Plants can speak using electricity, so this startup built an AI model to decipher their language
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/plants-can-speak-using-electricity-so-this-startup-built-an-ai-model-to-decipher-their-language/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/plants-can-speak-using-electricity-so-this-startup-built-an-ai-model-to-decipher-their-language/
TechCrunch
Exclusive: Plants can speak using electricity, so this startup built an AI model to decipher their language | TechCrunch
Electric Plant has built an AI-powered translator to help humans listen to what plants are saying with the subtle electricity coursing through their stems.
Ex-Nvidia-turned-VC Amulya Vishwanath: ‘Physical AI is in it’s LEGO era’
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/ex-nvidia-turned-vc-amulya-vishwanath-physical-ai-is-in-its-lego-era/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/ex-nvidia-turned-vc-amulya-vishwanath-physical-ai-is-in-its-lego-era/
TechCrunch
Ex-Nvidia-turned-VC Amulya Vishwanath: 'Physical AI is in its LEGO era' | TechCrunch
It’s the moment everyone is waiting for — the ChatGPT moment for robotics, Amulya Vishwanath explained to TechCrunch’s Equity.
Meta’s Muse hits 10M U.S. downloads in 40 days, a milestone reached by only 11 other apps
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/metas-muse-hits-10m-u-s-downloads-in-40-days-a-milestone-reached-by-only-11-other-apps/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/metas-muse-hits-10m-u-s-downloads-in-40-days-a-milestone-reached-by-only-11-other-apps/
TechCrunch
Meta's Muse hits 10M US downloads in 40 days, a milestone reached by only 11 other apps | TechCrunch
New data also shows Muse is retaining users at higher rates than its AI rivals.
GM to close Detroit battery assembly plant, but not for reasons you might think
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/gm-to-close-detroit-battery-assembly-plant-but-not-for-reasons-you-might-think/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/gm-to-close-detroit-battery-assembly-plant-but-not-for-reasons-you-might-think/
TechCrunch
GM to close Detroit battery assembly plant, but not for reasons you might think | TechCrunch
GM is shuttering the Brownstown Battery Assembly Plant, though the closure has nothing to do with the automaker's electrification strategy.
Google is bringing a more personal version of its Gemini AI assistant to your car
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/google-is-bringing-a-more-personal-version-of-its-gemini-ai-assistant-to-your-car/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/google-is-bringing-a-more-personal-version-of-its-gemini-ai-assistant-to-your-car/
TechCrunch
Google is bringing a more personal version of its Gemini AI assistant to your car | TechCrunch
Google is bringing Gemini's Personal Intelligence feature to cars, allowing its AI assistant to draw on information from Gmail, Calendar, Maps, YouTube, and other Google services to deliver more personalized responses while driving.
OpenAI acquires startup Orchestra Bio to beef up its biotech business
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/openai-acquires-startup-orchestra-bio%e2%81%a0-to-beef-up-its-biotech-business/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/openai-acquires-startup-orchestra-bio%e2%81%a0-to-beef-up-its-biotech-business/
TechCrunch
OpenAI acquires startup Orchestra Bio to beef up its biotech business | TechCrunch
OpenAI says it's adding Orchestra's team and technology to work on Rosalind, its AI model for life sciences research, and to its related Rosalind Workbench tool, a harness that aims to help researchers plan experiments and analyze results.
Hugging Face CEO warns that Netflix’s OpenAI hack documentary isn’t accurate
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/hugging-face-ceo-warns-that-netflixs-openai-hack-documentary-isnt-accurate/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/hugging-face-ceo-warns-that-netflixs-openai-hack-documentary-isnt-accurate/
TechCrunch
Hugging Face CEO warns that Netflix's OpenAI hack documentary isn't accurate | TechCrunch
Before you share the Netflix documentary "AI Gone Rogue" take note. Clem Delangue, Hugging Face's co-founder who is featured in the film, says it went "full doomer mode" and isn't accurate.
SpaceX and Tesla boards form special committees to review merger
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/spacex-and-tesla-boards-form-special-committees-to-review-merger/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/spacex-and-tesla-boards-form-special-committees-to-review-merger/
TechCrunch
SpaceX and Tesla boards form special committees to review merger | TechCrunch
Elon Musk likes the idea but says he is not on either committee, which is made up of independent directors.
Anthropic pitches AI safety bill that may block a model if 50+ people could be killed
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/anthropic-pitches-ai-safety-bill-that-may-block-a-model-if-50-people-could-be-killed/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/anthropic-pitches-ai-safety-bill-that-may-block-a-model-if-50-people-could-be-killed/
TechCrunch
Anthropic pitches AI safety bill that may block a model if 50+ people could be killed | TechCrunch
The proposed policy seems to offer protections against AI running amok but actually forbids federal agencies from blocking a model's release without the permission of a judge.
Mach9 raises $34M after pivoting to AI CAD software
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/mach9-raises-34m-after-pivoting-to-ai-cad-software/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/mach9-raises-34m-after-pivoting-to-ai-cad-software/
TechCrunch
Mach9 raises $34M after pivoting to AI CAD software | TechCrunch
The startup initially set out to build better, faster, and cheaper surveying hardware in 2021.
