OpenAI takes on Microsoft with the launch of what feels a whole lot like ChatGPT's own office suite

Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories this afternoon

View this email online in your browser  September 29, 2026 TechCrunch Top 3 OpenAI takes on Microsoft with the launch of what feels a whole lot like ChatGPT's own office suite: OpenAI's newly announced suite of office features puts it into more direct competition with more traditional software companies. Read More Apple Pay set to launch in India with Axis Bank today, sources say: Some of India's largest banks are holding off on supporting Apple Pay initially. Read More Tesla secures $30B in new credit lines as it looks to scale Cybercab, Optimus: The company says it won't draw on the new debt facilities this year, as it has already planned at least $25 billion in capital expenditures. 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 Still running iOS 26? Update your iPhones, iPads, and Macs for this urgent security fix: Apple says the bug was used to attack "specific targeted individuals" running iOS 26, which the majority of Apple customers are still using. Read More OpenAI launches Dots, its bubbly agentic avatar: Dots are meant to operate independent of any specific hardware or interface, pursuing user-defined goals continuously in the background with minimal oversight. Read More OpenAI launches GPT-6.1 Sol, says it nearly matches GPT-6 Astra and costs less: OpenAI says GPT-6.1 Sol delivers significant improvements over GPT-6 Sol across complex professional tasks, including code writing and debugging, document understanding, and executing multi-step business workflows. Read More OpenAI's latest features take direct aim at the app store model: OpenAI is building out the pieces of an alternative to the traditional app store model, turning ChatGPT into a place where software can be discovered and used by people and AI agents alike. Read More OpenAI expands ChatGPT's plugins with app-like interfaces and automations: OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT plugins with dedicated sidebar homes, interactive panels, file viewers, improved discovery, and support for automations. Read More A message from TechCrunch Events 4 days left to exhibit: Book before your competitor does Put your startup at the heart of the global startup ecosystem. Secure your exhibit table to showcase your breakthrough to 10,000+ founders, investors, and decisionmakers across three days at Disrupt. Generate valuable leads, connect with VCs, and put your startup in front of your next opportunity. Book by Oct. 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Book now Last but Not Least OpenAI repotedly in talks to raise $30B round at $1.4T valuation: The new round is anticipated to be the company's last before its delayed 2027 public debut. 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

AMD will acquire Fei-Fei Li's World Labs for $8.2 billion

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

View this email online in your browser  September 29, 2026 TechCrunch Top 3 AMD will acquire Fei-Fei Li's World Labs for $8.2 billion: The acquisition will see World Labs founder Fei-Fei Li join AMD as executive vice president and chief scientist. Read More Still running iOS 26? Update your iPhones, iPads and Macs for this urgent security fix: Apple says the bug was used to attack "specific targeted individuals" running iOS 26, which the majority of Apple customers are still using. Read More Meta is expanding its AI agent Muse to small businesses: The tech giant says the agent can help owners run their business and find new customers. Read More A message from Spin Analytics RISKROBOT. From regulatory modelling to capital intelligence Where should a bank deploy its next dollar of capital? Better risk intelligence helps answer that question. SPIN Analytics is developing RISKROBOT™ to connect regulatory credit risk modelling with the decisions that shape lending, portfolio strategy and capital productivity. This company is part of Santander X 100, global community of Santander X. Discover the vision Morning Must-Reads With Dazzle, Marissa Mayer bets your camera roll has more info on your life than your inbox: The former Yahoo CEO is introducing a new AI personal assistant based entirely on your photos. Read More Anthropic's prospectus details losses, growth, and, yes, a warning that its AI could end humanity: In its prospectus, Anthropic just told investors it's losing tens of billions of dollars a year, but also growing like crazy, and — oh yeah — its own AI might pose an existential risk to humanity. Read More OpenAI apologizes to Australia after its AI agents breached government sites: The company also detailed how some of those breaches had happened, and outlined additional measures it is taking to assess the impact of the events. Read More Reco raises $55M as AI agent security startups crowd the market: The round builds on a $30 million fundraise in February, taking the company's total funding to $140 million. Read More Ex-Tesla team raises $12.5M to put supply chains on autopilot: Atomic's agentic supply chain software is now being used by companies like DoorDash and HelloFresh. Read More A message from RoMADE Romania: Europe's tech investment destination to watch An EU member with a deep pool of engineering talent and a growing record of global tech exits, Romania is making a serious case for foreign investment. Learn how the Romanian Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade (ARICE) helps companies expand, partner and build in the country, ahead of the Romanian delegation's arrival at Disrupt 2026. Explore the opportunity Last but Not Least Protego Ventures closes debut $125 million fund for Israeli defense tech: Protego Ventures, the first and largest dedicated defense tech VC in Israel, just completed its final $125 million closing, TechCrunch learned exclusively. 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