• The dumbest things that happened in tech this year

    January 1, 2026

    The tech industry moves so fast that it’s hard to keep up with just how much has happened this year. We’ve watched as the tech elite enmeshed themselves in the U.S. government, AI companies sparred for dominance, and futuristic tech like smart glasses and robotaxis became a bit more tangible outside of the San Francisco bubble. You know, important stuff that’s going to impact our lives for years to come.  But the tech world is brimming with so many big personalities that there’s always something really dumb going on, which understandably gets overshadowed by “real news” when the entire internet…

  • How to watch the LG press conference at CES 2026

    January 1, 2026

    For years, LG has kicked off CES press day with the first event of the morning — and 2026 will be no different. The Korea-based corporation is theming its presentation as “Innovation in Tune with You,” and — if it follows the template of past presentations — it will highlight both the consumer electronics and large appliance sides of its mammoth global businesses. Like nearly all tech-centric events these days, expect AI to be the binding theme of the LG presentation at CES 2026. Just be aware that, like Apple, LG has its own customized abbreviation for AI: “Affectionate Intelligence.”…

  • The 10 top government, legal startups from Disrupt Startup Battlefield

    January 1, 2026

    Every year, TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield pitch contest draws thousands of applicants. We whittle those applications down to the top 200 contenders, and of them, the top 20 compete on the big stage to become the winner, taking home the Startup Battlefield Cup and a cash prize of $100,000. But the remaining 180 startups all blew us away as well in their respective categories and compete in their own pitch competition. Here is the full list of the government and legal Startup Battlefield 200 selectees, along with a note on why they landed in the competition.  Aparti What it does: Uses AI to automate…

  • January’s PS Plus Monthly Games include Need for Speed Unbound and Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed

    January 1, 2026

    Sony of PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for 2026. There are three titles to play this month, all of which drop on January 6. As always, you’ll retain access to these games as long as your subscription remains active. First up, there’s Need For Speed Unbound. This is a racing game that and was the first entry in the franchise for several years before that. It has a unique visual style, thanks to cel-shaded graphics, with all kinds of vehicles to choose from. There are street racing challenges, weekly qualifiers and a minigame that has you outrunning the cops. The rapper…

  • ‘College dropout’ has become the most coveted startup founder credential

    January 1, 2026

    Although iconic founders like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg famously didn’t finish college, multiple studies show that the vast majority of successful startups had founders with bachelor’s or graduate degrees. Despite this data, the appeal of a dropout founder persists, though VC enthusiasm for the ‘un-degreed’ is far from constant. It is a phenomenon that cycles in and out of fashion, and right now it is certainly having a moment amid the AI boom. This trend is particularly evident during Y Combinator Demo Days, where founders are increasingly touting their dropout status in their one-minute pitches. “I don’t believe YC…

  • How to watch the Sony Honda Afeela CES 2026 press conference

    January 1, 2026

    Sony’s CES 2026 press conference is just days away, but this year has a twist: Instead of an overview of Sony’s electronics, video game and Hollywood studio plans for the new year, the presser will apparently have a more narrow focus: electric vehicles. That’s because the traditional end-of-press-day slot isn’t just Sony, but rather Sony Honda Mobility — the joint venture responsible for the Afeela 1 electric car that has been showcased at CES for the better part of a decade. This year, however, we’ll also apparently get to see a an all-new concept model at the event, too. How…

  • These are the best gadgets for your pet right now

    January 1, 2026

    Having a cuddly pet to return home to is one of life’s great joys, and with the latest gadgets and AI technology, pet ownership becomes even more enjoyable and convenient.  Here’s a roundup of some gadgets that can be the perfect gifts for any pet parent. Petlibro AI-powered pet camera – $99.99 Image Credits:PetLibro Petlibro recently launched its AI-powered Scout Smart Camera, which gives pet owners real-time insights into what their little ones are up to.  The app lets you control where the camera looks, and it can also automatically follow your pet as they move around. The camera has…

  • AI is so ubiquitous ‘it will be more practical to fingerprint real media than fake media’

    December 31, 2025

    It’s no secret that AI-generated content took over our social media feeds in 2025. Now, Instagram’s top exec Adam Mosseri has made it clear that he expects AI content to overtake non-AI imagery and the significant implications that shift has for its creators and photographers. Mosseri shared the thoughts in a lengthy post about the broader trends he expects to shape Instagram in 2026. And he offered a notably candid assessment on how AI is upending the platform. “Everything that made creators matter—the ability to be real, to connect, to have a voice that couldn’t be faked—is now suddenly accessible…

  • Tade Oyerinde and Teddy Solomon talk about building engaged audiences at TechCrunch Disrupt

    December 31, 2025

    Tade Oyerinde and Teddy Solomon know a few things about building communities that last.   Afterall, Oyerinde is the founder and chancellor of the online school Campus, while Solomon is the co-founder behind the college social app Fizz.  The two spoke at TechCrunch Disrupt this year, breaking down the strategies that helped them scale their companies while retaining consumer interest.  Campus offers associate degrees in areas like information technology and business administration. It also offers certificates in specialities like cosmetology and phlebotomy. There are more than 3,000 students enrolled in Campus, and it employs more than 100 professors on at least a part-time basis, Oyerinde says.   Oyerinde said Campus decided to launch à la carte courses since…

  • How to watch Samsung’s “First Look” CES 2026 presentation

    December 31, 2025

    Samsung is arguably the 800-pound gorilla of CES, with a full spectrum of products that range from phones and computers to refrigerators to AI assistants and rolling robots. But for , the company is shaking up the schedule a bit: Instead of its longtime midday Monday press conference position, the Korean giant will front-run the entire show with a Sunday night presentation. Samsung has already given a few hints as to what’s on the agenda, but what we’re really hoping to see is an update on the — a star of previous CES presentations that ostensibly missed its previously promised…