Google thinks SpaceX's Starship has to launch 1,800 times before space data centers get off the ground

Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories this afternoon

View this email online in your browser  October 01, 2026 TechCrunch Top 3 Google thinks SpaceX's Starship has to launch 1,800 times before space data centers get off the ground: Google launched its first advanced chip into orbit to pave the way for space data centers. Read More Opus 5.5 loves to tell you 'this matters' (and other AI writing tells): Opus 5.5’s biggest tell is the word “dependable,” which pops up 23 times more often than in human samples. Read More ChatGPT can now virtually try on clothes for you: OpenAI is rolling out new shopping features for ChatGPT that let users virtually try on clothing and accessories using their own photos and save products they like to a Favorites library. Read More A message from TechCrunch Events Get your Disrupt pass and get 50% off a second The Disrupt experience is better shared. Get one pass at regular price and a second at 50% off for a co-founder, partner, colleague, or peer. Make more connections, gain fresh insights, and discover the next wave of tech together. This offer ends when Disrupt begins Oct. 13 at 8 a.m. PT. Register now Afternoon Must-Reads Brian Chesky interview: AI agents need their own operating system: Brian Chesky on making Airbnb agent-friendly, the state of consumer AI, and why the world needs an AI-native operating system. Read More California governor vetoes bill banning use of 'pervert glasses' to secretly record people: The California state bill would have penalized people who secretly recorded people in public with wearables equipped with cameras and microphones. Read More World’s first enhanced geothermal power plant completed in just 23 months: Fervo Energy completed its first power plant in less than two years. The next phases promise to connect to the grid even quicker. Read More OpenAI cuts ties with 3 safety researchers, WSJ reports: OpenAI has parted ways with three safety researchers after an internal investigation found they mishandled sensitive company information, report says. Read More Amazon releases its own Jev clone as decision models flood the web: Amazon Web Services' Strand Labs has released the latest Jevalike decision model, Strands Decider 2B. Read More A message from TechCrunch Events Tomorrow is your last day to exhibit at Disrupt Don’t wait until the Expo Hall is full to wish you had a table. Book by tomorrow, Oct. 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT, and put your startup in front of 10,000+ founders, investors, and decisionmakers at Disrupt. Showcase your breakthrough, generate valuable leads, and connect with VCs. Your table could go to your competitor. Book now Last but Not Least The new Kindle ditches the raised bezel in a push toward a smaller, lighter e-reader: The new Kindle lineup features its lightest and thinnest designs yet, with a sleek, front-flush display that eliminates bezels for good. 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 © 2026 TechCrunch Media LLC 501 2nd Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94107

Factory CEO just accused his VC board adviser of spying for Cognition

Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories to start your morning

View this email online in your browser  October 01, 2026 TechCrunch Top 3 Factory CEO just accused his VC board adviser of spying for Cognition: VC Chris Degnan and former board adviser to Factory AI has taken a job as chief revenue officer for competitor Cognition -- and everyone is arguing on X about it. Read More The Pentagon taps Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey to help decide what the military should do next: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth just launched a 120-day study on the future of warfare, led by Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey, and Newt Gingrich, and while it makes sense given their ties to the administration, critics could point out that Musk's and Luckey's companies already sell the kinds of technology the study is likely to recommend. Read More Hackers stole millions of US military personnel records during months-long data breach: The Department of Defense notified millions of current and former U.S. military personnel that their personal information had been stolen in a months-long breach. Read More A message from Spin Analytics Better capital allocation starts with understanding risk SPIN Analytics is building AI-driven infrastructure to help financial institutions turn regulatory credit risk modelling into actionable risk intelligence. RISKROBOT™ brings together modelling efficiency and governance to support more informed lending and capital decisions. Explore the opportunity with us. Spin Analytics is part of Santander X 100, global community of Santander X. Explore the opportunity Morning Must-Reads Google releases Gemini 4 Argon, called its most powerful model yet: Google has released its latest Gemini model, marketing it as a workhorse for coding and cybersecurity work. Read More BMW built the same car for gas and electric. The EV is $4,400 cheaper.: The new BMW 3 Series shows just how quickly EVs have caught up to fossil fuel vehicles on pricing. Read More The new Kindle ditches the raised bezel in a push toward a smaller, lighter e-reader: The new Kindle lineup features its lightest and thinnest designs yet, with a sleek, front-flush display that eliminates bezels for good. Read More Photon held a funeral for mobile apps. Now it has $4.5M to help replace them with agents.: The startup helps developers build AI agents that work over iMessage, SMS/RCS, email, and other messaging platforms. It's a bet that consumers will increasingly use agents instead of downloading apps. Read More Satlyt, founded by a former Google and SpaceX product manager, raises $8M to run AI on satellites: Satlyt wants to be the Android of orbital computing, offering open software that works on many companies' satellites, versus SpaceX's closed, all-in-one iPhone-style approach. Read More A message from RoMADE People need updates too: an LMS that keeps pace with AI Tech changes in months; education still moves in years. Bucharest-based TheProject.Digital built an AI-powered LMS that turns emerging topics into structured courses and gives every learner an AI trainer. Tested at its own academy, it's available white-label to companies and training providers. Meet the team with the Romanian delegation at Disrupt. Explore the LMS Last but Not Least Hearing tech startup Legato launches its AI hearing glasses: The glasses stem from the startup’s goal of making hearing care more accessible by addressing the cost, comfort, and stigma associated with traditional hearing aids. 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 © 2026 TechCrunch Media LLC 501 2nd Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94107