I built marshmallow castles in Google’s new AI world generator
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/i-built-marshmallow-castles-in-googles-new-ai-world-generator-project-genie/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/i-built-marshmallow-castles-in-googles-new-ai-world-generator-project-genie/
TechCrunch
I built marshmallow castles in Google’s new AI-world generator | TechCrunch
Starting Thursday, Google AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S. can play around with Project Genie, which is powered by a combination of Google’s latest world model Genie 3, its image generation model Nano Banana Pro, and Gemini.
Waymo robotaxis are now giving rides to and from San Francisco International Airport
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/waymo-sfo-airport-robotaxis/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/waymo-sfo-airport-robotaxis/
TechCrunch
Waymo robotaxis are now giving rides to and from San Francisco International Airport | TechCrunch
Waymo's SFO win comes as the company faces criticism and concerns about safety in some of the cities it operates.
Apple buys Israeli startup QAI as the AI race heats up
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/apple-buys-israeli-startup-q-ai-as-the-ai-race-heats-up/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/apple-buys-israeli-startup-q-ai-as-the-ai-race-heats-up/
TechCrunch
Apple buys Israeli startup Q.ai as the AI race heats up | TechCrunch
Q.ai is an Israeli startup specializing in imaging and machine learning, particularly technologies that enable devices to interpret whispered speech and enhance audio in noisy environments.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX and xAI in talks to merge, report says
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/elon-musk-spacex-xai-merger-talks-ipo-reuters/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/elon-musk-spacex-xai-merger-talks-ipo-reuters/
TechCrunch
Elon Musk's SpaceX and xAI in talks to merge, report says | TechCrunch
This merger would bring the Grok chatbot, Starlink satellites, and SpaceX rockets together under one corporation.
Satya Nadella insists people are using Microsoft’s Copilot AI a lot
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/satya-nadella-insists-people-are-using-microsofts-copilot-ai-a-lot/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/satya-nadella-insists-people-are-using-microsofts-copilot-ai-a-lot/
TechCrunch
Satya Nadella insists people are using Microsoft’s Copilot AI a lot | TechCrunch
With Microsoft spending many billions on data centers, and rumors that no one is using its AI, CEO Satya Nadella shared some usage numbers.
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Fintech firm Marquis blames hack at firewall provider SonicWall for its data breach
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/fintech-firm-marquis-blames-hack-at-firewall-provider-sonicwall-for-its-data-breach/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/fintech-firm-marquis-blames-hack-at-firewall-provider-sonicwall-for-its-data-breach/
TechCrunch
Fintech firm Marquis blames hack at firewall provider SonicWall for its data breach | TechCrunch
The fintech giant said it plans to "seek recoupment of any expenses" from its firewall provider SonicWall after a 2025 data breach exposed customer firewall configurations.
Microsoft won’t stop buying AI chips from Nvidia, AMD, even after launching its own, Nadella says
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/microsoft-wont-stop-buying-ai-chips-from-nvidia-amd-even-after-launching-its-own-nadella-says/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/microsoft-wont-stop-buying-ai-chips-from-nvidia-amd-even-after-launching-its-own-nadella-says/
TechCrunch
Microsoft won’t stop buying AI chips from Nvidia, AMD, even after launching its own, Nadella says | TechCrunch
Microsoft says its own chip leapfrogs those made by other cloud providers like Amazon and Google. But it needs more.
Medium gives employees Friday off to participate in national strike protesting ICE
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/medium-gives-employees-friday-off-to-participate-in-national-strike-protesting-ice/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/medium-gives-employees-friday-off-to-participate-in-national-strike-protesting-ice/
TechCrunch
Medium gives employees Friday off to participate in national strike protesting ICE | TechCrunch
Activists behind the general strike are calling for "no work, no school, and no shopping" amid a push to defund ICE, which has escalated raids in U.S. cities, killing several people, including two U.S. citizens earlier this month in Minneapolis.
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Amazon is reportedly in talks to invest $50 billion in OpenAI
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/amazon-is-reportedly-in-talks-to-invest-50-billion-in-openai/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/amazon-is-reportedly-in-talks-to-invest-50-billion-in-openai/
TechCrunch
Amazon is reportedly in talks to invest $50B in OpenAI | TechCrunch
If a deal materializes, it would mean Amazon is backing competing startups in the race for AI supremacy.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI in talks to merge, according to reports
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/elon-musk-spacex-tesla-xai-merger-talks-ipo-reuters/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/elon-musk-spacex-tesla-xai-merger-talks-ipo-reuters/
TechCrunch
Elon Musk's SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI in talks to merge, according to reports | TechCrunch
This merger would bring the Grok chatbot, Starlink satellites, and SpaceX rockets together under one corporation.
Guys, I don’t think Tim Cook knows how to monetize AI
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/guys-i-dont-think-tim-cook-knows-how-to-monetize-ai/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/guys-i-dont-think-tim-cook-knows-how-to-monetize-ai/
TechCrunch
Guys, I don't think Tim Cook knows how to monetize AI | TechCrunch
One intrepid Morgan Stanley analyst dared to ask how Apple will make money on its AI investments. The answer will not shock you.
