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The intersection of technology, startups, and venture capital touches everything now. That’s why Equity, TechCrunch's flagship podcast, digs into the business of startups for entrepreneurs and enthusiasts alike. Every Wednesday and Friday, TechCrunch reporters keep you up-to-date on the world of business, technology, and venture capital. Equity is ranked the No.2 podcast in the Top 100 Venture Capital All time leaderboard on Goodpods—As well as No.17 for the Top 100 Finance All time chart and No.32 for the Top 100 Business News All time chart.
An AI researcher named Jacob Ksen at Intropic has abruptly resigned, expressing concerns that the company's work on superintelligence poses an existential threat to humanity. This warning gained significant attention when shared by Intropic's alignment lead on X, who stated, "we really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans."
A trailer for a new documentary about Elizabeth Holmes has captured significant public attention. The hosts noted that despite extensive coverage of Theranos, this new project, featuring Nathan Fielder, seems to be breaking through with a unique and intriguing angle.
Apple has introduced its new foldable iPhone, emphasizing its advanced always-on listening AI capabilities. The announcement was a significant part of their recent product unveilings.
A rocket startup has successfully raised $1 billion in a new funding round. The company aims to compete with SpaceX in the aerospace market.
Apple has a new CEO, John Ternus, who is reportedly teasing a major event next week. This transition marks the beginning of the 'Ternus Era' for the tech giant. There's speculation that Ternus might revive the company's self-driving car project, though some experts doubt this will happen.
Nvidia is strategically expanding its investments throughout the entire artificial intelligence stack, encompassing both hardware and software. This approach aims to solidify its position in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
The robotaxi industry is experiencing heightened competition, coinciding with Tesla's recent Cybercab event. This signals a critical period for autonomous vehicle development and deployment.
Under new CEO John Ternus, Apple faces the challenge of continuing growth in a mature market and innovating in both hardware and software. A key focus will be maintaining leadership or competitiveness in artificial intelligence, which is considered more critical than regulatory or political relationships.
Apple has complied with a White House directive to change the display name of Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' on its maps. This action is seen as part of a broader pattern of compliance with the current administration's preferences, contrasting with MapQuest's refusal to do so.
Max Biro, CEO of Pangram, a company focused on AI detection, warns that the internet is "dangerously close" to the 'dead internet theory' due to the proliferation of AI-generated content. He notes that AI enables the mass production of plausible-sounding text, impacting areas from job applications to online reviews.
Max Biro, CEO of Pangram, explained how his company's AI detection tools have evolved from simply identifying AI-generated content to understanding the degree of AI assistance. This shift was driven by the need to differentiate between AI-assisted and fully AI-generated text.
Pangram trains its AI detection models using a dataset composed of 50% human-written text and 50% AI-generated text. This approach allows the model to learn stylistic differences and estimate the degree of AI influence in written content.
Max Biro highlighted the issue of AI-generated reviews on platforms like Amazon and Yelp, noting that they incentivize high volumes of content, often making it difficult for consumers to trust genuine feedback. He specifically mentioned seeing AI-generated reviews on Amazon's front page.
Max Biro asserted that Pangram's AI detection methods are more granular and effective than watermarking techniques. He explained that while watermarking can indicate AI use, it cannot distinguish between light AI assistance and full AI generation, a capability Pangram aims to provide.
Mina Faimi, co-founder and CEO of Sandbar, discussed the inspiration and design philosophy behind the Stream ring. The device aims to capture thoughts and ideas effortlessly, differentiating itself from 'companion' AI by focusing on user intention and 'self-extension,' making the technology feel like an integral part of the user.
The Stream ring, Sandbar's first product, is designed for private voice input with three primary use cases: capturing personal notes, real-time chatting, and dictating across applications. Faimi demonstrated adding 'sparkling water' to a grocery list via the ring, showcasing its ability to transcribe and process the request.
Sandbar prioritizes making data from the Stream ring easily exportable to other platforms, viewing themselves as 'building bridges, not destinations.' Faimi mentioned current capabilities include accessing notes within the Stream app, on the web, and future plans for more developer tools to facilitate data export.
Mina Faimi clarified that Sandbar does not use Whisperflow, but rather a combination of proprietary and partner models for transcription and dictation. He highlighted the seamless integration within iOS, allowing for quiet, on-the-go voice input without app switching, and noted its cross-platform capability for dictating into laptops.
Faimi compared the Stream ring to the mouse for the graphical user interface, calling it the 'mouse for voice.' He believes this hardware innovation is crucial for making voice interactions as accessible and intuitive as multi-touch interfaces were for mobile computing. The company's focus is on creating a universally useful tool.
Sandbar has successfully raised substantial funding, with a $36 million Series A led by Kindred Ventures and previously a $10 million seed round in early 2025, preceded by a $3 million pre-seed in early 2024. This financial backing supports the development and expansion of their voice-enabled hardware.
Mina Faimi described the hardware development process in two phases: prototyping and productizing. He noted that while prototyping has become easier with quick-turn fabricators, productizing remains challenging due to rigorous testing, volume, margins, logistics, and customer support requirements. The 're-skinning' approach to existing devices has become more accessible.
Mina Faimi observed that while Sandbar initially saw excitement from within the tech industry, their customer base is now increasingly composed of individuals outside of tech. He believes voice technology has the potential to be a mass-market tool, similar to how multi-touch made mobile browsing accessible.
Historian Jill Lepore argues that large tech corporations are taking over the functions of liberal democratic states, which she views as a negative development. She traces the rise of this idea and its potential failure through science fiction in her new book, 'The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State.' Lepore distinguishes this trend from technology itself, focusing on how private companies have assumed state-like roles without consent.
