5 Business Technology Trends Leaders Can’t Ignore in 2026
AI is no longer about pilots and promise. Leaders must focus on execution, using agentic AI, smart automation and disciplined cloud and security strategies to deliver business value.
The Download: failed social media bans, and extending pets’ lives
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. Kids are outsmarting social media bans. That’s not a problem we need to solve. —Michal Luria, Aliya Bhatia, and Danah Boyd Social media bans are stacking up. In July, France joined…
TopTechTrends
DoorDash Just Spent $1.2 Billion to Take On OpenTable. Here’s Why the ‘Reservation Wars’ Matter for Restaurant Owners
The delivery giant acquired SevenRooms to compete with the industry leader that controls reservations for 60,000 restaurants.
OpenClaw creator’s advice to AI builders is to be more playful and allow yourself time to improve
Peter Steinberger talks about the creation of his viral AI agent OpenClaw and how being more “playful” makes for a better way to learn AI coding.
60% of American Teens Say AI Cheating Is Now ‘Normal’ at Their School
The latest Pew study reveals that nearly six in ten teenagers report that classmates routinely cheat with AI tools.
How to Balance Passion and Practicality When Exploring a Business Opportunity
Passion can work for or against you in a business model. Your goal? Make it work for you.
Uber CEO Says He Expects Employees to Answer His Emails on Weekends ‘Immediately’ — or Else Risk Getting ‘Pushed Out’
It doesn’t matter if you’re studying computer science or literature — there’s one skill that Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi prioritizes above the rest.
Have hard-won scaling lessons to share? Take the stage at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026
Apply to speak at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 by April 17 for a chance to lead a roundtable or breakout session for 1,000 founders and investors. If you’ve built, backed, or operated inside high-growth startups, your experience could shape how the next wave of founders scales.
About 12% of U.S. teens turn to AI for emotional support or advice
General purpose tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok are not designed for this use, making mental health professionals wary.
Americans now listen to podcasts more often than talk radio, study shows
Recent findings also show that video podcasting — while popular — is not necessarily replacing audio shows.
Lamborghini Pulls the Plug On Its $500,000 Electric Supercar Because It’s Not Noisy Enough
The Italian supercar maker said acceptance of the EV was “close to zero,” and will focus entirely on hybrid models that deliver engine noise.