Google tests buying from Walmart-owned Flipkart through Gemini and AI Mode in India

Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories this weekend

View this email online in your browser  September 27, 2026 TechCrunch Top 3 Google tests buying from Walmart-owned Flipkart through Gemini and AI Mode in India: The limited test covers select products and users, with a broader rollout planned for later in October. Read More The hottest new hangout for middle schoolers is NPR's comment section?: When NPR staffers flagged strange comments under their podcasts on Spotify as bots, it took a Gen Z colleague to (immediately) figure out the mystery. Read More Automattic has a new board after failed attempt to put CEO on leave: After days of upheaval at Automattic, following a failed attempt to remove CEO Matt Mullenweg, the company has a new board. Read More A message from TechCrunch Events Get up to $100 off your Disrupt pass Register now and get up to $100 off your Disrupt pass. Join 10,000+ startup leaders on October 13-15 in San Francisco for game-changing connections and deal flow via matchmaking and ad hoc meetings, plus insights from 250+ tech leaders in 200+ sessions across six industry stages, roundtables, and breakouts. Prices increase when event doors open. Register now Sunday Must-Reads Insurers claim AI is already increasing healthcare costs: Blue Cross Blue Shield says hospital use of AI tools led to an additional $942M in healthcare spending over a two-year period. Read More Meta and YouTube say they will run ads for ‘Musk’ documentary after all: Two companies now say they will accept advertising for director Alex Gibney’s upcoming documentary about Elon Musk, following earlier reporting that a number of social media platforms had rejected the ads. Read More The Aeropod automates soil aeration without robotics — see it at TechCrunch Disrupt: Muju Earth Technologies has developed a deceptively simply pod that can save farmers money while improving crop yields. Read More Astra and Opus just passed Turing's other test: Frontier AI models are finishing Alan Turing's World War II codebreaking work. Read More Crusoe abandons $1.25B plan to use Boom turbines at AI data centers: Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl said the company's new stationary power plants were no longer in Crusoe's near-term plans. Read More A message from TechCrunch Events Get up to $100 off your Founder Summit pass Head to Boston on Nov. 4 for a full day of practical strategies and connections with 1,000+ founders and investors. Get actionable insights on fundraising, hiring, sales, marketing, leadership and scaling, then put them to work for your startup. Save up to $100 on your pass before prices increase. Register now Last but Not Least I created an interactive digital avatar of myself — and you can talk to it: After obtaining an interactive avatar and training it to discuss venture fraud, I have mixed feelings about making AI clones of ourselves. Read More Check out some of our other newsletters: StrictlyVC TechCrunch Events TechCrunch Mobility Want to adjust your daily newsletter schedule? You can do it right here Got a tip? Get in touch securely. Want to advertise on TechCrunch? advertise@techcrunch.com Has this been forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe to this newsletter. Unsubscribe Member Center Privacy Policy Copyright © 2026 TechCrunch Media LLC 501 2nd Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94107

Astra and Opus just passed Turing's other test

Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories this afternoon

View this email online in your browser  September 25, 2026 TechCrunch Top 3 Astra and Opus just passed Turing's other test: Frontier AI models are finishing Alan Turing's World War II codebreaking work. Read More The Aeropod automates soil aeration without robotics — see it at TechCrunch Disrupt: Muju Earth Technologies has developed a deceptively simply pod that can save farmers money while improving crop yields. Read More Some Supabase customers are publicly exposing reams of people's data to the web: The findings highlight how AI-generated and vibe-coded apps can spill and expose users' data when not configured or secured properly. Read More A message from Carepredict From Asking to Knowing SilverKin doesn't just keep your loved one safe. It keeps you informed. A lightweight wearable and discreet home sensors work together to collect data on daily patterns, detect early changes, and connect your whole family in one place. No cameras, no guesswork. CarePredict is part of Santander X 100, global community of Santander X. Learn More Afternoon Must-Reads The hottest new hangout for middle schoolers is NPR's comment section?: When NPR staffers flagged strange comments under their podcasts on Spotify as bots, it took a Gen Z colleague to (immediately) figure out the mystery. Read More Kiteworks urges customers to shut down their servers amid 'imminent' threat of cyberattack: The tech giant, which allows companies to send large datasets over the internet, said it received a "credible threat" from law enforcement about an imminent attack. Read More Anthropic to pay Akamai $11.6 billion over seven years in cloud deal: Anthropic has committed $11.6 billion over seven years to Akamai's cloud infrastructure, a bet on CPUs that could grow to about $20 billion, and in an unusual arrangement, Akamai is giving Anthropic a potential stake of up to 5% of its stock that grows as Anthropic spends more. Read More Tesla finally moves to electrify trucking after a decade of work and delays: Tesla's Semi truck, with a 500-mile range, is about to hit the road in big numbers, with the company saying it plans to make 50,000 units a year. Read More Meta opens early access program for new Muse features: Anyone interested in joining has to ask Muse to put them on the list. Read More A message from Last 24 hours to save up to $200 to Disrupt Final hours to save up to $200 on your pass. Prices will go up when the clock strikes midnight tonight. Join 10,000+ startup leaders on October 13-15 in San Francisco for game-changing connections and deal flow via matchmaking and ad hoc meetings, plus insights from 250+ tech leaders in 200+ sessions across six industry stages, roundtables, and breakouts. Last but Not Least Ahead of US IPO, British AI neocloud Nscale secures $3.36B in convertible financing: The funding, which comes from Third Point, Nvidia, and others, will fuel the company's massive AI data center buildout. Read More Check out some of our other newsletters: StrictlyVC TechCrunch Events TechCrunch Mobility Want to adjust your daily newsletter schedule? You can do it right here Got a tip? Get in touch securely. Want to advertise on TechCrunch? advertise@techcrunch.com Has this been forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe to this newsletter. Unsubscribe Member Center Privacy Policy Copyright © 2026 TechCrunch Media LLC 501 2nd Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94107