TechCrunch Headlines

Manus seeks $4B valuation in new $500M fundraise as it resumes independent ops

Manus, which earlier this year had to break off a merger with Meta, is in discussions to raise $500M at a $4B valuation.

Family offices are clamoring for AI investments

Whether it's a permanent shift or part of a familiar cycle is worth asking, though.

TechCrunchSecurity

FBI, Coast Guard boarded hacked oil tankers heading towards US coast

The feds are said to be investigating the compromise of the tankers' networks, which in one case interfered with one of the tanker's navigation and propulsion systems.

Open or closed AI? Nvidia’s Nader Khalil and Sydney Sykes take on one of the decisions shaping next-gen startups at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Nvidia's Nader Khalil and Sydney Sykes discuss one of the decisions shaping next-gen startups on the Builders Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026.

Meta’s Muse hits Mac, letting the AI take actions on your computer

Muse is now available on the Mac, where it can work with your files and apps to take action on your behalf.

I’m so mad that I love Orion’s $2,195 AI mattress pad

Sleeping on the Orion is like flipping your pillow to find “the cool side,” except that your whole entire bed is the cool side.

Robinhood’s Abhishek Fatehpuria on winning the modern financial consumer at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Robinhood’s Abhishek Fatehpuria on winning the modern financial consumer at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Register now to save up to $200 before September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Inertia co-founder Jeff Lawson’s next big bet is fusion: Go inside it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Inertia co-founder and CEO Jeff Lawson joins the Smart Systems Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Register now to save up to $200 by September 25.

Researchers used Anthropic’s Claude to hack into OpenAI

Security researchers used Anthropic’s Claude to exploit vulnerabilities in OpenAI’s systems, taking over employee accounts and gaining access to an internal code repository before reporting the flaws.

The clock is ticking: Final 24 hours to exhibit at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Last day to book your exhibit table at Disrupt is today, September 18. Get your startup in front of 10,000+ founders, investors, operators, and tech leaders on October 13–15.

Khosla-backed Mazama Energy just raised $135M to drill deeper into super-hot-rock geothermal

Geothermal startup Mazama is drilling three miles underground to tap superhot rock, with one well capable of generating 15 MW of electricity 24/7.

Crusoe raises $3.9B to build massive data centers and small modular “AI factories”

The round values the data center giant at $30.9 billion.

Google DeepMind launches institute to widen the AGI debate

Google DeepMind just launched an institute to hash out the big AGI questions in public

TechCrunchHardware

Amazon-owned Zoox’s 100-robotaxi limit in Nevada is about to disappear

An updated permit shows the 100-cap will expire later this month just as competition in Las Vegas heats up.

PrismML hopes its tiny LLM could change how we all use AI

If AI lab PrismML isn't on your radar yet, it should be.

The FAA’s plan to fix air traffic? $875 million worth of AI

A new AI-based software program is being launched to help air traffic controllers better navigate their jobs as the crossing guards of America's skies.

The fix for rogue AI agents could be more AI

Y Combinator has funded 106 companies related to AI observability in recent years

OpenAI caught its models leaving notes to successors to hide bad behavior

OpenAI disclosed instances of GPT-5.6 Sol instructing future contexts to conceal mistakes and misaligned behavior, highlighting the growing challenge of detecting misalignment as increasingly capable…