Meta CTO explains why the smart glasses demos failed at Meta Connect — and it wasn't the Wi-Fi

Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories this afternoon

View this email online in your browser  September 19, 2025 TechCrunch Top 3 Meta CTO explains why the smart glasses demos failed at Meta Connect — and it wasn't the Wi-Fi: Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth offered a postmortem on Meta's demo fails this week at its developer conference, where it showed off new smart glasses. Read More Trump and ByteDance tout TikTok deal approval, but no official details yet: The two countries have been working on a way to save TikTok's U.S. business, after the TikTok ban in January over national security concerns. Read More How developers are using Apple's local AI models with iOS 26: As iOS 26 is rolling out to all users, developers have been updating their apps to include features powered by Apple's local AI models. Read More A message from Pacaso Simplifying luxury The biggest hurdle to owning a second home isn't desire — it's complexity. Pacaso removes the headaches of maintenance, scheduling, and financing by managing every detail for co-owners. With curated homes in top markets worldwide, buyers enjoy all the benefits of ownership without the burden of full responsibility. Whether you're looking for a mountain escape or a beach retreat, Pacaso makes it possible. Explore available homes and learn how the model works at pacaso.com Learn More Afternoon Must-Reads OpenAI's research on AI models deliberately lying is wild : AI models don't just hallucinate. They also "scheme," meaning deliberately lie or hide their true intentions. Read More Nvidia eyes $500M investment into self-driving tech startup Wayve: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang took his first ride in a Wayve-equipped self-driving car through Central London. Read More TechCrunch's Equity podcast is on video, starting today: We get it, it seems like every single podcast you love is now on video. And guess what…so is TechCrunch's flagship podcast Equity. Read More Meta Ray-Ban Display and everything else unveiled at Meta Connect 2025: Meta unveiled new versions of its AI-powered smart glasses, as well as a gesture-indicating wristband. Read More Indian fintech Jar turns profitable by enabling millions to save in gold: While many consumer fintechs focus on affluent urban users or credit products, Jar has gained traction by offering a culturally familiar asset — gold — as a low-barrier entry point to saving. Read More A message from HSBC Innovation Banking US Discover founder-first banking for the future HSBC Innovation Banking US is committed to helping leaders in the innovation economy get started on the future faster by providing access to an extensive global network, dedicated sector experts, and a robust suite of banking products and services. Learn more Be the first to know when news breaks Subscribe to our News Alerts, and you won't miss a thing. Breaking news, exclusives, and special reports—straight to your inbox. Sign up for News Alerts! Last but Not Least Best Apple Watch apps for boosting your productivity: Although the Apple Watch comes with simple built-in productivity apps like Reminders and Calendar, it's worth exploring some third-party apps that are designed to boost productivity by offering additional functionality.  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 © 2025 TechCrunch Media LLC 501 2nd Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94107