August 24, 2025

Coinbase CEO explains why he fired engineers who didn't try AI immediately: After getting licenses to cover every engineer, some at the cryptocurrency exchange warned Armstrong that adoption would be slow, predicting it would take months to get even half the engineers using AI.  Read More

iPhone 17, the 'thinnest iPhone ever,' and everything else we're expecting out of Apple's hardware event: From a new slim iPhone Air model to redesigned AirPods, here's what to expect from this year's Apple event. Read More

The next Starship flight will test much more than hardware: The 10th Starship flight test will be a referendum on the company's build-fly-fix approach. Read More

Disrupt 2025 gathers 250+ industry trailblazers and 10,000+ attendees in San Francisco on October 27–29. Explore 200+ sessions on scaling, exits, and the evolving tech landscape. Hear from Elad Gil (Gil & Co), Astro Teller (X, The Moonshot Factory), Tekedra Mawakana (Waymo), Aaron Levie (Box), and more. Register now to save $600+ before prices climb.

We want to get to know our audience even better and get your feedback on our coverage and events. Fill out this survey to give us your thoughts, and get the chance to win a prize in return.

Amazon AGI Labs chief defends his reverse acquihire: The former Adept CEO said he hopes to be "remembered more as "an AI research innovator" than a "a deal structure innovator." Read More

Elon Musk says xAI has open sourced Grok 2.5: Elon Musk's xAI has made an older version of its AI model Grok — specifically, the model weights used to shape Grok 2.5 —  available on the open source platform Hugging Face. Read More

StrictlyVC at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Inside the LP Track: In an era of extended exit timelines, slowed distributions, and increasingly selective LPs, the conversations behind closed doors matter more than ever. Read More

OpenAI warns against SPVs and other 'unauthorized' investments: OpenAI isn't the only AI company looking to crack down on SPVs. Read More

Bluesky blocks service in Mississippi over age assurance law: In a blog post published on Friday, the company explains that, as a small team, it doesn't have the resources to make the substantial technical changes this type of law would require, and it raised concerns about the law's broad scope and privacy implications. Read More

Get your brand in front of 10,000+ tech and VC leaders over three action-packed days at Disrupt 2025 this October. Boost your visibility, spark meaningful connections, and position your company at the forefront of innovation. Tables are selling fast, and the last day to book is September 5. Secure your exhibit space before your competitor beats you to it.

The Trump administration's big Intel investment comes from already awarded grants: While Intel says the government is making an "$8.9 billion investment in Intel common stock," the administration does not appear to be committing new funds. Read More

Want to adjust your daily newsletter schedule? You can do it right here