TechCrunch Top 3

OpenAI fires back at Google with GPT-5.2 after 'code red' memo: OpenAI just launched GPT-5.2, a frontier model aimed at developers and professionals, pushing reasoning and coding benchmarks as it races Google's Gemini 3 while grappling with compute costs and no generator. Read More

Disney hits Google with cease-and-desist claiming 'massive' copyright infringement: Disney is accusing the tech giant of unauthorized distribution of its copyrighted characters without permission via Gemini AI. Read More

Google debuts 'Disco,' a Gemini-powered tool for making web apps from browser tabs: Google Labs is testing a product that will work with your browser tabs to make web apps for you. Read More

Be the first to know when news breaks

Subscribe to our News Alerts, and you won't miss a thing. Breaking news, exclusives, and special reports—straight to your inbox.

A message from Persona

Bad user onboarding is costing you customers.

Clunky verification flows kill conversion rates. Persona creates smooth onboarding that verifies real users in seconds while blocking fraud, so your business can maximize signups without sacrificing security. Our Startup Program offers 12 months free with 500 monthly verifications, helping thousands of startups optimize their onboarding from day one.

Learn more

Afternoon Must-Reads

Rivian goes big on autonomy, with custom silicon, lidar, and a hint at robotaxis: CEO RJ Scaringe laid out his plan for how Rivian's vehicles will increasingly drive themselves, in a bid to match or exceed the capabilities of rival automakers and AV companies. Read More

TIME names 'Architects of AI' its Person of the Year: TIME Magazine has named the 'Architects of AI' its Person of the Year, who include Jensen Huang, Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg, Lisa Su, Dario Amodei, Demis Hassabis, and Fei-Fei Li Read More

The market has 'switched' and founders have the power now, VCs say: Graham & Walker's Leslie Feinzaig and XYZ Venture's Ross Fubini share the secrets for founders — and VCs — to make the most of the current fast pace of dealmaking. Read More

Disney signs deal with OpenAI to allow Sora to generate AI videos featuring its characters: Disney says that alongside the agreement, it will "become a major customer of OpenAI," as it will use its APIs to build new products, tools, and experiences, including for Disney+. Read More

Port raises $100M at $800M valuation to take on Spotify's Backstage: Port offers a proprietary alternative to Spotify's popular devtool catalog Backstage, but with a valuable addition — it can be used to manage AI agents, too. Read More

A message from Dell Technologies

Your Exclusive Dell Offer Awaits!

Unlock unbeatable savings on Dell Technologies products today and stack your discounts to upgrade your tech effortlessly. To claim your deal, simply sign in or create an account, use code TCFY26 to complete a quick one-time verification, and enjoy exclusive member pricing instantly. Don't wait, this is a limited-time offer!

Claim Your Discount

You missed these chats from Disrupt:

Kindred talks home-swapping platform for travelers, Chef Robotics introduces AI into commercial kitchens, and Character.AI addresses chatbot safety with teens.

Watch on Cheddar.com

Watch on Streaming

Last but Not Least

Harness hits $5.5B valuation with $240M raise to automate AI's 'after-code' gap: Goldman Sachs has led Harness's Series E round, with participation from IVP, Menlo Ventures, and Unusual Ventures. Read More