How Sequoia-backed Ethos reached the public market while rivals fell short
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/how-sequoia-backed-ethos-reached-the-public-market-while-rivals-fell-short/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/how-sequoia-backed-ethos-reached-the-public-market-while-rivals-fell-short/
TechCrunch
How Sequoia-backed Ethos reached the public market while rivals fell short | TechCrunch
The profitable life-insurance platform was one of the first major tech companies to test the 2026 public markets.
Last 24 hours to grab your +1 pass at 50% off to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/30/last-24-hours-to-grab-your-1-pass-at-50-off-to-techcrunch-disrupt-2026/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/30/last-24-hours-to-grab-your-1-pass-at-50-off-to-techcrunch-disrupt-2026/
TechCrunch
Last 24 hours to grab your +1 pass at 50% off to Disrupt 2026 | TechCrunch
Today is the last day to lock in a +1 pass at 50% off to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, happening on October 13-15 in San Francisco. Register here.
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Bluesky issues its first transparency report, noting rise in user reports and legal demands
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/30/bluesky-issues-its-first-transparency-report-noting-rise-in-user-reports-and-legal-demands/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/30/bluesky-issues-its-first-transparency-report-noting-rise-in-user-reports-and-legal-demands/
TechCrunch
Bluesky issues its first transparency report, noting rise in user reports and legal demands | TechCrunch
Bluesky's first transparency reports tackle moderation, regulatory compliance, account takedowns, and more. The number of government legal requests went up fivefold.
Anthropic brings agentic plugins to Cowork
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/30/anthropic-brings-agentic-plugins-to-cowork/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/30/anthropic-brings-agentic-plugins-to-cowork/
TechCrunch
Anthropic brings agentic plug-ins to Cowork | TechCrunch
The company says you can use plug-ins to "tell Claude how you like work done, which tools and data to pull from, how to handle critical workflows, and what slash commands to expose so your team gets more consistent outcomes."
Uber is literally in the driver’s seat when it comes to AV bets
https://techcrunch.com/video/uber-is-literally-in-the-drivers-seat-when-it-comes-to-av-bets/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/video/uber-is-literally-in-the-drivers-seat-when-it-comes-to-av-bets/
TechCrunch
Uber is literally in the driver’s seat when it comes to AV bets | TechCrunch
Self-driving truck startup Waabi's billion-dollar fundraise isn't just about trucks. Watch as Equity unpacks the company's deal with Uber and more of the week's news.
SpaceX’s IPO could open the floodgates — and secondaries are booming in the meantime
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/30/spacexs-ipo-could-open-the-floodgates-and-secondaries-are-booming-in-the-meantime/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/30/spacexs-ipo-could-open-the-floodgates-and-secondaries-are-booming-in-the-meantime/
TechCrunch
SpaceX’s IPO could open the floodgates — and secondaries are booming in the meantime | TechCrunch
To unpack what SpaceX’s IPO chatter means, how private liquidity works before a debut, and what investors are looking for in today’s pre-IPO giants, we spoke with Greg Martin, managing director at Rainmaker Securities, a broker-dealer specializing in secondary…
Informant told FBI that Jeffrey Epstein had a ‘personal hacker’
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/30/informant-told-fbi-that-jeffrey-epstein-had-a-personal-hacker/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/30/informant-told-fbi-that-jeffrey-epstein-had-a-personal-hacker/
TechCrunch
Informant told FBI that Jeffrey Epstein had a ‘personal hacker’ | TechCrunch
The hacker allegedly developed zero-day exploits and offensive cyber tools and sold them to several countries, including an unnamed central African government, the U.K., and the United States.
Physical Intelligence, Stripe veteran Lachy Groom’s latest bet, is building Silicon Valley’s buzziest robot brains
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/30/physical-intelligence-stripe-veteran-lachy-grooms-latest-bet-is-building-silicon-valleys-buzziest-robot-brains/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/30/physical-intelligence-stripe-veteran-lachy-grooms-latest-bet-is-building-silicon-valleys-buzziest-robot-brains/
TechCrunch
A peek inside Physical Intelligence, the startup building Silicon Valley's buzziest robot brains | TechCrunch
If co-founder Lachy Groom has any doubts, he doesn’t show it. He’s working with people who've been working on this problem for decades and who believe the timing is finally right, which is all he needs to know.
a16z partner Kofi Ampadu to leave firm after TxO program pause
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/30/a16z-partner-kofi-ampadu-to-leave-firm-after-txo-program-pause/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/30/a16z-partner-kofi-ampadu-to-leave-firm-after-txo-program-pause/
TechCrunch
a16z partner Kofi Ampadu to leave firm after TxO program pause | TechCrunch
Ampadu's departure perhaps signals the end of the TxO chapter. The fund and program focused on supporting underserved founders by providing access to tech networks and investment capital through a donor-advised fund.
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