Father sues Google, claiming Gemini chatbot drove son into fatal delusion
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/father-sues-google-claiming-gemini-chatbot-drove-son-into-fatal-delusion/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/father-sues-google-claiming-gemini-chatbot-drove-son-into-fatal-delusion/
TechCrunch
Father sues Google, claiming Gemini chatbot drove son into fatal delusion | TechCrunch
A father is suing Google and Alphabet, alleging its Gemini chatbot reinforced his son’s delusional belief it was his AI wife and coached him toward suicide and a planned airport attack.
TikTok won’t add end-to-end encryption to direct messages, report says
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/tiktok-wont-add-end-to-end-encryption-to-direct-messages-report-says/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/tiktok-wont-add-end-to-end-encryption-to-direct-messages-report-says/
TechCrunch
TikTok won't add end-to-end encryption to direct messages, report says | TechCrunch
The social media giant says that end-to-end encryption would make users less safe.
X taps William Shatner to give out invites to its payments service, X Money
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/x-taps-william-shatner-to-give-out-invites-to-its-payments-service-x-money/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/x-taps-william-shatner-to-give-out-invites-to-its-payments-service-x-money/
TechCrunch
X taps William Shatner to give out invites to its payments service, X Money | TechCrunch
42 X users donated to William Shatner's charity in exchange for an early invite to X Money beta.
The US military is still using Claude — but defense-tech clients are fleeing
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/the-us-military-is-still-using-claude-but-defense-tech-clients-are-fleeing/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/the-us-military-is-still-using-claude-but-defense-tech-clients-are-fleeing/
TechCrunch
The US military is still using Claude — but defense-tech clients are fleeing | TechCrunch
As the U.S. continues its aerial attack on Iran, Anthropic models are being used for many targeting decisions.
Decagon completes first tender offer at $4.5B valuation
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/decagon-completes-first-tender-offer-at-4-5b-valuation/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/decagon-completes-first-tender-offer-at-4-5b-valuation/
TechCrunch
Decagon completes first tender offer at $4.5B valuation | TechCrunch
The AI-powered customer support startup is the latest example of a fast-growing, young company that's providing employee liquidity.
Decagon completes first tender offer at $4.5B valuation
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/decagon-completes-first-tender-offer-at-4-5b-valuation/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/decagon-completes-first-tender-offer-at-4-5b-valuation/
TechCrunch
Decagon completes first tender offer at $4.5B valuation | TechCrunch
The AI-powered customer support startup is the latest example of a fast-growing, young company that's providing employee liquidity.
Google’s Gemini rolls out Canvas in AI mode to all US users
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/googles-gemini-rolls-out-canvas-in-ai-mode-to-all-us-users/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/googles-gemini-rolls-out-canvas-in-ai-mode-to-all-us-users/
TechCrunch
Google's Gemini rolls out Canvas in AI Mode to all US users | TechCrunch
Canvas in AI Mode is available to U.S. users in English for creating plans, projects, apps, and more.
MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e, and everything else Apple announced this week
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/everything-apple-announced-macbook-neo-iphone-17e-ipad-air/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/everything-apple-announced-macbook-neo-iphone-17e-ipad-air/
TechCrunch
MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e, and everything else Apple announced this week | TechCrunch
From a new iPhone to a budget-friendly MacBook, Apple announced a series of new products this week.
U.S. and EU police shut down LeakBase, a site accused of sharing stolen passwords and hacking tools
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/u-s-and-eu-police-shut-down-leakbase-a-site-accused-of-sharing-stolen-passwords-and-hacking-tools/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/u-s-and-eu-police-shut-down-leakbase-a-site-accused-of-sharing-stolen-passwords-and-hacking-tools/
TechCrunch
US and EU police shut down LeakBase, a site accused of sharing stolen passwords and hacking tools | TechCrunch
Authorities say LeakBase was "one of the world’s largest online forums for cybercriminals," and maintained an archive of hacked databases containing hundreds of millions of passwords.
His house burned down. He used the insurance money to build PopSockets.
https://techcrunch.com/video/his-house-burned-down-he-used-the-insurance-money-to-build-popsockets/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/video/his-house-burned-down-he-used-the-insurance-money-to-build-popsockets/
TechCrunch
His house burned down. He used the insurance money to build PopSockets. | TechCrunch
Watch as David Barnett joins Equity to discuss scaling PopSockets, its high-stakes Amazon dispute, and why he stepped down as CEO.
Google settles with Epic Games, drops its Play Store commissions to 20%
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/google-settles-with-epic-games-drops-its-play-store-commissions-to-20/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/google-settles-with-epic-games-drops-its-play-store-commissions-to-20/
TechCrunch
Google settles with Epic Games, drops its Play Store commissions to 20% | TechCrunch
Google has dropped its commission, charging a 20% service fee and an optional 5% to use its billing services. It will also offer a new process for third-party app stores.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei calls OpenAI’s messaging around military deal ‘straight up lies,’ report says
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/anthropic-ceo-dario-amodei-calls-openais-messaging-around-military-deal-straight-up-lies-report-says/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/anthropic-ceo-dario-amodei-calls-openais-messaging-around-military-deal-straight-up-lies-report-says/
TechCrunch
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei calls OpenAI's messaging around military deal 'straight up lies,' report says | TechCrunch
Anthropic gave up its contract with the Pentagon over AI safety disagreements -- then, OpenAI swooped in.
