A Google Engineer Used Confidential Search Data to Win $1.2 Million on Polymarket, Feds Say — His Best Bet Involved an Alleged Killer - Top Tech Trends

A Google Engineer Used Confidential Search Data to Win $1.2 Million on Polymarket, Feds Say — His Best Bet Involved an Alleged Killer

May 29, 2026

Michele Spagnuolo allegedly used internal data to bet on accused killer D4vd becoming Google’s most-searched person of 2025.

A Blue Origin Rocket Blew Up on the Launchpad — Jeff Bezos Called It a ‘Very Rough Day’

May 29, 2026

No one was injured in the explosion, but the fireball destroyed Blue Origin’s only launchpad and could impede NASA’s moon missions.

The ‘World’s Richest Restaurateur’ Snapped Up Iconic Vegas Casino Caesars Entertainment for $17.6 Billion

May 29, 2026

Tilman Fertitta already owns Landry’s, the Houston Rockets, and the Golden Nugget casinos. Now he’s adding Caesars to his empire.

Today is the last day to apply to speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

May 29, 2026

Submit your session topic before today ends for a chance to speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Apply now to share your insight and help shape the conversations defining the tech industry.

Final 24 hours to save up to $410 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 ticket

May 29, 2026

You now have until tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT to lock in Early Bird savings of up to $410 for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 before prices increase. Join 10,000+ tech leaders in October for one of the most anticipated tech events of the year. Register now.

6 Data-Driven Practices That Separate High-Performing Companies From Everyone Else

May 29, 2026

Being data-driven isn’t about having the best tools — it’s about leaders acting on the right signals quickly and consistently.

I Never Ask My Team to Change — I Ask Them to Grow. Here’s Why It Works.

May 29, 2026

Don’t ask your team to change; ask them to grow. Here’s the difference — and how it helps us scale while maintaining culture.

The New Claude Opus 4.8 Just Dropped — It Was Trained to Be More ‘Honest’ and Stop ‘Jumping to Conclusions’

May 29, 2026

The company says the latest version of its flagship AI model knows to admit when it doesn’t know something and stops making unsupported claims.

The Lowest-Cost Player Doesn’t Always Win — A Market Lesson From Batteries

May 29, 2026

Solar and wind look like they have a cost advantage, but batteries show why the most flexible actors often capture the economic surplus instead.

Kiwibit’s AI-powered bird feeder is my new backyard buddy

May 29, 2026

If you’re looking for a fun way to connect with nature while collecting bird species on an app like Pokémon, give this smart feeder a try.

The Download: the future of chipmaking and Anthropic’s government clash