Vesta raises $30M to bring swarms of agents to mortgage lenders
Vesta, an AI-native software startup that helps lenders originate mortgages, announced a $30 million round led by Conversion Capital.
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…
Why we’re watching these climate tech companies
This week, we released our 2026 version of our Climate Tech Companies to Watch list. It’s an annual project that the MIT Technology Review team puts together. Our goal is to highlight some of the promising, interesting advances and firms we think are worth paying attention to in the world of climate and energy technology. …
AI breakthroughs in robotics won’t change your life any time soon
The story is a collaboration between MIT Technology Review and Aventine, a non-profit research foundation that creates and supports content about how technology and science are changing the way we live. A robot shaped like a human—white with a black head and torso—has been popping up on video feeds. Perhaps you’ve seen it dance or…
Building a safer path to autonomous industrial AI
Industrial AI is entering a new phase. After decades of predictive analytics and other specialized applications, advances in foundation models, physical AI, and agentic AI are making it possible to automate more complex tasks across industrial environments. But unlike AI that operates purely in the digital world, industrial AI can interact directly with physical systems,…
India rejects Elon Musk’s claim of discrimination over Starlink launch
Starlink is still awaiting security clearance before it can seek spectrum and begin commercial services in India.
These Siblings Were Supposed to Get Subway Owners the Best Deals on Supplies. Instead, Proecutors Say They Ran an $80 Million Fraud Scheme.
A brother and sister in charge of buying supplies for Subway owners allegedly used millions in kickbacks to fund their lavish lifestyles.
Robot data startup Mecka AI nabs $60M from Sequoia
The startup pays people to record everyday tasks.
While VCs crowd into San Francisco, Endeavor Catalyst raises $320M for founders ‘elsewhere’
Endeavor Catalyst just raised $320 million to keep backing founders outside Silicon Valley. Half the profits go back to the nonprofit that finds them.
Nous Research confirms it hit $1.5B valuation, launches AI agents for business users
The developer of Hermes agent raised a $90 million Series B.
5 Magic Phrases to Be More Likable
Do you feel awkward talking to other people? I’ve studied the science of human connection, and these five phrases work like a charm.