Jensen Huang says Nvidia is pulling back from OpenAI and Anthropic, but his explanation raises more questions than it answers
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/jensen-huang-says-nvidia-is-pulling-back-from-openai-and-anthropic-but-his-explanation-raises-more-questions-than-it-answers/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/04/jensen-huang-says-nvidia-is-pulling-back-from-openai-and-anthropic-but-his-explanation-raises-more-questions-than-it-answers/
TechCrunch
Jensen Huang says Nvidia is pulling back from OpenAI and Anthropic, but his explanation raises more questions than it answers |…
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said Wednesday that his company's investments in OpenAI and Anthropic will likely be its last — but his explanation may not tell the whole story.
Rivian is betting its future on one of the fastest EV launches in US history
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/rivian-is-betting-its-future-one-of-the-fastest-ev-launches-in-us-history/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/rivian-is-betting-its-future-one-of-the-fastest-ev-launches-in-us-history/
TechCrunch
Rivian is betting its future on one of the fastest EV launches in US history | TechCrunch
If Rivian reaches its R2 sales target in 2026, it will be one of the fastest ramp-ups ever of a new EV in the United States.
Lio raises $30M from Andreessen Horowitz and others to automate enterprise procurement
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/lio-ai-series-a-a16z-30m-raise-automate-enterprise-procurement/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/lio-ai-series-a-a16z-30m-raise-automate-enterprise-procurement/
TechCrunch
Lio raises $30M from Andreessen Horowitz and others to automate enterprise procurement | TechCrunch
AI procurement startup Lio announced a $30 million Series A in a round led by Andreessen Horowitz.
How 1,000+ customer calls shaped a breakout enterprise AI startup
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/how-1000-customer-calls-shaped-a-breakout-enterprise-ai-startup/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/how-1000-customer-calls-shaped-a-breakout-enterprise-ai-startup/
TechCrunch
How 1,000+ customer calls shaped a breakout enterprise AI startup | TechCrunch
On this episode of Build Mode, David Park joins Isabelle Johannessen to discuss how he and his team are intentionally iterating, fundraising, and scaling Narada.
Science Corp raises $230M as it races to bring its brain implant to market
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/science-corp-closes-230m-round-as-it-pushes-to-get-its-brain-implant-to-patients/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/science-corp-closes-230m-round-as-it-pushes-to-get-its-brain-implant-to-patients/
TechCrunch
Science Corp. raises $230M as it races to bring its brain implant to market | TechCrunch
A source close to the company says the round assigns Science a post-money valuation of $1.25 billion.
Meta will allow rival AI chatbots on WhatsApp in Europe, but for a fee
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/meta-will-allow-rival-ai-chatbots-on-whatsapp-in-europe-but-for-a-fee/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/meta-will-allow-rival-ai-chatbots-on-whatsapp-in-europe-but-for-a-fee/
TechCrunch
Meta will allow rival AI chatbots on WhatsApp in Europe, but for a fee | TechCrunch
Meta will allow rival AI chatbot providers to offer their services on WhatsApp for a fee, which ranges from €0.0490 to €0.1323 per "non-template message," depending on the country.
Zeno raises $25M to speed up production of its battery-swap motorbikes
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/zeno-raises-25m-to-speed-up-production-of-its-battery-swap-motorbikes/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/zeno-raises-25m-to-speed-up-production-of-its-battery-swap-motorbikes/
TechCrunch
Zeno raises $25M to speed up production of its battery-swap motorbikes | TechCrunch
The startup, co-founded by Tesla and Apple alumni, has sold nearly 1,000 of its motorbikes so far.
Match Group COO out, as dating apps struggle to connect with Gen Z
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/match-group-coo-out-as-dating-apps-struggle-to-connect-with-gen-z/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/match-group-coo-out-as-dating-apps-struggle-to-connect-with-gen-z/
TechCrunch
Match Group COO out, as dating apps struggle to connect with Gen Z | TechCrunch
Match Group eliminates the COO role as CEO Spencer Rascoff has been managing operations.
Netflix buys Ben Affleck’s AI filmmaking company InterPositive
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/netflix-buys-ben-afflecks-ai-filmmaking-company-interpositive/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/netflix-buys-ben-afflecks-ai-filmmaking-company-interpositive/
TechCrunch
Netflix buys Ben Affleck's AI filmmaking company InterPositive | TechCrunch
InterPositive isn't trying to make AI actors or synthetic performances. Rather, the company has created a model that helps production teams work with footage from their own productions to help make edits in post-production.