TechCrunch Top 3

Meta wants its AI glasses to seem less creepy. Its AI strategy says otherwise.: Meta is adding a new safeguard to stop people from secretly recording others with its AI glasses. But the update comes as the company continues to expand how much personal data its AI products collect and use. Read More

OpenAI releases new voice models for more natural live conversations: OpenAI says its new voice mode can speak and listen at the same time, a key ability for live translation. Read More

SpaceXAI releases Grok 4.5, which Elon describes as an 'Opus-class model': Elon Musk's tech company released the newest version of Grok on Wednesday, promising a cheaper, more efficient alternative to other powerful AI models. Read More

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Afternoon Must-Reads

Prime Intellect raises $130M Series A to help enterprises build their own AI agents: Founded in 2024, Prime Intellect’s goal is to give organizations capabilities to train their own agentic systems without relying on frontier AI labs. Read More

Apple to produce Made in America wireless chips with Broadcom: Apple has signed a $30 billion+ multiyear deal with Broadcom to design and produce more than 15 billion U.S.-made custom wireless connectivity chips for Apple products. Read More

Elon Musk says X will send DMs when posts you've engaged with are corrected: X plans to send users direct messages when posts they’ve liked, replied to, or reposted receive Community Notes, an update aimed at addressing criticism that the platform’s crowdsourced fact-checking system often arrives too late to curb misinformation. Read More

Another massive data breach exposed millions of driver's license numbers: The cyberattack targeting a U.S. insurance giant is the largest known breach of driver's license numbers so far in 2026. Read More

Blue Origin reportedly raising $10B at $130B valuation: Blue Origin is raising $10 billion at a $130 billion pre-money valuation from Coatue Asset Management, Bezos himself, and other big-name investors, The New York Times reported. Read More

Last but Not Least

Google's deepfake detector system used to debunk McConnell hoax pic: Earlier this week, a picture seemed to show Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell covered in tubes in a hospital bed in a state of extreme distress. It turned out to be an AI-generated fake. Read More