell short
The profitable life-insurance platform was one of the first major tech companies to test the 2026 public markets.
How to Build a High-Growth Company Without Silicon Valley’s Capital or Hype
Silicon Valley has become shorthand for success. But copying its playbook in places that don’t have the same assets is a fast track to failure.
The iPhone just had its best quarter ever
Growth in regions like China and India are credited with pushing Apple’s phone sales higher than ever.
Guys, I don’t think Tim Cook knows how to monetize AI
One intrepid Morgan Stanley analyst dared to ask how Apple will make money on its AI investments. The answer will not shock you.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI in talks to merge, according to reports
This merger would bring the Grok chatbot, Starlink satellites, and SpaceX rockets together under one corporation.
Amazon is reportedly in talks to invest $50 billion in OpenAI
If a deal materializes, it would mean Amazon is backing competing startups in the race for AI supremacy.