Ambrosia Energy CEO Ben Longmier and Bloom Energy SVP Bill Thayer will speak at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 conference. They will appear on the Smart Systems Stage. Their session will focus on opportunities created by the AI infrastructure boom. The event organizers are currently offering registration discounts for attendees.
Rockstar Games has announced that Grand Theft Auto VI will include the series' most extensive in-game radio selection to date. The game will launch with at least six distinct radio stations, spanning genres from talk radio to classic rock. Players will be able to listen to these stations while in vehicles or walking on foot. Rockstar has also previewed stations and soundtrack singles on its website, featuring artists such as Yung Lean and Travis Scott.
A device called the Retro Song Bird has been created by a builder known as BJ. Unlike similar-looking accessories, it does not play retro games but instead functions as a dedicated media player. It extracts and plays music and sound effect files directly from Game Boy cartridges. The device features basic playback controls and a built-in speaker for listening.
Spotify has created a new website dedicated to offering its internally developed technology to external businesses. The portal, technology.spotify.com, was launched recently. This move represents a strategic expansion into the enterprise software market. The initiative allows other companies to potentially license and use tools originally built for Spotify's own operations.
Numerous significant discounts from Amazon's October Prime Day event remain available past the sale's official conclusion. Key deals include Apple products like MacBooks, AirPods, and Watches, as well as Sony headphones and Google devices. Many offers require a Prime membership, though some do not, and competing retailers like Best Buy and Walmart are matching prices. The extended availability provides a continued opportunity for consumers to purchase popular electronics at reduced rates.
Google announced a new 'universal' Gemini AI agent at its Gemini at Work event on Thursday. The agent is designed to operate across multiple applications and devices, running tasks in the background. It will be accessible through the Gemini Enterprise app, enabling users to assign tasks from a single interface. The AI can work within Google Workspace apps and can also be accessed from mobile devices, desktops, and third-party platforms like Slack.
Alphabet's autonomous vehicle subsidiary Waymo has secured a $5 billion loan. The funding comes from investment firms Blackstone and PIMCO. This marks the first time Waymo has used debt financing. The capital is intended to fuel the expansion of its robotaxi service.
Atari is reintroducing its 800XL personal computer, originally released 43 years ago. The company is partnering with game developer Plaion on this faithful recreation of the 8-bit all-in-one system. The device retains the original's mechanical keyboard, supporting both gaming and programming in Atari BASIC. Preorders are now open for $219.99, with shipments scheduled to begin in April 2027.
Court filings reveal details about ExxonMobil's historical internal climate discussions. The documents indicate the company's own scientists expressed doubt about certain climate change solutions. These concerns reportedly existed during a period when the company publicly promoted the same solutions. The information comes from legal proceedings examining the company's past climate communications.
A reviewer spent a year testing Amazon's Alexa Plus assistant. The system performed well at managing smart home devices but was inconsistent in personal tasks. It could generate emotional photo montages but would also interrupt with intrusive advertisements. The overall experience was a mix of impressive capability and frustrating unreliability.
Meta and OpenAI have launched new AI agents named Muse and Dots, respectively, aimed at mainstream users. These tools are designed to handle tasks ranging from simple scheduling to specialized professional work. A key difference is that Muse is currently free, while Dots requires payment. The rapid deployment of these agents has sparked a debate about data privacy and the readiness of AI to manage sensitive personal information. This development marks a significant shift from earlier conceptual discussions to the widespread availability of consumer AI assistants.
Director Luca Guadagnino's film 'Artificial' premiered at the New York Film Festival. The movie is a satirical biopic focused on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. It explores themes of power and ambition, closely following the real events of Altman's rise and brief ouster from the AI lab. The narrative uses the metaphor of building a bridge to represent the creation of powerful AI systems.
Zach Yadegari, the 19-year-old co-founder of Cal AI, has launched a new AI startup. His company focuses on developing personal AI agents. The venture has secured $10 million in a recent funding round. It will compete with existing firms like Instinct, Muse, and Bee.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will be held at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 13-15. The event is expected to attract participants from the global technology sector. Organizers are currently offering a discount of up to $100 for passes purchased in advance. A promotion allowing a 50% discount on a second ticket of the same type is also available.
TechCrunch has detailed the side event schedule for its Founder Summit 2026. These ancillary events will be held in Boston. They are scheduled to run from November 3 through November 6. The events are designed to complement the main conference activities.
Amazon has introduced new Kids Tablets alongside its latest Alexa Tablet lineup. These Android-based devices allow parents to manage and restrict their children's access to apps and content from the Google Play store. The tablets are available in two sizes with lightweight aluminum designs and are bundled with colorful cases featuring popular characters. The cases come in two protective styles targeted at different age groups, from pre-kindergarten to children over six.
Google has released a new AI application called Edge Foresight. The app is a competitor to the local-first note-taking service Granola. Its key feature is transcribing conversations and generating meeting notes entirely offline using on-device AI. The app can also answer questions based on transcribed content. This positions it as a privacy-focused tool for business meetings.
A new 25-minute video of Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay has been leaked online by a known leaker. The footage reportedly shows one of the game's main characters, Jason, navigating Vice City without clothing for the majority of the video. The leaker, known as Cyberleek, had previously disappeared after cashing out on a cryptocurrency. The video suggests that players will have the option to play through the game with characters fully unclothed. This is the latest in a series of unofficial reveals for the highly anticipated title.
Chinese extended reality company Manus has secured over $500 million in its first funding round since separating from Meta. The investment was led by Boyu Capital and IDG Capital. Existing shareholders, including Tencent and HSG, also participated in the round. The capital injection is intended to support Manus's independent operations and growth in the XR sector.
The TechCrunch Founder Summit will be held in Boston on November 4, 2026. The event organizers have issued a final call for volunteers. Opportunities are available for individuals interested in the operations of a tech conference. The number of volunteer positions is limited.