October 14, 2026

TechCrunch Top 3

Justice Department says North Koreans have infiltrated dozens of US companies: U.S. authorities warn that sanctioned hackers are increasingly targeting Americans to act as facilitators between breached U.S. companies and Pyongyang. Read More

FBI arrests OpenAI employee accused of planting hidden recording device in conference room: It's not clear exactly for what purpose the recording device was used, but FBI director Kash Patel said the scheme was to "capture sensitive communications about the company’s super intelligence technology." Read More

Netflix to lay off 1,000 staff amid intensifying competition for user attention: Netflix said most of the cuts would affect its product, tech, legal, and human resources departments. Read More

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Morning Must-Reads

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Day 2: Day 2 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, full of all themes across AI, investor-only session, more roundtables, and more. Register to save 50% on your pass. Read More

Helix Carbon says it can make iron cheaper by recycling blast furnace pollution: The steel industry is a big polluter, but Helix Carbon can upcycle pollution from blast furnaces to drive down emissions and improve margins. Read More

Science Corporation implants its vision-restoring chip in its first Stargardt disease patient: Max Hodak, the former president and co-founder of Neuralink, detailed onstage at TechCrunch Disrupt how his company's work with PRIMA is part of its path toward a novel brain-computer interface (BCI). Read More

Scimplify raises $25M to challenge China's grip on critical materials with AI: Scimplify's annualized revenue run rate has tripled to $200 million as it eyes U.S. expansion. Read More

Cambridge Heavy Industries has been quietly building a desktop fusion device: Fusion power startup Cambridge Heavy Industries is building a small, laser-powered fusion device to fuel the coming wave of fusion power plants. Read More

A message from Macao International Trade & Investment Fair

Macao's 31st MIF to Kick Off in October

The 31st Macao International Trade & Investment Fair (31st MIF), organised by the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) of the Macao Special Administrative Region, will be held from 21 to 24 October 2026 at the Cotai Expo, The Venetian Macao. For the latest updates on MIF, please visit the official website at www.mif.com.mo.

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Last but Not Least

Judge orders OpenAI to turn over hiring records in Apple trade secrets case: A federal judge ruled that Apple can access OpenAI's interview materials involving former Apple employees, as well as private messages and testimony from key figures in the case. Read More