Heat pump tech is 170 years old. Pascal thinks it’s time for an update.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/heat-pump-tech-is-170-years-old-pascal-thinks-its-time-for-an-update/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/heat-pump-tech-is-170-years-old-pascal-thinks-its-time-for-an-update/
TechCrunch
Exclusive: Heat pump tech is 170 years old — Pascal thinks it’s time for an update | TechCrunch
Refrigerants startup Pascal has a new take on heat pump and cooling tech using a sponge-like material that promises to be 20% more efficient.
Foursquare co-founder says equity holders saw no returns from the company’s acquisition
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/foursquare-co-founder-says-equity-holders-saw-no-returns-from-the-companys-acquisition/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/foursquare-co-founder-says-equity-holders-saw-no-returns-from-the-companys-acquisition/
TechCrunch
Foursquare co-founder says equity holders saw no returns from the company's acquisition | TechCrunch
Foursquare raised $411 million in funding according to PitchBook data, but its equity holders saw no returns from its final acquisition.
AI promises productivity, but for managers, it’s mostly a headache for now
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/ai-promises-productivity-but-for-managers-its-mostly-a-headache-for-now-says-new-survey/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/ai-promises-productivity-but-for-managers-its-mostly-a-headache-for-now-says-new-survey/
TechCrunch
AI promises productivity, but for managers, it's mostly a headache for now | TechCrunch
More than 50% of managers say they're finding it harder to evaluate employees' work after adopting AI, according to a new survey.
AI promises productivity, but for managers, it’s mostly a headache for now
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/ai-promises-productivity-but-for-managers-its-mostly-a-headache-for-now-says-new-survey/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/ai-promises-productivity-but-for-managers-its-mostly-a-headache-for-now-says-new-survey/
TechCrunch
AI promises productivity, but for managers, it's mostly a headache for now | TechCrunch
More than 50% of managers say they're finding it harder to evaluate employees' work after adopting AI, according to a new survey.
PHP armageddon: OpenAI, Google’s Wiz find ancient holes, panicking the internet
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/php-armageddon-openai-googles-wiz-find-ancient-holes-panicking-the-internet/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/php-armageddon-openai-googles-wiz-find-ancient-holes-panicking-the-internet/
TechCrunch
PHP Armageddon: OpenAI, Google's Wiz find ancient holes, panicking the internet | TechCrunch
This is the kind of security issue that was found and prevented by AI, but is also a high risk because of AI.
Legal AI startup Legora raises $550M Series E at $8.8B valuation
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/legal-ai-startup-legora-raises-550m-series-e-at-8-8b-valuation/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/legal-ai-startup-legora-raises-550m-series-e-at-8-8b-valuation/
TechCrunch
Legal AI startup Legora raises $550M Series E at $8.8B valuation | TechCrunch
Legal AI startup Legora announced Wednesday that it raised a $550 million Series E round, valuing it at $8.8 billion.
The internet is having a very bad cybersecurity day
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/the-internet-is-having-a-very-bad-cybersecurity-day/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/the-internet-is-having-a-very-bad-cybersecurity-day/
TechCrunch
The internet is having a very bad cybersecurity day | TechCrunch
From AI-discovered PHP vulnerabilities to flaws in Node.js and popular AI tool LiteLLM, cybersecurity teams have plenty to worry about this week.
GM is betting compute and AI will help it compete with Chinese automakers
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/gm-is-betting-compute-and-ai-will-help-it-compete-with-chinese-automakers/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/gm-is-betting-compute-and-ai-will-help-it-compete-with-chinese-automakers/
TechCrunch
GM is betting compute and AI will help it compete with Chinese automakers | TechCrunch
To compete with Tesla, Rivian, and a host of Chinese automakers, GM’s fourth-gen EV platform will roll out a new central computer and electrical architecture that will debut in 2028 in the Cadillac Escalade IQ.
While Amazon blocks AI agents, Walmart rolls out the welcome mat
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/while-amazon-blocks-ai-agents-walmart-rolls-out-the-welcome-mat/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/while-amazon-blocks-ai-agents-walmart-rolls-out-the-welcome-mat/
TechCrunch
While Amazon blocks AI agents, Walmart rolls out the welcome mat | TechCrunch
As Amazon blocks AI agents from shopping on its site, Walmart is taking the opposite approach, introducing new technology that lets AI agents make purchases on customers' behalf, with controls over spending and transaction approvals.
Meta ordered to pay $25 billion in case related to Cambridge Analytica scandal
https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/meta-ordered-to-pay-25-billion-in-case-related-to-cambridge-analytica-scandal/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/meta-ordered-to-pay-25-billion-in-case-related-to-cambridge-analytica-scandal/
TechCrunch
Meta ordered to pay $25B in case related to Cambridge Analytica scandal | TechCrunch
The payout is related to a recent trial involving the social media giant that revolved around its data privacy practices.