Stargate will use solar and batteries to power $100B AI venture

The massive $100 billion Stargate joint venture will reportedly be powered, at least in part, by solar and batteries. The renewable power installations will be built by SoftBank-backed SB Energy, according to a report from Bloomberg, though they’re unlikely to be the venture’s sole source of energy. Stargate is a partnership between OpenAI, Oracle, and … Read more

Ditching Meta? Open source alternatives to Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp fundraise on Kickstarter

The developer behind Pixelfed, Loops, and Sup, open source alternatives to Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp, respectively, is now raising funds on Kickstarter to fuel the apps’ further development. The trio is part of the growing open social web, also known as the fediverse, powered by the same ActivityPub protocol used by X alternative Mastodon. The … Read more

Waymo lobbyist activity in SF skyrocketed in 2024

Waymo lobbyists had a busy 2024. A recent review of lobbyist disclosure data by the San Francisco Examiner revealed Waymo paid lobbyists to meet with San Francisco government officials 348 times last year, more than double the 137 times it reported in 2023. The pop in lobbyist activity is in sync with Waymo’s expansion in … Read more

Disrupt 2025 tickets now on sale: Lowest Rates Ever

We’re kicking things off earlier than ever! TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 tickets are officially on sale. Don’t miss your chance to snag them at the lowest rates of the year! Immerse yourself in the epicenter of tech innovation at Disrupt 2025! From October 27 to 29, Moscone West in San Francisco transforms into the global hub … Read more

X expands its vertical video feed to global users

Elon Musk’s X has started expanding the rollout of its dedicated vertical video feed to users around the globe just days after its debut in the U.S., TechCrunch has exclusively learned and confirmed with the company. On Friday, TechCrunch spotted the new feature had appeared in various regions outside the U.S., including India, Australia, and … Read more

AI companies upped their federal lobbying spend in 2024 amid regulatory uncertainty

Companies spent significantly more lobbying AI issues at the U.S. federal level last year compared to 2023 amid regulatory uncertainty. According to data compiled by OpenSecrets, 648 companies spent on AI lobbying in 2024 versus 458 in 2023, representing a 141% year-over-year increase. Companies like Microsoft supported legislation such as the CREATE AI Act, which … Read more

UnitedHealth confirms 190 million Americans affected by Change Healthcare data breach

UnitedHealth has confirmed the ransomware attack on its Change Healthcare unit last February affected around 190 million people in America — nearly double previous estimates. The U.S. health insurance giant confirmed the latest number to TechCrunch on Friday after the markets closed. “Change Healthcare has determined the estimated total number of individuals impacted by the … Read more