August 04, 2025

TechCrunch Top 3

Tesla hands $29B comp package to Elon Musk amid 'AI talent war': The plan would be voided if the Delaware Supreme Court overturns the decision to spike Musk's $56B comp plan from 2018. A judge ruled in 2024 that plan was unfairly negotiated. Read More

OpenMind wants to be the Android operating system of humanoid robots: OpenMind is building humanoid robot operating software designed for robots that interact with people and other robots. Read More

North Korean spies posing as remote workers have infiltrated hundreds of companies, says CrowdStrike: North Korean IT workers are increasingly using generative AI to draft resumes and "deepfake" their appearances to make money for North Korea's sanctioned nuclear weapons program. Read More

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Morning Must-Reads

The uproar over Vogue's AI-generated ad isn't just about fashion: "Modeling as a profession is already challenging enough without having to compete with now new digital standards of perfection that can be achieved with AI," Sarah Murray told TechCrunch. Read More

Amazon shuts down Wondery podcast studio, cuts 110 jobs: Despite securing big names in the business, the company is now shifting its strategy in an effort to better compete with rivals like Spotify and YouTube. Read More

Spotify raises subscription prices: Spotify is raising prices for users in some international markets after a rough quarterly earnings report. Read More

Mastercard denies pressuring game platforms, Valve tells a different story: Mastercard seemingly denied playing a role in a recent marketplace crackdown on games with adult content, while Valve says the pressure was indirect. Read More

SAP is acquiring SmartRecruiters: SAP has reached an agreement to acquire SmartRecruiters, with SmartRecruiters' software complementing SAP's existing HR tools. Read More

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Last but Not Least

Joby Aviation to buy Blade Air Mobility's ride-share business: Joby is buying the Blade brand and the company's passenger business, which includes operations in the United States and Europe, for as much as $125 million. Read More