TechCrunch Top 3

Asian AI startups launch Mythos-like models as Anthropic's export ban drags on: New models are launching in Asia that promise Mythos-like capabilities without fear of an export ban. U.S. AI labs may never recover this enormous market. Read More

OpenAI limits GPT-5.6 rollout after government request, says restrictions shouldn’t be the norm: “We don’t believe this kind of government access process should become the long-term default,” says OpenAI. “It keeps the best tools from users, developers, enterprises, cyber defenders, and global partners who need them.” Read More

Govee's smart nugget ice maker makes every iced drink feel like a luxury: For some people, the ice in a beverage is almost as important as the drink itself. That's the audience Govee had in mind when designing its latest ice maker, the GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro. This $500 premium smart home gadget is aimed at those who crave what's called “the good ice,” the soft, chewable nugget ice often found in fast food or restaurant drinks. Govee says that the modern-design gadget delivers nugget ice in as little as six minutes. That's a claim that proved true in my testing. It can make up to 60 pounds of ice per day, and has a 3.5-pound ice basket that automatically refills as you scoop out ice. The hefty price tag means it’s not for people who are perfectly happy with refrigerator ice and don't know what “good ice” even means. Instead, it’s for self-proclaimed ice enthusiasts willing to splurge on a fun, luxury gadget that makes everyday drinks a little more enjoyable. It’s simple to use, as you just need to fill the tank with water and press start on the screen. You can also control the ice maker with the GoveeHome app, which lets you start ice production from your phone or schedule it so ice is ready when you need it, such as before your morning coffee. The app control is quite convenient. I could start ice production from my phone while working at my desk, and by the time I wanted an iced latte, there was fresh nugget ice Read More

Sunday Must-Reads

Russian hackers were behind $2.5B hack of Jaguar Land Rover: Report: The hack on car giant Jaguar Land Rover last year was one of the most disrupting, damaging, and costly hacks of the last few years. Read More

Corgi, the buzzy Y Combinator-backed insurance tech startup, says it didn't steal an open source product: Corgi became embroiled in controversy when Papermark accused it of stealing its software. Corgi says it did not, raising new questions about vibe coding. Read More

Why Wall Street thinks US memory maker Micron is the next Nvidia: Eager to find more public AI-related companies that may do as well as Nvidia, Wall Street investors think they've found a winner with Micron. Read More

The fittest founder in the room got cancer. Here's how he used AI to fight back.: When confronted with cancer, Connor Christou fed everything tied tied to his regime — blood results, scan data, wearable output, journal entries — into Claude. Read More

FTC gives Musk the OK to acquire SpaceX alumni startup Mesh: Mesh came out of stealth in February with a $50 million Series A. Read More

Disrupt 2026: Where deals and ideas ignite

Oct 13–15 at San Francisco's Moscone West, 10,000 founders, investors, and operators gather for high-signal insights, curated connections, and real momentum.

Last but Not Least

It's not about Anthropic vs. OpenAI anymore: AI models have progressed to the point where their capabilities have real political consequences. Dealing with those consequences will require collective action. Read More