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.
Roundtables: A Conversation With the Creator of AI-Designed Viruses
Friday, October 16, 2026 Can AI design new life forms? In 2025, Stanford University PhD student Samuel King came up with a preliminary answer when he used a generative AI model to propose genetic blueprints for microscopic viruses. It isn’t yet an example of AI-generated life, but that could be next. Join senior AI reporter…
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.
The Download: AI roadblocks for humanoids and portable rubber dams
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. AI breakthroughs in robotics won’t change your life any time soon The hype around humanoid robots is reaching fever pitch. Much of it comes from the idea that the same AI…
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.