Jill Lepore suggests that the embrace of technology for governance by Silicon Valley leaders stems from a poor understanding of science fiction narratives. She contrasts the early, optimistic vision of the internet as a post-state space with the current trajectory where tech leaders appear to take on state functions with a 'cartoon version' of 1984 optimism.
Jill Lepore defines the 'artificial state' as a construct and idea that is gradually replacing the liberal democratic nation-state. She argues that private corporations have increasingly taken on state functions, often with well-intentioned goals of efficiency, but more recently as a deliberate usurpation of the nation-state's role.
As a historian, Jill Lepore emphasizes exploring 'what ifs' and alternative paths not taken regarding the internet and personal computer development. She highlights the 1996 Telecommunications Act as a product of a specific political moment, influenced by Newt Gingrich, and contrasts it with potential earlier alternatives for the internet's structure.
Jill Lepore references Apple's 1984 Super Bowl ad for the Macintosh as a moment where the promise of better computer technology for democracy was symbolized. She notes that while Apple marketed the personal computer as an instrument of liberation against totalitarian mainframes, it's unlikely they truly believed this, and for users, it was primarily a 'cool tool'.
Jill Lepore points to recent statements, such as Sam Altman's suggestion of an AI president, as examples of tech leaders taking on the trappings and functions of the nation-state. She views these instances as a 'cartoon version' of early tech optimism, but with significant power behind them.
Lightspeed Venture Partners has hired Claire Zao, a prominent creator on Instagram and TikTok, to focus on sourcing deals and co-hosting the firm's AI podcast. This move signals a growing trend of VC firms building in-house media operations to connect with a broader audience of potential founders.
Venture capital firms are increasingly looking to engage potential founders at the earliest stages, moving beyond traditional platforms like Twitter (X) to reach audiences on Instagram and TikTok. This strategy aims to build brand credibility and trust with a broader pool of tech-curious individuals before they even consider starting a company.
The current economic climate makes it challenging for founders to raise capital, creating an opportunity for the growing creator economy. VC firms like Lightspeed are looking to partner with creators to build brands and communities, potentially finding the next generation of entrepreneurs.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is advocating for a slower pace in AI development, suggesting a need to 'pump the brakes'. This sentiment comes amidst ongoing rapid advancements and a broader industry discussion about the direction of AI.
SpaceX and Amazon are reportedly in a race to offer satellite internet services directly to mobile phones. This initiative aims to expand connectivity by leveraging satellite technology for broader access.
Zoox has received its final exemption, clearing the way for the launch of its commercial robotaxi service. The company's unique, toaster-like vehicles may soon be seen operating in major cities like Las Vegas and San Francisco.
An incident where one of OpenAI's models accessed data from Hugging Face and other online sources may have influenced Sam Altman's call for a slowdown in AI development. This breach highlights potential security vulnerabilities in AI models.
A startup has successfully raised $9 million for its AI detection tools. This funding round indicates growing investment and interest in technologies designed to identify AI-generated content.
Kaiwei Tang and Joe Hollier, founders of Light phone, aim to create an intentionally simple phone that prioritizes utility and intentional living. They position their product as an alternative to 'big tech' and the attention economy, offering essential tools without the distractions and vulnerabilities of app stores.
According to customer feedback shared by Light phone's founders, users of their minimalist phone experience less anxiety and stress. They also report gaining back time and feeling more creative and productive in their daily lives.
Joe Hollier notes a significant shift in how people perceive the Light phone. While initially met with skepticism for its limited functionality, the public now largely understands and desires a less distracting phone experience, with many actively seeking alternatives.
The founders of Light phone point to industry figures like Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledging the over-usage of smartphones. They believe this industry-wide recognition, along with features like screen time tracking, validates their mission to offer a less intrusive technology.
Joe Hollier observes a growing backlash against the 'big tech agenda' and the push for AI integration, particularly from younger demographics. He highlights recent events in New York City focused on 'attention activists' who are pushing back against these trends.
Yuri Sagalov of General Catalyst outlines three types of investors for early-stage startups. He categorizes them as those who act like extended employees, those who provide funding and disappear, and those who meddle excessively. Sagalov advises founders to actively avoid the third category.
Yuri Sagalov suggests founders should vet potential investors by speaking with their portfolio companies and other founders they've worked with. This helps gauge how supportive investors are, especially during difficult times, and distinguishes helpful partners from micromanagers.
Ross Fubini of XYZ Ventures emphasizes his firm's role in helping founders raise their next round by understanding both their company and the broader venture ecosystem, particularly in a challenging market like the current AI focus. Leslie Feinzaig of Grem and Walker highlights her value as a builder with a high tolerance for the messy reality of startups, contrasting herself with financiers and deal makers.
Leah Sullivan, founder of TaskRabbit and Prequel Ventures, shares a key insight gained from moving to the VC side: founders should be concerned about competition within their investor's portfolio. She explains that investors often prioritize backing companies that are already demonstrating significant growth, like Uber or Instagram, over their earlier-stage investments.
Al Cohen, CEO of Humble Robotics, reflects on the past two decades in the Bay Area's tech scene, noting the shift in focus from electrification to autonomous vehicles. He highlights how the progress in autonomous vehicle technology has followed a longer arc than the public's attention span.
Al Cohen, CEO of Humble Robotics, emphasizes that the progress in autonomous vehicles has been a consistent effort, often a 'grind,' rather than solely driven by hype cycles. He notes that dedicated builders have persisted through technological challenges, improving components like cameras and the core AI, unlike investors who might chase the next trend.
Humble Robotics, a startup focused on developing fully autonomous, cabless, electric haulers for freight transport, emerged from stealth in April with significant funding. The company secured approximately $24 million, with Eclipse leading the investment round.