Amazon's Bee launches two new personal AI devices, starting at $75

Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories to start your morning

View this email online in your browser  October 15, 2026 TechCrunch Top 3 Amazon's Bee launches two new personal AI devices, starting at $75: Amazon-owned Bee has launched its first new AI devices since its acquisition, including an updated wearable and a credit-card-sized recorder that attaches to smartphones. The devices can summarize conversations, create to-do lists, and integrate with Alexa and Amazon shopping, with prices starting at $74.99. Read More Citizen Lab says governments are abusing online ads to hack people with 'zero-click' spyware: The digital rights unit found evidence that dozens of devices at media organization Al Jazeera were hacked after being shown malicious online ads. Read More Google’s Universal Cart shopping tool launches in the US: The new shopping tool is available in the U.S. across Google Search and the Gemini app. Read More Our biggest event of the year is coming next week, and now's the time to lock in your ticket to learning how to build successfully in the AI era. You'll get expert insights from leaders from Anthropic, Nvidia, OpenAI, Google Cloud, and hundreds of other sessions across three days.  Save 50% on a second ticket, or if you've been laid off recently, get an Expo+ Pass for just $75. Register Now Morning Must-Reads Ramp reaches $60B valuation as it pushes deeper into AI: The funding comes as Ramp's annualized revenue crosses $2B, and its customer count reaches 85,000. Read More Flock CEO defends surveillance technology amid national backlash: 'We shouldn't pause progress': At TechCrunch Disrupt, Flock CEO Garrett Langley defended his company's surveillance technology despite growing privacy concerns, arguing that its crime-fighting benefits outweigh the risks of abuse. Read More Figma announces new features to define how agents work on its platform: Figma is also releasing its code layers feature in open beta. Read More Ricursive Intelligence is betting on AI-designed chips to help solve the compute crisis: The founders detailed how their startup is developing AI that can design chips, learn from each iteration, and improve subsequent designs, all with the goal of automating and accelerating the chip design process. Read More Meet the five companies competing in the Startup Battlefield finals at Disrupt 2026: It’s time to unveil the five companies that will be competing in the Startup Battlefield finals. Read More A message from Macao International Trade & Investment Fair Macao's 31st MIF to Kick Off in October The 31st Macao International Trade & Investment Fair (31st MIF), organised by the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) of the Macao Special Administrative Region, will be held from 21 to 24 October 2026 at the Cotai Expo, The Venetian Macao. For the latest updates on MIF, please visit the official website at www.mif.com.mo. Visit the website Last but Not Least CedarDB wants one database to handle both transactions and analytics, as AI agents raise the stakes: Databases have traditionally been designed either for analytical data or for operational data. But database engine CedarDB supports both, and its approach has gained relevance with the rise of agentic AI. Read More Check out some of our other newsletters: StrictlyVC TechCrunch Events TechCrunch Mobility Want to adjust your daily newsletter schedule? You can do it right here Got a tip? Get in touch securely. Want to advertise on TechCrunch? advertise@techcrunch.com Has this been forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe to this newsletter. Unsubscribe Member Center Privacy Policy Copyright © 2026 TechCrunch Media LLC 501 2nd Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94107

Flock CEO: We haven't 'fired' any police departments as customers

Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories this afternoon

View this email online in your browser  October 14, 2026 TechCrunch Top 3 Flock CEO: We haven't 'fired' any police departments as customers: Flock CEO Garrett Langley said that the surveillance company has not canceled contracts of any police department or law enforcement agency, despite reports of abuse. Read More YouTube Music launches new labels as AI-generated music floods streaming platforms: The label will appear on the player page and include songs entirely generated by AI or partially, such as AI involved in composition and vocals. Read More Hiyd is a health tracker that attaches to the watch you already wear: Former Apple engineers figured out how to get a biometric sensor to attach to your watch without any magnets or adhesives. Read More A message from 188 West Saint James Move-in ready condos starting at $375k in downtown San Jose Discover the best of modern living, where Silicon Valley meets downtown San Jose. Enjoy refined amenities such as our business lounge, 75-foot lap pool, and expansive amenity deck, panoramic views, and light-filled residences designed for ease and sophistication, with dining, entertainment, and the energy of San Pedro Square just steps away. Schedule a Tour Our biggest event of the year is coming next week, and now's the time to lock in your ticket to learning how to build successfully in the AI era. You'll get expert insights from leaders from Anthropic, Nvidia, OpenAI, Google Cloud, and hundreds of other sessions across three days.  Save 50% on a second ticket, or if you've been laid off recently, get an Expo+ Pass for just $75. Register Now Afternoon Must-Reads Mosqitter is turning its mosquito traps into an AI-powered surveillance network: Mosqitter is turning its mosquito-trapping hardware into an AI-powered surveillance network designed to identify species, monitor populations, and provide earlier warnings of mosquito-borne disease risks. Read More Netflix to lay off 1,000 staff amid intensifying competition for user attention: Netflix said most of the cuts would affect its product, tech, legal, and human resources departments. Read More Apate sends AI agents undercover to get scammed so they can gather fraud intelligence: Most companies use AI agents to ship products faster or speed up workflows. Apate.ai sends them undercover to get scammed. Read More Electric vehicle sales in the US are showing signs of life: The electric vehicle market in the U.S. has been growing for the last three consecutive quarters. Read More TimeTeller puts our internal clocks at the center of personalized medicine: German startup TimeTeller has developed a saliva test kit to help anyone understand their circadian rhythm; it aims to reduce side effects from cancer treatments. Read More Last but Not Least Ambrosia Energy will build a 10 GWh factory in Texas to make batteries for off-grid data centers: Startup Ambrosia Energy will build a massive factory to crank out batteries to augment solar panels, creating a round-the-clock clean power plant. Read More Check out some of our other newsletters: StrictlyVC TechCrunch Events TechCrunch Mobility Want to adjust your daily newsletter schedule? You can do it right here Got a tip? Get in touch securely. Want to advertise on TechCrunch? advertise@techcrunch.com Has this been forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe to this newsletter. Unsubscribe Member Center Privacy Policy Copyright © 2026 TechCrunch Media LLC 501 2nd Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94107