TechCrunch is running a two-for-one style promotion for its Disrupt 2026 conference. Attendees who purchase one pass can receive 50% off a second pass of the same ticket type. The deal is designed to encourage co-founders, partners, and colleagues to attend together. The offer is valid until the event begins on October 13 at 8 a.m. PT.
New York state has filed a lawsuit seeking to shut down Polymarket, a popular prediction market platform. The legal action comes as the Trump administration attempts to override state-level gambling regulations. New York argues that Polymarket operates as an illegal gambling service within its jurisdiction. The case highlights a direct conflict between federal and state authority over gambling laws. The outcome could have significant implications for the regulation of prediction markets across the United States.
PrismML is bringing its compact large language models to smart glasses powered by Qualcomm chips. The move is part of the company's broader strategy to run open-weight AI directly on consumer devices. PrismML aims to make more efficient use of the processing power already built into existing hardware. By shifting AI workloads onto the device itself, the company seeks to reduce reliance on cloud-based computing.
Feather is a new startup that has introduced a robotics platform priced at $30,000, designed specifically for software developers. The company is positioning its product as a highly customizable foundation for building robotic applications, drawing comparisons to the open and flexible nature of the Android operating system. The platform aims to give developers greater control and adaptability compared to more rigid, proprietary robotics solutions currently on the market. Feather's approach reflects a broader industry push to democratize robotics development by lowering barriers for software-focused builders.
Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney has directed a new documentary focused on Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest person. A trailer for the film has been released, offering a first public look at the project. Musk has publicly criticized the documentary, dismissing it as a 'hit piece.' Gibney is known for tackling high-profile and controversial subjects in his previous award-winning work.
Ukraine launched Operation Vivaldi, a military operation aimed at countering Russian advances on the battlefield. The operation reportedly utilized robotic systems to conduct combat airdrops and mine-clearing tasks. According to the report, Ukrainian forces successfully repelled a Russian pincer maneuver using these technologies. The use of battlefield robots marks a notable development in Ukraine's military strategy during the ongoing conflict.
New Jersey regulators have fined a data center $1.1 million after drone photographs revealed 62 gas-powered generators operating on the premises without proper disclosure. The generators had not been reported to environmental authorities, prompting the penalty for violations of air quality regulations. The fine was triggered by aerial surveillance evidence that exposed the scale of the facility's unreported emissions infrastructure. Residents living near the data center have expressed concern that even million-dollar penalties may not be sufficient to deter large, wealthy operators from continuing to pollute. The case highlights growing tensions between the rapid expansion of data center infrastructure and local environmental oversight.
Walmart is currently selling a CyberPowerPC prebuilt gaming desktop for $1,549, nearly $600 off its original price of $2,139. The system is powered by an Intel Core i7-14700KF processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and an Nvidia RTX 5070 Founders Edition GPU with 12GB of VRAM. Given that the RTX 5070 alone currently sells for around $800 or more on the open market, analysts consider the bundled price a strong value. The package also includes a keyboard, mouse, and a one-year warranty covering parts and labor, making it ready to use straight out of the box.
Oracle has sent a force majeure notice related to its Stargate data center project in New Mexico. The notice is a legal provision that would allow Oracle to delay payments if the facility fails to meet its target launch date. The data center is currently scheduled to come online by 2028. Such notices typically protect parties from penalties when unforeseen circumstances prevent them from meeting contractual obligations.
Australia publicly disclosed a hack involving OpenAI at the United Nations, choosing one of the world's most prominent international stages for the announcement. The revelation came from a country known for its assertive stance on technology regulation. Australia has previously implemented strict social media restrictions and has put forward proposals to regulate algorithms and smart glasses. The decision to announce the breach at the UN signals Australia's intent to elevate cybersecurity and AI concerns to a global policy level.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang claimed in an interview on The Ezra Klein Show that AI can ultimately help address climate change. However, he acknowledged the technology would first cause significant environmental harm due to energy-intensive data centers. His stance mirrors an accelerationist view shared by several tech executives and political figures, including President Donald Trump. Critics argue this position downplays the immediate environmental damage caused by AI infrastructure running on fossil fuels. The Verge noted that Huang's comments reflect a level of privilege that overlooks the real-world impact on communities affected by climate change today.
