August 22, 2025

TechCrunch Top 3

Waymo approved to start autonomous vehicle testing in New York City: It's the first permit of its kind, and a crucial step along the path toward launching a true robotaxi service in the Big Apple. Read More

OpenAI lawyers question Meta's role in Elon Musk's $97B takeover bid : OpenAI says that Elon Musk met with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to discuss a $97 billion takeover bid of the ChatGPT-maker. Read More

Microsoft AI chief says it's 'dangerous' to study AI consciousness: As AI chatbots surge in popularity, Mustafa Suleyman argues that it's dangerous to consider how these systems could be conscious. Read More

A message from Persona

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Morning Must-Reads

YouTube Music celebrates 10 years with new features that help it compete with Spotify: YouTube Music is rolling out taste match playlists, comments, badges and more. Read More

As India bans real-money games, Dream Sports, MPL start pulling the plug: Several Indian startups, including Dream Sports, MPL, and Zupee, are shutting down their real-money games after parliament passed a bill banning such games. Read More

StrictlyVC at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Inside the LP Track: In an era of extended exit timelines, slowed distributions, and increasingly selective LPs, the conversations behind closed doors matter more than ever. Read More

OpenAI announces New Delhi office as it expands footprint in India: OpenAI has started hiring in India as it looks to expand its presence in the fast-growing South Asian tech market. Read More

iPhone 17, the 'thinnest iPhone ever,' and everything else we're expecting out of Apple's hardware event: From a new slim iPhone Air model to redesigned AirPods, here's what to expect from this year's Apple event. Read More

A message from Antigravity

Meet Antigravity A1 — the world's first 8K 360 drone

A new era of drone flight is here. At just 249g, this 8K 360 drone lets you explore every angle of the sky with unparalleled clarity. Head-tracked FPV goggles put you inside the action, radically transforming how you see the world and tell stories. Lightweight, powerful, and unlike anything you've flown before. This is flight reimagined for life.

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Last but Not Least

Developer gets prison time for sabotaging former employer's network with a 'kill switch': The ex-developer was convicted of planting malicious code designed to crash its servers in the event that he was fired. Read More