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The back office problem that explains why specialists never call you back

2026-05-07T21:48:00.005-07:00

Like many AI companies automating work that humans currently do, Basata will eventually face a harder question about where the line is between augmenting workers and displacing them. For now, the founders say the administrative staff they work with aren't worried about that; they're more worried about drowning.

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Ramp in talks to hit $40B+ valuation, 6 months after reaching $32B

2026-05-07T16:17:55.321-07:00

The company is reportedly in talks to raise another $750 million at a pre-money valuation of more than $40 billion. It last raised in November at $32 billion.

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OpenAI launches new voice intelligence features in its API

2026-05-07T15:47:54.327-07:00

The new features could be handy for customer service systems, but OpenAI says they have applications that work across a variety of other fields, including education and creator platforms.

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Kodiak AI raises $100M at a steep discount, sending its stock tumbling 37%

2026-05-07T15:31:08.186-07:00

The company made a series of other announcements during earnings, including a new commercial contract, a pilot program in Canada, and a collaboratio

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Google’s $9.99-per-month AI health coach launches May 19

2026-05-07T08:47:47.142-07:00

The Gemini-powered health coach will act as a combination fitness coach, sleep expert, and health and wellness advisor.

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Google unveils Whoop-like screenless Fitbit Air

2026-05-07T08:47:47.142-07:00

The device comes with health and fitness tracking like 24/7 heart rate, heart rhythm monitoring with Afib alerts, SpO2, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, sleep stages and duration, and more.

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Police arrest SMS blaster crew that sent malicious messages to thousands across Toronto

2026-05-07T08:22:47.745-07:00

Toronto police said this is the "first known instance" of an SMS blaster being used in Canada.

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Startup Battlefield 200 applications close May 27: A shot at VC access, global visibility, TechCrunch coverage, and $100K

2026-05-07T08:17:46.584-07:00

Startup Battlefield 200 applications are open, but only for three more weeks. Apply by May 27 for your shot at VC access, global visibility, TechCrunch coverage, $100K equity-free, and more opportunities for major scaling impact. Pre-Series A founders — and anyone who knows a startup worth backing — this is your reminder: the deadline is approaching fast, and the […]

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India’s first space tech unicorn emerges as Skyroot gears up for orbital launch

2026-05-07T07:47:46.196-07:00

Skyroot's valuation has more than doubled since 2023 as the Indian rocket startup prepares for the country's first private orbital launch.

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Exhibit at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Get in front of 10,000 decision-makers before space runs out

2026-05-07T07:47:46.195-07:00

If startup visibility, traction, and real deals matter, you should be on the TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 exhibit floor. Get your 6' exhibit table before your competitor does.

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2 days left: Get 50% off a second pass to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

2026-05-07T07:17:45.534-07:00

Two days left to save up to $410 on your pass, and get a second one at 50% off to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Offer ends May 8, 11:59 p.m. PT. Register now.

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China’s Moonshot AI raises $2B at $20B valuation as demand for open-source AI skyrockets

2026-05-07T06:47:45.287-07:00

Moonshot's annualized recurring revenue topped $200 million in April, driven by rapid growth in paid subscriptions and API usage.

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Spotify wants to become the home for AI-generated personal audio

2026-05-07T06:47:45.286-07:00

Users will be able to create a podcast from Codex or Claude Code and import it to Spotify

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Five architects of the AI economy explain where the wheels are coming off

2026-05-06T22:47:39.451-07:00

Earlier this week, five people who touch every layer of the AI supply chain sat down at the Milken Global Conference in Beverly Hills, where they talked with TechCrunch about everything from chip shortages to orbital data centers to the possibility that the whole architecture that undergirds the tech is wrong.

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A 20-minute pitch wins Indian startup Pronto backing from Lachy Groom

2026-05-06T15:47:34.845-07:00

The investment comes as Pronto scales to 26,000 daily bookings and the market heads toward a potential $18 billion size.

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Barry Diller trusts Sam Altman. But ‘trust is irrelevant’ as AGI nears, he says.

2026-05-06T15:28:57.774-07:00

Barry Diller defended OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, while warning that AGI remains an unpredictable force needing guardrails.

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SpaceX may spend up to $119 billion on ‘Terafab’ chip factory in Texas

2026-05-06T10:47:31.207-07:00

SpaceX, Elon Musk's space company that also houses his AI company, xAI, is considering spending $55 billion, at least initially, to build a semiconductor factory in Texas, according to a filing with Grimes County.

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DeepSeek could hit $45B valuation from its first investment round

2026-05-06T10:47:31.203-07:00

In just a few weeks of talks, DeepSeek's potential valuation has reportedly soared from $20 billion to $45 billion.

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Chrome on Android now supports approximate instead of precise location sharing

2026-05-06T09:17:30.101-07:00

The new feature is a small win for Android users, as it gives them more control over how much location data they share with websites.

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Google updates AI search to include ‘expert advice’ from Reddit and other web forums

2026-05-06T09:17:30.032-07:00

While citing web forums and discussion boards can help users find answers to more niche queries, this design choice could also prove chaotic.

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Khosla-backed robotics startup Genesis AI has gone full-stack, demo shows

2026-05-06T08:47:29.684-07:00

Genesis AI, a startup that raised a $105 million seed round to build foundational AI for robotics, has unveiled its first model, GENE-26.5, but also a demo showcasing a set of robotic hands performing complex tasks.

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Tinder owner Match Group is slowing hiring to pay for its increased use of AI tools

2026-05-06T08:47:29.676-07:00

Match Group said that it's slowing its hiring plans for the rest of the year because AI tools "cost a lot of money."

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Aurora lands McLane deal to run driverless truck routes in Texas

2026-05-06T08:17:29.414-07:00

Aurora said it plans to expand to new routes between McLane distribution centers across the U.S. Sun Belt by the end of 2026.

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Apple to pay $250M to settle lawsuit over Siri’s delayed AI features

2026-05-06T08:17:29.413-07:00

Apple has agreed to pay $250 million to settle a class-action lawsuit for overpromising the arrival of Siri's AI features.

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Ethos raises $22.75M from a16z for its expert network with voice onboarding

2026-05-06T08:17:29.372-07:00

Ethos says it is onboarding 35,000 experts per week

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