Private equity giant Blackstone is putting itself at the center of the AI boom, firm veteran Jas Khaira discussed last week on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt. It is writing checks via various strategies, ranging from offering massive loans to data centers to investing in frontier AI models and applications. Earlier this year, the firm launched […] More
There are regulatory hurdles too. The FDA approves medications to treat diseases, not to enhance wellness, says Thomas Burris, a pharmacologist at the University of Florida whose work focuses on diseases that respond to exercise, like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dementia. The progress There may never be a pill that delivers all the benefits […] More
Tesla said Wednesday it will start selling its Cybercab to customers by the end of the year, even as federal regulators investigate whether the vehicle meets vehicle safety standards. The gold-hued, autonomous two-seater lacks a steering wheel and other traditional controls. During the company’s third-quarter earnings call, Lars Moravy, vice president of engineering at Tesla, […] More
There are other hurdles. Many animals communicate not just through sound but through visual cues, touch, pheromones, or a combination of signals, some of which might be difficult for us to perceive. And without a multispecies Rosetta stone, it’s hard to know if translations are accurate. The progress Over the past 50 years, a growing […] More
TechCrunch Founder Summit is a full-day gathering in Boston on November 4 where founders across all stages connect with top VCs and experienced entrepreneurs to gain tactical insights on building and scaling their companies. It’s the latest in our long line of founder-centric events, which are smaller and more hands-on than Disrupt. For the founder […] More
The PFAS monster is also a moving target. New compounds are still being created and used. There are more than 12,000 of them, and much of the cleanup research focuses on only a small handful. The progress Cleansing PFAS-contaminated soil is a project in its infancy, but it is possible to prevent more buildup by […] More
General Motors is adding a personal AI assistant to OnStar as part of a broader makeover of the subscription-based connected car service that the U.S. automaker launched 30 years ago. The OnStar AI Assistant will debut in the 2027 Cadillac Lyriq EV in the coming months, with more GM vehicles to follow, the company said […] More
Cheap and proven traffic-calming opportunities abound—from using planters to tighten intersections to lowering speed limits—but government logjams and red tape can be speed bumps. “There’s so many moving parts,” says Laura Sandt of the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center. “On the flip side, it shows that we have so many opportunities for […] More
More than 50% of managers say they’re finding it harder to evaluate employees’ work after adopting AI, according to a new survey. Source link More
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Introducing: the Impossible issue We wanted our last print edition of 2026 to include a slate of stories that check in on impossible ideas. Why? Because it’s fun to dream about […] More
Elon Musk says SpaceX will attempt to capture both the vehicle’s lower and upper stages for test flight 15. SpaceX SpaceX is planning to catch both the Starship’s Super Heavy booster and its upper stage, dubbed the “Ship,” for the first time ever for the vehicle’s 15th flight test. During the company’s earnings […] More
Statins are among the most important medications for preventing cardiovascular disease. By lowering cholesterol, they have helped save millions of lives and reduce the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes. However, these benefits can come with unwanted effects. Some patients develop muscle pain or weakness, while a small number experience serious muscle breakdown that can […] More