Dr Pepper on Your Pizza? It’s a Thing Now at Some Franchises.
Round Table Pizza, Slim Chickens and Portillo’s are turning the 23-flavor soda into sauces, rubs and shakes.
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…
Waymo locks in $5B loan from Blackstone, PIMCO to fuel robotaxi expansion
This is the first time the Alphabet-owned company has turned to debt financing.
Cal AI’s 19-year-old founder just raised $10M for his new AI startup
Zach Yadegari, the teen co-founder of popular Cal AI calorie tracking app, has launched a new personal AI agent startup that competes with Instinct, Muse and Bee.
5 days to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Don’t pay more at the door for your pass
The global tech ecosystem gathers at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 at San Francisco’s Moscone West on October 13-15. Get your pass now to save up to $100. Get a second of the same ticket type to save 50%.
Universities Face a Budget Squeeze. Cutting Spending Is Only Part of the Answer.
Budget cuts aren’t new to higher education, but today’s financial pressures are reshaping academic programs, staffing and student services, raising questions about long-term sustainability.
Google releases a new local-first Granola competitor
Google’s new AI Edge Foresight app takes on Granola with an offline meeting note-taker that can transcribe conversations, generate notes, and answer questions using on-device AI.
China’s Manus raises over $500M in first funding round since split with Meta
Boyu Capital and IDG Capital led the funding round, and existing shareholders Tencent, HSG (formerly known as Sequoia China), ZhenFund and others also participated.
Last call to volunteer at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026
TechCrunch Founder Summit is gearing up to return to Boston on November 4! We’re doing a last call for exceptional volunteers to join us in bringing this event to life. If you’ve ever wondered about the inner workings of tech events, now’s your chance to get involved. Volunteer spots are limited, so don’t miss out! […]
Amazon unveils new Alexa tablets with Alexa+ and Google Play Store access
The lineup includes three models: Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, Amazon Alexa Tablet 11, and Amazon Alexa Tablet 8.
Uber and China’s Pony.ai plan to launch robotaxis in London
The two companies said on Thursday that they would begin testing Pony.ai’s Gen-7 robotaxis in London in the coming weeks.