From TechCrunch · 23 stories
Phineas Fisher: The Uncaught Hacker Who Targeted Spyware Makers FinFisher and Hacking Team
This article details the activities of Phineas Fisher, an anonymous hacktivist known for breaching controversial spyware companies FinFisher and Hacking Team. Phineas Fisher's actions led to significant data leaks, contributing to the eventual downfall of Hacking Team.
Menlo Ventures' Matt Murphy Discusses Anthropic's Rapid Growth and Investment Strategy
Menlo Ventures' Matt Murphy observed Anthropic's rapid revenue growth to $47 billion by May, an unprecedented rate in his 25 years of investing. Murphy, whose firm led Anthropic's Series D, attributes this success to factors beyond just its AI model, highlighting the company's swift rise from pre-revenue to a highly valued startup.
Jersey Mike's IPO Includes AI Mentions Amid Industry Hype
Jersey Mike’s IPO documents mention 'AI' 22 times despite the company primarily selling sandwiches. This reflects a broader trend where companies feel pressure to incorporate AI into their narratives due to investor interest in the technology.
Ian Bogost's 'The Small Stuff' examines technology's impact on sensory experiences
Ian Bogost's upcoming book, "The Small Stuff: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life," explores how technology has dematerialized everyday experiences and disconnected people from the sensory world. The book argues for valuing sensory experiences amid technological convenience, presenting an alternative perspective on living in a tech-centric society.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 to feature new Smart Money Stage on fintech, payments, and AI
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will introduce a new Smart Money Stage focusing on fintech, payments, and AI, held from October 13-15 in San Francisco. This stage will cover topics such as stablecoins, instant payments, AI in financial decisions, and regulated financial infrastructure.
Pollen Robotics and Hugging Face launch Microduck, an open-source, retrainable robot
Pollen Robotics, in collaboration with Hugging Face, has launched Microduck, a small, open-source robot designed for reinforcement learning. Users can retrain its behaviors in simulation and deploy them on the physical robot, with all software components available under an Apache-2.0 license.
Ricursive Intelligence to discuss AI-designed hardware at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
Ricursive Intelligence co-founders Anna Goldie and Azalia Mirhoseini will speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 about AI designing its own hardware. Their startup is developing AI to automate and accelerate chip design, aiming to reduce design cycles from years to weeks. This technology could create a feedback loop where AI designs better hardware, leading to more powerful AI systems.
Clay CEO Kareem Amin to discuss GTM engineer role at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
Kareem Amin, CEO of Clay, will speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 about the emerging role of the GTM (Go-To-Market) engineer, a position that uses AI and automation to build revenue systems. This role is gaining traction as AI changes how companies approach sales, marketing, and growth, consolidating tasks previously requiring multiple tools and personnel.
Liquid Death and Garage Beer launch ad campaign targeting AI data center water use
Liquid Death and Garage Beer, co-owned by Jason Kelce, released an ad campaign encouraging people to send their urine to AI data centers to protest their water consumption. The campaign uses humor to highlight public concerns about data center water usage, which has led to local water supply issues in some areas.
Former Apple Retail Head Skeptical of AI's Impact on Shopping Habits
Ron Johnson, who developed Apple's retail stores, believes that while AI will improve online shopping, it will not fundamentally change how people shop, particularly for significant purchases. He argues that physical stores will remain crucial for customers to experience products directly, countering the industry's focus on AI agents for automated shopping.
Historian Jill Lepore argues Silicon Valley misinterprets science fiction, undermining democracy
Historian Jill Lepore's upcoming book, "The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State," contends that tech companies are increasingly assuming governmental functions, leading to a "return to tyranny" governed by algorithms and corporations. Lepore argues that Silicon Valley leaders misinterpret science fiction, contributing to this shift away from democratic principles.
Wacom Movinkpad 11 reviewed as a mid-priced entry point for digital artists
The Wacom Movinkpad 11, an Android tablet designed for digital art, was reviewed as an accessible option for new digital artists. Priced at $500, it offers a balance between budget and high-end devices for those interested in digital creation.
Petlibro Launches Granary 2 Series AI-Powered Dry Food Feeders for Pets
Petlibro has released its Granary 2 series of automatic dry food feeders, which include models with AI cameras for tracking individual pet eating habits and built-in scales to measure food consumption. This new series aims to provide pet owners with detailed insights into their pets' dietary patterns, offering features like intake tracking and individualized portioning for multi-pet households.
Journalist creates interactive digital avatar using Synthesia's technology
A journalist created a personal interactive digital avatar using Synthesia's platform. This avatar is trained to answer questions about a specific article written by the journalist, marking the first time Synthesia has created such an avatar for a journalist.
Guide to checking for unauthorized access on ChatGPT and Claude AI accounts
A guide details how users can check for suspicious device logins on their ChatGPT and Claude AI platform accounts. It outlines the specific steps within each platform's settings to view active sessions and log out unrecognized devices, emphasizing the importance of security measures like unique passwords and multi-factor authentication.
Apps help users limit screen time by requiring physical activity
Several apps are available that link access to social media and other distracting applications to the completion of physical activity goals. These tools aim to reduce sedentary screen time by requiring users to meet step counts, perform exercises, or visit specific locations before unlocking app access.
AI Glossary Provides Clear Definitions for Emerging Terms
A new AI glossary offers clear definitions for terms commonly used in the AI field. It aims to help both professionals and enthusiasts navigate the evolving language of artificial intelligence, updating regularly to stay relevant.
Founder Conno Christou Uses AI in Cancer Battle Following Rare Diagnosis
Conno Christou, a health-conscious entrepreneur, was diagnosed with an aggressive lymphoma after experiencing blood clots. He utilized artificial intelligence to inform his treatment decisions, leading to a more effective chemotherapy regimen that increased his odds of survival.
Cerebras Systems CEO Andrew Feldman to Discuss AI Scaling at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
Cerebras Systems CEO Andrew Feldman will speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 about the challenges of scaling AI compute, energy, and infrastructure. Feldman will discuss Cerebras' wafer-scale computing approach and its potential to address the growing demands of AI workloads. The company recently raised $5.5 billion in an IPO and signed a multiyear agreement with OpenAI.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 Introduces New Real World AI Stage Featuring Nvidia and Robotics
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will feature a new "Real World AI Stage" focusing on the intersection of digital and physical AI, including autonomous hardware and robotics. This expansion reflects the rapid development and widespread application of AI, with sessions on data gaps in robotics and AI system safety.
Levoit Launches Vital Pet Pro Air Purifier for Pet-Friendly Households
Levoit released the Vital Pet Pro Air Purifier, a new device designed to address pet odors and fur in homes. This product features a three-stage filtration system and specific design elements to manage pet-related air quality issues.
Noble Carbon to showcase smart circuit breakers for EV charging at TechCrunch Disrupt
Noble Carbon will present its smart circuit breakers at TechCrunch Disrupt, which are designed to simplify the installation of EV chargers, heat pumps, and induction stoves by dynamically managing power draw. This technology addresses the high cost of electrical panel upgrades often required for new high-power appliances, potentially making EV adoption more accessible.
Hello Robot to Showcase Stretch 4 Home-Assistance Robot at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
Hello Robot will demonstrate its Stretch 4 home-assistance robot at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, focusing on its utility for individuals with severe mobility impairments. The robot, which launched in May and sold out its first production run, is designed for practical tasks in human environments.