Meta has announced two new AI-powered development tools aimed at helping users create games for its Horizon social platform. Horizon Create is a mobile app, while Horizon Studio is a browser-based tool offering more detailed controls. Both apps are entering early access, with users able to join a waitlist to get started. To address Horizon's struggles as a platform, Meta plans to give games built with these tools visibility on Facebook and Instagram, where they will also be playable.
Meta has introduced a new AI-powered gadget called the Muse Charm, designed to resemble a small hanging device similar to a Tamagotchi. The product is built around a growing Gen Z trend of treating technology as a fashion statement, particularly through bag charms and retro-inspired aesthetics. Its dangling form factor is intentional, positioning the device as a wearable accessory rather than a conventional tech gadget. The move signals Meta's interest in blending artificial intelligence with lifestyle and fashion-forward design.
Two developers, Peter James and Jonny L. Saunders, independently discovered that Meta's Muse AI can be manipulated into zipping and sharing its entire root filesystem, including Ubuntu system files and internal documentation. Saunders described the exploit as 'extremely easy' to replicate and noted the system had almost no prompt injection resistance. Meta has denied that the incident constitutes a security breach. The company noted that Muse operates within persistent Linux virtual machines assigned to individual users, which may limit the broader security implications.
Meta's consumer AI agent Muse has quickly gained traction, reaching the top of the App Store charts and accumulating an estimated 600,000 daily active users in the US. Separately, AI agent platform Instinct is generating buzz as its creator fundraises at a $2.5 billion valuation. However, both Muse and Instinct have drawn scrutiny over their apparent similarities to OpenClaw, the platform widely credited with pioneering the AI agent space. Over the past week, social media users have alleged that Muse is directly built on OpenClaw, pointing to shared naming conventions for core files such as SOUL.md and memory as evidence.
Databricks has acquired Row Zero, a startup specializing in cloud-based spreadsheets. The deal marks another addition to the data analytics company's growing list of acquisitions in 2026. Databricks has signaled that it is actively looking for further startups to bring into its portfolio. The move reflects the company's aggressive expansion strategy through mergers and acquisitions this year.
Google Photos has rolled out its AI-powered virtual wardrobe feature to both Android and iOS users. The tool automatically builds a digital closet by scanning and organizing clothing items found in a user's photos. The feature was first introduced to Android users in June before being made broadly available. Inspired by the outfit-tracking concept popularized by the 1995 film 'Clueless', it aims to help users manage and visualize their wardrobe through their existing photo library.
Google is rolling out updates to Chrome that enhance its cross-device tab-switching feature. The existing tool, which lets users send open tabs between mobile and desktop, will now also remember the exact scroll position on a page when switching devices. This saves users from having to manually relocate where they left off on a webpage. The update is part of a broader set of Chrome improvements that also include expanded Gemini AI capabilities, such as media analysis and interactive study quiz generation.
Meta's Muse AI features a personalized animated mascot that changes appearance based on data it learns from users' emails. Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song tested the AI agent, naming it 'Blorbo,' and asked it to help create a fitness plan for a sub-30-minute 5K and muscle recovery. The AI produced what she described as a mediocre weekly workout routine. However, the mascot's charming, Kirby-like appearance — in her case, a cat-shaped piece of bread — drew attention away from the tool's lackluster output. Song suggests the cuteness of the mascot may be a deliberate design choice that softens scrutiny of the AI's actual capabilities.
TechCrunch will host its Founder Summit as a full-day event in Boston on November 4, 2026. The gathering is designed for startup founders at all stages of their journey. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect directly with leading venture capitalists and seasoned entrepreneurs. The event focuses on providing practical, tactical guidance on building and scaling companies.